there is something about stripes. they are so fun and contemporary, yet they are still seen as classic and timeless. whether painted on the wall, displayed in a rug, upholstery, or window treatments, or used in accent pillows, you simply can’t go wrong with stripes.
images via house beautiful
images via canadian house & home
i love fall! although we haven’t had the best fall-like weather this week, i am eagerly anticipating those cool, crisp mornings and clear blue skies that should be coming our way! to celebrate friday, here are five things i LOVE about fall!
1. pumpkin spice lattes! they’re back!!! mmm. i had my first one of the season a couple weeks ago, and it was pure bliss.
2. decorating with golden hues of yellow…i especially love this yellow door! (sidenote: the color was made to match the anthro card! love it.)
3. delicious baked goods made with pumpkin…pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins with white chocolate chips, pumpkin scones from starbucks…
4. adding touches of fall to your home
5. changing leaves!
happy fall…and happy weekend!
images from: williams and sonoma home, design sponge, starbucks
i am loving all the vintage keys that are in right now, not only in fashion necklaces, but also used as accessories in the home. i love restoration hardware, but i have to be honest, i was a little shocked to see how expensive this artwork was:
a framed key for $199!? that’s a little crazy! therefore i am providing a simple DIY solution.
1. get a vintage key at a local antique shop or flea market (i purchased one not too long ago at a flea market for around $1)
2. buy a frame (i found one at michael’s with a “3D” matte, so there is room for the key to fit in between the glass), a black matte, and some white linen to put behind the key
3. frame the key and hang on the wall. voilà! an inexpensive alternative, for under $20!
group them together for a dramatic impact, like pictured here behind the desk:
image via restoration hardware.
make me wish i was enjoying this amazing view, relaxing in the sun, and splashing in this gorgeous pool.
to see more of this beautiful malibu home, check out the article at elle decor.
just this week i found an old chair with a lot of character that i wanted to fix up. it was so fun to envision the finished product, and it wasn’t an overwhelming project. i finished it in just a couple of days. here are 5 easy steps to completely change a chair:
1. find a chair that you think has some potential at a flea market, antique store, garage sale, or even in your attic!
2. prime the chair. (you might need to wear a mask, the fumes can get pretty strong!)
3. paint the chair the color you desire. antique it by sanding the sides and edges, if you so desire.
4. find a fabric for the cushion, and recover the cushion using a staple gun.
5. screw the cushion back in the chair and you have your finished product!
and there you have it! easy as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!
traditionally lanterns have been used outside for night lighting on streets, walkways, etc, but currently lanterns are being used indoors, and i love it! lately i have been inspired by a lot of remarkable rooms that have incorporated lanterns – either as the overhead light or for accent lighting. i am implementing some lantern style light fixtures into a design for a room i am presently working on. take a look at some of my inspiration:
this room was designed by susan (from Raleigh, NC!!!) from the nation’s next top model home. i love the way she used the red lantern above this table!
there is a sense of rustic style, bold creativity, and uniqueness when you walk into a room and see a lantern instead of a typical light fixture. lanterns work well as a feature in a room, and they add a different element than a standard overhead light would.
i adore this overhead lantern in this kohler showroom house.
images via house beautiful.
this style of lantern used as a mounted ceiling light fixture would add character to any room.
i found these rustic looking lanterns at z gallerie! they are reasonably priced and would be a fun accessory for a nightstand or dresser.
how cool are these vintage tea bowl lanterns from anthropologie!?!
pictures to come in the next few weeks of how i am implementing some vintage lanterns into a room i am working on! stay tuned!
Tags: candle, lantern, light fixture, overhead light
yay it’s FRIDAY!
one of the main projects i am working on right now is a small bedroom, which is fairly dark and doesn’t get a lot of natural sunlight. i have been searching high and low to find some good tips on different ways to brighten a room, so i thought i would share 5 with you today!
1. use MIRRORS. mirrors make the room look larger and they will REFLECT the light you already have!
images via ma belle.
2. paint the room a light color. light colors, such as white, off-white, and pale yellow, reflect more light.
image via house beautiful.
3. bring in more light! duh. no but seriously, there are plenty of creative ways to bring in additional lighting. you can bring in accent and task lighting, and there are many options for bulbs that will brighten your space with higher light intensity. compact fluorescent bulbs, for example, have higher light output.
if you want to learn more about lighting, read this informative article by elle decor magazine.
4. get rid of the clutter! although this won’t literally make a room brighter, it will create a more clean look and will give the room a more spacious feeling.
images via metropolitan home
5. wash your windows! cleaner windows will let more light in. also, if your windows are fairly old, it’s a good idea to re-paint the panes and molding around them, because chances are the old paint is dirty, which might give the windows a duller look.
photography by trent bell, images via desire to inspire.
if you have any ideas on how to brighten a room, please leave a comment and let me know! i would love to hear your suggestions!
happy weekend!
Tags: brightening, lamps, lighting, mirrors, windows
don’t shy away from pink. while it can be overdone, it can also be used to highlight the beauty of a room. when done right, pink can be classic, warm, inviting, and inspirational! enjoy these pictures of some “pretty in pink” rooms.
designed by peter estersohn.
designed by anna spiro of black & spiro
i found this image on absolutely beautiful things.
it is featured in the september 2009 issue of house beautiful
image via house beautiful.
these last four images were found on the we love domino blog, and were all from a domino’s icon of style: pink walls series.
i would love to be relaxing poolside at this gorgeous home (built & designed by brian p. buchan, take a look at the rest of it) but instead i think i’ll be lazy & watch design star with my husband all day! we are now watching all the past episodes from online, and it is so addictive! whatever you do today, enjoy your day off! happy labor day!
Tags: outdoors, pink & green, pool
typically accessories are chosen at the end of designing a room, but sometimes you happen upon the perfect accessory that gives you inspiration for an entire room. that is exactly what happened to me the other day. i came across the PERFECT accessory for a “world traveler’s” themed room i am helping someone with, and it made my head start spinning with ideas for this european/traveler’s room.
a european, old-timey phone booth! perfect for a pop of color on top of a distressed bookshelf or side-table.
i am just getting started on this room. pictures to come when it is completed!
Tags: accessories, red
