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I say playing it safe is a bore, but that's just my opinion. My home isn't crazy but it's def. not safe. I like when I stumble across a design or work with a client that isn't afraid to take a few risks in their home. As I've said before it
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| These navy walls are perfection! |
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Having just returned from a much needed girl's weekend away outside of Woodstock Vermont, I was excited to read about the adorable Vermont cottage of restaurateurs Deirdre Heekin and Caleb Barber's. The owners of this Italian lifestyle inspired home live in Vermont and operate Pane e Salute, a seven table restaurant and wine bar located in Woodstock. I love the unexpected, casual mix of color, texture, artwork and objects!
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| The couple's creative work space! |
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| This brightly covered duvet throws this brown and white room off a bit. Love it. |
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| The couple turned a potting shed into a guest house. |
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| What's better then dining al fresco with friends and family? |
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| Design is really about the details, so I continually focus on them. I am always rotating objects in my home... a new accessory here, a freshly painted piece there.. Rearranging your home keeps things updated but also saves money. I have a photo shoot at my home this week and the photographer asked me if she could snap a few photos of my office!! I'll share my revamped inspiration board and any other "eye candy" when I receive the proofs. |
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| So I've long loved the striped floors at the Kate Spade store, {LOVE}, they are so graphic and inspiring! Clearly so was the home owner above, what a great idea Kristin Kauffman had to create a similar stripe on her dining room floor. I love this colorful, glossy perfection! It's kid friendly too. I can see my son using it as a race track now! Dare I try this if I move?? Looks like a lot a work but the end result is surely gossip worthy. |
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| Image 1 - Fric and Frac blog via Better Homes and Gardens 2.11, Kate Spade, Kate Spade. |
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| Small digs? No problem. A tiny space can still look amazing and function well. This adorable condo beautifully proves that point. Let's look at what they did to visually enlarge their place.... 1. Limit your color palette. The use of cream, copper, brown, white and coral is repeated throughout. The punches of color add interest and tie all the rooms together. 2. Varied Texture. They've mixed old and new, shiny + rustic, modern + classical. It helps to warm up this home and prevents the "one stop shopping" look. 3. They've varied scale. One of the biggest mistakes I see when visiting a client's home are issues with scale. More times then not homes are filled with a bunch of mid-sized things, they are usually the same scale, so the place just looks cluttered. Be sure to keep your eye bouncing around the room. Larger objects in a small space ALWAYS make the space feel bigger, just don't forget to layer in smaller pieces! 4. Create points of interest, the entire space can't scream for attention. I'm loving their unique finds; like the small wooden stool and gorgeous Suzani blanket. 5. Both vertical and horizontal planes have been considered here! |
I'm often asked by people, "What inspires you?"
Today's answer: My students! My list is long and varied. I'm constantly stumbling upon inspiration everywhere, everyday, all the time! I love what I do and I feel blessed to have discovered my "calling" per say.
As most of you know, I don't just practice interior design, I teach it at Endicott College and Suffolk University {New England School of Art and Design}. I am always pushing my student's ideas. If they succeed it means I have done my job well! I often discuss the importance of strong concepts, and how they should be somewhat abstracted! Literal design looks juvenile to me..Yes, throw in an ounce of kitch or a nod to the obvious..but always keep it fresh and unique! I was discussing using simple objects, en masse {or in large groupings} and how something very common can take on a sculptural quality when used unexpectedly and in large quantities. Well my student was inspired by Anthropologie's window displays..They practice this very idea! Gorgeous! I'd have to agree with her!!! Well Done.
Milk jug igloo? Brilliant..
Lizzie turned her basement into a wine cellar!
So the "big" week is here..I'm having my baby at the end of this week. I'm of course, a bundle of energy and nerves. I wanted to share my baby boy ideas..I simply can't wait to find out what we are having gender wise..oh and please do feel free to share your favorite boy names in the comment section. I have three girl names I adore but we're having a tough time finalizing our boy names..
My creative starting point for the room was this painting shown above along with vintage nautical references. I don't love thematic rooms so I tried not too push it too far in that direction. I will mix in a number of various elements but the overall concept was boating and the sea!
This third board represents a mix of paintings and drawings I found on eBay. I am going to hang a salon art wall with a number of boating inspired paintings..I like the quirkiness of this mix!
From top to bottom left to right:
1. Large Painting - ebay
2. Monkey Knot - Door or book stop http://www.chadingtons.com/
3. Flame Stitch Pillow - Dransfield and Ross
4. Polar Bear Print - Linnea Designs
5. Crib Bedding - Rickshaw Design
6. Bamboo Pillow - Annette Tatum
Board Two:
7. Green Headboard - will be custom designed by Shelter
8. Shade idea - Custom by Shelter
9. Lamps - 1st Dibs
10. White Lantern - tbd. I do want to use an oversized white hanging lantern
11. Ship Print - ebay
12. Rug - Dash and Albert
