Morning Snack- Feeling Funky

Lately I have been doing a lot Traditional work, which I love. You can never go wrong with a Traditional aesthetic. But then, I come across something like this and my funky side comes marching right out to the beat of its own drum.

Chair CB2

Let's Go Outside

While catching up on my pile of catalogs I was loving all the new options in outdoor furniture, so many great options these days.

Above images Ballard Designs and below West Elm.

Also, spotted this at World Market, it could add happiness to any patio.

I would love to spend some time on any of these catching up on my magazine pile next. Have a fabulous Memorial Day Weekend!

Pull Up A Chair

The weekend is almost here! Last night I hosted a supper club for some of my favorite people so mine already started on the right foot. However, relaxation cannot begin just yet, a busy day is ahead. I am ready to prop up my feet for some R&R! Which brings me to this picture. I snapped it this week at a client's house. We recently reupholstered these chairs and they make me very happy. More to come as it progresses....Have a great weekend!

Our Breakfast Room

When designing our home, I dreamed of a little breakfast room with a window where we could enjoy our weekend mornings, lingering over the table with a cup of coffee and the paper or a magazine.  The room would also double as a place for casual dinners and easy get-togethers with friends. 

The logical location for our breakfast room was just off the kitchen, adjacent to the living room.  We ended up with two windows, plus the glass door, so lots of natural light. 

  

After moving in, the breakfast room sat empty while I struggled to find the perfect table for the space.  Because our kitchen counters are marble and we have to be careful with them, and our formal dining room table, is, well more formal, I wanted a kitchen table that was a little rustic and did not feel precious.  With a baby, and lots of family and friends hanging out (especially now with football season) I didn’t want to have to worry about the table getting damaged or have our guests feeling like they had to be uptight about setting a drink down.

Initially, I thought a round table would work best in this small, rectangular space and considered these options:

Pottery Barn- Montego Pedestal Dining Table.  Image via Pottery Barn.

Restoration Hardware- Camden Round Extension Table.  Image via Restoration Hardware.

Crate & Barrel- Orion Table.  Image via Crate & Barrel

The Pottery Barn table, while pretty, was dismissed as too formal; the Restoration Hardware is the same as what we have in the formal dining room (but rectangular); and my husband thought the Crate & Barrel was too modern.  We ultimately decided on the Benchwright table and benches from Pottery Barn. 

Benches and distressed wood conveyed the casual feeling I was going for and I love the look of the metal support brackets and oversized bolts.    

The rectangular table actually ended up fitting the room perfectly.  I added the same rug (Crate & Barrel- Island Honey Chevron) that we have in the living room in an effort to unify the spaces.

So far, we’re loving this little area and table.  I agonize forever before buying furniture and am so happy when I’m ultimately pleased with the purchase! 

Start Spreading The News....

I am leaving today for...to see this guy, which you might remember from here, here or here.
Tuesday he will be taping a show that will feature an audience of all design bloggers and I thrilled to be included in this group.
Since I had a plus one I decided to take another very dapper man...my Dad. Not only does he love design but we always have a good time in New York together.
So I will leave you with some images from my bf Nate....
And I know I have posted about this little one before but I still want it...
A client and I were looking at this the other day...we are still debating...
I think this rug could be pretty cool too...
I will share with you how it all went later in the week when I get back south.

Images from Nate Berkus and Nate Berkus for HSN

Color Confusion

I’m having such a hard time deciding on a paint color for the back of the media cabinet in the living room.  My husband is color blind and no help at all.  Thank God for blog friends!!  Here’s what I’m working with. 

As you can see, it’s a pretty neutral color palette and I want to inject a little color.  I’m planning to remove some of the brown accessories and replace them with silver and white. These aqua decorative balls from Target are my “color inspiration.”   I will also be adding colored/patterned?? drapes in the future. 

Here are the colors I found in the Sherwin William’s color deck that I thought might be nice.  Our walls are painted the tabbed color, so I was using that for comparison.

 

Then I “happened” to be in Pottery Barn, and they sell large sheets ($5- ouch!) that are samples of Benjamin Moore paint colors.  If you take the purchased sample to Benjamin Moore, you get $5 off a gallon of paint.  I bought the samples of these colors.

 

And started playing with how they’d look in my media cabinet.  The silver bowl is a new accessory I found at Home Goods.

 

So far, I think I like the darker blue on the middle shelf.  Is the dark blue on the upper shelf too dark?  The pale blue is too pale.  Here’s how the Benjamin Moore colors compare to the Sherwin Williams’.

I’m still considering these, but it’s so hard to decide. 

Any thoughts, suggestions??  *help*!!

Family Room in Progress

Since we seem to spend the most time in the living room, (and especially on the couch), I thought it would be a good place to start- decor wise.  I was thinking it should be pretty easy since we already have the sofa, a nice built-in media/bookshelf cabinet and good bones like dark hardwood floors and nice windows. 

So far, here’s what I’ve come up with:

BEFORE

AFTER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                  

I wanted to keep the color palette very neutral and serene without being too boring.  See my inspiration living rooms here.  I hoped that the added texture in the rug, large vases and pillows would add some visual interest.  Accessorizing the bookshelves is a bit of a challenge for me.  I try to keep the scale in balance and changed the heights of the shelves.  It’s not done, I’m still working it out and also need something for the top of the media cabinet.  I’m probably going to remove that middle shelf so that I can put something larger there.  I’m also thinking of adding some large scale branches or bamboo sticks to the floor vases to draw the eye up.   And maybe some art or framed photos on the walls adjacent to the bookshelf??

I definitely want to add some curtains, but am kind of at a loss on where to start.  I was thinking it would be great to do a pattern since the room is pretty neutral and solid.  Janell at Isabella and Max Rooms did a great post recently on dramatic drapes- I’m inspired!  What do you suggest?

Source List

• Sectional, lamps and end tables- Pottery Barn
• Rug- Crate & Barrel (Chevron- color Honey)
• Pillows- West Elm and Pottery Barn (large sweater pillow)
• Large rattan vases and throw blanket- Z Gallerie
• Ottoman- Overstock
• Decorative accessories in media cabinet- Michaels, West Elm, Hobby Lobby, Crate & Barrel

p.s. notice the laptop on the coffee table near the window?  That little corner of the couch is where I write most of my blog posts:)

**Update** I recently added some decorative sticks to the floor vases (see it here) and painted the back of the media cabinet and changed the accessories (see it here).