Living room envy...

It's true, even us designers, with our tricked out homes, lust after the rooms of others. Every month when my stack of shelter magazines arrive, I feel excited for the new inspiration I know is waiting for me in those pages. I also feel a little cautious. The reason: I end up wanting to re-decorate my entire home after I have finished reading them. This month I really got a bad case of living room envy-I pretty much want to have that EXACT room! Now, I love my home, have spent many years curating a look that feels both comfortable and stylish and reflects ME, but take a look at this photo and tell me you don't feel a little jealous too:

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My new obsession...

I have been researching metallic tiles for a new kitchen project I am working on and have become OBSESSED! They are such a great way to make a dramatic statement in a space. I am particularly smitten by the stainless steel mini bricks in this kitchen.
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What I'm pinning these days....color!

Anyone who comes to my home, would say that grey rules supreme. I have a grey pinstriped sofa, grey and white houndstooth checked club chair, grey and white herringbone slipper chairs, a grey wool Jacobsen Egg chair, and the area rug is a Madeline Weinrub grey and white geometric patterned one. The only hope for this room is the red lacquered cocktail table and a red leather pouf that sits underneath the table. Despite that, I DO love color. In fact, I am OBSESSED with color. I just can't decide what color so I tend to avoid committing to it in my home. One day I am obsessed with orange, then next bright yellow, and I ALWAYS love red. I satisfy my craving for color by pinning, lots of pinning. Maybe one day I will take the plunge. in the mean time, check out the color in these shots. Notice that some take it ALL THE WAY! While others just dabble. Whatever your level of daring is-color makes a statement.

You can go all out like these daring home owners did.....
 Or keep it subtle....

        

Do an entire room in one bold color.....

or play peek a boo...

Or like me, keep it it safe but interesting....

Any way you choose, a little or a lot, color is sure to brighten any space and make a statement about who you are.

What does your design style say about you?

It may be that because I am a designer, I tend to really take in the overall feeling of the homes I go into. But I can't help it, I just adore trying to get a sense of some one's personality based on the choices they make, or don't make, in their home.  You really can get a good feeling for what they like, how they live, what their interests are-all from being in some one's space.
I know my own home really is a very true representation of who I am and what I am interested in.
I put together this little collage of some rooms that make me feel like I already know those who inhabit them: play along and see if you agree with my assessments-share your thoughts, I would love to know them.

This first one is a room I would DEFINITELY like to spend some time in! I can imagine that the residents of this home love to linger over a long dinner with friends, discussing great works that they have read, arguing the major classics and enjoying the company of each other. I would love to be invited this this house for dinner!

A traveller, for sure. This wanderlust soul has so many stories to tell and adventures to remember. They are already planning their next trip, I can feel it!

This is the room of a true lover of art-all mediums! They love to surround themselves in it-taking pleasure in all the thought and care that went into the artwork. Cherishing the memories that go with the acquisition of each piece and what made them fall in love with it.

There is no fear of making a statement here! Daring art choices make me REALLY interested in meeting the residents of this home-can you imagine what brought them to make that purchase? I HAVE to know the story!

So, tell me your thoughts-how were yours any different then mine in regards to these rooms and the people who live in them. I would love to hear.

What I am pinning these days.....dark walls

I am in love with bold, darkly painted walls. I noticed a few rooms with dark walls on Pinterest several months back and got hooked. It is such an easy way to make a room look SO different:

Dark walls in this living room add a layer of luxury

The dark wall color can translate from traditional to modern seamlessly

Don't be afraid to bring it into the bedroom

The dark color can be just that; color!

It's always good to have layers.....

Being a girl from the SF Bay Area, I know that it is all about having layers; you never know what kind of weather you are going to see. So it came as no surprise when I started to see this layering effect take place in the home....on the floor. Yes, on the floor. I imagine that you never really thought of that before, did you? Well, it is really a great look. It is a good way to add some impact or dimension to a room that feels dull. It also can make a room feel SO cozy! All those soft layers on the floor, I don't know, it just makes me want to stretch out like a kitten and have a long nap. Here are a few examples of rooms that really work because of the layered rug look:

The drama added with this zebra rug really give the room some punch!

The layered look here really makes this room feel so warm and inviting

Placing rugs side by side  creates a unique look as well!

Add a shock of color to brighten up any room

This collage styled rug gives the look of being layered but is really just one rug

Wallpaper, it's not what you think!

Has anyone noticed how amazing wallpaper has become? I mean it-this is not the stuff you remember from grandma's house. No chintz, although some are trying to make that happen, no western themed kid's rooms paper, no tiny yellow flowers or a dizzying number of cherries in the kitchen. No, this stuff is gonna make you pause for a minute and wonder, "where can I get my hands on THAT?"

Use it for some drama in a small space that needs some detail, or as a backing to bookcases for a more subtle but still high impact flair. Go big and bold like the black and white chevron pattern below. Want to add some texture to your walls? Wallpaper can do that too! The possibilities are endless and often quite surprising...

Want to see?

What I'm pinning these days.....Books

I grew up the daughter of a librarian who is also an amazing artist, so it comes as no surprise that I am a designer (the art part of the influence) who loves to not only read, but to have books in plain sight as a form of design (the librarian part of the influence). In my childhood home, almost all the walls had floor to ceiling built in book cases, overflowing with books. As an adult, my own home reflects that influence in a very real way. In my design, it is a big part of how I make a room feel like home. The warmth they provide, the memories of great reads, or places traveled or, often for me, inspiring design ideas. All of the emotion that comes with these books creates the look of a well lived in room. How the books are arranged or displayed can be determined by the style of the person living in that home. One does not have to have an "old" library look or a dark, den feeling to get to have their books on display. Take a look at these examples below and you can see for yourself how widely diverse the design style is and yet how perfectly integrated, no, IMPROVED, the rooms look:

Stepping out for inspiration

I have to say, I am one of the lucky ones, I LOVE my work! If I did not get paid to be a designer, I would be doing it during my free time-I kind of do that already. But sometimes, even the most inspiring projects can leave me, well, uninspired. What to do? Get out of town! So that is just what I am doing. My bag is packed, my best friend has her plane ticket booked, and we are ready to hit the road, er, plane. Where am I going? Sedona, Arizona, home of the canyons, eye popping colors and, yep, inspiring natural beauty. I plan to mostly relax, hike, lay by the pool and just enjoy my friend's company, but you know I won't be able to help taking in all that gorgeous scenery and then put it to use in my work. Like I said, I am one of the lucky ones.

A little peek at where I will be for the next three days:

What I'm pinning these days......Brass

Yep, brass is back! But fear not, this is not the brass that the creepy lady down the street from your childhood home had. There is no fake ivy, no plastic couch sofa protectors, no burl wood coffee table-although that seems to be making it's way back into homes as well. This stuff is SEXY! I mean it, not because all the shelter magazines say it is, but because it REALLY is! Someone, somewhere, figured out how to take the edge off that shine and give it a burnished, modern yet ancient look and, wow! I keep pitching it to clients, but the memories of shiny, tinny brass still haunts. Don't just take my "expert" advice, take a look for yourself..........well? Can I say "I told you so?"

Knock it Off! The ever classic Egg chair

We all have a favorite piece of furniture. Ok, many of us don't but in my world, we do! Mine? Jacobsen's Egg chair, the iconic, mid-century chair that is as stylish today as it was when it was first designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1958. I have long coveted this chair, the way one would a particular piece of art. To me, this chair IS art! But alas, with a five year old boy, two cats and all that life brings into my home, it seemed just silly to buy a chair I would be afraid to let anyone touch. Enter this week's Knock it Off!

First, feast your eyes on the real thing, in red, my favorite color. In case you are not that daring or committed, this chair is available in every color and pattern you can imagine:

INSPIRATION:

Egg Chair designed by Arne Jacobsen
$6,496
click here for more information

KNOCK IT OFF!:

Kardiel Egg chair
$687
Click here for more information

So, I settled on a grey knock off version and am SO happy with my choice. The best part is, I am not totally hyper protective of this chair. So, my son spins around in it un-scolded, my cats lounge in it all afternoon and I get to have something in my home that make me happy to sit in and look at.

Turning a $10 table into a statement piece

I saw this on Apartment Therapy today and could not resist sharing it. There are really some truly great ideas out there! It just goes to show that you do not need a lot of money to have great design, just a good designer!
Enjoy:
IKEA Lack Table gets a facelift
 A sneak peek...