Perhaps this dramatically romantic bedroom designed by Albert Hadley as seen in House Beautiful (July 2009 issue). The chandelier alone looks like it is inspired by the draping of the dress.

 This gown is stunning! I love the color, it is soft, romantic, and feminine, reminiscent of an era gone by yet still current. Beautiful!

Another beautiful space that looks as though it could have been inspired by the dress. Not only does the color reflect the the gown but the style of the room, its softness and the nod to a period that was romantic when design was feminine is purely evident in this living room. Designed by Hal Williamson the space is current with the mix of antiques and beautiful new pieces that ad a touch of bling.

I think one of the most unique pieces from Alberta Ferretti is this cloak. The color and texture are magnificent and I imagine a classy girl with a bit of quirk would wear this. Paired with the blue ankle boots you could say this outfit is made for walking (well, not really, but the boots just look like you want to walk around in them and show them off).

The person that donned this gorgeous coat could easily live in this space. The ostrich feather throw pillow, the tapestry on the wall, and the unique mix of classic and bohemian chic pieces is spot on. The monochromatic color palette and the placement of a few traditional pieces keep this room classy but the extras make it quirky and youthful…perfect for someone who could walk out the door wearing the blue ankle boots with confidence!

The next time you are stumped about where to start with decorating a space in your home try pulling three of your favorite outfits from your closet. Think about why you chose them…color, style, comfort, flash, trend, and how you feel when you wear it. Take a photo of yourself in the outfit, write down why you chose it (i.e. all the reasons just mentioned) and start shopping! This is one of the best do-it-yourself decorating tips a designer can offer. Choose your color palette and find accessories that mimic your personal style as inspired by your favorite outfit!

P.S. For more ideas on taking this concept off the rack and applying it to the walls check out HGTV’s latest design star’s episode “Secrets from a Stylist”. She is taking an age old idea and making it tangible!

That said, I really think my recent obsession with yellow is most likely connected to my mild addiction to Williams-Sonoma and we have them to thank for these gorgeous Lemon Botanical serving dishes (which I admit I recently purchased a few myself).

Slowly I have been infusing yellow into my kitchen in small touches and accents. It is a great color for the kitchen because yellow evokes a sense of cheerfulness, it stimulates mental activity, and it has a warming effect on a person. What better place to create these feelings than in the kitchen? Ironically the color yellow is typically associated with food.  

Yellow is also associated with a sense of joy, intellect, and a lovely sense of freshness. This room I found on Southern Accents embodies all of these three things. It is a bit playful with the acrylic chairs, youthful due to the circle art, and for lack of a better term…it is just fun! There is a touch of sophistication here with the furniture choices and the chandelier which is a perfect balance for the space.

Lighter shades of yellow can disappear into white therefore if you want to accentuate the color be sure to use a darker color in the space as well. This will help draw out the true tones of the yellow that you have chosen for the room. If you prefer to have a softer feeling then it also works to let it fade into white. I love the effect of this in the following Martha Stewart space.

A side note, Martha Stewart has some great new paint colors available at just about any Home Depot in the country.  If I had to choose a shade of yellow I would say that my favorite new paint color of hers is Macadamia because it is a creamy balance of white and just the suggestion of yellow much like this space above.

You can balance the amount of yellow that is accentuated using both techniques previously mentioned. First add a darker color to room in order to bring out the yellow in the space and then tone it down by allowing some of the yellow in the room to fade into white. It’s all about balance. A  great example of this is found in the following dining room. The dining table really grounds the space with the dark wood tone. All of the surroundings are light and airy and nearly fade into white which makes the space  feel welcoming which yellow is supposed to do when used correctly.

The creative placement of the mirrors stand out and are potentially an inspiration for my own home…just not sure where yet so I will have to file this away in my idea book.

Yellow is one of the hardest colors to get right in a space. It is so dramatically affected by the amount of light in the space as well as the amount of white and darker colors in the room. Go with your general instinct but if the color scares you a little bit when you first paint it on the walls my advice is to add the accessories, drapes, furniture, and lighting back into the room before you panic and change the paint color. You really can control the tone with all the other things in the room so be patient in the process. If nervous, err on the lighter side because paint always gets darker as it drys and if the yellow is TOO vibrant it will just piss you off (literally) because yellow can have that psychological affect.

A few additional warnings about the color yellow (ironic because yellow is the color of caution) be aware of how you are using yellow in the space. It can easily become dingy which can conjure thoughts of decay and sickness. Ick! If yellow is overdone or overused it can also cause anxiety to those within the space. When overdone yellow has a disturbing effect and it is even known that babies cry more in a yellow room (typically the very vibrant overly done tones).

I don’t want to frighten you with these last words about the theory behind the color yellow. It’s a fun color to be inspired by. If frightened by it but you want to try it start small…I am.  As mentioned it all started with my Williams-Sonoma addiction and the acquisition of one simple item, a pepper mill.

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Thanks for considering the color yellow. You will have to come back at a later date to see pictures of my own home when my kitchen and dining space are perfectly peppered with just the right amount of yellow! It’s all a work in progress.

The vase sits beneath a painting I absolutely love. It’s an abstract of horses and the idea to make the vase compliment the painting in a rustic sort of way came to mind.

I vaguely remembered this trick from a Real Simple magazine several months ago where small interesting vases with unique shapes were transformed using a few simple items. Taking this concept and running with it I opted to use manila rope, double-sided carpet tape, and a hot glue gun. As a result my not-so-unique green vase experienced a fabulous transformation. For next to nothing and about two hours time I changed the face of the vase.

First I created a patchwork of carpet tape so that I could better manage wrapping the vase without blowing through a zillion glue sticks and burning my fingers to the bone (let’s just say I’m not so skilled when it comes to the glue gun).  With the help of the carpet tape and the use of the glue gun in a few select areas the rope was twisted around the vase from bottom up. 

Once the project was complete I felt like it was missing a little something therefore I rigged a random knot and wrapped it around the neck. It adds a bit of detail (and hides a couple mistakes I made at the base of the neck). For the first pass at a project like this I’m pleased with the end result. The cheap green vase now looks like an expensive accessory from a rustic designer shop!

Check out this transformation and others at the 83rd Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch!

I wrote a few articles for the spring issue and during the process of the last two magazines I’ve learned some lessons:

1) Deadlines are created for a reason… to be met (and to allow me to procrastinate to the very end because I am most creative under pressure)

2) Listening skills are essential… most people in our culture are inundated with email, voicemail, text, cell phones, blogs, twitter, Facebook, etc. etc. etc. so there is one simply rule even though you are talking to adults “market as though you are speaking to a fifth grader”. Bullet points are nice. Sad but true, this is the state of our society these days and it seems it is the only way you can quickly get the message across.

3) Stress can be self inflicted… it seems everyone is always stressed out. When I start feeling anxious or stressed I take a step back and ask myself, “Is what I am doing saving starving children in Africa?” or “How is this important or not important five year from now? What is the worst that can happen?”. So I leave my cell phone at home when I am on a hike and ALWAYS when I am at the dinner table. Computers are turned off no later than 7 pm and I prefer to read a book before I go to sleep at night. Amazing how these simple things can keep your heart rate even keel.

If you are interested and have a moment check out the spring issue of ASID Colorado Connection. There are some interesting articles. The next issue I was most involved with will be out later this month, I’m more proud of my part in it as I am learning as I go… we all have to start somewhere right? 

P.S. While I’m at it I’d like to draw attention to my portfolio I recently added to the right hand side of my blog. It’s a work in progress as I gather photos. Be sure to come back and take a look at the latest finished rooms I plan to add in the future.

It’s a simple thing but it seems to be a lost art in our culture… saying “Thank You”. A hand written note is an appreciated and welcomed gesture for the receipt of a gift, client business, or even the opportunity to be a guest in someones home. Yet nobody seems to engage in this tradition (proper etiquette) anymore.  These days a person is lucky if they receive a “thank you” email.

The excuse of the expense of sending a thank you isn’t acceptable. It really is an inexpensive gesture with a priceless return:

Thank You Card: $4.99 for  box of eight at Target (i.e. 63 cents per card)

Stamp: 42 cents

Total Price: $1.05 and a smile accompanied by a warm feeling in your friend’s, client’s, family member’s heart that you actually took the two minutes to write the card and another 30 seconds to attach it to your own mailbox to have it picked up by your mail carrier.

Do you hear my message and get what I am trying to say? It is so inexpensive and simple to reach out and make someone feel good and appreciated.

For those of you that do take the time to say thank you I found these great inspirational ideas for a hostess gift on Martha Stewart’s website. (Umm yes, you are supposed to take a hostess gift to a party and/or when you are a guest in someones home…I know, this goes way beyond saying thank you or writing a thank you note but it is proper etiquette and is NOT something invented by Martha Stewart).

A few of my favorite hostess gifts from Martha:

I love this idea because (true story) a friend once received a jar of salsa and a $10 bill for food and alcohol the guests ate and drank while the entire family stayed in the home for two days. While the hostess gift was a nice gesture it seemed weak in thought for the opportunity to utilize a friend’s home for a family of four while the homeowner was away. It would be simple to take the idea a step further.. add a couple baguettes, a nice kitchen towel, and wrap it with a ribbon. It doesn’t cost much more but the thought and effort will surely be noticed and appreciated.

The Good Morning Basket is another simple-to-do idea from Martha. No crafting, glue guns, or glitter involved. Simply pick up a few great pastries from a local bakery (or better yet bake them yourself) add some juice, gourmet coffee, and a nice kitchen towel and Olia! a beautiful and thoughtful hostess gift is complete. This is great for a party because most likely the host has already received countless bottles of wine and they appreciate not having to think about breakfast the next morning.

A few great chocolates, some tissue paper, a nice gift box and you are done. All items easily purchased at Target. You don’t have to get super fancy, Ghirardelli tucked in a nice gift bag will do as well.

It’s the thought (sounds cliche, I know) that counts. People notice when you say thank you with a written note or a hostess gift…mostly because NOBODY DOES THEM ANYMORE. So go ahead, be noticed, and say THANK YOU!

P.S. If you find it too difficult to say “Thank You” then at least go to the effort of returning an RSVP whether it is a yes, no, or even a tentative. This too will be appreciated.

The Ekokook is a sustainable kitchen, and by sustainable it is more than just energy efficient and made of recycled products, that truly defines reuse and respect of our environment. The Ekokook kitchen from Faltazi uses three built-in microplants to recycle water and break down waste.  Based on its various compartments there is a zone for washing, food storage (both dry and cold), prep tables appear from what seems to be with George Jetson ease, a steam oven (yes you can cook with steam and I’m not talking the steamers of vegetables we currently nuke in the microwave), a gas burner, and there is a hood used for extraction. This kitchen by design is efficient, compact, and supports the concept of  cradle-to-cradle by reusing every resource.

Will the kitchen of the future look like this? Probably not. Will the kitchen of the future incorporate the concept and function of the Ekokook? I hope so and would like to say most definitely. While I’m not sure how quickly it will hit the mainstream you can bet on finding elements of this design in cutting edge European homes first and it will eventually find its way to the United States in homes that are “off-the-grid”. In time some of these elements, I hope, will find their way into everyday appliances, fixtures, and features of the modern day kitchen (of the future). Do I want my own kitchen to look like this? Absolutely not, though I would be more than open and willing to incorporate some of the same functionality.

I like the words that Faltazi uses to describe this kitchen as stated in the July/August/10  issue of icon (an ASID magazine and newsletter for those of you that are not familiar), “All the air, water, wind and sun that reach a habitat must be seen as scarce resources to be captured and used.” This is so true despite the fact that some live in areas that they may not feel the affects of our dwindling natural resources the fact is…they are dwindling, and quickly dwindling. Faltazi goes on to say, “Each drop of water must be collected and used to the utmost before being evacuated to external networks.” Quite insightful and highly interesting. If you are a bit of a gadget geek like me and you often find yourself with your eyes wide and mouth open in amazement at what technology can do today you really should check out more information on the Ekokook at www.ekokook.com (tip, select EN for English on the left toolbar of the website).

At the end of the day Faltazi has incorporated some of the elements we have available to us today, such as recycling and composting, and taken it a few steps further by making all components convenient, compact, and at hand. With the Ekokook concept and design no longer can a person say that recycling, reusing, and being environmentally responsible isn’t convenient.

This brought me to the conclusion of a few tips about window coverings…

One: Typically it is smart to layer window covering to control the light level as well as insulation (i.e. keep heat in or out depending upon the time of the year). It is OKAY to have a cellular shade, wood blind, sheer, or flat roman shade layered underneath a drapery panel. This tip may seem basic to some of you but I do frequently get asked this question so I thought I would confirm it here. Visual example:

Two: Only have space for a shade or blind but want to soften the look or add a sense of design? I recommend a valence or cornice board. It is the opportunity to add color, print, and create a sense of richness to what can seem like a college dorm or rental unit.  If you are considering a valence (of which I’m not a HUGE fan) an option is the French Valence but this may be more traditional or feminine than needed for some spaces. Visual example:

Wondering what the heck is a cornice? A cornice is  essentially decorative framework (fabric, wood, molding, etc.) that is used to conceal the curtain fixtures at the top of a window casing. This option might sound rather formal but you can make them more casual and they are definitely a great way to polish the style for your space.  Visual examples:

Three: Curtains, panels, drapes, and such. Any one of these are a standard option but be creative and consider them the jewelry for the window. Depending on what you are hoping to achieve give an unusual texture a try, find a funky print, or simply add a pop of color. Rule of thumb…minimally your drapes or curtains should graze the floor (no highwaters please). You may also want to pool them somewhate for a more formal look. The more you pool or puddle the fabric on the floor the more romantic and formal.

One of my favorite curtain panels available at the moment are the Firenze Embroidered Panels from Ballard Designs. They are a nice balance of pattern and color that you won’t tire of nor will they become dated quickly due to the classic trefoil design that dates back to medieval times.

When considering a curtain panel there are various types that include tab-top, pole pocket, and such. You can even be creative and use clip rings. Do not over-think these options, first find the fabric and curtain panel you like then consider the options (if you have them) of how they are hung from the curtain rod. Keep in mind the more you expose the curtain rod the more casual the look. And whenever possible feel free to be creative with the finial…but only if it balances well with the style of the curtain. Sometimes things can just get too busy!

Four: Curtain rods come in all colors, lengths, and finial options. There is no steadfast rule here but when possible consider matching the curtain rod to the other fixtures in the room. If you have brushed nickel door handles then you might consider a brushed nickel rod. Stuck with the lovely bright brass of the 80′s … my best recommendation is black or rubbed bronze (the darker the better). 

Hang the curtain rod at the line of the ceiling or at least several inches above the window frame. This will heighten the room. Also, try extending the rod several inches out on either side of the window. When the drapes are open this will prevent the window from being blocked by the fabric of the curtain panel. If you must use tie-backs then they should be at chair rail height (i.e. 32″ off the floor) or just below. Visual Example (sans tie-back):

Five:  Still want to let in the light but need the visual privacy? In my last home I used inexpensive decorative window film (available at Lowes) on my bathroom window and the french door in my bedroom. This can also be accomplished with the frosted window paint that you can do yourself (it’s a spray paint). Visual Example:

There is so much more to share but these are the basics and hopefully enough to get you inspired to think about the options in the universe of window coverings. More to come as I work toward completing my home office!

So simple yet beautiful.

The white murals and white tables are quintessential beach bistro.

I love the color and layers of texture in this beach photo taken a few months ago…

Can you tell that all I am really doing today is daydreaming about the beach and attempting to hide the daydream behind the guise of the beach as design inspiration…much like my boyfriend is hiding behind the surfboard instead of smiling for a photo. 

Perhaps that is why I haven’t really gotten to the point of sharing inspirational design ideas today…

Back to the daydream!

I get this aesthetically but as a person that has spent many hours in corporate meetings… not ideal for comfort. But maybe that is the point and it will make a person pay attention during the meetings. Pretty but not practical…even for the impromptu meeting.

The following table is my favorite of the lot but still beyond my flavor of design. For some reason this doesn’t feel new and it seems we have seen this before.

I appreciate the following for their pure design and construction but once again cannot envision sitting in either for more than a few moments. 

And last but not least it is George Jetson’s office chair. Space age and interesting and probably somewhat comfortable but not my first pick (it looks kind of cheap).

For a person that absolutely adored the Jetsons as a child and can even consider watching an episode or two as an adult,  I cannot picture myself using any of these items in a space. I like more warmth and comfort. All of these pieces are beautiful for their aesthetic, line, and simplicity, but I’m more of a practical person and designer so I think I’ll pass on the People’s Choices for this year.

For more from NeoCon 2010 go to: http://contract-network.com/2010/goExpo/public/index.php

First I thought the art by Mike Miller was inspiring. If you have the time and energy to try this yourself there is great inspiration for creating a display of unique images collected over time (example resources: old calendars, gift cards, wrapping paper, or even magazine/newspaper articles and ads). Or if you want the immediate gratification of hanging something different than the norm on the wall give these silhouettes a try. I’m also drawn to the hanging lamp…if only I had a place for it.  The other inspiration in this room is the rich deep blue/teal color on the walls. Very classic, classy, and sophisticated!

Of course what I absolutely LOVE in this image seems to be on the “not for sale” list. The console table in the background is unique enough that it doesn’t feel like it was bought off the shelf from a chain furniture and accessory store. But of course…it isn’t for sale. However what is going to be available that I think is another inclination of West Elm leaning toward a less trendy and more classic contemporary style are the rug, throw pillows, and mirror. The layers of tactile and visual texture are once again more sophisticated than the typical West Elm style we have seen over the last few years. I am also drawn to the color palette. It is grown-up, a bit masculine, and definitely earthy. Beautiful!

And last but not least I’m sharing this image with you not because of what is actually shown but as an example of how to address the need for a cocktail table that suits a sectional. I recently added an L-shaped sectional to the family room and have been on the search for something that is the right scale yet still allows space for a drink, magazine, and the ever present remote control. It’s easy to fill up the room quickly with a typical rectangle or round coffee table. I like the juxtaposition of the two options in this image. The natural piece of wood with the low table allows that visual interest and the opportunity to place a unique item yet still provide a function. The scale is right and there is still room to walk around the furniture.

Thank you West Elm for your inspiration today!

P.S. Look for Fall preview items to be available in August.