February 2009

White Hot!

by Susan on February 26, 2009

in All About Color,Bathrooms,Bedrooms,Decorating,Kitchen & Dining,Living Areas

Is white becoming the new black? I’m seeing it everywhere, and I love it!

White plays great with classic black, and can nudge a traditional room a bit more transitional. Once associated with stark apartment walls, white is taking center stage!

Crisp white cabinets and bead board really makes the beautiful black granite pop. Just a very clean look, accented beautifully with a simple vase of flowers.

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Does your bathroom have a sense of humor?

by Susan on February 23, 2009

in Bathrooms,Decorating

My home is not staged to sell (obviously), so I have little bits of whimsy here or there to give it some personality. Partly because I have kids, but (admittedly) to amuse myself as well. Let’s face it, decorating is fun and we shouldn’t take ourselves or our homes too seriously!

Here are a couple ways I’ve attempted to lighten up our bathroom décor:

Here’s a pitcher I found that just love. It is just what the tub in our master bath needed to make it a little less serious, yet still spa-like.

For the kids’ bathroom, I added a couple 3-D metal fish art pieces on the wall above the shower. It’s an often-forgotten part of the bathroom. Now the kids can shower with the fish.

Since I seem to be on a bathroom kick, here’s a little whimsy I added to the guest bath. I just toally got a kick out of this barefoot rug. I guess if a man lived here alone he might turn the rug around.

How have you added whimsy to your bathroom, or any other part of your home?

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Summer Dreaming

by Susan on February 19, 2009

in Bedrooms,Kitchen & Dining,Living Areas,Outdoor Spaces

You don’t have to know me very long to figure out that I belong somewhere south of the Mason Dixon line.

Closest I’ve come, however, is Evansville, IN. I’ve “done time” in NY, OH, NJ and now CT. Yet my favorite decorating style is anything coastal or beachy. Go figure. Soooooo, this time of year, I can get a wee bit cranky.

As luck would have it, Julia from Hooked on Houses (yes, it’s FRIDAY again) was twittering about her new white flip flops and got me thinking about summer.

So, as therapy, I thought I’d share some tropical décor eye candy from Coastal Living Magazine with you!

So go mix a mojito, crank up the heat and sit back for a mental vacation with me! We’ll all be the healthier for it!

Wouldn’t this be a fabulous place to sip lemonade and peruse your favorite design magazines?

I could serve burned toast for dinner and it would be exotic on this dining table! What a view! (Side note: my Mom always taught me that if you can’t cook well, then present well).

I just love the artwork over the mantel and the vases on the coffee table!

One (big) reason I love coastal decor is that it tends to be kid friendly.

Beautiful use of flowing fabric, and I love the lime/charcoal combo for a splash of contemporary color.

Note the use of hooks (a favorite of mine!)

Sorry to say, but this concludes our summer journey. May your hearts be warm, and your weather warmer soon!

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Pillow Talk

by Susan on February 16, 2009

in Bedrooms,Decorating,Living Areas

If your pillows could talk, what would they say?

Whether you’re into tribal prints, solid linen, or tasseled silk pillows – your use of pillows in decorating are a true expression of your sense of style (and at times, your humor).

Because pillows are a great (and inexpensive) way to add personality to a room, feel free to use them freely! Add a splash of color, textures and patterns on sofas, chairs, and beds – anywhere that needs a little more warmth and personality! Go ahead, be reckless!

Just to get you thinking…here are a few creative ways to express yourself through pillows:

Add a splash of color to a neutral palette – great for a modern look

Add texture with a mix of fabrics, fur, knit and leather (giddy up!). Here are a couple examples from Pottery Barn and West Elm:

Add some zing through a mix of colors and patterns and sizes

Here’s a modern twist from BHG:

Layer neutrals within the same family color to add depth.

Freshen up an out-dated piece of furniture (a.k.a. the art of distraction!). A coordinated pillow strategy can also help tie together mis-matched furniture pieces.

And finally, here are just a few practical tips for using pillows in your design:

Opt for washable fabrics, if possible – especially if you have kids or pets (or a particularly sloppy “other half”)
Purchase good quality pillow inserts in standard sizes. It’s much easier to store off-season pillow covers than the whole pillow!
Don’t overdo it – too many pillows make it difficult to sit down – not very welcoming!

Now carefully listen to your pillows…what are they saying about your style?

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What do a bra and a mattress have in common?

by Susan on February 6, 2009

in Bedrooms

More than you might think! I bought a new bra last week, and was surprised to find my clothes fitting a little differently (hmmmm). I also bought a new Sealy pillow top mattress. Suddenly my old bedding didn’t look right. Let me back up and show you the evolution of our bedroom:

When we first moved in, we painted the walls a lighter neutral and added new linen curtains. We also moved in our gargantuan king sized sleigh bed! We lightened it up with colorful accessories to give it a coastal New England feel.

Bed Before

All was well until we got our new BIG 20” pillow top mattress. Suddenly, the bedding looked ridiculous – like a bad hair piece on a bald head. Now bald men can be very sexy, but I despise seeing the side of a naked mattress.

Do the math…if a King bed is 76” wide, and the mattress is 20” deep, then you need bedding that is 116” wide (most King bedding is 104″).

But I didn’t want to spend a lot of money, and I do like the existing color palate.

Here’s my solution. Can you guess what was changed, and how much was spent?

Answer: I spent $50 on the bed (side note: the bra was $42). Here’s what was changed:

I bought new white sheets (that’s where the $50 came from). Yes, that’s pretty cheap for sheets – but they’re 600 TC Egyptian cotton with 20” pockets and a wider-than-normal top sheet. I’m hoping they’ll soften as they’re washed, and I can live with a few wrinkles for that price. (Update: yes, they have softened, and I love them!)

I flipped the comforter with the quilt – because the bed is so big now, the brown was overwhelming the room (and a bit faded from the sun). To get the quilt the right size at the end of the bed, I had to double my favorite “Z” fold, which will take some practice. I like to be able to reach down at night and pull up an extra blanket if needed without having to completely wake up.

I also switched out the night table lights (these had been in our living room). This gave us more room on the night tables, and the task lighting is much cozier. Of course, once you start moving one light…you know…I changed lights in 3 other rooms as well (but that’s another blog for another day).

And finally, I changed accent pillows. I already had these silver sage herringbone pillows (they were stored in the basement). Another good reason to store accents and pull them out seasonally or as the mood strikes you – they feel brand new again!

Now I can’t see the side of the mattress anymore. (Note: I used an old fitted sheet to cover the boxes).