Greece Inspired Outdoor Room

Did you see Monday's blog post?  I linked a home tour of the most dreamy Greek island villa.  Looking through those photos not only had me longing for a trip back to those islands full of whitewashed homes, blue painted roofs, cobblestone walkways, and dripping bougainvillea  everywhere you turn; but it also had me thinking of how to capture that feeling at home since I know I won't be getting back there anytime soon.  Hopefully, the mood board below will have you day-dreaming of sipping ouzo and indulging on spanakopita from your own backyard.

Dining Table  //  Chairs  //  Umbrella //  Rug  //  White Pillow  //  Embroidered Pillow  //

Scroll Detail Pillow  //  Large Terra Cotta Urns  //  Root Coffee Table  // 

Garden Stool  //  Acrylic Tumbler  //  Acrylic Wine Goblet  //  Patterned Melamine Plates  //

Terra Cotta Flower Pot  //  White Vase  //   Terra Cotta Oil Jar  //  White Melamine Plates 

  

Monday Morning Meeting 5/11/2020

Welcome to the Monday Morning Meeting - no Zoom required. 

***Random bits and thoughts that don't really belong anywhere else but still feel like they're worth sharing.***

The other day I succumbed to the quarantine baking trend that seems to be sweeping the house-bound.  Banana bread.  I had honestly been avoiding it because I knew that if it was around that it would last approximately 30 seconds before we (mostly me) ate the entire thing.  Well, I was right, but, wow, it was worth it.  You can find the recipe here, but don't blame me if it's gone as soon as you put it on the cooling rack. 

Halfbaked Harvest's Banana Bread 

*Image via Half Baked Harvest

I had ordered these sneakers several months ago and there was a waiting list, so I had pretty much forgotten about them until they showed up last week.  As a huge fan of all things leopard, and an equally big fan of Superga sneakers, these are an instant fave.  

Superga Leopard Sneakers

I am currently loving this Thibaut wallcovering.  It is bold in pattern, but subtle in color.

Thibaut Anna French Seraphina Paper

This archived article from Architectural Digest has me daydreaming about traveling again. We were lucky to have been able to visit Greece last year for our anniversary and I loved every single second of it.  This villa is inspiring and the images have me longing to go back to the Greek Islands.  

Greek Islands Compound 

*Image via Richard Powers for Architectural Digest

A Soft Gray Powder Bath With A Feminine Feel

Today's look is a feminine take on a soft gray powder bathroom.  The warm gold metal finishes nicely compliment the cooler gray tones.  The rug incorporates both warm and cool to bring the look together.  The towel ring and paper holder mix silver and gold finishes, and the antiqued mirror frame of the vanity mirror keeps the room from being overpowered by the gold.

Wallpaper  //  Sink Cabinet  //  Sconces  //  Counterop  // Towel Ring and Paper Holder

Soap Pump  //   Rug  //  Artwork

Easy, Budget Friendly Home Decor Updates (Part 3 of 3)

Today I am bringing you the third and final installment of my list of inexpensive updates you can make to your home to make it more of a place you can stand social distancing in.  The good news is that once we are back to normal again (whatever that may mean) these changes will still be making you happy when you are spending time in your home.  Just hopefully less time.  :)  If you missed parts 1 and 2, you can find them here and here.

Change Your Throw Pillows

The stereotype is totally true.  Design professionals love pillows.  We do.  Pillows are awesome.  They can add so much personality to a space so quickly, and can be switched out just as easily.  Generally when planning pillows for a living room sofa situation we combine different sizes (I usually opt for a 22" square with a 20" layered in front of it) and sometimes different shapes (for a large sofa I will use a lumbar in the center of the sofa, and usually a lumbar in a chair).  For clients, we pretty much always have custom pillows made, but, if you are looking for a more budget friendly option, Etsy, again, is a great resource for pillows made with designer fabrics at a reasonable price.  Ideally I like to have the face and the back of the pillow in the same fabric.  It is a bit more $, but it's a finish detail I really like.  A decorative trim is a detail that will finish off a pillow and make it look more professional, but if you opt to not do that, at least go for self piping at the edges.  Feather/down inserts will be your best bet when ordering inserts online.  We also use down alternative sometimes, but the ones we use are custom made, and there is a HUGE variation in the quality of the loft of down alternative inserts, so I would hesitate to recommend any that are online.  Pro tip:  Use an insert that is the next size up when filling your pillow cover.  For example if your cover is a 22", use a 24" pillow form.

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Update Your Kitchen Rug

This one is pretty self-explanatory.  Ditch that rubber backed cotton kitchen mat and bring in something with some style.  Don't be afraid of using a rug in a kitchen space.  Wool rugs are super durable and cleanable (not in the washing machine, though) and flat woven mats are easily vacuumed.

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Add Texture

Bring in texture to your space.  Just about any style of decor can have an element of texture introduced.  A natural texture will warm things up and add interest without committing to color.  There are so many ways you can bring it in, check out some ideas below.

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Easy, Budget Friendly Home Decor Updates (Part 2 of 3)

Hi there.  Today I'm back again with part two of my tips on easy and inexpensive updates you can make while living the quarantine life.  If you missed the first post, you can find it here.
So let's jump right in...

Update Your Lighting

Lighting is important.  I mean really important.  When planning a space we usually make a plan to layer lighting based on it's purpose (general, task, and accent).  This is done to facilitate the function of the room and also to allow the room to have different moods.  If your room currently only has overhead lighting, adding at least one more layer of lighting to the space will make a substantial difference.  Also, pay attention to the size of the lamps you do have.  While tiny lamps are definitely having a moment right now, they are meant to be accent lighting.  The lamps that are too small for their designated function (i.e. smaller lamps next to large pieces of furniture) would be better exchanged for something built for the job intended.  

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Bring In Flowers

Let's face it, flowers make us happy.  The shot of color from a floral arrangement can brighten a room.  Like the mention of greenery in the previous post, florals can be real or faux. but just be a discerning shopper if you are opting for faux flowers.  There are some great ones out there, but you may have to sort through a lot of frogs before you find that prince.  And, to be honest, the good ones are usually pretty pricey.  When you take into account the cost of keeping fresh cut florals in your space every day, the price really is better on a faux, over time, but sometimes it can be hard looking at that purchase price.  Grocery store flowers are also a great alternative.  Pro tip:  keep to one single kind of flower for an easy way to get a stylish look to your arrangement.  Arranging flowers is not always as easy as it looks, but a simple glass bowl of roses is always a good look.

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Bathroom Refresh

Maybe it's the bathroom that is making you feel a little crazy.  New bath accessories, an orchid on the vanity counter, a new rug...just a few switches can have you feeling like you have a new space.  Now, of course paint  (or wallpaper), new light fixtures, and new plumbing fixtures will make it next level, but that's for a different post at a different time.

Left:  Bath Accessories   //  Rug  //   Frames  //  Towels

Right:  Bath Accessories  //   Rug  //  Towels  //  Prints

Easy, Budget Friendly Home Decor Updates (Part 1 of 3)

I don't know about you, but all of this staying home has had me taking a more critical look at my own home.  Now, being a design professional, evaluating living spaces is my job, but often my own home gets a bit overlooked.  Due to lack of time and energy, my personal design projects often take a back seat to work projects, so my list of "To Do's" grows ever longer.  All these hours spent at home have given me the time to push those projects to the forefront and has motivated me to get going on things.  I thought that maybe some of my friends out there are also facing a similar situation, staring day after day at an unfinished or half-finished home, and perhaps feeling unsure of what needs to be done to bring things together.  Or, maybe your place just feels stale and in need of an update.  Below,  I have compiled a list of easy changes that can bring that final layer together.  Two more posts will follow to round up the list of suggestions.  All of these are easy to accomplish, even with the current quarantine restrictions.

You can view part two of this series here.

Add Greenery

To me, greenery is an often overlooked layer to design, but is so essential to bringing everything together.  Whether real or faux, greenery brings life into a space in a way that nothing else can.  I know, faux greenery can be somewhat controversial, but for serial plant killers like myself, it is a necessity.  If you are one of those lucky people who is good at keeping plants alive, even better.  Live or faux, look for ways to add greenery to your space.  A tree in an open unused corner, a floor plant nestled close to a bookshelf, or a small plant on a living room side table.  These are just a few ways to bring some green into your life.

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Containers:  7.  //  8.  //  9.  //  10.

Refresh Your Bedding

Is your bedroom feeling a little drab?  Perhaps a bit outdated?  The bedding can set the tone for the whole room.  One of the easiest, no-brainer ways to approach bedding is with solid tone bedding.  If you are longing for more color, add in some forward pillows in either a print or a solid coordinating color.  Layering in patterns and colors will bring more interest, but a solid base will simplify the process and you can bring as much or as little pattern/color into the mix as you choose.  White bedding is always a classic, but there are also beautiful solid color options to be found.  Combine the same color in different textures to elevate the look.  Utilize a matelasse on the top of the bed, with a duvet folded at the foot, back pillows and forward pillows to create a luxury escape in your own home. 

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Pillows:  7. //  8. //  9.  //  10.

Start Your Art Collection

Art is subjective.  Anyone will tell you that.  Due to that, selecting artwork for a client's project can be one of the more tricky parts of my job.  Art in your home needs to reflect your personal taste, but it also always looks better when it relates to the space (with a few exceptions).  Often good art also means a financial investment, but one of my favorite sources for original art and art prints is Etsy.  There you can find all styles of art for all levels of pricing.  Etsy is a rabbit hole of endless art pieces that you can enjoy falling into.  You can also find custom cut frames and mats on Etsy.  Minted is another great online resource for pieces.  

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Refreshing A Slightly Outdated Dining Room

Hello All - It has been quite some time since I have even thought about this little blog, much less worked on it, but I think that the time has come for me to dust off the keyboard and get back to work.  While I have been happily working away (for the past 4 years) at my regular interior design job, I have been feeling that having an additional creative outlet is always a good thing.  I am the type of person who strives to be productive and purposeful, and if I can provide some real, beneficial, decisive design help or ideas then I will be happy. 

I am starting off with the current situation of my Dining Room.  Basically I designed this room 10 years ago, and pretty much finished it 90% of the way before life distracted me from bringing it to completion.  Having children will do that.  So, now that 10 years has passed, of course there are some things that I would love to change about the room, but also plenty that I still love about it. 

I just recently added the ginger jars, and I am just smitten with them.  My girls were begging me to do a little Fall/Halloween decorating in the house, so temporarily there are pumpkins on the table, and of course, in about 6 weeks (6 weeks?!?) those will give way to some sort of Christmas filler taking their place.  This is all pretty good news though, because it gives me some extra time to try and get a centerpiece made. 

So, here is what it looks like right now...

And here is my plan...

 I'll keep you posted on the progress.