Accessories

Accessories are a very important part of my job. Too many, and your home will look cluttered. Too few looks boring and impersonal. While every home and client is different, there are a few accessories that I like to have on hand! Regardless of your style, these favorite items of mine can find a place in your house!

BASKETS!!


Curved Basket Collection, www.westelm.com

I love, LOVE baskets!! In a bookcase, on a table, master bedroom, study..baskets can go anywhere! And bonus, there are extremely useful. Anything from fruit to toys, magazines to bath salts! Who doesn't love a good basket?!

LANTERNS!!


Park Hill Windowpane Lantern, www.potterybarn.com

You can find these fun accessories in any magazine now! They are everywhere. We love them on the dining table or even on the coffee table. With so many available, we have found them in almost every style! Painted wooden ones for country french, silver or black simple for modern.

TRAYS!!


White Wooden Cut-Out Tray, www.pier1.com

Trays are a wonderful item. We often put them on the dining table to keep your candles, lanterns or jars all together. You will also find them on the coffee table or even in the bathroom for your perfume, lotion and jewelry box! Larger sizes can be a challenge to find, but a great resource for us has been Pier 1! (www.pier1.com)

BOXES!!


Jasper Boxes - Set of 3, www.homedecorators.com

Stack them with books, knick-knacks or even other boxes! Just like baskets, these go great in any room and are super practical! You can find these anywhere in some great options! I especially love mirrored ones!

Now you know! These items go with us to almost every job we do! Any style, any room... these versatile pieces are great items to have in your home! And BONUS, they are inexpensive, so changing them out for something new won't break the bank!

Until next week!

Typography

Script, bold, tiny, big, typewriter, lists, sayings, French and English!
If you haven't noticed, there has been a massive wave of type in decorating! You can put it on anything from walls to chairs... pillows to windows! We love it! It is a fun new way to express yourself in your home. However, don't overdo it! If you can talk too much, so can your home! Be subtle, not screamy! :)
Here are a few ways this blogger has been inspired by type!

The first piece of art is from Ikea (www.ikea.com) and the last two are from Pottery Barn (www.potterybarn.com).





You can even put it DIRECTLY on the wall! Caution: use sparingly!
These are from www.allmodern.com




Another great way to bring in some script is on an accent chair. LOVE this one from Home Decorator's Collection (www.homedecorators.com)



And finally, my favorite way to bring in some type... PILLOWS! LOVE these from Pottery Barn (www.potterybarn.com)!




As always, I hope this inspires you to try something new!
Go get some type!
Until next week!

What's the trend? Industrial

While we strive to give all of our clients' homes a timeless look, we do love to incorporate the latest trends when we can. The current trend we LOVE is "industrial." Bare bones, vintage, simple pieces. These things can be brought into any home, from traditional to modern. They are all great conversation pieces and create an interesting design. Right now, Restoration Hardware (restoration hardware.com) is all over the industrial look!

Check out these items that we love!

These items are from Restoration Hardware. www.restorationhardware.com








We also like this stool from West Elm. www.westelm.com



And yet another great example, this end table from Home Decorator's Collection. www.homedecorators.com



Flip through any decor magazine and you will see this creative trend!
Hope this inspires you!
Until next week!

What's your style?

So often someone asks us, "What style is your house?" and some of you have no idea how to respond. Style? Do I have a style? Do I even know what I like? There is an easy way for you to figure this out. Knowing your style will help you not only answer this question, but help your designer, if you use one, or in buying and designing your home yourself.

There are so many different styles to choose from! Traditional, Modern, Transitional, Tuscan, Country French, Eclectic, Old World and Metropolitan ... just to name a few. So how do you narrow it down? I have a simple exercise to help you figure out your style!

First, get a binder, a pen, and some sticky notes. Next you need a variety of options: internet and a printer, magazines and retail catalogues. Go through magazines and catalogues first and tear out pages of things you like. It doesn't have to be the entire picture, it can be just one item. Take your sticky notes and label what it is about that picture that you like. Put that in your binder! After you've gone through some magazines, try the internet. Use your favorite search engine to find images you can print out. Try searching words like "design ideas" or specific rooms like "bedroom designs". You can even try searching some of those style names I listed before. As before, put it in your binder and use a sticky note to label what you like about the photo.

After your done, look through the images. You should be able to see a pattern. You may find that a specific color pattern is there (you really like purple accents or fall colors). Or you may see that you are fond of antiques and vintage patterns. Can't see a pattern? Try showing someone else and maybe they can see what you can't.

Try this little trick and see what new ideas and inspirations you can come up with for your home!

Until next week!