Preparing your home for Fall

It's almost that time of year again! As much as I like fall, I'm sad that before we know it summer will be over. For some reason it didn't really feel like summer much this year. I know I'm probably alone in this, but I love heat and even humidity. With the odd weather on the east coast we only got short spurts of heat. The stores are slowly switching over to fall items and I thought I'd share some of the things I'm eyeing for a fall transition in our home!

Personally I don't consider summer over until the end of September. So I'll be waiting until then to implement some of these changes, but based on where you are you may be able to get started sooner.

via Pinterest via Aphrochic via H&M Home

via Pinterest via Indulgy


Candles. Make a candle vignette for your dining room table.  Light them every night at dinner.  Have fun picking out some candles and holders you really love and love looking at every evening.  Unscented is best.  I place mine on a mirrored tray for added light.

Throws.  Nothing says comfy to me like a chunky wool or FAUX fur throw.
via A Touch of Luxe

via West Elm

via Tip Junkie

Textured pillows.  You don't really want to pile up the fuzzy pillows during summer, but fall is a great time to start putting out your textured pillows.  I've been wanting a mongolian lamb pillow for a while now.

Books Grab some books to curl up to! A Place Called Home is going to be released in  October and I think it's going to be a coffee table keepsake!  I love having some inspiration at my fingertips and curling up on the couch while sweetums watches TV.

Tom Scheerer Decorates is an absolute feast for the eyes.  I didn't want it to end and will be pouring over it often this fall and winter.  I'll be sharing more from it later.
via Amazon

Lighting - The Jewelry of A Room

While lighting serves a very practical purpose in a space, it can also add tons of subtle interest.  In addition to determining the proper lighting for a space (i.e., table/floor lamps, sconces and/or chandeliers), you really need to think about the style of lighting.  This is what creates the WOW in a room.  Just as jewelry is to a great outfit, so is lighting to a great space.

Here are some fantastic examples of true room jewelry - lighting available here. I love the trick below for over a sofa.  If you have a smallish piece of artwork that is not quite to scale to go over your sofa, add a pair of wall sconces for interest and to make the artwork "read" larger.  Works every time.

via

I love this clever idea - consider pendants in bedrooms rather than a table lamp.  The unexpected is what really makes a room feel special.  Love all the texture these pendants are adding to the space.  When you create a monochromatic color scheme, you have to ramp things up with texture.

via

Again, wall sconces over a sofa, but I just love the use of the library style lamps in this spot.  Again, the unexpected style makes this grouping sing!

via

I had to include this image - I love the play on styles here.  The very traditional room calls for a more traditionally styled chandelier.  But notice, the citrine velvet chairs add a pop of modern flare and to repeat this juxtaposition, the silver tones of the chandy are more modern.  Very clever, yet subtle.

via

This is just completely yummy.  Period.  These table lamps are artwork in and of themselves. 

via

Don't forget about using lighting for a punch of color.  I love this over sized floor lamp in paprika! 

via

Another great example of using lighting as the jewelry of a space.  Rather than basic cans lights, this designer used low profile overhead lighting in a super current brass tone for some Wow.  When your ceiling does not have tons of architectural interest, this is a clever option.

via

Lastly, repetition can create a Wow.  Consider pendants over a dining table, rather than the more expect chandelier.  This is just downright cool! 

via Pinterest

So, when considering lighting for a space, really think about adding something special to the room.  You will be stunned what a little jewelry can add!  Have a marvelous day.  M.

Disclaimer: I have received compensation in return for publishing this article. 

Outdoor Patio Eye Candy

Since the weather has been a strange mix of cold, rainy, and cloudy these past few days, I've been daydreaming about lounging out in the sunshine! Thank goodness it's starting to get back to being gorgeous. So here's a little eye candy to get you excited about spending some time in the sunshine before it's gone all too soon!

via meridameridian.com

I love the bright rustic feel of this space. The stone fire place and wood ceiling really make it sumptuous.

via EvaDesigns

Woven furniture almost always works outdoors! I love the texture, it always looks comfortable, but most importantly it's durable. They are usually higher in price but you are paying for the supreme durability.

via Houzz.com

This is a great simple outdoor space that doesn't distract from the gorgeous view! Don't we all wish we had this in our backyard? You can most of these great patio sets at Bents if you are looking to change up your outdoor space.


via indulgy
Here is a great set for smaller spaces! you don't have to give up the eye candy just because you have small space. I think my favorite part is the bench seating in the back! I could imagine curling up and reading a book there in some fresh air!

This post was in partnership with bents.co.uk

Furnish your dream home without emptying your wallet

If you remember not too long ago we did a post about Updating Your Furniture by using many different options like Craigslist, Auctions, and Consignment and I wanted to give you an idea of some of the great things you can get.

Here are some ways to get the look you are going for without completely blowing your budget

You can get this gorgeous nailhead trim bed costs around $1,099 on Horchow.

or you can get this nailhead trimmed bed from Joss & Main for $506.95! That is a huge savings! And it's made in the USA!

This amazing leather armchair is $2,199 on Crate an Barrel

This chair (which I might like a little better...)?  $745.80 online!

The classic and chic Parsons Desk from West Elm is $349.  Not bad...

...but you can get almost the exact same piece and a steal of a deal at Overstock.com for $159.99 (and it has amazing reviews!)

It doesn't have to cost a fortune to update the furniture in your home with the same concept and style you are looking for. Sometime's it's just a matter of doing some research on where to find it! If you are looking for a great place to shop these amazing deals, take a look at Quicksales they have some amazing items for great prices!

Keep your eyes open and do a little research before you give in to those big numbers!  When looking at cheaper options, make sure you try and find some product reviews before purchasing (same with expensive options for that matter).

Eye on Artwork Series - Donna Ruff

While sourcing items online for a design board, I ran across an image that stopped me in my tracks . . . 

via

As most of you know, I'm online quite a bit sourcing furnishing, accessories and artwork (always start your interior design search online, it will save tons of time and in my case, it saves my client's money when pulling a room together). So, it's rare for me to see something completely new and unique.  It's even more rare NOT to find that other artists have created similar pieces or DIY versions.  Well, this is it.  I was not able to find any takes on this very original artwork.

via

So, I had to find out more about the artist, Donna Ruff and her work.  After contacting Donna, she graciously agreed to an interview!   

via

via

I asked Donna a couple of questions, and her answers were quite surprising.

When did you discover you were an artist?

 I was always the artist in school and I suppose enjoyed the attention. My parents sent me to art classes but also to singing and dancing and baton twirling (!) classes with my cousins. But when I was six, I announced that I wanted to be an artist. This will show my age for sure but the movie "Annie Get Your Gun" was being released and the producers sponsored a contest to draw your favorite toy, and the prize was an Annie Oakley doll. At that time Madame Alexander dolls were a big deal, like American Girl dolls are now, and I had collected a few. I was very cagey, because I decided to draw an Annie Oakley doll, even though I didn't have one (the dolls were released when the movie came out.) And I won the contest, and that sealed my fate as far as I was concerned.
While the artwork was never returned to Donna, she still has her beloved prize! 

via
My parents thought it was fine that I was talented, but they certainly didn't encourage art as a career. Quite the opposite. A series of circumstances brought me to doing illustration, and then my family got on board, since I was making some decent money. I grew tired of the business though and wanted to make my own work, so I went to graduate school in 1998 when I had some financial resources to do it.  The style of my illustration work was kind of a soft realism, using airbrush and pastels. When I went to grad school I was introduced to printmaking and papermaking, along with a lot of theory.

via
I wanted to leave illustration behind so I really didn't do much representational work. I got interested in the idea of series and my experience with books (designing and illustrating) stayed with me. I still enjoyed drawing and gesture and I applied that to printmaking and installation. My MFA thesis show employed linoleum prints on Japanese gampi paper, affixed to a large arc shaped skeletal wood wall. 

via

What inspires you when creating your artwork?

The things that inspire me often have something to do with language and comprehension- in the sense that our own experiences determine how we comprehend things. I like to play with the idea of completion- most of my work seems fragmented, like time has passed and something is wearing away.

via

 In the past few years as the world has become more volatile, as important monuments and artifacts have been destroyed, not to mention entire communities, I have thought a lot more about fragmentation and violence. 

via

So the burn drawings are a form of violence to the paper, but they are also meant to be beautiful and elegant. When I see ancient books that show the effects of age, or mosaics, or buildings, I think about how they might have looked when they were new, but more importantly, these things carry the weight of history, and there is beauty and interest in that. 

via

 Thank you, Donna, for the insight into your work! If you are interested in having one of these unique pieces in your home, contact Donna here.

Wallpaper - Thinking outside the box

I am constantly thinking of ways to save my clients money while still delivering a very high end, unique look.  Since wallpaper is making a huge comeback, I have lots of clients asking me for ideas on affordable wallpapers.  Well, the truth is, most of the really fabulous wallpapers are very expensive.  They are gorgeous and once you see them in person, you realize there is a huge difference in the quality and feel of the more expensive papers.  For example, the nubby texture of a Phillip Jefferies mettallic grass clothe is simply unmatched by some of the lesser priced grass clothes.  Period.   

via

Sometimes, when you are trying to get a high end look on a budget, you are better off thinking about the elements a certain product (like wallpaper) provides and looking for these in other places.  Rather than trying to find an exact match for less.  That's the trick - to come up with something unique and different to give you just as much nubby texture, but for less.

In this case, the solution is fabric.

via

Did you know you can use any fabric to wallpaper your walls?  And no, just because you are using fabric, the walls do not have to be padded for an upholstered look (although this can be stunning).  You can simply have your wallpaper hanger (they do need to know what they're doing), paste and hang the fabric on your walls.  Additionally, there are even some DIY versions that are actually temporary allowing you to change things up without the commitment.

So, with this in mind, here are a few fabrics that can give you some great texture for much less than you would pay for wallpaper.

via

via

via

via

The options here are truly endless and can really make a unique statement in a space!  Hope your week is off to a great start. M.

It's Finally Friday!

Not sure how you are feeling on this marvelous Friday, but I for one am completely grateful the first week of school is behind us! There was a whole lot of this going on this week . . . 

via

I'm not sure I would have made it through the week if one more thing had been added to my plate.  I will be recharging this weekend! M.

Interior decoration, furniture in the form of piano keys

Black top, white bottom: interior decoration in the form of piano keys

 Each of us in his own way loves music. Everyone likes different directions, but with the recognition that the piano - the most elegant tool - it is difficult to argue. Laconic duo of black and white piano keys can publish stunning sounds. Of course, not every home will be a place for a keyboard instrument (especially if it is no one to play). How about getting the original design techniques and equip at least a small corner of music? love to bang on the table? Paint the table top as part of a piano keyboard and feel like a virtuoso musician! 

Do you want to make a festive table especially refined? Black cloth or napkin with the same keys - your choice will appreciate not only the musicians. 

festive table in form piano keys

And how do you fancy decoration for the walls, which merged the strict lines of keys and perky ponytails notes? It is not just for beauty, but is spectacular rack for bottles. 

spectacular rack for bottles in the form of piano keys

Do you want to limit change? Easy - shower curtains, covers for furniture, cushions featuring original keys will bring a touch to any interior. Attract large forms? It offers sofas and carpets with the same black and white ornament depicting key. As for the idea to use the framework of the present role of the piano in the home library or shelves , - the decision is so original that we could not get around his attention and also included in this mini-collection. Even if you are not going to devote life to music - let it prevail even in a small corner of your home!

interior furniture in the form of piano keys style, form

unique carpet piano keys style, carpet in the form of piano keys

unique shower curtain in piano keys styles

unique cushion piano keys style, cushion in the piano keys form

unique rug piano keys style, rug in the form of piano keys

unique shelves in the form of piano keys

unique sofa in the form of piano keys