The new Living Lavishly magazine is here! I’m so impressed with how this magazine has grown over the past couple of years. I still remember the conversation over coffee with the publisher on how our town was in need of a fun shelter magazine. The next thing I knew Living Lavishly was born. It’s been a pleasure to write and illustrate for the magazine on what I love, DESIGN! Pick one up today or read it on-line here!
The New Living Lavishly Magazine Is Here!
If you are local to the Central Coast check out the latest edition of Living Lavishly Magazine. I had fun writing and illustrating my thoughts on Pantone's Color of the Year - Greenery as well as my Design Tips on how to style your bookshelves. If you're not local, you can read the magazine on-line. Happy designing!
The New Living Lavishly Magazine Is Out!
Happy Friday everyone! Have you seen it yet? The New Living Lavishly magazine is out. I have some fun articles in there to show you how simple it is to design and decorate your home. If your not local, you can read the issue online here.
I'm sharing with you simple and easy tricks on how to make your coffee table look amazing!
This was fun! I was able to show off my good friend and fellow designer, Abbe Fenimore, and this Gorgeous Powder Room she designed as well as share with you some tips on putting the POW! in your Powder Room. Check out Abbe's online shop too! She has A-Mazing taste.
And here I'm sharing with you a colorful and inexpensive Thrift Store make-over. Piece of cake!
These are just a few of the fun articles in the latest magazine! Pick one up today! They're FREE. Also, if you like learning these fun decor tips, come see me speak at the Home Expo on Saturday, September 17th at 1:30, Madonna Expo Center! Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
One Room Challenge - Week 6 The Final Reveal - Studio Make Over!
Today's the day! The Big Reveal...ok sort-of-big Reveal. After looking through all the amazing design blogs I was so impressed with the level of accomplishments my fellow bloggers achieved with their make-overs! Since the entire process of the One Room Challenge was all new to me, I started with a room that just needed a little sprucing up, My Studio, which is up there, in my attic. My husband & I designed and built our house ten years ago and I've always loved the attic space as my studio but it's funky because...it's an attic!
I have to thank Linda of Calling It Home for putting this challenge together because it was huge motivation to go through and clear the clutter, not only in my studio, but in my entire house! The other really wonderful aspect of the challenge that I enjoyed more than anything was meeting so many incredibly talented designers. The banter over Gold Spray Paint on Instagram with so many of you especially, Emilie of Shell And Chinoiserie, kept my laughing through this entire process. Make sure you check out her reveal. We both purchased the same desk but she seriously glammed it up with some Gold Legs! Just fantastic!
So here we go. It all started with this cat. When cleaning out my studio I found all kinds of things that I had forgotten about long ago. When I found my daughters cat (she's now 15) it brought back a flood of happy memories, so outside to the tarp she went where she received a shiny new coat of Gold along with cabinet knobs (still haven't found ones that I REALLY Love so these will do for now), my card racks, mason jars & a gold vase.
I was pretty happy with all the items I painted gold...so fast...and easy...such instant gratification, one might even dare to say addicting!
I'm an Interior Designer but I also have a line of textiles, art prints and cards. Everything in my studio is my work. The rack has some of my pillow collections, if you weren't sure what that was. :-)
Then came the "Heart of Gold" gallery wall. Painting it took a while because I used a brush when actually the best way to paint anything metalic is to spray it on. Then came hanging the pictures. I made a template but I will tell you that hanging picture frames level and straight was no simple task! THEN, back in Week 2 when I was being soooooo organized, I had forgotten that I filed all the paintings I wanted to hang on the wall. Of course I found all of them neatly stashed away, AFTER I had hung all the others. Good Grief! So down some of them came and I switched them out to this final design.
Onto the Rug. My attic can be super chilly or super hot sometimes. Luckily I'm in California so the weather is usually very nice but when it get's cold a fuzzy rug warms everything up! I shopped for a couple of weeks to find one I liked but there was always some issue. I actually had this one in storage which, guess what?, I found when I was cleaning out the rest of my house! I'm telling you Spring Cleaning is a great idea in more ways than one!! I love having my pillows and poufs all around me & Willow Loves it too!
Really the only thing I purchased for this make-over was some gold paint, frames & the desk (which I love!) It was more about setting aside the time to make the space feel good to me which was really fun! Fresh flowers are a must for me in every room. These are from my garden. Sometimes it's a race between me and the deer to see who gets them!
I meet with clients in my studio, so I have a stocked mini-fridge at all times. 6 Weeks of One Room Challenge complete. I do believe that calls for some Champs! Cheers!
Make sure you check out all the One Room Challenge make-overs! You will be incredibly inspired!
Please make sure to check out Calling It Home & all the other amazing blogger/designers making beauty in the world!
Abby M Interiors // Because It's Awesome // Bijou & Boheme // Calling It Home // Chez V //
Chinoiserie Chic // Copy Cat Chic // The Decorista // Design Crisis // Design Indulgence //
Design Manifest // The English Room // The Glam Pad // Little Black Door // Momosa Lane //
My Notting Hill // The Pink Pagoda // Simple Details // My Sweet Savannah // Veranda House
Thank you again Calling It Home! See you in October!
One Room Challenge - Week 4 - Studio Refresh!
Week 4 of the One Room Challenge started off with a pleasant surprise. My "back ordered" desk arrived on Monday! It was the funniest thing when I saw Emilie of Shell and Chinoiserie post on Instagram that her Same Exact Desk arrived on her porch, at the Same Exact Time mine was delivered in California! C-R-A-Z-Y!
BTW I LOVE the Desk! My husband had it all put together for me when I got home & I couldn't be more pleased with it.
I have to back track just a little though. This One Room Challenge was incredible inspiration for me. I spent a few days, literally, Spring Cleaning like a crazy woman! I cleaned out my closet, my girl's closet, my storage room, my garage, my laundry room AND MY STUDIO! We donated a truck load to Good Will and found all kinds of things that had been missing! So Thank You Calling It Home because I'm not sure if I would have done it without this fun challenge!
This week I also purchased all the frames for my gallery wall and the other supplies I would need to make my "Heart Of Gold" design work. I prepped the wall and made my heart template out of some left over cardboard.
I also found this painting in my storage. I painted her over 20 years ago. The painting is called "Forgiveness". It was part of my first ever "One Woman Art Exhibit" in San Luis Obispo & later, San Francisco. I was right out of college and ready, but terrified, to show my work as an artist. It reminds me of where I came from on this long journey as an artist and a designer. So out she came and up onto the wall again. As an Interior Designer (my day job) I always tell my clients to buy art that makes them happy, or tells a story. I also want them to know about the artist and what the inspiration is for their paintings. I find that so much more meaningful when a home is designed with that kind of attention to detail and support of the arts.
I just posted this picture on my Instagram and... Oh My! it sparked the funniest thread of comments! Jennifer from TheChicPad was absolutely killing me with her comments about what we designers put our pour husbands through all for the sake of making things pretty!! She basically said that her husband thinks the sound of spray paint is one of the most terrifying sounds! LMAO...and it just goes on and on...sigh...still laughing...
The cat I found cleaning my studio and brought back such happy memories of when my girls were little. I just had to give her a coat of Gold!
And other items received the Midas Touch this week as you can see! I was thrilled to find my card holder shelves in my garage! Another Perk of Spring Cleaning! I had these in my boutique years ago and can't wait to use them again to organize my greeting card line.
And the knob update. Yes, I painted the existing ones Gold & No I'm not sure if I'll keep them because I am still on the hunt for ones that I really love. I'm also still hunting for a rug. Today I'm going to purchase a black and white striped one to try out. Next week I hope to finish my gallery wall & find the perfect accessories to finish it off!
Please make sure to check out Calling It Home & all the other amazing blogger/designers making beauty in the world!
Abby M Interiors // Because It's Awesome // Bijou & Boheme // Calling It Home // Chez V //
Chinoiserie Chic // Copy Cat Chic // The Decorista // Design Crisis // Design Indulgence //
Design Manifest // The English Room // The Glam Pad // Little Black Door // Momosa Lane //
My Notting Hill // The Pink Pagoda // Simple Details // My Sweet Savannah // Veranda House
One Room Challenge - Week 3 - Studio Refresh
Week 3 of the One Room Challenge was full of Ups & Downs...literally, lights went Up & old artwork came Down! I spent a good 2 days cleaning out my studio. Talk about some spring cleaning! After everything was rearranged, dusted off, and looking good again, I took down the old art I had on my wall to get ready to prep and paint my "Heart Of Gold".
Grrrr.... bummer #1. I had forgotten about some adhesive stickers that were still stuck to the wall from a former bulletin board. Ugg! So off to the garage to find my Goof Off! I'll be tackling that in the days to come.
The good news is I have light! I had to tackle a wiring issue and it was well worth the wait! Two sparkling sconces! I love them! Check mark that off the list!
This week I also ordered my desk! But, Bummer #2, it's on back order! Hopefully I'll have it in time! The price was reasonable. I looked at quite a few and since it's just going in my home office, this one did the trick. Right size & right color!
My current table has served me well and is now photographed and ready to find a new home on Craigs List.
Next on my list is knobs! Being so darn busy, I never finished putting all the hardware onto my filing cabinet! I'm not quite sure what I'll do with the old hardware but it just may involve a can of Gold Paint. We shall see what inspiration sparks me over the next few days. If that doesn't work out, these are a few I fell in love with this week.
1 Jewel Knob Black & Gold 2 Swirled Geode Knob 3 Pink Ceramic Knob 4 Confetti Knob 5 Brass Pull 6 U Turn Pull 7 Brass Bar
Check out all the other fabulous One Room Challenge Makeovers over at Calling It Home!
You'll want to check out all these talented ladies participating in the One Room Challenge!
Abby M Interiors // Because It's Awesome // Bijou & Boheme // Calling It Home // Chez V //
Chinoiserie Chic // Copy Cat Chic // The Decorista // Design Crisis // Design Indulgence //
Design Manifest // The English Room // The Glam Pad // Little Black Door // Momosa Lane //
My Notting Hill // The Pink Pagoda // Simple Details // My Sweet Savannah // Veranda House
One Room Challenge - Week 2 - Studio Refresh!
As I mentioned earlier my studio is in my attic. The ceiling comes in at different angels which gives it character but also creates challenges. It also has a funky access door to the right. As I see my fellow bloggers making great strides with their make overs, I find myself staring at this awkward wall and stacks of paintings trying to figure out how to make it all work.
So here's what I've come up with. I'm going to paint a large Gold Heart on the wall and select 18 of my favorite paintings to hang. I've created this template to scale. Feel free to use it for your personal use.
I narrowed down some of my favorites but there are still cuts to be made. Boo!
Make sure to check out all the design make overs at Calling It Home!
You'll want to check out all these talented ladies participating in the One Room Challenge!
Abby M Interiors // Because It's Awesome // Bijou & Boheme // Calling It Home // Chez V //
Chinoiserie Chic // Copy Cat Chic // The Decorista // Design Crisis // Design Indulgence //
Design Manifest // The English Room // The Glam Pad // Little Black Door // Momosa Lane //
My Notting Hill // The Pink Pagoda // Simple Details // My Sweet Savannah // Veranda House
One Room Challenge - Studio Office Make Over
Thanks to the Lovely Linda of Calling It Home, I've found motivation to finally make over my studio space! During the 6 week challenge I'll be posting progress pictures of the room's transformation. My studio is on the third floor of my home in my attic. It's a funky space but I love it. It does however have a few issues. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the best light and being an artist, that's kind of a big deal. It also can either be very cold or very hot. These are two functional issues I want to address.
Aesthetically, it just really needs an update! It has a hodge podge of furnishings that are functional but dated. For some reason I have always loved a beautiful trestle table so that is number one on my shopping list. Here are a few pictures from my Pinterest Board on Offices that I really love. Tomorrow I'll be posting more pictures of the space and how I plan on tackling a gallery wall.
Be sure to check in with all the amazing designers posting their One Room Challenges on their blogs in the Thursday Link Up!
Top Image // Middle Image // Bottom Image
You'll want to check out all these talented ladies participating in the One Room Challenge!
Abby M Interiors // Because It's Awesome // Bijou & Boheme // Calling It Home // Chez V //
Chinoiserie Chic // Copy Cat Chic // The Decorista // Design Crisis // Design Indulgence //
Design Manifest // The English Room // The Glam Pad // Little Black Door // Momosa Lane //
My Notting Hill // The Pink Pagoda // Simple Details // My Sweet Savannah // Veranda House
Calling It Home - One Room Challenge - My 6 Week Studio Refresh!
Well better late than never, I'm jumping into The One Room Challenge that the talented Linda of Calling It Home blog has graciously put together. There are soooooo many amazing designers & bloggers participating, I'm not sure what I'm thinking but I know something for sure, my studio is in desperate need of a make over! Next week I'll be posting my design plan and saying a little prayer I can get it done in 6 weeks! Make sure you check out all the amazing design plans taking place over the next 6 weeks by following The One Room Callenge. The link is in my side bar! Wish me luck!
NEEDS A MAKE OVER!!!
Love Is Free & So Are My New Print-ables!
I've teamed up with two of my favorite retailers Rosenberry Rooms & District 17 to create 2 new printable Valentine's Banners for you to download and enjoy for your personal use.
As an Interior Designer I'm contstantly sourcing product for my clients. Rosenberry Rooms has an incredible collection of home decor for the little ones in your life, including my collections as well. Yay! They are the nicest people to work with and the first place I would look to shop for a wide range of children's decor.
District 17 is their new sister site for your teen or college student. They carry everything you could possibly need for the most stylish dorm room! I'm thrilled that they carry my product there as well. With their curracted collection of designers, it's some serious company to be in!
Please enjoy both of these downloads and feel free to share with your friends!
You can purchase my Kiss Me Print here and ELovephant collection here.
Download Rosenberry Room's ELovephant "Be Mine" printable here.
Download District 17's "You, Me, Oui!" printable here.
Monday's Mood Board - 10 Tips To Style A Tray For Your Coffee Table!
On today's Monday Mood Board I'm wrapping up my series on How To Style A Tray for you Coffee Table. I put together this little watercolor painting to give you a few ideas on what you can use when you are creating your table top displays. First of all, make sure the items you collect bring you joy and make you smile. Think about height, layers & textures. I love books, as I mentioned before, because they tell people who you are. Stacks of books also make perfect pedestals for small objects like this fabulous Sphere or an aromatic Candle.
I believe that fresh flowers can actually shift the way you feel and turn a blah day into a fantastic day. I usually stock up on flowers at the local Farmer's Market but if arranging fresh flowers on a weekly basis feels like a daunting task to you, you could always consider a small plant or succulent.
Also, think about creative ways to display your flowers. I love the idea of repurposing used perfume bottles!
Small bowls, trays or decorative boxes are critical for me since I'm constantly misplacing my pens and reading glasses! This little zebra tray is just too adorable, well, only because it's not a real zebra skin, that's not adorable at all.
For real interest add something sculptural. I love, love, love these Agate Stones! They are not only sculptural but they bring in the element of nature. Keeping nature in mind, sea shells with candles is also a lovely idea. So there you have it! Ten simple & easy tips to bring some Happy into your Home!
Times Two Design Lollipop Agate Stone From ShopTen25
Scoppio Sphere from ZGallerie
Jonathan Adler Zebra Dish from Hattan Home
Ginger Jar Matches from Design Darling
Stacking Bowls from Anthropologie
Mid-Week Mood Board - Part II How To Style A Tray!
A couple more thoughts about styling a tray for your coffee table:
Save your perfume bottles & use them for a vase. I just love this idea!
Add a quirky item like this Skull Candle from ZGallerie!
Keep matches in a decorative holder.
Add some sparkle, like this gorgeous Lollipop Agate Stone from ShopTen25.
Of course books, let guest know who you are & what you like. Surround yourself with as many as possible. Stacking books is a great way to add depth and dimension which creates a pleasing visual display.
Work with a color palette. Pink, Black & Gold is fun & sofisticated.
Pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy!
The Perfect Little Hostess Gift!
With all the parties happening this time of year I always make sure I'm stocked up on Hostess Gifts! When in doubt, you can always give flowers! Everyone loves to get flowers! This year I've been wrapping my flowers with my New Pineapple Party Tea Towels! We all know it wouldn't be a party without them, right? So let your host or hostess know their appreciated!
Pineapples mean "Welcome" & "Hospitality". They used to be quite rare, once only seen among royalty. Bloggers, at TwoChums have a super explanation of the history of the Pineapple in Home Decor. I'll be posting this week about all the fun things you can do with a Tea Towel! You can stock up on ours here.
Updates & A Little Boy's Bulldog Room...The Process
Just when you think you can't get any busier, the universe has a way of handing you more! I've had such a fun week, talking on the radio, working on projects that I just love with clients that I love, and perparing for my Seminar this Sunday at the Home Expo! That is just a small part of what's been going on so my blogging has been a little - a hem - delayed. :-)
I mentioned a little while ago that I am designing a dozen different children's rooms, on a budget, and a tight time frame. Love it! Every room has a different theme and it's sparking all kinds of ideas for new art which is why my blog has been reflecting more of a kiddo vibe these days.
This is a little peak of how I work. I do this with my E-Design clients as well (if you're interested in that just email me and I'll send you all the info.) Side note: My website will be undergoing some major construction these next few months, with all new features and services, so stay tuned for that!
Anyhow, back to the "process" First I pick my room theme, in this case, it's my Bulldog Room. Then I create a floor plan. Next, I find all the goodies; the furniture, bedding, and accessories. Last of all, I pick the paint colors. All these items and links to them are cataloged on schedule sheets so that the client knows exactly where they can purchase the items. This also gives the client a clear idea of what the project is going to cost. In my case, I had a budget I had to stick too and I'm happy to say that I came in under budget on this one.
And just for fun, I like to put together an illustration of how the room will look. This can also be done digitally at OlioBoard.com which is a great resource for those of you who like to create your own designs. I'm going to talk about their site this weekend at the Seminar. I hope to see you there!
Bed from RosenberryRooms Bedding from Serena & Lily Bulldog Pillow & Print from Piccola Casa License Plate Art from ETSY Little Red Bulldog From ETSY Rockin' Bulldog Lamp from PB Teen Wall Decal from Trading Phases Stuffed Bulldog from IKEA
I'm Speaking At The HOME EXPO!!! Join Me May 5th! 1:30
And join me Tuesday, April 30th, at 8:30 am for my radio interview on Coast 101.3!!!
I'm Speaking At The SLO HOME SHOW!!! Join Me May 5th! 1:30pm
I'm super excited and honored to be asked to do a seminar on Interior Design and Color!!! I have sooooooo much great information to share with you! Please come join me Sunday, May 5th! It's a great show to make contact with all our local home professionals and get inspiration for your own home improvement projects!
Mid Week Mood Board - Spot On Design!
There are a couple of things trending right now in design and I've fallen hard for them. First of all, I'm madly in love with all things spotted. Oddly enough, it wasn't the easiest accessory to find so when I came across this fabulous spotted cowhide rug over at Society Social I was beyond thrilled. In fact, let me just tell you, this is a fabulous site for designers and those who love design. The founder/designer Roxy Owens has really put together an incredible team with some serious design inspiration on her sites.
And while we are trending. Let's talk about Hollywood Regency for a bit shall we? It has always been my first love in design. Many of my textiles are influenced by the old Hollywood black and white movies I watched over and over as a kid. I remember being 7 years old and being mesmerized by the fashion and even the architectural details in these movies. Many of the borders on my pillows, like my Cherry Pillow here, are reflective of that time period. When I saw this crib over at Jack & Jill Boutique, I knew I just had to create a room around it. (More to come about this adorable website and the incredible designer behind it, Sherri Blum) This crib is gorgeous! Who says a nursery can't be sophisticated?
Leave it to designer extraordinaire, Abbe Fenimore from Shop Ten 25, to have the hottest selections in lighting on her site. She finds the most unique and distinctive items like this amazing Tassel Pendant!
And any room wouldn't be complete without just a touch of animal print. That's my "Good To Know" designer tip of the day by the way. Where else to find it but at Layla Grayce of course. Their Sophia Lounge Chair with zebra upholstery, adds just the right amount of chic to the room.
Last of all, let's talk about Walls. Another hot trend is Greek Key. I came across this super ETSY shop that makes a Greek Key Vinyl Border. You can't get any easier than that to dress up a room! Don't be afraid to go bold with color too. A few years ago I designed a restaurant in San Luis Obispo called Palazzo Giuseppe. The owners of the building thought I was crazy as I was painting all the molding and doors in a high gloss black and the ceilings, yes all of them, in a metallic silver, but when the last chandelier was hung and crystal placed on the table, they all said, Wow! The restaurant is still going strong and I highly recommend everything on the menu!
Here's one more "Good To Know" designer tip; whenever you are painting anything metallic (like the big gold heart on my Mood Board) it's best to rent a cup sprayer. Mask off your heart and spray the paint on. Otherwise you will have roller or brush marks. Of course you want to make sure that the room is well ventilated, windows open, etc. and you wear a mask too.
1 Original Heart Painting From Piccola Casa 2 Spotted Cowhide Rug From Society Social 3 Sophia Lounge Chair From Layla Grayce 4 Ivory Tassel Pendant From Shop Ten 25 5 Greek Key Border From ETSY 6 Beverly Crib from Jack and Jill Boutique 7 Black and White Stripe & Cherry Pillows from Piccola Casa
Happy New Years!
Happy New Year Everyone! As the year winds down we like to stay home on New Years Eve and celebrate with close friends and family. I came across this clever idea via Pinterest. This idea comes from Fabianna of Ciao! Newport Beach. I loved her dining setting for New Years, especially how she photocopied clocks and placed them under clear plates. Such a simple and cute idea. You can check out all her other lovely ideas for New Years here. May you all have a safe holiday and let's all have a Fantastic 2013! Cheers!
Monday's Mood Board - Update!
Remember this?
It was my concept illustration for my daughter's bedroom make-over. A few things have changed but I'm getting very close to finishing it all up...just a few more pillows to sew and items to hang! Instead of the black strped drapes I decided to create my own fabric which will be available in my shop next week. My sweet mother and I sewed the window coverings last week and I just finished these painting for above their bed. I still plan on painting a boarder behind the paintings but you'll see all of that when I reveal the entire room.
Painting Layout....just getting started.
I did one with three roses and the other with two and added crystals to the inside of the roses.
Hanging on the wall but not quite complete...Make sure to come back next week and see the finished product!
Screen Your Room!
There are so many things to love about the Central Coast and last night was no exception to a good time. I took the girls to Farmer's Market in downtown, San Luis Obispo to go hunting for treasures. With three (almost) teenage daughters, it's impossible to not pay our respects to Urban Outifitters. It's always a bit odd for me because the building that is now Urban Outfitters was the old Copeland Sport's headquarters where I worked for almost ten years after graduating fom Cal Poly. So when I walk upstairs to what was my Advertising Office and see this, it's a bit of nostalgia for the old but interest for the new. Look what they did with these old silk screens. They created an entire room. Such a clever idea. How can you not Love that?
One in particular caught my eye with this terrfic patter. I can only image what textile it was used to ceate.
Of course, leave it to my daughters to find *anything* kitty oriented! I posted pics throughout the night from various locations on my new favorite passion, Instagram. Now you can Follow Me there too. Happy Friday everyone! Time to get ready for a big photo shoot of our new product!