Monday, January 31, 2011

All you need is love

I have always been infatuated with the Robert Indiana Love sculpture (and any pop art for that matter.) If ever I needed a paperweight, now would be the time! Check out this gorgeous, gold, mini sculpture that would look great on any desk!  

via here

Look, Angie Hranowsky even has one in silver!
via here

Friday, January 28, 2011

Room of the day

via Style at Home

Maybe I should change the title to 'Room of the week' because I have been fixated on this image all week! I can't stop staring at it and taking in all the lovely details. Maybe it's the white cabinets combined with dark glossy floors, maybe it's those lucite bar stools, or maybe it's that vignette in the background with the cowhide rug and abstract orange art that make me love this space so much. I also adore the idea of bookshelves in a kitchen. Why not?! Simplicity, functionality and style is what it's all about!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Room of the day

via Jonathan Adler 

Trend Alert: Brass is Back!

Last week I did a post about mirrored walls and how they are making a big comeback. Also reminiscent of the 80's era of home decor is brass. . . and it's back as well! Whether it's soft, polished, antiqued or hammered, brass is popping up everywhere you turn. I love the element of the unexpected it can add to a space. Whether it's a piece of furniture, light fixture, accessory or hardware, you can't go wrong by adding a touch of brass to either a traditional or modern space!

via Bear Hill Interiors

via Angie Hranowsky (Have I mentioned she's one of my favorite designers?!) 

via Domino 

 via Urban Grace

 via Kelly Wearstler

via unknown

via me

via Unknow

Want to add a little brassy-ness to your home's decor? Here's some ideas:

via here

 via here


 via here


via here

via here



via here

via here
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via here


I have to laugh because my mom has had two brass lamps carefully tucked away in storage for several years. She purchased them in the late 80's and spent a small fortune on them at the time. In the late 90's they got swapped out with some wrought iron lamps but she held onto the 'dated' brass ones because of the fact that they were really nice quality and were quite expensive when she purchased them. When I happened to find them in her storage a few years ago and asked her why in the world she is keeping those hideous things, she joked and said "You never know, brass might come back some day!"

Monday, January 24, 2011

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend and your week is off to a great start! Here is a random assortment of images that are inspiring me today!












I'm noticing I am drawn to pinks, oranges, turquoises and yellows lately. Maybe it's because I am yearning for spring! Anybody else feel the same way?! We had an awesome, sunshiny weekend and it is making me crave the spring and summer months, my favorite time of year! I guess I'll just have to be patient :)

Friday, January 21, 2011

Mirrored Walls

Mirrored walls were a big trend in the 70's and 80's. BIG. Then everybody spent twenty years tearing them off the walls. Well, wouldn't you know, THEY ARE BACK!

Several years ago my fiance and I lived in a large rental house that had a mirrored wall in the dining area. I absolutely hated it! It just screamed 1980's and at the time did not go with the decor of our home. Instead of working with it and making it look chic, it was like the giant elephant in the room. Every time I walked into the dining area I felt like I was in a gym. Oh ya, and to top it off we had wooden spindle half wall room dividers that were left over from the 70's as well. Just for the heck of it, here's what the space looked like;

I'm cringing at the fact that I am sharing this with you because there are so many decorating mistakes going on in this room! If I had it to do all over again I would paint the walls white and mix in some modern and vintage furnishings and add a large patterned rug to create a more cohesive look. We live and we learn though, right?!

So here we are in 2011 and leg warmers, brass fixtures and mirrored walls are making an appearance again! There's a right way and a wrong way to use mirrored walls in interiors. Here's a few examples of the RIGHT way;

Adding moulding around mirrored panels is a great way to create a large focal point.
via Domestic Bliss

Hanging artwork over the mirrored wall really makes this space feel inviting. I love this look!
via Elle Decor

Dining rooms are a popular place to use a mirrored wall. It's a great way to reflect the light of a gorgeous chandelier, like the one below.
via unknown

The antique finish on these mirrored walls is very chic and popular right now!
via Bunny Williams
via Lonny

via Things That Sparkle

Mirrored walls can look great in a bedroom too . . as long as there isn't lepord carpeting and a round, rotating bed!

I love the architectural element that this type of wall treatment adds.
via Unknown

Since we're on the subject of mirrors, here's a look I am really loving right now - A decorative mirror placed on top of  an otherwise ordinary bathroom mirror creates a very luxe look!
via Tricia Huntley
 
Ok, I've shown you some right ways to incorporate a mirrored wall. . . want to see a few WRONG ways? Usually I am not this mean, but it's a Friday and we can use a few laughs, right?!







These spaces need to explanation as to why they look so atrocious, I think they speak for themselves!. . . The lesson here is that a mirrored wall can look great as long as the furniture, accessories and finishes in the room ALSO look great!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Wedding Wednesday - The Invitations!

Wedding invitations really do set the tone of the entire occasion in my opinion! They are the first thing that guests will see and give a clue as to what the look and feel of the wedding will be. As I mentioned before, my upcoming wedding is going to be one giant DIY project so of course I will be making the invitations myself!

We are having a beach ceremony and holding the reception at a private residence afterwords and I want the invitations to be a reflection of what the days events will be like. Since we are having a pretty low key, casual celebration I want the invitations to be pretty simple, but of course with a colorful, modern twist!

Here are some images I have in my inspiration files that I thought I would share with you this fine Wednesday!

I was inspired by the simplicity of this invitation (above.) I think the hemp/twine bow is just darling and I would like to incorporate this element in some way (whether it's a bow or wrapped around the invite, like in the images seen below.) 


 I absolutely adore these invitations! The use of the recycled, 'brown paper bag' envelopes and the hemp twine add an element of 'natural simplicity' while the yellow print screems 'fun and modern'!

These 'save the dates' below are really inspiring me! I love the look of the turquoise print on white cardstock and the typography layout is awesome!


I'm calling our wedding 'semi desitnational' since everyone will have to travel to the coast (but no more than a 2-4 hour drive for most) so including a map with the invitations will be important. I love the way this map looks below and it coordinates really well with the above invitation.


Of course these are all just 'ideas' at this point. We still have 8 months to go before we get married so I have some time to iron out the kinks in the design. If anyone has any tips for DIY'ing invitations, feel free to send them my way!

Images via Style Me Pretty and unknown

Monday, January 17, 2011

Cost Plus World Market Sale!

I was just in their store earlier today and couldn't believe some of the sales going on! While their furniture is in the lower to mid price and quality ranges, I have to admit World Market does have some really stylish pieces and great finds. Check out a few items I wish I could have swooped up and taken home with me;

Just what every living room needs, a nice neutral, contemporary style sofa!

 Ah, my beloved farm house table that I wrote about here is still on sale. . .  Tempting, very tempting!

This gorgeous apple green ceramic garden stool is just as juicy looking in person!

I love the design in the latice backs of these chairs!


Check out this post to find out why your kitchen needs one of these rugs! :)

These slipcovered chairs would go nicely with my Provence farm house table, don't you think!?

This bench is stealing the show for me! LOVE IT!

Most of these deals are only available in store, so get to your local World Market before the sale ends today!!