Present Design

December 16, 2009


One of my favorite things to do around the holidays is to figure out the design of my Christmas presents. There are so many fun & festive things you can do to make your presents beautiful. One thing I really like about gift wrapping is it gives you the chance to be creative and make the gift a little more personal. I know I have major wrapping to do this weekend and I can't wait!















Photos- Martha Stewart, Canadian House & Home.

Fabric as Art

Monday December 14, 2009



The picture above shows a beautiful suzani print from Donghia framed as art. I have loved this fabric for awhile, in fact it has been in my inspiration pile of fabrics! What not a better idea than to use it as art. I think this is a fabulous idea with a fabric you really love. I also think this is a nice way to add some impact to a space & a great way to bring some color into the space. This room is beautifully put together and this fabric is the perfect backdrop.

Photo: Canadian House & Home, Donghia">Donghia

Home Office

December 10, 2009



The other day I talked about some of my favorite books that have recently been published and it is hard not to think about books without thinking about the places they are stored. The home office is a great and functional place. I love having a room you can go to and have the the functionality, peace, & inspiration to work productivity. Here are some of my favorites:



This is the perfect inspiring working space! I love the tranquil feeling of the room!


I really like the red in the back of these bookcases!


I love the detail of hanging the art on the bookcases!


This is the perfect cozy library. It's always nice to have a fireplace in the study!


Very dramatic but quite wonderful!!


The vintage appeal of this home office is great!



This study is beautiful!!


It must be the desk because I love this study as well!


This is a wonderful application of color and I think it is great to use it in the study!

Photos: Elle Decor, Canadian House & Home, Century Furniture, Arteriors Home, Safavieh, Maitland Smith

Snow Day!!

December 8, 2009



We're experiencing our first major snow storm of the year and I couldn't be more excited! I love the feeling of cozying up and watching the snow fall! Not only is this the first snowstorm of the year but it might be the biggest. We are being hit with 10-14 inches and then 45 mph winds so blizzard conditions are on their way! Cuddle up and stay warm!

Books

December 7, 2009

I am kind of a geek, but I love books! I love all kinds of books but I especially love design books. The exciting thing is right now their are so many wonderful books that have recently come out! They are all filled with beautiful pictures and it is always insightful to read into the minds of designers. These are some of the ones I'm really enjoying!


Inspired Interiors by Suzanne Kasler





Glamourous Rooms by Jan Showers



Hue by Kelly Wearstler




Style & Substance by Margeret Russel




New Classic Interiors by Alessandra Branca


All Photos- Amazon

Mad for Plaid

December 2, 2009



The Tartan pattern has been all the rage this fall and we are seeing this classic print in everything from accessories, fashion, furniture, & tabletop. The tartan is a pattern consisting of criss-cross horizontal & vertical bands in varying colors & widths. It is best known as a Scottish classic and can be traced back to the Fifth Century. I find that absolutely amazing! Each pattern represents different Scottish families. Basically each family wears their own flag as their signature print. Wouldn't you love your own signature print?? Well this is what we did at The Mansion. In the picture below is a room we call "The Pub Room" and we replicated the owner of The Mansion's family tartan. We had it painted on the wall and quite often people ask if it is wallpaper. I think this is an extremely personal & fun way to display your families history! When plaid is used in a room it gives a nice bold pattern & creates a sense of warmth that is always nice to cozy up to. Whether or not you have Scottish roots you can still enjoy this beautiful pattern.







Photos: Baker Furniture, Ralph Lauren, Anthropologie, William Sonoma, Elle Decor

Christmas Decorating

Tuesday, December 1, 2009




The holiday season is officially in full swing and that means bringing all the joy of Christmas into your home. I love getting all my Christmas decorations out and transforming our home for the holiday's. I've spent the last couple of days getting things ready but I still have some finishing touches to do so I was searching for some holiday images. Here are some pretty pictures I found inspirational for all your Christmas decorating!







Photos: Martha Stewart, House & Home