Dreaming of Outdoor Living

January 20, 2012Leave a comment

There’s nothing like pinterest to remind us all what we want and haven’t got. In the depths of January, despite our warmer than normal temperatures, I can’t get my mind off summer and pools and dream backyards with green grass. Typical. On Friday afternoons, my mind often wanders to what my plans would look like if it were May-August…

Suffice it to say, pool time would be on the agenda. These are a few of my favorite outdoor living scenes. Follow me on pinterest for more: http://pinterest.com/paytonvail

New Orleans Dream House

June 1, 20111 Comment

Continuing my obsession with all things New Orleans, (it never really subsides but has been kicked into high gear after my trip this weekend) I had to share a dreamy little shotgun that is so adorable.

Built inside a South Carolina factory and shipped to its home in one of New Orleans’ historical neighborhoods, this shotgun cottage is the most popular building style in the Big Easy. Most shotgun houses are one room wide, and three to five rooms deep. Rarely do shotgun cottages have formal entries. This monochromatic parlor acts as a space for welcoming and entertaining guests. Floor-to-ceiling bookcases add a sense of history and accentuate the room’s 10-foot ceilings. A wall-mounted faucet pours onto a modern flat-surface sink, where the water spills into a surrounding channel. Tongue-and-groove paneling reinforces the casual nature of this open living space. Gas lanterns are a Big Easy icon. Square-back dining chairs combined with an antique bench around the dining table feel less formal than a complete set of matching chairs. An apron-front sink, bin pull hardware, and a beaded-board island are all iconic cottage elements. This unique pantry portal was a vintage door from an old New Orleans bank safe and is installed on a sliding track. Built-in cabinetry and convenient open shelving store bills and household paperwork. Designers Ann and Jane Dupuy used marine rope and grommets to attach a tailored canopy to the four-poster iron bed. A basic walk-in closet is transformed into a boudoir with patterned wallpaper on the walls and ceiling, a crystal chandelier, and an upholstered ottoman. Trimmed-out open shelves provide handy built-in storage in the laundry room. An ironing board cabinet is hidden behind a door, conveniently located when needed, and out of site when not in use. The multipurpose guest room and study is filled with rich accents such as a leather armchair, a pair of lacquered nesting tables, and ribbon trim on the pillows. A simple chest was transformed with a few coats of shiny black paint and a decoupage treatment. The lyrics to Johnny Cash’s “Flushed from the Bathroom of Your Heart” gives this bathroom a sense of humor. Head-to-toe pink walls, ceiling, and trim create a sweet space in this little girl’s bedroom. A little bit of formal architecture is introduced into this children’s room with a hand-painted medallion glued directly to the ceiling. The back wall of doors extends the living area to the porch. The substantial trim work above the doors adds height for a seamless transition to the tall ceilings inside. Enclosing the courtyard in a backdrop of deep shades of green sets a peaceful atmosphere. The furnishings pop against the soothing palette.

via My Home Ideas

I Love Gallery Walls

April 27, 2011April 27, 20113 Comments

Sometimes you can have too much of a good thing. I don’t believe that applies to art on the walls. When done right, a gallery wall can be spectacular. It can be done in any room, with or without a theme. It can cover a blank wall or a busy one, a small room or a large one…just make sure you’re happy when you walk in and don’t be afraid to take a few decorating chances.

via The Decorista

Home (Dreams & Musings)

April 18, 2011Leave a comment

Jan/Feb 2010

I’m house-hunting again. Robert and I are trying to find a place for June 1 and I’m getting antsy. I’m hoping for a big backyard, a front porch, a cozy kitchen and lots of closet space. We’ll see what we end up with. Here are some (dream) spaces I’m loving…I’m trying to keep in mind I’ll be living with a boy. It should be interesting. All images via decor supersite Lonny. What are some of your favorite sites for decor inspiration?

Kitchen

Mar/Apr 2011 Dec 2010

Jun/Jul 2010

Bath

Bedroom

Living

Dining

Office

Pleasing Pink Decor

January 20, 2011Leave a comment

When most think of utilizing pink in home decor, they gravitate toward images of something concocted by strawberry shortcake meets Miss Piggy meets fairy princess. That’s not always the case. While it does tend to indicate a feminine touch and is not necessarily right for an entire color scheme, when done right it can be breathtakingly lovely. I love the fabulous girliness of a pink couch or pink wall. I’m not sure Ro would go for the mirrored bed covered in lush blush but he might be amenable to a few touches here and there.

The more I look at these rooms laced with pink, the more I love it. Most of these lovely images were found via {this is glamorous} which I must say is my very favorite blog out there.

a-passion-for-interiors hamish-new-york pieter-estersohn2 velvet-linen-bath vintage-simple kendall-wilkinson2 pink-abt lonny-5-4 shelter3 shelter1