QUIET STIMULATION

 Working in the home decor and design industry can be visually and mentally stimulating…sometimes a bit too much.  In a given week, I spend many hours, flipping through magazines, looking at product catalogs, thinking about paint colors and researching design topics for my blog.  Every now and then my mind needs a break from all the stimulus. 

Sometimes, my mind longs to look at beautifully decorated rooms with little or no color, for a bit of quiet stimulation! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Photo source:  James Howard, DecorPad, Country Living

WORDS TO INSPIRE

 Design is coming to grips with one’s real lifestyle, one’s real place in the world. Rooms should not be put together for show but to nourish one’s well-being.

                                                               –Albert Hadley 

   

DESIGN CRUSH: BARCLAY BUTERA

 Barclay Butera

Barclay Butera is one designer I think possesses a unique set of design skills.  His ability to combine fabrics and textures is unparalleled; his sense of color is outstanding; his approach to accessorizing a room is wonderful; and his design philosophy of “in Interior Design there are no rules” is admirable.

Barclay Butera, in my eyes, is one of the most talented designers out there.

Barclay grew up in the design business, working alongside his mother.  As she traveled the world designing homes for clients, Barclay was by her side, obviously learning every aspect of the design business.  His natural talent and design sense, along with the technical skills he surely adopted from his mother gave him the foundation to create is own design firm at the age of 25.

Whenever you see a photo of Barclay, it is obvious that he has a strong love for fashion, and that love makes its way into the rooms he designs. He has become known for creating “fashion for the home.”

Here’s a look at a few of the rooms in his Newport Beach, Ca. home…

The grass cloth on the wall and shell framed mirror bring a bit of the beach vibe indoors, but in a sophisticated way.

His love for British Colonial design is obvious in every room of his home. I love the infusion of cobalt blue in this space.

Obviously an admirer of woven and rattan materials, he’s used the chair, oversized ottoman and rug to provided added visual interest to this space.

I love how he takes a classic blue and white color palette and gives it a new and refreshing vibe. The blue and white Chinoiserie ginger jars and wall paper give this space such personality.  And the zebra bench is so gorgeous.

 

 To further enhance his design work, Barclay has developed a custom line of furniture pillows, rugs, accessories and artwork.

 Here are a few of my favorite pieces from his line…

 

Barclay has a real love for animal prints, and you’ll see it used in just about every room he designs.

His designs are classic, yet modern!  I love the silhouette of this sofa and the refined stripe pattern.

How stunning would a pair of these pillows look of a bed draped in linen and a creamy matelassé fabric?

If you want a touch of Barclay Butera  in your home everyday, pick up one of the candles from his signature candle line.  So Fab!

One of the best design books I’ve ever seen, Living in Style is absolutely exquisite and a must for anyone that loves interior design.

Check out more of his work, at the Barclay Butera website here!

Photo source:  Barclay Butera, House Beautiful

THE BEAUTY OF YELLOW

As I walked around the Atlanta Gift Mart during the Summer Gift Show, I took notice that not only were lots of people wearing yellow, but there were alot of really great home decor products being shown in yellow.  I was thrilled since yellow,  the vibrant and intense version, is one of my current passions.

I love how yellow can lift the mood of a space and how as a color, it works brilliantly with so many other colors in the color spectrum.

Take a look at these rooms, fully dolled out in yellow or just adorned with a hint of the colors.  Either way, these are some great looking Yellow rooms.

via country living

I love how yellow plays against a strong white wall or molding.

via country living

This room feels cozy and comfortable with yellow walls, a yellow ceiling and all the cabinets painted yellow too.

via country living

Yellow and chocolate combined is a fresh and current color combination.Try substituting yellow in place of a khaki or camel color.  It will definitely give a room more energy.

via house beautiful

What can you say except lovely!

via verandah

Yellow by nature is clean and crisp, especially when mixed with white and other primary colors.

via elle decor 

via living etc.

A little touch of yellow goes a long way in making a statement.

via southern living 

via country living

Every outdoor patio needs a touch of sunshine yellow.

via southern living

Bathrooms and Laundry rooms are a great place to use yellow. Rooms with little light will appear larger and more open.

via cottage living

via elle decor

 One of my current obsessions is chairs upholstered in yellow fabric.  Aren’t these classic and fun at the same time!

via coastal living

via verandah

via coastal living

One of the hottest color trends right now is canary yellow paired black and white or grey and white.

via coastal living

via house beautiful

I am so glad that Yellow is part of a rainbow…it will always be in style.

Check out House Beautiful’s listing of the best shades of Yellow, here!

Photo Source:  Country Living, House Beautiful, Veranda, Elle Decor, Living Etc., Southern Living, Cottage Living, Jeffery Bilhuber, Coastal Living

I LOVE BOOKS!

One of the best parts of attending the Atlanta Gift Shows each year (besides an afternoon spent in the gourmet food section),  is seeing all the new interior design and entertaining books that will be hitting the market in the coming months.  I was so thrilled to see so many incredible books hitting the presses and scheduled for release during the fall and winter. 

Get ready to add these gems to your reading list and coffee table displays.

In her third book,  Scrapbook For Living, Bunny Williams takes you on room by room tours of some the magnificent homes she has decorated.  You’ll walk away with creative ways to organize and add personal touches to your home, as well as create a  new list of fabulous design and decorating tips to reference for years to come.  Look for this book to hit book stores on Nov. 1st.  Until then check out Bunny’s wonderful on-line store at Beeline Home, here!

I absolutely love Chris Madden and her practical and understandable approach to design.  The Soul of a House is her latest book and will be available Oct. 19th.  I can’t wait to add this beautiful book to my ever growing collection of Chris Madden titles. And, have you seen Chris’ line of furniture available at JC Penney.  Check it out here!

Believe it or not, but this is Mary McDonald’s first design book, and just like the cover shot, the book is incredible.  House Beautiful has named Mary one of the top 100 designers on many occasions and rightly so.  Her expertise is in designing homes that are a bit old-fashion, a bit hollywood glamour, a bit whimsical and ever so timeliness.  If you love interior design, you are going to love Mary McDonald Interiors.  Make sure you pick up a copy when it hits book stores on Oct. 5th!

Alexa Hampton is an incredible designer.  As the president of the design firm her father started in 1976 (Mark Hampton, LLC), Alexa has is a seasoned designer with a taste for traditional and eclectic design.  Her design book showcases rooms that make a definitive design statement.  I love her use of fabrics and attention to detail.  The Language of Interior Design will be available Oct. 5th.

This is the first and only book (to date) from Town and Country Magazine. Showcasing 30 high-end interior projects, you are going to love that At Home with Town and Country makes beautiful design look attainable for us all.  The book is full of advice and inspiration for creating stylish spaces that I often just dream about.  Available Sept. 7th.

This exquisite book by Suzanne Rheinstein, designer and owner of LA’s Hollyhock store, is a real treasure.  What I love about Suzanne is her eye for color, her impeccable taste and her sense of elegance and grace.  In the pages of her book, you’ll get to see some beautifully decorated room, including shots from her own homes in Los Angeles and New York.  Suzannes’ love for antiques is obvious in her work, but I love how she combines old items in a new and refreshing way.  You can pick up your copy of  At Home, A Style for Today with Things from The Past on Oct. 19th.

With over 30 years of design and architectural experience, David Easton has pulled together a classic interior design book.  Showcasing the best of traditional interior design, Timeless Elegance is a must if you love classic and timeless looks .  Available Oct. 1st.

During the Atlanta Gift Show, I had the absolute pleasure of attending a design seminar in which Jonathan Adler presented his ideas on “Staying Trendy & True to You.”  Boy was this a great seminar.  Jonathan is so engaging, with a real zest for life and love for what he does.  He shared some great design advice including his top design tip:  Every Room needs a Dash of Hippie and a Dolip of Socialite!”  His latest book, Happy Chic Colors is full of fun, vibrant and energizing design ideas. If you don’t pick this book up on Nov. 2nd, add it to your Christmas List.  It is a must-have!

Who doesn’t love Barbara Streisand!  And, who knew she has a real love for interior design. In her first design book, My Passion For Design showcases the design and decorating work that Barbara has done in her own homes.  There are a ton of photographs showcasing her collected treasures as well as her beautiful gardens at her home along the California coast.  This book is part design and part memory lane as Barbara shares memories of her life, from childhood through today.  On book stands Nov. 16th. 

Many people ( myself included) may not have heard of Madeleine Castaing  but she was one of the most influential designers of our past.  A French decorator and antique dealer, Madeline’s style was unique, classic and a bit quirky at times.  Above all, her work was beautiful.  Shelterpop.com had a great write-up on Madeleine Castaing that will give you a wonderful perspective on her work and who she was.  Madeleine died in 1982 at the age of 98. The World Of Madeleine Castaing is available Oct. 19th.  

MIX MISTRESS Madeleine Castaing's house.

This is Madeleine Castaing’s Home.

Yippie! Another book from William Yeoward.  I love, love, love anything that William Yeoward does.  As stated in the intro of his book, “William Yeoward At Home is all about enjoyment and the joie de vivre of living and entertaining!”  Each chapter covers a different style of entertaining, and William highlights all you’ll need for each occasion.  A British designer and entertaining guru, William Yeoward is one of my all time favorite designers and authors!  I can’t wait to get the book in my hand.  You too can get a copy beginning in August.  

And, William, the next time (ok, first time) I visit London, I want to do lunch!

This is an absolutely beautiful book.  An inductee into the Interior Design Hall of Fame, Victoria Hagan is a master at subdued yet impactful color use. I love that her rooms are full of personality, have a distinct flair and are original in so many ways.  Interior Portraits is destined to be one of my favorite design books of all time. Available Oct. 12th.

This is one of my “to-die for” rooms from Victoria!

Ok, I hope I’ve got you drooling over some of the new design books soon to be released.  If you don’t already have an account with Amazon.com, NOW IS THE TIME!  Happy Reading.

What’s your favorite design book?

BACK TO WORK

I am back at my desk after being away for 8 days, and I am overwhelmed with the stack of papers and clutter that I’m looking at. Anyone that knows me, knows that I am a certified “neat freak”, someone who believes that everything has a place, and that there is a place for everything.  Piles, clutter, mess and stacks drive me crazy.  I know for a fact that I cannot function at my best when my desk, living space, closet or even my car is a mess.  When my world is cluttered, so is my brain. 

 To get me motivated to organize and clean up my desk, I went to my design file and took a peek at some of my favorite office spaces.  While each of these spaces has it own personality and design theme, the one thing they all have in common is stylish organization, impeccable attention to detail and a bit of glam.  The perfect ingredients for any office space. 

 If your desk is a bit on the messy side, I hope these photos will inspire you to put everything in it’s place and make a place for everything.

I love the Chartreuse storage boxes used in this office space.  Not only do they help control the clutter, but the color gives the space a refreshing sense of energy.  Container Store is my favorite source for stylish storage boxes and containers!  Here are a few of my favorites …

images via container store

 via house beautiful

Aren’t the black walls of this office space just splendid?  I love the drama and understated elegance the black lends to the space. 

via verandah

The elegance of this office is what makes my heart flutter.  I love every detail–the colors, textures and bold accessories.  For a formal office space, this room feels so comfortable.  If you’re looking for a quick update of your office space, try using furniture in different colors for a personal statement.  The white bookcase, black desk, blue garden seat and grey wash chair give an eclectic yet high-style look.

via traditional home

Modern  glam defines this office space.  From the display board to the iron saw horse table base, every element of this space is elegant.  The textured carpet and button detail on the chair makes me smile!  I think every office should have a fun, dressed-up office chair.  It is a great way to make a simple desk look stylish.  And, for even more style, how about covering a plain cork board with a patterned or textured  fabric. 

via traditional home

For a smaller work space, I really think this room gets a 10.  I love the multiple organizational boards (cork, chalk and dry erase) that provide function as well as visual impact.  And having all that closed storage would be awesome!

Ok, enough inspiration (stalling) …it’s time for me to beginning filing and purging.  

 What’s your favorite home office design or organization tip?

 Photo Source:  Container Store, House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Verandah

DESIGNING IN DENIM

As seen during Spring and Summer runway shows, denim is a hot fabric trend in the fashion circuit.  While that may not seem unusual, given that denim is a staple in just about everyone’s wardrobe, denim as a new, hot  fabric trend in the home furnishings industry is what is taking people off guard.

Years ago, it was not unusual to see denim sofas as part of a “French Country” or “Shabby Chic” decor, but then just like so many other trends, the use of denim diminished and went by the way-side.  Well, its 2010 and like the saying goes, “what goes around, comes around.”

Denim is back, and back in a refreshing and exciting way!

  

via design theraphy

Denim Fashions Inspire Denim Furnishing…

source unknown

 Patchwork denim provides an eclectic and unexpected look for this stool.

image via ralph lauren

via pottery barn

 Denim can be seen used on furniture, lighting and in decorative accent pieces. 

via haverty’s

via house beautiful

The color of denim has even been interpreted into a paint color by Ralph Lauren.

via ebay

 

ralph lauren via apartment therapy

A refreshing way to interpret denim into an interior is my using a mix of denim stripes and patterned fabrics .

 

 via eddie bauer

source unknown

 While blue denim is the most popular choice of denim colors,  the base fabric can be dyed into just about any color you want!

via specific denim

The Samantha Chair from Specific Merchandise offers a new, refreshing look for denim.  I love the natural colored fibers and the red and black trim detail they’ve added. 

Denim isn’t just for jeans anymore!

Photo Source:  Ralph Lauren, Denim Therapy, Pottery Barn, Havertys, House Beautiful, Ebay, Denimfurniture.com, Apartment Therarpy

READING IS FUNDAMENTAL

A few months ago I attended a design seminar at SCAD Atlanta, where the panel of design experts (fashion and interior) told the audience that one of the best resources for design inspiration is international design magazines.  Already a magazine addict, reading just about every major US design publication, I immediately ran to my local Barnes and Noble and picked up a few international interior design magazines. 

The panel of design experts included nationally renowned and Atlanta based interior designer Suzanne Kasler, fashion icon and clothing designer Sid Mashburn, Project Runway star and fashion designer Mycheal Knight and handbag designer Jada Loveless.  All of the design and business advice they shared was great, but their mention of looking to magazines beyond the US border was invaluable.  Since the seminar, I have added a whole new stack of magazines to my monthly reading pile.  Here are the best of the best, in my opinion. 

 

 

Canada’s Style At Home

 

 

UK Living Etc.

 

 

Australian Home Beautiful

 

 

Australian Vogue Living

 

 

Canadian House & Home

 

UK Ideal Home

 

I hope I’ve given you some new titles to fill your magazine holder,  but just in case this is not enough inspiration, there are also some great on-line design magazines you’ll want to check out.

LonnyMag

 

Lonny is such a fabulous on-line publication.  Started by a former Domino editors, Lonny brings you outstanding articles covering all aspects of the design world.  I especially love their designer profiles where each designer shares their sources of inspiration, favorite store and design tips.  Each issue of  Lonny include beautiful and inspiring room photos as well as a full listing the resources where you can find every item.  

 Southern Flourish

 

This stylish on-line magazine highlights the best of Southern Lifestyle.  With editorial contributors all throughout the South, Southern Flourish covers design, fashion, events, lifestyle and food, among a wide range of topics.

RueMag

 

Launching in Sept. 2010, this on-line magazine promises to offer up “divine decorating ideas, tasteful tabletop tips, printable goods and exclusive videos.”  The design inspiration for Rue Magazine is coming for a crop of very talented design bloggers:  Anne of City Sage, Crystal of Plush Palate, Alaiha of Live Creating Yourself and Caitlin of Sacramento Street

Ladies, I can’t wait for the first issue!

 

Happy Reading!  What’s your favorite design magazine?

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