Come to my tea party!

This was so pretty, femine and full of fun that I could not resist it.

It was from an ad campaign of Domayne Furniture.

www.domayneonline.com/furniture

Enjoy!

With Gratitude

http://dustjacketattic.blogspot.com/

Shabby Slips, owned by Renea Abbott

Right in the middle of the store is this limed table with these stunning shell chairs! What a find! When Shabby Slips first opened, the focus was on slip covers, but that has long since changed. Today, the focus is on the finest antiques for the younger set. To be sure, the store is still stocked with wonderful slipcovered furniture and there are beautiful pillows tossed about, but the antiques take center stage now. The trendy new lamps and accessories mix in with the old. The chandeliers and mirrors are exceptional, and there is a large selection of them to choose from.

Shabby Slips is owned by Renea Abbott, a much in-demand interior designer with several Veranda covers under her belt. She recently repainted the walls going from dark to white and the effect, along with all the mirrors and crystal chandeliers is stunning – the store absolutely sparkles! The ceiling is filled with the crystal chandeliers and the Venetian mirror shown above has to be the prettiest one I have ever seen! Shopping here is such a treat – a true eye candy experience.

http://cotedetexas.blogspot.com/2009/02/houston-shopping-bissonnetkirby.html

The Southern Accents brings a taste of the English countryside to Texas

With a nod to 1930s Art Deco glamour, Minton used a cool palette of pastels in the master bedroom. The simplicity of the canopy-style bed frame and its dressing lends a modern feel, and the pearlized woodwork reflects additional light throughout the room. “It just glows,” says Minton.

Inspired by tiger-stripe and paisley linens, Minton limited himself to a completely neutral scheme of gray, beige, taupe, and white for the guest suite. “We wanted the drama of no color,” he says. The stenciled pattern on the walls, played down by the choice of muted tones, gives an exotic but not overpowering feel.

From the Siamese figures flanking the center archway to the tomato-colored French chairs, the living room reflects the layered look typical of English design. “The British brought back many different cultural influences from their colonies, so we didn’t just stick to one type of furniture or style,” says Minton. “We created a look that made it possible to easily move a piece of furniture from one room to another.”

With an arrangement of antique Chinese and Japanese porcelain and English-style furniture, the entry hall is an inviting ode to eclectic English design and designer Joe Minton’s classic aesthetic.

For more pictures and credits:

http://www.southernaccents.com/architecture/showhouses/2009-showhouse-riverhills-texas-00400000057150/

Weiss & Wirth Interior Design

I would like to thank Weiss & Wirth Interior Design and Neil Alexander Photography for use of these beautiful photographs.

Weiss & Wirth Interior Design. They are a full-service interior design firm headquartered in the U.S. near Aspen, Colorado.

Weiss & Wirth Interior Design (970) 945-5701

Photography Courtesy of Neil Alexander Photography

Neil Alexander Photography neil@neilphoto.com (504) 813-9460

Classic Contemporary

Brown Davis designed new paneling in the family room, where they repurposed furniture from the couple’s previous home. The print is by Robert Motherwell.

In the dining room, golden drapes warm the north-facing windows. The rosewood table, upholstered chairs, banquette and rug were designed by Brown Davis.

In the living room off the stair hall, Brown and Davis unified the seating groups with a Chinese-inspired rug of their own design. More here: http://www.homeanddesign.com/article.asp?paper=95&cat=158&article=20835

Fabulous, modern apartment in New York City

This modern apartment is designed for a New York couple with three kids under 10 years old. The couple works in media industry so their design expectations were very high. In the result they got a fabulous 3400-square-foot space for contemporary lifestyle which is safe for their kids. Almost every room feels light and airy thanks to neutral color palette and used materials. The three-bedroom flat possesses versatility to be transformed to suit evolving tastes as the children grew older. Furniture and surfaces around the flat are made of contemporary materials that are easy to clean and looks very modern. Thanks to built-in furniture there is also plenty of space to accommodate all family belongings.

West Chin Architect

http://www.desiretoinspire.net/blog/2010/3/1/swanky.html

Inspirations from private homes in Charlotte

Eileen Kathryn Boyd

Image from http://www.traditionalhome.com/design_decorating/showhouses/statements-style-2008_2.html

It is no surprise that Eileen Kathryn Boyd is one of New York’s most influential interior designers. Her eclectic style and impeccable taste leave each of her design projects undeniably brilliant.

Design Tips

DO start a reference file of inspiring pieces for the room you want to decorate.

DO use jazzy fabrics on pillows and ottomans that can be easily changed out according to season.

DON'T be afraid to use a strong color on the walls. Paint is the least expensive way to totally change a room's appearance.

DO avoid using floral fabrics on sofas—unless you know you'll never tire of it. Try and keep to solids and small geometrics.

DO consider the lighting effects in the room. Will there be an influence of natural light? Will you need ceiling lighting or will lamplight be enough?

DO keep your vision clear—you can be easily seduced in other directions.

DON'T use a rug that's too small—the furniture will appear to hang off of it, making the room appear smaller.

DO beware of scale and proportion and how all the elements come into play.

DON'T forget to break some rules and most importantly to have fun with it!

http://www.ekbinteriors.com/

Beautiful in white

National Symphony Orchestra Showhouse

The modern walnut Parsons table, a trio of sleek steel pendant lights, and a pared-down tablescape are blended with grand wing chairs. "Balancing old things with new things gives a room great energy," says designer Michael Roberson.

White . . . minimalist, magical, or a little of both? The question remains if white qualifies as a real color or not. Some designers wouldn't think of creating a room sans pigment-laden appointments. Others use it as a foolproof mechanism for sophistication. In bedrooms, white and variations of it lead the way to a restful snooze. Dining rooms with white as their palettes sing in refinement and class. Teamed with black, and high-glass elements, the color reads glamorous and seductive. Warm white offers comfort. Feast your eyes on these colorless treats from showhouses across the country.

By Krissa Rossbund

Lake Forest Showcase House

This gentleman's room commands attention with its two-tone paletteand tailored canopy that envelops the beds.

In soft impressionistic strokes, the painting above a settee and two chairs in the room's gathering area introduce the only note of color--a delicate lilac--in an otherwise tightly composed symphony of ivory and gray.

http://www.traditionalhome.com/design_decorating/showhouses/room-bathed-white_ss1.html

James Michael Howard

http://www.jamesmichaelhoward.com/

Aaron Bayley Photography

Contemporary style

You might like a contemporary style of decorating if you like to keep current with styles, enjoy things that are modern, of today, right now.

While it's been thought that modern interiors are cold and minimalist, today's contemporary interiors are comfortable and welcoming without being cluttered and dark. It's a style that is equally appropriate for offices and stores, lofts and homes.

Fundamentally, simplicity, subtle sophistication, texture and clean lines help to define contemporary style decorating. Interiors showcase space rather than things. By focusing on color, space, and shape, contemporary interiors are sleek and fresh.

Neutrals, black, and white are the main colors in contemporary style interiors. The palette is often punched up and accented with bright and bold color. Black is often used to ground and define a contemporary style room. With walls painted in a basic neutral, you have a wonderful backdrop for bold colored accessories. If the walls and windows are painted in pastels, the trims should be neutral. If a wall is a bright, bold color, neutrals should be used everywhere else.

Eclectic Style

A Style For Those Who Want It All

Eclectic style is about mixing rather than matching, though all design elements should coordinate to achieve a look that is fresh and avant-garde. Eclectic style is the fingerprint of innovation and creativity. Borrowing from different sources and periods, eclectic style is a highly individualized style and is easily changed on a whim. A person with an eclectic style is a person with a lot of favorites who finds a way to indulge in them all. Purple and pink together? Why not? Modern and traditional furniture? Absolutely. The eclectic minded person finds a way to have it all and make it make it visually cohesive. Eclectic style is casual and approachable, making it a natural choice for home or business decor. The unexpected is always the focal point; here, the modern red pendant lamp gives the room a super hip and modern look, while the bubblegum pink walls vie for your attention. The cruel, hard edge of the desk is offset by the chair’s welcoming curves and plush fabric. Far from generic, eclectic style is the harmony in contrast. Experiment with eclectic style in your home; assess what you consider your “favorites” and unleash your inner artiste. http://www.invitinghome.com/home-decor/style-eclectic.htm

Suzanne Kasler

I love how she combines vintage furniture with a soft color palette.

Jenny Peters and Rachel Mbiango

http://petersandmbiangointeriors.com/

Dining Rooms

Old world charm and bright and airy. Images via Better Homes & Gardens and Country Living

Photographer Mark Darley

Photographer Mark Darley was born in Hampshire, Great Britain. He graduated from Radley College, Oxfordshire, and later studied law at Reading University in the UK. This was followed by a life-changing two and a half year voyage, circumnavigating the globe under sail. He then moved to New York City and studied photography and design at the Parsons School of Design. Within three years of arriving in America he had launched his career, specializing in interior and architectural photography. Mark moved to the San Francisco area from New York in 1989 and has continued to work on assignment from both East and West Coasts and internationally. http://inspiracionline.blogspot.com/2010/01/photographer-mark-darley.html