Hot off the Press: Adore Home Magazine April/May Issue

Hope you're having a great week. I've been keeping busy with clients and updating my shop for Spring (take a look at all of the fun new things we've added so far :). If you're as obsessed with design magazines as I am, you're going to LOVE the latest issue of Adore Home online magazine. It's bursting with color and inspiration and has totally put me in the mood for spring and summer! Enjoy. xoxo - Julie

 IMAGES COURTESY OF ADORE HOME MAGAZINE

Idea Gallery: Stylish Laundry Rooms

Who says your laundry room can't look as fabulous as the rest of your home? I spend a considerable amount of time doing laundry in our apartment, where we have a stacked washer/dryer in our hall closet. Since we don't have an actual "laundry room", the living room and surrounding areas often serve as a place to sort and fold piles of clothes, which gets totally annoying. If you are fortunate enough to have a laundry room, why not transform it into something that's both beautiful and functional? I've rounded up several ways to create a stylish and organized laundry / utility room, which are relatively easy and inexpensive. What does your laundry room look like (that is, if you have one :). Would you decorate / paint / transform it into something amazing? Please share your thoughts and ideas!

 Even a washing machine can look fabulous...who knew? This one is was part of a limited edition series by Designers Guild. Try using wall decals to give new life to your existing washer/dryer.

Vibrant paint and a colorful tiled back splash instantly upgrade this room. The mounted shelves are great for extra storage in a narrow space. And I'm loving the wall sconces and framed art...it's kind of like a mini gallery!

"When space is tight and all you have is a large sink, create your utility zone by incorporating clever storage around this focal point. A wall-hung cabinet and high shelf provide space for laundry lotions, while a freestanding side unit brings an extra work surface." (Via House to Home)

It's all about staying organized and what better way than with a functional bookcase or open shelving unit to stack towels, sheets, and baskets of cleaning supplies?! (via House to Home)

If space is extremely limited, mini appliances like the ones shown can be tucked away in the corner of a room.

This 6 x 10 foot space was transformed into laundry / craft room complete with built-in cabinets, a stacked washer & dryer to save space, hidden ironing board, and a drop-down drying rack. The glass cabinet doors are covered in a lacy adhesive to conceal their contents (love this idea!) and the ceiling is wallpapered.

Pink damask wallpaper takes the design of this laundry room to a whole new different level.

The chandelier, crystal cabinet knobs and damask wallpaper make this one of the most glamorous laundry rooms I've ever seen!

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IMAGES VIA: HOUSE BEAUTIFUL; HOUSE TO HOME; SIMPLY GROVE; COUNTRY LIVING

Chic Nursery via Vogue

When it comes to nursery design, I'm all about thinking outside the typical "pink and blue" box. There are so many ways to create a fabulous nursery without making it too "themey", which is why I'm loving this nursery via Vouge.com. It's part of the home tour of fashion designer Laura Diego. “I tried to make it fit into the rest of the apartment while still staying girly,” says Laura of baby Georgiana’s room. “I painted it light gray, but I hung this hot-pink painting of Elizabeth Taylor by Russell Young. This room is my favorite.” I think I'd complete the room with a sweet little vintage crystal chandelier to make it all the more glamorous! Go here to read the article and see the rest of Laura and Diego Garcia's gorgeous apartment tour.

IMAGE CREDITS: Via Vouge.com; Photographed by Claiborne Swanson Frank

Quote of the Week

“I don’t think people have enough fun with decorating. It doesn’t always have to be so serious. Design isn’t like marriage. You don’t have to commit for life.”

—Designer Ross Cassidy

IMAGE CREDITS: ELLE DECOR; HOUSE BEAUTIFUL; HOUSE TO HOME; DECORPAD

Weekly Wrap-up

Hello and happy Friday! It's been an eventful week, to say the least. I attended West Week at the Pacific Design Center in LA on Wednesday. There were a ton of events with guest speakers and appearances, but the two that I really wanted to see were Trina Turk and Barbara Barry.The afternoon events were followed by shopping on Robertson (had to squeze in a little retail therapy!) then off to the Chateau Marmont, where we were invited to attend the Rue & Dwell Studio cocktail party...details below!

Trina Turk spoke about color and pattern in fashion and the home, which was sponsored by Schumacher. I blogged about Trina's home fabric line for Schumacher just the other day, which you can read here. The Q&A session was interesting to listen to but to be honest, I don't have anything really insightful to report back to you. However, I did manage to have my picture taken with ever so stylish and chic Mrs. Turk before running off to see Barbara Barry speak on behalf of Kravet.

Hearing Barbara Barry speak was such a treat! She's the most eloquent, feminine, down-to-earth woman you'll ever meet. She took us through a slideshow personal photographs taken while traveling abroad, in search of inspiration for her newest furniture collection for Kravet. It was truly inspiring to see the world through her eyes, captured in images of the most unexpected and simplest of things.This is one woman who has a serious love and appreciation for life and finds beauty and inspiration in everything!

After a lovely dinner at Bar Marmont, we shimmied over to the Rue & Dwell Studio party. The party was held to celebrate the launch of Dwell Studio Founder Christiane Lemieux's new book, Undecorate, along with the 4th issue of Rue. (Be sure to check out page 24, where one of the mirrors from my shop is featured :)

Top left photo of the hanging lanterns strung across the quaint little atrium just outside the bar. Snapshot of Sabina Vavra of Madison West Interiors (left) and me, enjoying a cocktail at the fun little soiree. A great way to end an eventful afternoon. *** Have an amazing weekend! xoxo - Julie

10 Ways to Rejuvinate Your Decor for Spring

As we head toward the spring and summer months, many of us are more than ready to refresh our decor with color and lighter, brighter accents. After months and months of dreary winter weather, it's only natural to want to create a home that's cheerful and energizing. I've pulled together 10 simple examples of ways you can infuse spring into your decor. What other ways do you plan on updating your home for the spring & summer months ahead? We'd love to hear about it!

1. Switch out the pillows on your sofa with colorful floral prints mixed with a graphic patterns. Add a few large & colorful books to your coffee table.

2. Refresh your room with a bright new area rug. A little bit of color and pattern can do wonders in cheering up a space!

3. Keep a vase of fresh flowers on your coffee or dining table. And once again, colorful floral accent pillows are a lovely way to introduce spring into your decor. 

4. Another creative way to display fresh flowers - mix it up with a variety of mason jars, small vases and vessels with flowers from your garden.

5. One inexpensive way to instantly spruce up a room is by painting an accent wall! Add in a couple of white lamps and/or accessories for a fresh pop of contrast.  And zebra print is always a fun way to create more interest in a space. Whether it's with a couple accent pillows or a rug, you can't go wrong with animal print!

6. If you can pull it off, a few pops of yellow add energy and cheer to a space. If yellow won't work, try another bright color such as orange, pink or green. It can be with pillows and/or new accessories. A little bit of color can go a very long way!

7. Give new life to existing furniture with a fresh coat of paint. Re-paint your dining chairs or table for an instant update. Also, notice in this image that the back of the hutch is painted a soft blue color - this is another way paint can transform your decor. Paint the back of a bookcase, built-in or hutch and accessorize with a collection of dishes, vases, etc. 

9. New wall decor is a wonderful way to update a space. In this photo, vintage handkerchiefs were framed and hung in an entryway - an easy and inexpensive DIY project! You can also try framing out colorful fabric swatches.

10. Hang a pair of simple side panels on a large window. Window treatments are a fantastic way to add color, texture and warmth to a space!
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IMAGE CREDITS: HOUSE & HOME; DECORPAD

Celebrate Spring with New Trina Turk Fabric + Outdoor Finds

Spring has officially arrived according to the calendar, however the weather outside still reads winter for most of the country. We've been experiencing gloomy days and bouts of rain over the last couple days here in southern California, but with the rain comes the grassy green hills and patches of colorful budding flowers. I'm really looking forward to warmer weather so I can spend more time outdoors, especially at the pool and the beach. Trina Turk recently introduced her second indoor / outdoor collection for Schumacher, which is absolutely beautiful! In classic Trina Turk style, the collection boasts graphic patterns in vibrant color combinations, perfectly suited for spring and summer. This inspired me to pull together outdoor furniture and accents that would coordinate nicely with the fabrics, which has now given me the urge to re-do our apartment balcony! I'll just go ahead and add that to my never-ending to-do list of weekend projects :) What about you? What are you looking forward to the most this Spring?

FABRIC: TRINA TURK FOR SCHUMACHER

1. AQUA MARKET UMBRELLA; 2. ALFRESCO NATURAL DINING CHAIR; 3. VENEZIA MUSTARD YELLOW CHAIR; 4. PEDESTAL CAYENNE TABLE; 5. FORMOSA WHITE TRAY TABLE; 6. COLORED DOT GLASSWARE; 7. REED HURRICANE; 8. OUTDOOR GARDEN STOOLS

Quote of the Week

"We want to feel lovely, whether we're brushing our teeth trying on an outfit, chatting with a friend on the sofa, or sitting at our dining table. Warm glowing lights, appropriate task lighting, and the ability to manipulate mood and functionality make the experience of a space uplifting or calming."

- Celerie Kemble, To Your Taste

IMAGE CREDITS: ELLE DECOR; HOUSE TO HOME; LONNY

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Hello and happy Monday. Did you have a nice weekend? Mine was a little bit of an adventure...I went to San Diego for the weekend with 5 of my girlfriends and yesterday, we participated in the San Diego Mud Run. It's a 5k race that takes you through obstacle courses, up steep hills, and through pits of mud, mud and more mud. We were absolutely filthy dirty and had the best time! I haven't laughed that hard in a while and it felt good to just let go and do something way outside my comfort zone :) Anyway, I wish you all a fabulous and productive week! (P.S.- are any of you attending West Week at the PDC? I think I'm going on Wednesday.)

Help...

IMAGE DESIGNED BY JULIE THIGPEN

It's been one week since the devastating earthquake and subsequent massive tsunami struck Japan. My heart goes out to the people of Japan and the survivors of this horrific tragedy. Today I made a donation to the Red Cross to support their disaster relief efforts to help those affected by this crisis. I'd like to urge you to do the same if you can...every bit helps. And I'm a big believer in the power of prayer! If you are too, I urge you to to keep on praying for the country, the victims and their families. Visit the Red Cross website for information on ways to donate. You can also go here for details on how to receive a super cool poster in exchange for your donation of $25 or more. And if there's an organization that you'd like to share with us, please leave a comment with the info.& website. Thank you for your prayers and support. I wish you all a safe and happy weekend. xoxo - Julie

Belle Maison Turns 3

It's hard to believe I started this blog 3 years ago. I had no idea back then what an incredible journey it would take me on. I can honestly say writing a blog has changed my life for the better in so many ways.  Belle Maison has remained a constant outlet for me to share my life, career, and passion with so many amazing people. You'll never know how much I appreciate your support, positive comments and visits.You are the reason I continue sharing the things that inspire me on a daily basis. Cheers! xoxo - Julie

To celebrate, I'm inviting you to join me for a "virtual" anniversary party. Pink peonies, plenty of champagne and Ruffle Tower Cake with Swiss Meringue Buttercream frosting for dessert. Oh, and don't forget your special party favor in the "little blue box". Thank you for coming and enjoy ;)

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: DOUBLE EGG EYELET PINK LANTERN (COMING SOON TO MCH); DOVE TEA LIGHT; MARCHESA "PALATIAL GARDEN" CHINA; RUFFLE TOWER CAKECHAMPAGNE PHOTO VIA WE HEART IT; LITTLE BLUE BOX VIA MARTHA STEWART; TABLESCAPE IMAGE ABOVE BY MARCHESA VIA HOUSE BEAUTIFUL

Playful Prints & Palettes from Missoni 2011 Spring Collection

Missoni has been one of my favorite brands for as long as I can remember. I adore their vibrant color palettes, daring designs and eccentric fabric prints. When you see something designed by Missoni, there's no mistaking it for another brand - they have that signature look you just can't forget. Their Spring 2011 Runway Collection is packed with dizzying patterns in a rainbow of bold colors, which I find fresh and inspiring. I pulled out colors from each ensemble to create four fresh color palettes that you could easily transition into interiors. The one color that remained constant was the deep inky black color, which helps tie the whole collection together.

IMAGE CREDITS: ELLE / IMAXtree.com and Matteo Volta

Charity Project: Good Shepherd Women's Shelter

I'm so excited to share with you an amazing project that I'm blessed to be a part of. Project manager and organizers, Vanessa De Vargas and Vanessa Kogevinas, have recruited 20 designers in the LA area (myself included) to design and furnish 20 rooms at the Good Shepherd Center in Los Angeles, a center for homeless woman and children. The units we'll be working on serve as temporary housing to help women of all ages get back on their feet.  This project is 100% pro-bono and we're all volunteering our time and resources to make it happen. Please visit the official Charity Design Project blog for more information and ways you can help (such as gift card donations to home stores, etc). Additionally, if you are a vendor or designer in the industry and have any furniture, lighting, accent pillows, fabric, wall paper, wall decals, etc. that you'd like to donate, please visit the project blog as well for details.{All donations will be provided with a tax deductible receipt}. And feel free to spread the word via twitter, facebook, etc! I'm looking forward to getting started and promise to keep you updated on the progress of my room design over the next couple months! If you have any questions, you can also email me direct at julie[at]modernchichome[dot]com. (BEDROOM IMAGE CREDIT ABOVE VIA)

Quote of the Week

“Life can either be accepted or changed. If it is not accepted, it must be changed. If it cannot be changed, then it must be accepted.”

- Author Unknown

IMAGE CREDITS: 1. WE HEART IT; 2. WE HEART IT; 3. WE HEART IT; 4. FLICKR; 5. COUNTRY LIVING