High vs. Low

I am always impressed when I see a high-end designed room created for less.  While, I think you can usually tell which is high-end, I'm amazed with the resources available on a low-budget and a person's creativity.  Creating a room on a low budget without compromising style is a talent.  Check out this room created on both a high and low budget....

No. 1

No. 2

In your opinion, which is the high-end room and why?

To see more high vs. low rooms, go here.

Lauren Muse of Muse Interiors

This past weekend my one of my favorite Aunts visited from Texas.  It's one of those relationships where you laugh 90% of time - she's a hoot and I love her.  Anyway, I took her out to Woodbury, CT known for their beautiful antiques.  While out there, I picked up a copy of this month's Connecticut Cottages & Gardens and saw a feature of a beautiful home done by Lauren Muse of Muse Interiors.  I was impressed.  UPDATE:  Christine has brought it to my attention that this is Sue's home from the blog, The Zhush!  To see more photos of her home, please go here.  

Do you notice the painting above the fireplace?  It's by New Orleans artist Amanda Stone Talley.  

I love a bathtub right smack in front of a large picture window.  I also like  the Dash and Albert rug paired with the Mismosa pattern wallpaper by Cole & Son for Lee Jofa.  Of course, how could you not notice the monogrammed towels from Leontine Linens.  

I believe this is a different home - love the striped walls and the turquoise tufted ottoman that sits underneath the console.  

Love this sunroom below- a mix of wicker, rattan and bamboo with vibrant patterns.  To see more of Lauren's portfolio, go here.  

I also would like to thank the very talented Jenny, from Little Green Notebook, for the kind shout-out today!  I'm sure everyone in blogosphere has seen her blog, but if for some reason you haven't, you're missing out!!  Go there now!

Mary McDonald on OKL

Did you get a chance to preview Mary McDonald's tastemaker tag sale on OKL this past weekend?  Wow! I saved nearly every photo for inspiration.  She is so insanely talented....

I'm dying to get her book, Mary McDonald Interiors: The Allure of Style!  Here are some of her pieces on OKL that caught my eye!

While, I don't have $800 to spend on a console, this would be such a fun DIY project.  I love how the stripes add so much whimsy to the console.   If you'd put this in your entryway, you'd be making one dramatic entrance!

How fun would it be to add these identical raspberry lacquered gray flanneled wall chairs next to a console in an entryway!  I am dying over those matching decorative pillows!!

This used to be in Mary's Kings Road guest house!  I love the cast brass legs with ribbon detail.  So unique.

Did you notice that this was her chair used in the domino picture of her office?    

Boy, do I love these bamboo demilune tables - what a find!

And, I also had to throw in these painted bamboo chairs - how fun would these in a sunroom?  Heck, I'd even use them in my living room!

Honestly, I could have added every piece of furniture she had for sale in this blog post - it is that good.  It is no wonder that every item is sold out!  Wouldn't you just love to go shopping with her?

Suggested ID Reading

Today, I thought I'd share the suggested reading list our ID instructor recommended to us (in no particular order):

How beautiful is this cover?  Carol Joyce's Textile Design:  The Complete Guide to Printed Textiles for Apparel and Home Furnishing.

Victoria Finlay's Color A Natural History of the Palette

Jackie Cole's Osborne & Little Style

Melanie Paine's Fabric Magic

Michele Bernhardt's Colorstrology

Domino....Need I say more?

Francis Ching's Building Construction illustrated

Francis Ching's Architectural Graphics

So, I have only heard and read one book, Domino (go figure).  I'm so interested in checking out these other books - have you read or heard of any of these?

Spring Fever

If you haven't heard of Party Resources, you're missing out.  Kate has a wonderful blog which is all about entertaining and all the beautiful details that really make an event so special.

Today, you can find me over at Party Resources guest blogging!  

Interior Design 101

Think grammar school.  Pencils, check. Erasers, check. Graph paper, check.  Tracing paper, check.  Architectural scale, check.  Glue stick, check.  You get the picture!  I finally bit the bullet and enrolled in an interior design class at a local college.  I think this is the first time I have taken a class and really (and I mean really) just enjoyed it.  It felt natural although intimidating because I have no experience, but that is why I am there, right? 

The last 30 minutes of class, our instructor handed out her favorite design shelter magazines and told us to browse them and rip out anything that inspires us.  I was like, for real?  I mean this is what I do for ultimate pleasure and now I get to do in class!!  Love it!!

The instructor, an established interior designer, shared a lot of 'sound' advice and many of her sources or as she calls them her "secrets".  It was fun and I'm looking forward to going back next week. 

For homework, we need to pick a room in our house that we want to re-do and the sky is the limit (in terms of budget).  Do you know how foreign that is to me?  I am so use to sourcing items that are budget friendly, I think I am going to get over-whelmed with all the beautiful and amazing furnishings out there. 

All photos from At Home in Fairfield County

But, hey, I'm not complaining.  This is going to be so fun!!  I picked our dining room!!  Woohoo...

Vacay Awaits!

Over the past few weeks I have been on and off-again feeling blah.  I'm still not completely over my illness and I am completely fed up with this cold weather.  How is this for a happy and cheery post?  So after a good deal of searching, we have finalized plans for a week vacation in Florida at a beachfront condo just north of West Palm Beach.  I can't wait to get my body temperature above 90 F!

It's not until April, but now I've got something to look forward to - and I just now got to get back to feeling 100%.  And, my apologies for the lack of design content lately.  My creative juices have been dried up by my upset stomach and low body temeperature!  I think I am almost back - bear with me!!  Cheers!