Relaxed Living....

I've had a tile installer at my house for the past two days! He finished up my back splash and the little bathroom off of my bedroom. He was efficient as hell and I'm pretty happy with the results. (I'll be sharing a kitchen design board with you next week!) I need to select the cabinet hardware this weekend. I'm pretty sure I'm going with brass. Speaking of renovations.... I came across this home renovation in Traditional Home yesterday while I was picking up the tiles. I usually use a little more color in my designs but I'm drawn to the relaxed feel and mix of modern and traditional elements. Life can get so chaotic sometimes, I dream of coming home to a finished, beautifully decorated home!

I love this entire dining area!!

I'd also love to powder my nose at this vanity table! Beautiful!

Loving....

I'm constantly inspired by the world around me. Anyone who hires me knows that I'm continually trying to think out of the box and bring my designs to the next level. Each month (would love it to be week) I like to set aside some time to draw inspiration from blogs, magazines and websites. This a.m. I came across the work of designers Parker-Kennedy. I love their punchy style and the blended old and new aesthetic. It is a style I often include in my work. Here's a sampling of their projects. Enjoy!

Boho Chic

I'm inspired by layered details and relaxed patterns with a Bohemian twist lately!

Shelter Loves...

3/4/5/6

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY LOVES!! I'M ADORING EVERYTHING STICKY SWEET AND PINK + RED THIS WEEK!

1. Lee Radziwill's home. (younger sister to Jackie O.) - that pink sofa is precious. It looks so beautifully custom tailored.
2. I adore pink + red. Dress: Issa London
3. On my long time wish list are pink heart D.Porthault sheets. One beauty of being single? You can decorate with as many pink feminine details as you'd like.
4. Adorable earrings. I live in various studs during the weekday.
5. I may need to break down and buy a monogrammed Clare Vivier duffle bag.
6. I bought a sweater at J. Crew that is this identical color last winter. I wear it often, it's especially cheery in the dead of winter.


http://rstyle.me/~fqt8 - earrings

Chocolate + Caramel

If I can't have a chic getaway this winter then I'm craving warm, cozy + rich...I love the idea of caramel, cream and chocolate anything at the moment..layer old and new elements with lots of texture to perfect this look. The chocolate cupcakes are filled with a salted caramel. Yum. Find the recipe here.

Kelly Wearstler

White Juju

I adore the sculptural quality and texture of African Juju hats, especially in creamy white! How fun is this little boy's room? via Adore Magazine. Purchase Juju hats here.

Second row, left image via: Lonny Magazine

Inspired: New Home

image via

Hello loves, So I've sort of put my house hunt on hold for a few reasons; one being that everything in my price range in the towns I want to live in are absolute DUMPS. Holy shiz it's depressing. I'm trying to stay positive, but this single mama can only afford so much if I want to keep my sanity. I need to maintain a bit of a social life! Yes, in a perfect world I'd just stay in with my hubbie and sip cocktails as we painted walls after the kiddos have drifted off, but that's not the case and TRUST me right now I'm okay with that. I'd rather lose a creep of husband early on than spend twenty miserable years with him. I mean don't get me wrong I wasn't a fool, I didn't marry a creep (he had us all fooled), some guys just can't keep it together after you have a family. They stray and become detached in every way possible and that's precisely what happened to me. So in all honestly if Santa could bring me anything in the world it would be a charming little house at a reasonable price. I'm OKAY with a little elbow grease I just can't buy a money pit nor can I live in a money pit with two kids under the age of six. Anywayyyyy onto my post! :) I've shared this top photo before. (My apologies because I don't remember the source, but I'll find it and link back, promise). A little cape like this would be perfect, I'd even be open to a little house that I could eventually add on to. I love the glassed room off of this home and adore the classic simplicity of the black + white facade and the beautiful bucolic approach. This would be my little dream pad. See??  I'm not asking for much am I? A little pretty like this would cost quite a bit in the Boston area. I've been collecting images via the web and started a pinterest board, new home, it's full of a bunch of dis-jointed goodies, but I guess they all make sense to me. I've assembled a mini-inspiration board below showing the overall feel of the space. It'd be fairly simple with graphic details, patterns and pops of brownish-grey, pink, tan, cream and white. And of course splashes of other accent colors like emerald green, brass and yellow. The agate stone was really the impetus and inspiration around the color palette. I love it! I like fresh clean kitchens and bathrooms, and am undecided on white or black cabinets but I guess I have some time to think about that!

This marble wrapped counter, brass hardware and glass door cabinet are beyond amazing! I will absolutely have ALL of these in my kitch! image via 

A little sunny, happy banquette would also be perfect and makes such efficient use of space in a small home. I'd switch out the fabrics and colors and would plump up that seat cushion a bit but you get the idea!

I'd love to have comfy seating area and a lounge worthy sofa like this!

My daughter's room will be a mix of pink, yellow and charcoal and no matchy, matchy concepts here.

I can envision my son's room but I have yet to find a photo that comes close to my vision. A little reading nook like this would be dreamy though! I read multiple stories a night to my children, they love it. I think it's one of the most important things you can do for your child besides smother them with hugs and kisses!

I can't deal with a big yard but I would love a small garden path and patio area for outdoor cocktails and alfresco dining. 

Anyway, that's all for now, it's way past my bed time.... I just wanted to keep dreaming...and share my thoughts and ideas. I'll make this all come true and promise to share it with you all on my little ole' blog! 

xx

Cottage Love 4

I guess I'm cheating a wee bit because architecturally speaking this isn't a cottage, but it still has a bit of chic cottage feel to me with it's mix of high and low - old and new vibe! Either way I like the graphic quality (I'm actually about to shoot a project where I used a similar Kelly Wearstler rug), color use and the overall look of this home by designer Maria Barros. It's featured in the October/November 12' issue of Adore Magazine. 

These dining chairs are killer.....I need to find the original designer but for a similar look: Milo Baughman originals pop up on 1st dibs now and then. You'd have to search for a correct dining height.

If I ever need them in my life, these bar stools are on my wish list. They also come in cream leather,  which would be my first choice! Find them here.