Spring Trends

Springtime is a favorite season of mine because of it's major shift from the cold, grey days of winter; wearing fluffy sweaters and ten extra pounds of marshmellow coat to the welcoming addition of flowers blooming and Cherry blossom trees full of pink-popping color!  Adios cold...I'm ready for the flirty fashions & freshness this new season has to offer!   

Spring Trends 2012 call for bright colors, shiny finishes, and bold patterns to wake us up from our winter hibernation.  Here's how it starts...we SHOP!

Classic patent-leather looks edgier with this 
quilted diamond pattern...
Audrey Hepburn meets Pat Benatar.

Furniture designers get inspired the same way fashion
designers do...they just have to make sure
it lasts a lot longer than just one season!

The bold colors that jump out this Spring are the brights.
Oranges, corals, & pinks give us the okay to
say goodbye to winter and hello to a fresh new start!

Happy colors make you--and your room--feel good!
This room wears it well, don't you think?

Shoes can spark interest for an entirely new outfit...
Working your way from your toes to your nose
is one way to get that fabulous, spring look you want!

This gorgeous entry piece with light and dark
wood tones is both dramatic and exotic, yet
neutral enough to go with lots of different
styles (just like those shoes)!

If bright & bold isn't your thing-- don't want that look-at-me
strut-my-stuff look, then you'll love the soft sorbet shades of pastels
that offer a low-key, ladylike vibe. 

Soft shades of blues, creams, & rose tones

make for a soothing, love-to-live-here look!

  A nice place to call home.

As always...black & white fashions defy time.
Big for this spring &  big in decorating!

Designers know you can't go wrong with
a bold black & white piece.  Goes with everything
and is hip & fabulous...always.

What's that you say?
Imitation is the highest form of flattery.
Nature always inspires...

Like this!

Your home should be filled with things
that inspire, that comfort, and that make
you enjoy being there.


Fill your life with the things you love!

Master Your Bedroom

It feels like Bedroom season, wouldn't you say?  Right now we are redoing several master bedrooms and it's been a cozy mission to find out what works for total comfort and relaxation.  It's how a bedroom should be!

Soft hues of blue gives a refreshing look and oh so relaxing...
this bedroom is easy on the eyes.

A cottage look with layering shades of white gives you options to
add splashes of color throughout the seasons-- makes for
a mix and match look where everything works well together.

Green is an unexpected pleasure of calming tones
with a sophisticated flair!  Even black and pink work well
in this space.  Silk drapes add to the classic,
heavily carved poster bed. 

Your bedding sets the tone for the entire
bedroom so make it just how you like it.
This ensemble would make it more fun for me
 to make the bed every morning!

A few ideas I've learned along the way when redesigning a bedroom...

- Symmetry really matters.  For a relaxing, calming, and peaceful feeling, you'll find it best to keep it simple and balanced.  For example, one way to give it a soothing look is to have matching lamps that are the same height on either nightstand.  Your nightstands should be as close to the same height as you can get to allow your eye to feel the ease of balance when in your room.  Same goes for artwork, mirrors, and the rest of the furniture.  

- Learn to edit.  Your bedroom should not be where you have loads of busy going on.  Don't pay your bills or have a computer staring at you while you are in bed!  You'll find the stress will lift from your body the minute you keep your room organized and free of clutter.  (this is of course, in a perfect world!)

- When it comes to color, use hues or shades of the same for balance and a consistent look.  If your favorite color is red, go for it!  Not everyone wants a light and airy look in their bedroom.  When working with your favorite color, just be aware that keeping the shades within close range will only help make your room relaxing and become a favorite in the house!

- Ask yourself what exactly you need in your room to make it work well for you.  Consider form and function when decorating.  Do you need extra drawers or do you prefer cupboards for storing?  Hiding the things you need in your room might be a good idea if you love reading books in bed but don't want to look at the clutter.  

- Where to start?  When it comes to the master bedroom, it usually starts with the bedding!  That becomes your color palette for the floors, walls, trim, and upholstery.  Your bed is the largest piece in the room so that should take priority.  Upholstered headboards are a great addition to any master bedroom.  The fabric for the headboard should be determined by the bedding once again...make it easier on yourself by finding the right bedding and build from there!  

Enjoy!  

--Whitney

Life

How was 2011?  If I had one word to describe 2011, it would be...JOY!

Joy comes in all sorts of packages...
Mine comes from this little three year old!  

Wishing all sorts of fabulous things for 2012!
Isn't it fun to dream...to wish...
to take the time to play Scrabble!

I loved receiving cards from friends & family 
during the holidays.  It's a cherished 
tradition and one that makes 
Christmastime extra special!

If I had a New Year's Resolution for life in 2012...
it would be to Knit cute things like this!

Another Joy in life-- live what you love to do...
Decorating & Designing & Shopkeeping!

Wishing you all a great start to 2012 and hoping your life has lots of JOY!  My mom just sent me a little something Mother Teresa wrote about Life.

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is costly, care for it.
Life is wealth, keep it.
Life is love, enjoy it.
Life is mystery, know it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

--Whitney

Deck the Walls

This will be our 57th Christmas in retail!  Wow!  It's such a special time of year for a lot of reasons.  One reason I love this holiday is because the designer comes out in all of us!  Go ahead...tis the season!

Here are some quick photos of one clients home all decked out for the holidays.  She is the kind of sweetheart you'd love to just sit by the fire, drink some egg nog, and enjoy stories from years past.  Enjoy seeing how some get ready for the holidays.  Merry Christmas!

Sparkle, Shimmer, and Shine!

Tip #1 in holiday decor:  HAVE FUN!

This entry welcomes winter...

My client added more bling to
her chandelier for some sparkle! 

Mixing old...

...with new to keep things fresh.

Away in a Manger

Ribbon does wonders in decorating!

Shells can make a festive statement too!

Santa by the Sea

Three Wise Men

Touches of the season...

Glam Reindeer!

The Reason for the Season!

Welcome!

I have received several messages from you asking me to feature pictures of my own house.  Gulp!  Because I love you and I just vacuumed, I will do it!  My home is small, cozy, and functions nicely for our growing family.  We have a three year old son who plays hard and is learning the difference between his toys and mommy's special things!  Come on in...

Our little Entryway...

Our Everything Room.  Living Room, TV Room,
and Playground...

Everything Room:  Part 2

Hubby John's Old Family Desk

Dining Room and fireplace sitting spot.
I love this space-- when fixing dinner,
friends & family can sit here and relax.

Dining Room and Kitchen Area.  This is the catch all place
for food, stories, laughs, and games.

Our kitchen island.  Charlie's favorite
place to perch and have breakfast.

Kitchen:  Part 2

Our kid friendly downstairs powder bath.
These little hexagon tiles make it easy to keep
clean and I love the blue/grey/white color in here.

There you have it!  Next week...the upstairs and my office-- a cleaning crew will be needed for those spaces.  Happy Decorating and enjoy your day!

Inspirations

I got a call this morning from a favorite customer asking me to come over and help arrange her office. When I got there, who greeted me but this daaaling little puppy-- the newest addition to their family.  

Meet our inspiration...Louis

I asked what his name is and she said, "Louis!  You know, like Louis Vuitton."  What a perfect name for a purse puppy!

We look at the space and can't help but think about Louis.  I never know where some inspiration comes from and who knew today it would be from a three pound Chiuaua!

My client loves fashion, has a fashion-styled business, and isn't afraid of mixing and matching great pieces to create a fun look.  This helps get the ideas rolling...

Look familiar?  She didn't want this exactly but
this is how I do my research.  I SHOP!

Found this new fall line of office furniture.
Leather & nail trim luggage file
cabinet makes it fun to go to work!

A pair of these guest chairs will add to the sleek
style of the room and size is to scale for the space.

Louis inspired this fabric.  A classic pattern;
colors work beautifully with the
carpet & wall color. 

We loved this fish-scaled shell pattern
for the desk lamp.  Like jewelry for the room!

Two bookcases flanking the desk will
give some nice curve appeal to an
otherwise square/straight-lined room.

Finally a little fun art collection

of silhouettes.  A set of 3 will

set off the walls in between

the bookcases.  

It's a lot of fun to jump into the lives of my clients-- or into their beloved dogs life!