When life gets hectic, it's the little things..

Phew...sorry for the neglect this week! I have a lot of major deadlines this week..my average bedtime the past two weeks has been 3 AM. Anyway, I figured I'd take time today to post some eye candy, not only to inspire you, but also to give me a much needed break from my current projects. Here are some little (and big) pleasures to indulge in if you can...

a peaceful soak

a meal enjoyed without TV and catching up with those you live with but don't necessary get to talk to everyday!

A beautiful place to read...

The piece you've had your eye on for ages and finally get to bring home

Little details that make life beautiful

What makes your life beautiful?

via 1. Mag 91, 2. Design Interior, 3. TradHome, 4. Adore Home, 5.  ?

Art In The Garden - James Farmer

About a month ago, I was near Auburn for a guest bedroom installation.  After finishing, I managed to grab some lunch, and I snagged a copy of a local flower magazine.  The entire magazine was great, but what really caught my eye was a full page ad for Art in the Garden at Auburn University featuring none other than James Farmer.  

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Are you familiar with James Farmer?  He is considered a Southern lifestyle expert - that includes all things related to entertaining and styling.  The guy's amazing.

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Well, he's coming to Auburn Saturday, April 14th for an evening of sheer bliss.  From what I can gather, he will be creating flower arrangements and chatting it up with guests the entire evening.  There will be a seated dinner and lots of other loveliness.  The proceeds go to supporting the Gardens in the area.  The sad news for is is that we are going to be out of town.  So, if any of you do decide to go, I would love a full report!!

Who knows, he may even be signing copies of his most recent book.  

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Here is information on getting tickets for the evening - Art in the Garden with James Farmer

PS: I'm still digging out from my break.  Why do breaks have to be this way!? M.

Trend Spotting - Sea Fans

Hello All!  First, I want to thank all the guest bloggers who kept things running for me last week.  All those favorites along with the beautiful weather we are having in Birmingham, have given me some major Spring fever.  I have lots of things swirling around in my head both for my own home and for the design plans I am currently working on for clients!  I promise to share a few of these with you over the next few months.  

Today, I wanted to show you some artwork I'm loving at the moment.  One of the keys to creating a high end look in a space is including lots of variation in all layers of the design.  Artwork is no exception.  Nothing can kill a room faster than a room full of oil paintings (even if they are expensive).  You need to mix it up to make it work - oils, prints, etchings and a few non art pieces.  Here's one example of some fabulous non art pieces.

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They're sea fans - and I'm seeing them in lots of non-beachy interiors.

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This fabulous room I recently posted about . . . (I'm not sure, but I think they're applied to the mirror somehow?)

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Another view.  And yes, the orchids are gorgeous too. 

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And from one of my favorite blog reads . . .  a sculpture out of them!

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So, I think you know where I'm going with this . . . Oh yes I did.   

Just a tiny purchase while on my recent girl's weekend at the beach.  

I have big plans for these puppies.

 Three total . . . since we all know things look better in odd numbers.  

What's that?  Of course I'll show you the finished project.  

Want some of your own??!  Well, here you go . . . Sea Fans.  Now go snatch them up so we can do an artwork DIY together.  M.

PS: For those of you who sent me sweet emails asking about my break, we had such a fun get-a-way this past week.  We actually took a road trip to Washington D.C. (yes 12 hours in the car) and toured all the historical spots (ok, maybe not all).   But we ate lots of amazing food of all kinds (we even had some goat!).  But, I'm glad to be getting back into the swing of things.  Have a great start to your week.

Fresh bedroom inspiration

I think it's hard to go wrong with white and blue
via Target print ad
 

The owner of this bedrooom quotes "I was a lot more beige once upon a time but a trip to Australia stopped all that."  I love it when a recent trip spurs you to make changes in one's everday life!

3 above via Heart Homes mag

The bedding in the photo above, and the photo below, along with the graphic rug, create a very fresh and modern feeling to these bedrooms.

2 above via Adore Home

Top Seven for Spring Series - Elizabeth of The Mustard Ceiling

Rounding out my series this week is the super talented Elizabeth of The Mustard Ceiling.  Not only does Elizabeth have an amazing eye for interior design, she's also a computer wiz and has her very own graphic design company.  So, she moves about the Internet helping interior designers & bloggers with logos, branding, and even the overall look of their websites.  She has been incredibly supportive of my blog, and I love reading about all her creative ideas on design.  With that, Elizabeth take it away!!!

Hi IDM readers! I'm stopping by from The Mustard Ceiling blog to share a few of my favorite things this spring.

I can't believe spring is already here. I don't know about you, but I am definitely ready, it is one of my favorite time's of the year.

The days start getting longer, the flowers are begin to bloom...and of course you can't beat the beautiful colors. A couple of my favorite's for spring....coral and kelly green. Which leads us to a few of my favorite things...

1/2/3/4/5/6/7

I am addicted to my ipad2. I got it as a birthday present in January, since then it has not left my side. This is such a cute ipad cover from Pretty Smitten, the colors and patterns are so fresh and fun for spring.

The perfect shade of grey. If you have been to my blog, The Mustard Ceiling, you will see I am little obsessed with gray...particularly warm gray's. In my opinion, it is the perfect neutral backdrop to really make those pretty spring colors POP! This color is a soft warm gray by Benjamin Moore, Revere Pewter.

Spring is the perfect time to bring a little bit of nature inside. These glass terrariums from West Elm are hand-blown glass, they are beautiful way to display a little bit of nature with a touch of rustic.

Tulips! When I think of spring I think of tulips. They are my favorite spring flower.

How can you go wrong when you pair ikat, kelly green and coffee? I think I would wake up on the right side of the bed every morning with this trio. I recently found this shop, C Wonder online and it has knocked my socks off!

For Christmas this year I received a big girl camera, the Canon Rebel EOS T3. I have fallen in love with photography, even though I still have a lot to learn. I am excited this spring to be able to get outside and see the world through my lens. It really changes your perspective and helps you take the time to stop and notice all of the beautiful details around you.

Finally, no spring wardrobe would be complete without a pretty scarf and this soft animal print in peach is no exception.

Thank you Mandi for having me today! I hope you're having a terrific springbreak.

Top Seven for Spring Series - Carrie of Hazardous Design

Up today is Carrie of Hazardous Design.  Her blog is one of my morning coffee reads.  Carrie's style is classic with a shot of chic.  Pair this with Carrie's sense of humor, and you have one fabulous blog!  So, Carrie, it's all yours . . .

If you are a regular reader of my blog, Hazardous Design, you may already know that I'm not a fan of fall and winter, which is a bit of a challenge considering I live in New England. No, SPRING, is my favorite time of year. Let me give you seven reasons why.

1. Spring bulbs. This is a photo of a strip of land beside my driveway taken last year, the first spring we'd been in our house. I'm not a gardener by any stretch of the imagination, but the previous owner was. To our delight and surprise, it turns out that he was a rock star when it came to planting pretty things that would grow year after year. It was such a treat last spring when we saw the gardens explode with color for the first time. Now that I know what to expect I'm looking forward to it even more this year.

2. Gardening. Like I mentioned, I'm not a gardener, but this spring I'm going to attempt to become one. I know how to weed and mulch. That's a start, right? 

3.Daycations. With the promise of warmer weather and longer days, I find myself itching to get out of the house and do some exploring. Late last summer my husband and I went to Block Island for the first time and I haven't been able to get it out of my mind. I'd love to get back there this spring before it gets invaded by the summer crowds.

4. Spring Cleaning. Weird, I know, but that's how I roll. I love dedicating a Saturday to deep cleaning all the little nooks and crannies of my home until everything sparkles and smells nice. Especially when it is a warm day and you can throw all the windows open. Doesn't a clean house make you feel good?

5. Outdoor dining. Preferably with cocktails. There's nothing better than snacking and sipping on the outdoor patio of your favorite restaurant while people watching.

6. Jack Rogers. My favorite little shoe to wear when the weather warms up. They can be dressy or they can be casual. If you get them in the color platinum, they'll go with everything.

Zappos

7. My B-day. Any other Gemini's out there? If you are anything like me, you probably celebrate your birthday for an entire week. Maybe a month. It isn't a bad idea when your birthday falls during the best time of the year :)

Happy Spring, Interior Design Musing readers!
Mandi, thank you so much for including me in your series.  I hope you and your kids are enjoying spring break!

Shabby Apple discount code and the winner of the $75 gift card

Congratulations to Joanna!  Joanna was chosen by a random draw.  Joanna, please contact me at ashley [at] decorologyblog [dot] com with your address so I can get you your gift card.

If you didn't win but still have your heart on something from Shabby Apple, they have been kind enough to give everyone a 10% off discount when you use the discount code:   decorology10off  

The discount code expires April 19th

The glamorous interiors of Schuyler Samperton

It is always such a treat when I'm introduced to an interior designer whose work I haven't seen before. It doesn't happen very often, which is why I'm really excited to share with you Schuyler Samperton. She's an LA based designer with a cool modern twist on traditional decorating. I'm sure some of you do know her work - and even if you've seen it before, I imagine it's just as beautiful to look at the second..., third..., fourth time around...

Pops of pink and turquoise balance out the visual heaviness of the dark wood beams

I would never think to put together that rug that table, with those curtains and that striped chair.  It's a very unexpected blend, and I like that it looks like the furnishings and decor was collected over time as opposed to items purchased just to match.

The two below images are from the home of model Carolyn Murphy, which was featured in March's vogue!

Those wood floors are heaven!

Do you like Schuyler's style? Go to Schuyler Samperton's site to see more.

Top Seven for Spring Series - Kathy of My Interior Life

Do you have the fever yet?!  All this talk about Spring is really putting me in the mood (to shop I'm afraid!)  At this point, I'm thinking new shoes, cute dress, and a color change in the entire house!  I'm sure today will only add to my want list.  

If you have not discover my next guest before, suffice it to say you are about to Wowed.  I think of Kathy's blog My Interior Life as on of my go to's for cutting edge trends and styles.  She can mention a design trend and several months later, everybody will be talking about it.  If you are interested in cutting edge, you need to visit her often!  The other great thing about Kathy is that she writes in a witty and clever way which I find totally refreshing.  So, Kathy, what's on your mind for Spring 2012 . . . 

I'm so honored Mandi asked me to participate in her Spring Break series . . . her blog is one of my daily reads, so it means a lot to me. At first I thought I might have a hard time coming up with seven things for spring, but I think I must be more ready for the season than I thought. To me, spring means a time to spruce up my wardrobe, my house and myself. So, without further ado, here are my top 7 picks for spring!

1. I am loving all the bright colors that are so popular this spring, and one of my favorite incarnations is the "Pop Pants" (my neighbor told me they are called that, I just thought they were just called colored jeans - silly me!) . . .

Source: oldnavy.gap.com via My Interior Life on Pinterest

I bought a green pair similar to these from Old Navy at Marshall's for $17! I've already worn them quite a bit and love them!

2. My house is looking so dark to me right now, so I think the solution is new, colorful throw pillows. Don't you agree? I think changing out accessories can make a room feel so fresh. Here are a few pillows that have caught my eye recently.

These bright, cheerful patterns from Caitlin Wilson Textiles just scream spring to me.

Source: caitlinwilsontextiles.com via My Interior Life on Pinterest

This Thom Filicia fabric pillow from Etsy seller Woody Liana is currently on sale for $42. She's having a great spring sale with lots of your favorite patterns.

Source: etsy.com via My Interior Life on Pinterest

 3.  This may sound silly, but I love a good lip balm. I'm not a huge lipstick person, so any kind of tinted lip balm is even better because as I reapply throughout the day, it gives me a little bit of color and shine. Some new ones that I've been meaning to try are by Burt's Bee's:

Source: burtsbees.com via My Interior Life on Pinterest

And this one from Alba called Terra Tints might even be better because it's got SPF (and it's cheaper)!

Source: drugstore.com via My Interior Life on Pinterest

4. Another pick for spring would have to be a new iPhone case for me. It has been brought to my attention that mine (from J. Crew, mind you) can look like camouflage from far away. Now, I mean no disrespect to the hunters out there, but camo is not my thing. Here are a couple of cases on my wish list, both are from society6.com which is a really cool site where all the cases are $35 and created by artists. Seriously, hundreds to choose from. All the ones I picked are from the same artist. I'm nothing if not predictable. I just can't pass up a good, colorful abstract. This one even has in inspirational name: "Dream Your Path." Love it.

Source: society6.com via My Interior Life on Pinterest

This one is called "On Time" which is good because I like to be punctual. Being late stresses me out.

Source: society6.com via My Interior Life on Pinterest

5. I've always loved striped blouses, but I'm really hooked on them lately. I just picked up this lovely at TJ Maxx the other day . . .

And I saw this one at Ann Taylor in a favorite color combo this spring, nude and orange (sounds weird, but it's cute - promise) . . . 

Source: anntaylor.com via My Interior Life on Pinterest

6. Of course, what spring list wouldn't be complete without some new nail polish for those warm-weather pedicures? I'm loving Essie's "Orange, It's Obvious."

Source: essie.com via My Interior Life on Pinterest

7. And last, but certainly not least, (this pick may seem a little random, but oh well) a leather tassel keychain! I just bought one after Christmas from Etsy, and I couldn't be happier with it. I bought a cheerful yellow. The color makes it easy to find in the bottom of my black hole of a purse, and it just makes me smile!

Thanks so much, Mandi, for having me over! I hope my spring finds inspire you to find something you love to celebrate the new season!