Weekend inspiration: the lake house

 

 Another weekend, another bachelorette party. This weekend I’m heading home to Pennsylvania as a bridesmaid to celebrate my friend Lauren’s bachelorette party. We’re spending the weekend at our friend’s lake house, which inspired me to look at lake house decor.

My mind instantly went to a photo of Bravo’s Million Dollar Decorator, Jeffrey Alan Marks’, master bedroom. He suspended a vintage Abercrombie & Fitch canoe from the ceiling, and I couldn’t be more in love.

You may recognize the next concept from a previous blog post that I wrote about sliding bar doors. The doors below are the perfect addition to a room in a lake house. Swoon.

 

You can’t do lake house without some Americana inspiration. Check out this distressed American flag wooden piece. I first saw it on the cover of the July 2011 Ethan Allen catalog. Hello, I need you in my life.

 

While I did get a little sticker shock with this piece ($899!) it’s so classic. I love how it looks over this couch.

 

How funky is this oar headboard featured on Bees Knees Bungalow? Perfect for a guest room in a lake house.

 

And finally, you can’t have a lake house without some adirondak chairs on your dock. Now that’s what I call relaxation…

 

Hope that everyone has a wonderful summer weekend! I’ll be spending mine on the dock at Lake Harvey!

 

I love the drama of the dark brown and white colors accented with the coral. Very chic.

Photo via decorista daydreams

Put a frame on it.

 

This post is inspired by the iconic frame on Monica and Rachel’s door in Friends. That purple door with the funky gold frame stood out to me every episode. That set designer really made a statement with that door.

While you can obviously try to replicate the peephole frame there is a new frame that can help you make a statement in your home - the television frame. I love how these tvs look with a frame around them. It really adds a finished touch to a mounted tv, and makes a boring wall into an eye catching wall.

 

 

 

 

 

So we’ve got my new love of navy walls, my obsession with bookshelves, that funky chandelier, and those fun pink chairs - what is not to love about this room?!

Props to fashion designer Minnie Mortimer, she is rocking this room.

Photo via Vogue Daily

Home envy: Ralph Lauren’s “Double RL Ranch”

 

I’m still kicking myself for forgetting to DVR Oprah’s interview with Ralph Lauren at his 17,000 acre “Double RL Ranch” just outside of Telluride, Colorado. Lauren has only granted a hand full of interviews in the past couple of decades so this one with Oprah wasn’t one to miss. And I missed it.

Lucky for me (and for you), oprah.com posted photos of the ranch home where Lauren and his family have been vacationing since 1982. Let’s take a look at several shots that had me gasping out loud. Lauren certainly takes his Americana design to the next level.

Lauren and his wife, Ricky, built five handpainted tepees on their property, all of which were blessed in a ceremony by Lauren’s Native American friend.

 

But wait, those tepees aren’t just to look at - they’re for guests to stay in! I can’t get over how incredible these are inside. The blankets, the rugs, the pillows and artifacts - I could live in one of those tepees my whole life.

 

Next up is the ranch’s Old West saloon. I love how the kept the decor so true to the history and culture of the land.

 

What is a ranch home without a full, state of the art theater? Haha. I love that despite the modern luxury of the at home theater the decor still stays true to the theme. How great is the antler chandelier and American flag hanging on the wall?

 

I don’t know about you, but these photos have me aching for more. I need to get a hold of this episode of Oprah! Bring on the re-runs!

 

You can’t go wrong using flowers and fruit as color in your kitchen. These hydrangeas, apples, and oranges make a bold statement in this neutral kitchen. And how great are those lights?!

The Man Cave

 

The lockout is finally over! Football season is upon us! In celebration of this development I’m going to take some time to focus on an important room that just is not in enough homes - the man cave.

While visiting Art School with my parents this summer the admissions representative told us about a course that tackles different kinds of spaces such as tour buses, limos, the man cave, and even the woman cave - to which my father replied “the last time I checked, the whole house was the woman cave.” Touche dad, touche.

I would absolutely love to decorate a man cave, because I actually tend to enjoy much that goes on in a man cave (wouldn’t mind scratching the “man” title out though). Beer, football, shuffleboard - it’s just like a sports bar, except in your home. I think that this Etsy seller, cellardesigns’, Man Cave Rules typography sign says it best.

 

Turns out the DIY Network tackles the man cave quite often, so I have some great photos to share with you. As you’ll see, there are definitely different themes in each room, but the manly vibe stays true through all of them.

I love the man cave seal on the wall in this room. Fatheads are actually a great option for a wall, they are a fun way to personalize a room and bring your favorite professional athlete into your home!

 

Other staples in a man cave, a pool table (as seen above) or a poker table (as seen below).

 

And this obviously goes without saying, but beer may be one of the most important components of a man cave. Check out these fantastic mugs and pilsner glasses from Pottery Barn. You can customize them with your favorite team and show your fan pride when your friends come over.

 

This room is a really great option if you don’t have a full basement to dedicate to the man cave. The seating allows you to sit back and relax while drinking a beer, and of course the television is an important staple.

 

And finally, the music lover man cave. I love the guitars hanging on the wall and the jam sesh area - you really can’t lose with a room like this.

 

So sit back on your comfortable leather couch, pour yourself a beer, and turn on some football - thank god the season is upon us!

 

I’m obsessed with this kitchen. Especially the turquoise. And the exposed beams. Feels like home to me.

Next life stop: Interior Design School

 

Today I am so excited to say that I am officially an interior design student! I was accepted to the Art Institute of Washington’s Interior Design program and I could not be more excited about this next stage of my life.

I have a Bachelors in English with a Concentration in Journalism from the University of Delaware and have been in the journalism/social media field for the past 5 years. A few months ago I embarked on a job search and after several interviews I found myself wondering if a new job would really change my level of happiness. Would I just be putting a band-aid on a larger wound?

Earlier this summer a conversation with some friends from high school got me thinking about what I really wanted to do with my life. My friend asked me what I would do if I could do absolutely anything, and without even thinking I said interior design. That instant response got me thinking, why don’t I make interior design my profession?

And so, on the way to what I thought would be a dream by finding a new job, I got lost and found a better one - my true dream. I am so excited to go to design school, and I’m so grateful for the support of my wonderful parents and my friends. Without them I may not have the courage to follow my dreams and live my life the way that I want to. So thank you everyone for your support, and I hope that you follow my interior design adventures on this blog as I learn and grow throughout the next 2 years.

Who knew: my recent love of navy

 

I’ve been a little surprised with myself lately. I’m usually a big fan of light colors, especially white, inside of the home with pops of color. But lately I’ve been gravitating towards navy, especially navy walls. Maybe it’s because white accents look so chic with it, but I’m head over heels with navy lately.

The photo above is from J.K. Place Capri Hotel. The hotel was designed by Italian designer and architect Michele Bonan. And to quote Tina Fey, “I want to go to there.” It looks magical.

I think the first place that I would experiment with navy woulds would be in a dining room. 

Navy brings a certain elegance to a room, and I feel like the dining room is the first place in a home that should exude elegance.

 

The next room in a home that I would splash navy on the walls would be in a formal living room. Add some touches of orange (you know how I love me some orange), white curtains, and you’re set. Not to mention how great this rug is!

 

Speaking of fun rugs, say hello to this chevron and white rug. If you’re a little more hesitant to splash navy on your walls this is a great way to bring navy into your home without getting too crazy.

 

This room by Ashley Whittaker also uses orange as an accent color. I love the navy blue piping on the couch as well.

 

So what do you think of navy? Any colors that have surprised you lately?

 

I might be a little more excited about being at work this Monday morning if my office looked like this Ikea inspired office. Someday…

 

I am going to Ocean City, Maryland this weekend with my girlfriends to celebrate my dear friend Hammi’s (Jessica Hamilton to be exact and grown up) bachelorette party. I am so excited for her big day this November - she and her fiance Jim are one of my favorite couples ever.

They also recently purchased a home and are slowly renovating it and making it all their own. I’ve seen the before, and I can’t wait to see the after! The house has so much potential and I know that it will just scream Jess and Jim when they’re all finished.

I saw this photo recently in Coastal Living and instantly thought of Hammi’s new home. The dune fence photo collage is quintessential Hammi. A Long Islander for life she’s spent the years at the nearby beaches and loving all that is the beach. Not to mention that Jim is a Tobay Beach lifeguard.

Hope that everyone has a great weekend! We’ll be taking plenty of pictures at the beach for Hammi to hang up in her new home!

 

Now this is something on the “must have” list. Must have for a patio, deck, backyard, poolside. It’s just too good.

This table with the built in cooler, seen here with wine (yes please), is from the geniuses at Medlock Ames winery in California. Yes, I said it - geniuses. What a fantastic summer staple.

 

Who doesn’t love a red door? It makes a statement before you even enter a home. But did you know that a red door actually means something?

Home Curb Appeal breaks down the different meanings of a red door:

“In Feng Shui, a red front door means “welcome.” The front door is known as the “Mouth of Chi” where energy enters. If you believe in or follow Feng Shui, painting your front door red would create welcoming energy.

A red door means “welcome” in an old early American tradition. If a family had a red front door tired travelers traveling by horse and buggy would know that a home was a welcoming place to rest. They would be able to spend the night there.

A red door provides protection. In Biblical times, the Hebrew slaves were instructed to smear blood of a lamb on their front doors to protect their first born from the angel of death. In old Catholicism churches painted the doors of the church red to represent the blood of Christ. Passing through the door would mean that you were on holy ground. Some believe a red door protects the occupants from evil.

A red front door means mortgage-free. In Scotland, homeowners would paint their front door red to signify that they had paid off their mortgage.”
The moral of the story? Embrace the red door and it’s welcoming nature. You certainly won’t regret it.

 

I love these cabinets as a frame to the window and sink. And that orange window? Well we all know how I feel about orange. It’s such a beautiful pop of color in this kitchen. I would even be willing to do dishes if this were my kitchen. We maybe… haha

Rachel Zoe: “I dream in jewelry”

 

Me too Rach, me too.

I was flipping through some old magazines (In Style is one of my favorites) and came across this article featuring Stylist Rachel Zoe from the April 2010 In Style. First thing you should know about me, I DIE for Rachel Zoe and her show, The Rachel Zoe Project. Second thing you should know about me, I DIE for my jewelry (check out my blog post “The storing of the jewels” in case you missed it).

In the article Rachel discusses our shared love for jewelry and gives a peak into her closet - her closet dedicated just to jewelry. Ba-na-nas. I wish. Although, as my collection continues to grow, and space on my hooks becomes scarce, I may be heading in the same direction as Rachel. Yay? haha.

Here is a photo of Rachel in her jewelry closet. Jealous? I know that I am.

 

 

I saw this photo on hgtv.com in an article about how to create chic and creative nightstands. Screw making my own nightstand - I fell in love with the colors. The navy blue walls with hot pink accent pieces - hello lover.

P.S. If you do want to learn how to create your own nightstand though - check out the link!

There’s always time for wine.

 

Sometimes a glass of wine is just what I need after a long, stressful day. Sometimes a glass of wine brings old friends together to laugh about fun times. Sometimes a glass of wine is the perfect way to celebrate a special occasion. And sometimes after all of these glasses of wine you have a lot of leftover wine bottles. So why not use them to decorate your home?!

As you’ll see from the photos in this post, maybe you should think twice before recycling the wine bottles that you finish. I fell hard for the wine bottle chandelier pictured above a few years ago when I saw it in a Pottery Barn catalog. Unfortunately, I don’t think that they sell it anymore - but it is definitely something that someone very handy could probably make on their own. If you’re one of those handy people let me know, maybe we can work out some kind of deal ;)

The wine lights below definitely may be on the easier do-it-yourself scale. DIY expert Shannon Quimby wrote up some instructions for OregonLive.com if you’re interested in how to bring these lights into your dining room.

 

From the more difficult DIY to something so simple and pretty - using old wine bottles as vases. Clean those suckers out, take off the label, and voila! you have beautiful vases for your flowers.

 

 This is also a very fun idea, wrapping old wine bottles with string or twine. These make colorful accents to any room, and I really like how these are lined up under a television for a fun pop of color.

 

Another great mantle piece - putting a string of lights into the wine bottles. What a cool way to add a sparkle to a room.

 

What about bringing your wine bottles BACK to the table? The bottle opening is the perfect size to hold a candle, and this brings such an elegant touch to your table.

 

Rethinking throwing your wine bottles in the trash? Let us know how you plan on repurposing your old wine bottles.

 

I believe in a home that you can live in. What I mean by that is homes where there is no where comfortable to sit, where you’re always afraid to touch something, that’s just not for me. Your home is to live in, and it should be lived in to the fullest.

That’s where this couch from Bassett comes in. My dream couch actually. I love that it can be a regular couch, but you can add the middle section to make it practically a huge bed. I see myself laying there on rainy days watching movies. Sprawled out. With people that I love. It’ll be a big party!

Art that speaks for itself

 

I think Billy Joel said it best in Piano Man when he said “Sing us a song, you’re the piano man, sing us a song tonight. Well, we’re all in the mood for a melody, and you’ve got us all feelin’ all right.” Music just makes us feel right. So why not use it to decorate our homes?

Check out the do-it-yourself tutorial for wood stained painting from Nicole Davis from MeOhMy! She’s the artist/owner of the above piece of art featuring lyrics from Ingrid Michaelson’s You and I. She breaks down the steps for creating this piece of art - and she makes it look so simple!

How cool is this large canvas displaying lyrics from Bryan Adams’ song Heaven? I love the simple colors to match the neutrals in the room.

 

Here’s another do-it-yourself piece of art, this time from Alisa Burke. She actually made this with shoe polish - so creative! I absolutely love this E.E. Cummings poem, so she won me over instantly. Make sure to click on the link in her name to get some advice about how to stretch a canvas and other tips for creating a piece of art like the one below.

 

And last, but certainly not least, is this two piece art with the Beatles, All You Need is Love lyrics. This piece was made by ToeFishArt on Etsy. They custom make pieces, so if you’re not a DIY’er they might be the perfect people to turn to.

 

Any favorite song lyrics that you think would be perfect to decorate your home with?