The ‘It’ Accessories for Spring

March 24, 2014

Good morning and happy Monday. I hope you weekend was great.

We had some fantastic weather here in Atlanta over the weekend but unfortunately I only had a little time to get out and enjoy it. Saturday I made myself stay in and tackle the stack of magazines that have grown since December. OUT.OF.CONTROL! I got through most of the stack, found lots of inspiration, have a stack of project pages to file away and feel much more relaxed now that all of magazines are out-of-the-way.

In addition to all the magazines I read, I got caught up on my blog reading. So many great blogs and so little time!

One of the things I try to pay particular attention to when I’m going through magazines or reading blogs are the design elements and the accessories that appear over and over. While there are companies that forecast design trends, seeing what items people are actually using in their homes is the best gauge of whether a trend or item is really hot or not. Magazine after magazine and blog after blog I began to see several items show up over and over which is an obvious sign that they are the

‘IT’ Accessories of the Moment!

The Moroccan Shag Rug

I’ve seen this rug in photos and on blogs before but in the last several weeks I’ve seen it show up in so many rooms that designers and bloggers are styling. It’s soft, it’s chic and the classic design mixes well with just about any décor.

Kristin from Bliss at Home recently added the rug to her gorgeous living room.

You can find the Moroccan Shag Rug at RugsUSA.com and if you hurry you’ll get it on sale too! RugsUSA is one of my favorite sources for rugs and you can read more about why here .

Ikea Black and White Striped Pillow

First it was the rug

then came the throw

and then fabric by the yard

and now Ikea has introduced the black and white striped pillow cover. This pillow ( Vargyllen) doesn’t seem to be available on the website yet but I did see it in the store here in Atlanta for around $9.

Just like all the other black and white items that Ikea sells, this one is sure to be a hot commodity and is sure to appear on many blogs in the coming months.

Watercolor Floral Pillows

Flowers are a hallmark of spring so it’s only natural that watercolor floral pillows are so popular now. I love the artistic feel of watercolor designs and pillows are a great way to refresh your look for the season so this is a winning combination.

If you love this look you can find similar styles at HomeGoods and Etsy has a great selection like the pillow above.

Since spring is officially here and if you’re anything like me you want to refresh your home for the season so my question to you is, will that refresh include any of these IT accessories?

p.s. The four ‘it’ accessories I wrote about last year are still a hot trend too!

Painted Ikea Tables

March 19, 2014

The beauty of many of the Ikea tables is that they can be transformed and UpStyled with paint.

The beauty of paint is that it is the cheapest design tool you can use to transform your home.

The combination of paint and Ikea furniture can yield stunning results.

The Malm Dressing Table painted grey

via Design Sponge

The Docksta Table with a painted gold base

via

The Vittsjo Table painted gold

The Melltorp Table painted yellow

via

The Docksta Table painted in black chalkboard paint

This round side table is discontinued but the Lindved Table is similar

via

The Liatorp Table with painted base

via

Now I’m in the mood to head to Ikea and then paint something. How about you?

Living Large in a Small Space

March 17, 2014

Happy Monday! I’m wishing everyone a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow on this beautiful St. Patrick’s Day.

The post I shared last week about Nate Berkus and his skill of decorating small spaces couldn’t have been timed any better. I’ve got a real life small space challenge on my mind.

Do you remember when you went off to college and stepped into your dorm room for the first time? All I could think was how small the space was and how in the world was I ever going to fit all my clothes into that closet. My dorm room looked a little like this.

Living in a dorm room was my first experience with small space living. My roommate Kathy and I decorated our dorm room as best we could–hung posters, rearranged furniture and added a rug. It was a pretty space but no where close to how dorm rooms are looking these days.

…

Read the Post

Inspiration {+ a design tip}

March 15, 2014

Happy Saturday!

Don’t you love a good DIY project? I sure do and this is one of my faves. Can you tell which pillows in this gorgeous room by Burlap and Lace are DIY and which are store-bought? I couldn’t.

Head on over to Shannon’s blog and see which pillows she created with a little DIY.

Design Tip: Pattern mixing is an art but a sure-fire way to keep your look sophisticated is by sticking to a single color family and varying the scale and style of pattern.

Entertaining Inspiration: Spring Flowers

March 13, 2014

Don’t you just love a beautiful party table? This image caught my eye and represents the perfect blend of sophistication and fun.

If you study this image you’ll notice three things that set the tone for this table. These three elements are great to keep in mind when you build a tablescape and want it to be dynamic.

1) CONTRAST–a stylish party table brings together contrasting elements in a way that makes the table come to life. The graphic pattern of the table runner contrast perfectly with the bold impact of the flowers. The two elements balance each other perfectly.

2) SHINE–Every party table needs elements that add a bit of shine and glimmer. The silver cups are a simple touch that adds elegance while also offering another element of contrast.

3) COLOR REINFORCEMENT–when you multiply the color statement on a table the entire table setting will be more dynamic. The mass of flowers down the center of the table is a visual pop and energizes the entire table arrangement.

I loved the look of this table so much that I went on the hunt for items that would make this tablescape a reality. Here’s how to get the look…

The best part about recreating this tablescape is that it won’t cost you a ton. Creating the table runner from $7.99/yd Ikea fabric is an easy no-sew project and looking on-line for the best deals will lead you to $9.99 silver mint julep cups at Staples (Staples, not just for office supplies).

When shopping for dinnerware invest in plates that can be mixed and matched with other items you have and use decorative bowls (less expensive) to add the pattern.

And fancy glass goblets are always in style, mix great with other stemware and can be used in both a formal and casual table setting.

Your Shopping List:

Floral Mums Invitation—Paper Source /Black and White Stripe Fabric–Ikea / Nomad Flower Bowls–Cost Plus / Baroque Ogee Plates–Cost Plus

Silver Mint Julep Cups–Staples / Baroque Scroll Goblet–Pier 1 / North Satin Silverware–Pier 1 / Raspberry Flower Crochet Napkins–Cost Plus World Market

Tablescape image via

Fashion Focus: Spring Shoe Trend

March 12, 2014

I love a great open toe or slip-on sandal but sometimes I feel like those styles are a bit too casual when I’m heading out to meet with a client or have an appointment. When I dress for business during the spring and summer my favorite work shoe is a slingback sandal. I love the more polished look they give an outfit and the low heel makes they easy to get around in. I so glad that slingbacks are a big trend for spring and summer 2014, which will make footwear shopping a breeze.

My personal requirements for a slingback sandals are…

**they must have a pointed toe (makes you legs look longer)

**they must have some style (a bow, pattern or fun color)

**they must be affordable (long are the days when I felt I had to spend $$$ for a pair of shoes)

During a recent on-line shopping exploration I came across some really cute slingbacks that meet all my requirements and are the perfect way to infuse this spring footwear trend into my wardrobe.

Take a look and tell me which is your favorite?

Nine West AnyaMarie Slingback / Nine West Kilianna Flat / JCrew Lucie Printed Leather Slingback / Kenneth Cole Mercer Flat / Nordstrom Chelsea Tri-Color Slingback / Loft Dylan Slingback

Blog Crush: Hadley Court

March 3, 2014

One of the things I’m looking forward to most at the Design Bloggers Conference is meeting new bloggers. I know that many of the women and men that author some of my favorite blogs will be in attendance. I am especially looking forward to meeting Leslie from Hadley Court.

If you don’t read the Hadley Court blog you are missing out. Leslie’ started her blog just two years ago, along with starting an interior design business and has really made a name for herself in the past two years. The Hadley Court blog celebrates gracious living, timeless design and family traditions with post dedicated to Decorating, Organizing, Celebrating, Shopping and Gifting.

Leslie writes about all the things I’m passionate about and does so with simple style and grace. Her blog post, along with contributors who write for the blog are refreshing and full of tips and inspiration.

Here are a few of my favorite Hadley Court blog post.

The Gracious Dinner Party

Tips for Organizing Your Clothes for Gracious Travel

A Well Organized Linen Closet

Stop by Hadley Court and say hi to Leslie. You’ll definitely enjoy her blog.

For more Hadley Court inspiration…

Follow Hadley Court on Pinterest

Connect on Twitter

Like Hadley Court on Facebook

If you are attending the Design Bloggers Conference please look for me and say hi. I’d love to meet you and connect.

images pulled from the Hadley Court blog

THREE TIPS FOR DECORATING WITH BLACK & WHITE WALL DECOR

February 27, 2014

I love the look of black and white wall décor but often times if your décor style is something other than modern or contemporary it can be challenging to decorate with. Here are three design tips that might make the task of decorating with black and white wall décor a little easier!

1. BLACK and WHITE WALL DECOR DOESN’T HAVE TO BE ALL ART

With a more transitional or eclectic décor style mix things up a bit by combing traditional artwork with other decorative objects or mirrors. The wall grouping below is a great example of traditional botanical prints being paired with a black framed mirror and tortoise shells. There is a traditional undertone but the overall feel is more eclectic and personalized.

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2. USE BLACK and WHITE ARTWORK TO CREATE UNIFORMITY & RHYTHM

Black and white artwork hung as a collection and hung close together creates symmetry and balance within a room. This option is also great when you have a large wall that needs impact but you don’t want to invest in a single piece of over-sized art.

* Ikea is your best and most economical source when you need to buy multiple frames in the same style

via

3. MAKE THE BLACK and WHITE STATEMENT EVEN STRONGER WITH A COMBO OF BLACK & WHITE MATTS

A great way to make your black and white wall décor statement even stronger is by framing your art in wide black AND white matts. Alternate the matt colors for visual balance and keep the picture frames all the same color so the look isn’t too busy.

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Need a little more black and white wall décor inspiration, check out these stunning wall statement and rooms.

Do you like the look of black and white wall décor or are you into more color?

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