Inspired By....Country Strong.

Last night I went with a group of girlfriends to see "Country Strong" for my birthday. I LOVED IT! I had heard mixed reviews, but hoped for the best....and the best is what I got. It is an emotional rollercoaster with great music and a great cast!

So today after listening to my favorite song from the movie "Give Into Me" sung by Leighton Meester and Garrett Hedlund, I am inspired by all things country. Enjoy the video clip and country interiors!

**all photos courtesy Country Living and Southern Living

New Year, Resolutions, and Clean Spaces

With the New Year upon us, one can't help but think "what can I do better this year"? Whether it's learning a new skill or getting more involved in the community .... this blog is about interiors... and I have one resolution that fits under that category. Simply put, I would like to be better organized. With this comes a couple of things:

Purge. I need to get rid of things I haven't used in the past year....clothes, cheap McDonalds kid's toys, tattered sheets or pillows, etc...

If I am committed to a particular item, I need to store it away properly with other like items....not just on a shelf in a closet thinking I 'might use it' soon.

I need to get better storage boxes. I am thrifty, so I'll often use boxes I already have, but let's be honest, it doesn't get me excited to put something away in a Huggies diaper box. I like to open a closet and see something a little nicer. Much more motivating.

Declutter. Take unnecessary items out from the visible eye. It is eventually going to creep back in there, so you might as well move the Eiffel Tower statue given to you by your in-laws that has no aesthetic appeal.

Vow to keep on your your dusting (and vacuuming and washing). You have spent money on your furniture and decor, now take a few minutes to keep them looking brand new. It'll make you love your home every day, instead of just when company comes over.

Confession

I have a confession. I love chick-lit books. They are fun, a quick-read, and a dreamy escape from reality. I love Lauren Weisberger and Emily Giffin and all those girls. I just finished I Heart New York by Lindsey Kelk. It was great. If you want to get out of the reading slump this will help! It was a great holiday read. Enjoy!

(on a side note, I also use the website goodreads.com where you enter in the books you read and rate them and your friends do it too. That way you can look books up and always find a recommendation)

Chesterfield Sofa

HAPPY 2011 everybody! I hope you were all able to ring in the new year with family, friends, and lots of fun! We went to a minute-to-win-it party again this year- and it is ALWAYS a good time! (and a double bounus that we didnt have either kid with us!)

Lately I have been both busy and lacking inspiration, so today I am posting in response to a friends question. She recently bought a beautiful new house, and they have this living room/front room that she needs help with. She has bought two beautiful chesterfield sofas that right now are facing eachother pushed all the way against the walls. There is probably about 7-8 feet between the sofas. A catch to the room...the far wall has double doors to go out to the outdoor patio/fireplace space and it gets used quite a bit. So there must be a flow to the room.

A couple of options:

1. Place a console behind the sofa poushed back to the front window....this will create interest to the room and depth as well as functionality (surface area for drinks). I would put two lamps, picture frames, books or other fun design elements.

2. Instead of one big coffee table, which will blog the flow to the outside, split them up. Two square table off balanced would be functional as well as stylish. I'm thinking nothing too heavy. Simple thin legs and either a thin wooden top or glass.

3. The high arms present a bit of an akward dilemna with side tables. If you have a really large space with tall ceilings, you could be creative and use something like a wine barrell or stool that will match the height of the arms (or close to it). Otherwise, you might not really need a side table. Fill the space with something else, like a cool magazine rack, a floor lamps, a basket of blankets (since it's right by the outdoor patio space).

4. It would be great to 'bring the outdoors in' in this space and play with different materials- wood, linen, metals, etc. I also love the garen (Palmers) stools. In the entryway corner, my friend is going to put a chair, so next to the chair it would be perfect to have one of these stools as a side table....or next to one of the sofas.

5. Definitely a big beautiful rug with a pattern to tie the space in.

I'm excited to see the space finished. Here are a few more inspiring pics related to these types of ideas. Enjoy!

Last Minute Gifts

Just a few days to go until Christmas, and if you are like me, no matter how prepared you try to be, there is always SOMEBODY you still need to buy a gift for. I usually go for practical gifts that people will use or need, so this year I have been trying really hard to think our of the box this year and give something fun. Here are a few things I've stumbled upon to help you brainstorm some last minute gift ideas.....

For those living in rain in the winter like myself:

Hunter Wellies

Burke Decor carries these industrial and whimsical ABC coasters:

Thomas Paul glasses case....only $15

For all you letter writers out there.... A Wax Seal from Katrina Alana

Book and Design Lovers: American Fashion Designers At Home

For the Green-lover:

Water Carafe made from recycled glass

For Him:

what would a list be without the I-Pad?

Kiehls Ultimate Man Collection
I feel like I could go on, but my 3 year old rerally wants to play games on the computer, and I've got some more shopping to do!

Decorating with Tiffany Blue

I was browing Canada's Style At Home website and found this fresh and beautiful Christmas inspiration photo.




I love the deterant from typical a Christmas color scheme: reds, whites, greens and golds. Tiffany blue, silver and white are the perfect combination for modernity, class and sparkle to add that special "Christmas Magic" (as my niece calls it).



Here are a few more WHITE inspired Christmas trees:

What Holiday color scheme are you into these days?

Stocking Round-up

We are heading out of town next week to go to my parents home for 10 days at Thanksgiving....I couldn't be more excited! I just love being on the East Coast during the holiday season. Then we will be back in Berkeley for about 2 weeks, then off to Southern California for up to a month :) I'm telling you all this so that you can understand why I am going to start decorating for Christmas next week. Christmas has my favorite holiday decorations, and I just love making my home feel like a magical wonderland! I even started listening to Christmas music. Normally I have a rule (and my husband has the rule for me) no Christmas music and no decorations until after Thanksgiving. But with all of our traveling on the horizon, I want to squeeze out every ounce of this holiday season.

So today, I want to do a Christmas stocking round-up. I love Christmas stockings and love fireplaces and mantles to hang them on. We had a fireplace in our first apartment, but never since. So here's to Santa's chimney :)

Ballard Designs

horchow

MacKenzie-Childs

Bloomingdales ...reminds me of my childhood

Pottery Barn