Showing posts with label design. Show all posts
Showing posts with label design. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Genius Idea of the Week!


There are some projects that just stop me in my tracks and I say to myself, she did what? I am always amazed at the creativity out there with design, and this one tops it for me! I have long admired Caitlin Wilson's design aesthetic, home, textile line (I put her pillows in almost all of my design boards!) She was just recently featured in Design Sponge, where most of her home was shown in the write up. After reading the article, I realized she often gets the high end look for less, creates amazing IKEA hacks and is very artistic. Case in point, this photo of her kitchen:

via

Besides the gorgeous and functional chalkboard wall, look at those chairs! When I first saw these amazing chairs, I just thought they came from a very chic, high end store. After reading the post, I found out that she used a sharpie marker to create those trendy, gorgeous spots on IKEA chairs! Amazing! This is a very doable project for anyone on a budget, because we can all find inexpensive parsons chairs and a sharpie marker. So inspiring! To see the rest of this photo and the full article, visit here.

So, are you inspired to get out your sharpie marker and DIY something amazing??

Monday, October 8, 2012

Completed Projects and Thanks


Hope everyone is doing well! Is time flying for any of you, or is it just me? It seems like there are less hours in the day, lately. Time flies when you're having fun, I guess. :)  I have some completed e-design projects to show you all- a living room and a master bedroom! These spaces are for two separate clients. I love when projects can be so different, yet share a common thread.

Living Room (Click on images to make larger)


For the client's living room, she had most of the furniture pieces in place and needed some side tables and accessories to pull it all together. She has this gorgeous secretary desk which we will paint a dark color. I can't wait to see the results!

Master Bedroom
This client was looking to make some major changes in her master bedroom. We will start with this new farmhouse bed- it will be stunning. Adding pops of color through the drapery and art will give this space great character.

Both clients love to mix new with vintage and love antique pieces. They are girls after my own heart, because I also believe that an eclectic mix of new and old, modern with traditional, makes a space that much more interesting and unique. It really speaks to the homeowner's style and personality when treasures are added to a room! What I also appreciate about both of these clients is the ability to just roll with it when things don't go as planned. We had some minor snafus and changes along the way, such as the drawer pulls not fitting with the pre drilled desk holes, furniture refinishing mishaps, etc. I am truly blessed to be able to work with such amazing clients and fun people! It has been a true joy!

Make sure to check back later this week for some photos of our fall mantel! Now the pressure is on to finish!  :)

I also want to give a huge thank you to Patty from her blog, Patty's Epiphanies for nominating Simple Dwellings for the Liebster Award! Thank you so much! Stop by Patty's blog, where there is always so much great inspiration!

A Home that Inspires…


gorgMost people find their words of motivation from sources around them but the most powerful inspiration is that we have within ourselves.

Inspirational messages can often lead us in directions that we believe are out of our control. Populations have committed terrible acts simply as a result of messages fed to them by politicians and other flawed leaders. Examples abound throughout history but obvious examples are found in the prejudice against Jews in Germany prior to and during the Second World War and indeed the anti-Semitism still to be found today. Of course racist propaganda in general is all too common and is on the whole completely untrue.

Sadly misleading messages are still normal today. Politicians use the media to influence people (calling it 'spin') and distributors of products persuade us to buy their products through advertising. It can be difficult to find reliable, wholesome inspiration messages and leaders in today's society.

Celebrities are too often seen as a source of inspiration messages too. 'Being cool' is an example of how many, particularly young, people follow fashions influenced by singers and television stars but sadly too few of these role models show sufficient responsibility to project a useful and positive image.

You may now be unsure where to get the best inspiration.

There is no doubt that there are wonderful authors, speakers, successful business people and even a few celebrities (such as Will Smith) who have great positive messages to share. I would always advocate listening to the right leaders and immersing yourself in their books and speeches but we all have positive influences closer to home if we know where to look.

Many of us would feel that our family and friends often fail to understand why we want to make more of our lives but that does not mean they do not love us. We just have to draw the inspiration from whatever warmth they show us.

I used to misunderstand members of my family when they said "take care' or 'be careful:' such phrases always made me feel they did not have confidence in my abilities. I read their message as 'take care as you clearly are unable to look after yourself.' One day however I heard a speaker explaining what such warnings meant. What my family were actually saying was 'Take care, as I have no idea how I would cope if you hurt yourself,' which showed their love and were really words of motivation for me.

Sometimes friends will call you and just want to chat. That in itself is another positive message for you; wanting to pass the time of day with you (and nobody else) is a great affirmation of their love for you. Hours and days spent whiling the time away with such people are not only relaxing but show that you are worth the time spent. Understand how this can be an inspiration message for you.

The relationships we have with those around us are hugely valuable and can be used to recharge our batteries. But they are also a two way street; not only can we draw inspiration from the love shown to us but we can also use the opportunities to show how much we value other people. We know when we have positively influenced others and curiously this reflects back on us too.

Of course there will be the odd destructive personality around you and, if this is the case, simply politely spend less time with them. If you want to get your own back on them you just need to get what you want out of life and they will know without you saying anything.

We just need to understand the real motivation of those around us and realise that actually there is a lot of love there. Nurture the relationships you have and you will come to find a safe, positive haven you can go to find a recharge when you need it. People often have different ways of showing their love, all you need to do is recognise it, show love to them and you will have ample inspiration to succeed in whatever way you want.

"The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege."

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend. Most of us dread Mondays, but hopefully this beautiful home will ease us into the workweek with less dread and bitternessSmile.  I devoured every detail of this home several times. It’s really intoxicating and as I sit here at my kitchen island sipping on coffee, I thought this would make the perfect Monday morning post. I hope you will share my enthusiasm. Enjoy…

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Did I make your Monday any better? I sure hope soSmile. Today definitely feels like Fall; brisky weather with rain which means that a second cup of coffee is warranted. Have a wonderful Monday my friends. XX

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Friday, October 5, 2012

An E-Design Before and After!

A while back, I ran a room design giveaway on my blog, and Melissa was the winner! She chose to make changes to her master bedroom, and she is well on her way! She has made so many great changes and accomplished a lot in a short time. Here is the before:

Before:

After in Progress:

After: Stencil Wall Complete!


Melissa has made amazing progress on her master bedroom! The stencil was tedious work, but she did a fabulous job. Originally, we were gning to go with stripes for the bed wall. When Melissa had the opportunity to use a stencil, we went for it! I am so glad she took on this project- the results are so worth it! Melissa has a great DIY blog, The Happier Homemaker. Make sure to stop by and check it out. She discusses her stencil project HERE. She is currently running a stencil giveaway, so make sure to enter today!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Bringing the Outdoors In

There are some spaces in your home that need a little extra something, to fill the space and make it complete. Sometimes, a furniture piece might be too big, but without anything, the space is lacking. So what to do? A house plant can make any room feel inviting, while also adding a natural element to the room. Bringing the Outdoors In is something we always here, but it really works. A house plant that has become rather trendy lately, is the fiddle leaf fig. It comes in all sizes, sometimes taking over a whole corner in your home! It is a striking plant that really commands attention and can be the focal point in any room. I have suggested this house plant in a couple of recent design plans, because it would really work to complete an unused part of the space. Here are some great images where this plant is a show stopper...













Source: google.com via Danielle on Pinterest




I love that this plant can translate well to any design style. (By the way, aren't those chandeliers amazing in the last two images?!?) I love that some of these plants have gone inside woven baskets and some have gone in outdoor containers. The options are limitless! So if you have a space in need of some love, why not add some fresh greenery??

Make sure to stop back tomorrow for an e-design update on one of my client projects! You won't want to miss this!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Hotel Maison Moschino in Milan, Italy.


Aptly named the Maison Moschino , this hotel in Milan Italy does not skimp on touches of glamour, style with an air of whimsy and meticulous attention to details.



Oh wow! You could go with either RED or

White, but how can one choose?

Hmmm, take a look at this room…

I don’t think I would be packing any jeans for my stay in this hotel. Somehow, I think the two would be mutually exclusive. Dior or Murad(to name a few) would be better choices to sport here. At approximately $US235 per night, I would most certainly love to experience Maison Moschino! Happy Wednesday everyone! XX

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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Fall in Love With Fall

This is my favorite time of year! I love the crisp air, warm sweaters and the leaves turning colors. Why not put together some of my favorite images of fall to inspire us all to decorate for the season?!? Enjoy!




Source: etsy.com via Katie on Pinterest






Source: google.com via Amber on Pinterest




What a pretty season! Make sure to check back later this week to see how I decorated our front porch for fall!