Bloomin' Pretty

Pretty flowers for the first day of spring!

Love .... Dovima

Love it or Leave it: Whimsical Bedrooms

{This gorgeous bedroom by David Kaihoi marries the classic and whimsical looks beautifully. It was recently featured in House Beautiful.}

When it comes to bedroom, what look do you typically gravitate towards: whimsical or classic? I usually favor classic, tailored rooms with a few glamorous details. However, I think there is something to be said about whimsical rooms with yards and yards of printed fabrics. Do you thrive in this type of space or are you a little more Type A, like myself? The dilemma for me is that while I love the fun, whimsical look of rooms like these, I don’t think I could fully relax in such a space. So, when it comes to whimsical bedrooms, do you love the look or would you rather leave it?

{Image Source}

{Bedroom by Elaine Griffin}

  {Miles Redd via Domino}

{Gene Meyer and Frank de Biasi via House Beautiful}

{Kathryn Ireland via House Beautiful}

Before And After: Louis Chairs

Finally the Louis Chair redo is over. It took a lot to get them done but it was well worth it. I think they turned out beautifully and look great against the gray stripes. I don't really have any tips for this redo, just the obligatory "measure twice cut once". Steps include sanding, priming, paint, and then reupholster. Let me know if you have any questions...Happy Redecorating!

Special thanks to my hubby and sister for all their hard work...Thanks Guys!

I used Gray Primer because it picks up dark paint better

Painted it black...Two Coats

Measured and cut my fabric
Stapled my fabric
Cut Fabric then added the piping/trim
All Done!

10 Things I Can’t Live Without: Daniella of Dress, Design, Decor

Daniella is the talented woman behind the beautiful and inspiring blog, dress design decor. Daniella writes about a variety of things including interior design and fashion. She works as a designer and is on a continuous search for inspiring new things. I love the tone of her blog which always comes across as rather serene. Every time I leave Daniella’s blog, I feel inspired.

 

{Image via Alicia Block Photography}

1. Travel - Every couple of months or so I always seem to get the travel bug, whether it's a vacation in Europe to visit family, jetting off to Paris, or even a little local weekend trip, it's so much fun to just head out and experience somewhere new every now and then...

{Image via design*sponge}

2. The Country - There is something so relaxing and simple about the country that I absolutely love, especially during late Summer, early Fall... there's so much fresh produce at the market, local festivals, weekend trips and warm sunshine to enjoy! I love all those moments of slowing down a little...

{Image via Kate’s Paperie}

3. Cards & Stationery - I am a huge fan of sending out cards or little handwritten notes. I'll spend hours to find the perfect card for someone special. I have a quickly growing collection of all the beautiful stationery I've been collecting over the years too. Snail mail goes a long way these days...

{Image via Honey & Jam}

4. Books & Coffee - I could never, ever give up walking into the bookstore, grabbing a coffee, and perusing the aisles for hours. It's such a relaxing activity for me. I just love the smell of paper and coffee intertwined, as odd as that sounds!

5. Olivier Soaps - A new found love of mine, Olivier Soaps is Canadian-based and so lovely to use! Their bars of soap don't leave you with that "filmy" feeling and they smell absolutely wonderful, without being too overpowering. My favourites are "Her" and "Lilac"...

6. J.Crew heels - A little while ago I tried on a pair of heels at another shoe store and remembered again why I buy my heels from J.Crew, lol... so, so comfortable and I can wear them all day long! There's no way I could wear any other pair of heels now. Loving the latest "Clara" pumps!

7. Pearl Earrings - Be it my precious pair of pearls from my boyfriend, or the pairs of costume jewelry I've collected over the years, I love wearing pearls with practically anything. They're just so simple and classic - perfect when you're in a hurry to dress in the morning!

{Image via By A Beach Cottage on Flickr}

8. Magazines - The obsession started as soon as I could read and magazines eventually took over my whole bedroom! I love picking up a brand new glossy in the anticipation of the beautiful design and photographs inside. There's nothing like it!

{Image via Julia Blog}

9. Blogging - How would I ever get by without my daily dose of inspiration? There's so many wonderful bloggers out there, I love catching up on them all. There is so much to share and I've connected with so many wonderful people. I love our little design blog community, don't you? :)

{Image via Everything Fabulous}

10. My boyfriend - Of course I wouldn't be able to live without my wonderful boyfriend Rick! I love spending as much time together as we can (living in two different cities and all)... and I'm so proud of him as he's just about to enter police college! It's an exciting time for us both :)

Oudoor Garden Inspirations for Outdoor Living

I can never get enough of gorgeous outdoor inspirations - especially when

there's a gorgeous garden and greenery to go with it.  Isn't the backyard

above just gorgeous?

The white curtains in the background are so romantic in the summer breeze.

The lavender fabric is also a perfect color to complement the surrounding

greenery.

Indoor lamps really make this gorgeous garden setting look polished and chic.

Chips and salsa on a barrel...

Colored glass vases make this garden pop.  At night, all you

need are some tea lights in the vases for it to give a soft

magical glow with color.

The fabric makes this dining area so cozy.  Candles really

top it off.  I can just imagine what this would look like at

dusk.

What a great difference just a pink runner an pink flowers can make!

Love the pillows on the hammock - it really creates

a pop of color and gives the scene an exotic look.

Photos from DIY magazine

paris, fashion and what to wear...

Monday morning and my mind is on Paris.

I have to leave my country sensibilities behind and gear myself up for a few urban days in the city of light. Did I say 'gear'? I mean 'gear' in the fashion sense. Country life, summer time and relaxed Provencal living doesn't give me much call to frock up and stay in touch with the latest looks from the runway. Life on the farm is an easy one to accessorise....cool and light in summer....comfy and cosy in winter. The biggest style statement I have made this summer is to match my market espadrilles with my caftan cover ups. There is a freedom in leaving behind the need to be a la mode but there is also an excitement in thinking about the season ahead and figuring out what's what and what's not.

Did I mention that I am a fashion junkie....nearly as much as I am an interiors and home-wares groupie. Fashion was my first great love and to this day I have an undying devotion and respect for her. As I have grown older my choices have streamlined but my appreciation and dedication to what's 'in' have never diminished. Pouring over magazines and online sites, looking at trends and figuring out what could possibly work for an 'older' and 'rounder' me is my idea of heaven..... I find that the energy, the originality and the creativity of this mad world are addictive and stimulating.

So I am in the mood for shoes, for boots, for coats and suits, for jeans and jackets, for dresses and skirts....I can't wait to pound those Parisian pavements and see what's happening.... the pieces that are being worn and how they are put together....Is hair long, short, curly or straight? Are heels high, boots low and Converse still the go. My curiosity will be piqued, my pulses racing and no doubt my eyes out on stalks...For me, three months away from the city seems like an eternity...

Today I am happily ensconcing myself in the latest editions of Vogue (French, Italian and US - all national publications will be devoured and studied with absolute concentration) and squeezing in a little online reconnaissance.....here and here......xv

Prada image...taken from the study material above

xv

Winter No More!

It's the last day of winter here - I'm so looking forward to spring and all its brightness!