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Monday, January 25, 2010

VOTE FOR EDDIE ROSS !!

Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge



Don't forget to vote for my friend Eddie Ross here. He has designed this amazing window for Elle Decor magazing at Bloomingdales. If you have a chance to read the narrative about who he designed this window for please check it out here. After I read his narrative I decided I want to hang out with this lady and do a lunch date and go shopping.  See if you feel the same way?

You Are About to See Dots Before Your Eyes


 But do not worry it is not your eyes!




We are all drawn to certain patterns for our home.  It usually will be a combination of the design itself and the colors.  By now it is no secret what colors I am drawn to if you have seen pictures of my home.  For those who have not, the colors I love are: green, black and white combinations; soft buttery yellows, blue and white combinations; and watermelon pink.  As you can see they are very springtime colors.  The natural guess would be that I would like florals!  I actually don't like too many floral patterns to decorate with.  I love real flowers in an arrangement or a botanical in a piece of art but not so much, in fabrics. The patterns that I do love are: stripes, checks and polka dots. I know they sound a bit cutesy for a rather Traditional home. 
In the next few posts I will be posting pictures of rooms done in these patterns in a grown-up and sophisticated manner. Today, I'll focus on Polka Dots, and how you can bring this pattern into your home in some unexpected ways.



I know I said unexpected, this definitely falls under that category,Yikes!!





How fun is this?  Love this idea of the upholstered double wide headboard. Notice the lights attached to the headboard for some nightime reading.





A very traditional room with older and some new pieces. The dots/circles make this room more fun and keep it from being too serious. Even the Staffordshire dogs on the bookcase have a somewhat dot motif on their backs. Notice the black dots in the gerbera daisies. Repeating patterns and colors in a room keeps it well balanced and pleasing to the eye.




Great big polka dots on this rug can still have a grown up look by repeating the same colors that are in the draperies.  Notice the repeated pattern in the open work of the desk chair, that is good design. The motif  is repeated at least three times in this room.  That is not a rule just a good guideline to follow. Can you see one more repeat of circles? (hint: it produces light!)




Look at the repeated use  of circles or dots in this room. How many do you count?
Don't forget the buttons on the sweater, coincidence? I think not. I think the stylist knew exactly what they were doing on this photo shoot.




This room just makes me smile. I know Erin at The House of Turqouise would love this room.





Fun pillows made with felt circles appliqued on a pillow.




This is a fun and cheerful nursery, with a repeated circle/dot motif.





Another fun room but still very grown-up.  Notice the rug and the great textures with the urns full of shells.




The circle motif here is a bit irregular in shape but it still reads as dots/circle. Notice the ottomans with the nailheads,yet another way to introduce polka dot/circles in a room in a more sophisticated manor.
(last two pictures from House Beautiful)




A darling childs rocker with a bunch of polka dots forming a line down one side, Love this!




What a great cupboard to add a fun and interesting look to this sparsely decorated room





Would you believe that these two pictures are actually of tile.  Very interesting!



Two fun chairs in poka dot patterns







Veranda magazine Jan.2010, photographer Antone Bootz


John Saladino chose to use  these wonderfully worn leather chairs in his design.  Notice the large nailheads?  What do they remind you of?  I doubt that he was thinking about polka dots but remember this is a way to get the look in a grown up way if you gravitate towards  dots or circles.


So if you like polka dots/circles as a pattern don't be afraid to introduce it in your rooms. Whether it is traditional, contemporary, country or modern. you can find a sophisticated way to use your favorite patterns.

I would like to leave you with this one and final picture








Too much of a good thing is just too much!!!!



"Enjoy the Process" Of: Adding your favorite patterns to your home in a fun and sophisticated way.


Kathysue

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Shopping List for Sense-sational Home Products

A Sense-sational Room


Since I wrote yesterday's post, "Sense-sational Home,"  I started thinking I should let my readers know some of the inexpensive items that I use in my home that help make it have the feeling I like it to have.
Scents are very important to me so I like to use a few cleaning products that leave behind a fresh scent.


In my bathtub and shower I like to use Method cleaner in the Eucalyptus and mint scent. It makes it smell like a spa.  After I wipe down my shower daily, I spritz this around the edge of the tile floor and it smells Yum!, very spa-like.



Another product I enjoy using is Mr. Clean, Lavender.  I started using  this product after a very close friend of mine told me about it . She wipes all her counters down with this and it smells divine.  I also mix it with Murphys oil soap to wash down all my wood cupboards in the kitchen.  It gives it just another layer of a delicious fragrance.  The Lemon Mr. Clean mixed with Murphys oil soap is also a very fresh fragrance.



The best,by far, lavender spray I have found is, Woods of Windsor. It last a long time and smells soft and lovely.  I use to find it at Homegoods very reasonably for $3.99 a spray can.  I would buy every can on the shelf.  I have not found it there in a long time.  It retails for $12 here.
  It is so wonderful that when I run out I will pay full retail for it. This site also offers free shipping so that is another plus.
When I have this spray my visitors are always asking me what is it in my house that smells so wonderful.

My friend Terri,  at La Dolfina blog uses Nellies Lavender Sticks from Crate and Barrel. These are actually for the laundry but she tucks them in hiding places in her bathroom and she says they are divine. I will have to try these out.  If you have a chance go by and visit Terri's blog, it is wonderful. She is a true treasure hunter and she finds wonderful treasures on her journey.  I get to go treasure hunting with her very soon, I am very excited!



Tea lights are always lit in my home even in the day time. If it is a gloomy wintry day I will light my tea lights. I always know it is time to change decorative accessories from the summer to winter when I start lighting candles in the house.  I have noticed it seems to fall right around when  football season starts.  I purchase my tea lights at Bed Bath and Beyond.  They come in a bag of 100 for $5.99. They always have a 20% coupon so they are totally affordable and bring so much ambience for so little money.  As far as scented pillar candles I don't burn those in my home.  I have found that the oil they use to scent the candle seems to smoke.  I have heard that the soy base candles don't do that but I have not tried those myself . I usually buy cream colored candles without a scent.



Pottery Barn seems to have the prettiest faux throws .  They are not inexpensive but you don't want anything that is faux to look cheap.  I think these are well worth the price. They are on sale right now, so if you are considering one,now is the time to buy.  What a wonderful texture for your room and what a delight to wrap up in all this softness.


This faux mink throw looks pretty lush and it is a litlle less expensive at Overstock.  I think one in white would look great in just about any room.



As for the ambiance of music , I realize it is totally subjective.  I have sirius radio on my stereo and I have soft moodscapes playing throughout the day.  My morning routine is make coffee, turn on all the ambient lights (would you believe I have nine ligths to turn on?) , light some tea lights and then turn on my music. I am good to go for the day!

I will leave you with one more "Smell Good," that I like to use.  I was asked if I like plug-ins?  The only one that I have found that I like is sold at Bed Bath and Beyond, by Yankee candle company.  The fragrance is clean and fresh, Sage Citrus


These will run about $12 for two refills, I try to watch when they are on sale and then use that ever faithful 20% coupon.

I hope this helps to show you it does not have to cost a lot of money to bring items to your home that will make it a Sense-sational Home.

"Enjoy the Process," Of: Trying new items to bring comfort to your home.

Kathysue