The Design Boards

Fabric options & dining room updates

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 20:49:00 +0000

I pulled a few John Robshaw fabric samples from his line with Duralee (and a couple for L's room - I'm already thinking about how I want to make it more girly!) I'm thinking of taking some simple, ready made curtains and adding a band around them in one of his darker, indigo fabrics. I'm also considering making some cushions for our Bertoia chairs. I love the look of them but they aren't the most comfortable chairs to sit in and I'm not a fan of the pads that come with the chairs. I do like the simplicity of them and would definitely mimic the style, I just think it would be better in a different fabric other than vinyl. I want them to blend into the chairs and not stand out so I like one of these white options.

Oh, and I found a settee I love from Ballard Designs. It's kinda pricey so I'm saving my pennies because it is perfect and exactly what I had in mind. It's also customizable in one of their fabrics or my own. It would look pretty amazing in one of the lighter fabrics, don't you think?
I snapped a quick before picture of the dining room with my phone. The paint is on now and it looks amazing. I can't wait to show you. I am so in love with our decision to use the navy blue. It is definitely dark but in a good way. I can't wait to throw a dinner party now. I'll share a few sneak peeks of the color soon but there is still a lot to put together in the room like art, accessories, etc.

Sources: Fabric 1 / Fabric 2 / Fabric 3 / Fabric 4 / Fabric 5

My Dining Room makeover

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:53:00 +0000

We are in the process of giving our dining room a little face lift. If you've been reading for a while, you might recall that it has looked like this for the better part of three years. Ok, it hasn't exactly looked that bad but after Mike removed the cheap 70's wall paneling, we tried covering those liquid glue squiggly lines with every kind of paint you can imagine but it bled through...EVERY.TIME. Our painter at some point suggested using an oil based primer so we gave in and let him have his way with the walls.

We also got crazy and told him we wanted navy blue walls. This has been a decision I've been contemplating for months but ever since the words flew out of my mouth, I've been in sheer panic mode. I've asked Mike like a hundred times if we are making the right decision (he thinks we are). I've told everyone I know about my plans seeking some kind of desperate paint color approval, I even showed our pest control tech my inspiration pics....clearly I'm panicked!

While he performs his paint magic and turns my dining room into what might be the best or worst design move I've ever made, I've been busy putting together all kinds of design ideas in my head.

My plans for the space:
1. Go super dark with the walls to showcase our art and furniture
2. Place a large neutral rug under the dining table and layer a smaller colorful kilim on top
3. Add a comfy upholstered settee to the dining room table to bring a bit of softness and coziness to the space
4. Set up a defined bar area that is stocked and ready for entertaining
5. Add curtains to the space to add texture and contrast.

Many of the elements we already have - a mid century dining room table, 4 Bertoia chairs, the white credenza (which matches our kitchen cabinets), the West Elm Bentwood pendant (which is amazing, btw). I really just need to pull everything together with fabric, rugs, accessories, etc.

The only major purchase I want to make is for a settee. I'm still trying to find the 'perfect' one. Laura just did a great post on settee options and there are a couple that I like there but I would have to reupholster - which is fine but an added expense. Inspired by this photo, I also love the idea of bringing in a little bit of this mustard color somehow...lots to think about still. You can check out my pinboard for more inspiration and I will be posting before pics soon so you can see how the space is laid out.

Sources: 1. L-Beam wall shelf via West Elm / 2. Bentwood pendant via West Elm / 3. Hale Navy via Benjamin Moore / 4. Teak dining room table (similar to ours) via 1st Dibs / 5. Fabrics - Medallion indigo by John Robshaw for Duralee & Ethnic Kilim by John Robshaw for Duralee via Inside Fabric; Mustard linen via AVISA Organics / 6. Hand printed dotted dinnerware via West Elm / 7. Loveseat via Lee Industries / 8. Bertoia side chair via Design Within Reach / 9. Fiddle leaf fig via Plant Interscapes / 10. Rugs - Metallic suede & hemp rug via Serena & Lily; Turkish Kilim rug via Landry & Arcari / 11. Besta credenza via Ikea

Valentine's Day Finds

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 14:41:00 +0000

Valentine's Day is a holiday I usually tend to skip over...Mike and I don't do much more than cook a nice meal at home with a bottle of wine and I think it's one of those holidays that's just a bit over commercialized. Blame it on the new babe, but this year I'm kind of getting into it. I imagine in future years I will even go as far as decorating the house a bit but this year I just created a roundup with some of my favorite finds from around the web.

I'm curious, is this a holiday you tend to skip over as well or do you make a big to-do about it?

Sources: 1. Heartfelt Garland via Terrain / 2. Heart mugs via West Elm / 3. Hello Heart by Darling Clementine via Blissful B / 4. Mini Valentine Packages via In Honor of Design / 5. Love ring via Fabulous Wire / 6. Heart Hole Punch via Lark / 7. Growing Hearts Pillow Cover via Classic by Nature / 8. Waterwave Throw via Beyond Half / 9. Helena Cutout Bra via Journelle / 10. 'Come to Bed' Nail Lacquer via Butter London / 11. Pucker Up Lipstick via Nordstrom / 12. Martha Stewart's Valentine's Sorbet Sandwiches via Blissful B / 13. Veuve Cliquot Champagne via InStyle / 14. Simplicity Flute via Cb2 / 15. Lace Insert Drape Dress via Miss Selfridge

Why I love West Elm

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 16:56:00 +0000

I can remember years ago, in my college days, when West Elm first arrived on the scene. Its catalog arriving on a semi frequent basis, filled with things college students love - small, space-appropriate, boxy and modern furniture at reasonable prices.

Over the years their look and product base has changed and today, the company has become a source to be reckoned with. Pairing up with designers and artisans from around the world, West Elm brings an eclectic and unique mix of thoughtfully produced goods that wouldn't have been accessible to the masses before. Because of the wide range of goods you can easily fill your home with several pieces and still not be left feeling like you decorated from a big box store. Instead, you will find yourself with a beautifully curated space designed with intention rather than a stale mix of generic goods.

West Elm manages to impress me every time, they consistently offer great prices, they are on top of trends. They work with and support artisans, bloggers, and etsy sellers. They are my constant go-to for great accessories and furniture. I love getting their catalog in the mail, not only to peruse their new products but also to drool over all the gorgeous styling and design inspiration. Glancing through the pages of the catalog, everything feels incredibly accessible, not overly done or pretentious.

I was recently watching an episode of Million Dollar Decorators where Jeffrey Alan Marks or JAM as he so affectionately refers to himself as, was asked to produce a fully decorated Nantucket beach home in 8 weeks, sourced entirely from catalogs. As to be expected, he initially gaffed at the request. A designer of his caliber is used to sourcing one of a kind and showroom pieces not to mention custom built furniture and lighting. They show a scene where he enters none other than a West Elm store and manages to procure what looks to be more than 50% of the home's pieces. He comments on a blue striped rug as "genius" claiming that he has a similar one in his own home, and it cost $8,000. They later show a scene where he and his partner Ross are going over their choices for the Nantucket house and you catch a glimpse of said $8,000 rug - you can't tell the difference. Clearly, West Elm knows what they are doing.

Sources: 1. Fretwork Wall Mirror / 2. Bentwood Pendants / 3. Marbleized Serving Bowls / 4. Izola Soap Dishes / 5. Ceramic Woven Vases / 6. Copper Hand Strainer / 7. Rose Gold Flatware / 8. Pad Printed Ikat Bowls / 9. Bazaar Pouf

Stylish & Functional Household Essentials

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:43:00 +0000

It seems that many of the common household necessities we all keep on hand are just so...unattractive. Things like sewing kits, pencil sharpeners, and others of the like are a 'must have' but also a 'must keep hidden' because of their boring, ugly and utilitarian nature.

First spotting this gorgeous, dare I even say sexy looking fire extinguisher on Pinterest a while back had me thinking that there must be other beauties out there like it - other common household goods that we all tend to keep stashed away in a junk drawer or storage closet but that had been made beautiful by like minded, style obsessed people.

So I started searching - looking around my house for inspiration and finding that there were so many things that I consider a necessity and that had been made pretty - pretty enough to keep out on display, all the time if I had to. Things like this French press, which to give credit, aren't bad to look at on their own but wrap it in gold and it's suddenly a stunning conversation piece on the kitchen counter. Extension cords are another cringe worthy necessity - bright orange, tangled contraptions usually come to mind but these cloth covered beauties might even be better than the bedside lamp they are connected to.

I'm curious, do you have any household items that you can't live without but must keep hidden in the confines of a cabinet or closet because they are just too ugly to look at or have you found a beautiful counterpart to it like the ones below?

Sources: 1. Reclaimed Apothecary Matchstick Bottle via Terrain / 2. Merchant & Mills Sewing Notions Kit via Kaufmann Mercantile / 3. Matte White Fire Extinguisher by Brandslackaren via Pinterest / 4. Small First Aid Kit via Best Made Company / 5. Bodum Eileen French Press via Wayfair / 6. Leather Bound Desk Dictionary via Graphic Image / 7. Acrylic Stapler via Design Darling / 8. Dux Adjustable Brass Pencil Sharpener via Kaufmann Mercantile / 9. Scissors via Brook Farm General Store / 10. Red Bakers Twine via Brook Farm General Store / 11. Blackwing 602 Writing Pencils via Kaufmann Mercantile /12. Cloth Extension Cords via Best Made Company

Happy 2013!

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 01:53:00 +0000

Happy New Year! How is 2013 treating you so far? I know there has been major radio silence around here for months but they really mean it when they say having a baby is hard work! I won't say that I am completely adjusted to life with baby but I'm getting there and I'm starting to find more time for myself which means more time to do things I am passionate about again - like blogging.

Every year I create a list of lofty goals and resolutions that seem reachable because I can put them off for some date in the future and what really ends up happening is I forget about them or ignore them. This year I thought I'd do something a little different and create a monthly goal list - a small list of totally obtainable things I want to accomplish before the month is over.

Yoga classes, daily walks and weights
Start blogging again
Ask painter about finishing paint and trim work in dining room
Create a photobook using Artifact Uprising
Use the Fuji Instax
Finish decorating Linden's room
Give my wardrobe a makeover
Get quotes on having the concrete patio poured
Choose pillows for living room
Begin 365 day photo project - take a picture everyday of our family life
Cook more at home, especially on the weekends
Begin designing and budgeting our guest bathroom reno

What's on your list of new year resolutions?

Photo: Zü via Pinterest

Our little one has arrived...

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 23:44:00 +0000

We welcomed little Linden in to the world on Mike's birthday! She is perfect in every way and we are so very much in love with her. I admit this has been the hardest job I've ever done, being a mother, but we are all adjusting to one another and starting to get the hang of things.

Ikea Hacks

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 13:03:00 +0000

I've become obsessed with IKEA hacks lately. We are working on our own hack with an Expedit bookcase as I type this. If you remember, we've been wanting to install a small set of bookshelves in our living room along an empty wall. Originally we planned on having them custom built but now with the baby arriving in just a few weeks and free cash going to other home reno projects, we just didn't have enough time or money to source this so in came some quick internet research and a great hack for extending the Expedit without the thick frame elements being side by side. We plan on painting it and trimming it out so it looks like a custom, built-in piece for a lot cheaper. Here are a few great hacks I came across in my search...

I love this light fixture hack inspired by Tom Dixon's pendant lighting collection. I wish this would work in my dining room because I would totally consider it as an option but I think I am looking for something with a more light and airy feel.

The Centsational Girl has some truly great hacks in her archives but this bookshelf is one of my favorites. She gave the black metal Vittsjo bookcases a great cottage feel by spray painting the shelves white and adding wooden shelves in place of the glass. The final result is amazing and provides tons of storage. I'm going to keep this one in the back of my mind for a future project I'm working on.

This project makes me a little sad because these fabulous little wooden storage boxes are no longer available in the US. I have one that I bought years ago and it provides wonderful storage. If you can get your hands on one of these boxes when traveling overseas it would be worth it for this project alone. I have always been on the lookout for a card catalog but they can be so pricey when you come across them, or too big, and most of them require modification because of the large open slot in the middle. The Painted Hive came up with a genius, and cheap, way of making her own with the Ikea Moppe boxes. At first glance, you can't even tell their not old!

This is probably one of my favorite Ikea hacks yet. I am a huge fan of the color dip trend popping up everywhere lately and this console/entry table in coral (one of my favorite colors of the season) is a beautiful take on the trend. You would never guess this was an Ikea piece. I only wish my entryway was large enough to house a table like this. The Sweet Beast did such a great job at making over this simple wooden Ikea sideboard which sadly after searching online, seems like is no longer available.

I hope this has inspired you to come up with your own Ikea Hack, I know it has definitely made me look at the new Ikea catalog with a whole new set of eyes! I'm racking my brain for all the ways I could make over their furniture. Have you done your own Ikea hack or come across any great hacks lately? I would love to see them!

Putting together the nursery

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 14:17:00 +0000

3 weeks and the countdown begins! I cannot believe I am just a few short weeks away from my due date. We are in a frenzy finishing up last minute projects all around the house and while it's totally fulfilling my nesting habits as of late, I am sooo ready to have things quiet down for a bit so we can settle into being a little family of 3.

The nursery is our major focus right now. All the big pieces are in place and we are just putting final touches on everything and finishing out the room with artwork and accessories. Our painter is almost finished - the chalkboard wall went up this weekend and the yellow stripes on the ceiling should be done sometime this week. Here's a little sneak peek...

It was a little daunting seeing that black chalkboard wall go up but the more we go in the room, the more we love it. The room gets a lot of light and all of the furniture is white so it's a great contrast and I know one day the baby is going to love drawing all over that wall! This pic shows off the new floors as well. Here are a few of the things we've collected so far, a couple of which you can see in the photo above...

Sources: 1. Flensted Elephant Party Mobile via 2Modern / 2. Sparrow Crib via Ouef / 3. Molded White Rocker via EZMod Furniture / 4. Yellow Braided Pouf via Land of Nod / 5. Adventure Lives Outside Your Tent Print via Lyla and Blu / 6. Sheepskin Rug via Oliver's Farm

Shopping for Pendant Lighting

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 12:50:00 +0000

There are so many little projects going on in my house right now that sometimes my head spins when I start to think about everything on our to do list. Just to name a few - we are in the process of picking out things for the nursery, installing base boards and trim, reconfiguring a wall of cabinets in our kitchen and designing a buffet/credenza with coordinating cabinets in our dining room, we are desperately in need of rugs in every room of our house since we removed all the carpets, we are picking out throw pillows, choosing curtains for the dining room, designing a moving island for our kitchen...and the list goes on. Of course the nesting mother-to-be in me would like all of it to be done before the baby arrives but that is neither financially feasible or realistic. Plus Mike will kill me if I add one more thing to his summer-to-do-list.

One of the items on my list is to pick out a dining room light fixture. Our dining room has a flat roof with no attic space above so the possibility of can lights is out and we currently have this horrible 70's style, stained glass, dome light/fan thing going on now, reminiscent of something you would find over a pool table in a badly designed pub and it just has to go. Here's the thing, I am baaaaad at making decisions - and so is Mike. Once we do finally decide on something, we often change our mind about it once we have it. I think it's the downfall of being passionate about interior design and having so much access to great design blogs and sites like Pinterest. I am constantly seeing things I like and thinking to myself - would that look better than what I have now?!

Here are the three options I am currently contemplating:

Industrial style pendants. I definitely like the idea of hanging two together like in this arrangement, with some kind of rope cord, similar to this. These are simple (and cheap) and add a lot to the room without being a focal point. I love how simple the decor is but what a huge style impact the overall room has. Green folding chairs with just the right amount of wear and tear, paired with a wooden dining table and funky vintage accessories against shiny white floors gives the room tons of personality and a sense of playfulness.

Source: In my House via Pinterest

Linen Drum Pendants. I have always loved the simplicity of a linen drum pendant. It's really such a timeless lighting choice. West Elm has some great options. In the past they've had more colors to choose from but I really do love this natural linen look. We are considering going with a dark grayish blue or navy color in the dining room and I love the contrast of the natural linen against the dark colors - very dramatic...

Source: West Elm

Oversized and unique pendants. I love this light fixture. It would be super easy to make - it looks like it's a giant Japanese paper lantern paired with a cord light and mounted to the wall - easy and inexpensive. This room has some amazing architectural elements like the medallion on the ceiling and the crown molding which is a great contrast to the more modern paper lantern. This room is a great mix of high end and low end pieces. The paper lantern light fixture and Ikea lamp are inexpensive but look great paired with the vintage chairs and antique wooden cabinet, and that white couch looks sooo cozy!

Source: Amber Interior Design via Pinterest

Bon jour!

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 15:06:00 +0000

Bon jour! We've been back from France for a few weeks, still getting settled in to the house after all the changes that were made while we were away - more on that later.

The trip was amazing. It was just what I needed to de-stress from all the house renovations. Here are some shots we snapped via Instagram (@ thedesignboards if you want to follow me). We spent a few hours in London on route to France and just happened upon the changing of the guards - very cool to see! We took the ferry from England to France and spent several days driving through Normandy and Brittany, eating too many crepes and galettes and enjoying the beaches and beautiful villages. We even happened to find a brocante in one of the towns we were staying in. I picked up some vintage French linens and a vintage absinthe saucer.

I'm glad to be home but there is still so much to be done here. We are only partially unpacked from the floor install. Mike has been installing baseboards and we've been getting the nursery painted and ready for furniture and decor. There will be a lot to share with you over the next few weeks so stay tuned - only 5 weeks and counting until my due date.

Renovation Updates

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:08:00 +0000

We are knee deep into renovation projects right now. We've started packing up the entire house and putting everything in to storage while we prepare for the flooring to be installed. This week we will begin making the cutout for the patio door which will be installed on Monday and the existing carpet and tile is slowly being torn out room by room as we shift furniture around and make adjustments to our living situation.

The process is stressful and only made worse by the fact that being 7 months pregnant, I can't lift anything heavy, so I've been packing boxes and then kind of shuffling them across the floor with my foot after they are filled - comical for those around me I'm sure. I also get out of breath easily and have to take frequent breaks, plus the up and down movements are killing my lower back. On the plus side, this is fulfilling some major nesting tendencies that have occurred as of late. Honestly though, I'm really looking forward to the whole thing being over in a few weeks so I can start preparing the nursery. Once we return from our trip my main focus will be getting the baby's room ready. I have a lot of ideas floating around in my head and can't wait to share them with you.

British Pub Style

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 12:33:00 +0000

Mike and I are escaping our house renovations and sneaking away to France for a 'babymoon' of sorts while the floors are being installed in a couple of weeks. I love traveling to Europe because I am always so inspired by their cozy but chic, nearly effortless design aesthetic. Last year when we were in England I was totally enamored by the style of the beautiful pubs we visited. Here in the states, the thought of a pub conjures an image of a dark bar with bad lighting, no windows, and the smells of stale alcohol and bad fried food. Real British pubs are nothing like that, they are cozy and intimate places to meet with family and friends while sipping on a good beer and enjoying locally produced food.

The Drapers Arms, London, England

The Snooty Fox, Tetbury, England

The White Hart Inn, Winchcombe, England

The White Hart Inn, Stow on the Wold, England

The Drapers Arms, London, England

If you like the idea of bringing a little British pub style into your own home, I've put together this design board of bits and pieces that are reminiscent of the cozy, local gathering spots I visited while in England last summer.

Sources: 1. 5-Jar Chandelier via West Elm / 2. Reclaimed Wood Chalkboard via Terrain / 3. Recycled Glass Jugs via West Elm / 4. Absinthe Saucers via Seld / 5. Linen Napkin via Terrain / 6. Scaled Leather Bottle Opener via Jayson Home / 7. Finnish Dart Set via Kiosk / 8. Taft Chair Via Jayson Home / 9. Farmhouse Table via Joseph Spinale Primitive Furniture / 10. Sheepskin via Ikea

A Birthday List

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 15:37:00 +0000

I turned 31 a few weeks ago. I usually always write myself a little goal list of things to accomplish by my next birthday but this year it completely slipped my mind. With baby brain in full force and the desire for my birthday to go under the radar this year - not because I don't want to face the truth that I'm getting older but because we are so deep in to house projects - I truly forgot to do it. Being a total list girl, as soon as it occurred to me that I hadn't written one, I immediately started working on it.

Summer Must Haves

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Wed, 30 May 2012 12:20:00 +0000

I always crave a bit more color in my life once summer arrives, don't you? I like to switch out my regular purse for a cute and colorful summer tote, perfect for impromptu visits to the beach and weekend road trips. I like to add a pop of color to my manicures and pedicures with a bright and cheerful summer pastel like this one from Nars. And I like to pile on lots of colorful accessories to my otherwise netural wardrobe like these amazing wooden bangles or this super cute bohemian scarf.

What are some of your summer must haves this year? Do you tend to crave more color around this time of year? For more of my favorite colorful accessories for summer, check out my current ideabook on houzz.

Sources: 1. Olallie Teardrop Pendant Necklace via Rare Device / 2. Native Lurex Tassle Scarf via Topshop / 3. Set of Skinny Bangles - Azealia via Voz Clothing and Art / 4. Nars Nail Polish in Kutki via Liberty London / 5. Sequin Straw Tote via Target / 6. North African Towels via Kira-cph / 7. Inka Books via inkyco. / 8. Wide Beaded Bracelet via Leif / 9. La Sardina & Flash Beach Edition via Lomography Shop

House Projects

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Tue, 29 May 2012 13:25:00 +0000

Hey there! Have you missed me? I've been here, plotting home renovation projects and stumbling through this pregnancy (literally - I've become the biggest klutz)

We are getting ready to do some very big projects in our home to get ready for baby. Of course there are a million things that need to be done but we had to sit down and decide what was absolutely necessary and could not be put off until the baby arrived. The one project that was like the elephant in the room and the basis for everything else was the flooring.

Mike and I have debated options over the last three years. We've discussed hard wood, tile, and concrete. Over the holidays we had actually decided on a tile that we really liked and were about to move forward with it but the idea of concrete floors just would not get out of my head and every where I turned I was seeing images in design magazines or on Pinterest of these spaces with the most beautiful polished concrete floors. I had to know if it was a possible choice for our home so we contacted a couple of companies, got bids, and actually found out it's the most affordable option by far over other things we were looking at.

Photo: Loft Kitchen - Croma Design via Houzz

The only caveat is that since we are having the floors installed in every room of our house with the exception of the bathrooms - everything in our house has to be moved out. This is something I am absolutely dreading and the one thing that made me almost nix the whole idea. This isn't exactly what I want to be doing at seven months pregnant but I know any flooring option we choose is going to come with headaches and this is what I really want so there's no turning back now. We've ordered the storage unit and will slowly be moving things out over the next four weeks prior to installation day!

I'm so excited and this really has me anxious to work on other projects in our house. In addition to the floors there were a couple of projects that have been on the list for a while and are now absolutely necessary to complete prior to the floors being put in. We are finally getting doors installed from our dining room to our future patio (more on that later). Right now we have a small screen porch on the side of our house and that is how we currently exit to our backyard but we have been wanting to take out two large picture windows and put doors in their place since we moved in to the house, it's the logical place for a backyard entrance and will make the flow so much better. We are also finally taking down the wall between our kitchen and dining room (completed over the weekend!). This will be considered phase 1 of our kitchen remodel (more on that later too). So that's what I've been up to....organizing contractors, installation dates, and moving dates!

Things that make me smile...

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:13:00 +0000

We've been taking advantage of the unusually cool spring weather we've been having and enjoying lots of time outdoors riding bikes and having meals al fresco...what's making you smile today?

Photo: A Simple Photograph via Style me Pretty

Photo: Flickr via Pinterest

Photo: via Kate Spade

Travel by Design - San Giorgio Mykonos

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:52:00 +0000

Looking for a fabulous summer getaway? How about jetting over to the Mediterranean to check out this new hotel in Mykonos with a beachy, bohemian flair. The design is simple and organic with hints of texture and color throughout bringing personality and warmth to the space. It's obvious that the intent was to really let the architecture and landscape shine through.

Photos: San Giorgio Mykonos

Things that make me smile...

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:45:00 +0000

I know it's been a while since I've done one of these but I'm trying to get back to normal routines now that I'm feeling more like myself and my creative energy is returning slowly...What's making you smile today?

Luminous Grey via Flickr

Glen Proebstel via Pinterest

Feather Pen Pal Stationary kit via Design*Sponge

A little nursery inspiration...

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:10:00 +0000

Check out my Ideabook this month on houzz where I begin to pull ideas and inspiration for our nursery design. We're drawing lots of inspiration from J.Crew Creative Director, Jenna Lyon's son's room. Spotted several years ago in Domino, I have always loved the striped ceiling and dark contrasting walls. I think we plan on doing something very similar in the nursery. Since we are waiting to find out the sex of the baby we have to stay gender neutral and I am so not into super "baby-ish" themed rooms anyway so something like this really appeals to me. Now if only I had that gorgeous stone fireplace and floor to ceiling windows to work with....we can't have everything we want though can we?

A long list of to-do's

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:31:00 +0000

Keep Calm print via Dizzi Prints

Hello...anyone still here? I am so sorry for the lengthy absence. For a bit there I thought this pregnancy had really gotten the best of me but over the last few weeks, as the nausea and exhaustion have gradually subsided, I've started to feel more like myself and I'm finding these random bursts of energy where I do things like clean the entire garage from top to bottom. It also seems like the creativity and inspiration are creeping back in and I'm going to need it because we have a very long list of to-do's to prepare for this little one.

1. Have custom bookshelves built for living room
2. Remove wall between kitchen and dining rooom
3. Create new floor plan for kitchen and install new cabinets
4. Paint dining room
5. Enclose screen porch and convert to office space and guest room
6. Install french doors to backyard from dining room
7. Make roman shades for bedrooms, kitchen, and dining room
8. Pick out curtains for dining room french doors
9. Paint nursery
10. Pick out flooring and install
11. Trim work
12. Paint all closet and interior doors
13. Recessed lighting in nursery, hallway, kitchen
14. New ceiling fan in nursery
15. New dresser and nightstands for master bedroom
16. Furnishings for nursery
17. Sell furniture and other items in garage
18. Remodel bathroom
19. Order and install custom closet for master bedroom
20. Extend outdoor patio
21. Exterior landscaping
22. New fence for backyard
23. Find pillows for living room

I had to stop at 23 because I was getting overwhelmed. Obviously not everything is a priority - landscaping the exterior isn't imperative...I'm sure the baby won't notice for a few years anyway but as long as I'm making the list I might as well include everything. I'm thinking of plastering these Keep Calm prints all over the house just to get through it. Suddenly this pregnancy seems like it's progressing at warp speed because there is so much to do before he (or she) gets here...

Some news....

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:48:00 +0000

There’s been a reason for all the quiet around here lately….if you haven’t already guessed, we’re expecting! I’ve been so incredibly exhausted and sick for the last several weeks. It’s been so hard to focus on anything other than getting through my first trimester. I’m 14 weeks today and starting to feel a little better but still battling some heavy duty exhaustion and an occasional meeting with le toilette…morning sickness isn’t really dedicated to the morning at all…it lasts ALL DAY!!

On top of all the normal pregnancy stuff, my mind has been totally zapped of creativity and inspiration. I’ve heard this can happen and unfortunately might last through the entire pregnancy. I just hope it returns because I don’t feel like myself without it and it’s made it very hard to blog or write or do anything else that requires the use of my mind! I just keep thinking my body must be needing every ounce of energy to make this wonderful little baby growing inside of me.

Despite everything, Mike and I are so excited and can’t wait to meet our little babe…we are going to be surprised and not find out the sex until delivery day! The baby is due August 28^th….3 days before Mike’s birthday! Now that our secret is finally out I will try my hardest to keep up and be a better blogger….we have so many house projects and of course a nursery to plan so I will be sure to share our progress and ideas.

A trip to Renninger's

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:08:00 +0000

This weekend I am trekking over to Mt. Dora to visit Renninger's for their antique extravaganza which features over 1,000 vendors! This is the last one until November and I am so excited for what I might find. Eddie Ross is a big fan of the event so you know it must be good! He has an incredible before and after shot for House Beautiful of a bench seat he found at Renninger's and made over into incredible seating for a mud room. I'm hoping I uncover something amazing like that. I'll be looking for us and for the shop which is badly in need of re-stocking since the holidays.

Photos: Eddie Ross & House Beautiful via Eddie Ross

Things that make me smile...

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:31:00 +0000

It's been a hectic couple of days with intermittent internet and then a modem that finally crapped out which made it very difficult to keep to any kind of blogging schedule, but I'm managing to drop in today to wish you all a happy Valentine's Day and share what's making me smile today - a few pink peonies, some sweet words, a bottle of champagne, and a great lipstick...all a girl really needs to be happy! What's making you smile today?

Photo: via lilly_unique

Photo: via French by Design

Photo: via The Glitter Guide

Photo: via Dish on Design

Interior of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (The Design Boards) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:39:00 +0000

This week's interior is the gorgeous work space of stylist, Emily Chalmers. I imagine it wouldn't be hard to be creative in a space like this one.

Photos: Inga Powilleit via Decor8