'Five Things' Friday - The Mollye Spaulding Edition

Yay, it's Friday! I hope you something fun planned for the weekend. I slipped up and did not announce the winner for the Design Camp giveaway yesterday, as promised. But because it's such a great opportunity, I'd love to extend the giveaway a few more days! Click here for details. One LUCKY winner will be announced on Monday, September 2nd. Now, please read on for today's fabulous contributor post. Enjoy!


Hello again! It’s Mollye from The Suite Life Designs. Today I am sharing my version of Five Things Friday. Many things are inspiring me lately and I am so excited to share them with you!

One. My husband and I just recently got back from our first trip to Barcelona. I am left SO inspired by all the beautiful architecture. I love all the details and balconies throughout the city. Barcelona is rich in history and wandering around the city was a lot of fun.

Two. With summer coming to a close and Labor Day this weekend I thought this was the perfect recipe to serve at your last summer BBQ. When I think of summer food tomatoes and corn are always the top of my list. This salad uses not only beautiful tomatoes and corn, but bacon and cheese - YUM! This is definitely on my list of things to make for Labor Day. [Image Source]

Three. As much as I love summer, I really love fall fashion. I love a chic coat or a pair of comfy boots. Fall is just around the corner, (not sure how that snuck up on us!) and I am getting totally inspired by this beautiful fall look! [Image Source]

Four. I recently stumbled across this beautiful vanity space on Pinterest (where else?) and was totally inspired. I love the feminine, vintage feel of this display. Gathering items on trays or in pretty cups is a great way to show off your everyday items in a beautiful way. I already use trays and small bowls for my jewelry, but using these items for makeup brushes and perfumes is a really good idea. [Image Source]

Five. I always love finding great inspiration for styling my bookshelves at home. I like to mix in objects with my books for a more collected feel. When I saw this bookcase I fell in love! Every girl loves shoes right? Well I never really considered displaying some of my favorite pairs in with my books and decorative objects. This is a really fun idea and you can constantly change up which shoes you choose to display! [Image Source]

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend! Don't forget to stop by The Suite Life Designs for more daily inspiration. See you all back here next time!

 xo, 

Mollye  

Let's Celebrate :: Goodbye Summer!

Hello Lovelies, it's Nycia here from She Inspires, with a little end of summer inspiration to make you smile. With the kiddos heading back to school and Fall approaching so quickly, there's no better way to say goodbye to the summer than with a few girlfriends over brunch with a mimosa in hand and of course, in style. This fabulous inspiration room that I stumbled upon on Pinterest is just simply divine. All the crisp white, and the yummy pops of color makes for the perfect color palette for an end of summer soiree. Wouldn't you want an invitation? 

 PARTY STYLE   

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Inspiration Snapshot :: Black & White Stairway to Heaven

Black and white are just meant-to-be together, right?! This color combo is so classic and timeless, it will always remain a favorite of many for interiors and fashion. When I came across this black and white stair runner, it stopped me in my tracks! Talk about making a seriously fabulous statement that will have guests remembering your home forever ("remember that amazing house with the cool black & white stairs?!"). And if you don't have stairs or can't duplicate this look in your existing stairwell, there are plenty of other ways to incorporate pops of black and white into your decor. I've rounded up some great products below to give you a push in the right direction. This combo looks great paired with just about any accent color, so it's relatively easy to introduce into any space. What color combo are you loving these days? Are you a fan of B&W?

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GET THE LOOK (Clockwise from top left): West Elm Zig Zag Floor Pouf // Chevron Pillow // Outdoor Stripe Braided Rug // IKEA Stockholm Rug // IKEA Lappljung Ruta Cushion Cover // Candice Olson Modern Classics Rug

*****

P.S. - don't forget to enter the exciting giveaway I'm hosting to attend Design Camp in Orange County, where I'll also be guest speaking along with Paloma from La Dolce Vita, Katheryn Ireland, Nathan Turner and MORE! DETAILS here.

Quote of the Week

"Details are the stuff that dreams are made of." 

- Sarah M. Lockwood  

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'Five Things' Friday - Bits of My Summer

This summer has just zipped on by and I'm having a hard time believing September is just around the corner! I'm not ready for fall yet...I still need to sneak in a few more days at the beach and by the pool (I'm way behind on my tan ;). Here's a little peek at how I've been spending my summer days. What have you been up to the last couple months? Are you ready for the Fall season?

One. Days at the beach with my sweet son Luke. This was taken in Laguna last weekend - it was the perfect morning!

Two. I managed to escape a few times to lay out by the pool - ALONE - where I caught up on all of my magazines and just relaxed (it's the little things that we busy moms miss the most, right?!).

Three. I enjoyed a few lemon drop martinis with friends on the beach at sunset...a rarity these days now that I'm busy running after a 15 month old all day!

Four. Summer evenings out with my husband. We try and carve out time together as a couple as often as possible!

Five. I was in charge of creating flower arrangements for a couple bridal showers this summer, which I always enjoy doing. These roses were for my sister-in-laws bridal shower - I arranged various shades of pink roses in square vases - my "go-to" arrangement for centerpieces!

Have a great weekend and don't forget to enter the exciting giveaway I'm hosting...details here.

Color Palette Inspiration :: Teal & Rust

Hello, Belle Maison Readers! This is Jessica from Color the Burbs, and I'm excited to share with you some inspiration based on the teals and autumnal rusts that I've seen trending lately {the same shown in the pretty skirts and tops found by B and in Jeanne Chung's Moroccan-inspired room}. 

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Teal is a calming color that encourages balance and creates a sense of ease and harmony in a room. It is a tertiary color composed of blue {a primary color} and green {a secondary color}, and as such is often associated with oceans and tropical locales. However, teal can also produce a refined and classic look in a room when paired with rusts - the deep red-ish hues that remind me of beautifully old decaying metals, rustic bricks and fall leaves.

{ 1. Pinterest  | 2. Pinterest | 3. L'Essenziale Home Designs | 4. Roses and Rust }

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You will notice that teal decor is often laced with whites and creams, which complement the boldness of the color. White decorative items such as trim, drapery, shelving and furniture similarly tone down teal-painted walls. An important observation to note when decorating with teal: do not be afraid to use bold prints - teal will absorb and blend in with even the most distracting of patterns.

{ 1. Society6 Teal/Rust Pillow  | 2. Diamond Trellis Dhurrie Rug | 3. Bukhara Linen Fabric  | 4. BHLDN }

As I mentioned, such colors are reminiscent to me of autumn. Can you believe that fall is almost upon us? Though I'm not ready to give up the flip flops and bikinis of summer just yet, the following outfits do make me at least a little excited that layering will soon again be upon us:

 

{ 1. Happily Grey  | 2. Pinterest  | 3. Garderrobe33  | 4. Happily Grey }

Benjamin Moore paint color suggestions: 

xo, 

Jessica

Meet Me @ Design Camp, Orange County + WIN a Ticket to Attend!

Attention all designers, bloggers, design enthusiasts...I'm inviting you to join me at Design Camp this October in sunny Orange County, California (my neck of the woods!), for a two-day event hosted and instructed by Celebrity Interior Designers Lori Dennis and Kelli Ellis! I attended the very first Design Camp last October in Austin, Texas and had an amazing time! This year I will be speaking about blogging along with one of my all-time favorites, Paloma Contreres of La Dolce Vita! The exciting line-up of guest speakers includes Katheryn Ireland, Nathan Turner, Cliff Fong, and MORE.

Ready for the best part?! ONE lucky Belle Maison reader will have a chance to WIN a ticket to Design Camp, Orange County...$1,300 value! That means YOU may have an opportunity to attend for FREE. Here's the lowdown:

WHAT'S DESIGN CAMP? The course is tailored for design professionals and design aficionados,with special guests segments led by local and national industry experts in niche fields.  Each day runs from 9AM-6PM and is broken down into 8 segments per day. Drinks, Snacks, Lunch, and Cocktail parties included. By the end of Camp, attendees will have the confidence and ability to run successful modern-day design careers, execute magazine ready interior projects, take careers to an entirely new level, network and collaborate with local suppliers and colleagues. Click here to see the line-up of exciting speakers.

WHEN & WHERE? October 9 - 11, 2013 in Orange County, CA @ The Laguna Design Center.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS & HOW TO ENTER:

• Winner receives one entry ticket to Design Camp Orange County, $1,297 value!
• Email me (julie[at]bellemaison23[dot]com) on why YOU should be chosen to attend Design Camp and what you would look forward to most! The winner will be hand selected by me, so please make your comment thoughtful and detailed (and make sure I have a way to contact you if you win).
• Mention the giveaway on Twitter (please include handle @TheDesignCamp and @ModernChicHome) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/thedesigncamp).
• The winner will be chosen and announced right here next Thursday, August 29th. Good Luck!

PLEASE NOTE: The ticket DOES NOT include hotel and flight accommodations so if you do enter, please make sure that you will definitely be able to travel to California. Recommended hotel for design campers is the Ayres Hotel Laguna Woods.

Best of luck & I look forward to reading your entries!

Decorating with Wallpaper :: 3 Dramatic Looks

If you follow my blog, it's no secret that I have a serious love for wallpaper! I've written many blog posts on the very topic of how wallpaper can dramatically change the look of a space. And the best part is that it can be a fairly easy and inexpensive way to almost instantly take a room from "blah" to "WOW"! Here are three very dramatic spaces that feature bold, colorful and graphic wallpaper prints. If you try and picture each space without the wallpaper, they would all be a little on the boring / minimal side, don't you think? Tell me which snapshot you're loving the most (mine is #3). Have you tried incorporating graphic wallpaper into your own decor?

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P.S. - Be sure to visit tomorrow for details on an exciting GIVEAWAY, valued at $1,300!!! It's for an exciting event being held right here in my backyard, Orange County, California! Seriously, you don't want to miss out! 

xoxo, 

Quote of the Week

"Furnish your room for conversation and the chairs will take care of themselves." 

- Sibyl Colefax   

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'Five Things' Friday - The Jeanne Chung Edition

Hello there!  It's Jeanne stopping by again from Cozy•Stylish•Chic - this time giving you a peek into what 's rocking my world these days as I bring you my version of "Five Things Friday"  

 ONE - Moroccan inspired interiors with a modern edge

There are plenty of Moroccan inspired rooms out there, but what I love about this particular room is the amount of white used and the splashes of bright, happy color throughout the room.  It is clean, fresh, and has a nice balance between the ethnic and the modern.  Not very often do I see ethnic Moroccan lanterns paired up with a bright orange Eames task chair!

TWO - Beaded and embellished espadrilles

Today I came across this absolutely adorable pair of amped up espadrilles.  I LOVE espadrilles. Real AUTHENTIC espadrilles - the kind with the rope soles and hand stitching. If anyone knows who makes this particular pair, please let me know, as I so desperately need them.  The color, the beading, and the ties are to die for!  

 THREE - West Elm Indigo Tie Dye and Shibori Pillows

Last weekend I dragged my entire family to West Hollywood to check out the West Elm store to take a look at beds.  I'm in the process of transitioning my son from his juvenile bedroom to one that will last him until he takes off for college - one that will have to last 10 years!  While at West Elm,  I spotted these indigo dyed pillows.  I have been seeing a lot of shibori and indigo tie dye lately, and I fell in love with these pillows not only because they looked amazing, but they were also surprisingly affordable - not  one of these is over $35. Style and value - that's a no brainer in my book!

 FOUR - My favorite color combo at the moment - Orange and Fuchsia

I've always been a huge fan of orange and fuchsia together.  As a matter of fact, the tunic shown above is from the last collection of swim wear coverups I designed.  I wore the same exact tunic today but in fuchsia with orange embroidery (and with white jeans).  If you were to take a peek into my closet, there's a whole lot of orange and fuchsia happening in there!  If I had a daughter, her bedroom would probably be decorated in orange and fuchsia, but I don't, which is why I like to wear it whenever I can.  

 Photo credits: 1.  Indulgy  // 2.  Kim Salmela pillows photographed by me at High Point Market 3.Coeurtunic, Summer 2013 // 4.  Pinterest // 5.  Surya fuchsia pouf // 6.  Surya orange pouf

 

FIVE - The Color+Plus Lighting Collection from Lamps Plus

 Saving the best for last, everyone who knows me knows that I love color and I love options, which is why I am thrilled with the new Color+ Plus program at Lamps Plus.  A few weeks ago while in San Francisco for Alt Summit, I was invited by Lamps Plus to attend the unveiling of their freshly launched Color+Plus program, a made to order lamp collection which consists of 100+ colors. Yes, that's right - 100+ colors!  The lamps can be ordered online or at any one of the Lamps Plus stores throughout the country. Pick your lamp and color, then your base and shade, and in a matter of a few weeks your custom designed lamp will arrive. Each lamp is handcrafted and assembled in California and prices range as low as $39.99 up to $299.99 and all Color+Plus lamps include free shipping.  How easy is that?  

Oh, but I'm not done yet - it gets better!  While at the unveiling, I picked up the PR booklet for  the Color+Plus lamp collection in which Lamps Plus recruited design influencers around the country to pick their favorite Color+Plus Combination to showcase, and look who I came across being showcased - Belle Maison's own JULIE THIGPEN with the lamp combination that she picked!!! 

On that note, have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you back soon.  Until then, be sure to stop by and visit me at Cozy•Stylish•Chic.  Cheers!

Kids Spaces: Playroom / Workroom Inspiration

Summer is winding down and for many, it's time to start gearing up for "back to school" days. Don't know about you, but I'm not ready for summer to end! I have a couple clients that have asked me to create inspiring and organized "work / play" spaces for their children for the upcoming school year. Kid's rooms are always so much fun to design. I've rounded up several fantastic snapshots for inspiration - there are so many things from each space that have the wheels turning in my head. My 15-month old son also needs his own little play area in our living room, so I'm looking out for ideas for that as well. What sort of space do your kids enjoy doing homework / crafts / playing?

[ALL IMAGE SOURCES CAN BE FOUND VIA MY "NURSERIES & CHILDREN'S ROOMS" PINTEREST BOARD]