Red Alert ...

It's that time of the year again where I see red everywhere ... yes Valentine's Day is 2 weeks away!!! How can you not notice it when every single retailer starts advertises it a month ahead of time. In any case since that's all I see around me here's what's inspiring me right now...

1. Love Paper Weight $35.00
2. Metal Wire Accent Table $79.99
3. Wish Bone Chair $ 199.00
4. Double Octopus Pendant $1565.00
5. Reversible Peace & Love $145.00 
6. Candle Holder $65.00 

Trending Thursdays: Winter Chalet

It’s the weekend escapes, that make the work week worth it. Especially the winter weekends away from the distractions of the city… the snow, the peace, the quiet… And when it comes to interior designs – I just love the warmth of the brown / beige colors against the natural wood tones while the fireplace crackles in the background. All this, against the vibrant white snow views and winter wind….

Chalet Cyanella by Bo Design

The raw wood dining table against the open windows create a beautifully dramatic view.

Chalet Cyanella by Bo Design

The wood beams in the kitchen ceiling, in addition to the wood cabinets, create a warmth & brightness with the use of unique lighting.

Slopeside Chalets by Locati Architects

A stone wall fireplace grounds the earthy color palette of brown & beige with the gorgeous mountain range in the background.

Slopeside Chalets by Locati Architects

Face-Lift! Walls as Art...

As a new season approaches, I found that simply updating existing walls with paintable textured wallpaper can add a whole new look and feel to an existing room.

Textured Wall Coverings from Graham & Brown

Small Squares Paintable Wallpaper by Graham Brown

These can also be applied to a ceiling for added texture and detail to your living space!

Squares Paintable Wallpaper

It's Electric !

I love the modern industrial vibe. And these handcrafted chandeliers from UrbanChandy are just perfect for bringing back that vintage feel but with a hip modern feel. Lately I've seen this lighting concept using edison light bulbs in restaurants and prohibition era bars and now an inventive way to bring that same style to your home!

Industrial Chic Chandelier painted bronze by UrbanChandy

Rustic Chandelier by UrbanChandyAlso these twists on the industrial edison chandelier concept....

Industrial Bottle Lights by Hudson Goods

BB.03.01 by Lindsey Adelman

Mustard on you ...

I was inspired by Gucci's Spring 13' collection for this post. I love the freshness this color brings into a space.

The chartreuse chairs stand out and liven up the dark grey tones in the background.

The color palette above is one of my favorites ... I've used it in my home and absolutely still love it:)

 

 If you're still skeptical maybe just use the color as an accent like the throw pillows and artichoke table lamps.

Using wall paper on a frame instead of directly applying to a wall is a clever idea for those of us who don't want to deal with the process of stripping and damaging our walls.

 Nice controlled use of the chartreuse green paint ... maybe a little clinical in my opinion but a nice fresh feel to it.

Mykonos Blue ...

Fashion Week is here and I am inspired by the runways for Fall/Winter 2013. I see a lot of ocean inspired colors or “Mykonos Blue” as the industry calls it. Lots of deep blue, navy, purple & teal … here are a few of my picks.

 

 Every time I think of nautical inspired interiors the J.K Place Capri comes to my mind. This hotel is a decorator & designer's dream ... from the architectural details to the accessories and furnishings. 

   The Deep Blue paint color pulls you into the space while emphasizing the wainscoting panel details.

  Love the Ikat throw pillows and stripped rug ...  a definite beach house feel, this one's a luxury rental property in St Barts.

Feeling Green ...

Not that I'm suffering from biophilia (the urge to affiliate with other forms of life ... in case you're wondering) but I could definitely use some plants around the house and with all the health benefits that come along with it, it's a no brainer. I live in an apartment in NYC so the planter thing doesn't work because it takes up too much square footage. These are a few options ... what do you think?

(from top left to bottom right)1) Boskke Sky Planter -Boskke 2) Floating Sand Bowl -Terrain 3) Hanging Air Plant Pod -Uncommon Goods 4) Flower Box Wall Planter- Flowerbox 5) Hanging Glass Terrarium -CB2 6) Apothecary Jar -Doodle Birdie


The images below really give you a sense of how plants freshen up a space ... in this case a branch but heck it works!

Otomi obsession ...

Love this Otomi stencil motif … I’ve been looking for something cool and fun for my six month old niece’s nursery, something she can grow into and I think this is the one. I can just picture her staring at the wall in delight.

Stencil Pattern from Stencil Boss

  

Otomi Pattern by Liliana Sol

Found a few more inspirational pictures using the same print on fabric, furniture and wall art. I'm finding this pattern everywhere and the more I look at it the more I love it ... there's something so magical about it.

Opening doors ...

 

Doors are often overlooked while designing a space. If used creatively they can dramatically change the look and feel of a space. I personally love old barn doors that are installed in a contemporary setting.