Red, White and Blue

Have a wonderful, safe and happy 4th! My hubby and I are off to San Diego today for the long weekend. Looking forward to a few days away, with some good food and great shopping! Much needed :) See you all next week!

Photo Credits from top: Art.com; lamp from Arteriors Home; William-Sonoma Home Pierced Ceramic Gourds; from The Artful Home, King Tut Vase; room photos from Domino & ShootFactory.

Hostess with the Mostess

My sister Nicole, turned me on to this fantastic website, Hostess with the Mostess! It's full of great entertaining ideas, party resources, party themes, recipes and much more. What I love most about this site are their fresh, modern, chic ideas and color schemes. They also offer tips on "going green" with your big event.

Delicious desserts: Lemon Meringue Tartlets & Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes.

I'm loving the Citrus Twist party theme - fun, fresh and hip!

Instead of your traditional shower for mom-to-be, throw a Bling Baby Shower!

Throw your girlfriend a Modern Parisian bridal shower.

Rubie Green

When first discovering Rubie Green through an article in Domino, I was instantly smitten by the beautiful fabric line, which also happens to be made from 100% organic cotton! Finally, a super chic fabric line that is both amazing and environmentally friendly. "We know that natural does not mean boring, and that interiors make a house a home." - Rubie Green

To view the entire fabric collection, click here!

Giving Back Tuesdays

This week I've scoped out Aid to Artisans to share with you. "Aid to Artisans, a nonprofit organization, offers practical assistance to artisan groups worldwide, working in partnerships to foster artistic traditions, cultural vitality, improved livelihoods and community well-being. Through collaboration in product development, business skills training and development of new markets, Aid to Artisans provides sustainable economic and social benefits for craftspeople in an environmentally sensitive and culturally respectful manner."

Aid to Artisans works in several different countries, providing technical assistance and training to artisans so they can market their goods on an international level, providing them the opportunity to improve their livelihood. Among the many ways they work, one is the issuing of small grants to established artisan groups to help supply items such as sewing machines, yarn, wool, and any other supplies needed to improve their operations. They have an online shop with some very beautiful items...take a look at some of my favorites:

Handmade and dyed in Senegal by a cooperative of handicapped artisans, the Batik Scarf (shown in purple on the right and teal on far left); in the center is the Edric Ong Silk Scarf, crafted in Malaysia.

Clockwise from top left: Recycled Metal Lantern from Morocco - created from sheets of metal with slight irregularities (which would normally be thrown out) used to make soda cans; one-of-a-kind Felt Rug from the Kyrgyz Republic; the Tagua Bracelet crafted in Columbia with sustainably harvested tagua nuts found in the rain forest.

For more information about Aid to Artisans and how you can help, click here.

Recycled Glass Jewelry

Beautiful necklaces crafted from recycled glass from Viva Terra; The Bottle Rim Necklace made from recycled bottle rims and the African Bead Necklace - made from recycled glass beads from Ghana.

Found on Etsy, the Circus Lariat Necklace - hand crafted from vintage glass beads; Selene Ring - flawless white sea glass gem; Dreams Necklace - crafted from tumbled sea glass, mixed with a vintage bead and lead free pewter.

Also found on Etsy, this beautiful Middletown Necklace - the amber piece of glass is surrounded by turquoise; Mojito Earrings - genuine lemon lime sea glass attached to hammered sterling rings.

Happy Friday!

I found these lovely photos courtesy of Traditional Home. They are all weekend living / second homes. I dream of the day my husband and I can afford a "vacation home." But before that happens, we need to actually buy our first home...

I love this simple, clean lined bathroom; especially the free standing tub. The open shelving stacked with fresh towels and jars is a great alternative to closed cabinets...that is if you can keep the clutter to a minimum.

This is one of my favorites...even though the walls are painted in black lacquer, the bright contrasting white fabrics and bold pops of color keep the room fresh and full of energy.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Finding Inspiration

I'm on week four from officially being laid off and I've hit a wall...up until now I've been super motivated to get my business off the ground and have been working day and night putting it all together, planning, obsessing, designing, etc...but today woke up feeling overwhelmed and uninspired. I'm starting to go a little stir crazy in my apartment and kind of miss all my girls back at the office (which no longer exists - went out of business). So, to put a little wind back into my sails, I created a design inspiration board for a future project.
This is how begin creating a design concept. It usually starts with a "lead" fabric - something with a pattern and at least two colors. From there, I decide which direction to take the design and begin pulling in other elements, magazine tears, paint chips, etc.
The lead fabric I used to inspire this concept was from Scalamandre. I mixed in a subtle blue fabric, a white linen and a textured neutral. I kept the paint colors soft and neutral and to add some interest, threw in a natural seagrass wallcovering (maybe for a ceiling, trimmed with white crown moulding?).

Beautiful dining room concept. Comfortable, relaxed and cheerful.

Master bedroom concept - fresh, soothing and relaxing - the ultimate retreat.

Chandelier and accent mirrors to use either in the dining room or bedroom.

What inspires you? Whether you're an interior designer or just in the creative field in general...how do you begin a project? Please share your thoughts, ideas, comments, etc.!

Color - How much is too much?

I love using color in my designs, especially when it comes to paint. I think a lot of people are "afraid" of color so they opt for neutrals or white to keep it safe. However, I do think there's a time when too much color can be overwhelming and while the photos may be nice to look at, could you really live in a space with so much color?

This space feels good to me - a nice punch of turquoise used as an accent to add an unexpected burst of color.

This dining room feels soothing and relaxing. I think I could live with it.

I love this cheerful kitchen, especially with the unexpected chandelier hanging over the island.

Not a fan of any shade of purple...this space is pretty but I would tire of it very easily!

Love the lime and pink - don't know how long it would last before I'd think of changing it...

What's your take on color? Is there such thing as using "too much" of it? I suppose it depends on the individual and what they're comfortable living with. Let me know your thoughts!

Photo Credits: Domino Magazine

Giving Back Tuesdays

The 29-Day Giving Challenge - "Give a little each day. Make a big impact." Give one thing away each day for 29 days and see how it impacts your life to focus on giving...

I was visiting the blog FifiFlowersDecor and read about her commitment to take this 29-Day Challenge. As soon as I clicked on the link to the website, I immediately felt a conviction to take on this challenge. I have been spending so much time focusing on myself, dealing with the fact that I was recently laid off and focusing on the business I'm launching; I feel this challenge comes to me at the perfect time. I'd like to step outside my comfort zone and busy schedule, even if for a few minutes, to focus my energy and heart on someone else. I couldn't find a reason NOT to take the challenge - I felt there wasn't any excuse to not give a little more of myself, every day for 29 days! So, I begin my 29-Day Giving Challenge today. If you'd like to give it a try and join me, you can begin anytime you're ready. Click here to get started!

Here are the details...you can start your own personal 29-Day Giving Challenge anytime; your 29 gifts can be anything - money, food, old sweaters, smiles, your time, kind words or thoughts; you can share your journey with others in several ways, one being through the community network where you can post your personal experiences and read other's stories...click here to read more about the rules. I'll post updates periodically about my progress and how this challenge is changing my life :) And please let me know if you've decided to take on this challenge as well! I'd love to hear your experiences and stories!
Image Credit: Allposters.com

Outdoor Pillows from West Elm

Beautiful, bright outdoor pillows from West Elm! I've been searching for the perfect pillows to spruce up the wicker chairs on my balcony and I think I've found them. Now I have to decide which ones to purchase...I'd like to have them all!

cabana print outdoor pillow - available in 2 colors.
blue thistle outdoor pillow in light turquoise.

dandelion print, cabana print and ripple pattern.

What's Hot from Casamidy

According to this month's issue of Elle Decor, Casamidy's boldly enameled metal tables are it! I checked out their website and fell in love with so many of their pieces. They are based out of Mexico and have a fantastic product line. Here are a few of my favorites. Above: Almidi Star Tea Table.

Almidi mirrors - available in different shapes and colors.

Featured in the What's Hot Section of Elle Decor was the Almidi Arch Table, available in several different colors, with a glass, leather or mirrored top.

Fantastic large scale Symi Lanterns and the Panier Lantern, which is available in different sizes, the largest being 48"R!

The Jarral Dining Chair - so unique and unlike any dining chair I've seen! And how beautiful is the Wing Chair?! Sophisticated with a bit of a rustic twist.

Window Treatments

When it comes to window treatments, I like to keep the designs simple and elegant. I mostly use side panels which add just enough texture and fabric to soften a window. I also like roman shades. I'm not a fan of swags or valances or anything that obstructs the view beyond the window. Window treatments should enhance a window, not overpower or hide it. Here are some sensational ideas for dressing up your windows...
Panels that I designed for a master bedroom. I used the patterned fabric as a 20" band at the bottom of the panel.

Another one of my designs. I used this exquisite (and very expensive!) Osborne & Little fabric to create an elegant look with a lot of contrast.

From West Elm, the bi-color silk window panel. I like how they paired it with a shear panel! My favorite part is the hardware - the over sized wood rod is fantastic! Wide Stripe Drapes from William Sonoma Home. Made of silk taffeta and 49"wide, these panels are so sophisticated and elegant.

A super simple jute/poly roman shade from West Elm.

The bi-color silk window panel from West Elm in a different colorway (show above in ivory/flax).

Wallpaper - In or Out?

I was at Pottery Barn the other day and overheard the sales guy telling a woman all about wallpaper making a "comeback." The woman seemed so surprised and I think it's because wallpaper has been given such a bad wrap over the last decade...with the over-the-top floral designs in awful colors and wallpaper borders displaying pieces of fruit or teapots or grapevines...whatever the case, I feel in general, there's a bad association with wallpaper (click here to view some very "scary" photos of wallpaper actually hurting a space rather than helping it!). Well, I would definitely have to agree with the gentleman at PB because wallpaper is coming back and it's here to stay! The trick is to think outside the box in terms of it's application! I found some truly inspiring photos of how wallpaper can transform a space from blah to wow!

This geometric pattern adds interest and depth to this space. The bold contrast adds drama and interest, making this room feel very special.

The beautiful geometric pattern above the crisp white wainscoting really makes this foyer a special space.

I'm loving the very subtle striped wallpaper. Instead of painting this room just a soft blue, the designer chose to add more interest with wallpaper and it makes the room that much more fabulous! Tip: to save some $$, tape off sections of your wall and paint alternating stripes yourself - get as creative as you want with 2 or 3 colors and play with different sized stripes.

Wallpaper can be beautiful when used on the ceiling. Shown above in a subtle metallic finish, the wallpaper looks like tin ceiling tiles and adds a classic elegant touch to the space.

I love stripes!!! They can add so much to a space, creating a bold statement like the chocolate and white stripes above. A subtle stripe is also a nice way to add pattern and color.

Photo credits: Thibaut, Schumacher, Romo, Design Public, Anna French, Domino Magazine, and York Wallcoverings.

Tagged!

I've been tagged by the wonderful blog That Girl Designs! Here are my answers...

Here Are the Rules: Answer the following questions about yourself. At the end of the post you pass on the questions to 6 other bloggers and list their names. Then write them a comment telling them that they've been tagged and ask them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know that you've accepted the challenge and refer to your post.

What did you do 10 years ago?
Well, I was graduating high school about this time. And as I prepared to head off to college, I had NO CLUE what I wanted to do or be...it took 2 years to figure it out! When I found out that I could earn a BA in Interior Design, I went for it! I loved and hated every moment of the 4 years it took to get through it!

Five items on your to-do list today:
1) Get up at 7:00am and hit the gym for 45mins.
2) Laundry (it's a never-ending task!)
3) Write at least 2 new posts today on my blog
4) Finalize the written content for my upcoming website and design business "belle home studio"
5) Either work on my business plan a little more OR lay out by the pool in the wonderful SoCal sunshine...maybe I can swing both?!!

Snacks I enjoy:
I love munching on hummus and pita bread, brie cheese (I could live on that stuff!), yellow apples, cinnamon toast crunch (dry or with milk), watermelon, and ice cream (anything chocolate!).

What would you do if you were a billionaire?
Hmmmm...something I've thought about before! Who hasn't?! First I'd pray that God wouldn't let my life fall apart (I've watched the specials on TV about people ruining their lives). I'd love to help out my family,by paying off mortgages / cars / debt., etc. and give them money. I'd donate to church and charities - there's nothing more gratifying to me than helping others in need. I would travel around the world, and then some, with my wonderful hubby Ryan. Maybe we'd live in Italy for a while, then hop over to Paris where I could do some much needed shopping at all the fancy designer shops! I'd also open my own design studio in a loft over looking the ocean and build an art studio for my husband so he can paint his heart out...okay...I could keep going but I think that covers enough for now!

Places I would live:
Italy (I already covered that), Manhattan, New York, Victoria, B.C., Corona del Mar, CA (in a big house right on the edge of a cliff over looking the ocean) and Hawaii (vacation home).

Bloggers I am passing the challenge onto are:
I think pretty much everyone who’s blog I read has already done this, but here are three bloggers that I've been enjoying lately and would like to pass this on to: Seams of Thought, The House that A-M built and Fifi Flowers Design Decor...I hope they'll be up for participating!

Giving Back Tuesdays

This is the first post of a new weekly feature I've created. Every Tuesday, I'll dedicate a post to "giving back." Topics will range from featured charities and organizations that help with various causes; home design resources that donate portions of their profits to a good cause, etc. I did a post a while back about how important I feel it is to give back to the community by donating time and/or money to help make the world a better place.

The first organization I'd like to feature is The Nature Conservancy. Their mission statement: "To preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive." Since their founding in 1951, they have protected more than 117 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of rivers worldwide and operate more than 100 marine conservation projects globally. Among the many different ways to donate and give, they have an "Adopt and Acre" program that is dedicated to protect the rain forests of Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. The Osa Peninsula is one of the most beautiful and diverse habitats, home to lush rain forests, beautiful beaches and some of the most precious creatures God has created. The expansion of urban areas, farming, tourism, illegal logging, and poaching are destroying the rain forests and natural habitat for animals such as the jaguar, puma and sea turtle, among many. With just a $50 donation you will help protect and restore one of the world's most extraordinary regions that is slowly diminishing. Click here for more information on how you can give back.

All of these photos are from the Osa Penninsula, Costa Rica. The beauty of the land and the vibrant colorful creatures takes my breath away! Photo credits: The Nature Conservancy.

The Rug Company

I'm on the hunt for the perfect area rug for my apartment and I found some fantastic choices from The Rug Company (although they're way out of my budget, it's fun to dream!). They have so many wonderful rugs to choose from and some great roomset and inspiration photos. Here are a few of my favorites from The Designer Collection...

The Bolero Rug designed by Kim Parker. What a beautiful, cheerful room. The rug really ties it all together.

1) Fiori di Carta by Marni, 2) Harem by Tamsin de Roemer, 3) Canvas Rose by Lulu Guinness

The Manhattan Rug also designed by Kim Parker. I would love to have a bright, crisp office like this one!

Mums and Asters by Kim Parker.

Designed by Allegra Hicks, the Infinity Green area rug. This graphic, contemporary pattern is great mixed with the traditional space.

Photographer James Merrell

I was visiting Brocade Home's new blog and was inspired by a post they did on James Merrell. There isn't much information about him on his website but he does have a gallery of photographs of his work that are just exquisite! I gather that he photographs for Anthropologie, Brocade Home, Designer's Guild, among many other companies.

I hope you enjoyed these as much as I did. Check out his website to view more of his fantastic work. Well, I'm off to Sacramento again for a small business trip. I'll be back with new posts on Saturday. Have a great rest of the week!

Upholstery from Anthropologie

Oh, how I love Anthropologie! I recently visited one of their stores with a girlfriend and we could of spent hours (and thousands, if I was rich) adoring every single item in the store! One thing they didn't have much of on their floor was upholstery, so I went online and found all of these fabulous pieces to share. Anthropologie has that feminine, whimsical look that carries through to their furniture. These pieces are elegant and chic, with a vintage twist and would make a great focal point or accent piece in a room. I love the mixture of bold, bright patterns and soft neutrals in the fabrics. The colors are fantastic! Click here to view more...

Trend Alert: Silhouette Art

This century-old art form is making a comeback as a contemporary home decor trend this year! I've been seeing silhouette art quite a bit over the last few months. While I love the classic black and white silhouette, I'm seeing them in color, which is so much fun and whimsical!

Simply Silhouettes is a fantastic website offering customized silhouette products, ranging from pillows, stationery, artwork, jewelry, tote bags and much more! What a great gift idea! It's easy to have anything customized...click here for more info.

Another great source is Cut Arts by Karl. The above silhouettes are from his limited edition prints gallery. He takes custom orders for you, your child, your pet, or anything else your heart desires to be silhouetted! Click here for more details.

Found on Etsy from the shop of Nestahome, is the Pretty Pink Silhouette 8 x 10 print. It's also shown in red, framed in turquoise - great color combo! The orange and pink silhouettes are from Cut Arts photo gallery.

Atticmag - Home Design & Collecting

Atticmag.com is the website for Attic, an up and coming magazine that will focus on collecting and home design. The website is full of fantastic articles, shopping sources and design tips and is a great place for those who share a passion for architecture, home design, collectibles, auctions and antiques. They also have a message board / design forum that covers topics from outdoor spaces, to cooking, to home decor and is a great place to swap ideas with others who share a creative passion for the arts! I urge you to check out this great website for some inspiration!

Photo Credits: Atticmag.com

Summer Party Ideas

I love Summer! It's my favorite season of the year. And with Summer comes beautiful weather, long days and lots of entertaining! My husband and I love having people over, especially for a casual evening of barbecuing, cocktails and good conversation. I found a few great ideas from Martha Stewart 's site that are simple and help give that extra special touch to any gathering.

Found objects such as pebbles, shells, leaves, etc. are great to use as place cards - customize them to your theme or color scheme by using an ink pad and rubber stamps! I love this idea because it allows you to be as creative as you want. What other items would you personalize for place cards? Above are painted pebbles that are stamped and can be used as a chopstick rest and a place card holder!

A simple statement using a twig, stamped with your guests name.

Another great idea - stamp a seashell like the one above, to coordinate with the theme of your party.

(Above) A simple and elegant, yet casual idea for a table centerpiece for outdoor entertaining!

I thought these were lovely table setting ideas! I can't wait to throw our first official summer get-together. There's nothing like being with the people you love, enjoying good food and drinks, on a warm summer evening.

Mixing the old with the new!

As a follow up to my previous post on historic homes, I thought these interiors, created by Martha Stewart for KB Homes (I don't know if SHE actually designed them...), would be the kind of interior design that would compliment the historic exteriors nicely. Each room has a great balance of traditional and timeless design mixed with a clean, fresh updated look.

Historic Homes

I was up in Sacramento this week on a quick business trip and even though I grew up in California, I've never been to downtown Sacramento and have never seen the state capital! I had a couple of hours to kill before catching my flight so I did a quick tour of the city and had a fabulous lunch with my colleague. What inspired this post is my undying love for old, historic homes and the streets are just lined with them in Sacramento! The beautiful old trees that shade the streets with their canopies are just amazing and something you don't see much of these days (at least for me, living in southern California).

I admit that a part of me covets these big, beautiful old houses - I've always been fascinated with them, ever since I was a child. What is so intriguing to me is the attention to detail that went in to building them. Houses just aren't built like that anymore. The big porches, the interesting shapes of the structure, the ornate details that were created by true craftsman...it's almost as if a lot of heart and soul and passion went into designing and building historic homes. They weren't just mass produced "cookie cutter" track homes (which is what I've grown up with), they seemed to have been built with a meaningful purpose; each and every one of them. I also can't help but wonder who lived in these homes 40, 50, or 100 and something years ago? Times were so different and I love to imagine what family resided in the home or what the interiors looked like...I could go on an on! Obviousley I have a soft spot for these old beauties and maybe some day, I'll own one...

SeaCloth

I've used SeaCloth fabric in a few of my design projects. I adore their fabric patterns and colorways; very fresh, crisp and a bit whimsical. They have an online shop where you can purchase fabulous accessories which are categorized by color. I selected a few of my favorites to share with you.

Mushroom Collection

Blue and Green Collection

Brown Collection


Red Collection

twenty2 and fabulous!

My June/July issue of Domino has arrived and as always, it's full of inspiration and tons of fantastic resources! I was delighted to discover twenty2, a wallpaper and textile company owned by a husband-and-wife team, who create "truly distinctive contemporary designs that embrace classic modern themes." Enjoy the gallery of wall paper installations - they're just exquisite!