Monday, June 28, 2010

Blissful Bathrooms

My current projects are my powder room and master bath. There are so many choices I feel like my head is spinning! Alex, of course, wants it to be more manly--think dark wood with a granite top--while I am really loving these light, feminine ones. Go figure...


Ooohh la la!!!! Can you imagine sitting in this copper tub?!?! A true princess bathroom. I am so in love I just don't know if I can go back to bathing in my own bathtub. I wonder if I can get the guys to make my bathroom look like this?
{This is Glamorous}


So...beachy-beautiful. I can't imagine how long it must have taken to retrieve all these shells but it probably rivals the amount of time it took to arrange them so neatly.
{Kenny Joyce and Associates}


I had to put this in here because it is the Coco Chanel suite at the Ritz. (I don't know which Ritz but I'm assuming Paris?) It really is the essence of Coco. Feminine, chic, sophisticated but so comfortable.
{Alkemie}


Um, I could move in here and be one happy camper. I can't imagine what the rest of the house must look like!
{The Lettered Cottage}



Little details like this hand towel holder from Lexington make a huge difference. This one is so adorable and unique! Who needs those oh so ordinary towel rings? Not this girl!



I don't think I could ever keep my bathroom this clean. (I always tend to get makeup all over everything.) But it is so beautiful to look at! Oh I would give my right arm for marble floors like those.
{Simply Seleta}



Simple, soft, and feminine.

{Elle Decor}

Friday, June 25, 2010

Love on Lindell

I have never met Amie Corley, but I think I love her. She took one of those drool-worthy homes on Lindell and made it colorful and fun, but ultra-chic and sophisticated. What a job that must have been! If you have never been in one of those homes, let me tell you, Amie is to be commended. While the architecture is truly awe-inspiring, I can only imagine that decorating one must be a challenge to say the least. The rooms can be either cavernous or miniscule, therefore creating a space issue that is beyond difficult. Amie, being the smart and talented woman that she is, managed to use these to her advantage and create a space that is at once posh and intimate with a hint of whimsy. Bravo, Amie, Bravo!


This is the picture I saw that made me absolutely fall in LOVE with Amie's house. I so admire people people who aren't afraid of color. According to the article, Amie loved the aqua at the Ritz in Paris and emulated it in her own home. The chartreuse chairs with the aqua and cream is so lovely. This room is chic without being stuffy, comfortable without being messy.
{St. Louis Magazine At Home}


I would like to sit on this and have my portrait done in a black Valentino. Oh, I would be a vision!
{Carrieanddanielle.com}


This fabulous distressed buffet is a wonderful shape. I adore the black against the pale pink.
{Alive Magazine}


These orange chairs are so FUN! The traditional shape mixed with the bright, modern pattern is a perfect combo. The modern artwork in the background adds a serious splash of color.
{Alive Magazine}


I've never seen a little boy's room as chic as this! It's great for a little one but has so many wonderful design elements that will make adults jealous.
{Elle Decor}

Monday, June 21, 2010

My Favorite Things

Happy Monday! I thought I'd channel my inner Julie Andrews and show you a few of my favorite things...

Chinese Chippendale


LOVE this one! Just goes to show that the Chinese Chippendale can truly be made to compliment any decor. The colors are amazing!
{Designed by Jonathan Adler}


Here are the chairs in a more traditionally Chinese inspired room. I love them in the white.
{Decorpad}

Ikat


One thing I love about the Ikat print is that is so versatile. You can use it pretty much anywhere. It's lovely on these custom draperies but would be just as interesting on a pillow or a whole sofa!
{cocokelley}

Trellis Print


Love this living room by Lexington. The blue trellis print is so striking and yet so soothing in the pale blue.


Love this Imperial Trellis Print by Kelly Wearstler.

Ginger Jars


Ginger jars not only can make a statement in your home, but also on your outgoing mail!
{By Ioini}


I think ginger jars are wonderfully classic. You don't have to go too crazy, though, to make a statement. I have 2 on my mantle and I adore them. I love the idea of opening them up and putting fresh flowers inside.
{Traditional Home}

Friday, June 18, 2010

Stylish St. Louis

I think that shopping might be my most favorite thing to do. It's sooo...relaxing. (That is, until you get your credit card statement, but I digress.) I of course LOVE shopping for clothes but shopping for my home is such a pleasure, no matter what you find. The other day I found a porcelain elephant for $3 at Big Bend antiques and I was so happy I almost jumped for joy when I saw it. St. Louis is a great place to find a FIND. You just have to know where to look...


Ok, so I might be a little biased (ok, a lot) but I happen to think that Lexington has the best gifts, home accessories and furniture in St. Louis. This may seem like shameless self promotion, but trust me, I wouldn't work there if it wasn't a lovely place to be with wonderful things. Check out the fun vintage accessories. I guarantee you'll be hooked after one visit.


Other than Lexington, Anthropologie is probably my favorite haunt. It's famous for its flea market look which I love. You never know what you're going to find.


Lusso is another great place to find that "just right" gift for a friend. It's a fun environment. Their clothes are great, too, and I always giggle at their quirky greeting cards.


For someone who loves the "hunt" as much as I do, Treasure Aisles is a must. My mom is a frequent shopper, as well. I found a pair of Foo Dogs there for $15 that I just LOVE! Big Bend Antiques is another fun one. It shares a parking lot with Treasure Aisles. Make an afternoon of it!


I love Sallie. It's been in St. Louis forever and is still as fresh and lovely as ever. One of the best places to get a wedding gift.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Yellow, Black and White

Ok, so they are the colors of a bumblebee...I get it. But when done right, these colors can be oh so fabulous. Use them as accents, to get yourself comfortable with the idea, and notice what a difference they make in your room!


This room is so incredibly CHIC! If only I had high ceilings with those wonderful pocket doors. However, this look would be more than feasible in any space because the scale of the furniture is not gigantic. I would tone down the rug, though, in a smaller space because it has the ability to overwhelm. Even so, it is such a fabulous statement.
{Domino}


What a fun powder room! It's feminine and gutsy. (Two words I would love for someone to use to describe me!)
{Coastal Living}


This chair from Lexington would bring in the color scheme to your room without being too harsh. I love the addition of gray--it really softens it.




I love that this bedroom has the shabby chic, Nantucket-ish vaulted ceilings mixed with super modern ottoman and furniture. It really softens the look. I'd kill for those lamps, too.
{Apartment Therapy}

Monday, June 14, 2010

Soft and Lovely Dining Rooms



In the past, Dining rooms have had the reputation of being so formal-so much fringe, velvet and heavy, antique furniture. These days, though, the trend is to make the dining room a bit of a haven. Soft pastels replace jewel tones and shabby chic cream French chairs replace cherry Chippendales. I'm loving it...especially on a hot day like today. Take a breath and enjoy!




This room really demonstrates how pastels and white can really make a room appear much more airy. It is a tiny space-you can see the staircase falls into the dining space-but the white furniture, puddled linen drapes and white accessories open it up. The result is truly lovely.
{Country Homes and Interiors}


This dining room is so ethereal and feminine-the pale pink walls, the billowy drapes, the vintage caned back chairs. Magnifique!
{Domino}



This one has such lovely formal elements-the chandelier, the mural, the column-but it looks so livable thanks to the sisal rug and distressed furniture.
{LADC Design}

Thursday, June 10, 2010

So "Now:" Turquoise

Turquoise was my favorite color when I was in 3rd grade. I think I just liked the word "Turquoise" because it had a "Q" in it. Now, in my old age I can appreciate it for other reasons. It can be dramatic, wistful, chic, contemporary, traditional, cottagey, (is that a word?), beachy, you name it. It was named the "Color of the Year" by Sherwin Williams this year and I can certainly understand why. Look through these pictures and get some inspiration on how to incorporate it into your decor.


I started with this photograph because it is SO incredibly bold and yet it is still soft and lovely. Turquoise and orange has become a popular combination and for good reason. Not only are these colors complimentary (right across from each other on the color wheel, i might add), they are bright and fun and when used correctly, can make the most mundane interior feel like a breath of fresh air.
{Designed by Kendall Williamson}



This is just fabulous. Turquoise, pink, black and white is a truly wonderful combination.
{Fashionable Interiors/Judith Balis}


I used this as the inspiration for the living room in my apartment. I love everything about it. Again we see the combination of pink, black and white. The pale turquoise behind the black and white fashion photographs is stunning. I also love the ornate white desk. It softens the stark black and whites. The pop of pink is lovely as well.
{Domino}



To create a similar look, search for vintage school chairs and paint them a bright shade of red. You could achieve the same look with some mismatched chairs painted the same color. It's a fun way to do shabby chic.
{FFFfound}


A cute accent piece for a punch of turquoise. I'd love to see a red or chocolate brown wall behind it. Available at Lexington!



Love the softness of this room designed by Dan Barsanti.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Collections

I've heard it said that one is an item, two is a pair and three is a collection. When you put things in a grouping of three or more, they can become very interesting; especially when you vary the shapes, sizes and colors. Anything from vases to shells to Herend figurines can be quite fetching when placed in a group. Here are a few ideas for making the most out of the things you love enough to collect!





A modern spin on the classic plate collection.



A pink pillow displaying a collection of teeny perfume bottles on a safety pin?? Yes, please!










Ahh the bookshelf. One of my favorite things to decorate. Books are not only functional in that they can create height, they also show a lot about the people who live in the home. Personal touches like shells, little sculptures and family photos add interest to the shelf. All three of the above pictures are from Absolutely Beautiful Things.