Inspiration overload

I'm still trying to process all the great experiences from Alt Design Summit.

I'll be posting a recap later this week, but for now I wanted to share

some inspiration for some client spaces I'm currently working on.

You may remember this bohemian living room and dining nook I posted a few months back.

I'm working on finishing up that house with my client and our current projects include her guest room, office, and son's room.

She already has some great foundation pieces so we are just building on

what is already there and bring in some fun pops of color and accents.

Here is the inspiration board for the office

And here is the concept for her son Liam's room.

I'll let the guest room be a surprise. I think it might be my favorite.

We're using this fab pillow with an awesome vintage turkish rug.

I'm at ALT

Whoa. My head is spinning from information overload.

I spent yesterday soaking up genius from all the amazing speakers at

Altitude Design Summit and I don't know if there is room in my brain for any more.

I have a big install coming up this weekend too so wish me luck.

I'll be back Monday with some room inspiration for a home I'm currently working on.

Meanwhile, if you're looking for some inspiration today

check out my Valentine's Decor ideas on Pinterest

Happy Weekend.

kid friendly fabrics

My dining chairs are trashed. And I mean trashed. They are vintage faux bois chairs and I LOVE them, but the upholstery on them has seen better days. I've been on the hunt for quite some time for a kid friendly but stylish fabric that I could recover them in. Let me tell you that even with all the resources at my fingertips, this has not been an easy search. I just got grass shades for my kitchen windows so now the kitchen space is almost complete and it has really got me itching to deal with the chairs.

I was so overjoyed when I discovered a random sample from Joseph Noble floating around my office,

and I was even more excited when I discovered how reasonable their pricing is.

Their heavy duty abrasion collection is full of great options that are industrial strength

and will hold up to all the the spills and stains the the little munchkins attack them with.

I'm trying to decide if I want to use the New Zealand Faux Ostrich, Shagreen, Stingray, or the Great Fake Leather.

You will seriously not believe how much these fabrics look and feel like real leather, and they are only 39.50 a yard.

I even tested my sample by cleaning it with soft scrub and it worked like a charm.

Just what I need to hold up to my little boys.

My Birthday Weekend

My husband deserves major points for hijacking my blog last week to wish me happy birthday. He is a sweet one that Dan.

I got this lovely hydrangea for my birthday from my mother in law, she knows just what I love.

I've been enjoying it all week, along with some of my new design books.

My birthday was wonderful thanks to my family and friends, and my sweet little boys.

The celebration included breakfast, bowling, a little shopping

and a night out with Dan at a local restaurant that I love,

Then Sunday we had a family celebration and some wonderful presents with my family.

It was perfect.

I meant to post last week but after I hit the ground running on Monday, the running just never stopped. Hubby also made my week by finding me a ticket to ALT even though it is sold out.

I'm so glad I'll be able to go after all, and darling Christina will be coming to visit.

Busy week ahead with an install, kitchen re-vamp, and the usual list,

but I do have a few fun things to share, including a new look I'm working on for the blog.

Happy Birthday Caitlin

Happy Birthday to our favorite Mommy and Wife and of course our Number 1 Designer, CAITLIN!





Leave her a comment to wish her Happy Birthday

Connect the dots

I'm kind of smitten with this little pillow today.

Every now and then I find something really amazing from Land's End.

I love them because their prices are so reasonable.

My favorite thing about the pillow is how the polka dots have a painted look

that makes them more interesting and more chic than plain old polka dots.

It reminds me of a few other dotted designer fabrics that I love, Circo from Lee Jofa

and Tika from Lisa Fine, one of my favorite textile designers.

I've been thinking you could recreate this look with some diluted fabric paint

and a pencil eraser for a small scale look, or a round sponge for a large scale dot.

I haven't had the chance to try it out yet, but it could be a fun DIY.

Any takers?

I love a little bit of polka dot in an unexpected place.

It can take a sophisticated room and keep it from feeling too stuffy.

You expect to see a little bit of polka dot in a child's room

(love this from Jessica Helgerson)

but look how awesome it is in this office

And how Jamie used this ikat dot in her bedroom featured in High Gloss.

But my all time favorite use of any ikat/dots has to bee these chairs from Lilly Bunn Weekes.

Jenny turned me on to her blog last year and it has been a favorite read.

Do you have any dots in your life?

You are what you pin

Doesn't it seem like "Pinterest" is the ultimate buzz word these days?

I loved this little excerpt from an article my husband recently shared with me:

"Back when I was young, my cousins would cut out photos, ads and visuals from fashion & lifestyle magazines and create collages. We would buy used magazines for a few pennies to get the right image. We would put the clippings together and then stick them on the bedroom walls and feel very cool because being able to create an awesome, colorful collage showed a little something about you."

Isn't Pinterest just doing the same for all of us but without all the glue and magazine shreds?

And does it make you feel old that you actually remember making collages?

I think I still have some stashed away some where.

And as to Pinterest, I'm marking my one year anniversary and approaching 4,000 pins.

I think it is safe to say I'm addicted. You can follow me here

p.s. Instragram is my second obsession

My Grosgrain Go to

I love the simple touch that a band of grosgrain ribbon can add to a curtain panel or pillow.

It's details like these that you really see in rooms that are designed vs. bought.

I'm a sucker for beautiful trim, but designer trims can often be as expensive as

designer fabric if they are purchased through the big mills so one way I cut costs

is by purchasing grosgrain trims by the roll through apparel manufacturers.

The price is significantly lower and you still get a beautiful quality product that gives you a custom look.

One of my favorite go to brands for this is Petersham Ribbons. Their Rayon grosgrain so beautiful. The texture is so much better than the cheap stuff you would buy at a craft or sewing store and it actually looks and feels like silk grosgrain, so it totally reads designer.

Their color card alone is stunning.

You can buy Petersham products online through Britex fabrics.

They have multiple widths so you can find just what you are looking for.

And then you can decide how to use it...

On a pillow

via CWD Textiles

Or a lamp shade

via Eddie Ross

Or some roman shades

via pinterest

Or curtain panels

via Betsy Burnham featured in Lonny

Or just use your imagination

via Anushe

Ribbon is just one of the many things that I have hoarding issues with. I 'm serious.

Happy New Year!

Looking back on 2011

2011 was a crazy year for me.

I had a baby and moved to a new office,

and all while my business was growing.

Here are a few of the highlights for me:

In January I prepped for the baby to come,

attended ALT, Started redoing my master bedroom,

and hit up market to check out the new goods.

In February I shared a few of my favorite things,

did a breakdown of Sarah Richardson's amazing yellow room,

and we welcomed Baby Elliott into our family.

In March I laid low with the new baby but I did share some

of my designer confessions over at 6th Street Design School.

In April I shared a few snippets of my house,

including some progress on my master bedroom,

and hosted a giveaway from Joss & Main.

In May I posted some pictures of a client project I worked on,

shared some images of a new construction project I worked on with Tiek Built Homes,

and had a little online tag sale.

In June , I shared my tips on beachy living, and my love for nooks and crannies.

In July I had a remnant sale with Caitlin Wilson and Kirsten Krason,

showed you a lavender nursery that I did for a client,

and shared the details from my sisters wedding.

In August I shared pictures of a dining nook I did for a client,

a bohemian family room, and some pictures of my kids.

In September I shared images of the Spring Lane home

I worked on with Tiek Built Homes, all of which can be seen here,

shared a sneak peak of little girl's room that I worked on for a client,

and went to Texas for the Round Top Antique Market (post coming soon).

In October I shared the news about moving to my new office,

announced the debut of my friend Caitlin Wilson's line of textiles,

and shared my love for pinterest.

In November I moved in to my new office,

hosted a giveaway from Lewis and Sheron Fabrics,

and went to Hawaii with my family.

In December I was pretty much missing in action,

mostly because I was busy with work and wanted to enjoy the season with my kids

(here they are in their Christmas jammies from under the nile).

I did manage to post some snippets of my Christmas decor and a glimpse at my new office.

And let's not forget about those Holiday sales.

All in all it was a very busy but great year.

Thanks to your wonderful support as readers and followers.

I'm hoping to share much more with you in 2012,

including a bunch of projects I worked on in 2011 and never got around to sharing.

Happy New Year!