A Reminder of Beauty

While looking through 100 Layer Cake's blog today I was struck by how beautiful the simplest things can be. It's always been what I'm drawn to, but seeing it done so well makes the hairs on my arms stand up. Isn't it so inspiring to see something like this? Just when I start to get down on design, or feel like no one is getting it, or me, I see beautiful cakes that I just want to put on my coffee table they are so pretty.

The cakes are from Magpie's Cakes in Washington, D.C.

Thank you Veranda

Okay, so I know this house by Melanie Turner has been out in the blogger sphere for awhile now but I can't help posting on it.

Dara, thank you for publishing this gorgeous house! I can't wait to see what's next for Veranda. This gives me high hopes.

Love, love, love the neutral warm palette with pops of yellow.

Hello gorgeous floors. What's for dinner?

So pretty, I had to show another angle.

This kitchen is beyond. It will never go out of style with it's clean lines. Again, love the continuity with the pops of yellow.

Hello hallways. Love that she used different wainscoting treatments throughout the house. Some are casual and beachy while others are more formal.

Simple and relaxing master bedroom. I was expecting a little more pomp - but I love that she did the opposite of what I expected.

The daughters bedroom. The blue and green combination is so fresh. I'd love to add this green to my pale blue bedroom. This bedroom is dreamy - feminine yet tailored. Honey, what do you think?

The family room off the casual eating area and porch. This is one of my favorite rooms because of the color and energy. The Pottery Barn rug is fabulous. Wouldn't see any spills on that rug in my house. They'd be there, you just wouldn't see them!

Casual dining room. So serene. Perfect for my crazy boys!

Porch. Need I say more?

Lovely. Thanks again for pulling this off the shelf Veranda.

Flipping Out

Okay, so I'm dying to see the House Beautiful Kitchen of the Year by Jeff Lewis from Flipping Out. It's in Rockefeller Center from July 19th - July 23rd.

Flipping Out is one of my true evening pleasures. No one makes me laugh like Zoila. Well, Jeff and Jennie make me laugh just as hard but in a different way. I can't wait for the show to start again. I'd kill to hang out with that crazy man on a daily basis. Now, that's my idea of fun!

But since that won't be happening anytime soon, the show will have to support my need for sick humor, fab design, and the perils of managing a construction project. It's always satisfying to watch Jeff yell at the contractor since I can't do that on my jobs. But in the meantime, I'm super excited to see his modern take on a kitchen and outdoor living space. It will be so different from the gorgeous Ina Garten kitchen of last year, which is one of my favorite kitchen spaces.

I can't wait, Jeffy. I know you won't disappoint.

Ina Garten's 2009 Kitchen of the Year

Bedford Brown

Last week I took a little trip to one of my favorite Northwest cities, Portland, Oregon. It's such a great city. Great shopping, restaurants, hotels, and a fun urban vibe, yet a real sense of community. Being an Oregon native, the city always makes me feel like I'm home.

But one of the best parts of my trip was the incredible shop, Bedford Brown. Part home decor, stone yard and greenhouse - it's more like stepping into a store in Paris than Oregon. I was instantly in love. The owners are interior designers which is obvious by the attention to detail and sophisticated, edited lines they carry. The rotate inventory in and out so no visit is the same. I love it when retailers give you a reason to "pop by" every week so you don't miss something fantastic.

Here's a couple picks I snapped with my phone. Enjoy

The outside of the store.

This is the fence outside the store. Gorgeous way to create atmosphere and a brand on a traditional wire fence. I couldn't contain myself as I was driving up.

Picture of the stone yard with the beautiful Portland bridge in the background. This image is from their website as the sun is shinning.

My picture of the stone yard. Yes, it was raining. But it didn't dampen my excitement.

Another image of some of their garden inventory. This is the best edited selection of statuary items I've seen. No tacky birdbaths or gnomes here.

Inside image of the greenhouse.

Another greenhouse interior with a selection of fabulous slip covered furniture. These ticking striped club chairs by Lee Industries were to die for and on sale!

An assortment of home decor accessories. This store is chocked full of them. Everywhere you turn is something fabulous.

Another inspirational vignette in the store.

And yet another one...

While most of the store has a subdued European flair right now, there is this great black and white stripped contemporary room at the front of the store. A great classic look.

This store really has something for everyone. I couldn't possibly take a picture of every vignette or item in the store - there was something great in every inch. It's so unique and inspiring. I can't wait to visit again... and again.

Citrine

On a recent trip to Bend, Oregon I spotted a chair (you know the ones for the men while they sit and wait) in an apparel store that caught my eye. I'm not much for yellow - but it was not the run of the mill soft, safe yellow you usually see. It was the most beautiful citrine color. Not quite yellow, not quite green - just the perfect fresh color that's exciting and strong yet subtle. So gorgeous and it would work with almost anything. Not to mention that it was a silk/linen blend which can never go wrong in my book.

I couldn't stop thinking about this chair and how I would like to use this color in a bedroom. Then I opened the new House Beautiful and there was the perfect room! The done in a day makeover by designer Amanda Nisbet. So Parisian in it's elegance and simplicity, but a touch of bohemian with the accent fabrics.

I love simplicity and personality of the room, but that headboard made me quiver. Gorgeous, and the perfect complement for that sweet citrine linen french chair.

I've got a few of these french chairs hanging around my storage unit. Who's really for a little hit of citrine in their life. Looks like maybe I am...

Attached

I've been running around like a chicken this past month, hence no posts. Last week was especially bad with the end of the school year and 5, yes 5, family birthdays in the same week. In between birthday celebrations, school events and work, I've been scouting for unique finds that I or my clients can't live without.

I grew up being dragged to estate sales and garage sales with my mom. Then I'd watch her work her magic and transform a well worn piece ( junk to most people) into a fabulous family heirloom. I guess you could say finding treasures is in my blood. Now my boys are being dragged along as well. I secretly think they like it even though they whine "not another sale mom. Can't we just go to the park".

Nothing makes me happier than finding something unique and giving it a new life. The problem is, I usually get attached to those pieces. Which is why I now I have huge storage unit full of chairs, tables, end tables, sofas, etc. You name it, I may have it. I especially fall hard for chairs.

Last week, I found 4 great faux bamboo chairs. They took my breath away. All they need is some fabulous new seat cushions and they will be the star of a room. Being as I don't need all these fabulous finds - a friend of mine bought the chairs for her client. I literally had to wipe the tears away as I watched them drive away. Note to self - I need a bigger house.

When one door closes another door opens. The next day, I spotted these hard to find barrel chairs. I can't wait to redo these and find them a new home. That is, if I can part with them.

My attachment problem is job security for the storage unit business.

I can't wait to see what I find next. Coffee, wine and furniture treasures. What more does a girl need?

Nate strikes again

I'm not usually into the makeovers done on the morning shows, but this one from Nate Berkus and the Today Show was terrific.
He transformed a bedroom/office of one of their newlywed couples into a beautiful and functional master bedroom. He also used one of my favorite items from his HSN collection - the dhurrie zigzag rug.

Check it out here.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Design Crush - Shawn Henderson

Today I had the pleasure of attending a lecture by New York designer Shawn Henderson.

While I was a fan of his sophisticated modern interiors before meeting him, I'm a bigger fan now. (Let this be a lesson to us as designers - humility is never lost on an audience). He was so humble, warm and gracious. Not to mention, incredibly handsome. I had to keep reminding myself to pay attention to what he was saying.

This interiors are a perfect complement to his personality. Honest, straight-forward, sophisticated, serene and unique.

Here are a few of my favorites. To see all his work check out his website.

It was a true pleasure having the opportunity to meet a designer of his caliber and integrity. And, did I mention, cute? I think I did, but I better tell you again :) Not a lot of that happening in the Northwest.

I can't wait to see the projects he's currently working on. You darn lucky folks who've hired him!

Romo, where have you been all my life?

I'm married to grass cloth. And happily I might add. It's always my go to wallpaper for any room of the house that needs texture or a little color. But, I may have to have a little side fling with Romo Wallpapers. They are gorgeous and just the right amount of pattern to make an impact but not overwhelm the room.

Grass cloth meet Romo. I think you two can live happily ever after together in one house. A little suburban and a little city. A marriage made in heaven.

You can check out the entire wallpaper and fabric collection on their website.

Here are a couple of my favorites.

Mimas - I love this pattern. So fun and hip yet so timeless. The colors are amazing too.

Caruso - A great modern take on a traditional stripe. Looks incredible applied horizontally as well. Go ahead, break out of the box.

Kiku - So glamorous. A nice modern floral. It would be amazing in any room. Especially a bedroom. Yes, please.

Kenzan - This is the one that tempted me to cheat on my first love of grass cloth. The perfect understated statement.

Marenka - This one reminds me of Hollywood and my dearly departed grandma, mom-mom. She would have done her Los Angeles breakfast room in this floral. A little California glam and East Coast tradition rolled into one.

What do you think? Do any of these tempt you to try a fun pattern? I'd love to know.

Hope you're having a good week.

Last to know

I must be the last person in blogger land that hasn't already seen or commented on Suzanne Kasler's office that was featured in Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles.

It's times like these that I realize I need to keep on my on daily blog reads. Lately, I've just been trying to keep up on laundry. Yes, it's true and here's a story to prove it. My kids and I really want a dog. My husband and I have been telling the kids that they can't have a dog until they become more responsible around the house - sleeping in their own bed, putting their clothes in the laundry basket and not on the floor. Basic, expected things. Well, yesterday he told me that I can't get a dog until "I" learn to be more responsible. Code for "until I figure out how to work, shuttle the kids and, yes, do the laundry!" It's true so I couldn't be angry. He's just stating the obvious. So until I figure it out my blog and others have been falling to the back burner. Guess it's time to start getting up a couple hours earlier to try and fit everything in.

I read about Suzanne's office on Nest Egg's blog. While I died over the pictures, I laughed at Rachel's post. If you haven't seen it - check it out. I love her candor about her office space. Anyone who knows me personally will get a chuckle out of it.

All pictures from Nest Egg and Atlanta Homes & Lifestyle Magazine.

Great functional (meaning washable) chairs paired with a stylish work table, seagrass, and gorgeous oversized drum shade. Sigh.

The always chic, Suzanne. Her work table sums it up. Classic.

Dying over the organized baskets. I will be dreaming of these for years. Not kidding.

Dreaming of a crew too. A girl can dream can't she? I was excited when I put a flat screen t.v. in my studio. I might have a heart attack if I had a crew. And a crew all dressed in black!

I'll also be getting a subscription to Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles. There's nothing better than clean, simple designs that come out of the South.