A few weeks ago, I was quickly flipping through the Ballard Designs catalog when I saw this piece:

At first, I didn’t think much of this Tole Topiary plaque but as the days passed, it just stuck with me. It’s an interesting piece and one I had not come across before, how refreshing!

Whenever I think of a grand home, I envision a pair of these three-dimensional topiaries flanking the front door. They make such a regal and classy statement.

I don’t have a grand home with a winding drive leading to the front door — yet — but the Faux Topiaries from Ballard could be a great stand in. I love how subtle they are and how flat they seem against the brick. I also love the idea of using them to add a different dimension and texture in the entry way of a home. Imagine at the holidays hanging little white lights on them? Too sweet! They are available in medium and tall. I guess the old saying is true: if you continue to think of a piece for days or weeks than it is one you should purchase, or else one day you will wake up to regret it!

Is there a piece of home decor to this day you wished you had purchased?

With Memorial Day upon us, all I can hear in my head is Andy Williams singing “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”! No, not Christmas or Winter… but the start of Summer! For me this really is the Most Wonderful time of the year, when I can finally shed three layers of clothing and feel the sun on my skin! Happiness has arrived. It’s time to take advantage by living outdoors. Whether you have a glorious rolling green backyard or a tiny piece of asphalt to call your own, you can absolutely make the most of it.

First, decide what is most important to you. Do you want to have a place to lounge out on a chaise or is having people over for a dinner party the most important factor? In this post, I’ll present some wonderful chair options for creating that outdoor living room.

First is the fabulous Rex chair from CB2. It is available in two sizes, lounge and standard. For a lounge chair which sits lower to the ground and is a bit wider, the price is inexpensive. I can just picture us now….a drink in one hand and legs hanging over the side. The poppy, which is EVERYWHERE right now, is my favorite color. Talk about a sunset!

I absolutely love the vintage feel of Atuto’s ring chairs. Their style is sweet and full of interest. The gentle, delicate klismos back made of sturdy iron creates a nice contradiction. I could see them used in a little garden in the summer and then pulled inside as an accent chair in the cooler months. Lovely!

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There in the corner sits the lonely chair I bought years ago at a flea market. Of course I had every intention of stripping the old paint and gracing it with a shiny new coat that very same weekend. We all know how good intentions can go; I never got around to doing it. Finally, this weekend I thought to do a bit of research. As much as I love my Ben Moore paint, I felt this chair needed something special and all its own. As I start my internet search I stumbled upon “The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company,” which I am impressed with right away. Can we all say GREEN and free of any VOC?! Love it! To top it off they are a local company here in Massachusetts, even better. The Milk Paint Company literally makes their paint out of milk protein, lime, clay and earth pigment. It arrives in a small package and you just add water to the desired thickness. They state there is a bit of a milky odor when you first start to paint, but as soon as it dries you are left with an antique looking color.

Most of the photos they show online are of very “old fashioned”-looking pieces, but I think in this age of the “vintage” craze, an older looking piece mixed in with some contemporary pieces will give it the spotlight it deserves. In other words don’t get scared off by the pictures, think outside the box!

Fabulous, I have made some progress, now off I go to wait by the post for my “Soldier Blue” milk paint to arrive. I will post some pictures and give a review when it arrives…then again don’t hold your breath, we know how long it has taken me just to pick the paint!!

We can’t all afford items from our favorite designers. And some of us just change our home so often we don’t necessarily want to spend the money on one particular item. In searching for yet another new bedding ensemble, I decided to check out some of my favorite designers and, man, what they are doing at a discounted price!

First, we have Dwell Studio’s new line for Target. This ensemble just looks crisp, clean and completely refreshing…talk about coming out of winter hibernation into the spring breeze!

Then there’s the fabulous Angela Adams designing for Bed Bath and Beyond. The Lulu bedding collection features her signature oval pattern. The ever popular teal and brown combo is shown here and creates a warm, comfortable haven.

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Wall décor is such a personal item. When I’m choosing wall décor, either for a client or as a gift, I take time to really think about their personality. Are they more of a city person, or a quaint country type? Do they like abstract and modern art, or are they more attracted to classic Monet and Van Gogh? My opinion is, when you have a piece hanging in your home, you should have a connection to the picture. Which leads me to the question: how do you choose wall décor for someone who is not born yet?

You wonder what will their personality be? What will create a laugh, a smile or inspiration? Are they likely to be a sports fan, truck and airplane enthusiast or a ballerina and Disney Character dreamer? As you can see on my StyleFeeds, (both creategirl and jacehome), I have been researching wall décor for a nursery. Here are some of my favorite finds:

“The Gang is All Here” is a favorite from the Etsy store Creative Thursday. Marisa has a great eye and creates such a story with her characters! I have a fondness for Oscar and Lewis, very sweet!

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As a little girl, I remember Saturday night was always Date Night for my parents. I would sit and watch my mom put on her makeup, which was neatly organized in a long drawer of her dresser. It seemed like a very grown up thing to do: paint your nails, style your hair and apply lipstick. Lately, my eye has been drawn to makeup vanities, and not until remembering this Saturday night ritual did I realize why this piece of furniture always makes me stop and take a second look. There is something so intriguing about a mirror which seems to flip up out of nowhere and little drawers which hold squares and tubes of various colors. So here are a few beautiful options for the little girl in all of us!

The William Sonoma Home Montmartre Vanity has a very Parisian Deco feel to it. The clean lines and square nickel hardware is just classic. I especially love the contrast between the dark Walnut finish and the parchment colored inset. The petite vanity chair with the slight curve to the back and plush ivory velvet just makes it feel even more sophisticated.

This 50’s styled dressing table, designed by Jamie Graham of Graham & Green in London is so glamorous! The mirrored top and drawers adds to the charm of a bedroom vanity. The dark legs look to be in a rich espresso finish, which gives the piece some weight. I like the idea of choosing your own mirror, the beveled triptych option they show is perfect for seeing all angles. The stylist of this photo positioned a comfy velvet chair next to the vanity, as if to anticipate a curious little girl looking on!

If you have the space why not indulge in a piece of furniture which is for the sole purpose of assisting us in looking even more beautiful everyday!

According to Vogue, bold, saturated colors are in for spring, as laid out in their Neon Bible.

Since interiors are known to follow fashion, I looked for evidence of the trend and there it was in my mailbox in the form of a Pottery Barn catalog. Have you seen it? I swear it was so bright, it would be visible in the dead of night. How do you feel about this trend of bright, bold colors? Trends always make me a bit nervous, because inevitably there will be a homeowner who falls in love with a photo and looks to recreate it. This can be a good source of inspiration, but I alwaus caution. Questions I would ask are: Is this really your personality? Are you this “bold”? When this trend passes, which thankfully most do, will you then be sick of the room? We all like change and want to feel we are in on the latest, so let’s explore adding a bit of brightness without having to completely commit.

This is a fabulous example room from William Sonoma Home. I like the neutral sofa and by adding splashes of color with the area rug and the throw pillows it will be easy to change out as the trend passes. The darker wood pieces also help keep the bright green grounded. It’s bold, but not overpowering.

In this picture from House Beautiful, designer T Keller Donovan adds the warm orange Marais stools from Design Within Reach. They provide the perfect pop of color to this stark kitchen. I might add a bit of wall décor in the same tone and mix in some yellows just to pull it together further. It’s a great example of going with the trend, but not spending a fortune to do it.

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The person who picks up the recycling after a long weekend must think I drink a lot…hopefully he assumes the truth, which is that I had a rather large dinner party at my house! What better way to justify all those bottles of wine than to hang them from the ceiling! Well I won’t actually be doing the stringing and reworking myself but re:modern could!

How fun are these “lighting sculptures”? The artist Jeff Kott’s fixtures are exactly the bit of whimsy I am constantly looking for!

First off, I absolutely love that they are recycled wine bottles and are so appropriate to use in the kitchen, possibly above a sideboard in the dining room, or multiples hung up high down a long entry hallway (the possibilities are endless). Secondly, it seems we are all looking to be more eco-friendly and design savvy at the same time, what a combination here. It’s as if they are art. Two versions are available, the “2 Stripe” or the “3 Stripe”. The 3 Stripe colored option seems to be a bit warmer to me. My favorite is the soothing glow of the burnt orange, yellow and green, I imagine the light dancing off warm honey or caramel colored walls in such an interesting way.

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Happy New Year! Wow, where did 2007 go? OK, so for the past few months I have been a bit busy to say the least, and now with the arrival of a new year its time to rearrange the furniture and organize all those areas I always say I will get to on that rainy day.

To avoid overwhelming myself, I will just start with the office. Be gone, stacks of magazines which have created a lovely aisle to my desk, you now have a home in these sweet rattan magazine holders by Iris!

Adios to all the tiny fabric samples I have collected, you will now be in the dark in these fun West Elm covered boxes.

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There is nothing I love more than putting together one of my gift bags or baskets! Friends and family all know if there is a baby, bridal shower or big birthday there will be a basket full of special treats coming their way! Though it takes me some time to pull together because like designing a room there is always a theme and for me, most pieces need to have some type of meaning to the recipient. The reward is I love doing it, and the time spent is all worth it when the recipient opens it and exclaims they love everything!

I have a friend who, with the purchase of her new house, has just become interested in interior design. So this Christmas, I have put together a small bag for her. Want to take a peek?

I started with this great reusable bag from Envirosax that I found on Delight.com. All of her gifts will fit perfectly in here. I love the orange and green retro look and seeing as she lives in the city, it is perfect for toting groceries home or carrying magazines for a trip to the coffee shop. Why not wrap with something reusable, such as baskets, kitchen towels and totes?

“Modern Glamour: The Art of Unexpected Style” by Kelly Wearstler is an amazing book. One of my favorite quotes from the book is “Inside a room I want to be moved- I want to feel the drama” and literally, this book is all about drama! From the gorgeous white Casper Wingback Chair by Viceroy to the Trina Turk boutique in Palm Springs, the photos and advice will be sure to get the creative juices flowing!

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