Feminine Friday: It's Still Summer!

It's still Summer and these balmy August nights are the best to sit and enjoy the outdoors.  Here are some feminine outdoor areas:

source

Sweet periwinkle blue, cream, and natural wicker create a soft, soothing, feminine summer retreat.

House Beautiful

Nothing is more girly than the color pink paired with white wicker.  This outdoor dining area is filled with special touches like a polka dot print, pom-pom fringe, and fresh flowers.

It's still Summer for me, and I'm off to the wonderful coast of Maine for a long vacation.  I'll be enjoying farm stand tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh baked bread on a porch near the beach.  Maybe I'll add some fresh flowers for a feminine touch...

Have a great week and see you at the end of August!

xoxo  - erica

Cool Things: Nail-Free Art

These peel and stick decals are so fun and pretty.  What a great way to add a little life to your wall without filling the wall with nails.  These decals by Butch and Harold are removable, reusable, and safe for your walls.  Starting around $25 and up, they are great for renters, college students, and small decorating budgets!

  

Manly Monday: A Candice Make-Over

Before:

Designer Candice Olson worked her magic again and transformed this drab and plain living room into a warm and stylish space with a masculine touch.

After:

Paisley drapes, chocolate velvet club chairs, a mission style desk and console, and a track arm sofa all add a masculine feel to this large space, and keep it cozy despite it's huge size.

Feminine Friday: Coral Chic

Isn't this room divine and utterly feminine? It's such a beautiful vision of coral, pink, brown, and a little red, in which they all sort of blend together for one gorgeous bath of color.  Curves, twists, and swooshing arms grab your attention all around the room.  Your eye is constantly entertained.  design by:  Massucco Warner Miller

Get the Look:

Source                                                 Source

Come Shop with Me...

Come visit me today over at the lovely Averill's blog Odi et Amo,

where I'll be participating in her Shop Like a Design Blogger series.

Thanks!

A Day Away

I'm off to the Old York Historical Society's 21st Annual Decorator Show House today...

Last chance to see the show house as it ends on Saturday, August 14th 2010.

Twin Cottage

6 Starboard Lane

York, Maine

Read more about the Twin Cottage Show House here.

Watercolor by Pat Shaw of Cape Neddick, ME

Colorful Furniture

A lot of people purchase neutral home furnishings and bring in the color with accents.  Why not do the opposite?  Give your room that punch of color it deserves with bright and bold furniture.  It makes a statement, and it's not really that crazy if you go neutral with everything else...

Image:  Katie Ridder via Decor Pad

    

IKEA Hemnes Dresser in Blue, $299:  Hemnes Linen Cabinet in Red, $249.00:  Malm Console in Red, $79.99 and Lack Side Table in Yellow, $7.99

Manly Monday: Grasscloth

images via:  Ron Marvin

Oozing with warmth and texture, grasscloth wallpaper creates a natural and manly ambiance.

Environmentally friendly, grasscloth wallpaper is made from materials such as bamboo, sea grass, jute, rush, arrowroot and sisal.  It is also a great way to hide damaged or uneven walls.  

Pair it with rust and brown accents, dark leather, and black lacquered furniture for a manly feel.

Feminine Friday: Nightstand Vignettes

 

By adding a simple bouquet of flowers to a nightstand creates a lovely vignette and adds that special feminine touch to any bedroom.  They can be colorful or monochromatic, short or tall, from the florist of from the grocer, either way, they will give your space a cheerful wake-up.

Nightstand vignettes designed by:  Massucco Warner Miller

Rental Tip: The Accent Wall

Vastu Design

The accent wall is by no means a new design trend, however, don't overlook it if you're a renter.  Sometimes landlords will allow you to paint your apartment as long as you return it to white before you move.  But painting an entire room or apartment while you're packing and planning a move is no one's idea of easy.  So instead, consider painting the wall behind your bed a color instead of the whole room.  Or paint the wall you see as you enter the living room a bold color.  It will be a lot easier to paint one wall rather than a whole room when your lease is up.

Forma Design Group

In Living Color

The designs of Krista Ewart are colorful and bold; mixing patterns, paint and wood stain, delicate and chunky items.   They are full of juxtapositions that make the room interesting and well designed, full of visual layers and texture.

A bold chevron area rug is mixed with a suzani print, a raspberry solid, florals, and a pinch of bright yellow accents.

White walls are the backdrop to wonderful colors, keeping the look light and airy.