Shade Sails

While we were in Boston on our family vacation in July, I came across an inventive solution to creating shade for an outdoor seating area. Given that a couple of my clients have outdoor spaces that are quite sunny and lacking for shade, I was intrigued.

We saw this in Cambridge on the Harvard campus...

A quick Google search and look what I found....

 1800shadeu

umbrellas ganteng 

I love the organic look and feel of these shades as well as the potential for using them in creative combinations. 
How difficult would it be to do this? Well you can buy ready made sails here 

 Shade Cloth Store

And here.

Or if you are clever and creative like Jessica from Running with Scissors, you can make your own with her great tutorial for a DIY shade sail project.

 Shade sails seem such a great way to make a cozy, shady spot in any yard, don't you think?

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Room Rx.

Goodies from Home Decorators Collection

Did you receive the latest catalogue from Home Decorators Collection ? I got mine on Saturday and was pleasantly surprised by the appealing, together, new look of it. The products were well styled, a shift from past catalogues, and the variety of offerings seems to be very much in tune with the marketplace.  Home Decorators Collection has always been a source with great products,  a depth of offering and excellent prices, but it always seemed a little frumpy.  Now the style factor has been amped up and this has definitely become a new, go to resource.

Here are a few things that caught my eye:
Bathroom Vanities...

Savoy Sink Cabinet

Fraser Bath Vanity

Montaigne Bath Vanity

Custom Upholstery Program:

Twenty items and just over forty fabrics to choose from....

Skirted Storage Bench

Notched Headboard with Nailhead Trim

Armless Wingback Chair

If you act quickly, until Midnight tonight (1/23/12), you can take advantage of free shipping on all tables and select cabinets... check these out:

Lombard Round Coffee Table

Spool Dining Table

Washer Accent Table

Finally, through February 13th all Bed & Bath is 20% off, so if you are in the midst of a bedroom or bathroom project, go see what Home Decorators Collection has to offer! 

What are your favorites over at HDC?

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design?  If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Design Concept Board or a complete Room Rx.

this & that

Remember last week when I told you about my "kitchen tweaking" project and my love for this West Elm Modern Windsor chair? My client has shared a photo of the chairs paired with her Craigslist bargain table (which will be re-finished soon, stained a deeper color and poly coated to hold up to the wear and tear of daily use).  I am loving the clean lines and black finish of the chairs, paired with the classic pedestal table and the drum shade light fixture.  I promise to share more about the plans we have for this space, but this is a great start to it all.

In other news, Sarah at Pewter & Sage just announced the inspiration for another Mood Board Monday; dinnerware!  Check out these lovlies....

David Stark Wood Slices at  West Elm

Penumbral Doily at Anthropologie

Chirp by Lenox at Macy's

 Philippe Deshoulieres' "Dhara" at Bloomingdales

Sarah and I co-hosted Mood Board Monday, the "Wallpaper Edition"  back in September. Check it out, then go put on your creative hat, put together a mood board for a dining room inspired by one of these fun dinnerware sets and join us on Monday, November 14th! Here is a link with all of the particulars for 
Dinnerware and Dining Rooms. 
I LOVE Mood Board Mondays!

 

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Room Rx

shades of calm

Well....the computer is still in the shop....for the 8th day now. That sucker better run like an Indy race car when I get it back. So today, instead of "Color of the Moment," you get a little eye candy.

So many lovely, calm (yes I need that right now) things about this room.  The color, texture, clean lines, you get the picture.  I really like the tie dye shams and the butterfly print....

I am off to a client meeting, a little kitchen tweaking, more on that later.  Have a great day!

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? 

If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Design Concept Board or a complete Room Rx.

Cozy: granny square blankets

The overnight high in Madison last night was in the mid 30's which tells me (along with my kids complaining of the cold house this morning,) that fall is here.  While I don't love the super hot Summer days and I do love Fall, I am not quite ready for drastically cooler temps. So this morning I am thinking cozy.... thinking of the granny square blankets my grandmother used to make, something about them feels homey and warm.  And really I think they are retro cool, especially the modern interpretations.

Posy: The Happy Things

 wood & wool stool

Sewing Daisies {via flickr}

 {via}

The Flower Bed

La Casa de Coto {via etsy}

Dolly Called Topsy {via etsy}

 {via}

What about you?  Are you a fan of granny square blankets?  Do you have a "grandma made" blanket that you proudly display or use in an innovative way?

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? 

If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Design Concept Board or a complete Room Rx.

Clever: spool book-table

Today I'm sharing just a little inspiration, no time for a big post as I have just returned from a whirlwind road-trip with my boys (over 800 miles including a visit to my BFF and her family in
Des Moines, 2 college visits and 2 trips to Peru, IL for the Senior Little League play off games for our Wisconsin State Champion team).  I am whooped and now trying to catch up and get ready to head out again on Friday for our family vacation!  All good things, but keeping me busy, busy, busy so forgive my light posts the next couple of days.

I found this on Pinterest and was smitten!  I thought old cable spools were only used in the apartments of "poor" college students in conjunction with bookshelves made from boards and large concrete blocks!  This proves that with a little ingenuity and elbow grease, the spool can indeed be not only "green" and clever, but stylish! 

Country Living {via}

Wouldn't this be darling in a cottage or country home?  It would also be perfect in a loft apartment, playing off that industrial vibe!

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? 

If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Room Rx

Anthro: 3 things....

To my delight, I received the new Anthropologie catalog in the mail the other day, I never cease to be amazed at their creative product offerings for the home and find myself poring over the pages many times.  Here are my top 3 products, too bad I already spent my birthday money!

The most gorgeous take on the ceramic garden stool I have seen yet.

Honami Ceramic Stool

Wondering if John, my TWBIL could duplicate this for me....not that I need new nightstands or anything....

Brigita Nightstand

Too bad this puppy matches nothing in my home.... I could always start over somewhere...!

Shibori Swatch Bolster

Did I say 3?  Well, consider this one for good measure... because I actually think I have a spot for these and they are in my budget!

Finishing Touch Knob 

Have you looked over the new Anthro catalog?  What are your favorite goodies?

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? 

If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Room Rx

Clever Product

This is not a new idea, and I can't claim it was ever my own, but I still just love it....wallpapering the inside of bookcase...

{via}

Eddie Ross

 

{via}

2 images  via bhg

The idea is so simple and such a snap to do, with high impact results.  But maybe you are just a teeny bit like me with a touch of "decorating ADD" and you need a little help getting moving on even the most quick and simple projects....is that you?!!!  Well, fear not, Garnet Hill has the perfect solution for you, Smart Color Bookcases!
 
So easy, all you do is select the piece that works best for you in one of the color options offered. Pop off the back, wrap it in wallpaper or a sheet and pop it back on....and voila, you get the look and you haven't even broken a sweat (or out in hives at the thought of completing a DIY project)!  

 

Garnet Hill

Now that is my kind of DIY project!!!!  These pieces even come with two sets of hardware so that you can match the finish to your backing, love it!

Hope you all had a great week-end, it was hot here in Madison making the baseball tournament my youngest played in a "sweat-fest" and not just for the players!  I swear, I have never been so hot in my life, dripping, salt on your skin kind of hot, ewwww!  The boys played three games starting at 8 AM and finishing at 5 PM and as much as the fans/parents wanted them to keep winning, when the last game ended after 4 innings due to the opposing team's 10 run lead, no one was too disappointed!  The boys played incredibly well and we were proud of them, especially under the circumstances. My son passed out in the car on the way home while I had the AC cranked for the whole hour long drive. Holding up in the heat is not my strong suit....!

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? 

If so please contact me, I would love to help your room feel better with a Room Rx

At the end of my rope

Rope, who would think such a utilitarian material could inspire such creative uses in design and decor? 

Simple drawer pulls, about the easiest DIY project imaginable...

via {Remodelista}

Stunning support for bed swings.

via 

The cord for a pendant lamp, twisted around a side table and knots appliqued on a pillow...

Country Living


As a mirror frame.

Plumo Ltd


Interpreted in fabric and fashioned into a pillow, Lemon Rope by Hable Construction.

Pieces

A vintage Hans Wegner style rope chair.

Modern Vintage
 

Rope is the foundation of macrame pieces conjuring up plant hangers and 70's type wall hangings, but check out this modern interpretation of the classic wall hanging....

Sally England


The rope pendant again, so sophisticated here...

DeCesare Design Group


A rug woven from no longer useful mountain climbing rope, the link below includes a "how to."

Mountain Project

An over sized crocheted rug, gorgeous!

 Jean of Ladies and Gentlemen {via}

Such cleverness and creativity!  And then there is the whole world of rope in fashion, from bracelets, to necklaces, to belts and beyond, the applications seem endless.... I am inspired to find some way to incorporate the lowly rope in my home, believe me, the wheels are turning.  How about you, have you used rope for a design related project?  Leave a comment and feel free to share a link and give us a peek.

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? If so please contact me,
I would love to help your room feel better!