Nailed it!

28 Wednesday Sep 2016

Posted by Karen B. in Accessories; details

≈ 27 Comments

As I mentioned earlier, I recently had our very tired, very sad red and white buffalo check sofa reupholstered. I’ve been using a more neutral palate wherever possible. I have read it will calm me, so far, not so much. 🙂 You can take the Type A personality out of the chaos, but you can’t take the chaos out of the Type A.

We decided to add oil rubbed bronze nail heads to the arms this time (in the picture they look brass, but in person they are definitely oil rubbed bronze in color). I like the extra detailing on the sofa and began to notice how many pieces of furniture in my ‘saved’ furniture file have nailheads. {Sorry about the dog dishes in the kitchen, missed that in my viewfinder while taking this picture}

The New Jersey Star Ledger explained that this is an enduring element of furniture design…

The decorative use of nailheads on furniture is believed to have begun in 17th century France with the ornately carved wooden seating of the Louis XIII period. During this time when the most luxurious furnishings were coveted, craftsmen would use decorative nails to secure fine upholstery such as velvet, brocade, tapestries or leather.

I want to share some of my recent, and not so recent, furniture with nailheads finds…

I love the nailheads on these chairs, as well as the ikat fabric.

Aren’t these beds wonderful? Perfect for a room for adolescent teens or visiting guests. {also, isn’t this wallpaper great?}

This pretty chair is covered in Sebastian Tattersall in Sky, a part of the new SMW Home textile collection.

What are your thoughts? Do you like nailheads or could you skip them?

♥ Karen

Project Design: How To Style Your Spring Mantel — Two Ways

11 Friday Mar 2016

Posted by Karen B. in Accessories; details, Easter, House and Home

≈ 34 Comments

Tags

#ProjectDesignNow

Let me begin by saying how honored I am to be here among the creative women of each of the sites linked below.

SPRING is right up there with autumn for me. I love both seasons equally. Nature provides us with so many visual inspirations this time of year. So when it came to creating a Spring Mantle (two ways), I knew I’d have fun working on the assignment.

Full disclosure, this lovely bouquet was a gift for my late January birthday from my sweet daughter-in-law. It positively is the picture of spring with tulips and anemones, so I had to start early on my spring mantle ideas.

My first spring mantel is fairly simple. I’ve been attempting to declutter all around the house and this mantle reflects my version of restraint. 🙂

The Hare graphic came from The Graphics Fairy. I printed it on vellum and cut it to fit a frame I had in my stash. I framed it over a page from an old book. The Graphics Fairy has a library of free graphics. I can usually find something fun for any occasion.

I collect nests and when I find an abandoned nest on one of my walks, I always bring it home with me. The metal rabbit stand is something I’ve had for years. It’s meant to hold a pillar candle, but I’ve used it for candy and now nest-holding at Easter.

For spring and summer I turn to my glass candle holders, the candles are the best buy around, from Trader Joe’s. They are dripless and unscented and value priced for $3.99 for a box of 8. At my TJ’s they come in ivory and white.

My second spring mantle is a little different—more of a nod to the delights of Easter through a child’s eyes. Being a grandma does this to a person! 🙂

The pink tulips from the grocery store. They opened overnight! Tulips are one of my favorite spring flowers. The blue vase is one of two that normally stand on either side of the mantle. I bought them shortly after Tina of The Enchanted Home opened her online store. The nest is the same one I used for the other mantle, but this time it’s sitting in a silver candy dish atop a few Beatrix Potter books. I have a collection of Halcyon Day boxes and the hot air balloon egg was from Easter of 1985. It commemorates my first trip to England, a wonderful memory. 🙂

On the other side I have a favorite ceramic rabbit—he’s carrying real carrots and some sprigs of parsley, health food, right? The Hare graphic is the same but the little metal birds are eating some bird seed.

One last photograph. I kept thinking both stylings were sparse. My sweet daughter-in-law suggested I try the clock that normally lives on the mantle, in addition to the rest. Here it is…too crowded? I think I like it better without, maybe I am learning to appreciate the less is more trend! 🙂

I hope you enjoyed my two mantle vignettes. Be sure to visit each of the talented bloggers below. You can never have too many ideas for the prettiest season of the year…SPRING! You can also visit the Pinterest board for more ideas.

The talented designers, Cindy Hattersley [Rough Luxe Lifestyle] and Mary Ann [Classic Casual Home] host this series and I have loved every Project Design post they, and the participants, have shared.

{If you’ve missed these special posts, filled with inspiration and creative ideas you can check them out here—“Gallery Walls”, “How to Style your Coffee Table”, “Refresh your Living Room with these Inexpensive Tips” and “How to Create a Beautiful Bed”}

Be sure to visit the creative team joining this Project Design episode.

Amber B. Design Studio

ciao! newport beach

classic ⋅ casual ⋅ home

Dimples & Tangles

Katiedid

Lisa Mende Design

Lucy Williams Interiors

Rough Luxe Lifestyle

The Pink Pagoda

A touch of red

10 Wednesday Feb 2016

Posted by Karen B. in Accessories; details, Paint Color, Valentine's Day

≈ 31 Comments

Tags

Valentine's Day

♥ ♥ ♥

Good morning! Since Valentine’s Day is a short 4 days away, and I’m sure you’ve all bought your valentines and planned your special meal weeks ago, I thought I’d share a few rooms that highlight a touch of red, a traditional Valentine’s Day color. For some of us red is welcome year round, embraced even.

But I understand that not all share my enthusiasm for the color. Still, here are some lovely rooms with a touch of red that even you might like. 🙂

♥ ♥ ♥

Red doesn’t have to fill the room to be noticed, as my friend, the talented Loi of Tone on Tone demonstrates here. That red apple not only looks good enough to eat, but makes the perfect trilogy of lovely for this vignette.

The red in this mostly white bathroom adds a welcome brightness, subtle enough to add a needed pop of color. There is a framed picture of the Cat in the Hat to the right of the mirror, this may be a child’s bathroom. It’s very cheery.

Love this pretty distressed chest in red. This could be a showstopper in any home.

I really like this hutch that has been painted a contrasting color inside. I like the way it brings notice to the items stored inside.

…then there’s this. I love this library by Gil Shafer III and somehow the red seems just right!

James Farmer and this room is an all-time favorite. Yes, I know it’s dressed for Christmas and yes, I know you’ve seen it dozens of times, but it’s so pretty…you don’t mind, do you? 🙂

The red lamps add such a wonderful touch to this outdoor table.

{James Farmer ~ photographed by Emily Elkins Photographer}

There is a regal look to red in a formal room. Isn’t this a pretty sconce on the red wall, with a stenciled door (?) to the left?

Layla’s [The Lettered Cottage] reading nook in their first house is so inviting and the smallest touch of red makes the space seem finished.

Finally, a favorite use of the color! Oh to be in London!

Have a special Valentine’s Day. Celebrate the day with those you love.

Karen ♥

Since we’re on the subject of LOVE, I just wanted to pass along a good word on a soon to be released book. My friend, Kristy Woodson Harvey {Design Chic and Kristy Woodson Harvey} has a new book to be released in April. LIES AND OTHER ACTS OF LOVE. The is as entertaining as her first book, Dear Carolina. I’m honored to be previewing the book and will post my review in April. You can preorder here.

Spotlight on art – picture lights

12 Wednesday Aug 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Accessories; details, Decorating, House and Home

≈ 32 Comments

Hi Everyone, happy Wednesday. I missed a week…summer doldrums. Don’t hate me, but I’m ready for fall. I always am this time of year. Mother Nature turns up the furnace around here during August and into September, and I’m always ready for a cool breeze and chilly evening. How about you? Looking forward to turtle necks and hot cocoa? Too soon? 🙂

I’ve been collecting prints, posters and framed art of all kinds for years. I can be fickle and as a result of this variability, haven’t spent huge dollars on much of what I own. That hasn’t stopped me from loving what I do buy and I started some years ago finding myself looking for original paintings, vintage or otherwise.

Along the way I developed an appreciation for art lights, not because they needed to shine on my Monet or van Gogh {as if} but more because I appreciate the soft light they emit, not only on the painting, but the mellow light they transfer to a room.

Today I’d like to share with you not only my own art lights, but those on some paintings in rooms that I think are inspiring.

This painting was purchased at an antique store in San Juan Capistrano, probably 15-20 years ago. I still like it, which surprises even me. When we had some electrical work done to the house, the electrician installed a recessed plug to accommodate the art light. {We use this light when we’re going out for the evening to shine as a night light when we get home}. I apologize for the washed out look of this photograph…my weakest link {photography}. 🙂

This little painting is a transfer painting that a friend made for me years ago. The original painting is by Sir Henry Raeburn, titled Reverend Robert Walker. It holds a spot in my heart because of the friend that gave it to me, and because I like the subject… the reverend gliding along the ice on his skates, in his top hat and coat!

The painting above our mantle is illuminated by a light called a fish eye. It’s mounted in the ceiling and on a dimmer. The painting came from a shop that sold student paintings for a very affordable price. All it needs is a British flag and it would be perfect in my eyes.

So, on to some of the lovelies that I’ve saved to my files…rooms that are wonderful, and for the purpose of this post, happen to have art lights used for art or general lighting.

I absolutely adore art in kitchens. I talked about it HERE. The orange and cherries still life paintings are perfect for the kitchen and I like the art light above.

{source unknown}

This inviting space features a nautical theme with the painting over the fireplace, as well as the ship over the sofa.

The use of art lighting over a bookcase has been of interest to me for some time. I like the illumination it provides, just enough light. Maybe someday.

Then there’s this creative art light. The talented Kristine of The Painted Hive came up with the conversion of a desk lamp, doing double duty as an art light. Read how to achieve this HERE.

Leslie over at Gwen Moss is currently refurbishing their new (to them) home. She featured some inspiration featuring (which she always supplies) home office space. I love this little charmer!

I saved this image from a post by Joni at Cote de Texas. I didn’t save the post date, sorry. I like the modern feel to this room, yet the vintage painting with its art lighting warms the space for me.

I admire the bold paint color {below}. I especially love the pair of paintings flanking the fireplace.

The incredibly talented Mary Ann of Classic Casual Interiors posted one of her recent jobs for a client. This charming picture and picture light caught my eye. Such a pretty lamp.

What do you think? Do you, or would you ever, have a light over a not so “important” piece of art?

Knock, knock, who’s there?

29 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Accessories; details, House and Home

≈ 30 Comments

Tags

Door knockers have been used to symbolize everything from hospitality to good luck to warding off bad spirits, so although intricate door knockers are popular nowadays, the origins of that knocker may be something far more regal than it simply ‘looking nice’ on the door.

When we first moved into our current house, the realtor who sold us the house gave us a personalized door knocker as a thank you for your business gift. I enjoyed the hearty sound it made when people knocked on our door. Some years ago we replaced our set of double doors with a single door and sidelights and made the single door a dutch door and never reinstalled the door knocker.

I miss not having a door knocker. They were prevalent in London, and in various villages of the Cotswolds when we visited, and I love their old world charm.

So, while in search of a topic to share with you all, I discovered I have created a file titled “door knockers”. Who knew?! Some of these are charming all by themselves, others are on incredible doors, making for great curb appeal. Enjoy…

Who wouldn’t like this pair of beautiful doors. I wonder if that is mirrored glass or just the light reflecting off the panes?

This beauty [below] was taken by Debra of 5th and State, during one of her trips to England. She hosts tours of England and France. Maybe one day…

{5th and State, photograph by Debra}

This seems to be a classic design for door knockers, and I love the laurel wreath and the address number—all on a wonderful black door.

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This pretty door knocker is available at Amazon for unbelievably little $$$. I love the bronzed/rusty-looking finish.

If I ever move to Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod,or any beach area, this would be high on the list of possible door knockers.

A lion head door knocker is classic. I love this entry. Of course the blue and white porcelain urns and ivy topiaries have something to do with my admiration. 🙂

…the classic is back for his close up…

{source unknown}

Just as a side note, doesn’t this door [below] seem to have a mail slot in an inconvenient location.

{tumblr – Barb Dickie Photography}

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Do you have a door knocker on your front door?

Vignettes and their contribution to a room

22 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Accessories; details, House and Home

≈ 22 Comments

Tags

accessories, antiques, collections, vignettes

Let’s face it, there are so many details that can make or break a room’s appeal. Details that draw us in, can be (and usually are) different for each of us. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and such.

A stunning antique piece, a window with special detailing, beams in a ceiling, and accessories are my hot buttons. More specifically, a great vignette can pull me in like a tracktor beam on Star Trek.

Some people are so talented at achieving this magic, that I forget to look at the rest of the room. Here are a few examples I’ve amassed over the past few months…

An interesting grouping of items can give a room sparkle, make you want to know more about the people that live there. These items can be collections or simply an attractive arrangement of flowers, books and a lamp.

Any room with blue and white accents is already ahead of the pack, in my book…

I love the use of coral and shells. Add nature of any kind to the mix and I tend to take special notice.

Alison of The Polohouse does such a beautiful job with each tabletop and shelf in her lovely home. Her vignettes are always of interest.

I tend to rotate my own accessories throughout my house on a regular basis. Seasons, and a need for change, these reasons ~~excuses~~ keep me restless where my tabletop vignettes are concerned. 🙂

Even a chippy bathroom shelf, when decoratively adorned with essentials, can be all the charm a bathroom needs.

Jermaine, of French Kissed has a style that I attempt to emulate. She has a way with collecting, and displaying nature’s treasures and antique pieces that has always inspired me with my own vignettes.

This particular tabletop vignette [below] is a favorite. The porcupine quill lamp shade, the blue and white porcelain vase with blue hydrangea, and the 2 wooden boxes…simplicity is an appealing factor when accessorizing. Less is more, right?

I believe I got this image from the Barbara Wesbrook Workbook, but I cannot find the exact photograph. Visit her Workbook newsletter, you won’t regret it. Her talents are teamed with talented folks that she interviews and features.

I love this shiney and bright mercury glass display—I believe it’s a holiday season display but I think I like it for its cheery brightness.

{Pinterest}

Another favorite, is the talented Heather Bullard, contributing editor for Country Living Magazine. Her stylings are always perfect and obviously, she applies her talents to her own home. Visit her site, you’ll love the recipes and ideas you pick up during a visit. There seems to be a nature-theme to my favorites, doesn’t there?

Marian of Miss Mustard Seed can turn any homely piece of furniture into a treasure, and she’s a skilled stylist. I love the vignettes she shares from her home and her studio. She’s got her own line of paints and inspires many of us to convert Aunt Ingrid’s hutch into a fresh, country cupboard. I always come away from her posts with wonderful ideas for arranging collectibles.

The next image, while really a harvest display, comes from a site that no longer posts…and George. They operate a store that sells antiques and one of a kind furniture and decorative accessories. You can visit the webpage and you will see what beautiful items they offer as well as the displays they create.

{Christy Ford photograph}

Open shelving is tremendously popular right now, when I spot a grouping like this, I want to rip out upper cabinets and install shelves to hold a variety of lovelies.

Is the arrangement of collections something you gravitate towards?

One last thing, if you haven’t read Dear Carolina yet, there is still time left during the summer reading season. Kristy’s book is such an uplifting, feel good story.

The importance of being blue

29 Wednesday Apr 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Accessories; details, Decorating, House and Home

≈ 30 Comments

Happy Wednesday! Before I begin on my topic for this weeks post I want to share some exciting news. I’m sure you already follow the wonderful blog, Design Chic (authored by mother and daughter talents Beth (mom) and Kristy (daughter)) which provides us with fabulous design and fashion features each week. Kristy is publishing her first novel next week. I was privileged to get an advanced copy, and I’ll be sharing my enthusiasm for the book on next week’s post, but I wanted to give you the advanced link to order, Dear Carolina.

The colors blue and white are classics where home decor is concerned. There is no shortage of this color combination featured on blog sites, in magazines and books. I’ve talked about my love of the fusion of the the pairing at least four times on Garden, Home and Party, [1, 2, 3, 4} and since repetition seems to be a curse in the blog world, I’m going for it once more.

Blue is an alluring color even when the focus isn’t on home decorating.

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Have any of you grown blue tulips? Are they truly this blue?

alexapulitzer.com

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So buckle up…let’s look at a few rooms I’ve recently found online, starring the one and only blue and white.

{Instagram: juliocesarlimaudia}

{agiftwrappedlife.tumblr}

This bedroom almost looks like a painting to me…its so perfectly inviting.

{anantucketstateofmind.tumblr}

{Black&SpiroInteriors.com} ↓↑

{PrettyPetals.com}

{SouthernLiving.com}

{our mantle}

Oh, for this view. It’s even relaxing for the dog—nap time?

{TraditionalHome-Eliza Gatfield’s Oyster Bay Home}

{KelleyInteriorDesign.com}

{KembleInteriors.com}

Do you have any blue and white in your home’s decor?

Porch lights

11 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Accessories; details, House and Home

≈ 27 Comments

Tags

Happy Wednesday! How are you? Is anyone, besides me, shocked that we’re 10 days and counting into the month of March?! Yikes, slow down, father time. On that note, daylight savings time is here…so we’ll get an extra hour of daylight. {I’m not sure I’m happy about this, it’s coming too soon and I’m not ready for the warm weather that usually follows. I know the east is overdue for some warmth. Can I send you some of ours?}

Still, you can always make room for pretty porch lights on the front of your home, right?

Oh how I’d like to call this stone beauty home!

I want to talk about (and share) some pretty porch lights. It’s the little things that contribute most to a first impression, don’t you think? Where a home’s entrance is concerned, porch lights {or garage door lights, as Mr. B. likes to call them when they flank the garage door} can not only capture your attention, they can steal the show. Lighting adds so much to the front of a house.

Our porch lights have been up a long time. We had to have an electrician install the porch light on the right side of the garage. California tract houses, you gotta love them. They put a porch light on the left side of the house and one by the front door, but called it a day after that. Symetry, people!

This isn’t the greatest picture but the light on the right is the one we had to add. The one on the left, hidden in this picture by the ivy around it, matches the one we added as well as the one up by the front door.

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Oh, to live in a stone house with this front door surround!

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My personal leanings seem to be towards a pair of lanterns, but Kevin (our younger son) and Sarah have these beauties on the front of their house and I really like the way they look with their paint color and the architectural details of their home.

The details of the fixture and wonderful oil-rubbed finish, coupled with the glass makes these especially stunning. {Good job, Sarah!}

I notice there are a lot of pictures in this post with black doors. I believe I’m partial to dark doors on light houses! 🙂

{unknown}

Even this impressive entrance is enhanced with beautiful entry lighting…by all accounts Ralph Lauren always gets it right. I agree!

…and his Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles location

I digress, Ralph Lauren stores aren’t what this post is about. It’s about the inviting appeal of porch lights on residential abodes.

This wall lantern on a West Palm Beach home in Florida is attractive. I like the back plate and the unique design of the light itself. {I also love the stone dog!}

The overhead lantern in addition to the small lanterns on either side of the front door and side lights is ideal for this large front porch. So pretty with the transom windows, and {ahem} another dark door.

A simple fixture on this shingled house suits it very well. Don’t you love shingled houses? Charming.

The French Country house below might be my favorite in this group. Donald Lococo Architects did an amazing job with the exterior elements of the home.

Do you have a preference when it comes to porch lights? You’ll use it 1 hour less now that we’re in Daylight Savings Time, unless you live in Arizona, Hawaii or Indiana!

Fireplace mantles and the mantle clock

28 Wednesday Jan 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Accessories; details, Collections & Accessories, House and Home

≈ 30 Comments

Tags

{A SILVER MANTLE CLOCK marked Fabergé with Imperial warrant,Moscow, 1896-1908}

This time of year I’m especially mindful of our mantle, in part because we spend more time indoors due to cooler weather and because most evenings we have a fire in the grate. Our fireplace is wood burning and I enjoy it. Mr. B. says I’ve mastered setting a good fire. It’s the simple rule of 3 logs positioned just so, and some wadded up newspaper under the grate. It seems to never fail.

Please note, this is a “keepin’ it real” photo. Mr. B tried to move out of the picture (note the legs on the right) and I failed to move the log carrier and newspaper before snapping the camera.

But I digress, the subject of this post is the mantle clock. It seems to be less popular than in the day where most homes with fireplaces had a good clock, usually centered on the mantle. My mantle clock was a gift from a group of friends and purchased in Prescott, Arizona. My grandmother lived in Prescott during her retirement years and in town there are a few blocks of antique stores. I love the clock, in part because it always reminds me of those visits with my grandma.

Here we were this past Christmas, dressed for the holiday, the mantle clock is always there.

In this stately, more formal room [below], you’d expect a slightly larger mantle clock. I imagine the small clock is some kind of wonderful antique, and up close is beautifully detailed.

This might be an example of a noteworthy, but small, clock to place in a position of prominence on the mantle. Don’t you love the detailing on this clock?

{Farcot Figural Cockerel Alarm Mantle Clock}

An outstanding room designed by the talented Albert Hadley. I love this room. I imagine the clock was chosen for its size so that the portrait would be the focus.

Mirrors are popular and often found where the mantle clock used to be. I do love the clean lines of this display.

I have always loved the gentleman’s English library and the mantle clock seems fitting in this setting.

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Surprise! This is actually a shelf, made to look like its a mantle over a fireplace. It think it’s a great idea.

Another lovely mantle with a pleasing mixture of items, including the clock arranged off-center. Very pretty.

This room and mantle is a little formal for my taste, but beautiful nonetheless. Leave it to Marie Antoinette to have an opulent room such as this!

{Marie Antoinette Fontainbleau}

This is a favorite, not just because of the live greens, dressed for Christmas, but I love the clock and the old mirror it sits in front of. The wall sconces are simple and the black framed clock stands out.

Not to stray off topic again, but seriously, the reason you can barely see this mantle clock is because clearly, they are featuring this fabulous under mantle and side pillars. I would love to have this piece…and probably the rest of the house that goes with it. 🙂

{unknown}

Do you have a fireplace mantle in your home? If so, do you have a clock adorning it?

I love hearing from you, I hope you are having a great week so far. ♥ Karen

Wallpaper revival

21 Wednesday Jan 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Accessories; details, House and Home

≈ 28 Comments

Tags

There are some that would argue wall coverings never went out of favor with designers, and others that insist it’s been out for some time and is now making a grand re-entrance on the design scene.

Wherever you are on the topic, there are some stunning examples of wall paper available today. Our home is currently paperless, but some of these beauties have me pondering a room that would benefit from a new look.

One of the newer ideas (to me) are maps that are custom made into wallpaper. Wallpapered is a company out of England that creates panels custom fit to the wall you are wanting to paper. They can do historic/antique, world or street maps. I particularly love this example as it’s a historic map of London [my favorite city in the world].

Another innovative wallpaper idea that I found is the Phillip Jeffries Enchanted Woods paper. This is not a very vivid image of the ‘Bestowed Birch’ pattern that made me stop and look, and I was unable find an image of a room papered in this, but I believe the texture is that of an actual tree. I could see this as an effective addition of texture in a room. To some it might be more of a lodge look, but I don’t think it has to be.

This bold black and white paper is really pretty. (I’ve seen this in quite a few rooms online, but I couldn’t find the name of the manufacturer, if you know drop me a line). I believe, in this image, they’ve installed it in the foyer and up the stairs. With the white in the room it really livens up the area. This paper could work in a contemporary setting as well as a more traditional one.

Here it is in blue and white, don’t you love it on this landing?

Carol Glasser used this beautiful wallpaper in the foyer of her home in Montecito. It’s such a pretty color, especially paired with the demi lune and accessories. The mirror is stunning.

Bathrooms are my favorite place for wallpaper. It can really make a statement no matter the size of the bathroom.

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Same goes for bedrooms, don’t you love the matching custom linens with the wallpaper? Such an inviting room.

{unknown}

Want a library, but there isn’t enough room for bookshelves? Try this…

Joni, of Cote de Texas fame recently did a wonderful post on a lighting designer in Amsterdam, Holland. His showroom is a show stopper with the unique lamps he designs and this beautiful red wallpaper.

Read more about design trends for 2015 HERE.

So what are your thoughts on wallpaper. Do you have rooms that are wallpapered that you love? If you did without wallpaper for a time, are you ready to make the commitment again?

I always enjoy your comments. xo, Karen