Imagine Design Blog - Interior Design and Decorating

Yes, I’m still blogging!

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Tue, 29 May 2012 08:02:10 PDT

Please forgive me for my absence! New design clients have been keeping me delightfully busy and I’m also really super duper excited about my new website that is being built as I type! I’m sad to say that this beautiful blog that has served me so well for the past few years is now being merged with my website – www.InteriorDesignByImagine.com and a completely new URL and site are being formed! I’ve been wanting to combine the two for quite some time and now I finally did it and I’m just having some of the kinks worked out. I don’t know yet exactly when the new site will be completed, but until then I’ll still be here sporadically blogging. Thank you all for your continued readership throughout the years and I hope you’ll follow me over to my new site once it’s completed!

Tuesday Thoughts + a pretty living room

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Tue, 22 May 2012 08:29:24 PDT

Hola! How lovely is this? So simple and sweet. Sometimes it’s tough to remember that it can be so easy to consciously have a great day. That’s why I love these reminders that I post weekly. Reality check!

To like this living room you must love green! It’s everywhere – the cool patterned rug, the elegant chair, the variety of throw pillows, that green tufted ottoman, the banded drapes and even the accessories got it going on with green! Personally, it’s one of my favorite colors so this space is doing it right!

Happy Tuesday! I hope you’re all off to a great week!

HOUZZ: Decorating the front entrance to your home

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:10:10 PDT

Today I’m over at Houzz (@Houzz_Inc), sharing my favorite items to beautify your front entrance. Dress up your door and welcome guests into your home with style. Here are some accessories that will make your front entrance beautiful all the while adding curb appeal. Decorating your front entrance is the perfect way to set the stage for what your guests will be seeing inside your home. It's kinda like a little sneak peek! These are a few items on my list:

1. Pineapple sconce 2. Hexagonal door knocker 3. Contemporary mailbox 4. Z Gallerie outdoor lanterns

To read the full article and see all my favorite outdoor accessories, click here.

California Community College Entrepreneur Workshop at Mt. San Antonio College

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Fri, 18 May 2012 06:16:00 PDT

[Me up on stage, the agenda for the day]

This week I had the pleasure of speaking at the California Community College Entrepreneur Workshop at Mt. San Antonio College hosted by the Institute for Women Entrepreneurs. It was one of my first speaking engagements, so I was a little nervous beforehand, but once I got up on stage and starting talking, my nerves settled down.

[feeling very official]

There were 4 panelists that were asked to speak to a group of about a hundred students: myself, Claudia Mendoza, Nancy Hahn and Gonzalo Vasquez. We all are alumni from the community college district and entrepreneurs. We each shared our story about we started our own businesses and a personal message about entrepreneurship.

[some of the students who participated in the workshop during a break]

My message was, “Do what you love and love what you do”. I’m not sure if I’ve ever really shared my story here on the blog about how I got to where I am today, but I think I’ll share that in a separate post. It’s too long to include on this post, but after sharing it with the students, I felt compelled to share it on here. There were a lot of people who came up to me afterwards and told me that they were inspired and that’s all I was hoping for!

[myself, Gonzalo Vasquez (Nusabi Apparel) and Kari Irwin (the director of the Institute for Women Entrepreneurs)]

[thanks for the shirt Gonzalo!]

The California Community College Entrepreneur Workshop at Mt. San Antonio College was such a fun event and it just made me realize how important networking and building relationships when you’re an entrepreneur really is. It’s all about who you know!

Thursday’s This + That: Esther Dress & Layla Grace Rug

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Thu, 17 May 2012 05:45:00 PDT

Add some pizzazz to your powder room with this Polkamania Orange White Cotton Jersey Shag Rug from Layla Grace while prancing your pretty little self around in that Laura Cocktail Dress in tangerine/white spot from Esther.

Legends of La Cienega 2012

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:20:16 PDT

Last week, The La Cienega Design Quarter played host to one of my favorite design events of the year – The Legends of La Cienega. The 4th annual Legends event, Windows to the World, was even better than last year’s, in my opinion. The 3 day celebration was filled with panelists, gorgeous window displays, art exhibits, trunk shows, fabulous food and cocktail hours.

As you scroll through this post, you’ll see photos that I took during Day 2 of this world renown event. I wasn’t able to get there every day, because it’s a bit of a drive for me from La Verne, but I wanted to make sure I got there for at least one of the days!

The day started out in the Lee Stanton VIP + blogger lounge where the cocktails were flowing freely!

I then headed over to Compas for the Elle Décor power lunch. This lunch was exclusive to invitees only, so I felt super important. There I met up with Christian May (Maison 21), Jill Seidner (Material Girls) and Sara (Decorative Carpets).

From there, I headed over to Mecox where the fabulous Mary McDonald was signing her book, The Allure of Style. I loved their showroom – very comfy and cozy.

I then popped into Hollyhock for the panel: Visions of the World: England with panelists Malcolm James and Christopher Sharp of the Rug Company. Then it was over to Harbinger (which was my favorite spot on the tour). I got to catch up with Ginna Christensen (27ground) and to listen to the panel:

Visions of the World: Asia, the Far East Edge. Panelists included: Katie Leede, Muriel Brandolini and Jiun Ho.

Here are some more images of Harbinger:

Everything was just so bright, vibrant and full of color.

I met up with some familiar faces at Harbinger – Richard Morales (BluePrintBrands) and Amy Benton (Lily Preuss).

Afterwards, it was back over to Lee Stanton for the Traditional Home tribute party. The drinks were flowing yet again and it was packed!

Richard Morales (BluePrintBrands) – Jaime Rummerfield (Woodson & Rummerfield) – Typhanie Peterson (www.typhaniepeterson.com)

*all photos taken by me, except the Elle Décor Power Lunch, which was taken by Jill Seidner

Tuesday Thoughts - LOVE what you do!

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Tue, 15 May 2012 07:17:45 PDT

Tomorrow I’ve been asked to speak at an entrepreneur workshop for the Institute of Women Entrepreneurs at Mt. SAC, to talk to a community of college students about ‘loving what you do’. I’m excited and nervous all at the same time. Speaking in front of large crowds (like a couple hundred students!) is not usually my thing, but I’m so excited to share with them my story and tell them how important it is to find that special something that brings you joy and turn it into your work. So wish me luck!

Are you dying over these tufted pink chairs as much as I am? This whole vignette is just giving it to me! Love the light blue set of drawers, love the hardware, love the artwork, love the green walls with the white trim. It all just works!

Makeover Monday: Dining Room seating

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Mon, 14 May 2012 05:59:00 PDT

Have you seen this yet? It’s been all over Pinterest and I’m loving it!

The idea of using an upholstered bench, sofa or settee as part of your dining seating is such a chic way to add some style to your dining area. Adding these soft pieces brings a whole new feeling to the table!

Why settle for 6 or 8 matching dining chairs when you can add a brightly colored settee or a funky print to the party? These pieces not only provide comfort for your guests, but they also serve as a focal point amongst the rest of the dining furniture.

I love the idea of a built-in bench like this for extra storage for things like placemats, napkins and other serving ware. The extra tall upholstered back rest above is extra dramatic.

What do you think? Would you swap out some of your dining chairs for one of these upholstered pieces? I love it and am kicking around some ideas to incorporate it into my own dining space!

If you need some assistance in designing and decorating your home, let me help! I'm always available for design consultations if you're located in the Southern California area. My Interior Design office is located in La Verne, California. I offer affordable and comparable rates. I'd love to help you make your house a home!

Tuesday Thoughts: A quote + a pretty bedroom

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Tue, 08 May 2012 05:55:00 PDT

Deep thoughts! Be mindful of how you spend your love, thoughts and emotions. Everything in your life is a result of what’s happening inside.

This bedroom is a beauty. Seems to me like it might be a hotel room. I love the carved wood screen they are using as a headboard. The simple linens paired with the neutral finishes creates a calm and serene environment. That pop of peachy pinkness is just the right amount of color!

Makeover Monday: 5 Blank Wall Solutions

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:30:10 PDT

Good morning! Better Homes & Gardens always offers some easy + doable decorating solutions that anyone (even me!) can accomplish. I thought these 5 decorating solutions were a great way to add some art to your blank walls, while being crafty + creative!

Stylish Silhouettes

To put a culinary-inspired twist on the classic silhouette, use cutouts of cooking utensils and appliances as the subject matter. These cutouts are backed with photocopied pages from an old cookbook, allowing them to blend easily with the kitchen's country style. The pieces stand out against the wall with crisp black frames in varying widths and are arranged in a neat, balanced composition.

DIY Botanical Prints

Update the classic look of botanical prints with this easy DIY project. Silk or plastic greenery is laid on a blank canvas and a coat of spray paint creates the reverse silhouette. A special material called frisket (available in the model-building section of a crafts store) gives the pieces a unique irregular border.

Get the step-by-step instructions.

Natural Beauty

Get the gridded artwork look on a dime. Browse the dollar store for wood frames and customize them with paint. These frames were spruced up with black paint and then distressed with sandpaper to match the look of the vintage botanical prints they display.

Soothing Solution

Prevent a blank wall from looking stark and empty by filling it with a collection of small prints. Soft landscapes like these ones look soothing placed against a soft blue wall. To create a cohesive composition, search for prints of similar sizes and arrange the frames in a grid pattern on the wall.

DIY Artwork

High-impact decorating on a budget has never been easier. These pieces were made with nothing more than a couple canvases and metal repair tape. To create these shiny DIY works of art, cut the metal repair tape with scissors and adhere in geometric patterns to the canvases. The silver material stands out against cool blue walls and fits in perfectly with the other silver accessories and décor elsewhere in the room.

*all ideas + images are directly from BHG!

Chroma Bash: Peacock Blues

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Wed, 02 May 2012 09:06:00 PDT

Pretty as a peacock blues add an elegant and classy touch in any situation. A teal gown, peacock blue glassware or an aquamarine sofa makes a soothing, yet seriously chic statement. Add some peacock blue to your world for some stylish sophistication.

flask :: wedge :: cocktail ring :: art :: pendant :: sofa :: glassware :: gown :: glasses :: bauble :: knobs

Tuesday Thoughts–a quote + a pretty backyard

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Tue, 01 May 2012 06:01:00 PDT

I love this saying! How true! You need to feed and nourish the relationships and connections you have, rather than wasting energy trying to find something “better”. If you don’t work on the issues you have in your current relationship, you’re going to end up right back where you were.

Isn’t that checkered lawn just fabulous? I love the deep, mossy, mysterious feeling of it all. Kinda reminds me of Alice and Wonderland.

I hope you’re all having a great week so far. Staying busy here! Happy May Day!

San Dimas Interior Design by Imagine: Buckingham BEFORE

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 05:56:00 PDT

This beautiful family of 5 recently moved into their new home in San Dimas. So far, they’ve done a wonderful job installing new wood and tile flooring and updating a few other items throughout the house. Now, we’ve come to the fun part! They contacted me to shop with them for new functional, yet stylish furniture, help select a new color scheme and accessorize and decorate all the rooms to create a cohesive and comfortable home that the whole family can enjoy.

Click below to see more BEFORE pictures!

FAMILY ROOM:

DINING ROOM:

MASTER BEDROOM:

If you need some assistance in designing and decorating your home, let me help! I'm always available for design consultations if you're located in the Southern California area. My Interior Design office is located in La Verne, California. Please visit my website and email me for rates and more info. I offer affordable and comparable rates. I'd love to help you make your house a home!

Italian Greyhound recipe for our Wednesday Weekend Warm Up!

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:01:00 PDT

I haven’t posted a “Wednesday Weekend Warm Up” in a while and I was inspired this past weekend when we went to our friend’s new house, who have a grapefruit tree in their backyard filled with plump, juicy grapefruits! Greyhounds were made and I just had to share the recipe!

Italian Greyhound Cocktail

Rosemary Sugar

1 -2 ounces vodka (depending on the time of day)

4 ounces freshly squeezed pink or red grapefruit juice

Splash Aperol

Rub the edge of a glass on a wedge of fresh citrus - grapefruit would be perfect. Put some of the rosemary sugar on a plate and rim the glass.

Fill the glass with crushed ice. Add the vodka and juice, and top with a splash or two of Aperol.

Swirl or stir gently - enjoy.

Makes 1 drink

Tuesday Thoughts: advice + a pretty storefront

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 05:45:00 PDT

I’m speaking an entrepreneur workshop in a few weeks. My message is: Find out what you love to do and turn that into a business. That way, you never really feel like you’re working. Because believe me, when you start your own business, it is not an 8-5 position. Sure, there are a TON of perks in having your own business, but you’re really never on “vacation” or you don’t really have your nights and weekends off. For example, I’m sitting here on my computer at 8:01pm creating this blog post. I don’t care what people say, this is work for me. Sure, I LOVE blogging and I could do it all day long, but one of the main reasons I blog is to keep up my online presence. It’s work. But it’s fun, because I love it! And I love decorating and designing! So the thoughts above really grabbed my attention when I saw them on Pinterest. Take the leap! Do what you love!

The storefront…LOVE. The scalloped black and white awnings…DYING. Hmmm…opening a little design studio with a storefront…maybe?

HOUZZ: Beautiful hooks

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 05:50:00 PDT

Today I’m over at Houzz, sharing my favorite hooks. Summer is coming and it's my busy season! Go, go, go! There are times when I can't stop to properly put away all my items, so I'd rather toss it on a beautiful hook than on the floor! Mount one of these meant to be seen hooks next to your closet, front door, shower, pool or anywhere you tend to drop your purse, bag or towel. These are a few hooks on my list:

1. TEXTURED BATH HARDWARE 2. Bess Cat Hook 3. Chess 4. brass muse hook

To read the full article and see all my favorite hooks, click here.

Tuesday Thoughts {a quote + a pretty front door}

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:33:36 PDT

Man…I LOVE this saying! How true. When you really want something, you make it happen. When it’s not that important to you, you’ll find every excuse in the world not to do it.

And how about this door??? DY-ING! I’ve created a new pin board on Pinterest, called, “I’m designing my dream home”. You can check it out here ---> “I’m designing my dream home”. This pretty little front door has made it’s way on that board, amongst many other black and white themed images. I’m all about the black and white lately. I always have been, but now that I’m planning my wedding and I’ve chosen a black and white color theme, I’m keen to anything having to do with that color palette!

Happy Tuesday lovelies! I hope you’re having a GREAT week! I’ve been busy helping Nick get a few new listings prepared and I’ve also been working on a space plan for a new commercial project I started last week. April’s been busy and I don’t see it slowing down!

Me Monday: Hitting golf balls in Glendora, spending the afternoon in Newport Beach, House of Wings and The Patio in La Verne

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:52:41 PDT

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a great weekend! I’m FINALLY feeling better after having the flu for 3 whole weeks! The sun is shining and I’ve got a full Monday ahead of me! This weekend was packed full of fun. Are you on Instagram? I just signed up and I’m LOVING it! Find me: jamigoldsmith or here: http://web.stagram.com/n/jamigoldsmith/ Below these are some of the photos I’ve taken on the ap. I’m still learning all the tools, but I think they turned out so cool!

There are two new restaurants in La Verne that recently opened – The House of Wings and The Patio. This weekend I got to try both! The House of Wings and I loved (very cool atmosphere and a full bar) and The Patio left little to be desired (could’ve been the time of day we were there – 3pm on a Saturday), besides their delicious hummus and grape leaves!

One of Nick’s favorite past times is hitting balls at the range, so this time I decided to come with and watch him. It was actually really peaceful and relaxing.

We also spent some time in Newport Beach, which is always fun for Nick and I because that’s where we first met. I spotted him across the bar almost 5 years ago now and we’ve been together ever since! The weather was a little chilly, but the sunset was gorgeous!

I hope you’re off to a great week! Happy Monday!

Thursday’s This + That: TransOcean & Young, Fabulous & Broke

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 05:50:00 PDT

Add an ombre effect to your floor with this TransOcean Rug while draping your body with some ombre in that Young, Fabulous & Broke 'Tegan' Ombré Halter Maxi Dress.

*as always, "Thursday's This & That", inspired by the creative blog, Oh Joy!

La Verne Interior Design by Imagine: Winfield BEFORE

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 10:49:23 PDT

After moving into their first home together, this newlywed couple called me to help them make their newly purchased house a home. Small in space, but big in character this space was in need of some creative storage solutions and a cohesive look to pull together each of their belongings. This couple has great taste and an eclectic assortment of furnishings, so it’s been a joyful task to work with them!

Click below to see more BEFORE pictures!

KITCHEN:

DINING ROOM:

LIVING ROOM:

MASTER BEDROOM:

If you need some assistance in designing and decorating your home, let me help! I'm always available for design consultations if you're located in the Southern California area. My Interior Design office is located in La Verne, California. Please visit my website and email me for rates and more info. I offer affordable and comparable rates. I'd love to help you make your house a home!

Wedding Wednesday: Eliminating the Dollar Dance

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 05:55:00 PDT

THE IDEA: Eliminating the Dollar Dance and replacing it with a “Honeymoon Fund Jar”

Love it or hate it?

When it comes to wedding dances, I personally really don’t like the dollar dance. I think it slows the momentum of the reception down and drags out forever. And talking to either the bride or groom while slow dancing for an entire song is extremely uncomfortable for me. I can’t imagine being the bride and having to come up with that much conversation at my own wedding!

So the question is…is this jar cool or tacky? Or do any of you have any other suggestions for Dollar Dance replacements? Or maybe just skip the whole “give me money” aspect all together?

To see more of my wedding ideas take a look HERE!

Tuesday Thoughts {a quote + a pretty outdoor oasis}

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 06:01:00 PDT

I’m not sure why, but this image reminds me of my first place that I lived in by myself in San Diego. Cozy, outdoor oases like these just melt my heart! It’s like a secret little hideaway, up above it all. I paired it with this saying, because just over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been contacted a few times by strangers asking me for advice about how to take the leap of faith in moving across country and starting your own business. This saying is really instrumental. I constantly have to keep reminding myself that I’m braver, stronger and smarter than what I give myself credit for. There’s no reason to be afraid – just take the leap and the net will appear!

3 Tips for Decorating as Newlyweds from the writers of Houzz

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 05:45:00 PDT

Hello everyone! My name is Becky and I'm a contributor at Houzz, a home design site focused on helping design professionals and homeowners manage the remodeling and decorating process. Thanks so much to Jami for having me! Since Jami is planning her wedding, I started thinking about partners moving in together and the subsequent design compromises they often have to make. I have to admit, I was also inspired by my Bravo addiction; more on that in a bit. First, here are three steadfast rules to bear in mind when combining households and styles.

contemporary living room design by los angeles interior designer Tommy Chambers Interiors, Inc.

Be open to adjusting your palette. If you're all about hot pink and electric blue while he wants everything black and tan, meet in the middle. You keep the vibrant prints and contrasts, perhaps via oranges and greens, while he gets some big swaths of neutral hues as part of the mix. You can even work with an interior designer to help pick a palette that everyone will agree upon. I don't mean to stereotype favorite color combos here, but I do happen to know a disproportionate number of dudes with black leather sofas.

contemporary closet design by los angeles closets and organization Lisa Adams, LA Closet Design

Concentrate on what you want instead of what you don't want. I was watching Bethenny Ever After the other night; it was an episode where she and the hubs were planning the layout of their new gigantic, compliments of Skinnygirl Margaritas apartment. (I wish I had been a fly on the wall in Jill Zarin's apartment when she was watching that!) I digress; Bethenny kept asserting that she was all about her glamorous closet. She also thought she was all about never having a television in the main living room. However, when her man Jason had to give up his TV-holding man cave in exchange for her closet, she realized she could live with him having a big screen in the living room. After all, it left her enough room for a shoe corral. The lesson here? Instead of concentrating on what you do not want, think about what you do want. Then treat your partner's wants with the same respect you'd want to receive. Is it sad that I get most of my life lessons via Bravo these days? Oh well. See more glamorous closets on Houzz

eclectic bedroom design by little rock interior designer Tobi Fairley

Edit accordingly. Whenever I see a bed half-covered in throw pillows I think of Ben Stiller taking 15 minutes every night to neatly stack them in an armoire in Along Comes Polly. There are much better ways for newlyweds to be spending that time! Four pillows for sleeping plus two throw pillows are usually plenty. What other design compromise advice do you experienced couples have to share? What's the biggest sacrifice you ever made for design harmony? Find more clever ideas from interior designers, architects and more design professionals at Houzz.

Smile…its an (Easter) kind of weekend!

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 05:20:00 PDT

Happy Easter beautiful readers! I hope you all have a wonderful whether you’re celebrating Easter or not, spending time with family and friends or simply relaxing and taking a weekend for yourself. I’m going to be doing a little of all the above. If you’re hosting this weekend and are still in need of some simple and easy Easter decorations and décor ideas, jump over to my Pinterest and check out my Easter Décor and Tablescaping board. There’s plenty of inspiration to get you decorating! Enjoy the next couple of days and I’ll be back on Monday from a post from Houzz!

Thursday’s This + That: Etsy Ikat Pillow & Joie Ikat Dress

noreply@blogger.com (JAMI from IMAGINE DESIGN BLOG) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 05:55:00 PDT

Toss some color on your sofa or bed with this Magenta Ikat Designer Pillow Cover and flaunt what your momma gave ya in that Soft Joie Ikat Ruched Skirt Tank Dress.

*as always, "Thursday's This & That", inspired by the creative blog, Oh Joy!