Serene with a splash of spunk...room inspiration

I love this room by Timothy Wheelon. Using a pale blue/grey color always provides a soothing retreat for a bedroom and the pop of Lulu DK fabric makes it come to life. My favorite pale blue paint is Benjamin Moore's Patriot White, though I have yet to find a gray/blue....I am looking at Sherwin Williams Quicksilver and Conservative Gray as well as Benjamin Moore's Silver Crest and Glass Slipper.  If you know of any fail proof fabulous blue/gray colors...please leave a comment and let me know! Off to dream about rooms...

Decorate Your Desk

Recently, I have discovered etsy and some really great finds. I purchased my Keep Calm and Carry On poster and these awesome pencils are next on my list. They would be a fun little gift to a friend or great addition to any desk.

You can purchase an assorted pack or pick your favorite phrases. They all make me smile! Click here to go to their site

Catchy Phrases: Stay Classy, Awesome, Create Happiness, Adventure Awaits, Explore. Dream. Discover, Oh Happy Day, Create Happiness, It's Mind Bottling, You Cheapen Me, Stay Classy, Son of a bee sting!, I'm Kind of a Big Deal, That's What She Said, Neon, This has been in my ear, Primary colors, Better Together, Pastel Colors, Happily Ever After, All you need is love...., Love is all you need

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Earmark?ref=seller_info

Bold and Beautiful

Massucco Warner Miller design firm based out of San Francisco, with offices in Seattle and Los Angeles have a bold and beautiful look. Their use of bold color, fun patterns is balanced so well with a mix of traditional, antique and modern pieces. Take a second look at each picture - I love all their details. I am adding these women to my inspired list! 

Traditional Home

Everyone needs pink in their home! Aren't those club chairs fabulous.

Would love an unusual chair - great conversation piece, fun phone booth to have my extensive girl-talk phone calls, or a modern throne to direct from :) 

It's great to get a punch of color from lamps!

Traditional Home

Even though color is what drives me, a classic white kitchen always makes me smile. And one day, I WILL have a banquet in my kitchen. Just watch!!!

More banquet envy! The roman shades are great too.

Wallpaper - be daring and go for it. Am I broken record? I like how everything else is neutral.

If you have the  opportunity to work with a workroom - be creative! I like how they did the upholstered cocktail table.

Scalamandre zebra wallpaper - playful, but classic. Note those great sconces. 

Favorite new blog!

I can literally get lost in Blogland for hours at a time. I like to think of it as an education and take notes on the great resources and ideas. That is what brings me to my latest favorite....Lilly's Notebook. She has a great eye, loves to share opinions and resources on her interior design projects, plus she is beautiful...cheers to my newest girl crush :). Check out this Vogue article about her.  I found her through the Little Green Notebook.

Not sure if I fell for her after this photo with her kiddos...

OR after seeing these grasscloth walls and my absolute favorite fabric line from Madeline Weinrib (I am obsessed, though it's out of the budget right now, so I must keep drooling)!

OR seeing those navy blue painted walls, chevron club chair, and what I am suspecting are Christopher Spitzmiller lamps...(more drooling) 

okay, my last last is the simple drapery. I am dying to do a valance like this!

Aaaahhh grasscloth walls...

 To add to my last post on wallpaper, I love the texture of grasscloth. I think it works in all rooms: entry halls, libraries, bedrooms, powder baths, or family rooms. I want it everywhere! The bonus is that it is pretty reasonable too. Here are some of my favorite images. Enjoy!

courtesy of lonny magazine

Add caption

Ruthie Sommers

Room by Meg Braff

Courtesy Lonny Magazine

***FFB...i hope this is a little inspiration. 

P.S. If you are struggling with an idea and want me to seek out a look, post a comment and I am happy to put together a post.

Wallpaper...wallpaper

Quadrille - China Seas Aga

 I LOVE wallpaper! It makes such an impact in a room and really warms up a space. This was the first "space" I decided to wallpaper because unfortunately and fortunately it is just a "space" in my house that I have dubbed as "The Gallery." It's between the kitchen, dining room, living room, and another space called the "the sunroom" and has no real purpose, so I decided it needed a little drama. Doesn't the word gallery make it feel so official and fancy? It would be great to get some art in this gallery, but right now that is a few items down on the wish list. I am going to continue with my wallpaper obsession and finish my guest bath and master bedroom. If you are wary of wallpaper, start with a bathroom and remember, nothing is permanent!

It's here!

Ode to Allan Knight and their amazing acrylic cocktail tables!
I can't tell you what a difference this table made in the room.

I'm screaming for a pair of side tables and lamps...help!

Up close and personal with my awesome little attendants
by Katie Ridder and the complementing green and white by Raoul!

My sofa and pillows arrived last week and I am thrilled. The best compliment I received was from the delivery guy who said, "This sofa goes nicely with your rug." Little did he know that the blood, sweat, and major heart palpitations that went into making it go "nicely with the rug" was the point! 

Going back to the rug...I started with the rug because I fell in LOVE with it (oh and somewhere in the back of my head I heard Jeffrey Bilhuber saying start with the walls and carpet and move inward)! I think most of decorating should be gut reactions, especially when you are spending a pretty penny.

And for the pillows...I can't tell you how many color schemes I had going on for so long with pillow fabrics, but when I saw the Attendants by Katie Ridder I was smitten. I thought the green and white Raoul fabric complemented them and in my humble, novice opinion you just can't go wrong with ANY Raoul fabric.  By the way, I am really into PILLOWS.  I think they can make a drab room fabulous with little investment, plus you can change them out with the seasons, for special events, or when you want a fresh look.