Outdoor Living

Our house has traditional bones, but my style leans toward the modern, so I have fun balancing these styles and incorporating aspects of both throughout the house. Outdoor spaces can be a place to play with opposing styles by using something a little different than what's inside the home. Juxtaposed against a traditional home, this patio furniture has a modern feel with just enough softness to work. I am incorporating many of these pieces in our new patio.

1. West Elm, Industrial String Lights

2. Serena & Lily, Scarf Print Pillow

3. Crate & Barrel, Alfresco Dining Table

4. West Elm, Recycled Glass Lanterns

5. Crate & Barrel, Valencia Dining Chair

6. Serena & Lily, Soleil Print Pillow

7. Serena & Lily, Cobalt Awning Strip Throw

8. Crate & Barrel, Olive Jar Planters

9. Crate & Barrel, Alfresco Lounge Chair

10. Unica World, Evevy Outdoor Pouf

 

Before & After: Bathroom Renovation

Pictures from a recent total bathroom renovation. My client needed a walk-in shower with a seat, and also wanted to maximize counter space and storage. The existing bathroom was only 7' x 7' with a tub and a very small vanity. The new plan incorporates an ADA accessible shower, linen storage, and a sit-down vanity area within the existing footprint. We used materials with luminosity to make the space feel larger and brigher. The glass mosiac tile, sea blue wall color, and a counter material that has the look of glass flecks work to achieve that goal.

Remodel contstructed by Crabtree Complete Home Remodeling. 

LOVE this fabric!

Love, love, love this fabric...almost enough to make me want to have another baby, just so that I can decorate another nursery! Lulu DK has partnered with Schumacher for a new line of children's fabric.  It's bright, whimsical, and not too cutesy. Most of the patterns could be used in both a baby boy or girl's nursery, and are cool enough to make a pillow with for other parts of the house. My favorite pattern is the Parade Multi with the colorful elephants!

Tangerine Tango

Inspired by Pantone's color of the year for 2012--Tangerine Tango.

1. Schumacher, Imperial Trellis II Fabric

2. Janus et Cie, Miralook Chair

3. Ann Sacks, Chrysalis Marrakech Tile

4. Pantone, iPhone Case

5. Etsy, Aubepine Gemstone Earrings

6. Zara, Jeans

7. Jonathan Adler, Positano Pillow

Living Small

A major trend in residential design is a shrinking house size, but with high-end amenities. It becomes about creating homes with useful space that is intelligently crafted, instead of just bigger houses with more space. The shift to smaller houses is happening for a number of reasons, including sustainability, functionality, lower costs and the realization that a supersized house isn't a better house.

Home owners are forgoing dining rooms and creating eat-in kitchens in their place. This room has the functionality and intimate feel of a dining room without the extra space.

This galley kitchen takes advantage of vertical space and extends to the outdoors, creating an efficient and comfortable space without a huge footprint.

Taking this idea to the extreme is Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, designer of the world's smallest house and other tiny houses from 65 to 874 square feet (and with tiny price tags too!). 

It's all about Ikat

You may have already noticed that Ikat prints are everywhere. Even though it's an ancient dying technique (similar to, but more refined than tie-dying), Ikat prints are very current and will continue to pop up in fashion and home accessories. Incorporating Ikat brings a bohemian vibe into your space, and the prints are coloful with a hand-crafted feel.

I love the vivid colors in this Ikat fabric by Schumacher. I think it's the perfect fabric for a project I'm working on! 

This pillow cover is distincly Ikat.  It's made by Fabricadabra, a fabric compnay that uses organic, non-toxic and naturally dyed fabrics. They have a great collection of Ikat pillow covers with a spectrum of colors and prints to choose from.

These super cute shorts from Gap aren't in stores yet, but they are part of an entire collection of Ikat for Spring & Summer 2012; including scarves, shoes, shorts and dresses. 

Colorful Ceilings!

During a recent trip to Charleston, I was reminded of my love for painted ceilings! Ceilings painted various shades of "haint" blue caught my attention as I weaved the historic streets. A haint is an evil spirit, and as legend has it, porch ceilings were painted this color to resemble water and keep the evil spirits, that couldn't cross water, away (it's thought to ward off spiders and bugs too!). Take a look at this classic low country porch, and it's fantastic painted ceiling.

It's a great idea to bring painted ceilings into the home, particularly in a smaller space like a bathroom, dining room or sunroom. The unexpected pop of color in this South Carolina sunroom adds character to the space.

Painting a herringbone pattern is modern twist on this idea, and has a very cool effect.  Check out this great ceiling by Vintage Revivals.