a vibrant outlook

Photo from bhg.com
Lately I have been drawn to a more neutral palette than my usual inclination toward deep, but cozy colors. However, I just finished reading a feature in February's Better Homes and Gardens, and I have fallen in love with the design sense of Elaine Griffin. Bold, earthy and contemporary but classic, Griffin somehow blends and balances trendy colors and patterns with a dose of timelessness.

Photo from bhg.com
The combination of rich orange and leaf green has got me wishing I could paint the walls of our new apartment.

I am sort of on a design book buying binge, so I think I'll add her book Design Rules to my shopping list. I have really enjoyed viewing her portfolio on her website, www.elainegriffin.com.


Since I can't paint, I guess I can get my color punches in the form of artwork, accessories and fabric. Maybe once I find those perfect bookcases, I could paint them a nice juicy color, like Benjamin Moore's Rumba Orange. Doesn't that just sound like a good time?

subtle, warm, dramatic

Photos by Roger Davies.

The November issue of Country Living magazine holds a decorating treasure within its covers. I am in love with Caroline Scheeler's country home. As head buyer for Chicago's famous Jayson Home and Garden furniture and decor store, she has created a look that epitomizes refined rusticity. I was immediately drawn to her use of natural textures and artifacts and pleasantly surprised by the delicate drama inherent in her intuitive juxtaposition of dark and light. Who knew that neutral could go so bold?

Scheeler achieves this style by using weighty charcoal and rich chocolate as a backdrop, allowing lighter neutral pieces to pop. Or, as in her master bedroom and entryway, an application of the exact opposite combination. The sheer size and scale of the furniture and artwork she has chosen boosts the drama, while simultaneously filling the large rooms in her home with a sense of intimacy.


All white cabinetry and marble counter tops keep the kitchen's dark walls from dominating the space. It still manages to feel extremely light and airy.


The over sized scale and understated simplicity of this photo in the entryway, speaks to the decor's duality.


The hefty and intricate headboard seems to float against the pale grey-blue walls, keeping the master bedroom calm and cozy.


This collection of both reflective and textural objects is a miniature study of Scheeler's overall design aesthetic.

I am very inspired. Scheeler's home is equal parts gorgeous and livable. I think that these lessons in scale and contrast would be easy enough for any of us to apply in our own homes and on any budget. If you are ready for a decor change, instead of choosing a trendy paint color, I challenge you to consider staying neutral and making your design statement by pairing light and dark and picking size over quantity. The result might be something that is both timeless and bold. Thanks Caroline Scheeler!

looking for a pendant

I am looking for a pendant light for my home office. About a year ago, we took down the non-operative and disgustingly ugly ceiling fan. For that same amount of time, there have been bare wires just dangling down. The abscence of a fixture has become one of those things I tend to forget about until I am prepping the house for company, and suddenly realize how ghetto it must look to outsiders.

A couple of things to consider when buying a light fixture:
Why am I lighting the space? How much light to I need?
A work space: you need the room to be well-lit in general.
A dining room: opt for mood lighting vs. task lighting.
A living room: your ceiling fixture(s) just adds to the general ambiance, while lamps and picutre lights illuminate certain zones in the room.
The kitchen: definitely go for concentrated task lighting.
Your bedroom: a pair of wall sconces might lend a flattering glow but enough provide light to read by.
The bath: overall lighting for the ceiling fixture, and concentrated light near the vanity.

Here are a couple of my faves for the office from my top online sources for style. Of course, I want to keep it as cheap as possible, but I am seeking a modern fixture to add punctuation to the space. Tell me what you think.

At $129, the highest price, is West Elm's faceted glass pendant. It lends a sort of rustic and refined element, but remains contemporary with the clear bare bulb. It only accomodates a 60 watt bulb and is about 14" in diameter.



Ikea's Leran pendant boasts nautural elements and a very modern shape. At 24" wide, it certainly would provide a great sense of scale to the office. It is $90 and can take up to 150 watts.



My most fave, and the least expensive option, is cb2's Eden Pendant. It is clean and simple, totally mod, and only $50. At about 20" in diameter, with a 100 watt capabilty, I think it would be the perfect size and provide ample illumination.


Any thougts on what look I should save up for? Here are a couple photos of my office so you can make a sound decision.

a pickle of a table

The trend of whitened, brightened finishes for wood has resurfaced. While espresso toned wood is still very "hip and now", I am really enjoying this recent lightening up. This month's House Beautiful breaks down the subtle differences in these reemerging whitening techniques. I was particularly interested in this feature because I need to refinish my dining room table, and I like the aged, beachy look that results from whitewashing, bleaching, liming, cerusing or pickling wood surfaces.

Here is a look at what results from using these finishes. All of the quoted text is taken from Jennifer Dwyer's article for House Beautiful.

Pottery Barn's Shelton table series is a good example of the beauty of a limed finish.
Liming is: "An "aging" technique with pigment left in the corners and around the edges."




Their Sunburst mirror exemplifies the ocean side allure of bleached wood.
In bleaching, " A solution removes color from the wood."



HGTV.com has a quick and dirty "how to" of the liming process, and makes it sound pretty easy. This is a photo of a chair they did.

Jayson Home and Garden,(however pricey it is) has several pieces with the same vibe.
The Kieran dining table in a cerused oak finish.
Cerused wood is, "Rubbed with white pigment to highlight the grain."



The Mandara side table in whitewashed Himalayan pine.
In the whitewashing process, "A thin coating of white pigment that evens out the wood's natural finish" is applied.


Minwax has a water based whitewash pickling stain, which seems like the product I would end up using. Pickling is similar to whitewashing but its intent is to "accentuate the physical texture of the wood. "

This is my dining table and bench. Don't you think it is a prime candidate for one of these treatments?


I think that the expressive wood grain would soak in the whitewash nicely.


Of course, this project will most likely be harder than it seems. For starters, I know I will have to strip the table of its old finish to start fresh. It would be best to do this while the weather is still warm and the air is dry. I'll shoot for September, and keep you updated on the progress of it all!

adventures in wallpaper

I have been leery about the resurgence of wallpaper as a design trend, I have to admit. Memories of my girlhood bedroom walls come racing back to me, in a sort of dreamlike haze: the pastel peach, kitten/floral theme envelops me. I thought it looked good then. In fact, it may have been the start of me as a decorator. I picked a peach and grey comforter and pillow cases to complement the pattern. I sponge painted a white bookshelf with peach and sea foam green to add an accent color. I had kitten figurines everywhere. To me it was beautiful- for about a year. I quickly matured out of the cutesy kitten phase. Then I had to scrape all that glorious wallpaper right off the walls and start over.


This is what keeps me from actually hopping on the wallpaper trend bandwagon: the eventual, inevitable removal of it. I always change my decor. Committing to wallpaper seems too permanent. With paint, I just roll right on over the suddenly "out" color with a fresh new shade.



I suppose the best way to enjoy any design trend is in moderation. So maybe a textural neutral would be the way to go. A grass cloth or linen look pattern in the office would be simple and sophisticated, and easy to work with for future design changes I might want to implement. But those walls are so uneven and bumpy, hanging it would be nightmarish.



For now, I will just enjoy the magazine features and online photos of other people embracing wallpaper in their homes. For example, my sister told me about Tori Spelling's reality series on the Oxygen network. She seems to be a real fan of the drama and movement that wallpapering a room creates. Here are a few stills from the TV series "Tori and Dean Home Sweet Hollywood" that showcase her preference.


An art deco peacock feather pattern in the dining room.


Tori's son's room is playful with octopuses climbing the walls.


Could her baby's girl's room be any sweeter?


The powder room is the perfect place for a large scale pattern in small doses.


Does anyone watch this show? Who is her decorator? Fun, frilly, adventurous and contemporary. I like her style. How do you feel about wallpaper?

painted wood floors

Before my husband and I moved into our house two years ago, we took on our first home improvement project: refinishing the hardwood floors. It was a doozie. Of course, being new to the romantic idea of renovating, we did not yet understand that there was truth in the old adage: "It will always take more time and more money than you plan for." In three days, we (along with our gung-ho friend Matt) accomplished amazing results. We learned about how involved the process of refinishing floors is, and came to understand the value of having someone else do it for you.

Here is a before and after of our cozy bedroom floors:


During those three days we sanded and refinished four rooms on our house: three small bedrooms and the living room. As the kitchen's hardwood floor is hidden under at least three layers of linoleum and vinyl tile (some containing asbestos),we figured we would just have to save that project for another time.

The dining room however, presented a question. The previous owners had seemingly done a good job in refinishing the oak flooring and staining it a dark brown. It looked okay. At the time, we didn't think we could or necessarily should have spent the extra time to strip the floor and start over. Well, everything seems crystal clear in retrospect... It was not too long after we had everything in the house, that we realized the dining room floor had never been sealed with polyurethane. Over the last two years the finish has begun to flake off, wear down, and as it is not sealed, stains stick to it and don't wash off. I guess we should have taken the sander to it and restored the floor just as we did the other rooms.

Its too late now. Bringing in an industrial sander would be a huge project, as we would need to remove all of the furnishings at the back end of the house. I remember all to well how long it took to rid the entire house of sawdust. So here is my thought... paint it.

My mom always had painted wood floors in the upstairs of our house. My sister's bedroom floor was even pink at one point. If we decide to paint the dining room floor, I think it could be accomplished in one weekend. At this point, I am not sure if we will actually do it, as Chris still needs some convincing. Here are a few photos I found inspiring on myhomeideas.com:





What do you think about painting hardwood floors? Should I do it to my dining room? Tell me your ideas!

decorating in small doses

Interiors by Leslie Klotz. Photo by Laura Resen.

If you have a chance, you NEED to get yourself a copy of July's House Beautiful. Several very gorgeous, but small homes are featured, some great treasures are highlighted, and you'll find tons of fantastic advice on decorating small living spaces. Here are some of the highlights, from fabulous designers:

"People think that they need to use small furniture and light colors to make a small room look big, but that's not at all the case. Dark colors and just a few pieces of large-scale furniture, with the appropriate lighting and accessories, can give a room a larger, more luxurious feel." Mona Hajj.

"Gather a fabulous, motley collection of mirrors- antique, new, vintage, French, Italian. Starting with one large mirror in the center, arrange a grouping on one wall. It's the one instance where more is more." Stephen Shubel.

"Go ahead, use a massive four-poster bed in a tiny bedroom. As long as there's room for an end table, it actually makes the room look bigger." Marshall Watson.


Get more small space decorating ideas by clicking here.

Some of the featured accessories I loved:


These indigo dyed pillows by John Robshaw.


CB2's handy and modern Formosa tray table.

There is so much more, you should just go out and get the issue. This is the type of issue, with so much wonderful content, I have to save it in its entirety.

Living room design by Ken Fulk. Photo by Victoria Pearson.

rustic and refined living room

Amy Butler's Brown/Trailing Cherry fabric from new Midwest Modern collection.

I have entered a contest sponsored by decor8 and Amy Butler Design. I was challenged to design a hypothetical room around one of Amy Butler's new fabrics from her Midwest Modern collection. I was torn between two patterns, of very dissimilar styles: one is sweet and classic, the other, modern yet retro. Since this is my first time entering the contest, I chose the sweet, brown floral as it is within my comfort zone. The design was inspired by a gorgeous room designed by Barbara Westbrook for Traditional Home Magazine's 2008 show house series.



My rustic and refined living room mood board.


My room features a balance between classic and updated yet traditional upholstery pieces, with a few more modern and slightly rustic accents. A Zoe sofa by Pottery Barn slipcovered in honey twill with two of Anthropologie's Antwerp occasional chairs upholstered in chocolate linen create the seating group. These pieces are anchored by a round braided jute rug from West Elm. CB2's stone top side table and Umbra's clean-lined wood coffee table bring in stylish elements of nature. Two of PB's Rustic Glass Pendants hang above the fireplace, flanking a piece of art work or perhaps some rustic mirrors, like these by Roost at Velocity Art and Design.

I imagine the room painted a warm cream like Benjamin Moore's Frappe and the trim in Wenge, a deep deep brown. Warm and natural fabrics are found on the pillows and simple drapes. So, tell me what you think! Do I have a fighting chance? If I make it through Holly's initial elimination, you will get a chance to vote for my board on her blog. I won't know until June 24th, so I will keep you posted! Wish me luck!

feng shui

I believe in the power of feng shui. In our last apartment, our home office seemed stagnant, full of bad energy. We rearranged things, according to my crash course from library books on basic feng shui principles, and immediately noticed a difference. Interestingly, I have yet to apply the ideals to our current home, and I am starting to notice that attention needs to be paid. Its not that there is a bad vibe in our house, it just seems cluttered. I feel the need to open things up.

I was looking online for some inspiration, and came across a couple of resources. The first, from domino magazine, gives you a visual picture of the simplicity that is feng shui. Here is a before and after of a feng shui makeover to an entry way.



The makeover included removing clutter, placing a visually pleasing rug to ground the entry, and using flowers in the next room on a round table to welcome good energy and keep it moving throughout the house. Simple steps that anyone could apply to their own space. Check the article for more ideas.

Feng shui practitioner Suzan Hilton has a very intriguing site. I could not help but set up the proper station in my home office for performing the "money dance". Its a simple act of gratitude whereby each day you place a coin into a pretty vessel located in a wealth area of your home. Suzan Hilton has written The Feng Shui of Abundance, which I just might have to pick up and dissect. She explains the action steps you can take to positively affect your environment, in a way that makes it seem easy and natural.

Feng shui has many intricacies, but mainly, its principles are based off of the Chinese template called the Bagua. The Bagua is divided into eight equal sections, each one representing a different sphere of your life: Family, knowledge, career, helpful people, children and creativity, marriage and commitment, fame, and wealth. When this template is placed properly over the footprint of your house, you can determine which ares of your home represent which realm of your life. Then you can organize those spaces in order to maximize the benefits of feng shui.
The Baugua


One of my favorite books on Feng Shui is Feng Shui Revealed by Ron Chin. The photos are gorgeous, and the advice is easy to understand and put into practice. Check it out on amazon, where you can search inside and see what I mean. This is the book I used to reorganize my office when we lived on Bainbridge. I've got to buy a copy so that I can use it again to get the good energy flowing in my current abode!

small space living

Sharilyn Wright's studio on apartment therapy.

Apartment living can be a drag in more ways than one. If you can't paint, you are stuck with white walls. Sometimes, the kitchen is smaller than the bathroom. If you are lucky, you have an extra bedroom to create a home office, if not, those ugly file cabinets may have to become part of your decor. And the most common problem in rentals,(heck, even in the house I own), is convenient and plentiful storage.

But hey, no need to fret. Turn that frown upside down and click on your creativity. Challenge yourself to think outside the box you live in and come up with inventive solutions to your rental woes. To help spur that inner designer, here are a few images I found in a great collection of apartment decorating tricks from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine.

For the issue of tiny kitchens with little storage, maximize your walls. Hang racks for pots and utensil cups. Maybe you even want to try the Julia Child-esque treatment of a white peg board with painted silhouettes and hooks for each pan.


If an extra bedroom is not in your rental budget, devote a corner or wall in your living space to home office needs. Using a slender card table, sew a fabric skirt to hide file cabinets and computer cords and top the table with a piece of coordinating fabric under custom cut glass. Go vertical with shelves, and hide office necessities in decorative boxes or baskets.


Create different zones in rooms where there are none, by floating your furniture instead of pushing it up against the walls. Place a console table behind the sofa to double as a bill paying center or stick to storage ottomans underneath and some pretty vases on top.


Convert a bookshelf into convenient entry storage by labeling bins or baskets and filling them with scarves, gloves, shoes, office supplies, coats, heck even canned goods, if you don't have ample storage in the kitchen.


Just because you can't paint the walls, does not mean you can't decorate with color! Bring in color on your furniture, throw pillows, curtains and art work. Cover plywood panels with batting and fabric to lean against the walls for visual interest.


To see more inspiring uses of small spaces, visit bhg.com.

To see ideas used by real people in their own apartments, check out apartment therapy.com.

desire to "modern" up, Ch. 2

Last week, I blogged about the need to add a little modern design in my life. I begged for ideas. Sadly, no one had any suggestions to offer! So, I am going to ask the question in a more pointed way.

Here are a couple of pictures of an end table. I have two of these cute, country-ish pieces. And while really, there is nothing wrong with them, they are clearly not modern or even contemporary. The honey wood tone pretty much blends right in with our hardwood floors. And, I believe this makes them great candidates for a modern makeover.


So, this is my question. What color do I paint them? What drawer pulls do I choose? Currently, the room supports a pale aqua, yummy apricot, chocolate brown and off- white color story. What pray tell can I do to add drama to this sappy, happy saga? A bit of foreshadowing: I have decided I can spend $20 on this little scenario, which is big money compared to my initial "zero dollars" budget from the previous posting on the subject. All of the following color chips were found on myperfectcolor.com.

C2's Fetish is a hot, hot pink


Ben Moore's bold but basic,Kelly Green


Killala Green,a snappy statement, also by Benjamin Moore



Deep and mysterious, Malachite from Australian Standards


Nori, a sultry black brown from Martha Stewart's collection for Lowe's.


Classic, but sometimes edgy, Jet Black by Behr


Now, for the drawer pulls. I am thinking the more linear the better. Here are my options:
Anthropologie's bone pull is stylish and eclectic, but pricey at $12 each, which would put me over budget.


The Home Depot's Liberty Hardware line offers this unassuming but modern, nickel pull at $8.49 each.


Also from the Depot, this gold one adds tons of glitz for only $1.79 each.


This chrome and acrylic model from Pulls Direct is close, but not perfect. Anyone know where I can find an acrylic one that is a little cleaner looking?


So, tell me which combo do you think I ought to choose to inject a note of the unexpected and a hint of contemporary style into my living room? Please VOTE using the poll located at the top of the side bar to the right of this posting! You have until June 9th to get your vote in.
I'll let you know what the winning combination is!