A Little Holiday Inspiration for Your Table - Compliments of Me!

http://south.wcsh6.com/news/news/87746-simple-ways-decorate-your-holiday-table

The Beauty Repurposing

There is NO character in a space filled with massed produced "mitchy/matchy" components or that of inferior quality. The truth hurts in that cheap reproductions will not increase in their value over time or that product made where industries lack stringency in craftsmanship will endure.

Furnishings & Elements of this nature will surely end up in a garbage dump and will further attest to what many think of our American Society as disposable! 

This past September the 150th birthday of my man William Morris was celebrated.  I adhere to his mantra  ("Have Nothing In Your Homes, you find not to be beautiful nor purposeful").

Beauty & Purpose can be accomplished in "repurposing".  Life's Little Luxuries are not as easily attained as in the past and for some, whether on a shoe string budget or totally bored with their  space sorround "repurposing" is the way to go and for these reasons:

• It's organic & green in its approach
• It's relatively simple-one just needs some time, elbow grease & a sense of creativity
• It brings back something old, worn & tired back to life
• It's economical - yet drips with taste
• It is customized and NO ONE else has anything like it (umm, mass produced - poo poo)
• It's totally VOGUE

With beauty in the eye of the beholder - seek out some inexpensive, quality treasures and "re-birth" upcycle them and make a space within your home as a proud representation of who you are and in that NO ONE else will have anything like yours!

Best!

The Beauty of Neutral

Neutral is an emotion and is a design sense.  For the emotional, it is "unbiased" and associated with a peaceful mindset.  For the designer in one, it is a world of "non-committal beauty", neither here nor there, yet distinctive & beautiful.  Textures, mono-chromatic color schemes, architectural elements making it definitive, speaking casual elegance, style & class!
While impartial to color, ornateness - a calm is instated within when the beauty of a "neutral" world is seen & lived!
Life is a fraction insane, with commitments, work schedules, family issues & the world overall - Wars, dysfunction amongst most, global catastrophies, animal neglect & abuse and the like enough reducing one to wonder what are we becoming as a culture. 
Consider being neutral with your design sense, lifestyle and mindset of which you will be nothing other than rewarded!
Best!

A Forst Beauty!

Barefoot Contessa knows what we are talkin about!

I breathe - actually?!

Hmm....A Stylist for Hire

After engaging in a conversation, with one of my favorite peeps in the industry in these parts, a seed was sown."Why you do such an amazing job of decking it all out from a space to your ensemb' - A Stylist you certainly are". 

Never thinking of such as being just that .. indeed it is so and with that... if there is a need for some signature style to your space, event, or even a get up.... Call on Me for Hire!

Bringing the Outdoors In - Garden Style!

Since it is perpetual perciptiation in these parts, I have been inspired to add to my forum of "self-help" inspired decor tips. 
Best!
Check out the latest at:
http://www.examiner.com/interior-decorating-in-portland-me/garen-style-bringing-the-outdoors-in

Frankly... I do give a dang!

I just learned today what Plantation Style is.  As for living on the East Coast, like farthest North, and while there are some lovely "Coastal Homes" here, the one thing most lack for me is the romantic and timeless elements that come with Plantation Style.

Plantation's style encompass any and everything from humble cottages to embellished over-the-top structures, as in which they were occupied and matched by just those personalities, back-in-the-day!  The grounds of these homes were kept, their inner core, clean and tidy.  Whether humble or ornate, Plantation style does not require fuss.

What Plantation style does encompass and represents to me, is what I like to see in homes and for elements of design.  Timeless, quality-like, classy and a little juxtaposing of the blast, from the past mixed with the new!

The facades of plantation homes are either adorned with brick or craft fully applied with Stucco.  These structures speak of a time, when there was time for sitting and living in the moment and appreciating the "riches" one possessed. 

Porches were "proper" and were also the outdoor living space of the day.  Lined up were pots of beautiful plants, lush foliage surrounded the porches and dotted the yard; linens were used on outdoor tables for an afternoon tea or a mint julep or lemonade.  Fineities were used, fineities were possessed, whether one was a wealthy landowner or lands worker.

Natural materials were infused into living spaces, even before GREEN was.  Sisal, sea grass and/or animal hides covered beautifully planked or tiled floors and materials for window treatments were light and airy - like that of a gauze type fabric.

True elements of plantation style are that of items such as:  shutters, pineapples, animal prints, shells, nautical paraphernalia, exotic animals.

Where I reside these elements can certainly be tied in with our Coastal Chic Elements and amazingly talented artisans offer; however, the one thing I can say for certain is that in most parts of our society, we purchase items on impulse from "landfill stores" that do not yield to timeless, nor quality.  We do not sit and engage in an afternoon tea, nor do we keep our homes or yards tidy or even consider using our fineities we possess, nor live in the moment - and for this FRANKLY, as a person and designer, I DO GIVE A DANG!

  

What Is In A Signature Space?

You possess a unique style of penmanship in the execution of your signature.  Somehow, that execution states who you are in your writing style.  For instance, if it is a jumbled, undecipherable scribble, you may be a person whose characteristics are hurried, busy and a bit disorganized.  If, on the other hand, it is "flowery" as my Mum terms mine, than it may be reflective of creativity, ornate and/or a bit eccentric.

Signature Style in your space can be reflective of all the things that interest one, from travels to collectibles, in that there really is NO right or wrong - just an adherence to continuity in its presentation.

One of my favorite Designers, Ms. Kelly Hoppen, from Great Britain is a gal to be admired.  She is infamous for the juxtaposition of unusual materials, like velvet n steel.  Something so soft a lush, paired with something so cold and shiny.  Imagine.

Just as if you are known, for your funky clothing, cosmetic applications, jewelry or personality - it is reflective of your Signature. 

Rules for "Signature Spaces" are:

.Mix the Old and New
.Infuse Texture and Color and always a Dash of BLACK
.Always think "ju-ju" - energies in your space.  Have crystals, flowers, music and air friendly candles to spark the wonders of the GOOD energies.
.Care for your possessions, no matter what their age.  Just as you would care, as best for yourself, so should you of your things.  Nothing looks worse than dingy, frayed and tired possessions.
.Play with Color - Lots of It throughout - whether it be in your textiles, or as an accent wall or painted piece of furniture.  Color speaks louder than words and makes a world of difference to your space.

Signature is as individual as you are - inspire yourself to create some right now!  Best!

It all Starts with an Inspiration.....For You and Me!

Inspiration is what makes design, design.  Design is not something that one can "throw" together and results in cohesiveness, nor timelessness.  It is a process, that is thought out and comes from somewhere.  A swatch of fabric, a piece of heirloom art or porcelain - your soul, perhaps. 

Today, I had to tackle some administrative tasks at hand, on the job.  Working tools were required to be sought for our clients carrying home their wares "in class", so my colleague picked out this amazing tissue paper called, Lavish Blossoms.

Well  that's all I had to see, especially since I live in a State with a Winter that spans into May.  Honestly.
So I began to dream about Spring, and began to dream if my kid's flew the nest and I had disposable income, this is what I would do as a result of this simple inspiration.  Enjoy.

Spring into it......

Let's face it, the winter has been relentless for most.  What have you done with yours?  Have you remained fit and energetic, or succumbed to letting yourself, wardrobe & home's environment go?

Get into the groove now that the days are longer and your energies are increasing daily. 

Spring into it, with a revive of your wardrobe.  There are amazing looks to be had out there.  From brights to flowing neutrals and classic timeless-looks, that can be easily attained with a few updates and taking inventory of what you already possess.

Speaking of inventory, why not begin with assessing your home's environment, from color to storage.  Is it looking as tired as Winter has forced you to become?  If so, a simple plan of "tagging" your closets & cabinets of priority are a good way to begin the process.

All you need is 3 plastic containers for your closets and can remedy your chaos and no-longer needed items, with the Toss/Donate/Keep System.  It is as easy as that and the end results will make you feel amazing!

Consider revving up your home's space with one of the most inexpensive remedies - paint. And when painting a room or 2, consider, painting the ceiling, which is ALWAYS mostly overlooked.  The difference it makes to a room is incredible.

If you own items that are in good shape and are timeless, but your space is lacking in the WOW, another inexpensive way to boost your home's energies, is a redesign.  Study your room's shape, assess its function and empty it out.  Shop the rest of the home for hidden treasures that you may need or lack and put the room back together in an out-of-the-box fashion.  And don't forget to overlook the absolute critical, one of the must haves is sufficient lighting-at least 3 sources needed and an area rug to anchor your furnishings.   Not only are they the icing on the room's cake - but they are of utmost for function and cohesiveness.

If you can't take on the task of organizing, painting or redesigning, there are professionals in your area that can assist.  Spring into it, do yourself, your psyche, your home and BIG favor.  You will love yourself and that around you.

Enjoy!