Quote of the Week

"It has taken my entire life to understand what I already knew about creating art in 3rd grade."

— Philip Carrera

Sneak Peak: Modern Chic Home

I've been mentioning my upcoming online design shop, Modern Chic Home, for a few months now and I wanted to give you an update on the website launch and a sneak peak at what I'll be selling! Owning a retail store or online shop has always been something I've dreamed about. I decided to make that dream a reality just a few short months ago - my, how time flies! This whole journey has been much more work (and stress) than I anticipated, but it's been so much fun shopping and researching and learning all about running an online store. I can't wait to share it with you and to give you the opportunity to explore the shop!

Modern Chic Home isn't going to be just another online retail store - it will be about giving you, the customer, a remarkable shopping experience. As an interior designer, I want to be able to reach out to my customers and share everything I know about design, trends, color, etc. To do this, I will have a "Shop the Look" feature, where I'll put together different design looks and color schemes, incorporating items I'm selling in the shop. I'll have a "Design Tips" section which will offer advice on all sorts of design topics. And another feature I'm going to introduce is "Personal Shopper" - send me a photo of an area you're challenged with and I'll send you suggestions with items from my shop that might work! Here's a little sneak peak at what's in the shop...

Modern Chic Home will offer accessories, wallpaper, artwork, mirrors, lighting and much more! I'm hoping to launch the site in 2 weeks...stay tuned for more details.

Stylist Selina Lake

I discovered Selina Lake, a very talented stylist, over at Decor8 the other day. Selina's portfolio is bursting with color, style and amazing detail. She has worked for clients such as Living etc., Marie Claire, House Beautiful...just to name a few. She's also the author of Bazaar Style: Decorating with Market & Vintage Finds, a best selling book (that I now need to add to my design library)! Enjoy perusing through these gorgeous photos!

Hot New Book Releases!

There are so many wonderful new design and DIY books that have just been released or are scheduled to be released this Fall. I've put together the ones that are at the top of my list - you can never have too many fabulous books to inspire and motivate you! Click here to view the entire list of new releases.

Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures

Wary Meyers' Tossed & Found: Unconventional Design from Cast-offs

The Well-Dressed Home: Fashionable Design Inspired by Your Personal Style

Flowers for the Home: Inspirations from the World Over by Prudence Designs

Nancy Corzine - Glamour at Home

Re-de-sign: New Directions for Your Interior Design Career

Interior Wisdom: Designing Your Heart and Home for the Lord

Hue - Kelly Wearstler

Kanzashi in Bloom: 20 Simple Fold-and-Sew Projects to Wear and Give

Glamorous Rooms - Jan Showers

Home, Paper, Scissors: Decorative Paper Accessories for the Home

At Home with Wedgwood: The Art of the Table

Quote of the Week

"It's a good thing that when God created the rainbow he didn't consult a decorator or he would still be picking colors."

-Sam Levenson

PHOTO CREDITS: LIVING,ETC.

PaPaYa Design Studio

PaPaYa's design studio is just as colorful and inspirational as their amazing line of art, papergoods, journals and more! If you haven't been introduced to them before, you're in for a real treat. Visit their online shop to view all of their amazing products and check out their blog for some true inspiration! You can also find them here & here on Flickr. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! Be sure to visit me again next week for exciting news and a sneak preview of my upcoming online design boutique, modern chic home!

Stylish Storage & Display Solutions

I'm always looking for new ways to store things in the one-bedroom apartment my husband and I share. Instead of stuffing things away into a closet or behind closed doors, there are endless ways to creatively display your things with open storage. Here are some inspirational ideas and tips I found via Home & Gardens...

Interesting objects grouped together create an eclectic display. The bold blue creates a striking backdrop and the mirror creates a sense of space.

"Use shelves displaying a carefully balanced collection of treasures to create symmetry. Wallpaper, Josette in Charcoal/Duck Egg, Laura Ashley. Paint on shelves, Down Pipe, Farrow & Ball."

"Botanical-style painted china looks beautiful displayed against this sketchy wallpaper design and creates a vintage look with a subtle contemporary edge. Wallpaper from the Cecil Beaton fabric collection at Beaudesert, plates from a selection at Vessel and Laura Ashley."

"Use an eye-catching wallpaper behind shelving to instantly update a cupboard and add a decorative flourish. Calligraphy wallpaper from Lewis & Wood."

"In the corner of the room, stack up rattan baskets to keep odds and ends in one place. Displaying accessories in luminous shades will add contrast and texture, and create an eye-catching area. The baskets are from Mikkelsen."

"A large painted dining table, with intimate, low-level lighting overhead and casual bistro-style chairs, forms the focal point of the kitchen. Vintage dining table, Castle Gibson, chairs, The French House."

"White china is often difficult to display. Here, the green wall offsets the pieces beautifully, while the rusted metal shelving adds a contemporary look. Etno shelving unit, The Conran Shop."

"Sheets of mirrored glass can be placed behind shelving to add depth a interest to a room. For alcove shelving the wall must be totally flat. Glass inserts from Preedy Glass, bookshelf from IKEA."

"Applying a strip of colour to a single wall, a section of wall or the whole room will help with the choice of bedlinen and other soft furnishings."

"Antique china stacked in a distressed cupboard along with seashore finds creates a relaxed, maritime feel. An over-sized floral pint wallpaper keeps the look modern and feminine."

"A minimalist kitchen needs plenty of storage space to keep surfaces clean and streamlined. Integrated cupboards with sliding doors offer floor-to-ceiling storage and makes the most of awkward spaces."

PHOTO & SOME OF TEXT CREDITS: HOMES & GARDENS