Your Guide For Stylish Living
A simple and easy wall statement to welcome spring!
Have a great weekend!
I bet every morning when you get up you brush your teeth, get dressed and eat something for breakfast. These things are rituals in your life not only because they are necessary but because they make you feel better and set the stage for a productive day. Just like your daily rituals, there are design rules or rituals that I think are necessary to get the most from your home and your décor. These are the little things that bring out the best in the features of your home, the flow of your home, the function of your home and the style of your décor. Whenever I am designing or decorating for clients, I try to always follow these rules, because they work and because the end results are always good!
And adding mirrors into your design mix is they way to do it. I’ve said it time and again here on the blog that mirrors are a wonder drug when it comes to decorating. Mirrors add light, they make small spaces look bigger, they enhance the good things in your décor and take the attention off the bad. Adding a mirror opposite a window, above a mantle or on the wall across from artwork is a great way to reflect the beauty inside and out.
Yes I want you to create a comfortable home where you can put your feet up and relax but I also want you to make sure that the feet (front legs) or your furniture sits on the area rug that you have down. This simple design principle will make your furniture arrangement feel more unified and connected and the will feel warmer and cozier too!
The Wrong Way…the sofa feels disconnected from the coffee table and the open space creates a visual barrier
The Right Way…
Just about every bookcase I work with, whether free-standing or built-in gets paint or a decorative treatment on the back wall. Painting the backs of bookcases is an easy way to add color and drama to a room. And it’s an inexpensive design treatment that packs a punch. The rule of thumb I follow when painting bookcases it to paint the back wall only, not the side or the shelf. The color on the back will draw the eye in and help the decorative elements stand out.
There are so many ways to decorate a bookcase and I’ve got all the inspiration captured on my Bookcase Beauties board on Pinterest!
Some things like furniture sets are better alone than part of a group, so when you have the chance break-up the set. While furniture stores create sets to make it easy for people to envision how the furniture will look in a room, their “set formula” doesn’t allow much room to create a unique personality for a space. Often times a room decorated with a set of furniture comes off contrived and over powering. When I’m working with a client that is drawn to a set of furniture I focus on the piece (or two) that they like best within the set. Then I pull pieces from other sources and stores to work with those pieces, creating a more personalize look. For a dining room, the table or the sideboard is usually the key piece to work around. For a living room or family room, the sofa or coffee table can set the tone for the décor. For the most personality filled space it is also a good idea to break up the finishes that are used within a room. A room with nothing but dark stained wood pieces will always look dark and heavy. Try incorporating metal, fabric and painted finishes to change the vibe and lighten things up.
The Wrong Way…not only does the lack of color variation feel stale, but the design detail in the set is over-powering the other elements in the room.
The Right Way…
Texture, Variety, Interest
If you’d like help creating a home you absolutely love, CONTACT ME about my design services!
Every day that we wake up is a day to learn and grow personally. I am always striving to be a better version of myself and I love any opportunity to learn (or at least reconfirmed what I thought I knew) about who I am and what motivates me. Recently I came upon this fun little personality test and decided to take it and see if I would discover something new about myself.
ArchetypeMe is a website that allows you to learn more about who you are and uncover the foundation of your personality. The FREE online quiz is fun and insightful~
I encourage you to learn more about Archetypes and gain a little more insight into your true being. To take the quiz, click here.
Now the fun stuff…here’s my personality in a nutshell…..
36% Creative–The Creative woman lives to express herself and is happiest when she’s making something, whether it’s a dress, video, novel, song, dessert or website. Check!
23% Intellectual–You’re always seeking knowledge and wisdom. Check (as evidenced by taking this quiz!!
21% Fashionista–Innately stylish and drawn to beauty, the Fashionista makes an effort to look her best and isn’t afraid to let the world know she tries. Check (as evidenced by my degree in Fashion, my love of shopping, my jewelry hoard and my love for all things stylish)!
While I may not have learned anything revolutionary about myself, this quiz did confirm for me that my job, my interest and my passions are key components to my happiness and my true self!
Have a great weekend and Dream Big!
Boy am I loving this cooler weather. It has really gotten me in the spirit of FALL and all the decorating that comes with the season. Last week I showed you a sneak peak of my fall dining table and shared a few creative ideas of decorating your table with dinner napkins. Well, I’m glad to say that I’ve finished up my table and can’t wait to share it with you. I really love the way it turned out.
The inspiration for my fall table came from Sarah at Upscale Downhome and her use of wool plaid blankets on the dining table of screen porch. I loved the look she created and just when I thought I’d have to hit the thrift stores looking for blankets, I remembered I had one of my dad’s in the back of my car.
When it comes to decorating my dining table I usually opt for table runners versus tablecloths so I folded my plaid blanket and placed it across the center of the table. It provided the perfect pop of pattern and color I needed for the rest of my decor.
Once the blanket was in place I created my centerpiece using items I had stored, sitting around the house or had found thrifting. The centerpiece consists of a brass urn I found thrifting for $5.00, faux pumpkins and gourds, leaf branches and flower stems from the craft store and pinecones from my home state of Washington.
I collected the pinecones in Seattle and brought them to Atlanta when we moved here 12 years ago. The pinecones in Washington are typically larger than the ones you can find here in Atlanta so they provide lots of impact when you use them to decorate. They have traveled across the country still look great.
I nestled all the pieces together on the center of the blanket and then added votive candles around the edges. The flower filled urn is sitting on top of a stack of vintage books to give it more height.
There are a few DIY velvet pumpkins with real stems added in giving the entire arrangement more texture and depth.
I used a pair of tall ceramic candlesticks to flank each end of the centerpiece arrangement.
To create my place settings I used the brown alligator textured chargers I bought at Hobby Lobby in April, on sale for $1.59 each. I love the texture they add!
I then layered my white china on top. The dinner plate is the china from my wedding and the smaller plate is my moms wedding china which she gave me a few years ago. Her pattern has an embossed flower detail on it while mine is plain. I love that they work together.
Next I added gold-plated silverware that has been in our family and was given to me by my mom a few months ago. The mix of silver and gold adds another layer of visual interest.
Then as a whimsical touch to the table, I pulled out a vintage scrabble set I found thrifting and created a different sentiment to sit at the head of each plate.
The napkin was the finishing touch.
Here’s my creative touch with dinner napkins. I was having a hard time figuring out what I wanted to do with my napkins and then it came to me late last night (ok, about 2:30 this morning when I couldn’t sleep)…a simple napkin fold and the addition of vintage pins!
Seems that I’ve amassed a collection of vintage leaf pins so I thought why not use them on my fall table.
I folded the opposite ends of the napkin towards the center and attached a different pin to each napkin. Again, I made it a point to mix gold silver and even threw in a bronze pin for more color.
Here’s a close-up of the dinner plates and the leaf bowl I placed in the center. The leaf bowls are from Creative Co-op and are just darling! Those acorns are from my weekend walks in Piedmont Park.
A little touch of nature never hurts!
If you are planning your fall table decor, here are a few tips for creating a dynamic tablescape:
* Find one item that can serve as the jumping off point for your table decor. Use it to pull your color story together and to decide the style of your table. In my case, the blanket was the inspiration piece and all the colors and textures I used played against the wool of the blanket.
* Create a focal point with your centerpiece and then let the rest of your decor flow out from there. It is always a good idea to create height with your centerpiece either with the height being the middle elements or the outer element.
* Make sure your tablescape has depth vertically and horizontally…layer from the bottom up and from side to side. My centerpiece provided the vertical depth and layering and the blanket and place setting provided the horizontal impact.
* Candles are a must…they add ambience and everyone looks great under candlelight!
* Personalize your place settings. Use place cards, napkins or decorative element in the center of the plate to add the personality to your table.
* Mix and Match to make the table come to life. While most of my table decor is on the casual side I loved mixing in some refined china and silverware and using a combination of silver and gold finishes. The perfect mix of rough luxe!
and finally,
* Layer, Layer, Layer! I’ve mentioned this before in several post but can’t stress enough how much layering will enhance your tablescape.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you are enjoying FALL as much as I am!
While I’ve spent a little time recouping from my surgery, I’ve had a chance to watch all the shows I had recorded on my DVR. Amongst the long list of Oprah shows, Dance Moms (guilty pleasure) and Housewives of NYC were all the episodes of Sarah’s House with none other than on of my design idols Sarah Richardson. I don’t know if you had a chance to watch but this series was noting short of fabulous. Sarah and her charming side kick Tommy design the most stunning and livable rooms ever. I love Sarah’s esthetic, her use of color and how she
Here are my favorite looks from this season of Sarah’s House.
Love the industrial mix that makes up this vignette.
The softness of this room gives off such a relaxing feel. Although it’s a tad on the formal side it looks very approachable.
Stunning grey and white kitchen. I’m loving the look of multiple paint finishes on kitchen cabinets.
Great pattern mixing! And that coffee table looks like a fun DIY project.
This cute little work space has lots of character!
A beautiful entrance!
The black cabinet really helps to add depth to this space and the artwork collage helps the TV to blend in.
The white wall ( created with moulding and paint) is a brilliant way to create a focal point and frame out the bed/headboard.
Love this furniture turned vanity and the unexpected style sink.
I adore, adore, ADORE this wallpaper! A powder room is the perfect place for this intricate and whimsical pattern.
A front view of the entry. I really like that Sarah used different element on each side of the chest to make the space less predictable.
The perfect fabric for these chairs.
This kitchen and eating area is just amazing. And check out the stained table base with the painted wood top and painted chairs. So fresh!
Every kitchen need a mini frig/wine cooler. Love the tiered layout of the island, making each work are distinct.
Pretty and quaint!
This is an awesome craft space! Love the paint treatment on the ceiling and all the organizational elements from IKEA!
My next sofa purchase will be grey! I so love this color palette!
A great example of mixing finishes!
Who wouldn’t love this bathroom. Those hexagon mirrors are to-die-for!
To learn more about Sarah Richardson and see more of her stunning design work head to her website and check out her Facebook page. And, to learn why I love her personal style read this post! Sarah’s not only one of my design idols but she’s also one of my fashion idols!
I hope you are as inspired as I am!
As a designer, I love to design a space that is encompasses style and function, allowing a room to become multifunctional. One of my favorite style meets function looks is utilizing a desk as a nightstand alternative.
When a desk replaces a traditional nightstand, not only are you creating a unique design statement within the bedroom but the space takes on an even more personal and intimate feel.
This old school desk becomes really stylish with a coat of white paint, updated pulls and a ceramic garden seat as a chair alternative.
I love the look of a large secretary next to the bed. The drop down shelf is the perfect spot for nightstand necessities and a spot for guest to write out postcards, read or journal.
When using a desk as a nightstand, don’t try to match the look on both sides of the bed. A chest of drawers opposite balances the weight of the desk.
This small rattan bench gives this desk night stand a light and airy feel. When tucked under the desk it will just look like an accent to complete the look.
A substantial and heavy desk like this is a great option when your headboard is heavy and oversized. Plus, a desk with drawers turns a nightstand into the perfect vanity.
A lucite desk is great when you want the space to visually feel open and airy.
I love how this desk blends into the wall and how the bookcases were incorporated to create an intimate work space within the bedroom. The bookcase alcove looks like a large piece of art!
Another beautiful lucite desk option!
A parsons desk next to the bed is simple and modern.
A vintage desk is a great way to add architectural interest while still keeping the function. I adore this old rustic desk.
I’ve never had the perfect bedroom setup to use a desk as a nightstand but I’m hoping one day I can make it happen.
So, what do you think of the desk as a nightstand look? Love it or leave it??
With Summer in full swing (and winding down soon) a stylish porch like this one is the perfect spot to laze away the days. What makes this porch so inviting are the indoor details that were brought outside to make this space a true extension to the overall living space of the home.
The windows behind the sofa provide the perfect backdrop and visual impact that traditional wall decor would. The mirror adds to the charm providing a beautiful reflection of the space and the iron light fixtures, in triplicate, add style by day and ambience by night.
I love that the homeowner didn’t stray away from using textiles to add softness and brought in versatile furniture pieces like the ceramic garden seat and rustic wood coffee table.
The is a perfect space to lounge, entertain and simply enjoy the lazy days of summer!
Perfect in every way!
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