My Inspiration

Thursday January, 14 2010

I have been thinking about this post all week! Mainly because I am living through a cold winter and long to go back to this beautiful place. As I have been saying all week, Turquoise is one of my favorite colors. I think partly because this color brings me to beautiful places, memories, & treasures. I love the ocean and all the wonderful things that go along with it. The warm sun, beautiful waters, & the wonderful sea treasures. I sometimes wonder why I don't live by the sea as I get such a wonderful, peaceful feeling that I can't find anywhere else. To me there is nothing better than waking up and going for a walk on the beach and of course collecting a sea shell or two. So for me personally when I see turquoise it brings back all these wonderful feelings for me.

The way Pantone describes this color of the year is so right when they say " Turquoise inspires thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a comforting escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of well being. Wether envisioned as a tranquil ocean surrounding a tropical island or a protective stone warding off evil spirits, Turquoise is a color that most people respond to positively. It is universally flattering, has appeal for men and women, and translates easily to fashion and interiors. " So you really can't go wrong with this color.

Today's post is a very special one to me as it was my Honeymoon. David & I were married in September and took the most fabulous honeymoon to the islands of Turks & Caicos. We stayed at the most wonderful boutique hotel, The Gansevoort. The islands had the most amazing food and we enjoyed the incredible waters! So please enjoy the photos from our trip and the inspiration I found from the adventure! The picture above is the view of the pool out to the ocean at this wonderful place.

This was our walk to the beach everyday! Not too bad!

The interiors at The Gansevoort were wonderful! Our room was amazing!

One of the many outdoor lounges! Why not combine turquoise with the other hot color Orange!

The two above pictures are from our room! Every detail & amenity at The Gansevoort was superb!

The wonderful restaurant, Bagatelle's, was one of the many great restaurants on the island.

David & I on our deck after a wonderful evening out. Thought I would share this one in my turquoise dress.

This was were we sat everyday. It was great for us because it was their down season so it was no problem getting these wonderful lounges everyday! It was so relaxing to watch the sunset!

One of the days we took our rented car to wandering roads and came across this secluded beach with fantastic views. The houses were amazing as you can kind of see in this picture. I wanted to go take a tour!

I took this picture in the lobby of another hotel & restaurant. I loved the application of the skirt under a traditional table. What a lovely desk!

I loved this sculpture and might need to re-create one at some point!

David & I as we embark on an amazing snorkeling adventure. We were toured around to different areas & snorkeled in the 3rd largest coral reef in the world! It was amazing but I was a little scared, especially when I saw a barracuda that I thought was a shark!

Here I am wandering the sea. ( I'm sure I was trying to find a treasure!) I love collecting sea shells and the beauty nature creates by the water! I came home with a pretty good collection of Conch shells as David can attest carrying them through the airport. I love seeing the vast amount of beautiful water in this picture.

My wonderful husband and his catch of the day! Our snorkeling guide caught this barracuda with a single hook, some fishing line, and his bare hands!

I'll leave you with one final image. This is the view that we began & ended each day! I hope you have a wonderful day while you imagine the ocean breezes!

Credits: Gansevoort Hotel, Pantone

Turquoise

Wednesday January 13, 2010

Just in case you thought I was making up the whole color of the year thing I decided to include the graphic from Pantone's website. I'm kidding but I was doing a little research today and thought I would share their graphic! It's a perfect example of the inspiration of turquoise (more on that tomorrow)! As I was reading one of my favorite blogs Designer Detective author Shay Sampson wrote about Turquoise with a particular designer. I loved reading this mainly because I have been a HUGE fan of Kelly Wearstler for some time! I have followed her work for awhile now and I specifically remember when I first purchased her first book Modern Glamour and almost died and went to interior heaven! I was in college and I think my roommates thought I was crazy, actually they are creative people as well so they appreciated her style! Anyway like Shay states, " Kelly is known for her bold use of color, her designs have received accolades and much admiration from across the globe. Check out Shay's post here but the following are a few of the pictures from her post on turquoise! Stay tuned tomorrow as it's a personal one for me!

The wonderful Kelly Wearstler!

Credits: Designer Detective, Kelly Wearstler, Pantone

Top 10 Turquoise Products

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Today's Top 10 is featuring my top picks for Turquoise Products. As you know this Top 10 list is a new series for me and over the last week my oh-so-observant husband pointed out to me that my first top 10 list was oh-so-backwards. So please enjoy as this Top 10 list will begin as a countdown instead of a count up! Be Inspired by this beautiful color!

10) Arm Chair, Century Furniture

This chair has so much style and I think the bold color of turquoise makes it even more unique!

9) Angle Mirror, Global Views

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall can this be the prettiest mirror of all? This mirror could make a grand statement and if you grouped a number of them together it could be quite stunning!

8) Regence Style Commode, French Heritage

What a great accent to a room! I think the hardware on this piece is quite lovely!

7) Glass Vase, Global Views

This blown glass vase is so artistic, sculptural, & beautiful! This is a great way to bring a little bit of turquoise into your home if your scared to make the commitment!

6) Wallpaper, Harlequin

A great way to make a statement in your home is a beautiful, bold, wallpaper in turquoise! I especially love the large print of this paper. The wall almost comes across as being a solid color until you look closely you can see the pattern & depth of the paper!

5) Artwork, Soicher Marin

I really like this artwork because it has a beautiful graphic pattern in it! The size of it is wonderful and can really ground a space!

4) Lamp, Arteriors Home

Lamps make a great accent in a room and can really add color to a space. A pair of these lamps on a credenza would add amazing color & shape!

3) Fabric, Osborne & Little

The combination of these turquoise fabrics adds a great touch to a modern sofa! I also love cut velvet fabrics and the turquoise color is amazing! If you aren't comfortable with doing a whole sofa you can add fabrics in turquoise to add the color into your home!

2) Foster Chair, Hickory Chair

This chair has beautiful, clean lines, & even more important it is very comfortable! I think this is a fantastic example of a basic chair in a beautiful color. The color takes this chair from ordinary to extraordinary!

1) Thomos O'Brien Rug, Safavieh

A great way to bring color into a room is by adding a beautiful layer of color in your area rug! This classic rug has beautiful color, pattern, & texture! It is a wonderful foundation to a room!

Photos: Century Furniture, Global Views, French Heritage, Harlequin Fabrics & Wallcoverings, Soicher Marin, Arteriors Home, Osborne & Little, Hickory Chair, Safavieh.

Color of the Year!

Monday January 11, 2010


At the beginning of every new year comes a list of new colors for the year. Pantone always has their list of top picks and this years number one choice is Turquoise. I couldn't be more delighted by this selection as Turquise is a color I love to design with! This blue-green color instantly refreshes a room. Because of my love of this color I've decided to spend the week showcasing this color! So stay tuned for a week full of beautiful Turquoise interiors!



Photos: House Beautiful, Suzanne Kasler

Tuesday's Top 10

Tuesday January 5, 2010

I've decided to try something new with Living in Style and that is to feature a new stylish list every Tuesday. A top 10 list seems appropriate! Working in the design business I have so many wonderful resources at my fingertips and I don't think many people really realize the unique, beautiful, and stylish items out on the market. So, every Tuesday check back for my feature of a Top 10. This list might include small items like hardware, pillows, or mirrors, but it might include bigger things like my 10 favorite Sun rooms, or kitchens. For my first feature I am highlighting a item that can totally change the mood of a room & that is a chandelier. The history of the chandelier is quite unique and the earliest ones date back to medieval places of assembly. The high cost of illumination made the chandelier a luxury symbol of status. Which might be why many people have this idea of very ornate crystal chandeliers in their heads (which some of the most beautiful ones are) but you can have an equally gorgeous fixture that is very simple. I am currently working on a project where I'm selecting all the light fixtures for my clients new home. It's fun to coordinate them all and to find the exact perfect fixture for the space. Since I've spent countless hours scouring our resources for the perfect fixtures for this family I have been eyeing a few that have made the list! So here you go my Top 10 List of Chandeliers!




1) Kevin Reilly Chandelier, Holly Hunt
This classic chandelier is one of my favorites and has been knocked off by so many companies but the original design & detail is truly remarkable. Renowned for its innovative cnadle and metal lighting, Kevin Reilly fueses the rustic, architectural, romantic, industrial, into modern design. What is even better is it has an array of fixtures that coordinate wonderfully with it!


2) Signature Chandlier by Baker Furniture, Barbara Barry Collection
This elegant fixture is created using cristallo oro, a combination of clear crystal fused with 24 karat gold leaf. Each Element of this chandelier is hand-blown using centuries old techniques.


3) Chandelier, Visual Comfort
This petite Paris Flea Market chandelier is one of my favorites! The size, proportions, & design are perfect!


4) Mansion Chandelier, Curry & Co
I picked this one because of it's name. Just Kidding but I think the richness and depth are the hallmark of old French and Italian pieces!


5) Southhampton Shell Chandelier, Arteriors Home
I have loved this fixture for awhile now and I think it is my need to live by the water. I think the design is beautiful but I also love the shells in this fixture.


6)Bronze Veil Chandelier, Fine Art Lamps
I love the warm bronze finish of this fixture and the contemporary feeling of it!


7) Crystal LIghts Chandelier, Curry & Co
The perfect proportions of this chandelier satisfy both the traditional and the contemporary.


8) Dauphin Chandelier, Curry & Co
This large wooden chandelier features a pleasingly simple shape made with fine hand-carved details. I love the distressed antique gold leaf.


9) Iron Beaded Chandelier, Arteriors Home
I think this fixture is stunning and could really be beautiful in the right space! The graceful lines are wonderful!


10) Sillicate Chandelier by Baker Furniture, Lexicon Collection
Reminiscent of graceful waterfalls, this chandelier is created from cascading tiers of cloudy Murano Glass folds.

All fixtures are available for purchase at The Mansion.

Fresh Start for your Home!

Monday, January 4, 2009



With the new year comes new ideas for your home. Doesn't your home deserve a fresh new start as well? The holiday decorations have all come down and you are beginning to realize the many projects you would like to undertake this year. Maybe it's....

A new look for your stairway. It might be as simple as grouping many pieces of art together. This can change the look of a beautiful staircase.


Or maybe it's, adding eclectic wallpaper to your bathroom. This can dramatically change your space!


A pure new living space...


or a bold new color combination!


Maybe it's a bathroom remodel, big or small!



or a great new piece of furniture, like this console!


Or simply a new place to lay your head! Whatever your project is this year I hope it's a good one. I hope it is one that helps make your home a better place to live, grow, & prosper!

Meghan


Photos: Traditional Home, Elle Decor, Canadian House & Home

Make it a Remarkable 2010!!!

Sunday January 2, 2010


The new year has officially begun and with that comes new goals, hopes, & aspirations! I am a firm believer in setting goals for the new year and believe that by creating these goals I'm holding myself accountable to be a better person! There is a quote by Abraham Lincoln that says, " whatever you are be a good one." I challenge you to be a good one this year: personally, professionally, & civically. I hope that this is a remarkable year for you!

I look forward to another year of health, happiness, & prosperity & I hope you do the same! I'll leave you with a blessing for the new year!

"May you always have
enough happiness to keep you sweet;
enough trials to keep you strong;
enough success to keep you eager;
enough faith to give you courage;
and enough determination to
make each day a good day"

Best,
Meghan


Photos-Quotable Cards