A Ha!

During Blogfest, House Beautiful's panel discussion centered around "Aha!" moments in design. They encouraged us to think about our own "Aha" moment and blog about it.

I think my major "Aha" moment in designing my own home is when I took the plunge and painted my dining room cobalt blue. I had been thinking that I needed a rich but bright color to set off my white pagoda mirror and abstract art, and finally summoned the courage to do it last year . . .

I couldn't love it more, and it makes me happy every day when I walk through my front door. My "Aha" moment was realizing it's sometimes the small things like a paint color that can make all the difference in a space. 

What has been your "a-ha" moment in design?

Good Things or Rip-Offs

Have you checked out the new Martha Stewart Living magazine?

I usually don't pick it up, but this issue is full of "good things," to quote Martha. I think the big title "Love Your Home: Style Ideas for Every Room of the House" was a clue I might like it more than her usual issues (which are often just too crafty for me making me feel inadequate - who needs that?).

Oh, sure there are crafty DIY things in there, like these cute monogrammed headboards:

I, of course, while liking the headboards mainly think, "I love that lamp." Then, "cute dog." The takeaway here - while I can appreciate a good DIY, I'm not going to tackle most of them. Sad but true. I just like to study the styling and interiors. I know my place and I'm comfortable in it. Another cute photo from this story about monograms:

Sorry for the quality, I snapped this with my camera.

Doesn't this remind you of a Miles Redd room? Not totally, but the saturated tones and painted shelves are reminiscent of him, I thought. No big deal. Everyone does this look now, and I still love it. However, they even used Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue (and not a Martha color like they do in most of the spreads) like Miles did in this rather famous room featured in House Beautiful in 2009 . . .

But then, I almost gasped when I saw another photo in a feature they did on spiffing up interior doors (also another very Miles Redd thing to do). Check out this photo from MSL:

Sorry, once again, for my photo.

And now a photo from the Miles Redd-designed apartment in House Beautiful (same apartment featured above): 

Um, pretty clear they copied this entire concept. Miles' doors were covered in green leather, while Martha's doors were simply painted, but the brass upholstery tacks, hallway wallcovering, zigzag floor covering, and DeGournay-esque wallpaper (or treatment) in the adjoining room are all extremely similar. I understand that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but couldn't they have at least credited Miles Redd or asked permission to use his photo as a reference ("how to create this look on a budget" kind of thing)? I realize there's no such thing as an original idea, but this seems like a pretty blatant rip-off to me.

Don't get me wrong, there are some great ideas and eye candy in this Martha Stewart Living. And they, of course, do a great job of educating you on how to do these decorative treatments yourself, I just wish they were a little more original or honest in their presentation.

Am I the only one who thinks this is a little like creative plagiarism?

Sources: Martha Stewart Living, House Beautiful

If Tom Scheerer Comes to Town . . .

I'll try to be as brusque with him as possible. Confused by this statement? Let me explain. Tom Scheerer is a renowned interior designer whose work I've long admired.

So, imagine my delight when I realized a home he designed in Maine was featured in the new House Beautiful. The room above is not in the home featured in HB; I found it on Scheerer's website (I was too lazy to scan in photos). However, this very same sofa and rug are in the Maine house. Same homeowners maybe?

Anyway, of course, I soak in the photos but then I go back and actually read the interview. I like to see what motivates and inspires the designer . . . their thought process. I got some of that, plus a little insult as well. As the writer was asking Scheerer about designing a house in Maine, he posed the question, "Are Mainers straightforward to the point of bluntness?" 

Here was Scheerer's response: "They can be a little brusque. It's easier when people are brusque." He could have left it at that, but felt the need to add, "I prefer it to that Southern thing that drives me crazy - everybody being nice to each other all the time. Takes too long. There's not enough time in the day."

Hmm. Guess I've been wasting my time being nice to people all the time. That explains it. I guess I should just take a cue from Mr. Scheerer and save myself some precious minutes. Being rude is SO much quicker apparently. Thanks for that valuable gem, Tom. Sorry to vent, guess I'm just a sensitive Southerner.

Source: Tom Scheerer

Freedom of Choice

I knew it would happen sooner rather than later as my daughter has always had strong opinions. The time has come . . . she has outgrown her pink room. I wouldn't go so far as to say she hates pink, but it's not a color she would EVER pick out now as a mature 8-and-a-half-year-old. I always thought pink and green was timeless. Guess I was wrong.

I realize this looks like a lot of pink, but it's very subtle really. The walls are a very pale shade called Confection by Martha Stewart (when she had paint at Sherwin Williams years ago). It's just too "girly-girl" according to Meg who has her finger on the pulse of all things cool and tween (although I hate that word).

Her duvets are white linen with ruffles down the center that I got on sale at Pottery Barn about 7 years ago. I still love the bedding - so simple. Meg said it's not "comfy" enough (it's not as soft as cotton) and it lacks pizazz. That random green ball looking-thing on the wall is garland she used to literally deck her wall. She also hung lollipop ornaments from her chandelier, and that's a little Santa with bottle brush trees on her bedside table.

Since Meg's favorite color is green (and not paired with pink), we decided we'll go with a green and aqua/pale turquoise color scheme. Our guest room down the hall is green, so she decided a very pale aqua blue for the walls would work for her.

I was inspired by the color palette of this living room by Ashley Whittaker in House Beautiful.

And while the blue in this bedroom from House Beautiful is not the shade we're going for, I love the overall blue/green theme and feel of the room. Of course, we're keeping her iron twin beds and just changing bedding, fabric, paint and accessories. I love upholstered headboards, but I have neither the budget nor the patience for changing her beds right now.

I was playing around on Olioboard last night and pulled some inspiration pieces. Since Meg doesn't like anything too "frou frou," I had a hard time finding simple bedding that would appeal to both of us. I think the Pottery Barn Teen Suite Organic duvet in Mint will work quite nicely. I haven't looked for a paint color yet, but that's next on my list. I pulled some pillows from Hable Construction, fabric from Premier, the Maskros pendant light from IKEA and some posters I found through Haven and Home on Etsy that add some whimsy.

Of course, this is just a jumping off point, but I think Meg is on board with these choices which is half the battle . . . okay, the total battle. Her new bedding is a big part of her Christmas present this year, so I've got to get it ordered ASAP.

So what do you think? Is this look "big girl" enough?

Window Shopping

I got the chance to hit a local antique mall yesterday and peruse at my leisure. One directive from my husband, "Don't buy anything." Fair enough. Looking is free and sometimes just as fun. I got lots of great ideas.

Some of my finds . . .

 This alabaster flower and gilt lamp reminded me of a much grander version featured in Melissa Warner's apartment in House Beautiful:

But I digress, back to the shopping.

Loved the color of this orange Florentine waste basket.

Lots of Imari and other orange and blue pieces. Loving this color combination. It just screams fall to me.

This campaign-style desk would look great behind my sofa.

Great colors in this Asian watercolor. Hard to tell from my stellar photography but there are vivid greens, oranges and a faint lilac including the matting.

I realize I have a chair addiction.

A nice fall display.

Saw lots of brass lamps.

Some great art. Of course of a woman.

A porthole mirror. Who doesn't need one of these?

These awesome brass jack bookends. How cool are these?

Needlepoint horse art. Enough said. I literally fell over taking this photo. A wee might embarrassing.

Loved this black globe with the chrome base. Would look great anywhere but especially in my son's room.

This weathered table would be great as an island or a desk in my son's room. Do you see a theme here?

And I did buy something despite my husband's directive. . . 

These two old issues of Vogue Living Australia. They were the best deal of the day - $1 for 2 issues and hours of reading enjoyment. Sometimes it takes very little to make me happy.

Paint Purgatory

I'm stuck in paint purgatory. I can't seem to make a decision. Paint is so tricky, and in this case, I'm repainting most of my downstairs and some of my upstairs, so I'm trying to be smart about it. Ah, the joys of "open floorplans."

I like my house. I really do. But being able to see from one room to the next poses certain decorating challenges. Would I prefer a house that has separate finite rooms? Yes. Is that going to happen? No. So, I need to work with what I've got. And I've got a lot of wall space.


After almost four years of living here, we're finally getting around to painting these walls. The previous color isn't offensive. In fact, what I choose will probably resemble it. I've got to go neutral, and I tend to lean toward warmer tones as opposed to cooler ones. I know beige can be boring, but when the same color is in the entry hall, family room, kitchen and upstairs hallway, bold color is not really an option.

So, now I'm surrounded by swatches and tiny bottles of Benjamin Moore sample paint. 

So, do I go with Interlude?

Or Kangaroo?

Then, there's always Shaker Beige.


I would like to go a little lighter, but my husband is worried it won't be warm enough. New Orleans interior designer Gerrie Bremermann loves a color called Papaya, and I must say I'm liking it too.

But it is a little light.

This is kind of what I'm going for . . . it's Farrow and Ball's "Biscuit" (according to House Beautiful). So, I looked on F&B's website and there is no such color listed. Agghhhh. Plus, I'm not sure where I'd even find Farrow and Ball paint anyway.

Now, I'm more confused than ever.

Does anyone have a "go-to" warm neutral that's not too pink, not too gray and not too green? I'm getting desperate.

Sources: MIL and House Beautiful

I Spy . . .

With my little eye, something in my house . . . 

That bears a striking resemblance to this . . . 

This is "The Best" list from the April issue of House Beautiful.

I was a bit taken aback that the humble little rug that sits in front of my sink is mentioned in one of my favorite magazines, House Beautiful.

According to HB, "the ancient tradition of Shyrdak rugs -- handcrafted from felt -- dates back centuries, to nomadic yurts in Kyrgyzstan." 

I'm assuming that what I have is also a Shyrdak rug. If not, maybe it's just a distant cousin. Here's the illustrious history of my particular rug, as I know it. My dad went on one of his mountain-climbing trips (he started this particular hobby when I was 12) to Mongolia years ago and purchased two of these small rugs as well as a large wall-hanging. He believes he may have paid $10 for each rug. That's quite a bargain considering the one listed in HB was $500 (of course, the flight over there and back probably cost a bit). The rugs gathered dust in my parents' spare room until I rescued the one above from obscurity several months ago and brought it into its current incarnation -- as a kitchen rug.

Now, I realize Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan are not the same country but they're pretty close (I looked it up), and apparently in Mongolia they live in gers instead of yurts, but close enough (they're both tents basically).

Whatever it's called, I love my soft felt rug with the fun pattern. I'm glad House Beautiful agrees. Thanks, Dad . . . you predicted a trend years in advance!

Sources: MIL, House Beautiful, www.shyrdak-felt-rugs.com

One is the Loneliest Number

If one is good, then two are better, right?
I say definitely yes. Pairs are good.
Since the dawn of time, nature has conspired to pair us off . . . Adam & Eve, the animals on the ark, night and day, good and bad, yin and yang, ebony and ivory. You get the picture.

I love the symmetry of sets of anything . . . lamps, chairs, tables, art. Ah, the order of it.
Can you find all the pairs in my living room? I might have a problem. An intervention might be in order.

Don't get me wrong, I do love a little asymmetry too. But with all the chaos in the world right now, I find the balance of pairs comforting in a way. How about you?

Photos: House Beautiful, Elle Decor, My Interior Life