Remebering Anne.

 

This Charlotte born designer inspired my love of residential design. She taught me texture, China Seas, how to pronounce Ikat, and the love of a good linen.

Love life. Follow your passions, love your family and do all things with strength and grace. 

You will be greatly missed.

A Farmhouse Kitchen

With the leaves beginning to change and cool air mornings, its undeniable that fall is approaching.  This time of year calls for hot cider, fall boots and cozy family dinners.  Here are some of my favorite country modern kitchens that evoke a farmhouse equestrian feel perfect for fall.

 Barefoot Contessa's Farmhouse Kitchen
 

The metal counterstools and dark wood floors help give the white beadboard kitchen a country feel.  Fresh Cut branches help fill up the space and draw attention to the pitched ceiling.

 Southern Living's 2010 Designer Showhouse

 

I love the wheatgrass and potted natural herbs in this kitchen.  The mix of wood tones and textures creates a layered well lived look. 
Paint: Toasted Pine Nut by Shewin Williams

 

 

 

Style Accessory: Tray

(house and home)

Alone, these pieces may not add up to much, but I love this example of how a simple tray and piece of art can help create vignette.

This look works because the art is hung at just the right height so it becomes an extension to the table.  The color of the thin wood frame allows the color of the tray to pop and the white mat is a place for the eye to rest.  This modern back drop allows for the more traditional pieces to be incorporated as part of the story.  The staggered ferns provide a perfect third height for an asymmetrically balanced look.

Monday Office Dreams

(House & Home)

This home office proves you don't need a designated room to create a work space.  The choice of an open-legged desk angled in front of french doors keeps the space light.   The unique bird leg lamp simply makes this display by adding modern interest and a nod to Lewis Carroll's Wonderland.

To Style a Shelf

  Sometimes it can take hours and multiple rearranging of bookshelves to create that perfect visual balance. Here's a look at some of my recent favorites for inspiration.

 

I love so many things about these Lonny styled shelves.  For starters, the deep hue of their inset is not just a standard black, but more of a Charleston green or deep blue.  The natural monochromatic accessories pop off the shelves and the graphic books offer modern structure.

 

Shelves are a great way to display collections or like things.  These store shelves make a large impact reflecting natural light through blue glass and offsetting the soft pillow forms.  If you have a prized set of items, don't hide them away in boxes,  find a way to show them off and enjoy them everyday.

 

Like a natural history museum, the cool grey backdrop for these built ins let the unique pieces speak for themselves.  Clean wrapped books allow the eye to rest between the pieces.  Audubon bird prints leaned along the back wall create reflection and establish depth.

These fun shelves pull color from their coral chair in neatly stacked books.  The clean white bust creates a timeless look in modern style.  This display of structured glamor would be perfect for the home office or ladies dressing room.

 

Christina Murphy Interiors shows a grand example of how perfectly styled shelves can stand alone as a backdrop.  Symmetrically placed abstract frames hung off the shelves create structure to the display.

Have some shelf inspiration you'd like to share, send me a photo here and explain why.  I'd love to hear from you!

 

On Holiday

I've just wrapped up a large project that has consumed my energy for the past six weeks.  What better time than now for a little R&R.  Tomorrow morning I'm off to the Dominican Republic to unwind, have some fun and restore my balance.  How do you spend your summer holiday?

Monday Office Dreams

 

 My favorite piece to incorporate in a home office is an upholstered desk chair.  When you want to create an elegant clean look, the large scale adds a masculine feel that can balance out a feminine writing desk.  Go bold when choosing fabrics in pattern or in color. Your chair should reflect your personality and become the center balance of the room.

Whether its a wing chair, a channel back or something modern, have fun with your office chair.  If we must work, we might as well do it in comfort and style. 

Happy Birthday

 

I'm always amazed at how many of my close friends and family share an April birthday with me, some even the same day.   Cheers to Taurus!!  Enjoying my special day and loving life.  XXO

Weekend Brunch: Cherry Blossom Spread

Front Doors: Historic Philadelphia

I've been traveling to Philly for work lately, and last week I finally got a chance to get out and explore more than just the shopping in the area.  During an evening carriage ride through the old residential district, we learned that the color, construction and even transoms of your front door held different meanings.  If you saw a home with white, double front doors, that meant it was the residence of a doctor.  You could even identify the religion of a household by the color of their shutters.  Here are some of my favorite doors found while walking through the city.

 

Homes with a wooden carved pineapple displayed by their door meant they were a sign of welcome for overnight guests.  Those homes would offer you a place to stay even if you were a stranger.  A pineapple placed at the foot of the bed the next day meant that you were welcome to stay another night, if there was no pineapple, it was a polite was of asking you to move on.  Throughout colonial America, the pineapple has been a symbol of hospitality.  Headboards or bed posts incorporating the carved pineapple motif, have the intent to carry the message welcome to their guests.

This entryway offers the symbol of hospitality through a black and white pineapple wallpaper.  Repined from Laura Casey Interiors

Monday Office Dreams

 

Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles

  

The overall feel of a room can be greatly affected by a choice in paint color.  The black used here chosen by designer Amy D. Morris, allows the finish of the chandelier and two etegeres to pop the most.  Black can give a moody, masculine, and formal feeling to a study while creating an area of focus and security.

Weekend Brunch: Portobello Swiss and Green Onion Quiche

Tortola Ticking

In 2010 we did a keeping room for a lovely young family in NC.  What started off as a fairly neutral palette became fresh and bold with this Tortola Ticking rug by Dash and Albert.  The sea foam blue paint really popped against the molding and the kitchen's new white cabinets.

 

I was recently in a store that carried a variety of D&A runners, and I still think this one is my favorite!  

The Arteriors Home wood chandelier was selected to hang over the clients breakfast table connecting the keeping room and kitchen.  Large bay windows set behind the table were dressed in modern linen panels, fabric shown below.

Kelly Wearstler's Sea Urchin on linen  

We created this custom settee based off an inspiration page we pulled from a FLOR catalog.  The neutral fabric was chosen from a contract line because of its durable properties that would withstand the client's children and pets.  The pillows are China Seas Double Cross in Inca Gold fashioned in three sizes for character. 

What's your favorite Dash and Albert Rug?

Monday Office Dreams

Repinned from Belle Maison

Welcome Home: Foyers

 When you work hard or travel far, there's nothing better than coming home.  Design is about creating a feeling and an emotion.  When you walk through your door, your entry way should greet you with personality and a transition into comfort.  Drop your keys and leave your baggage at the door... Welcome Home.


Light & Airy from Pinterest 
I love how this designer carried the repetition of the wallpaper pattern through the ottoman fabric and the ceiling fixture.  Large windows are great and this pale palette is perfect for reflecting the natural light.

Sophistikat by FLOR

Love the console table, the art that draws your eye, the stacked orange boxes and of course these Flor Tiles.  I feel like this room is a wonderful summary of a graphic, bold, dramatic statement.

 Classic.  Pinned from The Lennoxx

A Georgian home entry way by Jill Goldberg of Hudson Interiors.

Foyer by Lauren Leiss of Pure Style Home

This foyer has served as great inspiration for many projects because of the amazing flow and placement of artwork.  The pendant and orange door are great too!

 

Pinned from Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles 

This Burlington home was transformed into a resort-worthy hall for Tommy Bahama's Road to Canberra collection by Lexington Home Brands.  I was lucky enough to help style this week long shoot while freelancing last year in North Carolina.

Color Changes Everything

I can't help but feel an itch for spring with Target's NEW Color Changes Everything commercial.  What makes you wish for warm weather?

Press PLAY for your listening enjoyment

This playful bar cart paints the picture of spring with lemon soda, daffodils and pastel ping pong balls.  If this tasteful green trellis wallpaper doesn't evoke the perfect southern parlor I don't know what does.  Photo from Isabella & Max Rooms blogspot.

Tory Burch Coral Sandals

Shark Pups blogspot

 Breakers Barstool from Lily Pulitzer Home.         Arches fabric Tory Burch for Schumacher.

 

Hold tight girls, spring is just around the corner!  Bring on the color!  - XXO

Happy Valentines Day

Amelia Lyon Photography

The real lover is the man who can thrill you by kissing your forehead.

- Marilyn Monroe

Vogue

I'm looking for love.  Real love.  

Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can't-live-without-each-other love.  

- Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City.

 

Tumblr

 

Sugarboo Designs

E. E. Cummings.  This has always been a favorite of mine at High Point Market.

The Glitter Guide on Tumblr

Celebrate in Style.  Happy Valentines Day-  XXO

A Valentines Inspired Buffet

 

Last weekend I hosted a dinner party and used these long stem Pink Carnation vases as my centerpiece.  This week, they've inspired me to create a Valentines themed vignette.  

 

I love using flowers that are all one color or similar in color to make arrangements.  I've also found I like the strong contrast of pink or red against a real masculine blue.

 

I used a coastal white lantern and modern vase to balance out the rustic feel of the Regina Andrew table lamps.  The "Lovely" burlap bunting is something I've had inspired by Etsy. - XXO