Designing Around Technology

    

Sometimes we all have to make compromising in our design worlds. Just today I had to do, just that, compromise. 

You see we listen to music all day long and my hubby has a very discerning ear when it comes to sound. He was a singer his whole life, and has a very acute sense of sound. It is important to him that the music sounds as good as we can afford to make it.

 The Before sound bar, notice the black boxes in the center they are about to go away!

He decided since we purchased the newer, BIGGER TV the sound was not very good, so he began investigating a temporary solution to the problem. We are wired for sound but it will be a costly proposition to get all hooked up so it has to wait for another years budget. 

He found what he thought was the perfect solution a sound bar which eliminates the need for a woofer and it it wireless so it is controlled by a remote. Yay for us, another remote!!! NOT!!

So after a LOT of discussions and planning we both came up with a plan that we both agreed too. 

He hung the sound bar as high next to the console table as he could so it is barely visible and we are now hiding all the plugs etc. with a basket for the TV box thingy to sit on. Notice my technical term , thingy!

See that long black bar, that is the sound bar!

The basket is one I already had and not exactly perfect, but it is hiding a mess in the back and it works for now. I will be on the hunt for the perfect basket. I think I want two that stack on top of each other and maybe a bit lighter. We shall see, but for now we are both content with the new situation and loving the better sound.

 The AFTER!

The moral of the story is to compromise, talk it thru, and plan what you are going to do before ever putting a hole in the wall!!!

 

 

A FASHION POST: Make It YOUR Way!!

   

For those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile you will know that I am trying to encourage all of you and myself to step outside of our comfort zone a little bit and try new things.

Do you ever see a darling outfit and think to yourself, " I wish I looked like her so I could wear that outfit,"? If you are like most women I am sure you have said it at least once in your life time

We all have our own personal challenges when it comes to our body types, however I feel it is important to embrace who you are, and dress your body according to what you feel great in. It is also important to always make an effort to look your best.

Let's face it when we get dressed it takes the same amount of time to put on a stylish well fitting outfit as it does a frumpy one. The only difference is usually our self confidence.

Today I want to talk about that moment when you see THAT outfit that you just love, but you know because of your body type or maybe even what you feel is appropriate for you it is just not quite right. This is an outfit you can't get out of your mind.

WHAT IS A GIRL TO DO?

Let me tell you what I do...........

After I have seen an outfit I like but realize it is not quite for my body type or age, I analyze what is it about the outfit that I really love. Let's take a look at something I saw this week that I was immediately drawn to, but knew I would not wear it for various reasons.

I got this in my inbox yesterday and fell in love with it for the following reasons:

1. black/ink stripes
2. cool and fresh look
3. mix of stripes with larger scale floral
    pattern
4. beautiful colors in the scarf
5. models hair
6. white pants

Now it is time for the honesty game, but when you do this do not be overly critical of yourself. 

We are trying to see ourselves from a different perspective. List the reasons it will not work. We are only doing this so we can find a remedy to what some would view as a problem.

Reasons this particular outfit won't work for me as shown......

1. I am not comfortable in puffy sleeves or off the shoulders type pieces.
2. When it is warm I won't be wearing a scarf that large no matter how beautiful it seems, however on an evening outing I just might wear it as a shoulder cover up.
3. Her hair, sigh!! I won't wear mine that short, or that blonde.
4. I don't look good in a billowy top.

It was so easy to list what I loved about the outfit and even pretty easy to list why this particular ensemble, as is, won't work for me.

Now for the solution part and this is the part I want you, my dear readers to start practicing more and more until it becomes a habit and you start enjoying shopping for yourself with excitement and anticipation. Take on the challenge!!

This is what I can wear and what looks best on my body. We all need to know what silhouette, colors and proportions are best on us in order to be successful at making an outfit fit our style and shape.

1. I can wear stripes and love to wear them
2. I can mix patterns and feel comfortable  in them.
3. I can wear cheerful colors.
4. I can wear my hair in a pulled back style that is a bit more sleek and cool looking.

Look at the two list, for every I can't or won't, I can make it an, "I Can!"

Trust me you can too.

Now let me show you how I will re-interpret this outfit to my body type and the silhouette that looks best on me.

I am only 5'4" and I have a curvy figure so a closer to the body fit on top is better for me. Adjust the fit of your top to your figure type.

Once I have my silhouette figured out then it is time to look for tops that could work.This is where you consider, color and pattern. 

The inspirational outfit has a solid, a stripe and a print so these are the patterns I will look for, for both my tops and bottoms.

Let's start with the tops. ...

chico's

 Hellooo stripe and print in one top, making my job easier!! Look at the colors as well, fresh and cheerful like the colors in the scarf. If a knit top is a bit more blousey than I like, if possible I size down for a closer fit.

I obviously would wear either a white skirt, white bermudas or white ankle pants with this top. I would pull my hair back in a classic pony tail and wear larger scaled gold hoops and I am good to go with a pair of leather gold flip flop type sandals.

In the summer months I find skirts to be cooler than even shorts so I often will wear a skirt when it is warm outside.

This outfit gives me the feel, fit, and look of my original inspiration piece.

NEXT!

JCrew

This is another style of top that I know I can wear and it can give me that fresh look like the inspiration outfit.

I can actually do a couple of things with this top. I could use the floral scarf and wear white pants just like the inspiration outfit, or I can mix it up a bit and add a floral/print skirt on the bottom...

 Talbots

This skirt has the same bright cheerful colors as the inspiration outfit, not exactly but still fresh and cheerful. 

I would wear this skirt and the black striped blouse either tucked in or possibly wear it out, and tie the front to accent my waist. I would wear black patent simple sandals with this outfit.

 What if I decide to wear my stripes on the bottom?

Talbots

I could do a couple of things with this skirt. I can wear a solid white top and a floral scarf or I could add a floral top.

Chico's

This top would look darling with the above striped skirt and I would have my two patterns with fresh colors  in a nice mix.

Let's try one more mix!

What about a striped scarf with a floral skirt?

 The Limited

This skirt will call for a solid top if I am going to add a scarf to the mix.

Target

Are you starting to see how an outfit can be re-interpreted to fit you body type and your own personal style?

Dressing in a style you are comfortable with is a trial and error proposition.

Don't limit yourself to wearing the same old thing, venture out a bit and try new things. We are only limited my our own imaginations.

 

 

BACKYARD UPDATE:Outdoor Cushions & Curtains

    

This weekend has officially opened the Summer season in our new backyard!! So excited to be able to use it for relaxing and entertaining.

As with all projects in, or around our homes we are always in process. It just goes along with our creative spirits. Can I get a cheer for we creative types!?

We have slowly been bringing out our furniture to the backyard. We actually have 3 sitting areas, the back brick patio, the back rectangle patio, and the side patio.

This year we are going to use what we have, but trust me we have plans for next year to make a few purchases of some chairs.

Right now we have white wicker with cobalt cushions trimmed in white on the back of the house. We also have our original kitchen set that is almost 47 years old on the brick patio. I really love it out there it gives me the look of  Charleston courtyard when I see it on the brick.

You can see I have it accented with black and white stripes. Both the cobalt and the stripes are also found inside our great room which looks out to the backyard, so there is a nice flow.

Now lets talk about the side patio where I had to make some decisions.....

You can see that we have two white wicker chairs that have striped cushions. These chairs can be pulled around the corner when we have guest for extra seating. 

We chose to put our little black wrought iron bistro set here because we can enjoy our breakfast out here in the mornings. These cute little chairs needed cushions to make them comfy.

It felt like a fairly easy decision, however there were some elements to consider. 

Important To Remember:

I never just look at one element when making a decision for my home. It is important to look at the long term & bigger picture.

Let's take a look at all the elements and my long term plans for this area.....

See this cute little chair? I have two of them that we plan on using on the side patio. They need a good coat of white paint, but notice the cushion, black with white trim!

Next is another one of my future plans that I need to consider.....

You will notice two elements on our last porch that I plan on using on our new side patio. The outdoor striped curtain and the mirror.

See I told you!! There are lots of elements to consider before plunging in and making a quick decision JUST based on the bistro set. I have to consider how it will all flow together.

Here is a close up of the bistro set. We purchased this several years ago at a garage sale. It came from the Boudin  bakery where they make wonderful French bread. It is very heavy since it is wrought iron. We got a great deal of only $50.

Now back to the cushions....

Since the little white chairs have black cushions with white trim I could use that, but then again, that would be WAY TOO MUCH black!!

I am using black and white awning striped curtains eventually, and that would make a nice compliment to this area that has all black and white.

Around the corner on the back patios I have the cobalt with accents of the black and white stripes so it all ties in together nicely.

In this picture you will notice a column at the end of the side patio. I would like to hang a striped curtain on each side of that column, tied back like I had on my previous home's porch.

I am going to wait until next year because we also have plans on adding an over hang on the back patio, and at this point I am not sure how that will tie into the side patio so it is best to wait before ordering the curtains. However, I have to keep them in mind when planning any changes.

I made my decision on the cushions, and they will be Sunbrella black and white awning stripe boxed round cushion with black trim top and bottom.

Here is the link if you need any cushions for your outdoor furniture. This company is so easy to work with and they have made all of my outdoor cushions in the past, and I am a repeat customer...

http://www.cushion.com/

In the past I found it hard to find the black and white awning stripe for curtains, the white was always sand, not white, however pottery barn does carry them now. 

I found a company that has the same product made in Sunbrella fabric for quite a bit less. I have not used this company before so I can not vouch for their quality, but when it is time for me to purchase mine, I will be trying this company.

Patio Umbrella Store

The cushions have been ordered, and I should have them in about three weeks!!

If you need me chances are I will be out in our new backyard relaxing, and enjoying the sound of our fountain!