Lilac

 I love this color and all of its varying shades.  I have been wanting to use it for a long time and sadly had no takers until recently.   I just completed the finishing touches of a teenage girl's bedroom.  With a white linen headboard and drapes and light gray bedding, it was screaming for a touch of this earthy, yet delicate color.  We added a lilac flat ribbon greek key trim to the white drapes and had a simple lilac linen pillow made for the bed.  It was just enough.   This color is beautiful, feminine, romantic,  and organic. 

All photos via Pinterest

I must also mention the unbelievable Susannah Buxton, costume designer for Downton Abbey.  I think that she must feel the same way that I do about lilac.  Each episode has been such magnificent treat for the eyes.

I want to show you something...

....the contents of the "Design Inspiration" folder on my desktop.  I love those little blue folders.  They are so helpful and can keep your computer screen so tidy.  This particular folder is a collection of photographs that I saved because they were either inspiration for a client's project or for my own house.  I never want to copy the work of someone else, but I do think that we draw inspiration from beauty.   Great design is beautiful and fosters creativity.  I hope you are inspired as well.  Enjoy!

The first two photos were ideas for my own house.  I have a fireplace that I want to change.  I love both of these looks.  Very different, but equally stunning.

I love this covered area!   I wanted to do this in our backyard until I found out how much it would cost. Back porch vs. two years of college tuition.  Hmm.....  I can still dream, though.

This was inspiration for a client's bathroom.  So glamorous!  I love every detail, 

especially the floating vanity.

 Inspiration for a teen boy's bedroom.  These rooms are so masculine and handsome.  

I'll post later on what we ended up going with for this client.  The headboard is made of stainless steel and iron welded together.  I can't wait to show you a photo!

Here we have the polar opposite... Teen age girl's room, soft, pretty, and very feminine.

(I want to do the bulletin board in my home office.)  

I am currently helping a client with her kitchen remodel.  She is putting in a coffee/wet bar and I thought these were two good examples as far as layout goes of what could be done in the space given.

Kitchen island inspiration.  So many options.  So beautiful.

 I was helping a client come up with options for displaying dishes in her dining room.  She did not have much depth in her space.

I wish I had the sources for all of these photos.  I would love to give credit to the designers.  Some of them have been in that folder for so long, I lost track of where I found them.  My apologies!

Transformation Tuesday

     I am a sucker for a good before and after.  A dear friend of my daughters was doing a project for school and asked people to give her one word that inspired them.  When she asked me, I thought for a little while and realized that my word was transformations.   Any kind of transformation inspires me.  I loved watching the television show "Extreme Makeover" and then "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."  I love hearing stories of people whose lives have been transformed through the love of Christ.  I love seeing before and after photos of homes that have been thoughtfully and beautifully decorated.  I love it when a friend gets a great haircut and it changes her whole look.  Tuesdays will be dedicated to Transformations.  If you have a transformation of any kind that you would like to share, please do!

Before

After!
House Beautiful

Before

After!
Brad Ford

Before

After!
Better Homes and Gardens

Let's Have A Party!

                                                                               

All Photos Via Pinterest

     Do you sometimes feel like you need a good kick in the pants to help you get things accomplished?  I can let projects in my house lay around for days...weeks...months....forever!  Sometimes the best inspiration to get things together, whether it is finally having those drapes made or organizing your pantry, is to host something.  There is nothing like a graduation party, the company Christmas party, or a baby shower to help get you focused.  The thought of having people in your house that know you, but don't really know you,  can really get you motivated.  Deadlines are always a good thing to have, whether you are working with a contractor, designer, landscaper, etc...  It helps them and you get organized and see your project to completion.  Something more pressing can and will come up for them and you will be left on the back burner--not because you are not important to them, you are just more flexible with your project time.  If you don't have a natural deadline, have a party!

U...G...L...Y...and I Ain't Got No Alibi

It's ugly!  

     Do you have something in your house you have been meaning to fix or replace that has been there for so long you no longer see it?  We have been living in our house for nearly eight years. When we bought it,  I loved everything about it.  I told my husband that there was nothing I wanted to change.  At the time, I really meant it!  Since then, we have remodeled almost every square inch and I get reminded often of that declaration I made eight years ago.  When we moved in, though, there was something that needed to go...the ceiling fan in our master bedroom.  Through all of the renovations and electricians in and out of our house--guess what still remains?  The ugly ceiling fan.  Isn't that interesting?  Is there something that you have been walking by daily that you mean to update or fix, but you can't see it anymore?  I challenge you to open your eyes to what you have been neglecting--that thing in your house (or for that matter your own body or your poor spouse)--It doesn't need to be a huge, expensive update--just one item that has been needing attention.  If you do accept my challenge, send me a before and after photo so I can celebrate with you!
     I am allowing myself one month to take care of that dang ceiling fan.  I'll keep you posted...

Upholstered Walls

     I love upholstered walls.  They add so much warmth and depth to a room.  That is the look I had in mind in my own bedroom.  I wanted it to have a cocoon like feel.  I ran across the fabric I wanted to use and started looking for someone to do the labor.  I learned quickly that it can take a bite out of your budget.  

Carolina Herrera

Through my quest for info I found out about this wonderful method of having fabric backed with paper.  It can then be applied like wallpaper.  How fabulous is that!  I located a place in California that did it for a nominal fee per yard.  My wallpaper guy slapped it up on the walls and now, 5 years later, I still adore it!  

David Webb by Peter Penoyer and Katie Ridder

Adding nailhead trim would just be the extra icing on the cake...if you like icing!

Amazing detail