{inspiration} Beautiful Hawaiian Style

I love, love, love the home of Marion Philpotts Miller. With tightly edited rooms that speak with a fresh graphic style she effortlessly captures the unique indoor-outdoor connection that embodies tropical living. It is the perfect mix of indigenous materials, older furnishings and contemporary flourishes: daybeds on the porch (lanais), graphic fabrics, organic flora, Asian influences (Chinese wooden chairs, Balinese red lacquer and Japanese lanterns- not all pictured). There is no formal pretense- just beautiful tropical design that is as wonderfully lush, as Hawaii itself. Have a wonderful week everyone...

*Photography via Traditional Home

{inspiration} At Home with Mark Tuckey

Let's just pause for a moment (a long moment) and admire the amazing home of furniture designer and maker Mark Tuckey; perfect attention to detail, great restraint, gorgeous wood, interesting textures. The house feels hip but livable, masculine but welcoming, modern yet quirky. I love the great, controlled color pops & beautiful artwork by David Bromley... ah.... isn't it fabulous?! Have a inspired week everyone.


*Photography via desire to inspire

{inspiration} My Blue and Orange Heaven

If you haven't already discovered I have two design personalities. One loves soft swaths of gray and whites. Couldn't we all live forever under layers of yummy chenille, luxurious cotton and a touch of faux fur? However, my other personality loves strong, bold colors and fantastic prints. A great stripe or incredible pattern can bring me the purist of joy.
Different as they may be, what remains consistent throughout my work is how I am drawn to the push and pull of masculine and feminine; my undying love of metallic pops, a fancy for Lucite and my desire to anchor spaces with a great rug. However it is approached, a room needs to have a strong, singular vision that inspires it dwellers. Forget creating a room that follows trends rather embrace creating balance and harmony.
So, today in celebration of the bolder side of decorating, I wanted to inspire you with the work of L.A. based Interior Designer, Molly Luetkemeyer. Her rooms are brave with extraordinary use of color and pattern. In the samples above she embraces a palette that I adore; blue + orange+ bright white+ black (and a touch of citron for fun). She is committed to her vision, she makes it work & isn't it just beautiful.
Have a wonderful week everyone!

*Photography via Coco+Kelley

{inspiration} Atlanta Show House pick

As a former New York city girl my next statement might seem a bit out of place but there is something very appealing to me about Southern decor. More specifically, Southern decor that is not overtly formal in style. What I love are the Southern rooms that could sit nestled amongst magnolia trees on heavy, late summer afternoons. Spaces where there is an ease inside of the walls and a special character that only comes with time. 

Atlanta Home Magazine is a favorite stop of mine when sourcing what is current in decorating trends and design inspiration. I find that it adds a nice perspective that is not uniquely East or West coast. In it, they recently featured a wonderful article on The 2010 Atlanta Symphony Associates Decorators’ Show House & Gardens. This year the showcase was situated in Buckhead’s prestigious Tuxedo Park and offered a grand canvas for it's team of talented designers. My absolute favorite entry was a glorious dining room by Meg Adams that carefully mixed a beautiful turquoise color with a soft neutral backdrop. Anchoring the room was a reclaimed wood table paired with linen dressed chairs and two perfectly tailored benches. Every touch worked effortlessly. Please, please, please take note of the perfect Osborne & Little fabric and the Empire-style chandelier. To die!   

*Product details can be found at Atlanta Style Now
*Photography via Atlanta Home Magazine

{inspiration} A Perfect Dining Space

Happy Monday everyone! To continue with my adoration of all things summer I thought I would share this great dining moment. Perfect white slipcovers & cushions nestle so lovely next to the dark wicker chairs and rustic wood table. A pop of fresh blooming flowers and a wonderful backdrop of cabinetry glass add the great contrast of hard and soft. I love when feminine and industrial meet and work together to make something wonderfully un-cookie cutter. And how elegant a pair of industrial pendant lamps can look when hanging over this serene setting. Nothing matches perfectly but it all perfectly works. Enjoy the warm breeze!

*photography via {this is glamorous}

{idea notebook} An Old Shed Finds New Life

I had a playhouse growing up that my Dad built for me. It was a darling miniature of a real house and as you can imagine it was climbed in, through, on-top-of and nearly under. Today it still sits in my old backyard but has sadly transitioned into a downtrodden garden shed. After taking a recent trip around the grounds with the boys we came to the decision that it needed a festive face lift. (You have to admire my Dad, he has never been one to shy away from color and has an impeccable eye for how to use it.) Our hunt for inspiration began with a trip to the bookstore, the Woodsmith Store and the local Menards. After this "intensive" search we came up with the perfect model for our newest project; a delightful cottage-style house with wonderful color bursts of cherry, white and sunshine yellow. We were even inspired to utilize their smart wall grid to create a new interior layout that can accommodate garden tools and pots while opening up the floor space for a small garden cart.
I can't tell you how rewarding it is for us to stand here, some 30 years later, and see this little house that I loved so much sparkle again with her original style and charm- the newest gem in the old neighborhood.

*photography via BHG Special Interest Publications: Remodel

{inspiration} An Inspired Mismatch of Pattern

As it is Monday most of you are probably looking to read about a wonderful interior space, designer or stylist whose work or images will inspire us for the wonderful week ahead...but today I thought I would veer a bit off course. Still holding true to showcasing inspired work I thought we could talk about how to find interior inspiration in unexpected places.
Over the weekend I was flipping through the August issue of Instyle and found a great article entitled "10 New Style Statements". The spread talks about how to use traditional apparel pieces and patterns but tweak them in ways to make your look totally modern. This is the exact idea many of us use in designing interiors to achieve spaces with that great dynamic of timelessness and relevance. I used the image above to highlight how a great mismatch of prints and pattern can create a look that is uniquely personal and fresh. Why the outfit works is key in translating this idea into an interior space: 1. Pair prints that won't compete with each other. In this case one print is a bold, ornate pattern (the floral) and the second is a smaller, more graphic print (the polka dots) which will read as a neutral. 2. Use complementary colors that fall in the same color family (deep jewel tones are used above). 3. Give the look weight or a grounded affect by using a neutral (the leather belt) in a natural fiber. 4. Add a few statement accessories to make everything sparkle (the rings).
If this idea of getting inspiration from an outfit is still a stretch for you, think of it this way: A tufted, burgundy sofa with a beautiful gold and blue pattern weaving through it, partnered with a pair of chairs in midnight blue with soft cream dots, a leather ottoman in deep espresso, a tonal, gold rug and fabulous metallic lamps. And that is how the outfit above becomes a fresh look for your home. Inspiration is everywhere... have a great week!

*photography by Ilan Rubin via Instyle Magazine

{inspiration} 860 Square Feet

In my recent expeditions I fell in love with a wonderful two-bedroom condominium designed by Wayne McGill and Chad Farquharson. Located in ultra cool, downtown-Vancouver this tiny, 860 square foot gem conjures up dramatic achievement with a grand sense of scale and style. By using a mix of old and new, and a lot of reflective surfaces and transparent pieces such as lucite and glass, the duo has created a home that flows openly together and looks as if it has been collected over a lifetime. I love their quote in Small Room Decorating "We make some things invisible and others we mirror. With things that are not clear, we're as brave as we can be."
The space is sophisticated, inventive and perfectly quirky. From the color palette of pistachio green and blush pink to the antler head hanging above two, perfectly appointed, mercury glass lamps the condo out thinks convention. Notice how bold stripes sweep through the narrow hallway (with it's own custom designed display ledge) adding drama and movement. And how the master bedroom uses an enlarged, yet elegant, linen headboard to offset the room's small scale. I especially love the chalkboard painted wall featuring a quote from Dolly Parton "You'll never do a whole lot unless you're brave enough to try."
Nicely put!

*photography via Country Almanac

{idea notebook} Color Ceilings

I became inspired to paint ceilings when I saw a fantastic aged-silver treatment all aglow above a glorious chandelier. It crossed my mind at that moment how overlooked ceilings often are. If you think of masterpieces, the Sistine Chapel comes to mind, how ceilings were frequently used by great artists as another canvas. In decorating a treated ceiling is much like a fifth, but often forgotten, wall. I love shimmery ceilings to create feminine spaces, striped ceilings to add a visual graphic for nursery spaces and deep ceilings in overtly masculine rooms. House Beautiful recently asked several designers where they loved to use painted ceilings, the following are some excerpts to inspire:

• " I wanted a library to be dark and moody, elegant and lush, so I picked this marvelous gray for the walls, trim and ceiling... The whole room felt like the inside of a jewelry box." (John Oetgen: Benjamin Moore's Dior Gray 2133-40)
• "When I worked at Parish-Hadley, Albert often suggested putting a little pink in the white of a ceiling to make it more of a flesh tone. It just sort of blushes, and the reflection is more flattering." (Thomas Jayne: Benjamin Moore Opal-OC-73)
  
• "I love to paint porch ceilings the color of a clear blue sky..." (Paula Perlini: Benjamin Moore Tear Drop Blue 2053-60)
• "I usually opt for an ethereal shade like this pink...In this bedroom it adds warmth and contrast to the green. It brings your eye up and automatically raises the ceiling height." (Jamie Drake: Benjamin Moore I Love You Pink 2077-70) *As seen in the image above

*photography via House Beautiful, Interview quotes by Christine Pittel

{inspiration} The Unexpected Chandelier

One of my favorite things to put in a room is an unexpected chandelier. When used in casual, or deconstructed places, they are at their best. (We are not trying to recreate the Dynasty area of big shoulder pads.) Rather, when mixed with elements like slip covered sofas, wood and metal tables, distressed furniture and natural fiber rugs a chandelier can look refreshingly modern. I think they are fabulous in bedrooms and living rooms, or nestled into a quiet reading nook. Try moving them away from their traditional homes of entry ways and dining rooms (although they can still be lovely in both places) & let their dynamic sense of drama and scale anchor a bed or seating arrangement. I have even seen an amazing electric-pink version hang over a glossy white, Mid Century Modern crib. Magnificent! Yes, a chandelier by it's nature is grandiose, but when used correctly and combined with the right elements they can be eclectic, whimsical and oh so very cool.

*A few of my favorite chandelier sources: Circa Lighting, The Urban Electric Co., Anthropologie, Rejuvenation, Graham and Green
*photography via Graham and Green, 100 decorating ideas Big Style for small rooms by Better Homes and Garden

{idea notebook} Upholstered Screen

What do you do when you can't find the perfect piece of art to fill a big space or create an interesting focal point? I am certain this question has crossed all of our minds more than once. For a do-it-yourself solution try upholstering a screen. It's natural triptych shape is ideal for composition; all you have to do is find a fabric that you love and choose a screen whose proportions and scale work with your wall area. A few pointers to remember: 1. Cut fabric with approximately 3-4 inches of overlap (play)- this will allow you to pull the fabric taught and staple securely to the back of the screen. 2. Iron or steam the fabric prior to affixing it to the frame to remove all wrinkles. 3. If your pattern features any horizontal or vertical images align them carefully using a level or T-Square. I love this idea!

*photography via decorating, room by Huff-Dewberry, LLC

{inspiration+designer} Lucas Studio, Inc.

Lucas Studio, Inc. is a boutique interior design firm founded by LA-based interior designers Joe Lucas and Parrish Chilcoat. Their style is a dynamic combination of classic meets cool; refinement with an air of West Coast ease. Traditional Home magazine took note and named them as one of the "Top 20 Young Design Firms to Watch" in April 2009. What I enjoy most about this duo is how they use traditional design elements to create very pleasing rooms yet juxtapose this restraint with pops of modern, often funky, details (i.e.: the settee fabric as seen above). In addition to their design firm, the pair also owns Harbinger, a West Hollywood retail shop that showcases trend-resistant decor (think slippered chairs & pedestal tables), eclectic antiques, lighting, art and a chic selection of wallpaper and fabrics.

*photography via One Kings Lane

{inspiration} Mixed But Not Matched

I believe that great decorating is about good style not necessarily about following specific rules. In design I love mixing old with new, modern and traditional, vintage and contemporary; this blended approach runs throughout my blog- it is what I view as my signature style. Take for example this great space above, it gracefully mixes Cottage Style with Queen Anne Chairs, an Angle Iron trimmed dining table, a French-Country sideboard and wonderfully rustic, rough-hewn ceiling beams. Together these elements create a modern room that is crisp yet inviting with incredible texture & warmth. Perfect.

*photography via Cottage Living, Tim Street-Porter

{inspiration} a creative MINT

I am veering off of the usual path to feature a photographer and blog that I find utterly beautiful. The images above are a sweet sample of a place called a creative MINT...

*photography by Leslie Shewring via a creative MINT

{inspiration+designer} Perfectly L.A.

To begin with let's start with the where; Los Angeles, California, my absolute favorite place in the US besides New York. Where the sun is always shining and the trees smell of orange blossoms. Love it! So while I was flipping through my library of Instyle Magazines for new inspiration I came across a feature on Kristen Bell's Spanish-style L.A. home.

The decor was created by L.A. designer Stacey Vuduris and the work couldn't be more lovely. It is a wonderful and whimsical blend of sleek, modern lines, bold colors and feminine accents. The perfect example of what I feel is great design. Take a peek inside the Dining Room which features faux-suede-and-chrome chairs from CB2, a custom wallpapered ceiling and a clustered globe chandelier from Shades of Light. It is relaxed and pretty but sophisticated. For the Living Room they used yummy, creamy, white upholstery (my favorite!), a fantastic custom ottoman by Plantation (covered with Chiang Mai Dragon pattern fabric) and added contained pops of turquoise, yellow, green and metallic gray. It is simply PERFECT!

*photography via InStyle

{idea notebook} Color: The 60-30-10 Rule

I was recently on the HGTV website and came across this piece written by Mark McCauley, ASID. It lays out a really simple guide on how to introduce color into a room if you are at all hesitant or unsure how to go about it. Thanks HGTV!

Use the 60-30-10 Rule
"Decorating a space in terms of color is as easy as 60-30-10. Don't believe me? Take a look at some rooms in magazines or in Designers' Portfolio. You'll notice that the rooms you like the most are almost invariably divided into percentages of 60-30-10. Why this works is anybody's guess. Perhaps it is the human tendency to see an overall theme in the 60 percent hue, unifying the coloration. The 30 percent provides visual interest and the 10 percent, not unlike jewelry, provides that little spark of sparkle.

So, when decorating a particular room, divide the colors into percentages:
60% of a dominant color
30% of a secondary color
10% of an accent color

When you think about it, this color breakdown is similar to a man's business suit:
60% of the outfit's color is the slacks and jacket
30% of the outfit's color is the shirt
10% of the outfit's color is the tie

Translated to a room setting, it typically means:
60% of the room's color is the walls
30% of the room's color is the upholstery
10% of the room's color is, say, an accent piece or a floral arrangement"

*photography via hgtv and room design by Kenneth Brown.

Design Week in New York

For two weeks each May the design community vibrates with excitement as Manhattan plays host to New York Design Week. It is the highlight of the design year in New York, with shows and events featuring great work from both new and established designers. To quote journalist Wendy Goodman "The energy was great this time, as everyone rallied from the bleak fallout of recession with design that was more sustainable than that of years past, and often refreshingly subversive. I saw a ton of fun, innovative work at every price level across the city."
Check out her article on New York Magazine's site dedicated to her huntings.

*New York Magazine logo via New York Magazine

{inspiration+designer} Melissa Warner

What I am loving now is the work of designer Melissa Warner. If you have a chance to pick up the latest issue of House Beautiful you can see how her L.A. apartment sparkles with a modern palette & sweet touches throughout. One of my favorite features was Warner's extra bedroom turned office. There she used items of mixed style and medium such as metal locker baskets, a tailored draped table, a Lucite chair (a current favorite of mine) and wallpapered the closet's sliding doors in Osborne & Little's Hothouse in Arizona to create a darling personal space. I love the clever wallpaper idea "for an instant splash of color and pattern". How fantastic!

*photography by Victoria Pearson via House Beautiful

THE HOME BOOK

A wonderful friend of mine has commissioned me to design her new home. This is a house that was built from bricks to mortar by herself and her darling husband. (literally) It is a wonderful open space soon to be filled with the patter of six little feet. So, as our time-line is quickly drawing near we decided to take a trip to our local Barnes & Noble to peruse the decorating isle for inspiration. Hours later we walked back to the car with arm loads of ideas. My favorite find of the day was a gorgeous, 464 page beauty called The Home Book. Written and produced by the editors of House Beautiful Magazine.

To quote Barnes & Nobles book synopsis:
"The Home Book is sure to become the homeowner’s bible on interior design. A beautiful object in itself, this book will grace every (perfectly chosen) coffee table...but only after this hardworking guide has been pored through and turned to again and again for practical, usable design insights. The volume begins by taking a hard look at the bones of the house: its site, light, and layout. Armed with those basics, you’ll know which elements you can improve, and how to work around those that can’t be changed. From there, develop an overall decorating concept based on theme, color, furnishings, wall and floor coverings, and accessories—each aspect of design receives detailed coverage. Finally, go through the house room by room to see what remarkable transformations you can achieve in every space, from the entryway to the home office, the kitchen to the foyer. The Home Book reflects House Beautiful’s exciting style: fresh, bright and accessible, filled with insider tips from today’s top decorators, and bursting with practical advice for real people."

* Photography via barnesandnoble.com

How Unexpected

Today let's relish in the beauty of something unexpected. Take for instance the basic metal rolling rack. It can be found in any local retail store or fashion showroom. It is usually filled with restock items or fit room runs and pushed to the side as not to be a displeasing site for shoppers. Yet here it is, in the entry of Danish fashion designer Malene Birger's Copenhagen home. With lush coats and wonderful bags this everyday item becomes a display that is beautiful and unexpected with perfect attention to all that is glamorous . . . just magnificent!
It makes me wonder what else we overlook or pass by on the road to creating a perfect space. Let this be a lesson that your old gardening shoe just might be the perfect hanging planter... how unexpected!

* photography by Christian Burmester via this is glamorous