Gallery Walls

It's no secret that we all love gallery walls. The trick is tweaking it so that you make it your own: different frame colors and materials, mirrors, numbers/letters, silhouettes, plates, clocks, other collected objects, framed objects/art/photographs, and playing with sizes. Pretty much every client I have wants a gallery wall somewhere in their space....so even I too can get stuck in a creative rut and need some inspiration. Here are a few ideas that are beyond just the black frame-white mat....

So get inspired and get creative! See what you have around the house, draw it out on paper, and test it out. There's no time like the present!

It's almost Halloween!

I'm sure by now your neighbors all have their homes covered with spiderwebs and ghosts and pumpkins on the front porch... and perhaps you have a few decorations out yourself. I always find it tricky to not fall into the lure of the generic Target dollar-bin decorations. I have nothing against them, and have a few myself, but it is also nice to have something original in your home.

Here are a few ideas to get you out of your 'spook' style rut:

My friend Meriel demonstrated this wreath on her blog. I just LOVE how it turned out. She chose a nude/orange tulle with black ribbon; also here it is in black tulle with orange ribbon (more spooky Halloweeny).

Another idea is to create your own fall centerpiece. My boys and I went on a fall walk in our neighborhood and gathered up some vibrant leaves, pine cones, and ferns. Not bad for a completely FREE centerpiece, right?

I also love to change out the photos in my frames. At Halloween time I'll put out past Halloween costume photos and pictures of pumpkins from the pumpkin patch. It's a great trip down memory lane :)...sorry no pics because my computer is being weird...

For a more elaborate approach, here is an Edgar Allan Poe vignette to have in your entryway:

Happy decorating!

Super bass

Okay, so not exactly related to interior design but I had to post about this. I'm sure many of you by now have seen this video of this amazing little 8 year old and her cousin singing Nicki Minaj.

Well they were on Ellen and I could not stop crying.

Amazing.

Giveaway Winner

Congratulations @aesheley! You are the lucky winner of adorable and fun terrarium. Send me an email with your address so that I can get this sent off to you! Congrats again!

GIVEAWAY EXTENDED

Yes I will admit. In an attempt to get some more followers and readers to admit they read, (and the fact that I am going out of town this weekend to relax and see friends/family in sunny southern California) I am extending the giveaway until NEXT Friday, October 7. So spread the word and join. You are seriously going to LOVE the terrarium. They are so cute, modern and add a touch of cool flair in ANY space.

So spread the word and I'll keep you posted. Good luck :)

Alternative Wallpaper

For us renters, there isn't always much we can do about our walls. Even painting a neutral color is a no-no to most landlords. Well, I was watching the Nate Berkus show the other day and he showed that you can actually use bed sheets as wallpaper. Who knew?!? Basically you 1. Clean the wall space 2. Spray the top quarter of the wall with heavy spray starch 3. Smooth on the sheet 4. Add some more starch ontop of it and tack it temporarily with a pin. 5. Complete process in sections. 6. Wait for one hour to remove pins and Voila!

I have never tried this before, but am really tempted on trying it for my entry wall. It isn't supposed to leave any damage and be easy to remove. I'm just nervous about the hems and edges. Have any of you tried or heard of this fancy trick?

**Still looking for the image of the foyer Nate did on his episode!

Water For Elephants

Inspiration comes from all art forms...

I saw Water For Elephants a few months back and absolutely loved it! I loved the costumes, the time period, the story....it was just beautiful.

Well I stumbled upon this amazing wedding shoot based on the movie Water For Elephants from the website greenweddingshoes.com. It took my breath away. The photographer Marilyn Nakazato describes the shoot,

“It’s not necessarily trying to mock the look of the movie but rather how we imagined what the main characters, Jacob and Marlena played by Rob and Reese, and how their wedding would have been like. It’s almost as if they had collected things they found in their homes and brought them outside, set their furniture on a nearby grassy area with the trains in the background. The ceremony area was created with a wrought iron gate intertwined with moss and wood to bring a simple and rustic feel.”

Every detail is whimsical, vintage, magical and perfection!

I am also a huge SYTYCD fan and loved the Water For Elephants-inspired group dance. Breathtaking.