Subscribe

Powered By

Powered by Blogger

Selasa, 28 September 2010

Orange & Aqua Nursery Inspiration

Here are a few images inspiring me today. Clockwise from left: (1) Blueprint's modern baby shower; (2) Amy Atlas's orange & aqua dessert bar; (3) orange staircase from Canadian House & Home; (4) Binth Alphabet poster; (5) Leslie Klotz's serene coastal bedroom (and that awesome quilt); (6) fabrics: Serena & Lily's orange seersucker, Thomas Paul's zinnia in turquoise and Thomas Paul's Aviary in

Senin, 27 September 2010

Homely Creature Comforts - Rugs


Brrr.... the weather has turned a turn for the worst and with summer already feeling like a distant memory in many parts of the UK we brace ourselves for the onset of autumn, gales and flooding.

However, it's not all doom and gloom! This is the time of the year to looking to creature comforts as we get ready to bunker down in front of the fire.

The trend for stripped flooring or laminate flooring has had a marked impact on interior designs over the last few years – due not only for the stylish finish, this type of flooring is practical and hygienic. Further more it's so easy to use rugs to add a touch of homely warmth to a room.

Without having to battle for attention with a patterned carpet rugs are perfect for bring a touch of fresh new colour into a home as well as a comfy place to rest ones feet!

The type of rug you choose is more than personal preference, especially if you're going to pay a lot of money. Today you can find some fabulous Chinese rugs online with gorgeous colours and beautiful patterns. Robust and durable rugs are the ideal creature comfort to bring into your home this winter.

Image: AtticMag

Jumat, 24 September 2010

Orange + Aqua = Love

So in my last post I mentioned in passing that I was really loving orange lately. And I am. In fact, I've been itching to design the nursery in orange and...well, and something. I didn't want to do brown because it's too harvesty. I don't want to do just white because it's too monochromatic and modern for my taste. And then I saw the divine Ms. Tobi Fairley's feature in Traditional Home earlier

Kamis, 23 September 2010

Natalie Umbert makes me happy.

Last week I was flipping through the latest issue of Town and Country and saw this picture included in their feature on up and coming LA designers -- and I stopped dead in my tracks. Now this is the type of room that just makes me happy: bright colors coupled with lots of crisp whites and a great mix of patterns and styles. So of course I had to google the designer behind such a great room and

Selasa, 21 September 2010

Inspired by Palmer Weiss

I love it when I come across a designer who truly inspires me.  Her bold use of colour is absolutely stunning!  courtesy of Palmer Weiss Interior Design

Fresh New Looks For Old Interiors


Home owners planning to decorate can generally be put into two groups - those who really need to update ageing furnishings and those who are just eager for a fresh look. If you have for example a sitting chair in the lounge that is in relatively good condition, but you can't stand the design any more - don't immediately think to throw it out or pass it on. It will cost you far less to buy slip-covers than a new chair. You can choose curtain fabrics online in a colour and pattern that you love which will successfully hide what lies beneath. The same rule can be applied to flooring which can be given rugs to hide stains or take the bare look away.

When you see something that you like - so much that its almost tempting to take out a loan, stop! Think of your bank balance - admire it for a few minutes more and ask yourself what it is you like about it. Could you bring that element into the home another way? Or, could you cheat and find the same look in a cheaper alternative?

You don't have to spend a fortune to get a new look; simply think outside the box and take inspiration from new interior design trends to keep your home looking fresh and new!

Image: AtticMag

Jumat, 17 September 2010

Living Room Interior Design Ideas: Creating Zones


I thought I'd do a little more on creating zones in an open plan living room - or a large living room by giving you a few hints on how to start new interior design ideas.

It could be that you have all your main furniture and are just thinking of ways to arrange it all and make the most of each item. It isn't a bad idea to start with some graph paper and a pencil, downsizing your floor space to fit on your notepad and playing around with the possibilities of floor plans - just focusing on larger pieces to begin with.

Split the main part of your living room into a relaxing area and an entertaining one. The relaxing side may have some extra comfy lounging seats/sofas, a bookshelf, fireplace and small coffee table. Your entertainment half will have more seating, a unit for placing the television,gaming consoles and a clever storage unit with ample lighting provided by an assortment of table lamps UK.

There are some fabulous ideas to take inspiration from; along with colour schemes and how to make the most of what you have by using re-vamping existing soft furnishings by purchasing curtain material online to make cheap cushion covers or Roman blinds. The possibilities are endless if you let your imagination run wild!

Image: belle maison

Kamis, 16 September 2010

Shop Like a Design Blogger: EverythingLEB

It may be hard to believe, but today marks the end of the extended "Shop Like a Design Blogger" guest post series here on Odi et Amo. Every week, I have been continuously amazed at how each and every guest blogger has managed to come up with an incredible (and unique) list of design resources -- and this week proves no exception. Bostonian Lindsay of EverythingLEB proves that while she may be

Rabu, 15 September 2010

Cutest. Gliders. Ever.

Windward Wingback Glider (from $3250)Until very recently (like maybe yesterday) I really hadn't given much thought as to how I'll decorate the nursery. Chalk it up to exhaustion, preoccupation with work or perhaps just procrastination, but the likely truth is that I really couldn't bear the idea of launching into yet another home improvement project right now. But fortunately that's all changed

Selasa, 14 September 2010

Somewhere Over The Rainbow

This song is for a good friend who has just undergone major surgery!
You know who you are...take care and best wishes for a speedy recovery. xoxo
YouTube


Boho chic

My new obsession.  I've had my eye on it and I can't get it out of my mind!  If I think about enough will my wish come true??  It's very Serena Van Der Woodsen (Gossip Girl). I'll take it in brown and black, thank you very much.J Crew

Guest Post at JourneyChic

Many thanks to everyone for their sweet comments and e-mails; y'all have reminded me exactly what I've been missing the past few weeks as I've been taking a break from the blog. I know I promised to be back in full swing here at Odi et Amo but today you can find me over at JourneyChic blogging about a few of my transitional essentials for this fall. Thanks again Laura for inviting me to guest

Pep Up Your Home With NY Fashion Week!


New York fashion week has seen a plethora of silver and hues of grey fabrics which will undoubtedly influence the interior design scene this autumn and winter. Metallics have already been a large part of this year's interiors along with soft floaty fabrics and sheer voile fabrics for on-trend window dressings, bed canopies and informal room dividers.


Within interior design we are focusing on the use of different textures and how they can be used to bring depth and purposeful meaning to a room. Cushions and throws made with a variety of fabrics, mixed with knits and sequinned detailing are bang on-trend, inexpensive and easy to achieve.


Try taking fashion weeks colour schemes and embedding them into your home with pops of hot pink teamed with cool steel grey or gun metal grey coordinated with yellow accents.


As I mentioned in my last post you don't actually have to wear clothes made from the same fabric as your curtains, however, you and your home will be 'hot to trot' this autumn and winter without having to resort to black and dismal colours which make a room feel uninviting and cold. Embrace the NY fashion trends to pep up a tired and uninspiring living space!

Image: decorology

Minggu, 12 September 2010

My distraction...

As many of you have suspected for weeks now, I am indeed pregnant! As of today, I'm 14 weeks and 5 days along, which means I'm just into the second trimester and due March 8, 2011. This ultrasound was taken two weeks ago at a routine first trimester screening. I'll be back at the doctor's this Wednesday for (yet another) check-up. So far, everything's looking great and I'm feeling good. I feel

Jumat, 10 September 2010

My most recent bedroom project

I am working with a new client who is looking to redo her bedroom.  She already has a beautiful headboard from The Cross as well as some great mirrored side tables.  She is open to all colours so I took inspiration from a yellow and gray pillow she bought recently.  I put together this inspiration board and this is what I came up with.  The feature in the room will be the beautiful Romo wallpaper

Are You Wearing Your Curtains?!



I couldn't help but smile when I saw this image! It reminded me of my mother who used to pass comment 'that looks like she's wearing her mothers curtains! Well, how times have changed and today wearing and being inspired by fabrics is bang on-trend. I was obviously born ahead of my time!

There are some stunning curtain fabrics online witch provide a cornucopia of beautiful patterns, styles and colours to make your own soft furnishings, curtains, blinds, cheap cushion covers and if you so wish a dress or a skirt!

The choice of fabrics is also expanding and today we dress our windows with the finest silk curtain fabric, sheer voile curtain fabric or more traditional damask and jacquard patterns, mixing them together to make fabulous window treatments which enhance the look of the windows and the home.

Thank goodness window treatments are also top of the interior designers agendas, rather than being at the bottom as they were in the past; they have become an integral part of room's design and are no longer looked upon as an after thought.

Image: Belle Maison

Kamis, 09 September 2010

Shop like a Design Blogger: Design Darling

Today I'm thrilled to welcome the fabulous and talented Mackenize from Design Darling. I remember when I first found her blog I was absolutely astounded to learn that Mackenzie was still in college -- indeed, her style is far more sophisticated and refined than her college age status would suggest. And I'll admit that I was just a tad jealous over her fabulous internship this past summer with one

Selasa, 07 September 2010

3 Interior Design Ideas To Ponder


1. Using Patterns:
One style that really comes into its own with pattern would be country - use lots of different patterns but similar colours to tie everything together. Try a pretty gingham, toile fabric and perhaps a larger check in classic blue and white. Use these patterns for bedding, window treatments, wallpaper and even to upholster a sitting chair. Do use large blocks of a single colour (either white or blue) elsewhere in the room such as the headboard and bedside tables.


2. Romantic Bathrooms:
Don't forget the bathroom when you wish to redecorate in a feminine and romantic style. We love the little mosaic tiles that can be used as a back-splash in a mix of shimmery oyster and ivory. For a unique look, take the tiles up the wall with horizontal stripes on a feature wall (white or light grey paint between the stripes). Another wall could be painted in a pastel colour such as a soft lavender or powdery blue. Give it the girlie stamp with hot pink accents - towels, candles, fresh flowers and pink ready made blinds.


3: Using Green:
Green was popular for home decorating long before we even thought about picking up a paintbrush. You might not have seen lime green curtains or bright aqua in the traditional home, but pea greens, hunter greens and a variety of pastel shades have worked well in the past. If you are working with a period home and want to enhance natural features - try adding in a period green! Choose two or three different shades in the lounge with a cream and some antique gold accents. Dark flooring and/or furniture will be this palette and style's perfect partner.

Image: Belle Maison

Minggu, 05 September 2010

Happy to be back

I have been so busy this summer with trips here and there, kids and work that I haven't had the time for anything new or interesting to blog about!!   So in the mean time until my life settles down a little bit and I have my routine back I wanted to share my lovely new Made By Girl print.  Love it, thanks Jen!!

Kamis, 02 September 2010

Are You Following The Mad Men Trend?


This is 1960's retro and vintage home décor inspiration at its best! There is even a pinch of California cool thrown in to the mix for stylish homes and offices. Modern, timeless pieces of furniture and lots of retro prints will help you on your way for this seasons dominating home trend.


Green was a favourite colour in the 60's and rooms became almost mundane and boring! Large table lamps uk where seen in all lounges, along with ready made blinds or ready made curtains as women began to have careers of their own and moved into a faster pace lifestyle rather than stay at home.


Where a lack of brights is the overall picture for home décor in Mad Men, a positive is the choice of clothing for the woman's costume. They bring the punch of brights that the décor is missing - so do use this as inspiration if you want to put in accent brights. Think of peacock blue sofa cushions, a touch of scarlet in the bedroom or a lovely vintage yellow in the kitchen.

Image: Eclectic Interior Design Group Blogspot

Shop Like a Design Blogger: Good Life of Design

This week's guest post comes courtesy of the darling and stylish Kathysue of Good Life of Design. Kathysue is one of those bloggers who just gives you the warm fuzzies. Not only is she full of great ideas for your home, but her plethora of positive energy and kindness always manages to brighten my day.* * *I think shopping like a designer has more to do with How you shop than where you shop. For