A Pretty Place to Sit: Place Settings

Number one: My blog needs a major over haul on it's look. I know, I know it's bad. Every time I come here (which is not as often as I wish, which might have something to do with how ugly it is...) I am disappointed in the way it looks (to say the least). It needs a face lift. Who am I kidding, it needs a nose job, a little botox and some air brushing. It needs an entire re-do!

Number two (the real reason for the post): THANKSGIVING!!! Fall, Autumn, whatever you want to call it, it always puts me in a good mood. (despite the ugly blog!) I get to change the arrangements hanging on my front door, my fireplace mantel gets a little color, and my house reaks of cinnamon, sugar, and pumpkin bread. Oh, and I start thinking of Thanksgiving.

We all know food usually takes the spotlight on this wonderful holiday, but we can't forget the supporting characters. Decorations, beautiful serving dishes, and place settings. I rounded up a bunch of items around my house and filled in the blanks with a few purchased items. I came up with a few ideas/ color schemes to help make a beatiful spread.

*Disclaimer: I may or may not have set my settings correctly. I didn't take the time to think about it before I started snapping pictures. It's not like my house is fine dining or anything. Right?*

I call this one "Fields of Gold"

I found the dried berry bunch at a farmers market last fall. The place card is a Martha Stewart template.

Up Next: "Autumn Leaves"

I found the square plate at Big Lots for $2, and the glass leaf shaped dish at Michaels for $1.

"Gobble Gobble"

One of the simplest settings but definetle showcases the main dude of the day! I got him at World Market for $4. I just love 'em.

"Harvest"

And finally: "Leftovers"

This one is a little bit of everything. What makes it work is the color combo I think.

Hope you all have a wonderful Holiday and a beautiful table spread!

I Scream. You Scream. We all Scream for Ice Cream!!!

Funny story really. My husband has been talking about getting an ice cream maker since the beginning of summer. {and in Texas, summer started way back in March} Finally one day he dings me on google chat {we talk a lot throughout the day on that thing. It's pretty handy} to tell me about an ice cream maker he found on Amazon that was on sale.

$2600 ~he dings.
Uhmmmmm, what? Sale? I am thinking yeah right, he must be joking.
~Haha sure, I ding back. Great deal you should get it.

A few days later he tells me the ice cream maker should be delivered by the end of the week.
 My. Mouth. Dropped.
"WHAT? You bought it"?
"Well, yeah", he says, "You said it was a good deal".
"Not for TWO THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED dollars it isn't".

Come to find out it was only Two HUNDRED and sixty dollars. He added a zero too many.
I still am not convinced I would have agreed even at that price, but it's a little late now.

So, thanks to intsant MIScommunication and one zero too many, we now have this really cool ice cream maker. As per any new appliance/gizmo/thing that makes yummy stuff, we were super excited to start using it. We made, vanilla {twice}, chocolate and coffee ice cream all in one week. It was a little out of hand and we were in desperate need to get rid of some or most of it. {All this ice cream isn't exactly helping me lose the 5 lbs I want gone by the beginning of Sept when we take family photos *sigh*}

I suggested a neighborly ice cream social!

AND what is a party with out the right decorations. Right? Very much inspired, {feels SO good to be inspired again} I came up with some fun ideas. I made an ice cream banner and colorful cups to serve the heavenly iced cream in.

I know. I know. That was a really long story for just a bunch of decorations right? Well, hopefully it was worth the read and maybe you'll be inspired too!

I have learned {oh-so-quickly}, time isn't something that comes in large doses when you are a new mom.
So I gotta use my time while I have it!
A sleeping baby allows for the perfect opportunity :)

p.s. I LOVE love love my video monitor!

Materials:

Colorful Tissue Paper

Colored Card Stock/ Construction Paper

String or Ribbon

Tape- Double Sided and Regular

Small Plastic Cups

Scissors

Cutting Board

Straight Edge

Lite it up

So last week I was sprucing my home up just before a group of wonderful ladies gathered at my house for our monthly bunco game. {And when I say just before, I mean two days before. Yes, it took me two whole days to get this place into shape, and no my house does not look like it belongs in a magazine all the time or even most of the time. Although my husband would probably love me just a little bit more if it was.} I would be the first to admit that my fireplace could use a little love. It's sad really. I mean, it makes me sad looking at it. So grand and so very much part of the room and yet I have continued to neglect it. Orginally I had two hurricane glasses with stands sitting on the hearth of the fireplace. Totally an after thought and it showed. To make matters worse, the stand that holds the wood while the fire is burning was just sitting there... bare. Nothing to show for itself. I had had just about enough of this when suddenly it came to me.

Why not put the hurricane IN the fireplace with candles?

Then while upstairs digging through my craft closet {another space in despereate need for attention} I spied tons more glass candle holders. Well duh! I should use all of them!

Now I know this isn't exactly a new idea, but it's one that I haven't used before and thought I'd share. Maybe you have done it before, maybe not, but I think it's a fantastic way to use your fireplace in the summer.

 I used all glass candle holders I have collected from various places. Ikea, Kohls, Dollar Store, my Grandma's house, and other random places.

 All lit up it creates a very cozy feeling in the room.

Elements and Principle: LINE

When we talk about interior design it is very easy to get caught up in fabric, and accessories, and the furniture, and the art work, and the light fixtures, and basically all the fun (and fundamentally important) stuff that most people would notice in a room. But believe it or not, there are some things going on underneath all of that "stuff" that really makes good design, well, good design.

These things are called the Elements and Principles of Design.

I know! That sounds REALLY boring. Potentially it could be, but hopefully I can make it exciting, or at least less boring. (don't wanna work it up just to fall flat on my face.)
I can't make any promises here, but I thought I would be doing all of my readers a huge injustice not to talk about these things. It's pretty interesting if you apply it to the right idea. Now, I do have a degree claiming that I am knowledgeable in Interior Design, but I am by know means an expert at this elements and principles stuff. In fact, after doing a little digging I am finding that it's really a matter of interpretation. So don't hesitate to join in the conversation!

There are several elements and several principles to talk about. I have decided to break each one down into their own post. Since I now have a little human being competing for my attention (and he always wins!), I might be a little slow to get them all posted.

I think this should be fun! So here we go!
Lets start with the simplest element of them all... LINE.

Here is a very general (and very boring) definition:
“When a point moves through space or when two points are connected, LINE is generated.[…] We see lines where things have edges, where one plane meets another, or where there is a change of color or surface in a plane.” Source: Interior Design third edition John F. Pile.

the color of Mexico

My husband and I took a little trip down to Mexico. Part babymoon, part family vacation.
Every time I go, I am blown away by the use of color in everyday life. This is one culture that is not afraid of color. It is a nice get away from America's comfort zone... beige.

Baby Time!

I would like to make an apology. I am not sure if there are even very many of you out there that reads my design blog, but for those of you who did I am sure you gave up hope. I am here to restore it.

I was on the verge of being on top of things, and then I got pregnant. It was planned, but the way this pregnancy has been going has been completely unpredictable. Since the middle of May, I have been pretty busy making a baby and the baby has been pretty busy making me sick. But, lately there have been signs of change. Good change! No more sickness.

I hope I can get back to life as I knew it... kind of. In celebration of my return and in celebration of making a baby, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about the nursery. I know as of lately it has become popular to wait to find out what the baby is. We considered this, but with this being our first child, we figured there were tons of surprises in store for us. By knowing the gender I feel like I have some sort of sanity. =)

So, our baby is going to be a BOY!

Immediately I high tailed it to all the online places in search of bedding, color ideas and other fun nursery stuff. Now, when it comes to design, I haven't dealt a lot with the nursery. So, I have pretty much an open mind and an clean palette to start.

Let me show you where I got my inspiration.

Some friends of mine in Kansas gave me a little surprise baby shower before we moved away. This was the diaper cake they made for me. I instantly fell in love with the idea of using Black and White Polka Dots. I figured it could go either way. If we were to have a girl, I'd tie in Sunflowers and Bumble Bees. Since we are having a boy, I am heading in the direction of trucks, boats, and planes. I know that sounds like a lot, but go with me on this. I found when looking online the trend seems to be BROWN. Pink and brown for a girl, blue and brown for a boy, and yellow, orange and brown for gender neutral. I know that brown has been popping up every where and though I love it, it's not for my baby. I think I want to go in a brighter direction. I love the idea of black and white because if offers the opportunity to add any pop of color. Sticking with my inspiration I decided to use accents of red, yellow, and grey!

A good way to make sure I stay on track with my theme is to create a mood board. I pulled together some fabric samples and paint colors to make sure that what I was seeing in my mind, actually worked in reality.

This is my mood board so far...

I will use the black and white theme as the main focus in the room. So the big ticket items will be black and white, like the bedding, the furniture, and the window treatments. The smaller details in the room will keep true to the red, yellow, and grey accents. For instance, art work, pillows, and/or lamp shades. 

I am excited to get this party started! I hope to post more as the nursery comes together!

Speaking of Wallpaper

   

Another Sticker on the Wall is an online archive of wall decals from around the world. Next to each image of the decal is the store link that provides that product. The decals range from single piece stickers to entire wall coverings (I suppose otherwise known as Wallpaper).

                                        

A way to fill blank space or spruce up an old space, inspiration is abundant at Another Sticker on the Wall (dot com).

Half Off! Who doesn't love that?

Company C is having an awesome sale. Half off selective quilts, shams and other essential pieces! Even if you are not in the market for any bedding, it is still worth the time to take a look!

This is one of the best deals. The Nirvana Quilt is reversible and comes in a great combination of colors. I am thinking an accent peice at the end of a bed for a splash of color or give as a gift to brighten someones day. (Cheese I know, but it's true. Who doesn't love a cozy quilt?)

We sell this stuff at our shop. Quality is really second to none and I love all the little details in every piece, like the stiching and the sweet little embellishments. I haven't seen a sale like this before from this company. AND they are even offering $20.00 off  for a purchase of $100.00 or more.

Fabric: Maija Louekari

It was love at first sight when I spotted this mod fabric in last November's Metropolitan Home. Instantly I envisioned many ways this fun print could brighten any space. An upholstered chair, table cloth, or even a wall hanging. Hand drawn by a young inspirational Finnish artist, Maija Louekari, this fabric is only one of many cool prints.

Louekari has a collection of cups, serving platters and plates that showcase her organic simple drawings. She has teamed up with marimekko to bring this collection to life.

Wall Paper: a second chance

Someone asked me the other day what I thought about wallpaper. My first reaction is.... I love it! For those of you going... HUH? This may be what you have in mind when you think of wall paper.

But it doesn't have to be that way. In fact, wallpaper has come a long way in design, material and application. I really think wallpaper got it's bad name because it was not exactly easy to get off the wall, and a lot of wallpaper stuck around much longer than it should have. (That lovely ivy border around your mom's kitchen. yikes!) Remember wallpaper should be temporary. Wallpaper is meant to be a permanent fixture in your home, but rather a fun way to add life and visual interest to a room for a season. I believe that wallpaper manufactures are now producing higher quality paper which leads to a better application and an easier removal. Notice I said easiER, not easy. I am not making any promises here. (That's my disclaimer. haha.)

Anyway, I found a bunch of rooms that I thought really showcase wallpaper. Remember, when choosing a wallpaper keep quality in mind. It will make a difference in the end.

I especially like this one. It is so subtle and it  really brings a calming element to the room.

In this example take a look at the texture the paper adds to the room.

A place to call home

OK! I can't take it anymore. Nothing is for certain, so things could change, but I am bursting with excitement so I am going to spill anyway.

We are buying a house.

This is something that has been in the making (so you could say) for a few years. We have had our eye on the Austin area for a while. While we were in Texas for Chirstmas, we made a short trip to Austin to check out a few spots. By a few I mean 9 houses in one day. We came to the overall conclusion that most people should NOT be allowed to design/ build their own home. I am talking... no bath tubs in the entire house, or no windows in any of the bathrooms, or no dining rooms at all, or how about rain water collection as the only source of water... in TEXAS! Clearly these houses were 100% custom with no thought of resale!

Needless to say, we were losing hope. Just when we thought we couldn't take anymore, we stumbled across what is quite possibly the most perfect house for both my husband and I. Ladies and gents that is a feat for which I thought was impossible. A house we both simultaneously fell in love with? No way! But alas, it's true. 

I call it "The Beige House" You see every wall, counter top, floor, and cabinet is some shade of beige. I am not kidding you. Ok, so there are a few exceptions but still, it is a sea of beige. At first, this bothered me. The first time we caught glimpse of this house it was in pictures on a website. It came across as a typical track house. BORING! At least in my mind that is what I thought was boring. I was wrong. I almost passed it up because all I could see was bland beige.

There is so much character and unique little details about this house that I hardly noticed the beige. Now, this issue of beige is a whole other post. So I will leave you with a few pictures. Let me know what you think...

The view when you enter the house

The kitchen

The front doors. (I love them)

The master bath

There will be more to come, I just wanted to get it out there before I go crazy!

News

I have news and I am anxious to tell it, but I NEED confirmation! One more week people, one more week!

A Love Story

As many of you  have noticed to the right of my blog I have a list of "gotta have it". ( When I say many, I mean the few lovely souls who check this blog every once in a while) In that list there is a book. This is not just any book, but a book about a process. It's a sort of self help book. This book oozes with vibrant photographs, helpful story boards, and a break down of one designers mind. It is called Kelly Hoppen Home.

It is a bit of a love story I suppose. Once a few years ago I worked for an eccentric furniture designer. Crazy and unethical would have been more accurate, but impolite. However, he did have a glorious library of design books that looked almost brand new and never opened. Since my job presented me with more than enough opportunity to do nothing, the man I worked for highly suggested I read this book. As you may have guessed, it was the Kelly Hoppen Home book. Being he is British and so is Kelly Hoppen, I could see how he had a bit of a crush on her designs. At first I scanned the book glancing over all of the photos. Half way through, I realized I was asking many questions about what was going on in the photographs. "Why did She do that?" or "What was she thinking?" or "How did she come up with that?" I've got some time on my hands, why am I rushing this? I was smitten.

I started over. I started with the cover. Then onto the forward and deep into each page. I was so into this, I bought a little note book and began taking notes. I read and re-read pages hoping I didn't miss some little gem buried between the lines. Sadly, this affair didn't last long, and neither did the job. Before I could finish the book I left that job. Understandably so after lying to clients, and after performing many, many other unruly tasks that would make any ethical person uncomfortable, I left. Truly that is another story I should really share with you on another day.

I never forgot the times I spent with that book, and not to mention all the information I had yet to unlock in the remaining pages. It has been on my wish list for quite some time. It must have been meant to be because my Secret Santa surprised me with the unexpected. My book. My Kelly Hoppen Home book!

Now if I may, as I read, I would like to share with you some of my thoughts. I do plan on starting over, but maybe I will not journey alone. It's always better when there is someone else to share the excitement with! I have already started, but I have taken more of your time than I could ask for. So, I will share my most recent revelation soon. Stay tuned!

A Daily Dose

So, I have been thinking about this for awhile and have finally decided to go for it, though I am not exactly sure what to call it (forgive me if the name changes a few times). I am thinking about calling it "A Daily Dose".

Basically, I want to share with you the many talents of different people that I know. Photographers, Interior Designers, Graphic Designers, Chefs, Fashion Designers, all professionals and working in the field! I thought this blog could be a good opportunity to shine a little light on real people, doing what they love, and how they are doing it. Each month I plan on interviewing a talented professional, and sharing it with everyone here. Hence getting your Daily Dose of real life design in action!

I already have the first one lined up!

I would like to introduce, Kristi Williams of

Kristi Williams Photography.

We have been close friends for several years and with great adoration I have watched her become what she is today! Currently, she is living and working in Richmond Virginia while her husband earns his degree in Nuclear Medicine. I really enjoyed reading her answers to my questions and I think you will too. Thanks for helping me out with this one Kristi!

Can you tell me what interested you in photography in the first place?
I remember being at a hot air balloon festival and my dad showing me how to use the camera to take photos when I was 12. One of my favorite photos was taking it from the ground with the balloon right over head. It was just beautiful!

What is your background?
I took photography in high school and that led me to pursue it in college. I started out in the Fine Art field but discovered Photojournalism and switched my degree.

How has your degree formed your style of photography?
I definitely shoot as I was taught as a photojournalist. For example, if you can avoid shooting from the "position of convenience" which is just standing there taking the shot, then avoid it. Get on the ground, move around. Another thing I learned then and use now, is to always strive for the best photo. So if you take a great photo, don't stop there, try to make an even better one.

What inspired you to work for yourself?
I have no problem working with people and didn't feel I needed someone else to learn that from so I just starting taking portraits and wedding photos beginning with friends and family.

What was it like starting out?

It was fun! I loved taking a photo and then figuring out how to make it better. That's what I continue to do.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

I see myself with a prospering business. The best part of being established as a photographer is that you get to see people live their lives. I might take their wedding photos, their pregnancy, first child, and so on. I love it.

Why did you choose wedding photography as your specialty?

I shot a friend's wedding as a second photographer and fell in love! I find that weddings just fit. It's like finding that your dream job isn't just a dream.

What is your favorite and least favorite thing about working with brides?
My favorite thing about working with brides is that I get to hear their plans for their once in a lifetime wedding and then see that come true.

My least favorite thing is when a bride rushes me. I never take long on photos anyway, but what's the point in rushing? Your guests really don't mind. It comes with the territory when you attend a wedding. Would your guests really not want you to get all your photos done from your one wedding day? Nope, they love you and they'll wait.

Tell me about a moment when you knew you got an "Ah Ha" shot. (or whatever you call them. What do you call them?)

"Ah, ha!" is about right. I actually say, "click" in my head when I get it. It's just something I've always done. It's like, Oh, that's perfect and it all just "clicks" into place.

Any advice for aspiring photographers?

Spend your free time looking at other photographer's work. It will give you inspiration. And then it's always fun trying to figure out how something is done and getting that awesome photo.

Desire to Inspire

Some day I hope to have a fancy blog like this one, but until then, I'll just refer you to them.

This is a blog called Desire to Inspire. I could say lots of things about it, but it's late and I'll just let you see for yourself!

Little hands. Lots of art work. Little space.

I have yet to have this problem, but I have seen it occur in many homes and even read about it on a friend's blog. It seems there is an increasing issue with the over abundance of art work and lack of wall space. We are not talking about just any artwork, but the creative and imaginative and sometimes hilarious things our busy children create. In some cases it isn't a matter of enough walls to hang everything on, as in the case of my blogger friend.

No, her children love to adorn their walls with fancy little drawings hung up tactfully with pieces of scotch tape just about anywhere. In her case it is a matter of creatively consolidating it and giving the children a fun spot to show case their imagination!

So, I did a bit of snooping and found some great ways to display children's art work. Some could be both fun for the parents and children.

One of the simplest and fastest ways to save kid's art work is in a 3-ring binder. Maybe most of you already do this. I can definitely  see myself doing something like this and leaving it on the coffee table for guest to view. If the art work is too small it could be matted on black paper and put into the binder. It's a great archival system/ brag book.

Or after matting the art work to the black paper, it could be hung on a designated wall in the house. A hallway is always a great spot. By mounting them to black paper it gives the art display a cohesive look and helps show off the artistic productions of our small loved ones better than just the wall itself.

I really like both of these ideas because when it comes to actually hanging the art work up, your children could do it themselves. The first example uses a magnetic system with clips while the one following is a curtain wire system. Something like this can be found at Ikea for cheap!

One last idea. Take photos of the art work and collect in a photo album.

There may never be an absoulte solution for this problem, (though it isn't the worst problem to have, right Chris?) but maybe this will help for the time being!