How to accessorize your mantel

Having trouble accessorizing your mantel?... Not quite sure what to put on that thing? Looking a little blahh? Looking a little busy!? No problem! Check out my 3 very different ways to accessorize your mantel! Whether you want to create a clean contemporary look, a transitional country style, or a funky fun look... you name it... there are always 3 things to keep in mind for creating the perfect mantel display. -----> Focal point, Balance & Proportion!

*Sure a fireplace in most cases is the focal point of the room but the display needs it's own focal point to direct your eye. In most cases you will see a centered mirror or piece of framed art hanging above the mantel like I have created above. This is a great way to get started but it's also cool to create more interest with something such as a mirror collage. Yes, it varies  in shape, but it is still centered and balanced together. When accessorizing it's best to keep things even, for example each of my mantel displays happen to have taller, similar in proportion pieces on the ends and small pieces, similar in sizes in between.This creates balance and a look of completeness. Have fun with your mantel! Change it up for holidays or for each season! Just keep focal point, balance and proportion in mind and you're good to go! I hope this helps!

French Country Dining Room

So previously in my blog I talked about french country design and decor... the focus of this board is a french country inspired dining room. I love this look. It truly is my personal favorite right now. It's so soft, calm, and beautiful yet cozy and warm! I really cleaned things up for this room keeping a pretty neutral color scheme focusing on the natural textures such as the rustic finish of the table and chairs, the wicker and frame of the chair at the bottom of the page, the relaxed construction of the chosen area rug and the distressed accessories and chandelier bringing warmth into the room. I added small touches of elegance with the amazing Parisian chest set gorgeously in between the two wicker back chairs, each topped with a soft moss green accent pillow. The clean cream side chairs are simple yet elegantly constructed with a beautiful nail-head trim of the same finish as the hardware on the chest. Decorative chair cushions on the wooden chairs and a soft painting set against a warm gold accent wall give this space just the right amount of color!... Leaving you with the perfect french country dining room.

Moroccan seating area inspiration board

So what do you think about a Moroccan style? Doesn't it just make you want to sit on the floor, light some incense and smoke from a hookah?!... Well, maybe not really at all but you know what I mean. It is cool! Moroccan style and decor is all about deep rich colors of burnt oranges, deep reds, pinks and purples with shades of yellows, blues, teals and greens like the ones above, mixed with different textures of silks, sheers, velvets, etc. It's all about color, pattern, texture and beauty! To me it's almost like a room wearing jewelry!~Fun jewelry! Check out the beading and details on the pillows mixed with the metallic gold accents in the mirror and the floor seat! I chose the lamp because of it's colors and that fact that it reminded me of some sort of magical genie bottle! Often times Moroccan styles have a ceiling made of different colored fabrics draping from side to side (or in the case of a Moroccan style bedroom- definitely include a hanging canopy above your bed! ) Hanging lighting fixtures and lanterns are also used to create a beautiful ambiance and awesome decoration! Follow this board for inspiration and you'll have no problem creating a Moroccan styled space! Good luck!

Quote of the day:

“I don’t think of decorating as a science or a discipline. People always say start with the rug, but it is often the last thing I end up selecting. I begin with whatever makes my heart sing.” 

-Design shop owner Deborah Buck

My little wish list...

God do I love shopping~shopping for clothes, furniture, accessories, art, shoes, you name it!... and although I am an interior designer, fashion falls directly behind, if not side by side with my love for interior design and decorating! To me you should have just as much fun dressing yourself as you would dressing your home and vice versa! For as long as I can remember I have always had a love and flare for both... and often debated which direction I wanted to take in my career. In the end I decided that interior design was a more rewarding career for me and fashion would stay a very close love and passion of mine. With that said, frequently I will create little idea boards like the one above just for fun and again, *inspiration* for what's in this season! So, what do you think of this look?! I love it! Like the board reads, this is a perfect day outfit for spring giving you a clean, classic and casual look. :)

Trash to Treasure

A headboard made from salvaged materials can add tons of charm and unique style to a bedroom. In this space, an old door found in a burn pile was paired with a vintage gate — reclaimed from a dump and brightened up with a mist of white spray paint. The end result is a whimsical, one-of-a-kind headboard with enough substance to balance the king-size bed. Design by Funky Junk Interiors.

Eclectic living room inspiration board

Think your style is eclectic but not quite sure how to make it work?  Eclectic is all about mixing old with new, antiques with contemporary, or mixing old frame styles with modern upholstery or fresh bright paint colors. Don't be so quick to throw away your grandmothers antique chandelier and wall mirror!~They look great mixed with bright pops of color and texture on modern furniture. I love the look of an antique style chair or sofa covered in modern upholstery like the ones above, creating a more casual look. Also, don't worry about matching! If you love the look of a rustic trunk for a coffee table pull it in! If you love the look of a cowhide area rug, use it! Have fun with throw pillows, the more colors, textures and patterns in this case the better! The great thing about Eclectic is EVERYTHING works as long as it all ties together in some way!

Quote of the day:

"It is just as disastrous to have the wrong accessories in your room as it is to wear sport shoes with an evening dress."

~Dorothy Draper

Need some inspiration for SPRING 2011!? Check out my style watch board for the lastest & hottest trends of the season!

SPRING 2011: I tend to be a lover of both fashion and interior design, and I truly believe the styles, trends, colors and textures of each season in some way go hand in hand. I mean seriously look at that amazing 60's inspired dress by Michael Kors, mix it with Jessica Simpson's to die for turquoise platform sandals and... HELLOoOo~ the "shagadelic" bright floral print chair by Pier 1!!!... Seeing the similarities yet?! I know you do...With that said, another hot, hot trend is the soft blues, greens and neutrals with pops of color and patterns such as the living room scene to the top of the board and that adorable Pottery Barn pillow! I love how the pillow works both with the Pier 1, almost country style dining set AND the "shagadelic" contemporary/retro style Pier 1 arm chair... *tying it all together!* As you can see from this seasons spring inspired paint colors I pulled from Benjamin Moore, this whole color scheme works so well with one another! Alrighty my guys and gals, with that said... Have fun with color this season!

OMG! How could I forget to mention that amazing silver metallic end table!? SO CUTE right? And so in!
*Designer's Tip*: To get this look (so easy!)...
1.) Find any old table that you find cute in shape but lacking in color or finish.
2.) Lightly sand off the first layer of the piece and any rough patches creating a smooth finish.
3.) Apply a spray paint primer. (I tend to use Valspar)
4.) Allow for proper drying time as suggested on the bottle.
5.) Apply a silver metallic spray paint finish (again, I know Valspar carries this finish) and allow for proper drying time.
6.) TA-DUH! You just created this amazing look for so cheap!... and so easy! :)

Quote of the day:

“matchy-matchy is not for me. I don’t want things to be too perfect. It’s like pairing a matte top with a shiny skirt, so they play off each other. I want there to be relationships with texture and color, and sometimes it’s more about the contrast that chimes."

~ peter so

Current Obsession: all things French Country

Soft colors, vintage pieces, natural materials, burlap, cotton and linen fabrics of prints and patterns such as birds, butterflies, floral, and french motifs, mixed with-MY FAVORITE-distressed furniture, art and accessories!...will give you the charming yet cozy inviting feel of "French Country". Check out these lovely pieces with a French Country influence from 2 of my favorite's: Pottery Barn & Ballard Designs.
http://www.potterybarn.com/
http://www.ballarddesigns.com/

So next on my project to-do list!

Check out this awesome little table I found on Design Sponge! So cute and pretty easy to make... I'm itching to make one of my very own!-Thanks Karen!

Refer to the link below for materials needed, instructions and more information!
http://www.designspongeonline.com/2011/02/before-after-karens-log-table-jaimes-jewelry-display.html

Quote of the day:

“I don’t think people have enough fun with decorating. It doesn’t always have to be so serious. Design isn’t like marriage. You don’t have to commit for life.”

~Ross Cassidy

Patch me up!

http://www.vivaterra.com/furniture/seating-1/vintage-kantha-upholstered-chairs.html

So into patchwork upholstery right now! So fun. So colorful. So unique! Check out these GORGEOUS pieces!- LOVE. (The first one is from Viva Terra!-AMAZING stuff!)