OHMIGOSH! DESIGN BLOG

My latest labor of love!

2012-01-16T13:28:00.000-08:00

Please take some time to click the following link to see how I transformed an old "paint on pottery" spot into a successful financial planning firm's new office space!

Before:

After:

See the full album of before and afters here!

OMG.OMG.OMG.OMG.OMG.

2011-10-04T16:54:00.000-07:00

Um, OMG. Couldn't wait to share what I just saw. This product has just turned my world upside down and I think a few of you might need to sit down. Whether you're a thrift store shopper like me or love to sneak in an Ikea piece or two into a space without anyone knowing it's actually from Ikea...this product will knock your socks off!!!!

So, I'm flipping around on my nightly blogs and BAM!

I run into this post from Amanda Carol at Home...

Find her post here.

where she shows how she did this...

from this Ikea dresser...

and these...

after spray painting them like this...

from a company called O'verlays.

I know!!!!!

You must go check out their site and see all the fab ones they have.

Not cheap. Not terribly expensive.

But, I ADORE them.

Must. Do. This. Soon!!!!

Have a great night!

xoxox

Pretty as a picture!

2011-10-01T07:07:00.000-07:00

Isn't this a fabulous find?!

A local second hand store had it for only $75 and a friend of mine snatched it up before I did!

I hate when that happens!

Oh, well. We set to work coming up with a plan to transform it into a picture perfect bench to sit at the end of her daughter's bed. We selected some perfectly girly and fun fabrics through Interior Image and then had the girls in our workroom do their magic on it by skirting it and creating a bench seat.

And before we knew it, our pretty little bench was complete! Sweet, isn't it?

Love it, Kate!

xoxoxo

Think you dislike purple? We'll see.

2011-09-25T17:19:00.000-07:00

I think I thought I really disliked purple for many years before becoming a designer. I thought of Barney and bad lavenders and this one too tight pair of koolats I had in 6th grade that gave me camel toe before I knew that had nothing to do with Egyptian animals.

But, I've learned the same thing about purple that I have about every other color in the spectrum...there are beautiful shades of every color you can think of and even those you think you dislike, you wouldn't if you saw them done well.

So, for those of you purple haters, take a look at these beautiful spaces done so well that I think even you would have to admit that purple could be your friend.

Maybe not your bestie, but a girl that you thought was really snotty until you got stuck in an elevator one time for an hour and realized she was just shy until you get to know her and

now you do and the two of you have lunch together all the time now.

You know...kind of like that.

Oh, geese, just look at the darn pictures and oooh and ahhhh a while.

So fresh and vibrant, isn't it?

via decorpad

Even just a pop of purple is sometimes all the color you need.

ina garten's kitchen of the year

Grayish purples are my favorites because they really just turn into lovely neutrals.

This is the perfect pic to prove why I insist so often client's pull their sofa away from the wall and place a sofa table behind it. It provides great depth and a perfect spot to place a couple of lamps and accessories. Try it! You'll love it!

via elle decor

chad eisner designs

This suzani still makes my heart go pitter pat. Love it.

via lonnymag

Dining rooms are the perfect place to go dark and sexy.

via decorpad

I've been coveting this chandelier for years!!!

via elle decor

ina garten's kitchen of the year

Isn't this just the perfect shade of purple on the walls? Depending on the time of day and the light it could be gray, greige, brown. Love it.

heather garrett designs

This kitchen haunts me. It's just right and would suit my life perfectly.

My checkbook is another issue entirely.

ina garten's kitchen of the year

khloe kardashian's "office"

kimberly seldon's designs

kishani perara designs

If I were goldilocks, this one would be just right for me.

laura martin bovard designs

laurey w glenn designs

via nest

Does it get any better than this? The clover chair and window? The storage? The huge double sided mirror separating the space? I would be late every day if this were mine...I'd never leave!

tish key designs

windsor smith designs

Are you a convert? Already loved purple?

Either way, have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo

Stencil this!

2011-09-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

For those of you afraid to jump into the commitment of wallpaper, there's a bunch of really great stencil websites out there that will give you the look without the worry.

One in particular is really reasonably priced and does a good job with the styles of some of them.

Here are some of my personal favorites from their site:

Below is a link not just to their site, but also to a short video that shows just how easy it is to use the stencils. If you tackle this project, I recommend giving yourself a full day after painting the basecoat before moving on to the stencil work to make sure the tape doesn't disturb the base.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO!

Wallpaper Wednesday!

2011-09-07T14:04:00.000-07:00

Although I might be partial to wallpaper in certain rooms of the house, there are no steadfast rules. I suppose I'd tend to keep it in entries, dining room, bathrooms (especially small half baths) and kitchens, but only because for me these are the rooms where I'm not constantly changing things up. I'm rarely moving furniture in these rooms and don't feel the need to switch up my color schemes seasonally or every other year. So, I suppose it feels a bit safer of an investment to me and my lifestyle in these spaces. But, I'm all about wallpaper wherever you see fit. Even in closets! Love.

I tell people all the time when they ask, "Is wallpaper back?"..."It never went anywhere!"

So have fun! Be brave! And let me help you pick the perfect paper for your home!

eclectic home office design by new york architect Dufner Heighes Inc

eclectic bathroom design by other metros interior designer Tobi Fairley

spaces design

eclectic family room design by miami photographer Craig Denis

contemporary dining room design by san francisco interior designer Amoroso Design

Doesn't this look like amazing in-laid wood and mother of pearl?

eclectic bathroom design by atlanta kitchen and bath The Furniture Guild

modern bathroom design by dallas interior designer Beth Dotolo, RID, ASID, LEED AP

So, I'm pretty sure that's insanely gorgeous tile on the backsplash, but you could

easily do a similar wallpaper and cover it in plexiglass for the same look.

!traditional kitchen design by other metros interior designer KannCept Design, Inc.

contemporary bathroom design by san francisco interior designer Niche Interiors

Just a few that I hadn't seen before here! Hope you have a lovely day!

xoxoxoxo

Looky, Looky!!!

2011-09-07T13:35:00.000-07:00

Guess what I found?!?!

The image I posted yesterday was most certainly done with duct tape!

Here's the full image from the Kate Spade store in NYC.

Sooooo fabulous!

Love it!

2011-09-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

How fun is this floor?! I don't want to paint it or take care of it, but I do want to have it and walk on it and love it and call it mine! It would be fun on a wall, too...hmmm. Nope, still don't want to paint it.

via pink wallpaper

Ok!!! Hold the phone!!!! I know the white background is painted, but is that tape?! The colored portions?!
I think it's tape! OMG. If that's tape, I AM going to do this!!! On the risers of my stairs!!!
If it's not tape, it should be!

More of Emily A. Clark's Home!

2011-09-04T10:54:00.000-07:00

I gave you a glimpse of the family room last week and thought I'd give you a treat for the eyes and show you the rest of Emily's home. Like I said last week, there's just something wonderful about this real-life decor in a real-life home that makes me feel right with the world again. You don't need a trillion dollar home or a bazillion dollars to design it with, you just need a few good ideas, a bit of paint and before you know it you've got a home that pops and shines and is quite memorable.

Everything you see here can be easily done on an average budget and I see lots of pieces that might just be vintage finds repainted.

Still a sucker for a sunburst mirror, I love the freshness of this space. The pop of color mixed with the black and white and above all else, the monogrammed pillows!

Did you know that this little custom detail can be done for less than $10? Love it.

Master Bedroom

Ok. So, I know I say that I'm kind of over painted stripes, but I suppose I'm really not. I still do them, have them, spec them and find myself drawn to this easy designer trick. They're particularly nice here in a simple tone on tone and I love the lantern hung in the space. Another nice touch is the architectural piece painted the same color as the mirror to make it look more grand.

Breakfast Nook

I tell clients all the time that the best art is kid's art. Think how special they feel when it's hung this way and not just slopped on the fridge. Change it out every few months and you've got an ever changing art gallery sure to brighten any mudroom or entry!

Entry

Campaign dressers and furniture are still quite the rage and I love it. They are getting harder and harder to find in the 2nd hand stores, but I've always got my eyes out. Painted a fun green the chest pops against the grey/blue walls and she shows you exactly how to do a wall gallery right. I miss my old dress form and the way she has it dressed in a favorite dress is so personal and perfect.

Don't forget to trim out those lamp shades with ribbon!

Office

Dining Room

Living Room

Adorable trim detail on the throw pillows and a fun polka dot paint treatment are sure to make any little girl a happy camper.

Daughter's Room

I bet this dresser was an oldie, but with new hardware and a fresh coat of paint, it's all new again!

So many tips to be seen in her home that I just had to share.

xoxoxo

Bohemian Beauties

2011-09-01T13:25:00.000-07:00

Eclectic and care free, the Bohemian look is something I have always loved.

Think Anthropologie. Think hippie. Think fabulous.

The best thing about the bohemian style is that it's perfect for someone on a budget.

It's all about mixing and matching and incorporating all things vintage and funky.

It's about color and pattern and eclecticism.

Check out a few favorites I stumbled upon today.

This is me (in my bohemian dreams) thinking of how I'll design my new place.

A bit global with a bohemian vibe.

D.I.G.G.I.N.G. THIS ONE!

Ok, so this isn't necessarily bohemian...but, it IS fabulous! Love those chairs and that wallpaper is superb!

Enjoy your day!

xoxoxo

Steal this look!

2011-08-21T13:45:00.000-07:00

I am always searching for beautiful spaces to inspire me. So, it was a real pleasure to stumble across the home of designer Emily A. Clark. The thing that I love about it is that it's what I call "real life decorating". It looks beautiful and feels custom, but when you break it down there's nothing that couldn't be had or made or found for reasonable prices and in almost any area of the country. Even better than all of that though is that it appears that the home is fairly new construction. I'm not a big fan of new construction because so often it feels cookie cutter and dull. Her beautiful home proves that new doesn't have to mean cookie cutter and so I thought I'd share some of it with you. Actually, come back this week and I'll show you more of the rooms!

The Family Room!

Love those deep blue walls, proving once again that dark walls do not equal a space feeling closed in and small! That coffee table is something that you could easily find at a second hand store and paint white.

Notice the back of the bookshelves are painted the same color as the wall?

Navy, white and chartreuse are a perfect color combination. The chartreuse freshens it up and makes it feel so current and alive!

Yes, you can do rug on carpet! Just make sure the rug is a low pile.

Check out the pop of red in the lamp, in the books and below in the red apples.

It keeps your eye moving around the room.

Woven blinds and simple grommet drapes hung high to heighten the room finish off the space.

Great job, Emily! Thanks for sharing!

Photo Envy!

2011-08-07T05:54:00.000-07:00

How fabulous is this idea! If I were a photographer (which I'd love to be) I would so steal this idea!

Does it get much better than this?!

Happy Sunday!

xoxoxoxo

Room Redo!

2011-08-06T06:17:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, a room just doesn't come together

the way you hoped it would.

When you're dealing with a small budget and a mish mosh of items,

you can end up with a room that might have been better off the way it was before.

Let's take a look at the room above and see what we might do a bit differently.

1. Focal walls can go really wrong, really fast. And this one kinda did.

The color is too jarring against the creamy walls and

doesn't work at all with the rest of the space.

Additionally, it really isn't the right wall to have done it on to begin with.

A focal wall here should have been the window wall, or none at all.

2. The items hung on the walls and the accessories on the stools

are not providing any wow factor or punch.

They aren't functional, beautiful or family mementos.

3. The window treatments are just not working. The color, the pattern and oy, the length.

Short curtains or drapes are a sure fire way to date your home...

and I don't mean that you went out to a nice dinner and a movie.

Add on to that that the short length and lowered cornice

only make the ceiling height feel shorter and squatty and you have a big problem.

4. While sitting at the desk, you wouldn't have a view out of the window

and I for one don't want to stare at a wall.

5. For a woman's office, the red isn't feeling sophisticated, sexy or even pretty.

It kinda feels 1990. Where's the Nagel?

A dramatic change could be had for very little money,

time or effort and here's how:

1. Paint the entire space a color that inspires you.

Make sure to test out the colors

on poster boards before you paint all the walls and have fun!

It's not a main living area, so you can get a bit crazy.

A fresh peony pink would be super girly and change the space on it's own!

2. Change the way the desk is placed.

I'd face the desk into the space and use the small stools

that were there as a place for someone to sit and chat with you.

I'd put it in your plan to look for a whimsical, upholstered desk chair.

These can be had at all price points and should again

say something about who you are and what you love.

3. Bring something functional into the space!

Repurpose a dresser in your home by painting it white and the hardware black. Don't have one?

Goodwill is your buddy here.

Easily found for not much money, you'll not only have

a place to store files, papers, pictures and such,

but it provides a place to sit a couple of lamps to light up your beautiful new space!

4. Go bold or go home!

Add on to the two framed mirrors you had on the wall by going out and buying four more.

You'll bounce more light off with the additional mirrors and

really create a wow factor with very little money.

Have some fun on that hall wall as well!

Bold wallpaper would be great, but even painted black and white stripes

would jazz it up and make you smile every day.

5. Soften up!

Simple white drapes can be banded in ribbon and as long as you go up and out, you won't cover up the window area allowing all that natural light to come in and shine on you!

At some point, you can pick up a simple jute rug which sort of

grounds the feminine color palette and brings some earthiness in.

Need help with your own spaces?

Email me for more information!

Life is Art

2011-08-02T08:29:00.000-07:00

Don't you agree?!

Hot Mess. My Sweaty Life.

2011-07-28T21:19:00.000-07:00

If I melt while writing this, please send someone with a mop.

My wood floors have enough damage as is.

Is summer like child birth?

Is it this bad every year and then we just forget

how horrible it is by the time the next one comes around?

Call me crazy (crazy!),

but this heat seems ridiculously over the top to me and I've had it up to here!

(Both arms stretched up really high)

I know some of you like this heat...summertime, overall.

I, on the other hand, do not.

I dare say, I hate it. I really, really hate it.

I sweat just thinking about stepping outside and when I do, I'm just a literal hot mess.

It's not cute on any level.

Some people sweat from their underarms and think that's terrible.

And it might be.

I sweat from my face. No hiding that.

And I'm gonna tell you something,

if I hear one more 90 lb girl complain how chilly it is

because the air is set to 75 degrees, I'm gonna lose it!

Get a sweater on!

Stop wearing tank tops and skirts that were meant for 12 year olds!

Eat a sandwich!

Grab some hot tea!

Leave me and my air conditioned sanctuaries alone!!!!!

So, who's got two thumbs and can't wait til Autumn cools her sweaty butt down?

This girl.

So, it's no wonder that Kim Kardashian's outdoor area is calling to me.

"Jennifer....come hear the crackle of the fireplace as you sip coffee and Bailey's.

Grab a blanket and your fuzzy slippers and relax."

I'll be right over!

Have a perspiration-free day!

xoxo

Painted Ceilings

2011-07-21T11:08:00.000-07:00

I'm a big believer that white should be a carefully selected color choice for any surface. Too often, it's just the go-to choice for no rhyme or reason and it's such a missed opportunity! Even ceilings, which are one of the largest surfaces in any space, get the cold shoulder by slapping on the first shade of white handy. As important as wall color, the ceiling color choice can make or break a space and depending on the look you're going for can spectacularly finish off a space or leave it felling choppy and dull. So, take a fresh look at your ceilings and if you need some inspiration here are a few good pics to peruse!

Have a great day!

xoxo

Graham and Brown

2011-07-20T07:38:00.000-07:00

Creative kids? Bored adults?

This adorable wallpaper might just be for you!

It's meant to be colored, painted, drawn on and to have pictures applied to it.

Need it? Want it? Give me a call!

Guest Post by Design Shuffle!

2011-07-04T09:54:00.000-07:00

Sabbe Interior Design (via)

We're thinking about Kermit the Frog these days...maybe it is because everywhere we look outside we see bright, bold greens in our gardens and yards. Well, unlike Kermit, we think it's easy being green. Bold greens, ranging from chartreuse to grass green to kelly green, add a lively splash of color to a room. How bold you want to be is up to you, scour "shelter magazines" for more green interior design ideas. Maybe just a pop of green in a throw or lamp will be enough. Maybe you're ready to paint your walls grass green for a bold and colorful statement in your living room or kitchen. However you choose to add a splash of color with bold green to your room you'll love the fresh, happy feeling it will bring to your space.

We love this grass green in the kitchen. The bold green is balanced by all the white so it isn't too overwhelming.

Former Furniture (via)

A formal living room looks crisp with kelly green walls paired black and white carpet, and gold accents. Inspire any decorating ideas for living room designs?

House to Home (via)

Another great bright green wall color balanced with lots of white. We also love the green painted bentwood chairs.

HGTV (via)

A soft hued bedroom with pale pink headboard has bright green accents. A little burst of green in a pillow or pattern duvet adds dimension to the color scheme. What a lovely shiny chartreuse box on the bedside table!

House to Home (via)

We like this bold green painted chest of drawers in a mushroom gray room. Bright green really stands out against grays.

Confetti Style (via)

The kelly green upholstered chairs and green lamp look fantastic against the creamy yellow of the walls and carpet. Gorgeous!

Photo Bucket (via)

Another example of green painted furniture in an otherwise neutral space. The bright green bed frame is playful and fun.

Flickr (via)

Continuing the idea of a single piece of green furniture creating a focal point in a room, this velvet tufted sofa in bright green is a show stopper.

This post comes courtesy of Design Shuffle, where you can find top tier interior designs from around the world – from New York interior designers, Los Angeles interior designers, and more,

check out the latest at Design Shuffle.

(Thanks to the staff at Design Shuffle for contacting me and offering up a guest post! Glad to have you!)

xoxo

San Fran Designer Showcase

2011-07-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

You know I love a designer showcase and the one is San Francisco this past May did not disappoint.

Check out the amazing work by Matt Murphy in the master bedroom of the home.

It doesn't get much better than this!

This whole little vignette above makes my heart go pitter pat. The triangle of orange pops, the side chest with the nail heads, those lamps and that herringbone patterned chair? Come on!

You know what I love so much about this? Everything. There's nothing over your head. Nothing to chi-chi. Nothing that's there for the sake of claiming, "Look at me! I'm so fancy and unnecessary! Everywhere you look it's just beautiful, functional and collected items that work fabulously together.

I love how the chair legs mimic the lines of the desk.

And this is the perfect example of how a mirror should reflect something beautiful!

Small details, like the small piece of art on the tabletop easel really start to make a space feel finished. This could be done with a framed letter your grandfather wrote your grandmother or even just a framed piece of interesting scrapbooking paper! Keep your eye out for coffee table books on the clearance aisle of your bookstore. You can tear out pages with beautiful florals, patterns or pictures and frame them super inexpensively.

Notice the pops of black throughout the space and the way the use of color keeps your eyes moving around the room? This is Design 101! Loving that chartreuse color in the back of the display case!

Perfection.

Look around your home...do you love everything you see?

Window Dressing

2011-06-16T08:27:00.000-07:00

Window treatments are the jewelry for every space in your home and without them, things just fall flat and feel unfinished. They can be elaborate and over-the-top or super simple and classic. Just think about different ways you might dress up a little black dress. Certainly, you'd never think of leaving the house without a speck of jewelry on, but it might just be one gold ring and a pair of understated diamond earrings. This would equate with plantations shutters or a simple roman shade in the same color as the walls. You might decide to add a lariat necklace and a watch, which would be like adding a top treatment with a subtle pattern and maybe some glass bead trim. Maybe you're feeling bohemian and bring out the chunky bracelets and statement-making chandelier style earrings...this would be like choosing a fabulously patterned fabric and doing floor-length drapes and stunning rods/finials. Whatever your style, it's so important to dress your windows and the style options are endless. Take a look at some fabulous ideas in every style under the sun.

(Riehl Designs, Inc.)

(Dawn Sercia Designs)

Board mounted valances are something we do all the time. These are clean-lined and classic, but provide just the right amount of pattern and color to the window area. Take a look at the placement, too.
Spot on, in my opinion.
(Debbie Wiener)

Something we do all the time is mix up the style of treatments within the same room. Not all windows need to have drapes to the floor and as long as you're tying them together by using the same fabric,
you'll create a cohesive look.
(Amoroso Design)

Roman shades are a classic choice and depending on the fabric can either make a statement or just quietly finish a space.
Amoroso Design

Style On a Shoestring

betsy burnham

Remember to go up and out with window treatments if you have the wall space.
You're goal is to cover as little of the actual window area as possible to maintain light and view.
Melanie Coddington

Tara Seawright

Plantation shutters are on the pricey side, but are fabulous for resale and are a wonderful option as they can be customized to any shape of window.

Notice the drapes around the french doors. Yes, you can do this and we do often!
You're doors will still function just fine and it's a wonderful way to soften the space.
sherry hart

Too country for you? Just take a look at the way they have simply leaned a beautiful free-standing antique window up against the existing one over the sink. It will filter a little light and provide some privacy while not taking away from the overall space. Remember...even when you don't love the overall style of a space,
you can still take a few ideas away from them.

Notice the two different fabrics on the windows? No need to be matchy-matchy!

Debra Campbell Design

Love the subtle Asian vibe of this one and the mix of fabrics.
LORRAINE G VALE

Julia Ryan

Sullivan Conard Architects

Notice the use of a couple of fabrics separated by trim? If you must buy premade panels at a big box store...most of the time they will be 88" long....which is way to short for even 8' walls. Take the time to extend them in this way on your own, or call us or a local workroom and have it done for you.
For very little money, you'll end up with a much better look.
Judith Balis

betsy burnham

Su Casa Designs

nate fowler

Patrick J. Baglino, Jr. Interior Design

LDa Architecture

And this pic below...well, I just had to show it. It stopped me in my tracks...that huge purple floor lamp is just a riot!!! And I think the wallpaper is beautiful, too. Oh and that chandelier and who knew I'd love a purple leather bergere chair?! But, I do!

Julianne Kelly

Have a most wonderful day, my friends!
xoxo

San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2011!

2011-05-08T06:41:00.000-07:00

There are few things I would change about my life. I'm married to my best friend, have two loving parents who are still married after 40+ years, have managed to have developed and maintained solid friendships with the best women I've ever known and I get to do what I love for a living.

Not too shabby.

Sometimes, though, I just wonder about this big ol' world of ours and

who I'd be in Paris or New York or, in this case, San Francisco.

Would I sink or would I swim professionally?

How would I measure up to the big dogs?

How much better would I be surrounded by such competition and opportunity?

So many questions, so little time.

For now, I'm going to live vicariously through these designers for a moment and

hopefully you can feel inspired, too!

This chandelier is making my heart go pitty pat.

Knuckle biter alert! Holy perfect vignette Batman!

I could wake up to this bathroom every day of my life.

These hanging beds are wooing me. Must try one.

I know. I know. Can you even imagine?!?!

Hello, lover.

Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful Momma
and to all of you who are lucky enough to have children in your lives.
What a gift.
Enjoy your day and thanks for stopping in!
xoxo

Cafe d'Marie

2011-05-03T13:25:00.000-07:00

I managed to arrange for a day off today that I intended to use to paint my kitchen woodwork, so, like every responsible woman, I got up and decided to instead go get a mani/pedi and try out a new cafe in town for lunch. I'll spare you the details of how horrible the nail services were...I'm still burning up about it...and skip right to the most pleasant part of my day. A couple of weeks ago I stumbled across the name of a new cafe in town, Cafe d'Marie, and was glad to see they had a facebook page. After looking at the menu and the pics on the page, I was excited to give it a try. So, after a failed attempt at relaxation and pampering, I headed downtown Davenport and found this brick home which houses the cafe.

It had just started to drizzle and was a bit chilly when I walked in the door, so how great to immediately be hit with the warmth of this place and feel so at home there. After heading down the cozy hallway, you step into a lovely brick-walled space that could easily be on any Paris street corner. The menu is there for you to peruse and is filled with all things yummy..quiche, paninis, soups, salads, pastries and any tea and coffee drink of which you can think.

Like any good reviewer of a local place,

I ordered a few things to try...you're welcome ;) ...it was a tough job.

I tried the quiche with chicken and red leicester cheese (sharp cheddar) and a decaf peach tea over ice. I also bought a few things to take home and try...a lemon cake, peanut butter cookie and a homemade cinnamon roll. Each and every item was fabulous...truly. The quiche was perfect and the deliciously moist lemon cake, in particular, was hard to just take one bite and walk away from. My husband will be one lucky guy tonight when he comes home and gets to eat the three treats that I allowed myself to simply taste. Darn calories.

You can see how charming this place is and though there were certainly things I would change or do a bit differently, the owners (who were lovely and so nice) told me right off the bat that it's still a work in progress.

They have a fabulous start and I look forward to seeing how it evolves so, until then, will hold off on making any kinds of design judgement. It won't take much to make this place perfect, that's for sure!

If you are like me and are constantly complaining that there simply aren't enough local, charming cafes and restaurants in town than you really should check this place out. Perfect for a breakfast or lunch meeting or just a little personal down time with a good book. So, support this local business and show these owners that their hard work is valued and appreciated.

Hmmm...one more bite of that lemon cake won't kill me, right?

You can find the address and info for Cafe d'Marie

HERE

Have a great night!

xoxo

Just Plain Fun!

2011-05-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

What a fun space this is! So fresh and clean looking with just the right pop of color.

I love the fact that the majority of the space is a shade of white and is just accented with bold, springy colors. The large circles on the wall were simply painted on using a pizza box for the template.

You can see below how it was done!

Great job, Shoshana!

eclectic home office design by philadelphia interior designer Shoshana Gosselin

Simple white grommet panels soften the windows and the shades of brown in the coffee table and the woven blind ground the space in just the right way.

So, she just took the pizza box and opened it up flat. Super hard. ;) Measure the height and width of the walls and decide how many circles you can fit...this will determine the size of the circle.

Self-explanatory. Just make two circles to create the inner and outer portion of it and cut it out.

It'll look like this. Time to paint your walls the lightest color first.

Start at the top left corner of the wall and start to mark off where the circles will go with pencil and then tape.

Trace the circles on the wall with pencil.

Begin to carefully paint the edges with an artists brush with the darker color.

Fill in the circles.

And Voila! What a statement wall.

If you're budget is tight and you can't afford fabulous furniture and accessories,

a painted pattern on the wall is a perfect choice for you!

Sidenote: Sopapilla Cheesecake Pie

So, you know when people tell you they made this recipe and that it was so good and soooooo easy and then you make the darn thing and it was so not easy? K. Well, I made this dessert last night and it was not only yummy beyond belief, but it was seriously the easiest thing ever. If you need something to take to a potluck or to a get together...this is it. Make sure to chill it for a while...but, having said that, I didn't and only let it come to room temp and it was still the bomb.

I asked my husband to score it from 1-10 and he said, "8.5....no, a 9!".

To which I asked, "Is that graded based on all the desserts on the planet or just those I make at home?"

He pondered that and replied, "All of them."

Huh, well, what do ya know? He loved it.

I will be more realistic...to me it was a 7.5 or 8...super yummy...but, I have had some killer desserts.

Raspberry gelato in a warm, freshly made cone in greece that made my toes curl.

A 13 layer pastry in Paris that made me swoon with delight.

My mama's coconut cake.

But, this stuff will stay in my repetoire

and I'm really looking forward to having a piece with my hot tea this afternoon!

Click here for the recipe!

Nook Envy!!!

2011-04-29T07:07:00.000-07:00

Ok, come on. I am willing to bet not a one of you have a space similar to these to rightcheer.
This first one is just a hoot and a holler and I love it. The entry drapes in that bold polka dot banded with corally red and the striped wallpaper tying it in...or is that fabric on the back wall.
This nook is perfect for a game of Scrabble or a casual cup a joe and the Sunday paper. That light fixture is the topper...so unexpected and the rustic element is just what the space needed.
Love.

Fraise via Houzz

I am a total foodie and wanna be chef. Well, hmmmm, that's not entirely true, I suppose. I'd just love to spend a year at a Parisian cooking school and soak up all the knowledge to use at home. I actually have zero desire to work chef hours or ever again experience the chaos that is a restaurant kitchen.

Too many years of being a server was enough for me, thank you very much.

However! I do love me a good cookbook and can spend an entire day at Borders (side note: how sad is it that many of the Borders are closing?! Ours was having a massive clearing out sale yesterday with all of the upper bookshelves already empty, and yet when asked they said they were staying open. ?huh?) looking at cookbooks and writing down recipe after recipe...most of which I will never, ever try.

So, I LOVE this little nook below. It's a "cookbook nook"! This is where he sits and peruses his cookbooks which are on shelves to the left of the pic and he has a little plasma tv on a chest to the right that plays Julia Child's or Food Network on a loop.

Goodness, I love a nook!!!

Brian Dittmer's cookbook nook

Monday Moment of Zen

2011-04-25T18:19:00.000-07:00

(via Ada and Darcy)

Dreaming of warm sand surrounding my toes as I walk toward this turquoise water on an utterly secluded beach...this last part helps with not having to worry about the piece of coconut cake I just ate.

Hope you had a great Monday!

xoxo

The Greatest Show on Earth?

2011-04-23T08:13:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago I read the book Water For Elephants and really enjoyed it, so I was happy to hear they were coming out with a movie based on the book. Happy and frankly not so sure I would see it if the reviews weren't great because I hate to ruin a good book with a bad movie. So, much to my dismay, I checked Rottentomatoes.com to discover it had only received 53% and I was bummed. After my husband talked me into going to the "picture show" as he calls it to be old-timey, I begrudgingly agreed to Scream 4 because of the bad reviews of this one. So, we're walking in the theater, passing the Water For Elephants entrance and decide last minute to pop in and watch it instead. (Yes, I know that's wrong and that they won't get the ticket sales. Sometimes you just gotta live on the wild side. ;))

I'm really glad we did. I enjoyed it quite a bit and found it to have the same spirit as the book. I'm not even a Robert Pattinson fan (or of his under-acting style) but here it worked. No big review here...just wanted those of you on the fence about seeing it to teeter totter to the other side and feel good about checking it out this weekend. Love, loss, and the Circus. Oh! The circus! Great backdrop for a film. You'll get your heart broken a couple times due to some sad animal mistreatment...and yes, I cried...I know, shocker...but, it was worth it. Great way to spend an hour and a half. Hope you like it, too.

Whatever you do this weekend, I hope you have a ball!

Oh, and PS! Task one today, done! Cleared out all 2,000 emails in my inbox this morning through filing or good ol' deleting and now have ZERO! What a fabulous feeling. Organization, here I come!!!!

xoxo

Knuckle Biter Alert!

2011-04-22T22:12:00.000-07:00

Is it the high ceilings, the massive mouldings, that fuh-reaking amazing light fixture, the laquered ceiling, that perfect shade of turquoise on the CABINETS, or that perfectly whimsical face vase on the table that is making me bite my knuckle super hard for fear I might cry out in sheer joy?

Give me a minute...I'll figure it out.

Nope. Never mind. Love it all. Delicious!

Have a wonderful Easter weekend, friends!

xoxo

(Pic via Architectural Digest)

Give and Ye Shall Recieve

2011-04-21T09:13:00.000-07:00

I think, no matter who you are or what you do for a living, that sometimes you lose a bit of fire for what you're doing. No matter how much you love your work, there are moments that flip the switch from, "Can't wait to get up and go to work" to "Dear Lord, please help me get through this day."

You know what I mean, don't you? Tell me I'm not the only one!

For me, when this happens I know it's time to really just get my hands dirty and do something nice for someone with very little expectation of "getting something out of it". Funny how when you do that you end up getting more pleasure than you could possibly ever anticipate and often releasing those creative juices that are the key to reviving your excitement and joy for your job.

So, at kind of a low moment a few months ago, my friend came to me and said she needed some help with her bedroom. Knowing her budget was tight, it simply wasn't an option to consider custom window treatments and bedding and high end accessories and artwork. This was gonna be a long, hard, get down and dirty search for bargains and steals and, for me, just what the doctor ordered. With a birthday coming up, we as a group of friends got together and pooled some money to boost her budget a bit and then I was given carte blanche creatively to just do what I do. So, I did. Want to take a peak? Well, here ya go!

Currently renting a small apartment, we certainly had some limitations that made the job that much more challenging. Like the fact that the carpet was pinky beige and the walls are a grayish white with no option to paint. The window treatments were a dated metal mini-blind and while she could have removed them and then replaced them before moving out, the budget didn't allow for custom blinds...or frankly even inexpensive bulk blinds from a big box store.

You can see how large her furniture is and so the challenge was to try to pull together the orangey oak color of it with the gray walls and give her a girly, colorful room that would put a smile on her face every morning.

After a slow and steady approach to looking for the right items and a few lucky finds, the room finally came together a couple of months ago. So, here's what I did:

You can see a little peak of my inspiration piece in the bottom left corner. This armless chair was my jumping off point and made my decision to search for a desk and a side chest even though some people might have thought the idea of adding even more furniture into the space was ludicrous. I moved the highboy chest to the center of the window because I really wanted to flank the bed with a bit more symmetry and balance and the highboy was throwing that way off.

This artwork was a bargain and also the bane of my existence. It was the very last item I found and until that moment I still felt like I hadn't found the perfect piece to pull my color scheme together. After taking the mirror down that was a bit too matchy, matchy and replacing it with art, the room felt lighter and livelier.

Giving up my precious "Keep Calm and Carry on" print was hard for me to do, but it also felt like passing the torch. With her job, believe me she needs this mantra daily.

Stock tie-top sheers and grommet faux silk drapes flank the back of the highboy chest and cover the unattractive mini-blinds while still allowing for their function of light control when needed.

I replaced her bedding with a fun mix of pattern and color. The chocolate brown duvet and shams have a classic tone-on-tone damask pattern and are covering her previous bedding for now until she can afford a down comforter to slide in. The fun floral was tough to find because it needed to have a different scale than the chair and I wanted to incorporate a bit of the turquoise. As you can see if you look really close a few of the buds have that color. A mixture of throw pillows and some pops of red and polka dot and the bed was done! Thankfully she is one of my only friends who I know without doubt will actually make her bed nearly every day and very well might have made herself a diagram to follow to make it look just like this.

This little turquoise chest was damaged and in need of a little patchwork, but for the price I was all over it! You might recognize the lamps from the Home Show and remember that they were just trimmed out with grosgrain ribbon and have self-adhesive gemstone accents attached. I changed out the black ribbon for brown and they work perfectly.

This roller skate made me soooooooooo happy when I saw it and I knew it would make her happy, too. I think most people from our generation have fabulous memories of the skating rink and the beginning of all things break dancing, boys and freedom.

One more note about this area...I knew I wanted a pop of color on the wall here, but had the light switch to contend with. These kinds of architectural pieces are perfect for just such a dilemma because you get the pop and maintain the function.

Here you can see the way the pattens of the chair and bedding are different enough in scale that they work.

Not sure why I placed the pillow on an angle for the pics...looks kinda forced and staged. I'd straighten it out.

Happy Birthday, my friend! You deserve it!

Do you need a total room makeover? You can reach me at Interior Image at 563-355-7663 where we can create the space of which you've been dreaming.

Have a wonderful day!

xoxo

Hoppy Easter!

2011-04-20T15:49:00.000-07:00

I know, I know...everyone has seen this. That's alright, it just cracks me up every time.

"My butt hurts!"..."What??"...Priceless!

For those of you still looking to do a bit of Easter Decorating before this weekend, I thought I'd share a few fun ideas I've collected.

Nothing too difficult here and so many inexpensive and crafty things to do with the kiddos.

Me? I'm just looking forward to the glazed ham and peeps!

Super cute, isn't it?

Want to see how to do it? Click here!

This might be my favorite of them all. You know it's Easter, but it still feels chic and not cliched.

BH&G

Gosh, I loved Easter Egg Hunts! Anyone remember the big one at Middle Park?

It was chaos, I tell you! Chaos!

(Country Living)

I have this same tree and it's great for all holidays!

Love.

Simple and sweet.

Easter, al fresco? I'm in!

Country Living

Top and bottom pic both from Williams Sonoma.

Apothecary jars are another favorite of mine because you can change them out seasonally.

Have a wonderful Easter!

xoxo

Perfectly Pink

2011-04-19T13:28:00.000-07:00

After sitting in this darn recliner for a week straight after surgery, I have decided that I need a dose of pink. Funny, I have no pink in my home. Well, that's not true...I have pink in some florals in the sun room and probably in some art work, but not so much that I have a particular room I can walk in and feel the joy of pink. Sad, but true. So, here I'll live vicariously through these lucky homeowners and imagine what it would be like to be pretty in pink...or at least out of this recliner.

Phoebe Howard

Evelyn Chin

Natasha Baradaran

Country Living

Suzanne Kasler

Homedit

My Home Ideas

Eva Designs

Maddy Loves

The above photo and the following one are a couple of wackadoodle pics I found. I, personally, have never been a Hello Kitty fan, but whatever floats your pink boat. That's some serious commitment!

Maddy Loves

Best Home

I still love a good pouf...don't you?!

Hope you all have been well and happy!

Have a wonderful day.

xoxo

Blow Me!

2011-03-09T14:21:00.000-08:00

After years of having a short and sassy a-lined bob and then years more of growing it out, I all of a sudden have long hair. Long enough that when I sit down on the couch, I can't move my neck forward because my hair is trapped behind my back. I guess this was my goal...not the lack of movement, but the length...but, man, do I hate to try to style it every morning. Round brushing, hot rolling and products are part of my every day process and where it used to take me 45 minutes to get ready in the mornings, I'm now up to over an hour. So, let me tell you, when I saw this post on Materialgirlsblog.com I swooned. This business apparently started in California and has hit Texas, but I am willing to get down on hands and knees and beg someone...anyone!...to open something similar here. This salon offers no cuts, no colors, not spa services. Only blowouts. Wash and blow! And all for only $35! I swear to all things hair I would be there at least once a week! Take a look at these pics and I guarantee you'll be "blown" away. Tee Hee.

I know! So great, right?! Give me a glass of that cucumber water, turn on The View and blow me!

Please?

Have a wonderful day, all!

xoxo

Lamps Redone!

2011-03-06T11:49:00.000-08:00

As most of you know, I'm a proud thrift store shopper. So many of the lamps I have in my own home are thrift store finds that I've lovingly updated with a bit of spray paint and new fabric. I found a great tutorial on 33 Shades of Green today that will show you just how to go about this very easy project and she even shows he products she uses...most of which are personal favorites of mine as well. Want to see how to create your own masterpiece like the one below?

CLICK HERE!

The pic above is from Pink and Polka Dot and is another fun transformation. Unlike the tutorial above, when I redo a lamp, I just lay the shade on the fabric and as I roll it in one direction, I mark the fabric on the top and bottom. It should create a curved shape that will follow the shape of the shade exactly. Grosgrain ribbon is another way to finish off the shade. Super easy.

Give it a whirl and let me see pics of the finished product!

Darling Digs

2011-02-18T08:41:00.000-08:00

Check out this adorable nursery that was made over from a ho-hum guest room. Kudos to Joni from Lay Baby Lay Blog for this fresh take on a nursery.

Love the wall color (similar to what I used at the Designer Showcase) mixed with that bold zig zag rug. The vintage furniture keeps it all from getting to contemporary and instead just feels collected and artsy.

Cute monogrammed window treatments and really inexpensive to do.

I have always wanted one of those bird cage thingies (technical term) from which to hang note cards and letters...you know, all the ones my friends send me throughout the year with their quill pens. Not.

After my recent tour of thrift shops a few weeks ago, I came home with a fairly similar chest to this. I think I'm silver leafing it...but, this black looks tres chic as well. Decisions. Decisions.

Hope you've all had a wonderful week and will have an even better weekend.

For those of you that have been patiently waiting on me to begin your projects, I'm on it.

For those of you that need to set an appointment, I'm taking them starting the 2nd week in March.

TTFN

xoxo

2011 Designer Showcase

2011-02-16T09:03:00.000-08:00

It was a labor of love and far more work than I anticipated, but the Designer Showcase came and went and I'm glad to say I'm still standing...barely. I knew from the beginning I wanted to step outside the proverbial box and show a space representative of my personal style, but living in the Quad-Cities, I also knew this was a gamble as our area is far more conservative than most. What I showcased in the end was a true representation of how I design for my own home and how, in theory, I do for clients as well. If you look beyond the overall style and start to break down the individual elements, it becomes easier to see how you could switch out the large horse print for a framed landscape to work into a more traditional look. Or if you take a look at the drapes, you can focus on the beautiful construction and how, by switching out the fabrics for others, you'd have a totally different look. I incorporated some new pieces and some old to exhibit how it's possible to work with any budget. Anyhoo, I thought some of you who couldn't make it over to the show would like to see pictures. Kristin Geerts did all the photography and her work is amazing. I'll fill you in a bit more about her in a bit.

Find her at http://www.kristingeertsphotography.com/

You can see a bit of the lower detail of the drapes here. The two fabrics were separated by two trims...on a black chiffon ruffle and one a rhinestone trim.

The wall color I chose was Cooled Blue by SW and it's the perfect Tiffany box blue.

Surrounding yourself with things that make you smile or you find beautiful is the key to a successful space. It doesn't matter if it cost pennies or thousands...if it moves you, you should display it.

Memories of my first Tiffany gift make me grin. It's not so much the bougeyness of it as the beauty of the moment and of the classic box that held such a thoughtful gift. So, I kept it and use it to hold paper clips!

These great lamps, available through Interior Image, were custom ordered for the show. I jazzed them up by adding some black grosgrain ribbon to the top and bottom of the shade and used a couple of adhesive gem letters from Hobby Lobby to personalize it.

I love her. Is she reaching for her dreams or reaching out to help the world? Either way...she calms me.

Like sands through the hour glass....

Story of my life.

Do you like to tear out pics from home magazines and collect paint and fabric swatches? Get organized!

I don't even like Pellegrino...but I think the bottles are lovely.

Ghost chairs...these were quite the topic of conversation. Everything from..."What are those? Patio furniture?" to "Oooohhh, GHOthT tHAIRS!" (said by a kind, but elderly woman who had forgotten to put her teeth in that day). :D

Hootie's got my back.

I backed my $3.00 Goodwill bookcase with houndstooth wrapping paper.

Think outside the box and see how things around your home can work for something totally different. This little piece is meant to hold pieces of toast, but is perfect to keep my files upright.

If you have questions or if you'd like to inquire about purchasing any of the items you see here, please email me at jenofalltrades@ymail.com. Most of what you saw here and beautiful things like them can be found through Interior Image in every style imaginable. Our in-house workroom constucted the custom drapes and we can do yours, too! Hope you enjoyed and have a wonderful day!

Just a few more days!

2011-02-11T08:36:00.000-08:00

For those of you that have noticed my absence over the last couple of weeks, thanks for hanging in there with me! I've been consumed with the space I'm designing for the Designer Showcase portion of the QCHBA Home Show this weekend. I've barely come up for air in the last month or so, but am happy to say I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel! Really, what brought me out of my brief "sabbatical" is that I got the nicest email from my brother-in-law saying that he and my mother-in-law, Carol, spent some time looking at my humble little blog and enjoyed it. Apparently, Carol has been looking at my blog for a while unbeknownst to me and to say I'm flattered is an understatement. Isn't is so nice to know that at any random moment someone out there that you respect and care about is looking at your work and thinking you've done a good job! Made my day.

And then I thought...welp, I guess my sabbatical is over! Back on it...gotta keep her interested! ;) Here's just a teaser picture of what I'm working on right now. The full photo shoot will follow early next week.

Until then, have a wonderful weekend and if you're in the area you can find me at the Home Show this weekend in the Designer Showcase annex.

See you there!

Photo by Kristin Geerts Photography

Oh, my aching biological clock!!!

2011-01-29T10:04:00.000-08:00

I just had to post this picture. It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside and the idea that anything on the planet could be cuter than this makes me say, "Pashaw!"! And is it wrong that I would so wear that hat?

Have a beautiful weekend, my friends!

xoxo

Tea Parties and Tutus!

2011-01-28T10:01:00.000-08:00

Remember when the term "tea party" simply conjured up visions of big hats and dainty cups instead of a political party/movement? Those were the days, huh? So, I was more than happy to replace some of those ridiculous FOX news clips floating around my brain and periodically causing me to shake my head in wonderment with some much happier images of actual tea party ideas. A good friend of mine is working on a birthday party for her little girl and she's prepared to go all out for this fete. Knowing her, it will be far more colorful and whimsical than the serious and delicate little soiree you might envision, so I thought I'd post a few inspiration pics that might help her along a bit.

How adorable is this tea shop in the pics above?!?

It's like Lilly Pulitzer sprinkled her magic fairy dust all over it!

Loving the detail on the glasses! Crafters unite!

Didn't you use to just LOVE magical chairs?!

Seriously, these are just a hoot. A few stick on "googly eyes" and you've got yourself a party!

If this looks familiar, you watch far too much reality tv! (Real Housewives of BH)

Hope that helps a bit, my friend! So many fun ideas...so little time!

xoxo

Go Blue and Orange!

2011-01-23T14:59:00.000-08:00

One of my very best friends is a huge Chicago Bear's fan. Actually, living here in the Quad-Cities, only a couple of hours from Chicago...I know loads of Bear's fans. And yet, year after year, although my intention is to become one of them and join in the fun cheering at the touchdowns ( I actually just spent 20 seconds as I tried to think of the word touchdown...goal? no. home run? no. hole-in-one? no.) and screaming at the screen when Urlacher(?) screws something up. But, to no avail. Here I sit in front of the big game and find myself looking at the uniforms thinking about if I could design a room around the team colors. I'm sure I could, but not sure if I'd want to. That mustard yellow on the Packers uniforms is a doozey, isn't it? Wowza. Good for a lacquered chair with a bold black and white fabric, but not so much for the walls. But, the Bear's colors are a bit more palatable with the majority being just blue and white. The pop of orange is fun and though you don't see the combo a whole lot, here are a few spaces I found that do it rather well:

Love this. The palate is so pretty here and I like that the colors are used in a more classic style, rather than using them in their boldest forms and going more contemporary.

I'd gladly climb into this guest bed on a rainy Sunday afternoon for a nice long nap.

This is right up my alley, too. I think the mix of color and pattern is so inspired and fresh. Doesn't it feel collected instead of "designed"?

If you're a Bears fan, I hope they step it up with only 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter and the score 21 to 7. Not looking good, my friends. If you're a Packers fan, your day is probably going a bit better. If you're like me and you wish you could just change the channel to finish watching "You've Got Mail", this too shall pass.

Have a wonderful night and an even better week!

xoxo

Cabin Fever

2011-01-15T08:20:00.000-08:00

I'm off to the cabin for a few days to relax and rejuvenate and just wanted to wish you a happy weekend!

Stay cozy and warm and I'll be back before you know it!

XOXO,

JEN

Layers Upon Layers

2011-01-12T18:21:00.001-08:00

I know very few things for sure, but, one thing I do know is I'll never be a fan of true modern design. I like too much stuff around me...things that make me smile or remember or even feel a bit melancholy.

I'm a big believer that if something means something to you, you should display it lovingly and celebrate it.

Now, editing is your friend, of course, but I edit with a loose touch and always seem to ere on the side of too much, rather than too little. I love that about this pic...I feel like I know who lives there...what they care about and maybe what they don't. This should be the goal when we're decorating our spaces, I think.

That and to do our best to not give a hoot about what other people say is in or out or cool or not.

From the moment I saw these "Keep calm and carry on" prints, I was a fan. The sentiment is something we could all hear more often. I've heard several design snobs make fun of these prints and talk about how overused they are...and maybe so...in larger cities...in home mags. But, here in good ol' Davenport, IA we are just seeing them. I actually had to find mine in Chicago last year. The point is, I guess, that loving something is the only thing that matters to me and the rest be darned. I hope you feel the same!

Have a great night!

xoxo

Lovable Lucite

2011-01-11T09:40:00.000-08:00

Lucite furniture and home decor pieces have been around a loooooooong time and it's still hard to pick up a home magazine without seeing a designer using it in one fabulous space or another. I'm a huge fan and though I'm sad to admit that I own none, it's just a matter of coming across the right piece to mix in with my classic interior. I was hoping a couple of ghost chairs would show up under my Christmas tree from the ever so design savvy Santa, but it wasn't to be. So, with a birthday coming up this week, I've still got a bit of hope.

No matter what your personal style, lucite is so easily worked into any and all well-designed rooms. The best part, in my opinion, is the lightness of the pieces. Because most are clear and essentially see through, they're the perfect choice for a room full of color or bold artwork.

Check out some of the photos and you'll see just how amazing this material can be!

This So-Ho hotel's private dining room uses lucite ghost chairs just right by

allowing the over-sized fuschia settee to shine.

Personally, I think you have to be careful with mixing too much glass and mirror with lucite. There's nothing to ground the space when you do this and it all just sort of visually floats away.

This little lucite stool would go just about anywhere, but it's so nice in this busy laundry room because it doesn't add to the clutter...just to the function of the room.

Office spaces and vanities are another perfect place to use lucite. Our desk or vanity areas are often so cluttered and busy, that having an essentially invisible chair is not only super interesting and unexpected, but it helps to keep things a bit cleaner looking. Love this one in the pic above with the tufted cushion.

Comfy and chic!

I think we'd all agree that our family rooms are the place we hang out the most. So, that means entertainment units, big comfy sofas and chairs with ottomans, side tables with lamps, books, area rugs and the like. Lots of stuff, in other words, right? In spaces like that, believe me when I say that lucite is your friend. We don't need to add in a big, visually heavy coffee table to continue to weigh the room down

LOVE this space! Those shades of pink mixed with all that creamy white is perfection to me. The lucite coffee table is the perfect choice and make sure to notice those inverted pleat drapes with the fuschia in the background. Yum.

Lucite sofa table

Lucite home accessories are just as great an option as the furniture and certainly easier to find and afford.

Accessories are such a great way to try out a look at little cost...this is equally as true for color! Before you paint a room turquoise, for example, go out and purchase a few home accessories in that color and put them in places around the room you see most often. You'll know in just a couple of weeks if you love the color enough to put up on the walls!

Let your designer shoes and jewelry shine and become art when you use a lucite organizer!

Have a great day!

XOXO

Wanderlust

2011-01-03T11:45:00.000-08:00

I know it's a sin to be lustful...but, I have been just sick with wanderlust lately and I'm afraid that it's only going to get worse. I am literally aching to get lost for a while. To not hear a phone ring. To not return an email. To watch the waves crash instead of another crappy reality show on tv. Frankly, I don't care where I go. Punta Cana, Paris or Prague...any of those would work. I'm sure I'm not alone. Maybe I can send out a virtual "will work for lodging" sign to all those in need of a bit of design advice in their hilltop villas on the Amalfi Coast. I can live on bread and water...let me clarify, a fresh baguette and a Fiji...and am happy to sleep outdoors...sorta. Well, I'm not expecting any takers on this offer which is going to make for a very absent-minded Jen as I daydream of all the places I'd go. Any of these will do for dream starters.

Oh, Greece. You we're mine for a while. Why must you run from me?

South of France. Can you see me on the terrace? That's me sipping a glass of pink champagne and noshing on tuna tartar. No photos, please.

I am gliding under water...no sound...just peace.

With a birthday coming up and people asking me what I'd like to do, I wonder if it's appropriate to say I'd like to travel to the Italian country side and enjoy wine from a local vineyard as we talk all night until suddenly the sun is coming up and breakfast is served on the veranda? No? Not so much? Rats.

Belly dancers, incense and eating with our hands. Ohmmmmmmm.

I hope you all have some little trip to look forward to in the near future. And if so, can I come?

xoxo

Happy New Year!!!!

2011-01-01T15:16:00.000-08:00

Frankly, I never thought it would happen. My mom always told me it would, but, of course, I never believed her. I suppose I might as well just admit it, the other night I actually heard myself reply to the question, "What are you guys doing for New Years?" in this way..."I really just want to stay home. There's too many crazies on the road that night." What?! I kind of had to shake my head a bit and look around to see if there was any possible way someone else with a voice identical to mine had made that statement.

Too many crazies? What am I, ninety? OY!

And while spending a quiet night at home with my husband would have been a wonderful way to wile away an evening, I thankfully came to my senses and realized that of all nights, New Years Eve is the one night I shouldn't stay at home. It's the perfect time to say adios to all the bad things that happened in the previous year, to remember all the good ones and to look forward to what's to come after the clock strikes twelve. These are all things I want to share with my closest friends. I want to have cocktails and laugh til' I cry and shout the countdown together til' it's time to kiss and clink glasses. Friends like mine are nearly impossible to find and darn it, they're worth celebrating! And so I've decided that no more will I consider staying home...well, unless the party happens to be "ova here". (As in, "Party Ova Here!")

Now, just because I've concluded it's not okay for me to stay home doesn't mean I have any desire to be at a club or at some super fancy party...but, if that had been the case this year I so would have worn this:

No, actually, this...

Well, if I had these bodies and that kind of money, that is.

Instead, I wore these:

Ok, not really, but I swear I think I'm going to order a pair. And just like that, I'm 90 again.

Thankfully, my New Years was a casual dinner and cocktails followed by game night, which was just perfect and the fact that we only had to travel a couple of blocks to do it was even better.

I hope you had the perfect New Years Eve as well...whatever that means to you.

So, here's to 2011...

My motto this year is gonna be, MAKE IT HAPPEN, CAP'N!

What's yours?!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

2010-12-21T08:51:00.000-08:00

Friends, Family and Lovely Readers!

What a year 2010 has been! Loads of ups and a few downs that chose to stick around, but overall I'm proud of the things I accomplished this year and am looking forward to all 2011 might offer. I wish all of you the happiest of holidays and hope that your new years are filled with health, joy and beautiful things. I'm going to take a week or so to enjoy some time with friends and family and will be back before you know it with inspiration for kick starting all those projects around your homes that you haven't quite tackled. Until then, eat, drink and be merry and make sure to tell those dearest to you that you love them and all they mean to you.

Love and warm wishes,
Jennifer

Little gems!

2010-12-18T08:51:00.000-08:00

A simple search for a silhouette tote bag lead me right to a wonderful website that is chock full of antiquey looking finds that could have been easily found at a Paris street market. If you're a lover of all things French like me, you must check out their stock, but even if you aren't I bet you can find something you'd like to plop in your virtual cart and bring home. Here are some of my favorites, but make sure to check it out for yourself at www.mothology.com!

Love these antique toast holders and the idea of using them to hold mail or even old letters that your grandmother sent your grandfather back in the day.

Some of you will hate these, but the kitsch factor is so great and I actually can think of several places they would be fabulous. I'd hesitate to use them in an already heavily ornate space filled with antiques, but in a more contemporary and clean-lined space, these would be the statement piece I'd use. Really fun.

I love a good desk lamp and this articulating one is right up my alley. I see some great ones at thrift stores all the time, but this one is special with that amazing patina and the squaty nature of it.

This hand carved candle holder from India is incredible. I can imagine a row of them on a mantle...my mantle, to be more exact.

For only $14 a piece, these are super cute for the grocery store or just running errands.

Since my brief but wondrous foray into the world of textiles and apparel years ago, I have been enamored with dress forms of all kinds. Wire ones like this are my favorite and would be great in a collection above an armoire in a dressing room.

Come on. He's adorable and hand carved! His little eyeballs just crack me up!

You can't go wrong with a leaning floor mirror and this one stands alone. The unfinished pine would suit any space and the lines are just gorgeous, don't you think?

Numbered anything makes me get all excited. These vintage inspired stacking boxes would be perfect for jewelery, but also great on an entry table for mail, keys and the like.

I love newsprint paper and so these little notebooks filled with blank newsprint with the vintagey looking Bingo covers are so darn cute. Perfect bedside notepads for all those brilliant ideas at 3am and can't remember by 7.

It doesn't get much better than this key rack inspired by the old hotel ones. I really, REALLY love this.

One week til Christmas! Yikes! Happy shopping!

XOXO

Classic With a Twist

2010-12-14T07:42:00.000-08:00

I often have clients ask me what my own personal style is and believe me, it's never the answer they assume it will be. It's funny how the expected response is "really contemporary" when it couldn't be further from the truth. I'm definitely classic with a twist. A little bit of traditional mixed with a few unexpected pieces from other styles is really what I'm drawn to. So, I suppose that's why I'm drawn to other designers like Matthew Frederick in New Jersey. Just when one of his spaces is really leaning towards tradition and classic style, he pops it with a bit of color or animal print that wakens it back up. The great thing about designing like this is you know that your main pieces...your sofa, your casegoods and such are going to be timeless. Then it's just a matter of changing out a few accessories or changing a wall color to keep it updated over the years. Take a look and tell me what you think. Is this your style? Do you wish it were?

His design shop in New Jersey.

Notice how classic each of the pieces are in the space above? It's really just the pop of color on the wall and that zebra print that steps the space outside of traditional.

Clean lines, down cushions and velvet...come to mama.

Check out that luxurious shower. I could spend a few days in there. I'd be pruney, but clean.

Would you have thought to add in those zebra print ottomans? It's what makes the space!

Leaded glass closets? Bien sur!

I'm always shocked when people have such a distaste for sunburst mirrors.

They're so classic and yet so current!

That blue grasscloth on the walls is just what this space needed. Have you seen all the grasscloths available right now? Every color under the sun and we have access to most of them!

Love a custom side table cover. The key is to use a larger table than you think you need. Otherwise, no matter how great the cover, it's going to look like the ones we used in college purchased at Target for $8.00 or so. You know, the ones with the three screw on legs. No good.

More grasscloth, this time in plum (swoon), and mixed with some softer shades of purple. Loving those custom cornices that follow the lines of the angled ceiling.

A study in classic design. Utter perfection. The symmetry is stunning and I love that open-bottomed coffee table, the non-skirted sofas, the geometric rug and that horse is the scene stealer.

Inside his lovely shop. I just want to touch everything!

Hope you have a great day, friends!

Make sure to stop and smell the pine trees!

XOXO

Green With Envy!

2010-12-13T14:35:00.000-08:00

I'm always reminded this time of year what a perfect color green is and it seems no matter what room I throw a pop of it into, it just works. No doubt, this is because it's direct from nature, but I think we forget about all the amazing shades of this versatile color and just how important it is to bring the outside in...especially this time of year when it's a constant shade of grey skies. I have a few great green paints in my arsenal and use them often in kitchens and sunrooms, but I think the best way to use green is in bursts throughout the home. And don't fret about matching your greens! When is the last time you took a walk in the park and thought to yourself, "Oh my! Those trees don't match...they just hurt my eyes!" Never, right?

So, mix em and match em and let yourself have some fun.

Need some ideas on how to do that? Well, what do ya' know? I've got some at the ready! Enjoy.

Great examples here of how to successfully use a couple of pops of green on the left and of how greens just work in all shades on the left. Loving that Moroccan inspired rug!

Minty shades look great mixed with black and white. This is one shade of green you might want to include in a really tight color palette. Keep it sharp and let the green shine.

We all know how great greens are when mixed with child-friendly colors, but take out that play table and the little girl and I'd love this room for my own space. Fresh and fun for a sunroom!

Limey and chartreuse greens are fresh and fun...but be careful to use them sparingly or really well!

Kelly green is one of my favorites. Bold and dramatic, it looks best when used with alot of black and white. Throw a pop of fuschia in there and I'm a happy girl.

Turquoise, green and red? Not for everyone, but I use this palette quite a bit. This space feel off to me though...take away the flowers in the vase, add in some white washed wood floors, remove the shell centerpiece and throw a big red monogram on the back of those chairs and then it's speaking my language.

This peacocky green has been on my mind ALOT lately. Check back with me in February to find out why!

Love that wallpaper. Makes me want to take a big bite out of this room because it feels so fresh!

The shade of green on the sofa is such a beautiful addition to this traditional space. An otherwise staid (been wanting to use that word all day) color palette is brought back to life with just that little injection of muted color. Really well done.

Not the most inspired space, but isn't this color combo fabulous? That chartruese with the chunky white molding and wood work and those espresso floors. Spot on.

This space reminds me of my favorite Polo shirt circa 1986. I sure tried the preppy look on for size, but my darn bohemian nature fights to get out every time.

This is probably my favorite of the bunch and is a perfect reflection of my style. Each color, each item looks lovingly selected but not matchy matchy. It feels well put together, but not stodgy. Those green drapes are so perfect with all those neutrals!

What's your favorite shade of green?

XOXO

Baby, it's COLD outside!

2010-12-12T12:43:00.000-08:00

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

For us mid-westerners, there is no longer any doubt that winter is here and Christmas is right around the corner! Though I hate the cold, I love all it brings to my life. Cozy nights (and mornings!) in front of the fire with only the flicker of the Christmas lights and candle light to illuminate the book I'm reading. I love sipping hot cocoa out of my Santa mug and seeing huge fuzzy slippers on my feet. As a matter of fact, I would totally be wearing a footed, zip-up onsie right now...you know, the kind with the butt flap...if they came in my size.

Where some people are stressed by all there is to do this time of year, I try to find the brief moments of kindness I see here and there amidst all the hub bub and hectic shopping and I'm reminded of what this season is really all about. To me, it doesn't matter what religion you are...or if you have any at all...I just hope that you're inspired by the shop windows you walk by and the twinkling lights on the houses. I know I am. Inspired to tell the people I love how important they are to me and to share what I have with those that have less. I'm well known for getting sappy, but I so hope you all are enjoying the season, too, and know how much I appreciate you popping in now and again. We're kindred spirits we design lovers. Always seeking out the beautiful and though I've admitted it before, I have a huge peeping Tom issue...as in, I'm the peeping Tom...but this time of year is the worst (actually, the best) for me. So, leave those blinds open people! Let me see your beautiful trees and garlands and mistletoe! Until then, I'll just peep inside these gorgeous spaces and hope they don't see my nose pressed against the windows.

Branches, beautiful branches. Some clippers and a couple of minutes is all you need for this look!

Super fun, right? The card outlet store has these for 75 cents right now. Grab them before they're gone!

I know this might look complicated, but if you break the look down it could be done so simply. Inexpensive ribbon is tied to each ornament and could be easily hung from a plant hook painted the same color as the ceiling. Also, notice the books all wrapped in white craft paper? It's such a clean and crisp backdrop for the pops of red. This look could carry you through Christmas, New Years and Valentines Day!

Love this branch idea. Clear fishing wire and a couple of those same plant hooks twisted into the ceiling and voila! Instant focal point!

Have a red room? Celebrate it this time of year! Make it your entertaining space no matter what room it is. Is it the library? Move the dining table in there. Is it the living room? Pull your grandma's round drop leaf table in there and replace your coffee table with it. A casual dinner of tomato soup and grilled cheese will feel decadent when served on a white table cloth in front of the fire.

Oh dear. I've fallen in love...again. Can you just imagine going to a dinner party with this set-up?!

I wonder if my chair would have horns?

Antique socks are hard to find, but are so darn charming hung as stockings. You know what you can do, though? You can tea stain some white socks in different lengths and you'll get the same look.

Now, that's alot of work. Kudos for time spent!

You don't have to love color to say Merry Christmas...pops of greenery mixed with whites and black can be just as festive. Not to mention super elegant.

Pink is a great replacement for red!

Just so charming and simple!

I'll never have white walls...or a white tree...or minty green drapes...or probably even ivory bergere chairs. Which means I'll never have a space like this, but my, oh my...I adore it.

If someone brought this as a hostess gift to my house, I think we'd be lifelong friends.

Know what this is? An antique drying rack!!! Genius.

Hey, what'd you call me?! ;D

Told ya' branches are fabulous.

For anyone who ever thought red and turquoise don't look fabulous together...

Even without the red, turquoise is a perfect holiday choice!

Loving this hand made wreath. Hot glue guns unite!

Even bedrooms should have holiday spirit!

Pink gerbera daisies and tulips at Christmas? Why not?!

Smaller trees in galvanized buckets are the perfect choice when you don't want to deal with a huge tree or even if you want to have a tree in several rooms. I also love the idea of using the rain boots and suitcase as ways to hold gifts. Love the strung popcorn...the last time I tried to do it I did enough to reach a length of about 2 feet and gave up. Anyone know of a place where you can find it done for you?

Stay warm today friends and Happy Holidays!

XOXO

Knuckle Biters

2010-12-09T14:35:00.000-08:00

I currently have 11 paint colors on my dining room walls just waiting for me to fall in love with one of them. Each time I think I've decided, I'm pulled in a different direction. One I think I've ruled out is black. High gloss black. My walls aren't the perfect smooth texture I'd need to pull it off and with windows on only one wall, I'm feeling like I've got to pass on it. Too bad, because I've been wanting to go there for a couple of years. This home is a total knuckle biter for me. The way that black and white are woven throughout the spaces is so fabulous to me. Oh, and does anyone else love those looooooooooong taper candles? I'm not even a tapered candle fan, but I love the drama of them here.

Get Outfitted For Less!

2010-12-05T16:08:00.000-08:00

If you're an Antropologie stalker like me and have a constant war of wits between needing to own the whole store and having to leave with nothing due to your money acting funny, well I might have some great news for you. If you haven't heard of or shopped at Urban Outfitters (www.Urbanoutfitters.com) than you're in for a treat. It's kinda the poor man's Anthropologie and while you might have passed by it a hundred times thinking it was just a teen/college geared store then you're missing the boat. The website is the best way to go and the prices are so fabulous that you're able to load up your virtual cart and still not break the bank. It's a wonderful place to snag some Christmas gifts that aren't the average pair of slippers or gloves in a box. Here are some of my recent favorites...some are currently sitting in my cart awaiting my credit card info as we speak. That is, unless you want to let me use your credit card info...no? Not so much? It was worth a try!

What do ya think? Fun and funky, right? Hope you're having a great week!

XOXO

Oh, so Haute!

2010-12-02T18:35:00.000-08:00

The problem with being a designer is that there isn't a day that goes by that I don't discover something so beautiful that owning it begins a brief obsession. This week, it's pretty much the entire line of furnishings from Haute House, a Hollywood based company. It's glam and gorgeous and I can just envision the chic boutique hotel I would design with an unlimited budget and access to this furniture designer's brain.

Oh, I know, my friend. I know.

Excuse me, I think I just drooled on myself...

Limoncello martini with basil, please. Shaken, not stirred.

I would need to redo my whole house to incorporate most of these things,
so I suppose it's time to move.

xoxo

My Wish List (In Lieu of Favorite Things)

2010-12-01T10:23:00.000-08:00

Beautiful things inspire me everyday. I see them and often ache to own them and then feel guilty for wanting such a cache of material things. For this reason, none of the things I really dream of owning ever actually make it on one of my Christmas lists and I certainly rarely splurge on these kinds of things for myself. I also happen to have chosen the hardest working and loving man I've known in my life and I just never want to put pressure on him to spend money on things that, at the end of the day, are really just stuff. Heartbreakingly beautiful stuff, but stuff all the same. However, after he asked me recently for my yearly Christmas list I thought to myself...darn't, why not! And even if none of these items ends up under the tree this year, at least I can now say I've actually put it out there and he can reference this list at his leisure any year he likes. Or not. Cause either way, I'm happy just the same.

So, here, in order of my level of yearning, is my one TRUE list:

1. Big city designers forgive me. I may be the last of us to still not own a Ghost Chair. I have pined for one for going on 8 years now, but there always seems to be other, more pressing things to spend money on. Typically going for $400/each and more, I found a link that gives you a pair of them for $245! Oh, dare I dream?

http://www.amazon.com/Louis-Ghost-Chair-Transparent-Acrylic/dp/B003KWF9YM

2. Cameroon JuJu hats were all over the big decor mags about five years ago and before I knew what the heck I was looking at, I just fell in love. Hard. To find out that these are handmade headdresses from Africa...Cameroon to be exact...just made them even more special and unique. I'd love one in a pinky/red. But white would run a close second. Not cheap, but so worth every penny, I found one that is just a bit over $300 which is a bargain compared to what they normally go for.

http://www.africanart.com/jujuhat-redsold.aspx

3. What is my issue with not just spending more money to get the thing I really want instead of trying to save a buck ALL THE TIME and ending up regretting my purchase with every fiber of my being?! I always do this and then tell myself it won't happen again. Until, that is, that I have to make a big purchase at the same time I also have to pay for 20 other things. Ugh. Anyhoo, I did this most recently with the purchase of a new camera. My old Powershot was great...loved it. But, it wasn't so good for professional purposes for me because I take so many interior pictures in low light. So, I researched and researched and decided I just needed to suck it up and get a dslr. Except, I didn't get a dslr. I got a crappy version with a wide angle lens that takes just about the worst pictures ever. And thanks to Best Buy's two week return policy, I'm stuck with the darn thing. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it. So, someday I'd love to open a box with a heavily researched dslr camera perfect for interior/real estate shots and an additional lens.

Throw in a photography class and I'd be one happy girl.

4. Jo Malone Candles

Lime Basil and Mandarin and Red Roses scents

These little gems of all things great smelling are not cheap at $65/each, which is why I've never owned one. It seems silly, really, to spend that kind of money on something you're literally going to burn, but I've been yearning to see one of these sitting next to my favorite reading chair for years and years. It's not the kind of thing you put on a normal list because people will think you're insane. But here it is...I put it out there.

Diptyque has a great fig scented candle that would make me equally as happy.

5. I have been searching for the last decade for what I call a "signature necklace". Not necessarily a one-of-a-kind, but one that you aren't going to find on every neck walking by. I keep hoping I'll receive one from mdh that comes with a story and a beautifully wrapped package. "Babe, when I was in Nantucket I was walking by this little jewelery shop and saw the most beautiful necklace and it reminded me of you. I just knew you'd love it." Anything he found like that would be wonderful. But, if ideas are needed bumble bees and quatrefoils are two solid choices. Bumble bees because that's one of my nicknames for Shawn and quatrefoils because they are seen in so many of the most beautiful architectural wonders across the world.

(david yurman)

(slane and slane)

6. Large Scale Equestrian Artwork

If you've been ready my blog for a while...and I hope you have!...you know that I have a thing for huge horse art. I can't explain it, nor do I feel like I need to. Sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants and, brother, does my heart want this. It's nearly impossible to find this kind of thing at a manageable price, but I recently saw this one at Zgallerie.com and thought, yep, that'll do. At $699, but 20% right now, it's no steal, but for the statement it would make I think it's worth every penny. Now, if I can just convince some kind gift giver of that before I die...well, I might just die! Ok...this could easily be my number one pick. As I'm redoing my dining room and have the perfect spot for it AND think it would be a great inspiration piece for the Designer Showcase I'm doing early next year. I'm just sayin'.

http://www.zgallerie.com/p-10290-22-hands.aspx

7. Fireside Chairs or just "ah" chair.

There's something about these stunning chairs that speak to me way down deep in my design core. I have loved them since the first time I laid eyes on them and can't keep them out of my mind. If I could marry a chair, this would be it. If I could have babies with a chair, they would look like little miniature versions of this with a mini-me sitting in it.

Restoration Hardware is the maker of this particular one and I feel like Hagrid and I could sit for hours in his little hut in these chairs talking about those kooky kids and all the trouble they got into over a spot of tea. Love me some Harry. And these chairs.

http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1671084&categoryId=cat1701068

8. Rosetta Stone in French and Italian

After taking seven years of French and having been to France twice, I know one thing for sure...I still have ALOT to learn. It's my every intention to go back to France (and visit Quebec!) many, many more times while I'm on this earth. I love it so much...I love the people so much...I just know I'm missing out on so much because of the communication gap. So, though terribly expensive, I'd love to spend a few hours a week working with Rosetta Stone and mastering the language to the best of my ability. As a close second, someday I'd love to get to Italy and it's so important to me to be able to at least have basic communication skills when traveling to another country. So, someday I'll be asking for Italian as well.

http://www.rosettastone.com/holqb3?pc=sehol10&cid=se-gg&gclid=CKrm5bTGwaUCFYK5KgodXRpaZQ

9. Travel.

Anywhere. Anytime. A long weekend in Chicago? Super. A transcontinental cruise to Italy where we stay for a week and take a train to Paris for two? Even better. (I mean who can't take 5 weeks off?) I'd also love to see Barcelona, Prague, Turkey, Istanbul, Quebec, Bali, Tahiti, Maine in the Fall. I just want to pick and go. Don't you?

10. Peace on Earth

And how about few ideas that don't break the bank?

1. Ballard Designs Personalized Large Tote Bag

For only $25 these tote bags are a surefire hit for anyone and I love them. I wore mine out a couple of years ago and just haven't bought another one. Their perfect for a designer on the go or for anyone who schleps stuff around all day and would like a stylish, inexpensive tote bag to carry it all.

I'd love a black bag with this personalization:

Thread Color: Cream

Monogram: OHMIGOSH

Monogram Style:

This is style #16

2. Uggs Sparkle boots in gold.

I'm such a sucker for Oprah's favorite things show. I sit and cry with excitement for the audience and though, yes, it's a Saturday Night Live skit waiting to happen, I think it would be so thrilling to be there. So, it's with great anticipation every year I wait to see if one of her items will grace my Christmas tree. This year one of the more reasonably priced items I loved were these darn Ugg Boots in gold. Still not a steal at $170, but cute all the same. I have a feeling these will be hard to get and I don't even think they're available yet, but I did find a link for free shipping for anyone interested. http://www.fabuloussavings.com/online/ugg-classic-short-sparkle/

3. Gift cards I love:

Home Goods ( My Favorite Place In the World!)/TJ Maxx, Sephora, Z Gallerie, Nordstroms.

Gift cards are no fun to give usually because they often seem like an after thought or a cop out. But, I happen to love getting them. It's like winning a mini-shopping spree with no guilt attached. You can go and splurge on something that you normally wouldn't buy for yourself. Unlike cash, which I always seem to spend on gas, or unmemorable lunches in bad delis or on bills...the worst. I'd love to be able to take a drive to the burbs of Chicago and bounce from one Home Goods to the next filling our SUV with little gems and fabulous deals. Ahhh, a girl can dream.

So much of what you see here was purchased at Home Goods. Love that darn place.

4. A personalized bedside water carafe.

I've become a darn camel lately and am missing my old bedside carafe that broke a couple of years ago. This one by Williams Sonoma is perfect at only $30.

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/9935974/?catalogId=56&bnrid=3120901&cm_ven=GoogleProdAds&cm_cat=ProductAds&cm_pla=DataFeed&cm_ite=General

5. I love to get a collection...say 3 or so stacked and tied with a pretty bow...of some one's favorite books. It's such a personal gift in the truest sense of the word and you're really sharing something dear with someone you love. Winter is my favorite reading time and I seem to go through a book every couple of days, so this kind of gift is always a hit at my house. What's my favorite book?

It's called Paint the Wind by Cathy Cash Spellman. Hard to find because it's out of print, but worth the effort. I also really loved One Thousand White Women, These is My Words and Devil in the White City. Picture them all tied up with a bow and consider that my gift to you. :)

Well, that's all the wishing I can do for one day. What's on your secret Christmas list?

xoxo

Clean your plate! (and then hang it!)

2010-11-27T07:37:00.000-08:00

If you're like most people, you lovingly got out your best china and for the one time each year allowed people to actually eat off of it. I'm not of that school. I like to celebrate the things I have, whether they be heirlooms or not, by using them in my everyday life. I feel like life's too short to use ugly plates. But, if that idea of everyday use causes you to break out in hives for fear that something might break, at least consider displaying them in a really great wall display. Plate hangers can be found at any big box store for mere dollars and by simply using newspaper cut out in the shapes of all the plates you want to incorporate, you can double stick tape the templates and move them around the wall until you're happy with the look. If you don't have a fabulous collection of plates, there is no shortage of them at thrift stores, online and even at the dollar store. They don't have to be fine china or even have beautiful patterns...they just need to complement one another in some way...or even just speak to you in a random style. As you'll see, dining rooms aren't the only place to incorporate a plate wall, so get outside that box and give it a whirl!