The Art of Living...mixing it up

Remember last week when I posted about Lauren Conrad's dinner party?
Well, ever since then, I have been obsessed with the look of mis-matched dining chairs.
I think it adds such personality to your dining room and can create quite the happy mood.
So, if you are looking for a way to spice up your dining room...try mixing it up.

Like LC...I adore floral dining chairs but i'd probably want to mix them with something a little more modern, like these high back yellow guys. 
How amazing is this combination done by Anna Spiro? love.

secret of domestic bliss #15... get it monogrammed

It may seem a tad bit traditional, but showing off your initials in your home is anything but.
It keeps your digs completely personal and gives your place a little something special.
The Montage hotel in Laguna Beach puts your initial on your pillow in your room during your stay. 
How special would that make you feel?
It got me hooked...and now I am obsessed with having my initials in my home. 
I just love the way it looks on linens.
materialgirls 
la dolce vita
flourish
tabletonic
bhg

The Art of Living...by the sea

No time or budget for flowers? No problem...
If you have access to the beach, why not make use of it for your home?
Instead of spending your hard earned money on flowers, save it and
grab some seashells, starfish, sand dollars or greens for the beach. 
I have tons of little collections around my home, they are some of my best travel keepsakes. 
I love the memories they conjure up when I look at them around the house.
I just love these looks.

You could even take a photo of your findings and frame it...instant art on the cheap!

secrets of spring...

Spring has arrived and so have the flowers...
Want to learn how to make the perfect bouquet for the home?


  1. Step1

    Begin by unwrapping the greens from the plastic. Cut the stems of them at an angle under room temperature running water. Arrange these so that they circle the vase evenly.

  2. Step2

    Unwrap the babies breath, also cut the stems of these ones at an angle under water, and disperse them around the vase, between the greens.

  3. Step3

    Now take and unwrap the flowers. Picking each one up singly cut the stem at an angle under room temperature running water. These may be cut at different lengths, so some may stand above the others and have a fuller look. Take each flower and arrange it between the greens and the babies breath (I prefer these to be in the middle of them).

  4. Step4

    When all bouquets have been cut and arranged to liking in the vase, unwind the raffia and wrap around the vase once. Depending on the size of the neck of your vase you make be able to wrap this around more than once. However, after you have wrapped the raffia around the first time, tie once in the middle of the front of the vase and wrap for a second time. Tuck the ends into the raffia that is already wrapped.

  5. Step5

    Finally take a strand of the raffia (some may have fallen off while you were wrapping it) and thread through the loop on top of the charm you have chosen. Tie this around the wrapped raffia in the front of the vase. Now you have a beautiful personally designed bouquet of flowers. Enjoy!

    source. image courtesy of adaanddarcy

    and don't forget to enter my giveaway for the book,

    Thom Filicia STYLE!

holy makeover!

Oh how I love my readers. I hope you all know that you make my day everyday!
Remember when i posted my secret of domestic bliss #5
on how black is back?
Well, Kerry who blogs at A Tranquil Townhouse
loved that little secret...and after a little conversation
she went from this...
to this!

I guess I was able to convince her to take the plunge.
I'm so completely honored that she took my advice!

I am so glad she did. Now that fantastic white screen makes 
a much bigger statement, don't you think?

secret to domestic bliss #8...decorate in threes

To keep up on my design chops, I once read a Feng Shui book
 and to be honest I only got a few things out of it
that seemed realistic to my decorating tastes. 
One of them being that decorating in three's creates harmony in the home.
I didn't know how to incorporate that into my style because I adore symmetry.
I quickly realized in design school that decorating in three's just makes sense,
it creates balance to the room without being too matchy-matchy.
 If ever you are in doubt of how to work accessories or items into your room
without looking overly done, just stick with the rule of threes.
trust me...it works.

Here, three pillows balance the art + lamps.
sets of 3 pillows on couch corners is perfection

3 vertically placed frames warm up these windows
3 pairs of mirrors provide a large scale focal point.
a group of 3 happy blue vases is bliss
3 mirrored panels are a perfect match with this low setee

notice the blue file boxes in groupings of 3.
3 candlesticks + 3 stacks of books make a beautiful tablescape
add 3 items to the fire mantel for simplicity
try 3 layered framed photos....
or try 3 hanging ones above the bed
stack books in groups of 3 to keep them looking tidy
or use 3 book shelves to calm the madness
3 mirrors above a bed is too cute
3 panels of framed artwork in this bedroom keeps it traditionally perfect.
to add color, put 3 matching pillows on the bed
these 3 black tall table stands on the right, completely balance the frames + lamp on the left.


secret of domestic bliss #5...bring back the black

image courtesy of odietamo
In Los Angeles, black is back and badder than ever.
I have recently fallen for the artwork of Ian Macdonald
and his fantastic black ceramic installation. 
I seriously want to create this look in my home, it's perfectly modern.
How on earth could I not want a collection like this?

images courtesy of IanMacdonald
His work is just a wee bit out of my price range so I might be able to recreate the look with these things that I am digging on.

Oh yes. Imperial Trellis!

While I was reading my blogs of the day, I came across this fantastic picture over 
at Elements of Style blog. My jaw dropped as I discovered that this fabulous wall isn't wallpaper. Oh no, not wallpaper, it's a DIY project that came out looking like the spitting 
image of an extremely expensive wallpapered room. 
Hello Gorgeous blog gives all the details on how to achieve this amazing look.

Breathtaking, huh?

The Art of Living...dressing a dresser

I have recently been working on a project for my new bedroom makeover.
I got a freebie dresser that I decided to give a new fresh look.
(pictures to come soon)
However, I am having a dilemma finding just the perfect items on the top.
I want it to look luxe and feminine at the same time.
I need some inspiration quickly.
I have found a few images online that have captured my interest.
Wondering which of these styles I like best...hmmm?
Any advice?





Click on her link to get tips on how to dress a table.


image via ISUWANNE




Do it yourself: framed wallpaper panels

Last night while looking through all my magazines, I came across an old Better Homes and Gardens Do it Yourself Issue. I was happily surprised to find this dining room!
The home owner is Hollis Erickson of Roberts Erickson Design. 
While looking at House of Turqouise blog (one of my favorites) this morning, I recognized her bedroom and hence found Hollis's blog. I was so happy to find these images online! yay!

I am loving everything about this design team. Here are some images from her home and blog.
I desperately want to re create the framed wallpaper panels for my own home! It's my next project. 






What's new..?

In light of my recent post on 2010 decor trends,
I have been on the hunt for all that is gray + yellow.
Sure enough, West Elm is right on point...the NEW collection spans from anything yellow to everything gray. Here are some simple buys that I would make to 
keep my place hot, fresh + 2010.

Combine the gray striped sheets (below) with the yellow quilt (above) for some hotness.

throw in a zebra or damask rug to mix it up
nothing says luxury better than bone trinket boxes for the desk space
and why not throw in a bird cage for a tounge-in-cheeck element
There you go...just a few fresh additions to spruce up your pad for 2010.

decorating...holiday style





Candles, candles everywhere!
 I love the beginnings of the holidays because it means at any point in time it is OK to start the Christmas embellishments (ie. music, candles, decorations, lights,etc.)
HGTV.com has a cute step-by step guide to creating an uber cute holiday centerpiece. 
Please, get creative with it. By ALL means, go ALL out! It's your table, make it your own! 


Materials and Tools:

2 large white glittering tree-shaped candles  2 small glittering white candles  2 medium glittering white candles  1 large glittering white candle 4 tall champagne flutes several strands of beaded crystal garland  small clear, white or silver glass Christmas balls  large clear, white or silver glass Christmas balls 2 bags of artificial snow

Steps:

1. Place two large white tree-shaped candles approximately 16 inches apart in the center of a server, console or dining room table.

2. Place the tall champagne flutes in a staggered row behind tree-shaped candles. Surround champagne flutes and tree-shaped candles with artificial snow (figure A).

Figure E

3. Fill champagne flutes two-thirds full with snow (figure B). Arrange small, medium and large glittering white candles around tree-shaped candles and in front of champagne flutes, place the smallest candles toward the front of the arrangement.

Figure D

4. Next, add clear or silver ornaments to the arrangement, nestling them into the snow (figure D).

Figure F

5. Drape beaded crystal garland from champagne flutes; tucking the garland ends into the snow in each flute. To help hold the garland in place, pile small silver, clear or white glass ornaments in the top of each flute (figure F).

6. Sprinkle more snow on table around the base of the arrangement to resemble a snow drift, light candles and enjoy the simple, elegant and frosty centerpiece.


Enjoy!


my muse, my aunt Susan Gutfreund

{a photo from her apartment in NYC}
"I recycle old curtains. Cotton can be a toxic material to produce, so I'll take clients' curtains out of storage — I've even bought boxes of them at auction — and re-dye them, re-hem them, re-do the pleating, change the trim. If there's water damage or staining, I just dye them a darker color." —SUSAN GUTFREUND

{Quote written by House Beautiful magazine on ways designers are going 'green'}

crystals

Adding some glamour to your home or apartment can be fairly simple. CRYSTALIZE IT. i have been in love with crystals since i was a little girl. they can catch light so brilliantly even at a small size. you can find crystals almost anywhere, ebay, target or any spiritual store for that matter. Some crystals are even said to give good energy to your dwelling. i simply adore these rock crystal items (especially the skull...my girls know how much i love anything pirate. and the Cadillac just screams "guy gift") from JF CHEN.