Category Archives: Decorating

Be _ _ _ _ _ (fill in your name)

23 Monday Aug 2010

Posted by in Antiques, Decorating, DIY (do it yourself)

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Melissa Michaels over at The Inspired Room recently posted a great piece on decorating in your own personal style.  Read her piece HERE.  She recommends that you ignore some of the designers who publish their views that certain colors, furniture styles, room arrangements are “IN” or “OUT”.  I get it, there are trends and styles that come and go.

image via Traditional Home

I totally agree with Melissa, her wisdom on decorating one’s home the way you want brought to mind one of the “commandments” of happiness Gretchen Rubin shared on her sight the Happiness Project…to be truly happy you must be _ _ _ _ _ (fill in your name).  It seems to be overly simple in concept, but the truth is, if we can get familiar {and comfortable} with the real person you (respectively} are, the rest comes easy.

image via Coastal Living

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t question the talent or considerable knowledge of most trained design professionals but when it comes right down to it, shouldn’t your home be comfortable and inviting to YOU?!  That should be first and foremost.

Bold choices can come in many guises, paint color is one.

If you struggle with finding a direction for your home may I suggest a search of publications that can plant the seeds of design identity?  Some of us are visual learners {moi}, if we see rooms with colors and furniture styles we like it can provide great insight into our personal style.

Being K.A.R.E.N means a few horse paintings, even though I don't live on a ranch or own a horse.

There are more websites than I can begin to post links  to here, but sites like Mustard Seed Creations, Cote de Texas, Things that Inspire, paper{whites}, The Lettered Cottage, French Kissed, Holly Mathis Interiors, Centsational Girl and The Inspired Room and full of great ideas and a good place to start your search if that’s what you feel you need to determine your own personal style.

Art is a great way to reflect your style and interests.

If you are already in tune with your tastes, these sites and others can give you the inspiration to tackle that design project to continue your adventure in feathering your nest.  It may take time but you will succeed!

A cottage…love at first sight

18 Wednesday Aug 2010

Posted by in Antiques, Decorating, Designer

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I first met this cottage (okay, I know you can’t really meet a home, but I feel you can make a connection with certain houses and/or rooms) when I opened the November 2004 issue of Cottage Living Magazine (which has ceased to exist {sad}).

This is the dining room that captured my attention in Cottage Living Magazine. Since the addition it looks as though the dining room is in a new location in the home.

From the first page of the feature on the Laguna Beach cottage I knew it was love.  As it turns out this cottage is not very far from where I live.  It’s located in Laguna Beach; I live in Irvine—a short drive from this coastal slice of paradise.

 

The cottage is owned by Randy Boyd, a designer who has a rich family history tied to Laguna Beach.

This is the cover of Cottage Living Magazine—the warmth of this room won my heart!

You can visit Thurston / Boyd Interior Design website HERE which features their work.  But its Randy Boyd’s 1930s, shingle-clad cottage that is charming beyond words, with a comfortable and inviting sophistication that has captured my heart.

I even love the car in the driveway!

This is the living room before the remodel.

“Ocean Peek” as Boyd named it, is now 1,5__ square feet but the Cottage White walls and exposed beam ceiling make the home appear larger than it is.  The house, when it appeared in Cottage Living Magazine was only 970 square feet.  Romantic Homes Magazine, November 2009 features the remodeled, enlarged home.

Master Bedroom

One of my favorite features of the Cottage Living piece was the original dining room off the patio and had ceiling to floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.  Boyd uses antiques but there is a relaxed, traditional ambiance about the rooms, nothing stuffy.  The use of lanterns was inspired.

Accessorizing…icing on the cake.

16 Monday Aug 2010

Posted by in Antiques, Decorating

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As a follow up to my post of last week…more thoughts on accessorizing.

The components of an inviting home are many.  A house can have “good bones” as they like to say and still not be warm due to an ineffective layout of furniture, proportion / scale of furnishings and/or any number of other factors.

My friend Carla has a talent for not only finding wonderful antique accessories but for displaying them as well.

That said, I do know,  for me personally, accessories can make or break my impression of a home.  I believe that accessories should be personal and reflect the interests / history of its owners.  The accessories are always my favorite part.  If items are placed well (grouping small items has a greater impact) they create interest and a beauty that for me makes the room sing.  The mementos of ones travels or family pictures make a home seem inviting.

My library features my favorite accessory, dogs!

I realize that this is a topic that has as many opinions as there are homeowners who care enough to ‘feather their nests’.  I don’t like accessories that appear to be too matchy-matchy, too plastic (you know, fake age), or are too contrived.  I prefer interesting items that look as though there was some story to tell…something with history.

Isn't this a beautiful piece?! Carla is Queen of eBay.

You can always add a little history by collecting vintage or antique items that appeal to you.  Collecting is so much fun and the hunt is about 75% of it!  Tag or garage sales, thrift stores and some antique stores that host several vendors have a great many things that aren’t expensive.  Shop your parents, grandparents and relatives houses for items with a family history and many times they will be so pleased you are interested they will give you the first item for your collection.

Accessorizing can be fun and truly provide the “icing on the cake (home)”.

Details: Accessories or Knick knacks?

11 Wednesday Aug 2010

Posted by in Antiques, Decorating

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I love accessories, I don’t especially love clutter.  I realize that one person’s accessories are another person’s clutter but I don’t think I’d enjoy my home nearly as much without the “stuff” that I treasure.

Sometimes something as practical as an umbrella stand can add the touch that an entry may need. Image via Southern Accents, Carol Glasser home.

I take my lead from a lot of magazine pictures {Veranda, Traditional Home, Southern Accents before it closed}, blog sites {Cote de Texas, French Kissed, The Lettered Cottage} that inspire and friends whose homes I admire.

For me, Charles Faudree of Tulsa is KING of accessories.

Who knew a picnic basket on a sofa table could add charm to an already lovely room? Image via Country Living Magazine.

But…there is always a little self doubt that plays in my mind when I’m arranging my “stuff”…like is my house starting to look like my Grandma’s used to?  Loaded with knick knacks?

I love the simplicity of these silver items and only one of the footed pieces has anything on it, so pretty.

I guess we all have to figure out what we love and arrange things and maybe even change them out as seasons come and go to create interest and to avoid “over accessorizing” if there is such a thing, right?

I love using natural items in the grand scheme of accessorizing.

Plates as wall hangings, wow! Image via Country Living Magazine

Framed prints can make an ordinary wall look amazing.

What do you like to accessorize with?  Do you like clean lines and minimal fuss, or do you love to display your treasures?

Blue and White Rooms & More

02 Monday Aug 2010

Posted by in Decorating

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When my husband and I purchased our first house I pondered the colors I thought I would like to decorate with.  Keep in mind when I tell you what colors I decided on that we were in the midst of the seventies…earth tones were very popular.  The sofa we purchased was a block print that included chocolate brown, rust and navy blue.  That sofa was very comfortable and I’m sorry I don’t have a picture to show you.

Sometimes its the little things that thrill. Image via Bridget Peirson Photography, via Brabourne Farm

Time flew by and because I’ve always had a love of interior design (that sounds fancier than I am but I hope you know what I mean), we decided when we moved into our current house to go a different direction (color palate wise).  I could have chosen blue and white and it did cross my mind, but I had seen a room in a ‘to the trade’ furniture showroom that featured hunter green carpet with hunter green walls.  I know, it sounds oppressive, but with white French doors, white over mantle/fireplace and a custom-built white entertainment unit it was actually very cozy.  Was being the operative word here.  We lived with it for nearly 20 years!

Another view of Miss Mustard Seed's dining room, don't you love it?

I have loved the English country style of decorating for some time (Mario Buatta was someone I followed in design publications).  My accessories are pretty much the same as they were in my hunter green days—barley twist candle holders, antique mantle clock, Staffordshire figures, antlers and hunt prints or paintings.

I love this shade of blue but my dining room is pretty dark to handle this dark blue.

When we changed out the hunter green carpet for wood floors in all but the bedrooms I switched to red, khaki and black as the colors I used for upholstered pieces and accents.

This looks so fresh and inviting.

I'm not sure hubby would go for this but I love it.

The thing is, through it all I have longed for a blue and white house.  I have pulled nearly every blue and white room featured in any and all magazines.  One of my favorite design books to study is “A Passion for Blue and White” by Carolyne Roehm.

Passion for Blue and White says it all.

This is one of the pictures in Carolyne Roehm's book. I hope to duplicate the look for an upcoming dinner in September.

I also love this dining room by the incredibly talented Miss Mustard Seed (of Mustard Seed Creations) Visit her site and be amazed.

This is Miss Mustard Seed's dining room.

I would love to collect blue and white transfer ware dishes. This picture is of Carol Glasser's (a Houston designer) former home.

There is a wonderful tool on Better Homes and Gardens site called Color-a-Room.  Check it out, you can see what a room will look like with a variety of paint colors to choose from using this tool.

Imagine navy blue and white...what a clean look! {sigh}

So, “why” you ask, “don’t you have a blue and white room?”…I don’t know but a girl can dream, right?

Toile, my favorite

26 Monday Jul 2010

Posted by in Decorating, Misc

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I guess it all started here, in this incredible country…toile’s roots, so to speak.

It all started here...

I know you don’t have to be French to love toile because I have German, Irish, Scottish and a little American Indian blood coursing  through my veins and I absolutely love toile!

The ladder back chair in my library has a khaki and black toile.

My husband is very tolerant and supportive of my decorating style but he has asked that we keep the whole ‘toile’ thing to a reasonable minimum.  I try to comply, honest I do.  Don’t get me wrong, he’s comfortable with his masculinity.  I know this because I tested it early in our marriage when I painted our master bedroom a pale pink and used Ralph Lauren’s Allison pattern on our bed!

In a piece written by Patricia Cummings she tells us…”Toile (pronounced twahl) means “cloth” in French.  “Toile de Jouy,” or “toiles de Jouy,” are terms that refer to fabric that was first manufactured at a factory in Jouy-en-Josas, a village located southwest of Paris, near Versailles.

Our master bathroom has Pierre Deux toile paper in red, although in this picture the paper looks orange!

We renovated this bathroom in 2001 and I'm still not tired of the toile wallpaper.

Founded in 1760 by German-born Christophe-Phillippe Oberkampf, (1738-1815), a textile entrepreneur, the factory site was chosen primarily because of its proximity to the clear running water of the Bievre River”…

Charles Faudree uses toile with checks, a look I love!

Hey, there is a German-born link to toile—no wonder I love toile, it must be in the genes. 🙂

I found this picture of the beautiful brown and white toile while visiting Layla at The Lettered Cottage. This bedroom belongs to a friend of hers.

I’ve found that I never grow tired of toile, in fact, when  I see a new toile design in a shelter magazine or design book my mind immediately starts trying to figure out where I can use that particular color combination/pattern.

Rosemary Beck of Content in a Cottage posted this picture from a child's book (French, naturally)---notice the wallpaper? Toile is charming even in illustration.

Do you love toile too?

Notice how simple the room is and how the red toile curtains makes the room perfect?

Do you have it anywhere in your home?

I love this chair and not just because it is upholstered in toile, but that certainly helps {smile}.

If you have some new ways of using it, pass them along.  I’m always looking for new venues for toile.

House Beautiful had this photo of a wonderful room and the touch of toile is on the lampshade...doesn't it look great?

I love the idea of toile in unexpected places, like the back of this cupboard.

Picture via HGTV

Things on a List

23 Friday Jul 2010

Posted by in Decorating, Renovating

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Because its Friday and we’re headed into the weekend I thought we all might want to work on our respective “list of things to do”—even if #1 on the list is 1.  RELAX!  Here is what has been on my mind/list and I hope to get a DIY project done this weekend.  I’ll keep it (the project) a secret in case it doesn’t turn out and I can just casually say, “Oh, my DIY?  No, I ended up relaxing all weekend.” 🙂
Happy Weekend and enjoy!

I’m an avid list maker—I often have more lists than I can keep track of.  That pretty much defeats the purpose of a list, right?  Originally my list making was strictly of the variety commonly known as “Things to Do” list.  But over time I have started making lists of  home improvements, reference list (such as blog sites that have tutorials that may come in handy in the future), blog sites I love to visit list, and things we’ve done to our home list.

The prettier the paper for making a list the happier I am.

What I discovered is that lists, in addition to bringing order to chaos {when you actually fulfill your list}, can be a journal of sorts.  When I review my lists they help me recall what I’ve been doing.

Finding a mirror where this framed picture is hanging is on my "dream" list of future home improvement projects.

This comes in handy where our home is concerned.  In fact, I discovered that if a home-improvement project makes it to the “things I’d like to do to the house” list there is a pretty good chance that even some of the larger projects will get done sooner rather than later.  Is it that whole “positive thoughts produce positive results” thing?

Okay, I realize I don't have this view but one of the things on my list for a few years has been to create a stone pad in our backyard...we have a natural canopy of ficus trees that would be the perfect spot to have some comfy chairs.

Another thing on my list is finding a fountain that cascades the water instead of sounding like someone using the restroom (if you know what I mean).

I also found that the list of “things we bought/done to the house” serves me well when it comes to things like—why does this sofa fabric look so worn?  Oh it might be because its been 10 years since we’ve reupholstered!  Time does fly and we often forget that it was some time ago that we replaced/repaired something in the home.

This is inspiration for my "remodel the guest bath" list. It may be awhile but having it on the list helps.

I believe lists help me feel less stressed about the things I’d like to accomplish.  I do believe my list, where my home is concerned, is an unending list!  What’s on your list to do to your home this year?

A Roland E. Coate – Part 2

16 Friday Jul 2010

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As I mentioned in my last post, dear friends bought a Roland E. Coate house in a lovely private community in Laguna Beach.  This home has been taken care of and aside from a new coat of paint on some of the rooms in the home, it is, as you can see beautiful and inviting.

This installment of pictures will be of the bedrooms and the kitchen.  Enjoy!

This room has a tan and cream traditional toile fabric covering the walls.

A comfortable chair inviting you to relax with a good book sits in the corner.

An antique armoire provides additional storage and charm.

Check the view!

This bedroom is so light and airy. Notice the great Ikea trunk at the foot of the bed (I featured this in an earlier post).

Gray wicker is wonderful!

The kitchen has a built in dish pantry, complete with lighting. Very pretty and practical.

Don't you love the lime green napkins and planter and how it ties in with the limes.

Great stove and I love the old rusted iron piece above the stove.

The windows are amazing.

This trained ivy greets you when you open the back door.

I could love this room with it's overstuffed sofas and breathtaking view!

I hope you have enjoyed your tour as much as I did.  Thank you, Glenys for sharing your incredible beach cottage with me!

Roland E. Coate, Architect/in Laguna Beach

14 Wednesday Jul 2010

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A dear friend recently bought a home in a private community in Laguna Beach.  The home was built by Roland E. Coate, an architect that was very well known for his wonderful architecture and simple designs in Southern California from about 1921 through 1950.

This home was built in a beautiful community in Laguna Beach and has been lovingly cared for.

Sorry I don't have a wide angle view of the entire house in one frame.

The front door has a door knocker that doubles as a metal vase for flowers, so charming!

Mr. Coate was a part of the architectural team that designed All Saints Episcopal Church in Beverly Hills.  The home you see was built for his own personal use.

Dining Room with a view.

The house has 4 fireplaces and with it's proximity to the ocean I believe they will be used.

Mr. Coate was primarily a residential architect and excelled at designing English Tudor, American Colonial Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival and Monterey Colonial Revival.

Don't you love the leaded windows?

The fireplace over-mantle in the TV room is marble.

Wherever you look there are little nooks and cozy spots in the home.

The living room is inviting and spacious, views of the bay are visible from most of the main rooms.

The lattice fence on this side of the yard will need shoring up, but for now the morning glories are holding it up.

If the views of the Pacific ocean don't relax you you can always visit the spa in the yard.

Don't you love the beautiful accessories my friend has so ably displayed. I love her style!

I’ll post another installment of the Roland E. Coate house in Laguna Beach—the bedrooms and kitchen are wonderful!

Dream House

07 Wednesday Jul 2010

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Not too many months ago I read at the great site,  Things that Inspire about her virtual house for 2010.  I thought this was a great idea and decided I would give some serious thought as to what I’d include in my own “Dream Home”.

Yep, I could love this house!

After months of thinking about it I realize it’s harder to accomplish than I would have thought.  I’ve always maintained that the only thing keeping me from my dream home was $$$, and that is partly true.  But when it came right down to playing the game with myself that says, “Okay, money is not an issue!  What would you do?  What would you change?” it nearly froze me in my tracks.

This would make an excellent "extra" bedroom in our house.

For starters I’ve always wanted just a little more space in each of the rooms.  Our tract house was built in 1968 and the rooms are small to average in size.

It would fun to have just a little more room in our family room.

I’d love to figure out where I could add a walk-in pantry for the kitchen…

Just think how organized I could be with this much space for pantry items, I'd loose the ladder and have a really cool leaning ladder (like you see in libraries).

…and a walk-in closet for me!

I'd have this filled in no time.

I would love an extra bedroom and bathroom and I would definitely LOVE a breakfast nook.  Right now we have bar stools in the kitchen and that works, however if I could have a ceiling to floor windowed room that looks into the backyard, with room for a kitchen table and chairs.

This is so beautiful---I could stay in my jammies all day in this breakfast room.

I’d also like a little outdoor studio (code for a getaway space) complete with comfy chairs and a place to set your cup of tea.

This would be amazing!

However, I’d even be thrilled with the little shed that Lauren Liess posted on her website Pure Style!

This is charming!

I’d like a view but I really like where my house is located and I love our neighbors, so maybe I’d give that (view) up.

Who wouldn't enjoy a view of a lake or some other body of water?

I would like a bigger patio that could accommodate a table and chairs for dining but also include space for an outdoor living room.

Who wouldn't be comfortable in this lovely space.

Before you decide what a shallow person I must be, know that I love my little cottage and am very content—this was just an exercise in dreaming in case we hit the lottery—wait, we don’t buy lottery tickets, this could be a problem!

What would your dream house look like?  Maybe you already live in it!  Let me know, I’d love to hear from you.

Pictures via Traditional Home magazine.