by lauraadmin | Feb 13, 2018 | NOC
What’s not to love about the Valentine’s Day color palette? The colors for this holiday are happy, fun and vibrant. Also, with the right shade, EVERYONE looks good in pink!
I have been obsessed with this pink and red silk dress from Staud Clothing FOREVER!! It is simple and pretty, which is how I like my rooms 🙂 The second pantsuit is bolder with a strong silhouette. Knowing the way you dress, is important when planning out any room in your home. More than once, I have designed a room inspired by an outfit. This is also one reason I tell people “If you don’t like the way a designer dresses himself/herself, you will not like the way he/she dresses your home”.
My design interpretation of the color palette above would look something like this:
The black is a really important element in this design, as it serves to keep this room from looking overly sweet and juvenile. Mixing gold elements like the floor lamp, side table and mirrors give the room a luxe touch.
There are no shortage of pink and red elements available. These two colors (especially pink) have been hot in home decor for some time. Some decor Items I love for this color inspired room are :
Framed print, Red striped art, Poppy Art, Pink and Red swirl, Blush Art
Dot pillow, Mid Century chaise, Drapes, red pillow, geo table, red chair, pink pillow, red lamps, tulip pillow, side table, feather art, baskets
Would you ever do a room in this scheme? If you have, what was the element you feel made the biggest impact? If not, what is stopping you?
I hope you enjoyed my Valentine’s Day inspired post 🙂
Wishing you love and happiness this Valentine’s Day!
XO
Laurie
by lauraadmin | May 30, 2016 | NOC
Most holidays have a correlating color scheme. Some color schemes such as the red and green palette of Christmas have a short life, while other holidays such as Easter have a scheme that can last for a whole season. Memorial Day falls in the latter category. It’s patriotic palette of red, white and blue looks crisp, fresh and can last from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Memorial Day also brings some of the best home sales. Pottery Barn is offering 25% off orders of $1000 or more with code: SAVEMORE (this is a rare sale for PB! Need a new sofa? NOW is the time to order it!). William Sonoma Home is offering up to 40% off bedroom furniture, Lulu and Georgia is also offering 25% off of $1000 or more with code: MEMORIAL25, Grandin Road is offering 40% off select outdoor items with code: MEMORIALDAY2016 and Ballard Designs is offering 25% off when you spend $750 or more!.
Here are some of my favorite items to help you ring in the Summer season!
Wishing you and your family a safe and happy Memorial Day!!!
XO
Laurie
by lauraadmin | Mar 23, 2016 | NOC
It is usually the small things in the right places that give one that extra touch of style and chicness. It is the string of pearls, the diamond studs, the addition of truffle oil or champagne, that will take things from good to great. Every so often our home needs the same boost.
There are really only a handful of items that can immediately up the chic factor of any space. When a small but impactful update is in order, these three items will be all you need!
A BAR CART
Veanne Bar Cart, Misha Bar Cart, Jacques Bar Cart, Vince Bar Cart, Gerard Bar Cart
Check out this chic outdoor bar cart
Horchow Tamsin Chinoiserie Bar Cart $795
This bar cart is my favorite; it is stocked, styled and ready to go!
Image Via Elle Decor -Nicole Gibbons
CHIC LIGHTING
People usually think to add unique lighting in the kitchen. However, I feel that pendant lights and chandeliers make an even bigger impact in more unexpected areas like the living room or hallway. Here are a few that have major style.
Roxbury Pendant, Crystal Drop Pendant, Lucia Semi Flush Mount, Olive Leaf Pendant
Image via Coastal Style
Don’t have an electrician on speed dial? Here are some table lamps that will also do the trick.
Lamps I Love:
Madison Crystal Lamp, Ripley Geometric Lamp, Diamond Omega Table Lamp, Alexis Lamp, Loring Table Lamp
STATEMENT MIRRORS
I love the use of mirrors for so many reasons. They are the design equivalent of Houdini. They can give the illusion that a space is larger, ceilings are taller, rooms are brighter and make a space look as though there are more windows than there actually are. Without a doubt, mirrors are a designer’s best and most used tool.
Petal Mirror, Frederick Wall Mirror, Evie Geo Mirror, Cassia Mirror, Studded Mirror
My favorite:
Quatrefoil Mirror $347
These mirrors below not only make a statement, they serve to balance out a wall with a single window!
Image via Pinterest
Napoleon Hill said “If you can not do great things, then do small things in a great way”. I hope this post inspires you to the make small, impactful additions that will elevate and revitalize your home.
Thanks for reading!
XO Laurie
by lauraadmin | Mar 17, 2016 | NOC
Green can be a precarious color to decorate with. It is bold and demands attention. However, it is one of the few bold colors that can actually serve as a neutral. We associate this color with life, nature, growth and renewal. It can also be associated with greed, jealousy and money. Whether you have an affinity or an aversion to this color, there is always a place in any room to make this color work harmoniously. With a myriad of variations, there is a shade of green for everyone. Green plays well with navy, gray, brown, gold and black.
If green is a favorite color of yours, you can make this color the star by using it on larger pieces such as bedding or upholstery. However, if you’d rather use more restraint when decorating with green, you can use it on your accent pieces such as pillows and throws.
In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, here is my post on all things green. I hope this serves to inspires some new additions to your home.
Below, these rooms utilize this color successfully. The first room shows this color used with a black and white palette. This palette is bold, graphic and masculine.
This dining room is a more refined use of green. This color is just used on the drapes and accent pillows. It is paired with gray, cream and gold. It is a more sophisticated and feminine use of green.
Image via Pinterest – BlogSpot
I hope you enjoyed this post. I leave you with this Irish blessing:
May your troubles be less
and your blessings be more
And nothing but happiness
come through your door
Thanks for reading!
XO Laurie
by lauraadmin | Feb 7, 2016 | NOC
One of the most FAQs I get is where I shop for Chic home decor. My answer: EVERYWHERE! The honest answer is that great things can be found anywhere. It is learning what elements are critical to the look trying to be achieved, that will determine one’s success. However, I do have my little black book of the best places and websites for certain things (I will save that post for another day).
Every designer will use elements that are a splurge and that eat up a hearty portion of the budget, as well as elements that cost next to nothing. This high/low design strategy is used often because it keeps the budget in check, as well as provides the perfect juxtaposition that is crucial in successful design. Now, Juxtaposition is a design buzzword. Personally, I find buzzwords annoying. At their best, they clarify a concept that has become mainstream; at their worst, they anesthetized us to their impact, rendering the word meaningless. That being said, juxtaposition is a VERY important design concept. If I had to choose only three design principles that are crucial to good design, juxtaposition would be one of them.
A leather and fur pairing creates the ultimate yin and yang
driftwood and glass
Williams Sonoma mixes a cozy faux fur throw with leather; coincidence? Crate and Barrel artfully mixes rough organic driftwood with sleek glass. The mix of yin and yang creates the perfect visual tension.
Determine what elements are crucial in aligning you with your theme. If you are going for a Farmhouse Chic look, the accessories and wall decor will be the elements that make this look successful. If it is a mid-century modern look you are going for, it will be the furniture that will be the star of the room. Spend your money on the things that are crucial in establishing your theme. Upholstery is always a wise place to invest. Historically, January and August are the best months to buy furniture. This is when the new inventory for the upcoming season arrives, resulting in deep discounts on last season’s pieces. If you are looking to buy a splurge worthy piece, it is worth it to wait to purchase during these months. A couple of my favorite places to buy furniture are Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams and Crate and Barrel.
Undoubtedly, accessories make the design. They are the jewelry that serve as the finishing touches. Accessories bring one’s theme to fruition, as well as add authenticity.
Below, this glam (albeit tiny) living room is well-appointed due to the shag rug, tactile throw pillows, gallery wall and table top decor.
Image via Home and Fabulous
Below, this rustic chic entertainment area features a TV mounted on a distressed white washed wall panel. The vintage suitcases add another rustic layer to this room.
image via Rustic Crafts Chic Decor
Here are some accessories I am loving now:
Spring is drawing near. Rough organic elements (such as the driftwood bowl) and soft colored decor (such as the blush velvet pillow) are very on trend for Spring. Although Spring in not here yet, it has already sprung in the stores. Now is the time that Designer’s start shopping for elements to update client’s homes for the upcoming season. Start making a mental list of all of the Winter accessories that you would like to put away, so you can make room for the new accessories you bring in.
I hope this post helps you to shop like a Designer! Thanks for reading!
xo Laurie
