Who doesn't love a quick fix? Part 1

So, whenever I go home to South Carolina, I can always count on my mom to have saved me helpful articles about anything and everything. For example, she handed my sisters and me an article explaining how to better repel mosquitoes from oneself.  Doesn't tickle your fancy? How about learning about the benefits of a cucumber? Ok, I can't say they always tickle my fancy. However, she surprised me with a tip sheet from Better Homes & Garden on quick and easy changes to update your home (or apartment!) and I thought it was great!  So I'm sharing below:

Better Homes & Garden's "10 Design Ideas We Love"

1. "Rearrange your furniture"

What an easy and often fun way to switch things up a bit for a refreshed look? It's completely free! They suggest to start with your largest piece of furniture and then go from there. You can try angling furniture toward a new direction or choosing a new focal point for the room. If you don't like, you can try again without have spent any money!

2. "Paint your front door."

Ok, I have to admit I'd be a little careful with this one. But for all of you brave ones, grab a can of exterior paint and have at it! The article suggests using a warmer color at the entrance which creates a more welcoming feel.

3. "Ungroup matched sets."

Yes! Don't you get tired of everything matching all the time? I sure do. Switch something in the bedroom with something in the living room for new look.

4. "Add a folding screen."

An easy way to add to the ambience of a room without too much commitment and there are so many cute ones you can find online and in stores that anyone can find one to suit their taste.

I love this one from Inviting Home 

And this is another great one! From designer Jonathan Adler, the Desmond screen should brighten any room! I love it! Find it here. 

5. "Dress up your drawers."

This is an easy idea with plenty of knobs and pulls to choose from. I love the knobs at Anthropologie especially!

Try the Big Easy Knob for some fun color or the Caricature Knob for a more reserved but perfectly chic look.

Part 2 to be posted soon!!  

Living Rooms

This week's assignment: living room plans... well, living rooms without televisions.  Maybe we should call them sitting rooms or reflections rooms.  Perhaps reading rooms?  Whatever your fancy, hopefully you'll find my inspiration pictures equally inspirational!

1-4 Architectural Digest 5-7 ElleDecor 8-9 HouseBeautiful 10-11 Veranda

from Matthew Frederick, 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School

Wintertime blues?

I have the winter time blues.  I'm trying to enjoy the cold.  Really, I am.  The snow that fell this morning was beautiful while it lasted.  But then I had to go outside and after waiting on the bus for a few short minutes, it felt as though I might lose my nose to frost bite.  I'm ready to kiss that feeling goodbye.

Even worse, Net-a-Porter delivered to my inbox an influx of undeniably chic ready to wear outfits for spring.  The yearning for warm weather grew stronger.  I'm trying to tough it out really.  But the outfits below make it soooo hard!

Carvin, Burberry Prorsum, DKNY

Lanvin, J.Crew, Elizabeth and James

Find more about these outfits from Net-A-Porter here.

So much to look forward to this spring!!

Incredible Home Design

Dear Christopher Guy,

Please teach me everything you know.  Your work is absolutely divine.

Your newest admirer,
Jordan

If anyone knows his address, please deliver my short note (maybe say it's urgent as I'm a very eager student).

Christopher Guy's collections are stunning and people of the industry are definitely enchanted by the sinuous curves and understated elegance.  He was recently named a 2011 Design Icon by World Market Center Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Design Center and couldn't be more deserving of such an high honor.  Below are two videos which showcase pieces of his collection.  The first is about his design philosophy and the second is a recent look into his Paris showroom.  Your wishlist is sure to grow after watching these!


Design Philosophy from Christopher Guy on Vimeo.



PARIS JANVIER 2011 from Christopher Guy on Vimeo.


View his entire collection here.  Ah! J'adore!

Warning: I spent 2 1/2 hours looking through his collection online... give yourself ample time!  The website lets you try different fabrics for their upholstery pieces (better yet: works of art I should say).  I could play all day!

Kitchens!

Happy Friday, everyone!

So last week I shared pictures of bathrooms as I worked on an assignment for studio dealing with bathrooms.  This week:  kitchens!  I am assigned to drawings 15-20 different plans and I never realized how hard kitchens are to design.  There is so much to include and have consideration for that I've decided I ought to cook more so I can have more of an opinion.

1-3 HouseBeautiful; 4-8 ElleDecor

Maybe I'll post some of my ideas from studio one day... what do you think?

Can you imagine?!?

So, while I tend to stick to interior related subjects, I feel it may be selfish to not share this.

Imagine, a chocolate cake with a red velvet cake inside. Or a red velvet cake with a cheese cake inside. Sounds super-decadent, I know.

But it's true, they exist and I'm dying to try one. The company is Not Your Mama's Treats (what a fun name!) and their website is here.

Here are a few I think sound yummy!

Vanilla Cake Stuffed with Peach Cheesecake; Chocolate cake Stuffed with Peanut Butter Cheesecake; Carrot Cake Stuffed with Cheesecake


I may have to convince Patrick that we need to celebrate something so we can order one.  Hmm... President's Day is Monday...

Inspiration: RED!

Although honeysuckle pink may be color of the year, I still love red. Sometimes I want to paint a wall red just to see how it will make me feel. (However, I am always reminded of when Mr. Big in Sex and the City paints his bedroom red...) The images below, from Elle Decor, are beautiful examples of red done right. What's not to love?

Has anyone been brave enough to bring this bold color home?

DVF Home: Straight from the Source!

With the home decor industry abuzz this month over the release of Diane von Furstenberg's home collection, it has been exciting to watch the reveal of it all! Below is a video of her sharing her collection in Bloomingdale's while in New York for Fashion Week!



I love the duvet covers! What do you think? Ready to shop? Click here for Bloomingdale's.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here's to another year full of love and happiness... and a look back at some of my favorite onscreen couples!

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"Me? I'm scared of everything. I'm scared of what I saw, I'm scared of what I did, of who I am, and most of all I'm scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I'm with you."

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"Hermione, you are honestly the most wonderful person I have ever met."

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"So it's not gonna be easy. It's going to be really hard; we're gonna have to work at this everyday, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, everyday. You and me... everyday."

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"Ever Thine, Ever Mine, Ever Ours."

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"And there, in the same city where they met as girls, four New York women entered the next phase of their lives dressed head to toe in love. And that's the one label that never goes out of style."

Check this out: Eco1stArt

In a recent issue of Elle Decor that I was re-reading (I always miss things the first time through), I noticed a full page add for Eco1stArt. I went to their website and let's just say, you will not leave disappointed. Only wishful. The things on the site are absolutely incredible! They have a great cause and great supporters as well. The website features artists, extremely talented artists at that, who have the highest environmental and sustainability standards. So, if you find something you can't live without, you can rest assured Mother Nature is in good hands when it comes to Eco1stArt. Win win!

A few things that made my wishlist:

The Tulip Chair by Ola Voyna

The Yin Yang End Table by Lorna Lee

Light Reading by Lucy Norman

Knights Chair by Ben Caldwell

Bathroom Inspiration Photos

This semester, I am in a studio where I get to design a 2,000 square foot house from scratch! Yay! I'm very excited!

Last week, I worked on bedroom floors plans which was fun because every girl has dreamed of a spectacular bedroom in which she could live happily ever after. This week, though, I am working on bathroom floor plans. With my sketches due on Thursday, I've spent a lot of time yesterday and today thinking about a great bathroom. I must admit, tonight, I've had a lot of trouble coming up with some good stuff. So I turned to the web to gather a bit of inspiration and 2 1/2 hours later... 14 sketches! My goal is 30 by Thursday. Here are the pictures which helped me escape from my frustration.

Photo Credits: 1. Elle Decor 2-6. House Beautiful 7-9. Better Homes & Gardens 10-11. Kohler