New Pillows for my Wingbacks

Just before Christmas I discovered this fabric and fell in love with it.  

I kept thinking about all it's lineny goodness and where I could put it in my house.  Finally, I decided to make some pillows for my favorite spot in the whole house - my wingback chairs.  

 As you can see, this room is very neutral, mainly warm grays, browns and a bit of green.  So, when I saw this fabric which included a watery blue with the green, I knew I had to have it.  This picture is more like the true color of the fabric.

Since this is a large scale fabric, I would normally not use it for small lumbar pillows.  Large scale fabrics look best on large pillows or for drapery panels.  But I broke the rules! I picked out my favorite bird in the pattern and worked it into the center of each pillow.  I also included my favorite trim (for the moment) which is a flat flange with a bit of detail on the corners.  

The other great thing about these . . . I only used a yard of fabric.  So, when (and if) I tire of them, I will be off to find another fabric to change the look for around $35.00 or less! 

I have included this project in  Todays Creative Blog link party!  There are tons of crafty ideas included if you need a little project this weekend. 

Find of the Day - Table

I came across this fabulous shabby chic table while sourcing some furniture pieces for a client.  I love the look of it, and it's the perfect size.  It could be used as a side table next to a sofa, between a pair of chairs, in a breakfast room as a small buffet piece.  Lots of possibilities here.  And the most important piece of news, it's only $75!  

http://www.etsy.com/listing/63818560/treasury-lilly

This is the Etsy shop of a great blog spot I have been enjoying as of late called Mossy Rock Interiors. If you have a little time on your hands, check out the blog and the shop!  

I am off to speak at a local garden club today on interior design.  Thrilled for the invite and opportunity!  

Hope you have a great day. M.  

Design Series Tuesday - Canopy Beds {part 3}

Who knew there were so many versions of canopy beds?  Up this week . . . 

Valance Style Canopy Beds  

Not sure what I mean?  Here are a few pictures.
This is a super easy way to give your bed the feel of a canopy with just a small amount of fabric.  

OK, I know this is not a bed, but it could so easily be made into one.  I also think it's a fun solution for a desk.  

This one is a bit different.  If you notice, it is really a simple piece of fabric that flows over a rod that is floating just below the ceiling.  

I also think it's interesting to use a darker toned bed with the valance canopy.  The contrast in color and layering has a really pretty effect. 

What I think is so interesting about the valance treatment is how it creates such importance and focus on the bed with such little effort.  It frames the bed in such a wonderful way.

The valance canopy gives you one more opportunity to inject a bit more fabric into a space.  In this case, they used the same fabric(since the pattern is busy), but if the room were more neutral, you could add impact with just the patterned fabric.  The detailing on the valance reminds me of a puzzle piece.  

This one is my favorite in this category.  I think I like it best because is comes out to the end of the bed.  Thus giving you the feel of a true canopy without any visual clutter at the foot of the bed.  In this case, there isn't a lot of clearance at the foot of the bed, so this is an awesome solution. 

At first glance, I thought of this as a very traditional space.  But then noticed the very modern wallpaper in the same tones.  Very interesting mix.  The rose color ties it all together. 

I know we are focusing on the canopy, but would you take a look at the fab pink chair in the background! (and the acrylic bedside table).  Love this space. 

This last picture is not in the valance category, but I wanted to give you a sneak peek into the last category of canopy beds that we will discuss this month!  I am totally loving those wall/sconce lamps within the canopy. 

Craving . . .

Is it just me, or are any of you craving a little summer time? 

http://www.atlantahomesmag.com/article/100-superlative-spaces

Those long days of summer - I could really use a late summer afternoon of chat time with the girls in a garden like this.  Can't you just hear kids' laughter coming from that field beyond?  I can even smell the fresh mint from the plantings behind those chairs!  Oh summer where are you?    

Something to Look Forward to . . .

It seems that online magazines are popping up as fast as blogs these days! OK, maybe not that fast.   But, this particular one is most interesting because it is being launched by Traditional Home.  I love that they are staying current and getting in there for a piece of the pie.  

  Meredith's Traditional Home has enlisted Lonny Magazine co-founders Michelle Adams and Patrick Cline to create the new online mag to compliment the Traditional Home magazine and expand it's readership to the younger tech savvy crowd.  The big reveal is scheduled for May - just in time for my birthday!  M.

Happy Dance!

I found out this week I have been awarded the Stylish Blogger Award from two of my favorite bloggers.  They both have amazing style and their blogs are part of my "morning coffee" routine every single day! 

Sherry at Design Indulgence is an interior designer/blogger in Atlanta.  Her style has a twist making every space she designs unique, but ultra chic.  She recently did a nursery that is second to none on my list of nurseries. 

Amanda at Casa Brasi is currently in design school, and she is truly on fire.  I read her posts and think how in the world did she think of that!  Sometimes they are the simplest of ideas, but they always give massive impact.

Thank you to both of you for thinking of me! 

So, I'm told that I need to share 7 things about myself and then send the award to 7 others.  Frankly, this part feels a little bit like those recipe chain emails that you get sucked into.  Where does it end?  But, I am still doing it, because I never win anything and winning feels good. :) In fact, it feels so good that I want some else to feel the love.  Here are my seven facts:

1.  Growing up, my room had an accent wall of Holly Hobbie wallpaper . . . 

 And I HATED it - I would lie awake at night and dream of putting mustaches on every single one of the little girls.  I also rearranged my room almost once a week when I was a kid - often covering the accent wall with furniture.

2.  I graduated pre-med from Ole Miss and then at the last minute decided to go to law school. What can I say?  I just wasn't ready to leave that beautiful Oxford campus.

3.  After law school, I lived and worked in Atlanta as a lawyer for six years, met my husband on a blind date, got married and moved to Birmingham where I continued to practice law for another 4 years.

4. My favorite color my entire life has been brown (even as a child, I wanted a brown Easter dress and shoes - drove my Mom insane!)

5. I dislike, ok - I must be honest, I hate bell peppers (green, red or yellow).  I hate them raw or cooked in anything.  I also don't cook with them, so my kids have no idea what they taste like!

6. Guilty pleasure - watching reruns of The Office.  It's funny because I cringe and laugh all at the same time.  I think it's my legal background and all those potential lawsuits every time Michael opens his mouth - nervous laughter. 

7.  And for a little known fact, I can tie a knot in a cherry stem with my tongue! (something else I learned to do while on that Oxford campus).

I know most of these are totally random, but that is what was on my mind!  

Now for the love.  Here are seven more blogs that rock my boat on a weekly basis.  I hope you find time to check them out.  They are all very different, but I like variety and I think it's important as a designer to appreciated all different types of styles.  Otherwise, every space you do will look the same, and I refuse to do this with interiors I work on!  I am sure some of these blogs have already been nominated (like the recipe emails), so if that's the case, the circle meets its end. 

[In the background you hear a little kid yell] "Tag - You're it!"

The Glam Lamb

Haven & Home

Things That Inspire

If the Lampshade Fits

Blueprint Bliss

Dwelling Room Interiors

Mrs. Blandings

I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend! M.

Bedroom Freshen Up

Every once in a while (ok, maybe more often in my case), it's time to freshen up a space.  That was the case with a dear friend of mine who lives in Atlanta.  We have been friends for a very long time.  I met her when I was practicing law in Atlanta - long before my husband and children!  In fact, I can make myself cry if I think about her and how infrequent our visits have become over the years.    

Recently, she called me and in addition to catching up on all sorts of things, we discussed some changes she wanted to make to her Master Bedroom.  She and her husband had purchased a new bed and she was struggling with bedding ideas that would compliment the bed and still go with the wallpaper she put up a few years ago, but was still loving.  So, I came up with a couple of options for the bedding that would freshen up the feel and tie in with the existing wall colors and paper.  

First, here is a picture of the wallpaper sample.  The wallpaper is on an accent wall and the other three walls (including the wall that the bed is on) is painted a pale green(similar to the green in the wallpaper).

It's a little hard to see (I scanned in the sample), but it is a Chinoiserie with accents in rose, pale blue, pale green and muted gold.  The print really jumps off the black background.  Also, it is impossible to see in this scanned picture, but the paper actually looks hand painted.  Very elegant. 

Here is a picture of the new bed (sans the footboard).

I think when you have a lot going on in a room (like wallpaper in a dramatic color), it is important to create some neutral space for you eye to rest.  In this case, the coverlet is a neutral tone.

http://www.westelm.com/products/lexington-quilt-and-shams-b549/?pkey=cquilts-blankets

Then for the pillows.  Here is the impact.  I created two options for her (simply because a girl needs choices)!

Option 1 

I like this one best.  The watery blue velvet pillows in the back just exude cozy elegance.  And the accent pillow in a printed linen pulls out the least prominent color in the wallpaper - this prevents that "matchy matchy" effect that you sometimes see in a space.  You know what I'm talking about, it all seems to go together, but there is no depth to the space (most often it's b/c the room matches too well).

Option 2 

Of course I had to do this one (since pink is the color of the year for 2011), but I confess, I am not a big pink person.  It is right up there with purple on the dislike scale for me (except in a little girl's room).  But I do think this is a very pretty look with the wallpaper.  The pink fabric is a linen and the accent fabric (which looks a bit stretched in this picture - I had to do this to give you the feel of a long pillow on the bed) is oh soooo scrumptous.  It is a silvery blue cut velvet with a creamy background.  It would add so much chic texture to the bed - I can hardly stand it.  

This is as far as we have gotten.  If she wants drapery panels for the space, I would go neutral and then maybe add a bit of tape on the edge of the panels in the accent pillow color to tie it all together. 

All this, mind you, has been done long distance (it's amazing what you can do these days with computers and some amazing online sources).  If you would like for me to help you with a space (regardless of where you live), contact me! I will gladly give you my rates and how it would work! M.