I created this sunny palette for a bedroom inspiration board. My own bedroom is one that I’d love to redecorate. Thus in the coming weeks, I’m going to be digging up  delicious wall paint colors and proposing different palettes. This one is so feminine and pretty. I also love the natural linen that I found from ThatFunkyBoutique’s shop on Etsy.

That awesome coffee filter garland is an awesome DIY project from the blog of Pamela Garrison. I’m thinking of making a similar holiday decoration from cupcake wrappers and twine. Will post pics once I’ve crafted it up.

Did you see the natural wood Matroyshka dolls? I love the color splash that the red headed dolls bring to the room. I do think that natural ones posses a certain je ne sais quoi. I read about them on Apartment Therapy, where they are meant to be a DIY project with paint!

I picture all bedding and curtains in soothing neutrals and soft linen…I’m going to call it ~the Duchess’ suite!

by Sri Chinmoy

I have felt so lucky to be surrounded by the warmth of friends and good food this holiday weekend. Our simple dinner felt like a complete success. In a vegetarian twist, we made ratatouille and pizza. Plus, apple pie with a nut crust for dessert.

Today, I’m off to see the holiday homes from Heritage Square Museum in South Pasadena. They are old Victorians completely done up in the spirit of the season.

I can’t wait to share them with you later this week!

I know I’ve been teasing you all with the Guest Room pics that I have been working on.

In fact, in a September post I released the inspiration board for this project. Well, alot has changed since then. The design has evolved into something far more sophisticated (as things do) and now our board includes a Lucite desk, black nightstand, and inkblot art.

I am partnering with Annie May of Yolksy on this project and here is what she had to say about our design process:

“The client had a suzani she purchased a couple years ago, when we were working on phase 1 of the design of her house. We decided to make this suzani into the coverlet for the queen size bed. It turned out even better than I could’ve imagined. We purchased a high thread count white sheet set and had a seamstress add the border with the mitered edges, so it would fall nicely over the corners or fold perfectly to wrap under the mattress. The adorable blue velvet pouf accent pillow looks so great with the Suzani”

Annie found Kerry Cassil’s Fall 2009 collection of fabrics on the windows which really pulls out the blue in the suzani. It was our second choice to Blue Chevron fabric or Ditto Blue from Madeline Weinrib. We couldn’t justify the costs of the Weinrib fabric for this room, so the ikat panels from Cassil really worked! Love them!  We added sheer linen panels from West Elm underneath for layering and a little sunlight.

The fab mid-century nightstand is from TINI, one of my favorite stores to shop at this year. Last year, I found myself constantly checking their online shop and I’m so glad they now have a showroom close-by!

To find out more about the bed, artwork, and accessories visit Annie’s site for the full scoop.

I will also be sharing a boy’s room in this same residence once all is finished up!

If you could capture the phrase “love and light” in a sculpture what would that look like?

Speaking of which, I love light. These amorphous glass works by the world famous Dale Chihully are light transmitting sculptures at their best!

Once upon a time, I sold a Chihully piece for a sumptuous fee to a lucky owner in Laguna Beach who will remain nameless.

This next one is meant to set the mood for the weekend, which I hope you will all enjoy with wonder and bliss.

A warm light sculpture from the beach in Mexico.

Feliz fin de semana!

This week has been a wild ride. It started with an installation day for our client’s Guest Room and ended with a share of my vintage wallpapered nightstands on Apartment Therapy.

If you haven’t seen them already, they’re worth the trip!

Rita Cirkse, a Latvian artist, as her jewelry shop name ALatvian, suggests makes some very unique accessories.

As Part II of the Structured Chaos, Shop and Swap, and Blog, I signed up for a international artist to swap goods with, Rita has sent me samples from each of her 3 shops.

I took the liberty of pairing some of her warm brown beads with round wooden beads of my own as I try to decide what to make with her beautiful supplies.

In addition to a owning a jewelry shop, she also sells natural stones and ceramic beads as seen above.

She sent me some these sparkling green beads. I think I’m going to try to make some earrings out of them, perhaps they will become Christmas gifts.

Or I could keep them. In my opinion, green is a color that looks great on redheads, blondes, and brunettes.

I love the shades of purple in these Mayan earrings!

I am so happy to have been able to share Rita’s work with you all today.

Is it shallow to love a sofa? Wait, don’t answer that.

Everyone keeps telling me that there are other fish in the sea…

The Hutton just calls to me. The perfect shade of light turquoise, soft tufted velvet seat cushions, soy based filling, double wrapped cushions, ebony stained legs, Made in Virginia by (gasp) furniture makers…help me I’m sinking in!

Another sunny day! Makes me want to bask in the glow of this farmyard. Picnic anyone?!

I’ve been serving up the Shaker style lately and adoring the simplicity of the lines and the natural beauty of the wood.

These next pieces remind that well made furnishings are sometimes best when left with the bare bones carefully polished.

Photo courtesy of Apartment Therapy

A room in the city. A table on castors for the urban shaker.

Image Courtesy of CocoandMe

A shaker bench infused with the classic windsor rod back stands alone or pairs nicely with a few throw pillows to soften it up.

What I like most about the Shaker’s is their craftmanship. Their philosophy about quality which defies the IKEA mentality where everything is disposable and falls apart quickly (don’t get me wrong, I do still shop at IKEA). Shaker furniture is and was made to stand up to the test of time. This bench found at ShakerStyle featuring tenon to socket joinery.

Later this week, I will share a sofa obsession of mine that I spotted this past weekend at the Room and Board showroom. It fits in perfectly with the quality over quantity philosophy that I am fixated on!