{inspiration} A Dramatic Pop Of Print

In this season of winter chill it feels good to be a little bold and do something fresh... I am loving the idea of wallpaper right now. Wallpaper inside a cabinet or backing kitchen shelves, geometric paper dramatically covering a small interior space, or the use of a color and print pairing that one would normally shy away from (I particularly LOVE the fantastically, amazing color schemes of deep blue+black+coral+white | green+tangerine+mahogany+taupey grey). Sure, I love all the little details of decorating a space... but sometimes the best detail of all can come from one dramatic pop of print.


*Image 1 via Coco+Kelley, design by Alessandra Branca, Image 2 via Coco+Kelley, Image 3 via Apartment Therapy , Image 4 via Elle DECOR, Image 5 via Coco+Kelley, design by Massucco Warner Miller

{products+love} Red & Rockin'

There are so many things I love here... the wallpaper is a great stylized version of the classic weed... it is contemporary, cheeky and perfectly fresh. ( Dandelion Mobile by MissPrint) The curtains and framed fabric is Connections in Chilli by John Lewis. I love how it brings just the right amount of perkiness to a room. It's cheerful and funky but manages to stay grounded by the deep grey and wood tones. Very London chic. And just look at the fantastically cool table and bench & above coffee table, also from John Lewis. Isn't it all just a little bit rockin'?! Happy weekend everyone!

*Photography via Home Shopping Spy

{product+love} PATTERN wallpaper & fabric

Oh, how I love pattern and print. For me a great pattern narrates a room, establishing your complete color story with its presence. So something special happened at Elle Decoration this Fall; they turned out a gorgeous pattern book showcasing their top selections of autumn/winter wallpapers and fabrics for all of us to behold. Their picks are a wonderful compilation of florals and fauna, illustrative effects and classic prints. Together the collection is elegant and calm yet quietly forward moving. I hope you enjoy a few of my favorite picks. Have a wonderful weekend all...

Image 1. Tropical Birds' wallpaper, Cole & Son | 'Yarrow' silk fabric in Tumeric/Grape, Clarissa Hulse
Image 2. 'Decatur' linen-mix fabric in Rame Grigio by Armani Casa, Rubelli | 'Ostrich' wallpaper in Goldleaf on Brownstone, Beware the Moon | 'Staunton Mohair Gauf' fabric in Truffle, Ralph Lauren Home | 'Truffle' viscose-mix fabric in Miel, De Le Cuona
Image 3. 'Dandelion Mobile' silk fabric in Sunflower Yellow, Miss Print | 'Chevron' cotton-viscose fabric in Sulphur, John Lewis | 'Styvmorsviol' linen-cotton fabricc by Linda Svensson for Mairo, Northlight
Image 4. 'Memento' wallpaper by Amy Butler, Graham & Brown | 'Define' rayon-mix fabric in Marine by Barclay Butera, Kravet London | 'Dimapur' viscose-mix fabric in Blu by Armani Casa, Rubelli
Image 5. 'Rues des St Peres' viscose-cotton fabric from the 'Sonia Rykiel Maison' collection, Lelievre

*Photography via Elle Decoration: October 2010

{idea notebook} All-Natural Wallcoverings

So when I was thumbing through my latest issue of House Beautiful I fell absolutely in love with these all natural wallcoverings. Unlike faux effects they are actually created out of real stones! I particularly love the Crushed Mica (Phillip Jeffries, Maya Romanoff, Romo), Cork (Innovations) and Stone (Weitzner Limited) variations. Imagine the possibilities of transforming your space into a wonderfully serene  habitat.

*photography via House Beautiful

{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

Just Four Walls

I was recently asked how I achieve dramatic room transformations without completely overhauling an entire space. The simplest answer is to change color and add pattern. One of my favorite, and sometimes unexpected, locations to add a cool update is to treat your walls. Bold paint, great wallpaper & beadboard are a few elements that can quickly transform a space. If you think strategically a few quick twists can give you the most bang for your buck.

Above are featured wallpapers from Graham & Brown: Their use of vibrant color and exotic patterns is uniquely beautiful.