Room Remixs: August 2009

Monday, August 31, 2009

The New Look Everyone's Talking About

If you haven't heard about Restoration Hardware's new look, then you haven't been reading many blogs! The blogworld is abuzz with it, so I thought I would just share my favorite room rather than boring you with a lot of photos you may have already seen. This is not a look that I currently have in my own home (although I may have to figure out a way to sneak it in) but, as with so many styles, I do love it. Simple and serene with loads of texture.

Another thing that I like about their new look is that if you can't afford their prices, many aspects could be replicated fairly easily on a smaller budget!

Mudroom/Laundry Bench Remix Progress

Yep. I'm working on it. I know. It must be really difficult to keep up with the speedy progress I'm making! I started on this project on June 28th and I'm ALREADY priming the pieces today! :-)

Could that be the reason for the slightly raised eyebrow and smirk from my husband when he said, "what are you doing?" and I responded "working on my mudroom bench"? I don't have any excuse for not working on it really except that summer was busy and I hate sanding.

I actually enjoy painting, which is the next step, so that should go well. After that I need to get my hubby involved with some power tools so it will depend on his schedule.

I think it's going to actually end up to be a pretty cool bench so I can't wait to share it with you. When do you think that will be? :-)

Hope you're having a great day!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Divine Chairs

I ran across this chair company in a post somewhere and saved it. Now I can't remember who originally did a post about it (sorry!).

The chairs are from The Divine Chair Company. I have no idea how much they cost but their website says that their aim is "to provide fabulous and affordable furniture to people who appreciate individuality and style". What really drew me to them was their individuality, spunk and whimsicality. I wouldn't want a room full of them, but as a statement piece they would be fun!

How about you? Favorites? Thoughts?

Friday, August 28, 2009

HomeGoods (Chance to win $5,000 shopping spree!)

All images in this post are from HomeGoods

I went shopping yesterday at one of my favorite stores, HomeGoods. There are a couple of things that make this store high on my list of favorites. First are the reasonable prices (you may remember this post where I talked about the HomeGoods folding screen that I purchased for $90, which I have since seen at a couple of places for hundreds more!)

The second thing that I love about this store is that the inventory is constantly turning so you never know what you might stumble upon. Even though I didn't find the specific item I needed for the project I'm working on, it didn't matter because I was just loving looking at all of the new things that they had gotten in since the last time I was there. So many things I would have loved to have designed a room around!

I guess I should have actually said that there are THREE things I love about HomeGoods because I love the fact that they are currently offering a chance to win a Gift Card in their daily giveaway and a $5,000 HomeGoods shopping spree in their weekly drawing! You can do this by participating in their HomeGoods StyleScope. This is a quick online quiz to help you analyze your style. I took it and, while I normally don't put a lot of stock in these quizzes, I would say a good portion of the description was accurate (I would not describe my style* as dramatic modern, however). Here's how they describe my style:

(*Editors Note: One of the issues I had initially in taking this test was choosing a room, because I didn't feel that any of the rooms exactly encompassed my style (if my friends are reading this they're laughing right now because that is so "me"!). Also I was torn between all of the styles that I love (one of the hazards of being a decorator) and the way that I currently live. I took the test again and chose a room that more closely reflects how we live, which led to a different choice in accessories. My style was then defined as Earthy Casual. My husband is Earthy Casual all the way and I would say many aspects of that style also define me. A combination of Earthy Casual and Dramatic Modern? :-))

DRAMATIC MODERN:
You keep up with culture, style, and trends, but have a classical appreciation for beautiful forms and well-made, functional objects. You are inspired by good design and quality craftsmanship, but have a sense of the theatrical and the fun. You liven things up and infuse personality into your rooms. You like how something ornate mixes with modern, or how daring flourishes, like bold color or a wild pattern, can inject some humor and contrast to the serious, straight lines of modern pieces. You are a style leader, and your friends look to you for advice. You are not afraid of glamour. Because you embrace color, art, and elegance, your home makes a happy impact.

You value serenity. While there are probably a lot of interesting things in your home, they are joined by your taste or a certain palette that keeps them in harmony. You appreciate the beauty in simple forms. Whether fancy or plain, you appreciate things that are well made and function as well as they look. You also have a strong respect for the environment and craftsmanship. You care about how things are made, and how they are used.

Click below to go to the site and take the quiz for yourself! I would be interested to know what your style is. Also, don't forget to enter for the free gift card and shopping spree!

To see what others are hooked on, check out Julia's Hooked on Fridays...

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Sassy Saffron

myhomeideas.com

I apologize for the very brief post today. Things are a little busy, but it should result in some good things to share with you in upcoming posts. I'm also trying to get as much summer in as I can. You know me and the whole "I can't believe summer is ending" drama. My husband keeps reminding me that we still have fall and that it's not going to snow tomorrow. :-) Why do I live in Minnesota again?

I wanted to say THANK YOU, too, to all of you who are followers or have subscribed through a reader or e-mail. I appreciate it! I can't tell you how much fun it was to see my followers go to an even 60 today and to see my Feedburner number hit 101. I'm sure that seems like small pototoes to some, but I remember wondering when I started blogging in May if anyone would ever read what I was putting out there. Thanks for your feedback too. Please keep it coming. It helps to know what you like, what you don't like and what you would like to see more of.

Hope you're having a great day!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Outdoor Inspiration

Architectural Digest Photography: Bruce Buck

Well, it's happening. The Minnesota State Fair starts tomorrow which, for me at least, marks the beginning of the end (of summer). While I have no intention of focusing on that fact and am determined to squeeze every moment of enjoyment out of what is left of summer, I know that this winter I will be dreaming of places like this. Sunshine, warm temperatures, being outside... :-)

Architectural Digest Photography: Dan Forer

Architectural Digest Photography: Erhard Pfeiffer

Architechtural Digest Photography: Panagiotis Fotiadis

Architectural Digest Photography: Scott Frances

Source: Architectural Digest Photography: Bruce Buck

I'm linking this post to Outdoor Wednesday at Southern Inspiration.

Have a great day!

DIY Inspiration

Remember this post about the rug and how I love words used creatively in home decor? Well, how about this floor?!!! It was stenciled by Maryam at My Marrakesh. I first read about this on The Devine Home blog, but the photo is from Decor8.

Guess what this used to be! Check it out at Centsational Girl...

Click HERE to see what how an old entertainment center was repurposed. I'm fairly certain you have NOT seen this use for it before! Very clever and fun...

Hope you're having a great day!

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Window seats

House to Home

I've never had a window seat but have always wanted one. They seem so inviting, don't they? A great place to read a book, write a note, bask in the sunshine, watch the rain, think, take a nap...

Do you have a window seat? If not, and you could have one where would it be?

House Beautiful Photo: John Valiant

House Beautiful Photo: Don Freeman

House Beautiful Photo: Douglas Friedman

Source: Canadian House and Home Photo: Ted Yarwood

Source: myhomeideas.com

Photo: John O'Hagan Stylist: Melanie J. Clarke

Source: myhomeideas.com Photo: John O'Hagan

Amanda Nisbet Design

Friday, August 21, 2009

And The Winner Is...

The winner of the Inglenook Decor giveaway is Kelly from Design Ties! Kelly - please e-mail me your choice as well as your address and Maureen will get it out to you!

If you have a space in your home for it, this family bulletin board idea from Womans Day, with a separate section for each family member, is a fun one. If you have a larger family you could always divide it up differently and, if your space isn't this large, you could make a smaller scale version. For complete instructions on how to make it, CLICK HERE.

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Le Poeme

I was searching for rugs for a client yesterday and ran across this rug at Ballard Designs. It seems that I'm always attracted to anything in home decor that has words and it was no different in this case. I do wonder if it would eventually start to get on my nerves in the larger scale, but possibly a smaller one in a room where it's not the focal point? I guess it doesn't matter because I don't really have a room that I can use this in right now. :-) Maybe you do? It comes in black or chocolate (shown below).

In case you're wondering what the rug actually says...

Ballard Designs says: "The elegant poem rug design was created with words from famed 17th century French fabulist, Jean de La Fontaine. La Cigale et La Fourmi tells the story of an industrious ant, a carefree cricket and the end of summer. Inspired by the fables of Aesop, La Fontaine wrote volumes of simple poems using animals to teach real-life lessons.

La Cigale et La Fourmi (The Cricket and The Ant)

The cricket, having sung all summer long,
found her foods too few when the north wind blew
Nowhere could she spy a single morsel - worm or fly.
She thought her neighbor, the ant, might help,
and begged her for a bit of grain till summer came back again.
"By next harvest, I'll repay interest and principal both,"
she swore on the animal's oath.
Now, the ant may admit to a fault or two,
But lending is not something she will ever do.
So she asked, "What did you do when the weather was warm?"
"By night and day, to all who came, I sang at every chance."
"You sang, did you? How very nice. Now go and dance."

Have a great day and don't forget to sign up for the Inglenook Decor GIVEAWAY (last chance today!).