Okay...full disclosure, I am lifelong Philadelphia Eagles fan and I am BEYOND excited that they are in Super Bowl LII!  With that out of the way, my personal social media accounts have been a sea of green.  Ahhh...divine inspiration for this blog.

Shades of green have really stepped out of the design shadows as of late. Furniture, accessories...sure...but I am talking about deeper commitments.  Bathrooms, offices, even kitchens are boldly going where few designers have gone before. I think it is gorgeous!  Above Studio McGee anchors this lovely room with a green velvet sofa.  This is layering perfection! 
​

Shiplap has officially taken over the world (shout out to JoJo).  This bathroom takes the trusted trend a step further with a gorgeous hunter green paint.  Kate Marker married the green with a soapstone farm sink, black/white cement tiles and an oak vanity.  Yes please!
​

Sasha Simon (a.k.a. Lola Rio Style) has a fun fashion inspired Instagram site.  Her emerald green coat goes perfectly with a black Antigona Box Leather Satchel.  I spy Sam Edelman pumps.
​

Bring the outside in with florals. Creating a gallery wall with botanticals has become a very popular trend. Above is the NYC home of Vera Wang president Mario Grauso. He pairs the prints with a cozy grass green sofa. For similar prints, visit ​​Birch Lane. 
​

Yep...another Studio McGee image.  I have a small obsesion with this new design firm (hint...blog coming).  For the Vineyard Parade Home, Shea was able to take some chances with a deep, rich green paint for the floor to ceiling cabinets.  The contrast of light floors and countertops makes these cabinets sing.  The light oak hardwood floor pairing is a favorite of mine. 
​

The above is a GORGEOUS bone inlay chest of drawers in emerald.  This versitale piece could be used to dress up a basic entryway.  It is also tailor-made for a nursery or child's room. Of course, given the price point of bone inlay items, I would put it in a prominent spot.  It is too pretty to hide.
​

Sarah Richardson has forever been one of my favorite designers.  I love that her jumping off point for any and every room is a bold fabric.  She set the tone in the above bathroom with a vibrant  green fabric that dresses up the space and draws your eye to the outside view.  It pairs so nicely with the sublte mint paint and marble flooring. Sarah slays as always!
​
​

Dress it up or go causal with hits of green in accessories or even a signature dress. 
​

​Go big or go home! This Celerie Kemble Schumacher Hothouse Flower fabric has always spoken to me.  Call it an updated 80s flashback...but I LOVE THIS pattern!  The above bedroom, done by designer Tobi Farley, was featured in Traditional Home.  This image shows the amazing versitility of green.  Various shades, within the pattern, work perfectly with a soft pear green velvet ottoman, cream-colored shiplap, dark hardwood floors, and chair legs. Bold and beautiful!

​And then there is Natalie.  This dress is stunning! Enough said...
​

This image demonstrates that even a few accessories can dress up a space.  The moss and chartreuse colored decor elements give the space a pop and pair beautifully with neutral furniture pieces. The chest of drawers is drool worthy as well. 

I hope you are inspired to test the waters with your own hits of green in your home and closet! 

​

Couldn't resist...FLY EAGLES FLY!!! 

Welcome 2018!  I am shaking off the road dust from 2017 and committing to blogging more and finally getting some of my client's finished projects up on the site. Last year was BUSY but successful.  Many of my clients have entered the final stage of their projects and I am excited to share them!

For now, I have some beautiful images to share with you of Drew Scott's newly remodeled California home.  It is stunning!  I must admit I find the boys from Property Brothers a bit hokey with some of their schtick, but I have come to appreciate their style.  Hey...not sure how well Jeff Lewis would play on HGTV! Plus with the departure of Chip and Joanna on Fixer Upper, I feel like HGTV has been running nothing but Property Brothers marathons.  Okay HGTV...I will watch PB!

I put the boys' new show on my DVR and finally found some time to watch the new series "Drew's Honeymoon House".  Wow!  I came away thinking...oh snap...that is what y'all would really do with buckets of cash on your own project.  Impressive...tell me more.  

Let me set the stage for you.  Drew and his fiancée Linda have purchased a $2.3 million home in LA's tony Hancock Park/Windsor Square.  Drew then enlisted his brother Jonathan to complete a full gut and remodel in an absurd 12 week timeframe.  Spoiler Alert...Jonathan gets it done replete with outdoor living space that includes a pool and fire pit.

Truth...I started to devour each episode and walked away grabbing a number of design ideas.  The boys nailed it.  The first image, the kitchen, is an absolute beauty!  The conservatory windows (hmmm...that looks a lot like the Nate Berkus NYC kitchen) is a total show stopper and sets the stage for the masculine, high contrast vibe for the entire home.

​Pictured above, a converted front room now serves as office space that shows off some insane millwork, a rich paint color and a retro, yet mod vibe.  Oh those pocket doors!  

Details matter!  The living room above was outfitted with lovely hardwoods laid in a chevron pattern (Jonathan loved that install...not). While you might not appreciate it at first glance, the crown molding was a work of art.  The old moldings were crumbling and had to be replaced.  To keep the integrity of this almost century old home, Jonathan worked with an interior designer to create new moldings (FINALLY...they outed themselves and acknowledged that they use a designer and a team for installs).  A series of stacked wood trims were used to create the above look.  The fireplace, windows and opening to the dining room were all given a facelift as well. 

The powder room....ahhhh...that wallpaper.  Drew and Linda hung it themselves.  The bold pattern and black and white contrast is GORGEOUS! The dark crown molding and baseboards draws you into the space even more.  They went a little old school with the toilet tank, but again they were trying to stay "true" to the home's age. 

In order to achieve a full en suite bathroom, the home had an addition put on the second level that enclosed a first floor porch (later converted to the kitchen).  The addition was carried through on the second level and allowed for an incredible amount of additional space.  The above again shows a masculine style with the dark wood vanities and black soaking tub.  Love it all! 

What's a couple to do with the all the space they inherited with an addition???  Well build an in-law suite of course! Drew's fiancée has a large family that lives in Canada.  A number of her sisters were featured in the show.  Couple that with the Drew's siamese twin...I mean twin brother...and space had to be made for guests.  Jonathan did an excellent job building a casual space with a fireplace, shiplap, a four-poster bed and even a dining area.  

Drew's girl Linda went a little CRA, CRA with the wallpaper and put it in almost every room on the second level.  This pattern dressed up an otherwise sterile room.

More shots of the in-law suite bedroom.  It is worth noting that Drew is total genius and partnered with Joss & Main to style the home.  The online retailer outfitted the majority of the home with furnishings, wallpaper, lighting, hardware, outdoor furniture and more, more, more! 

As a result, all of the the "looks" from each episode are captured on the Joss & Main website.  Viewers can buy the exact same item as Drew. Well...I don't think Drew bought them as much as received the items as an endorsement for said products...(hence the genius comment).  

With the addition came a third level walkout entertaining space.  This gave the couple a phenomenal view of LA.  The new pool and fire pit with seating area, on the main level, was so inviting. The final episode shows the couple's engagement party.  Okay...I am hooked!
​

Even the jack & jill bathroom and updated staircase were drool worthy! Drew obviously had a heavy hand in the design process.  The rich, dark colors and heavy contrast made this home! 

The 5 episode series is still running on HGTV.  The series is absolutely worth watching.  They did an amazing job and with the Joss & Main partnership, viewers can not only pick up design ideas but can also purchase the same products!  

Do you remember those movies where a child or even an adult gets locked in a store for the night and they do a full takeover of every department blissfully rummaging through everything from toys to bedding?  In my fantasy I would take up residence in a Restoration Hardware shop.  I would select one of their insanely gorgeous flagship stores in Boston, Atlanta or Denver...dream big=;)  

I recently stumbled onto a real estate article that profiled two properties that RH CEO Gary Friedman was selling.  The properties, of which Gary has many, are located in Beverly Hills and Napa Valley.  Well...needless to say that are stunners!!!  This man had the good fortune to have a team from RH furniture.  The designers tackled every last inch of each house.  HEAVEN!  I selected some of the most stunning images to share.  I guess this is really "Home(s) of the Week".
​ 

The St. Helena Napa Valley dining room offers a wonderful view of a gorgeous wine fault. 
​

For the Beverly Hills property the walls are limited with each room capitalizing on the beautiful views of Southern California.  The lighting above the dining table is stunning! 
​

This lovely bedroom offers views of the Napa Valley property. The modern take on the four post bed with embedded artwork is perfection. the side table lighting is an interesting alternative to swing arm sconces. 
​

His and hers sinks never looked so good. The lighting, vanity and art work perfectly together. 
​

Well...not sure it gets better than this...  The view of Downtown LA must come alive at night.  The outdoor furniture and the view of the master bedroom is beyond inviting. 
​

Yes honey...grab a bag and pack for the weekend.  We are going to head up to Napa this weekend.  I will light a fire when we arrive and we can have a glass of wine and sleep in and doing nothing this weekend... again I am dreaming out loud. 
​

​

​I hope you enjoyed the tour!  For more lovely inspiration images, visit the attached links.

​I tend to routinely get lost on the "design" web.  It is so easy to fall down the rabbit hole. You view one design blog and you will no doubt discover an array of interesting interior designers, architects, trade resources, new products, etc.  Again...that is with ONE blog post.

As a result of the endless hours I spend viewing home interiors, I have a pretty healthy list of abodes that I absolutely love. I have decided to start profiling a "Home of the Month" that highlights some of my favorite finds.  

For the inaugural "Home of the Week" blog I am sharing a lovely NYC townhouse that anyone can rent while in the Big Apple.  Now mind you...that would take a few shekels but hey when I win the lottery, I plan on staying at this venue.  The property is referred to as "Washington Place" and is listed on One Fine Stay.  
​

This Greenwich Village beauty has five bedrooms, six bathrooms and has recently undergone a restoration that has transformed this 175 year old home.  It is stunning! The exposed brick that runs through the home is an absolute thing of beauty. In this image, you can see the steps that are surrounded by glass.  The glass allows the eye to view every ounce of these gorgeous walls.

I suspect this outdoor space is simply enchanting at night with a cocktail and a perfectly lit city.  

​The serenity of the bedrooms rival a high end hotel. The bold, steel sliding doors draw your eye to the charming view that reminds you that you are in the heart of the village.

There are actually two outdoor spaces in the home.  The outdoor grill area on the main level allows for easy access to that insanely inviting main living area.

​Light the candles, grab your friends and enjoy a lovely night!  Cheers! For more beautiful rental destinations check out One Fine Stay. 
​

Who doesn't love a well designed gallery wall?  This design trend falls under the category of "big impact"!  Gallery walls are dramatic yet affordable. Often times you can pull these installations off with a limited budget using existing pictures, unframed artwork and inexpensive frames. 

The image above is one of my favorite gallery walls.  It was put together by Sarah Richardson. To achieve this look, Sarah spent one afternoon with her digital camera and took everyone of those images.  She then used off-the-shelf frames.  There was a need to have a few mat boards cut to size.  That is easy enough to do at a local craft store.

The end result was gorgeous!  This room was in a small, new build condominium. The gallery wall gave the space a much larger look and drew your eye directly to the balcony that featured a great view of Toronto. 
​

Love this sweet breakfast nook.  I tend to fill my home with images of family portraits, vacations, etc.  It is always nice to catch a glimpse of a treasured memory.  This wall is a lovely reminder of special moments.  To create a more inviting setting the owners even ran electrical and installed petite library sconces.  I bet this is lovely at night.  
​

The above shows a more modern gallery wall.  Bold black and white abounds on the walls, frames, and lighting.  The shiplap and large sconces definitely give this wall a more modern vibe. 
​

​Again...I love that the above pictures are covering a dining area that I suspect is used daily.  Drink in family and warm moments.  The day-to-day stress of life can sometimes make us forget all the good stuff.  This is a BOLD reminder. 

​I am a big fan of what I refer to as the haphazard gallery wall.  These walls are pretty easy to create.  You don't have to deal with exact dimensions or placement.  You aren't confined to a single color frame.  Go crazy with your creativity.  You can weave in a clock, mirror, and/or oversized letters, etc.  Get all those items out of your attic and go to it.  

The above image is yet another option for an easy, yet sophisticated wall.  Shelves are an awesome way of creating organization.  They also allow for an incredible amount of flexibility.  You can shift frames, add, edit, delete all day long.  This is a somewhat noncommittal way to tackle the task of creating a gallery wall.  I currently use two shelves for my images but, truth be told, I prefer a third shelf.  The constant traffic of children forced me to settle on two shelves as I am certain that shelf number three would constantly be under siege from little hands.  
​

I have also done the above look.  Ikea carries these sleek frames.  I cropped a number of my family pictures and had 12x12 square photos made for the frames.  WARNING: They are not fun to hang and do take some time!  The frames were somewhat of pain to put together, I wasn't able to use Shutterfly or Walgreens, etc. to make the photos.  I had to find a special photography shop online to do the 12x12 images.  This is not a quick project.  Still I am happy with the outcome.
​

​What self respecting parent doesn't have a home littered with their children's artwork?  It seems like it starts in preschool and I am pretty sure I am going to be looking at artwork until their senior year of high school (big eye roll).  Why not embrace the creativity and free your refrigerator. I love the above wall.  This wall has all sorts of frame sizes that you allow to swap out art with some frequency. I find that kids get very excited when their creations are on display. 

​Crystal chandelier, patterned carpet, stairway gallery wall...there is nothing bland about
​this hallway! Great way to be reminded of sweet memories as you conquer another day.  

​This wall works because of image placement.  The largest frames anchor the space on the left, right and top of the wall. Other smaller frames then fill the space.  Black and white always works!
 

​This is the latest iteration of the Ikea gallery wall.  I actually want to try this one.  It is far easier than the square frames.  It looks as though you could put a standard 8x10 into this frame.  I also think the elongated frame has a more updated look than the square box frame.  

This image is where it all began for me.  The OH...SO...talented India Hicks curated this wall ages ago. This image has lingered for the past decade in shelter magazines, Pinterest boards, and, of course, Hicks own lifestyle book.  I just fell in love with this style of taking every possible opportunity to share a photograph's story.  Under the "no man left behind" category...I thought it was so sweet that she stacked frame on top of frame...as if to say "Join the party". 
​

There are TONS of gallery wall options and layout design patterns.  For more ideas visit my GALLERY WALL PINTEREST BOARD.
​