Inspiration

This room is pure perfection:

I love the soft blue window treatments, creamy wall color, and classic molding. The repetition of ovals and circles is beautiful and makes this a very cohesive space. You can see these shapes in the oval mirror, curved sofa, white oval coffee table, round pedestal table, and the ebony curved back chair. And my favorite, a little touch of zebra print on the book. Love. Love. Love. Via Washington Spaces

Seeing Double

If you're lucky enough to have a guest room in your home for family and friends, consider using twin beds instead of a double. Most people think of twin beds for a kid's room, however, placing 2 twin beds in a room can add a whole lot of personality. It also allows non-couples to stay in the same room, giving you more flexibility when hosting. Below are some sophisticated and stylish rooms that are seeing double.

Above: A soothing and beautifully designed room by Jeff Andrews Design is definitely a place where guests can relax. I love the dark wood floors and the bright white linens with a burst of aqua. Soft pink on the window trims coordinates with the pink painted night stand.

Above: Colorful upholstered headboards and a diamond pattern rug add life to a small room with eaved ceilings. Most people would struggle with a room with these ceilings, but the curved design of the headboards allows two separate beds to fit in this room. A simple white painted table serves as the nightstand for both beds. via High Fashion Home

Above: Welcome guests with a chic, modern country bedroom for a fun weekend stay. Two white slip covered headboards are placed in front of windows adorned with woven wood shades. Bold folk print quilts and pillows stand out against the white linens. I love the metal pedestal table.

Above: A bohemian chic room will keep guests feeling welcome and comfortable. A light blue wall with chartreuse green bolster pillows & headboards give this room an airy and natural feel. The sisal carpeting and tailored panels keep the look simple. The 2 beds share the table between them, but have their own sconces for nighttime reading. Southern Accents

Above: Your guests will feel stylish during their stay with this black & white scheme with hot pink and blue accents. Hot pink upholstered headboards and light blue walls soften the bold stripes, but it's the bold stripes that the guests will remember. Domino
Did you notice that each of these rooms have white linens and add the color with pillows, skirts, rugs, curtains, and headboards? It's a great way to keep the look chic and not youthful.

Happy Thanksgiving

Not So Standard Flooring

The Standard Grill restaurant in the Standard Hotel in New York has made good use out of the pennies we all tend to toss. The Historic Hotel Congress in Tuscan, Arizona covered the floor of it's Cup Cafe years ago with pennies, see here. It's a very warm and textured look. What do you think? ...a penny for your thoughts.

Super-sized Living

Every decorating magazine, blog, and TV show demonstrates how to decorate a small space, but when do we ever see tutorials on how to decorate large? There are some people who live in large, spacious, and beautiful homes, so why should we ignore that? Let's celebrate super-sized living...

Above: This room has 2 groupings of furniture; one directly in front of the fireplace and the other in the foreground on the photo. Gray sofas and neutral chairs are used in both, however it is the super large area rug that unifies the space completely. via Elle Decor

Above: Same idea, large room with 2 separate sitting areas, however, it is the double-side sofa that connects the space. I like that 2 different coffee tables are used; a soft ottoman for cozy reading and relaxing and a contemporary table for entertaining. This room has a total of 6 chairs and, 3 ottomans, and 3 (if you count the center as 2) sofas. And that's just what's visible in the photograph! via Elle Decor

Above: I love this room with it's black, white and green palette. The rug is fairly small, but allows the beautiful wood floors to shine. The large antique pieces such as the bow front chest and white distressed writing desk are chunky and grounding, and fill the large space nicely. Placing 2 sofas flanking the fireplace is always a nice way to utilize a large space. via Elle Decor

If you don't have a large space, you can super-size your accessories. Above: Bright, bold and large artwork and over-sized vases steal the attention in this room. The length of the table is exaggerated with the help of an upholstered bench in black and white damask. A simple sisal rug keeps it simple so the other objects in the room stand out.

Dining Dynamics

Dining areas can be a very personal space. Family and friends gather there, eat home made meals, and share stories. Each family has an individual life style, so it is fitting that the dining area can drastically vary from home to home. Many are simple and casual, some introduce color and lively pattern, and others are elegant and sleek. Does your dining area reflect your family and life style?

Above left: A long and narrow rustic farm table is paired with metal tables for a modern country look. Country Living Above right: Dark mahogany wood stands out in a dining room with neutral carpeting, tan walls, and no window treatments. The extra large iron lighting fixture is one of few decorations in this simple and tasteful space. Better Homes & Gardens

Above: Green upholstered parsons chairs add softness to a room with high ceilings and paneling. The light green paired with yellow create a cheerful and casual dining area. Better Homes & Gardens

Above left: Soft peach upholstered chairs and a peach and tan muted area rug create a soothing and elegant dining space. The oval table in a chestnut finish is paired with square backed white chairs for visual interest. Diners can see coordinating silk curtains and a settee in the sitting room. Above right: White custom cabinetry becomes a place to display art and dinnerware. It also acts as a neutral backdrop for the sleek upholstered chairs and warm dining table to stand out against. The legs on the chairs have a nice and slight flair to then adding softness to a room with all straight lines. both via Better Homes & Gardens

Above: A client of mine had a dining table which was passed down to her. We were able to incorporate the drop-leaf table with new parsons chairs in a light sage green. A large new area rug, linen panels, and 3 colors on the walls and ceiling gave this space a fresh and updated look, all centered on an heirloom piece.

Paris Chic

Aren't these herringbone wood floors beautiful?

I love the simple cream and pumpkin color palette.

Paris Apartment of Peter Hutton via Washington Spaces

Setting the Table

With Thanksgiving just a week away, here are some ideas to spruce up your table with some beautiful table settings and Fall decorations. Above left: A table setting exudes Fall style with vintage English china, Baccarat glassware, Haviland chargers, silverware brought back from Amsterdam, and faux-ivory knives. It's a mix of warm rust, gold, and a cool, earthy green that makes this setting interesting. Above right: Stacks of dishes and piles of pine cones add texture to a buffet style table setting. Tin planters and pie plates are turned over and turned into pie stands topped off with pumpkins and homemade pies. Large floral arrangements tie all of the colors together. images via Country Living

Gold charger, set of 6 $17.99 / Gold band garnet dishes, 16 pc. set $59.99 /

Portico goblet, set of 4, $19.99 / Rust ranch wood tray, $16.99 = All available at Target.com

Sonoma Lifestyle leaf & striped table cloth, $14.99-20.99 at Kohl's

Green Design

NBC is celebrating it's 3rd annual Green Week, so while browsing rooms on Country Living's website, I was happy to come across this warm and interesting earth friendly room. It's neutral palette keeps color minimal, however, this room is definitely green. Eco-friendly fabrics are used for the upholstery, which are kept in a brown & white scheme, but are full of pattern. The mix of graphic patterns keeps the neutral palette interesting. The floors are made from wood cut from locally harvested trees, and the window shades are bamboo. The mantel is a refurbished piece from the 1860's.

Crossing the Big Pond: English Style

Britain's Ideal Home Magazine surprised me with it's photography of colorful interiors and bold patterns. Every now and then its fun to see rooms so colorful that you say wow. While the trend in the US is neutral and earthy right now, these colors are refreshing. Below are some of my favorites, hope you find them invigorating as our days grow dark and cold.

Above: Bright pink and green mixed with white and cream.

Above: Citrus green and yellow catch the eye while the white upholstery keeps it simple.


Above: An inviting sectional and celadon green accents create a soothing, yet colorful atmosphere. The wood and flooring is kept light.


Above: Deep purple, silver, and grey create and dramatic and regal scheme.

Above: A lavender/pink and grey color palette is chic and feminine without screaming little girl.

What do you think? Could you live with a lot of color and bold patterns?

Rental Tip: Transform White Walls

It's always a struggle to add architectural interest and dimension to the white walls of a rented apartment. Most likely, you can't paint, so besides artwork and mirrors, what do you hang? Here are some tips on how to enhance white walls without losing your security deposit:


Above: Color-coordinated plates mounted on the wall add a contemporary touch to a classic design method. (house and home) Below: Same idea, but done in a more traditional arrangement and color scheme. (nestingplacencblog)

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Above: A long white wall becomes a gallery for decorative objects with equally long white shelving. (roomenvyblog)

A wall of shelves is a great way to add storage in a rental, but take it a step further and add dimension by painting a square of color behind the shelving. Above: A wood panel is used behind wall shelving, but paint can easily be substituted. When you move, you can quickly spackle the holes and paint over the square only. (metropolitan home)

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Above: A collection of large old shutters hung on a wall creates an intimate, almost paneled wall feel while adding texture and subtle color. (euroantiquemarketblog) Above right: Great for a kitchen or above a desk, small shutters hung on the wall become a message and bulletin board for a busy life. (fantabulousdesignblog)

How About Them Apples?

Besides pumpkins, apples are the epitome of Fall and harvest time. A deep red, round apple can lend warmth to your Fall decor, and a bright green granny smith can add a burst of color amidst a neutral table. Here are some ideas for your home that you can steal for the upcoming holiday season:

Above: Welcome friends and family with a simple green wreath adorned with red apples and berries. (Better Homes and Gardens) Below: Inside the home, any style wreath looks great hanging in front of a mirror. This is a great way to decorate a mirror in a foyer or dining room. (Good House Keeping)

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Above: Fill glass cylinders with apples, candles, leaves, berries, and pears. Mix a variety of cylinders in different shapes and heights. I always see these cylinders at Homegoods and any Marshalls or TJMax with a home decor department.

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Above: Stainless steel, flowers, and green apples create a chic and simple arrangement. This would look great on a kitchen island, server, or even foyer table. The height of the stainless steel vases is dramatic and would fit nicely in a more formal holiday celebration. Above right: A pair of picture frames set the backdrop for 3 green apples in dessert dishes. This is a great vignette for a foyer table for the whole season. The apples can be replaced with pumpkins, gourds, and even Christmas ornaments as your mood changes.

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Above: Simple candle votives and a cylinder filled with green and red apples sets the tone for a glowing evening celebration. Above right: Carve the top out of apples and fill with tapered candles for a country table topper. (tablesettingswithpictures.com)