not your grandmother's WATERCOLOR

Within this past year, I have become entranced with watercolor.  I feel like this medium is making a real come back.  Have you noticed it when you're out shopping?  It can easily flow into ombre designs with dip-dye techniques, too.

I have been in love with this print..The minty aquas to hot pink, to yellow and black.  It has such a sense of motion, like bubbles rising or cells multiplying.  The highs and lows in coloration are ethereal.  Watercolor feels so modern in this context.

Or take in neutral and stormy with this bedding.  The fluidity of ink blue is like a storming rolling through, never knowing where it may bleed.  It's so powerful and deep.


To see more of my watercolor finds stop by my Pinterest board 'wash of COLOR'



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SOURCES

Colorful dots: Freutcake
Bedding: Nordstrom

inspired by a BOLD RUG

Happy Monday everyone!  If you're off to a slow start this week, I hope this will put some PREP in your step- intrigued?

About a week ago I was invited by Chairish.com to participate in a design challenge for their website featuring their latest rug collection.  If you are not familiar with Chairish like me, they seem to be an upscale version of Craigslist geared towards designers and design enthusiasts who value quality furniture and accent pieces.  The company was created out of a need to sell perfectly good condition home furnishings when you are relocating or even changing styles.  You can easily list your items on a professional website.  Their 'About' section explains it best, "Our shop exclusively features curator-approved treasures in a full-service and trustworthy environment."  I'm also very impressed with their item descriptions and search categories from a multitude of design styles, color, and price.  

This online event is to show readers how to go bold with their rug selection.  It's so easy to stay safe and neutral, but Chairish would like to show their shoppers how to go from light to BRIGHT.  I was sent a folder with 10 options, but they have many more rugs to choose from.  There were modern graphic patterns, beautiful eastern rugs, and bright multi-colored rugs.  The graphic patterns were great, but weren't challenging me.  I was leaning towards a teal patchwork turkish rug, but then I decided to go green!

This Grass Green Arbash Turkish Rug is stunning.  Don't be so quick to dismiss it as just another green rug.  I was pulled in to the depth of its color from bright grass green to the dark jungle greens.  The striation in the weave, and random highs and lows have so much energy and visual interest.  This traditional wool rug, and others like it, are now considered old fashioned in Turkey.  Today, Turkish dealers are saving these rugs from the 1960s-80s, and over-dyeing them with modern and vibrant colors to save them from collecting dust in the back of bazaars.  How fantastic!

As the name implies, I immediately envision bright green grass when I look at this rug.  I think of golf greens and polo fields with fresh cut grass.  These sports have a sophisticated culture, and preppy reputation.  Pink and green is an iconic preppy color combo, so that's how I decided on my colors for this bright design.  I think of women dressed to the nines in beautiful florals, sipping their tea while viewing the game.  Kate Spade has great style to modernize traditional colors and patterns for today's woman.  Being outdoors, natural elements bring warmth and rustic charm of the nearby horse stables.

Welcome to my preppy bedroom inspired by this grass green rug.  With a green rug on the floor, I wanted to splash the wall with pink.  Both pinks colors are toned down with a bit of grey for sophistication, but the stripes are modern and graphic.  To balance all of this color, I brought in this beautiful four poster bed in white.  Not only does it add some country charm, it's a landing place for the eye to rest in this bold design.  Next I was searching for a chandelier to hang over the bed, but decided I'd rather have two pendants to hang from above.  These beehive pendants in jute are the perfect neutral accent with some texture.  The balance of the lights allows me to offset one night table and a chair around the bed.  Let's talk about this chair!  Believe it or not, I was planning to use a sleek, mid-century leather and chrome chair, but then I found this beautiful cabbage rose bouquet print.  I love the traditional tufting and it reminds me of Dorothy Draper in the 1940s.  To complement this, I slipped in some mid-century style with this walnut night table.  Crisp white, embroidered pillows with a pop of a berry pink velvet are just the perfect touch for the bedding.  

In an eclectic design it's important to use repetition for cohesion.  Green, pink, and white are each repeated 3 times through my design.  For example grass green is featured in the rug and repeated in the chair and the purse by the leather pouf.  

I envision this eclectic and bold bedroom as a guest room at home, or at a charming bed & breakfast.  I definitely took this eclectic bedroom from white to bright, don't you think?  As you see, this whole room was inspired by a rug, which is often one of the last accents added to a design.  I hope when you are ready to re-decorate at home, you will take a second thought about what goes below your toes.  Even if you're not ready for pink walls, you can still go BOLD with your rug. 

So, would you take a holiday and stay in this 'missmatch' Bright & Preppy Bedroom?

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SOURCES

Chairsih: Rug, Bed, White pillows, Pink pillow, Pendants, Chair, Night table, Pouf, Clutch, Sunglasses, Mirror

to extend OR NOT?

My husband and I are finally moving in!  Well, we've been here for 3 months to the day, and it's about time we get some furniture, don't you think?

We've been working on some floor plans for our office.  Gosh, I'm so excited to have a REAL workspace.  That means our bed will no longer be a place of business- yay!  I even gave my husband step-by-step instructions to help draw the floor plans you will see below.  As happy as I was to teach him, and let him be involved on another level, there were some moments when I just wanted to steal the mouse back and take charge!  The energy and ideas were just flowing through to my hands, so it took a lot of control to verbally express my directions to him.  You know what I mean?  It's like slowing down to try eating with your non-dominant hand.

The low 9-drawer dresser has been our media console since we moved in.  We took out all of the drawers, and got it up to the stair landing with the dolly.  But hauling it up a flight of stairs was a bit scary- I'm not going to lie.  My husband pulled from the top stairs, and I was propped below pushing it up, one stair at a time.  Each stair was announced with a loud CLUNK of the wheels at the base.  We backed it into the bathroom, and pivoted it into the office.  The desk was next.  It it also a large piece of furniture, so I had to unscrew the legs, slide the table up the stairs (together), and screw the legs back on.  This slim profile table is surprisingly heavy- phew!  

Office Floor Plan- Option A:

I like Option A because I get a full view of the desk and work space when I walk in the room.  It's also light and bright with the white desk and white tall bookcase.  For this plan I'll forgo the table leaf and keep it at 60"L so there is room to access both sides of the closet.  The sight line is open to the window across from the door because the dresser is low at about 30"h.  The dresser is a dark wood finish.  I planned to re-use our bedroom full length drapery from my Chicago apartment to frame the window.  However, because of the wall heater (the tiny rectangle) the dresser needs to be pushed to the window wall.  In this case I will extend the drapery rod from the window corner across to the bookcase, and hang both panels together on the wall next to the window.  This trick will give the illusion that the window is wider than it is, which I'm a fan of.

Office Floor Plan- Option B:

I like Option B because we can look out the window while we are working.  As a child my desk was below my window, in college it was next to the window, and in Chicago my dining table/desk was centered under a very large window.  It's so great to have natural light (plus I like to brainstorm looking out to the sky).  This plan allows us to open the table with the leaf to 87"L- which is HUGE.  The dresser and the book case would be on the same wall for all of our storage needs.  I have a some flexibility with the window treatments, but I think I might just use the same idea as Option A.

My next day off is Monday, so I think that will be my next opportunity to move the tall bookcase upstairs with the help of my husband.  There is no way I can do that myself.  At this point, I'm just so excited to see some furniture in the office!

Soon as I think I'm decided on a floor plan, I start thinking about the other one.  It would be so great to extend the desk full length, but do we really need to?  Which floor plan option do you prefer for our new office?

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SOURCES

Floor plans: by ME

remember the RUG

There are so many things to consider when designing a room.  For example, let's talk about a family room.  Let's see....we'll need a sofa, a love seat or maybe two chairs, a coffee table, end tables, a media console, a lamp, and.....just so many things.

There are four walls to a room, so you have probably considered your wall color.  Are you going to keep it, or are you ambitious enough to tape off your precious moldings to paint?

But wait, there's still another major consideration that's so easy to STEP right over.  That's right- the floor!  Do you like the finish and color?  Is it darker than you wish it was?  Does it feel like your furniture is floating in your great room?  Are the floors cold on your feet in the winter?  Would you rather have something soft for the kids to sit on to play games at the coffee table? And the most important question....Are you gonna go bold or go home?!

Area rugs are so important, but are easily glanced over.  Their function is sometimes taken for granted, and we should seize the moments when we can really make a statement with an area rug.  It can greatly influence the style of your room.




If your room feels a bit flat, add some soft texture with a shag rug:

If your room has lots of colorful artwork, complement it with a neutral rug:

If your room feels too traditional, freshen it up with a modern striped rug:

If your room feels quiet or bland, wake it up with an eye-catching colorful rug:

To see more inspiration images like these, checkout my Pinterest boards "my style, RIGHT NOW" and "mix it UP".

These are some great examples of how to 'missmatch' your style with an area rug.  I can't wait till I find the perfect rug for my home.  I have a neutral sofa on the way (it should be here by mid-February  *think good thoughts*), so I'm definitely going to mix it up with bright colors.

What does your area rug do for your space, or is it time for a new one?




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SOURCES

Shag rug: Pink Rug Co, Etsy
Neutral rug: Bloglovin'
Modern rug: Hege in France
Colorful rug: SF Girl by Bay

felt pillow DIY

Did you see the felt flower pillow I used in 'my birthday ROOM' post?  I love the texture so much.  Now, let's learn how to make one!


I got this idea from my Pinterest board 'cr8ive IDEAS."  I pinned this DIY project 7 months ago, and now it makes sense to share it with you here.  The step by step instructions are provided by Vidya at Whats Ur Home Story- blog.

Here's a teaser, but follow the links to see the original post at What's Ur Home Story!

I like the simplicity of this circle design.  It's really just a texture, it doesn't look flowery at all.  This works in a design for a child, or for a modern 20-30 something, and even those sophisticated or funky elders out there!  Whether you keep it monotone, or mix in other colors, this is a new way to use felt in your home.  

'Missmatch' your relationship with felt: Take it off the children's craft table, and cover a pillow for your sofa or chair!

...And let me know how you FELT about it!  (sorry, that's cheese ball, but I couldn't resist)

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SOURCES

All images: Whats Ur Home Story

"as is" IKEA

Last week I stopped by IKEA with my husband.  We were just going to pick up an extra set of flatware.   (It seems we go through our forks much faster than we used to...Hmmm...)  Since we were out, we decided we may as well walk through the large maze of IKEA, and see if we get inspired by any furniture or design ideas for our place- what a great idea! Embarrassingly, we have been here for just over 2 months and we are still eating with pillows on our lap, seated in camping chairs.  Our little end table is also our dining table...

So, this is what we went in for.  This is the Fornuft 20-piece flatware set.  Believe it or not, this was the only item we picked up- oh wait!  We also picked up a paper towel holder.  It's been driving me crazy just having the roll sit next to the kitchen sink.  Here is the TORKAD Paper towel holder.

Then we continued through to the checkout lanes, but WAIT!  What's that big sign over there say?  "AS IS."  I have never seen this section advertised before, so I pulled my wonderful husband over there so I could have a look.  You just never know what you may find.  After all, someone's trash is someone else's treasure.

Take a look at that carving...I love it!  I darted right over to this white dining table with round tapered legs and spool carving details.  It was IKEA furniture, but has more charm than the popular modern design IKEA does so well.  This beauty is called the INGATORP Extendable Table.

Oh, but is it worth this much?  I was already searching on Craigslist for a great deal on dining tables, and found some possibilities a bit less, including chairs.  So, how can I justify this price for only a table?  And not only that, I'm pretty sure this won't fit in our small dining area....

I was definitely becoming attached to the table, but was still battling with the price.  Apparently, clearance prices only get reduced after an item has been on the floor for 3 months, and most items sell in 10 days or so.  Upon further inspecting the table, my husband discovered a track system below, and took critical notice of the black arrow at the edge of the table.  You guessed it- it's EXTENDABLE.   This greatly increases the value of this piece!  Even if we can't use it as our dining table for now, it will be a furniture piece we can take to our next home.  I mean, even if we keep it for 4 years, that only $50 per year- not to shabby!

Here is a quick floor plan I drew of our first floor with just the bare essentials.  The INGATORP Extendable Table shown above is 61"L x 34"W , and extends to ~85"L.  That's a pretty decent size.  You can see the table slightly hangs past the wall, but unfortunately, it doesn't leave much room for chairs.  

This dining space is intended for a round or square table.  It will still be a cozy fit, but it definitely enhances the flow of the space.  When guests are seated at the table, there will be little to no interference from the kitchen (to the right of the dining table) to the stairs (to the left of the dining table).

What a great way to 'missmatch' the function of a dining table.  The large surface area will be amazing to take advantage of.  There will be room for me to blog on my laptop, and have my own little library of design books and materials on the back half of the work surface.  I even think there will be room to share some precious realty with my husband to do his work!

One day this "AS IS" find will be our dining table, but I will be enjoying every moment using it in our new office.  I can't wait to get it set up, and have an inspiration board nearby with more 'missmatch' ideas to share with you.

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SOURCES

Flatware: IKEA
Towel holder: IKEA
Dining table: IKEA
Photography: by my husband
Floor plans: by ME

my birthday ROOM

It feels so good to design for my blog again~

I know it's been a while since my last collection, but life got a bit busy between moving across the country and the holidays....But enough with excuses, let's get to it!

I hope you had a chance to see my last post about my colorstrology Pantone color for my birthday Toasted Nut 13-1627. (If not you should click HERE to get caught up). This room collection is inspired by the eye shadow kit by stila at Sephora.

I was inspired by the presentation layout that David Bromstad uses on his HGTV show Color Splash: Miami.  Above you see the room in it's almost bare state.  I've started with coffee bean stained wood floors and a light mocha wall color.

Toasted Nut is the inspiration for my parlor, so I started with this handsome leather sofa in a warm reddish brown.  And doesn't it look nice and comfy to sink into?  Then I wanted to bring in a piece with a round shape, and found this contemporary swivel chair in a medium grey to bring in another neutral, and let the sofa be the focal point.  The final piece of furniture is this raw edge coffee table.  It adds an industrial feel with it's steel U-shape legs.  

Let's layer in some softness with pillows and a rug.  I added two great textural pillows to the sofa to repeat the color of the swivel chair.  I selected a light colored two-tone rug, and repeated that cream color in the beautiful felt pillow on the chair.  I'm in love with this pillow....Make sure you notice all of the pillows are neutral, but are all a different texture: felt flowers, lamb's hair, to a chunky bubble knit.  These textures add visual interest in place of graphic patterns.

Lastly I added the accent pieces that really bring personality to this design.  I started with the artwork, and originally had a modern painting in mind.  But, as you see, I went a completely different direction when I found these beautifully carved plaques.  The rococo motifs bring a classical aesthetic to this design.  I wanted to bring in some reflective surfaces to this cozy design, and found this amazing palladian mirror.  In fact, it's so large that it reminds me of a window bouncing light around the room.  Of course we need some ambient light, and this pair of glamour, deco-inspired floor lamps balance this asymmetrical design, and are the perfect metallic touch- every room needs a touch of bling!

I love how this parlor came together, and it was a total surprise.  I really wasn't sure which way this Toasted Nut palette was going to take me in, but the principles of design led me through the process. The leather sofa is the feature, and the rest of this eclectic design is all about texture, and repetition of color.  A leather sofa paired with a cotton chair, a semi- shag rug in two-tones, a variety of textured pillows, metallic floor lamps to steel legs on the coffee table.  This play of textures and neutral colors make for a very sophisticated room that still feels livable.

Would you take a moment to welcome your guests in this 'missmatch' Toasted Nut Parlor?  

(PS....I also think this design would be perfect in a hair salon waiting room with it's feminine touch)

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SOURCES

Leather sofa: West Elm
Swivel chair: West Elm
Coffee Table: Ethan Allen
Rug: Pottery Barn
Flower pillow: Target
Lamb pillow: West Elm
Bubble pillow: West Elm
Wall Art: Restoration Hardware
Mirror: Restoration Hardware
Floor lamp: Ethan Allen

my birthday COLOR

My birthday was this weekend, right in hand with the new year- Hooray!!

I received wonderful birthday wishes from friends and family all day long, but none made me analyze myself like this message from one of my best friends:

Colorstrology: What Your Birthday Color Says about You is written by astronomer Michele Bernhardt.  This is a study of astrology, numerology and best of all, color theory (using Pantone schemes.)

The Pantone Color of the Day: Jan 02 is Toasted Nut: Musical, Emotional, Responsible

Even though the color name Toasted Nut implies this image reference...

.... I think of this shade as a make-up foundation color:

It feels so much more beautiful to me as a warm bronzy base, don't you think?  

Hmm.....it's still not really a color I identify with at first, but then I think of how it can melt and blend with other warm tones.  While we're talking makeup, eye shadow palettes would be a great resource for how to use this color in a room design.  

I am in love with this palette, I feel like I'm warm and cozy with my scarf and knee high socks on, curled up in a cozy chair with some hot cocoa....  I like how this eye shadow kit by stila at Sephora mixes this Toasted Nut shade with golden tones, grayer taupe colors, reddish browns, and even a black accent.  This palette has a lot of dimension with both cool and warm tones.

I picture a bouquet of dusty pink roses wrapped with twine laying on a rustic wood table, or a raspberry-filled chocolate melting in my mouth.  This eye shadow kit by tarte at Sephora plays up my birthday shade with pink tones like a deep berry and kissable pink.  What a romantic palette...

This 'missmatch' colorstrology selection for January 02 also surprises me.  I would have assumed that a color for January would have been a cool winter color such as blue, purple, or grey.  Pantone 13-1627 is a warm tone that reminds me more of the spring season, but I'm no astrologer!

Do you know what your colorstrology pick is in the Pantone universe?

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SOURCES

Toasted Nuts: Hungry Brownie

Foundations: Fashion Diva Design

Eye Shadows: Sephora

2nd Eye Shadows: Sephora

to another YEAR

To all of my dear family, friends, and readers ~

Did anyone watch the Rose Parade?!  I had a busy work week, and ended up sleeping in this year...oops


Happy 2015!!


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SOURCES

Image: XXmiek