You Inspire Me

I am so far behind on enjoying my favorite blogs and have finally emerged from mounds of sheets and towels after hosting 6 fabulous college students here for the 4th. 


Who inspired you to begin blogging?

Lisa, who pens the gracious,  The Lisa Porter Collection, 
muses of reading one of her favorites -
one favorite leads to another right(?) - 
and was sparked into thinking about her inspiration to start blogging.

I thought I would take her urging and tell you where my inspiration came from.


From a google search on design blogs I found....

the ever adorable Joni Webb
of Cote de Texas.

Cote de Texas

She mesmerized me by her novelette style of writing and fabulous photos and oh so witty humor.  She is one gracious southern lady and quick to share her home with her readers.

Cote de Texax

Her beautiful entry which like most designers gets restyled frequently.

Cote de Texas

Her family room is so inviting and comfy.

Michelle Morelan

She is famous I tell you! 

 She is the grand dame of blogging, one of the first and does it so well.  She has a tremendous following of people from all over the world and one very talented Canadian, Michelle Morelan of Schematic Life who rendered Joni's living room. 

As we all know, bloggers' sidebars can be dangerous.  That is how I found many of you, from Joni's and others.  So I ask you?  Where did you get your inspiration to blog come from?

America the Beautiful

Land that I love

I'll meet you down the road in an hour, ok?

I'll get everything set up and you bring the viddles for our breakfast.

Perfect......Happy 4th!  

Celebrate, let freedom ring.

photos by Erin MeDonald

White

fresh

google images

crisp

google images

Cool

google images

chic

elle decor

refined

designresource

peaceful

elle decor

layers of interest

comfy

girlie

 

What is white to you?

Seems like we all want it.

California Dreamin'

I'm dreaming of a beautiful 'cool' place 

to get out of this southern heat.

Big Sur, California, wanna come along?

Been in a bit of a heat funk.

Project Monday and Styling by the VAMP

This image is the 'after' because I forgot to take the 'before'.  

You can get the gist anyway. 

The table (from the now defunct Bombay) was a brown varnish and the chair was just your basic bamboo color.  REPO bamboo, don't get all crazy on me thinking I would paint vintage art deco. 

TIP:

You can paint flat paint over a varnish and then go back and paint gloss over the flat!

That's the cheater's way of NOT stripping and sanding, etc!

Update on the lampshades too.

My living room is a definite work in progress.  

It started out this way....

Wall colour, which I inherited and OK for a while, needed a bit updating. 

Not that it is a bad colour, but my furniture just looked 'off'.

I had just used SW Ramie in a client's home and one Sunday afternoon I went out and got a couple of gallons and got 'to it'!

I like the lighter wall colour!

Thought I would try arranging the furniture this way.... or NOT.

Well along came to town, the Visual Vamp, Valorie Hart and we got busy re-styling the space.

She is THE best.  :)

  

She took a shopping trip around my home and gave me a fresh new look!  We found the canvas at the Ballard outlet, not bad!

It's still ongoing as the buffet lamps are just too tall, need to pull down a bit and I am still in need of art or something over the sofa, and an area rug to pull the space in.  

Check out my post on the plantation chairs here. since recovered.  

You can see my two painted projects on the backside of the room.

Eventually the glass coffee table from the FR will come in here and something a bit more 

'foot worthy' will go in there.

Where did the buffet table go?

to the entry....

Just what the space needed!

Thanks Valorie!

Black and White and a POP of Colour!

Contemporary done well.

Bright, airy, crisp.

You know I love tufting and this ottoman is way cool!

The Trina Turk geometric rug and pillows...wowsers.

I'm not a huge turquoise fan but this works.

When I look at those doors, I want to paint mine.

I think about all of you friends, it's been crazy wild around here with visiting friends and 

trying to get some things nailed down on the wedding
(son getting married Oct 22 in MI).

Looking for the 'perfect' mom of the groom dress and I am way picky and want some elegance not some granny look. 
As Fifi says, 'le sigh'!

Image from Real Simple

could not find photographer credit.

Blue Decor - Is it You?

I am not partial to blue decor personally but many clients are. 

What about you, what do you gravitate towards or what colors make you happy?

I thought I would put pictures out for your perusal. I would love to hear what you have to say about each room's styling, colors, balance or anything else you see positively or negatively. 

I can't wait to hear your take on these images and the styles (or lack thereof) of decor!

Images from House Beautiful