Inspiration To Come

This last week of the year is always one full of reflection and hope for the new year.  I thought it was about time for a new inspiration board.  You may remember the one I posted earlier this year:

As I'm working on my inspiration board to show you later this week, I would love to see some of your inspiration boards or any inspirations for 2011.  When I post my board this week I will provide a linky link to let you link to your post of your own inspiration.  Be thinking about it!

Last Minute

Much to my relief, I am all finished with my Christmas shopping.  I know that some of you are deciding to brave the crowds today and tomorrow to find that perfect gift.  Well, in case you didn't get an email this morning from Z Gallery announcing their sale of up to 70% off great gift items, I'm telling you this place seems like a one stop shop!  I found all kinds of deals that I wouldn't mind Santa leaving under my tree.  Take a look:

I thought this floor screen with votives was so unique:

So fly over to your closest Z Gallerie or shop online to snag these great deals! No need to thank me for finding the solution to your shopping stress :)  Merry Christmas!

Images from Z Gallerie

A Bright New Year

My new clients that I presented to today are fast becoming favorites.  I proposed a neutral palette for their Living Room, Dining Room and Study with splashes of bright berry colors.  The scheme actually goes along well with the new Pantone Color of the Year, Honeysuckle. 

These clients made my job easy; gushing over every fabric and piece of furniture I showed them, not wanting to change a thing.  They can't wait to get started, and neither can I!  This refreshing project will be a great way to start the new year!

Ruby Splash and Orange Crush

Today I'm in the land of bright fabrics.  I'm surrounded by names like Volcano, Tobasco, Poppy and Red Pepper while narrowing down my choices for the project I'm working on.  So many options and great fabrics, so little things to apply them to.  Thanks goodness for throw pillows since they allow me to keep a few more of the fun fabrics in the loop. 

My current project is bringing together contemporary and old world, antique furniture and modern color and patterns.  It's been really fun bringing it all together.  These two books have a been a great source of inspiration:

Glamour from Met Home

and New Classic Style from Better Homes and Garden. 

(You can find these in my amazon bookstore).

I'll be presenting the project next week to the client so I'm sure you will be getting a glimpse of the presentation board when it's done.  Have a great weekend!

Photos by Rebecca Ward

Color of the Year for 2011

I'm here to announce the color of the year for 2011 as announced by Pantone today:

It's called honeysuckle and I think it an appropriately cheery color for the current economical struggles!  Go forth and be cheered!

Quotables

Quotes can be fun and yet they are a little curious to me.  If someone quotes you making a statement, it can last forever and then people you don't even know are judging you purely on your one statement.  It would be nice if we could hand select our quotes for others to take and present them like ornaments on a tree.  Here are some quotes I picked about interior design you are free to judge and discuss:

"Good design is a renaissance attitude that combines technology, cognitive science, human need and beauty to produce something that the world didn't know was missing." - Paola Antonelli, curator of the Museum of Modern Art

"Be faithful to your own taste because nothing you really like is ever out of style." - Billy Baldwin

"It is just as disastrous to have the wrong accessories in your room as it is to wear sport shoes with an evening dress" - Dorothy Draper

"Decor must have sentimental value. A house must tell a story" - Mark Hampton, Harper's Bazaar, June 1989

"A decorator should...be blessed with a sixth sense - a kind of artistic alchemy which endows the articles of furniture with that elusive quality of livableness which transforms houses into homes." - Michael Taylor, The Finest Rooms

Photo by Rebecca Ward.  
Quotes from Icon Magazine and interiordesignquotes.com

What's Your Favorite?

I found a great new blog tool when I visited Heartfire At Home's Blog.  It's called Linky Tools and allows readers to post links in my blog post.  She varies the topic each month and this month she asked for submissions of favorite blog posts from the month of November.

I thought for my first linky party I would do a similar theme and ask for you submission of your favorite blog post from October or November.  This can be your own blog or one you like to follow,or even from Design R.  What a great way to discover or rediscover new blogs!

My submission was the More Victorian post I did in November.  I had fun specifying the colors.  I got an update from the painter that the house is coming along great and looks fabulous!  I will be sure to post photos when it's finished.

So what's your favorite post from the last 2 months?




Image from Heartfire At Home