Holiday Guest Room

It's November. We're about to enter the holiday season. Airline ticket prices are down...so, isn't this the perfect time to fly home for the holidays? I plan to head to the coast. No staycation here. I've done enough of that. I do remember my way to San Jose.... California that is... silicon valley... the Bay Area. It's time to visit family and friends. But, if you're staying put and having overnight guest....why not spruce up that unused guest room? You know the one that doubles as an office, craft room and a catch all.
Airline travel can be tiresome and rushed during the holiday season so before your guest arrive pull out all the decorating stops. Paint, de-clutter, buy new bedding, update accessories. Give the room the formality of being the designated guest room. If... only for a week.

Transitional and Glamours
This room has the feel of a boutique hotel

image: Coastal Living

Sleek and Contemporary
Just a bit moody.... Love It

Traditional and Refined
Anyone traveling to the low country?

Where's the girly girl?
Ya got ta love her.

image: Red River Interiors

'Country Living"
Serene small space in the attic

Image: Country Living

For the lady who loves red... I know I do.

image: Red River Interiors

Office Style

I love style and style makers. The designers that influence the style of First Lady Michele Obama have interior style of their own. I love to see offices of creative people....what inspires them and how they work. The shots below of fashion designer Jason Wu and J. Crew Creative Director Jenna Lyons are Mrs. Obama's top style choices. Take a peak with me of the inside of their work spaces. See what inspires them.

Jason in his New York office.... he gets great light in there.

Mrs. O, You're so Vogue... she loves the sweater set look. I'm also loving that comfy velvet couch.

The office of J. Crew creative director Jenna Lyons.
Mrs. O and the girls have a special relationship with this retailer.

Things that inspire Jenna Lyons.

Color is still King

Since my last post on color I've searched for more inspiring color combinations and I've found them. These designers style and use of color inspires me. I love the way designer
Mary McDonald uses orange with blue and green. I also like the subtle use of color by designer Lindsey Harper in her small New York bedroom. Strong color and not so common color combinations are outside the box. Innovative designers are pushing color in design in a greater way. After all who would have thought of painting walls chocolate ? Just a few years ago it was unheard of. Now chocolate is used freely adding drama and sophistication to any space.

Paint manufacturers introduce new colors yearly and many homeowners are willing to take the plunge to update their spaces. I believe....if you're not sure how to use charcoal gray and cherry red in the same room of course....call a designer that specializes in....Color.

Magenta and Lime

Pumpkin and Lime

Persimmon and Blue

Green and Rust

Suzani and Brown

Red and Blue

Blues and Soft Red

Why Color Is King

Every designer knows the quickest and most exciting way to add drama to a room is with color. Most of us are afraid to use it and when we do it's often ineffective. Homeowners should work with a color consultant to assist in coming up with a coordinated color pallet that takes color from room to room. Color evokes lots of emotion. I love cool colors in common living areas with a contemporary style. One of the places I turn for color inspiration is nature. You can't go wrong when pulling a color pallet together pulling colors from nature. I learned this tip from a friend years ago when putting our first apartment together.

When using textiles for drapes and rugs look for dominate colors in the fabrics for accessories and wall color. This is a simple way to start when attempting to coordinate a space.
I always think color should be used dramatically...after all, we don't live in a black and white world.

Lilac and yellow are beautiful contrast in this aster.

I love the way this girl's room mimics the colors in the above aster.

See how this floral patch relates to the space below

Shades of green are soft and calm and work wonderfully in a bedroom.

Soft shades of green create a peaceful here.

Bape Factor

The Bape chair,the Japanese update of the classic Eames fiberglass shell chair definitely provides the Wow factor to any room. The big question is where do you find the chair in the U.S.? Due out soon in Japan we're searching for it's U.S. debut. Any of these chair colors will add splash to a monochromatic space or make a great compliment with the color palette you're working with. The chair should retail for about $500 once it hits our market so... I'll keep my eyes open. I'm a chair lover and this is one I'd love to get my hands on....

The Best Southern Accent

Southern Accents is gone. Because I've lived in the south so long naturally I've come to love the style of Southern Accents magazine. It 's elegant, beautiful, orderly and stylish with a touch of southern restraint. The show houses in this shelter magazine depict the gentility of southern design. Heaped in tradition they were graceful and refined. I appreciated the free and easy style of now defunct Domino... but now and then I want my inner most southern belle to come out...It's more formal but not stuffy, edited but not too restrained.
I hope this is the last of the disappearing shelter mags... I'll miss my Southern Accents.

Summer Outside

Are you enjoying summer as much as I am? I love living outside as much as possible during the summer months.... From early morning walks to late night suppers. I could spend my entire day outside air conditioned buildings. Most of all I enjoy entertaining outside. It doesn't have to be an upscale formal affair...it's summer ...so make it fun.
Here are a few summer entertaining ideas I want to share. They are creative simple and boast lots of summer style. Much can be done with fabric, twinkle lights and fresh flowers. Add a punch of color and a few candles for late night romance. But most of all... Have Fun!

Elegant and casual....

Colorful tents and candle light are show stoppers to create the perfect dinner atmosphere

If you live in a dry desert climate add fresh flowers to the decor to bring in splashes of color

Start a fire pit early in the evening and it will be ready by nightfall for roasting marshmallows