Archive for the ‘Inspirations’ Category

it’s october 1st!!!

October 1st, 2009
Inspirations
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Lonny

…so, that mean’s LONNY magazine is officially live! yay!

ever since i heard about it, i have been anxiously awaiting the premiere issue of this great mag. partly because  domino magazine and some other decorating magazines have been discontinued, michelle adams of ma belle and patrick cline have teamed together to produce this inspirational design magazine. i am so excited to finally be able to see the gorgeous homes, and countless other treats featured in each issue. check it out & be inspired! :)

stripes, please.

September 29th, 2009
Inspirations
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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.

stripes-hb

stripedheadboard-hb

bluestripes-hb

striped rug-hb

images via house beautiful

wallstripes-can.h&h

stripes-can.h&h

images via  canadian house & home

rainy days…

September 23rd, 2009
Inspirations
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make me wish i was enjoying this amazing view, relaxing in the sun, and splashing in this gorgeous pool.

pool

to see more of this beautiful malibu home, check out the article at elle decor.

bringing the outside in.

September 16th, 2009
Inspirations
3 Comments

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:

topmodelhomes

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.

lanternlivingroom

i adore this overhead lantern in this kohler showroom house.

michael s smith lanterns

michael s smith

hb lantern

lantern-house beautiful

images via house beautiful.

lantern overhead light

this style of lantern used as a mounted ceiling light fixture would add character to any room.

rangoon lantern

i found these rustic looking lanterns at z gallerie! they are reasonably priced and would be a fun accessory for a nightstand or dresser.tea bowl lanternshow 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!

five for friday.

September 11th, 2009
Inspirations, five for friday
3 Comments

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!

mirrors

diane mirrors-ma bella

images via ma belle.

2. paint the room a light color. light colors, such as white, off-white, and pale yellow, reflect more light.

white walls

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.

elle decor lamp

elle decor

williams sonoma home lamp

williams sonoma home

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.

metropolitan home

no clutter

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.

trent bell window

trent bell window 2

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!

color me…pink!

September 10th, 2009
Inspirations
1 Comment

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.

peter estersohn

designed by peter estersohn.

black & spiro 2

designed by anna spiro of  black & spiro

house beautiful via anna spiro

i found this image on absolutely beautiful things.
it is featured in the september 2009 issue of house beautiful

image via house beautiful

image via house beautiful.

pink

pink domino

pink domino blog

pinkdom.

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.

inspiration: accessory

September 1st, 2009
Inspirations
1 Comment

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.

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!

beach decor

August 25th, 2009
Inspirations
2 Comments

i had the opportunity to travel to two different beaches this past week – amelia island and hilton head island. being at the beach got me so excited about all of the fun ways to decorate a beach house. there are a vast amount of ways to incorporate colors and give a cute beach theme without using the typical colors and “seashell designs” that one would normally find. here is some inspiration for beach decorating that i found:

i love these blue coral pillows & this driftwood mirror from seaside inspired!

everything about this kitchen works together to give a fun, bright, & unique design.

the “rustic-ness” of this bathroom is perfect for the beach!

how cute is this bathroom?

nautical anchor pillow from anthropologie.

the blues & greens in this bedding from anthro scream “put me at the beach!”

charming bedroom

August 25th, 2009
Inspirations
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i love this room! i came across it in elle decor the other day. i  love the color on the walls (winter gates by benjamin moore), and the two ottomans at the foot of the bed. it is clean, crisp, and has a touch of femininity.