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Saturday, March 17, 2012

IDEAS TO PONDER ON A SATURDAY!






Saturdays are great days for thinking about fun ideas and projects you would like to do. 

When it is cold, and rainy out it is even better to be in the house all cozy, and warm while ideas spin around in your head.

It is cold and rainy here in sunny California so I thought I would give you some fun ideas to dance around in your creative minds.

This first idea would be a really fun way to embellish cupcakes for your Easter table…….




There are no directions on how long or what temperature to heat them in the oven, but I think low and slow is the best policy, like you do for most fruit that you would like to dry. Who knew a pineapple would make such a pretty flower and the upside is it is edible too.

In the winter we all have our houses closed up and they can become a bit stale. Try this on your stove and your home will have a wonderful fresh, clean fragrance…….



A few sprigs of rosemary, lemon slices and a teaspoon of vanilla in a pot and let it simmer on the stove. This is a recipe that they use at William Sonoma Home stores, and we all love how that shop smells, Yum!!

If you can’t find a bed-skirt to fit your bed, or you don’t really like the look of a bed-skirt this next idea is for you…….

You can use what ever fabric you love and upholstery the bed-skirt. Staple gun and Velcro strips are the answer here!! This would be an easy and fast project for a Saturday!!

Spring flowers also bring along Spring weeds. How about a natural way to get rid of your unsightly weeds? Vinegar!! Who knew?


For all of you Ikea lovers, if you would like to embellish the simple look of some of their furniture pieces and elevate them a bit, try some of these…….


AND THESE……




My Overlays…..



My Overlays is a company that makes these wonderful light weight wood overlays that can be applied to just about any surface.


So now you have some fancy fretwork, and legs to totally change the look of a simple Ikea piece.


Since Saturday is a great day to do lots of pinning, be sure and go to this website to read some tips on pinning…….







I will leave you with a little tip I discovered while pinning away the other day...

In order to give the proper credit when pinning from another website I discovered by copying the credit information, and then hitting pin-it the info will automatically come up in the description box. Who knew?!!



Have a wonderful weekend, doing projects or just thinking about doing projects like I am going to do!!




“Enjoy the Process!” Of:

Doing as little or as much
as you like during the
weekend.
Posted by Kathysue at 10:45:00 AM 22 comments

Thursday, March 15, 2012

What Colors Will YOU Be Using On Your Easter Table?

  



It all started with laundry. Yes, you heard right. I was doing laundry, and I had just put my sheets on the kitchen table to fold them.

I stepped away for a moment and looked back at the table. I immediately became inspired by the color combination I was viewing.
                  

I have the softest, palest set of blue sheets. The backdrop was my green and white striped wallpaper.



The picture that was painted by this color combination was so pretty, soft, and soothing to my eye. I immediately said to myself, “ This is the color I am using for my Easter table this year!”
I told you I am drawn in by color.

I discovered this a couple of months ago. The next step is to gather inspirational images to inspire me further. Here are some of the images that I have saved………..


Look at all the variations of blue in the natural color of these eggs.



Beautiful eggs from Araucana chickens. Blues and greens are always so soothing aren’t they?


Source: bhg.com via Kathy Sue on Pinterest

More blue and green! What a darling garland for Easter. Simple not too  much going on, just simple colors, lines and texture!! Lovely!



More simplicity. Soft blues and linen colored eggs, beautiful!



Blue green eggs, wood and moss tones of a nest, glimmer of silver and the elegance of simple white flowers.



Soft green cupboards with beautiful domed blue and green Wedgwood cake plates.





Rough hewn wood table, pewter egg cups with covers, and eggs nestled in some spaghnum moss.


Source: bhg.com via Kathy Sue on Pinterest

I really like these framed bird eggs. Again, blue, white and green, very pretty indeed.

Source: bhg.com via Kathy Sue on Pinterest

Blue and green eggs with flowers added to the mix, so fresh and inviting.



Love lots of white with the pale blue.
Let’s see if I can find more of all blue and white, because I am kind of liking just the two colors of blue and white……


Very, very pretty, maybe a vase or two too many for my taste, but I do enjoy all white flowers in a pretty blue vase.













Easter is April the 8th this year so we only have 24 more days to get ready!!

Yikes, I might have started thinking about this early(2months ago), but I had better make some concrete plans if I am going to get it done!!!
So will it be pale blue, white and green?



OR
Pale blue and white?


What colors will you be using for your holiday table this Easter?

I will do more post about what other elements I will be adding to my tablescape for this years table. Come back and read what I am thinking!



“Enjoy the Process!” Of:
Designing a beautiful holiday table for your family to enjoy at Easter!

 
Posted by Kathysue at 1:00:00 AM 11 comments

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Where Does YOUR Inspiration Come From?

 





If you were to ask ten different people where do they get their inspiration you might get an answer like…….

“Everywhere, I look everywhere for inspiration!!”

I think that is a safe answer, but I think it actually goes a little deeper than that.



In working with clients for over 30 years I have learned to watch their facial expressions, and body language when talking with them about design.



I have watched what makes my clients light up, or become inspired. Sometimes I will see that light turn on when I am describing a room to them, sometimes it is when they see a picture of a room, or an actual object.



On shopping trips when I show my client a possibility of an element for their room, they will either light up like a kid on Christmas morning, or look at it with a tilted head, as if to say, "It is Okay!Sometimes  they will glaze over as if to say, “Well, she is the designer so I guess it is a good piece.”



As a designer you always want your client to light up, and become inspired. It is important to understand body language, and your client in order to best serve them in the design of their room.

You as a homeowner also need to be in tune with what inspires YOU!. 

What makes you smile like a kid at Christmas when you see it? What draws you in to take a closer look? Basically what inspires you?!!

Are you inspired by color, texture, shape, pattern or style?





I would venture to say it is probably one, or two of the above words that  will first draw you in, or inspire you. 


Personally I am almost always drawn in by color first. Once I establish that I love the color I will then look at the pattern, and then the style of the object, or room.


I discovered this early on in my teen years when shopping with my Mom.

As the day would go on we would start to notice that everything we really liked, or were drawn too that day would be a particular color. It would be a blue day, a green day, or a yellow day. One color would stand out among all the others.


Have you ever noticed what draws you into a room design, or a particular an element in a room?

 Next time you go shopping stop, and think about what drew you to certain items.


You know how it is, you are walking throughout a store, and all of the sudden you see, “IT!” you immediately have to go and look at it closer. What was it that drew you in?


I have a friend that is always drawn in by the texture that is a room, or an element. If it has texture, and looks like it could tell a story she will be drawn to it.



Another friend  is drawn in by the color red! If it is red she will have to go over,  pick it up, and examine it!


Source: google.com via Julie on Pinterest

If I go shopping with another friend, she will inevitably be drawn in by the smooth gleaming texture of porcelain pieces.


Pattern is another element that will inspire people. One friend in particular is drawn in by anything paisley or plaid. Ralph Lauren is her man!! We all know how well Mr. Lauren uses plaids and paisleys.



What do you notice yourself being drawn in/inspired by, color, texture, shape, or style? I think if  you really stop and think about it you will be able to zero in on one of the above elements.



Once you discover what draws you in, you will have one or two of the key elements that is important for you to have in your interiors.

In all of the above images which key elements drew you in the most?

“Enjoy the Process!” Of:

Becoming inspired by:

 COLOR, TEXTURE, SHAPE OR STYLE!!
 
 
Posted by Kathysue at 9:23:00 AM 19 comments
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