Bliss.

A few years ago I was asked by a dear friend to help with flowers and favors for her upcoming July wedding. After a slight hestitation, I accepted. The overwhelming responsibility of delivering exactly what my friend wanted on one of the most important days of her life had me secretly terrified.

The days leading up to the wedding were filled with last minute decisions and resourceful shopping trips to every imaginable craft store in the area. In the end, the big day was simply beautiful...blissful, to be exact! I was overcome with such joy as I witnessed her special day come together. The photos seen here are just a few examples of my handy work.

My favorite was the moss covered 'H' elegantly hung on the old oak tree. After numerous hot glue gun burns on my fingers, the end result was perfect. It's the first thing guests saw as they pulled up to the grounds and it set the tone for this special wedding in the country.

Remember ...keep it simple, keep it beautiful.

Green With Envy.

The Etsy treasury, a member curated shopping gallery will leave you green with envy. I'm hooked on this site. If you haven't ever Etsy'd...get ready to be delighted.

Check out my recent search for Key Lime.

A Thing of Beauty.

A few years ago I visited the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California with one of my dear friends and her daughter.

 The fields were stunning and beyond beauty.

If you get a chance...visit! It is breathtaking and you will be inspired to create beauty in your own little part of the world.

White Space.

I just may be obsessed with white space...on paper, in a room, even in my closet. My family room pictured here is the quintessential white space in my home. White on white may seem boring to some, but for me it is the perfect monochromatic color scheme. It calms me and provides peace and serenity. I would love to hear your comments and ideas for using white in your home.

Hooked On Houses.

Courtesy of Hooked on Houses

One of my favorite 'go to' web sites, Hooked On Houses, for design and styling inspiration. Check it out. I think you will be hooked!

Please Come In.

The entry to your home is like meeting someone for the first time. Delight your guests with the unexpected!

This is the back door to my home and the area that sees the most foot traffic. What started as a basic mudroom has been converted to a space of serenity. A place to sit, remove your shoes (although not required) and let the days stresses be left behind. I found the old sauna bench at auction and it is expandable so it adapts to just about any width. A few boxes of slate tile were purchased and easily covered the old concrete floor. Styling it with my favorite coastal pieces was easy. I grabbed all my favorites...an oversized seahorse (scooped up at a great little boutique in Manhattan Beach, Ca.), framed sea fans and my best jute beach bag. The light pendant was a great little find at the Pottery Barn Outlet. I purchased the wicker shade for $1 and added a pendant light kit from Lowes for $7.99. The shade casts a soft ray over the space and of course it's on dimmer so I can always set the perfect amount of light needed for any time of the day.

Walking in to your home at the end of the day should put you at ease. It's a space most people don't think about styling, but when done with serenity in mind, will give you never ending joy...

...and remember, keep it simple, keep it beautiful!

Design Chic.

I stumbled across this precious gem of a web site today and just had to share...amazing design and unique ideas! Design Chic

Sherry Hart of Design Indulgence

Simplicity.

For my first post I thought I'd keep it simple. Afterall, my design philosophy is based off of simplicty. My sunroom was one of the first rooms I styled upon moving into my 1930's 2 story clapboard farmhouse 10 years ago. 365 days a year the sun comes streaming through the grand windows that envelope the room. I can't help but feel good when I step in to my sunroom. Since moving in, I have restyled this space at least six times, but one thing remains the same, it remains a very simple space of beauty.
There is less than $300 total in this space and it is one of the favorite rooms in my home. The walls were painted a pale yellow which serves as a perfect palette for the sun to bounce off of each morning. I found the vintage sofa at a local auction (only $5, but you should see the original fabric). I had it slipcovered in a basic duck cloth...perfection! The little round side table was found at a rummage sale for $1 and I painted it in my favorite creamy white paint. The single frame simply displayed on the table is my son's first self portrait carefully crafted in kindergarten 8 years ago. The bottom shelf houses my collection of sand I've gathered from beaches around the world all kept safely in vintage medicine bottles I've scooped up through online auctions.
Just last month I walked into an IKEA outlet store and I knew immediately the cowhide rug was perfect for this space. A great juxtaposition to the soft neutrals in the room. My favorite part of the room are my random beach hats hung casually on the wall, the splash of red on the beach board and the very simple wicker basket serving as a table for my morning coffee.
If you have a room needing attention, don't overthink it. Let it evolve over time. As you shop, look at an item for what it is, it's beauty, color and shape. If it feels good to you, buy it. I promise it will work in your space because it represents what feels good to you...

...and remember, keep it simple, keep it beautiful!