"SALE ALERT"

From Ballard Designs catalog This light fixture sold for $139 and is now $79.99

My friend Terri from La Dolfina has done a post of her laundry room where she has this light fixture and when I saw this I fell in love with it.  I can see hanging an article of clothing straight from the dryer on that special little hook. Be sure and check her blog out here.

Another Ballard Designs darling! This wicker fixture sold for $129 and is now on Sale for $29.99

This is the bargain of the day!!

This light reminds me of a birdcage. I love the look of this, also from Ballard

This originally sold for $159-$189 Now it is on sale for $59.99-$69.99

One last sale item, this is from Grandin Road catalog . This Ikat bedding comes in a king including the pillows, it was $299 and now is on Clearance for $69.00

I hope some of you can take advantage of these great sale items.

"Enjoy the Process" Of: Getting a Good Deal

Kathysue

INFORMATIVE VIGNETTE

I know all of you out in blogland are very creative when it comes to making a vignette.  I have seen many lovely and fun vignettes in my travel throughout blogland.  I am not talking today about that decorative type of vignette. I am talking about an "Informative Vignette" which is something that I have had my clients do as part of their design consult. This is a tool that has helped me and my clients really get in touch with what they will truly love in their homes.

Are you ready to make an "Informative Vignette" ? 

• First, clear your mind of your home and what you think you want it to eventually look like. Ready?
•  Now, think of five items you have had for more than five years that you absolutely love.  It can be an accessory from your home, a dish from your cupboard, or even an old favorite sweater or a pair of shoes. 
• Put all of these things in an open clear spot and step back. What do you see?  Colors, textures, styles, theme?  These are the elements that you need to have in your home to make your home, Truly YOUR'S.
  

I am going to show you some of the items that I would put in my "Informative Vignette"

This is my entry hall, it is actually is showing several of my favorite pieces.

1) The white and black marble flooring.

2) The French antique black marble top table.

3) The white wainscotting and moulding.

4) The green and white striped wall paper.

5) The blue and white ceramic pot.

Now what does this tell me?

1)  I need to have architecture in my home for interest.

2) The mouldings need to be painted white or cream

3) I will have to have some older pieces in the mix of my furniture

4) I like a simple elegant style

5) Touches of blue and white need to be in my rooms

6) Clean lines will be more pleasing to my eye

7) Sharp contrast in colors usually with the use of black and white

8) Fresh colors

9) I need a bit of shine with metals or mirrors

Now go back to the top of this post and you will see a room that meets most of the elements that I will love in a room.  See if you can pick out a few of them.

It is very important that you are really honest with yourself in the process of pulling your items together. Sometimes we talk ourselves into maybe the latest trend or something we have seen in a friend's home.  My goal for myself and for YOU is to have you really understand your own personal style. I hope this little exercise will help you in discovering the true YOU for your home.

"Enjoy the Process" of:  Discovering what your home needs to make it truly YOU!

Kathysue

BTW: Today is the last day to vote for Eddie Ross! Be sure and Vote!!

Here 

Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge

Design Quirks or Sensibilities?

Love,Love this entire room!

In writing  post for my blog I am discovering I have quite a few ."Design Quirks."  Have you ever sat down and written  your own quirks?  You know the things You HAVE to have in your home to make it your very OWN.  The way you have to always have a certain area look, or the world will fall off it's axis!

Actually what "Quirks" turn out to be is your personailty coming out in your home.  Quirks are the elements or the design sensibilities that you have as a homeowner.  I am going to share with you , a few of my "Quirks."


I have to have a clean kitchen counter!  I have a rather large kitchen bar area and if it has anything on it I have to clean it off immediately.  I love for it to look open and uncluttered.  Keeping this in mind, I need a kitchen that has enough counter space to allow wide open spaces. Here are some pictures of kitchens that would more than meet this little Quirk requirement:

Give Me Wide Open Space

I love all the wide open spaces on these counter tops. Notice there is not just one island but TWO and look at its shape.  This is a really interesting mix.

Another great and open bar area, really cute bar stools, love that check.

These counters have some items place on them but they are not overly clutered  The accessories  give this kitchen warmth and style.

Nothing needs to be said here except," Perfection!"

Again there are a few items placed on the bar but it has an open uncluttered look. This more than meets my Quirk requirement.

Talk about wide open spaces!!!

Let Their Be Light

There has to be light in my home.  If it is a dreary day out, I have lights on.  If it is a sunny day out, I have lights on!  Good lighting is key to me.  Unfortunately it is a costly little Quirk when we get our Electric bill. Joni at Cote de Texas has a wonderful post on sconces and how she always leaves her sconces on even in the daytime and also tries to talk her clients into doing so.  She would not have to talk me into it because I am of the same school of thought on that issue.

Last but not least by any means is Joni's wonderfully designed living room with all of her lights on.  My kind of girl!

I Can't Breathe! I Need Air!

I have to have open and airy rooms with lots of natural light spilling in to the rooms from open windows. I am not one that dresses my windows with heavy draperies, I like to think of the windows as a frame to the beautiful view outside.  I will often have my windows open to let in lots of fresh air.  I have been known to open them even on cooler days just to air out my home and let the air circulate.  If it is too terribly cold or rainy outside I turn on my whole house fan for a short period of time to circulate the still air in my home, I told you I have Quirks.  Have you noticed that a couple of these Quirks are costing my hubby some money?

Open windows, Aaaah! Notice the dark steel framed windows and french doors.  Many home owners are changing their white window frames out for these dark steel beauties.

Can't you just smell the fresh air and feel the gentle breeze? Again I say Aaaaaah!

No window dressing here just beautiful windows and lots of light.  I am loving this Greek Key floor tile (note to self, future blog post,Greek Key designs)  Another fun and interesting idea is look at the mirror spacer between the two cupboards. (keep this in mind for future projects)

Lots and Lots of Windows, Love it!!! Notice the draperies pulled to the farthest edge of the window. If you are going to drape a window for softening the edges or for privacy, make sure you have room to pull it over to let in as much light as possible.

Gorgeous!

I Hear Music!
I like a little background music playing in a room.  If there is not music playing the house feels dead to me.  Nothing jarring or loud,just a soft background of music, You know the kind you hear in the spa. This will require a nice sound system and a good resource for the kind of music I like.

My Strangest Quirk

When I clean my kitchen sink out I have to dry out the sink, make sure the faucet is polished and then......The faucet has to be lined up straight in the middle,not to the right or the left but in the middle. Okay this is just a little weird but what can I say?  Trust me I realize this is probably the strangest of all of my Quirks but let me show you some examples of straight vs. to the side. I will let you be the judge. Which looks better to you? 

To The Side! Oh No!!

Straight! I rest my case.

Straight! YES!!!

This pains me since this is one of my favorite kitchens, but what were they thinking? It is leaning to the left.  They do get bonus points for the open window.

Leaning to the left, what a shame.

Two sinks, Two faucets nice and straight!

Have you ever thought about your own litte Quirks I hope I am not the only one out there with Quirks or maybe we should rename them, "Design Sensibilities".  In making a list of your quirks you might find some requirements or elements you need to change in your home.  Let me know what you come up with  I would love for you to share , some of your Quirks Design Sensiblilities with me and the other Loyal Readers.

"Enjoy the Process," Of: Discovering some of your Design Sensibilities.

Kathysue

I just found out that Vicki at Room Service- Decorating 101 just posted her own Design Quirks.  Go and take a look.  This could be fun if others would post their Quirks throughout blogland.