Playing With Hue

Lighting I Love: Coleen and Co.

2013-07-09T23:25:00.000-04:00

Perfection. Period. In an entryway, kitchen, bathroom, hallway, or bedroom Coleen and Co.'s lighting will add the missing piece in the most fabulous way.

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Wallpaper that I'm Crushing on

2013-06-19T13:58:00.001-04:00

You all know by now how much I love me some fun, loud, colorful, refreshing burst of wallpaper. My favorite ways to add bold patterned paper in the home is- in the back of a bookcase, inside a glass front cabinet, on an accent wall or ceiling, framed as artwork, or in a nursery, laundry room, linen closet, and/or powder room. If you have a space that is begging for some attention let me know. For now, here are some of my absolute faves!

Demeter Stripe, by Clarissa Hulse

Tears from Paradise, Elitis

Absence of Rose, Vivienne Westwood

Lily of the Valley, Cole & Son

Indulgence, Harlequin

Rosella, Harlequin

Teaspoons Wallpaper, Studio Ditte

Family K's Kitchen Reno!

2013-06-18T15:20:00.002-04:00

Family K wanted a sophisticated/elegant/traditional/homey/beachy vibe for their kitchen. Wife K wanted white cabinets but was overruled by hubby K who does most of the cooking. It took a bit of time but we found the perfect wood stain that we all agreed would look gorgeous and would suit their overall vision. To lighten things up a bit, we chose Silestone's "Lyra" for the countertops and a beautiful glass/marble mosaic backsplash. The pendants are a perfect finishing touch with just the right dose of beach!

(Unfortunately, my amateur camera doesn't do the floor justice- it is the perfect greige color!)

What Excites Us!

2013-06-18T13:59:00.001-04:00

My new laundry hamper arrived from One Kings Lane and I couldn't be happier with it!

My boys were pretty excited about it (ie the bubble wrap it came with) also...

One Kings Lane Love!!

2013-06-13T21:39:00.002-04:00

Laurel Bench, Slate

Frank Bench, Natural Linen

Alba X-Leg Desk, Espresso

X-Leg Desk, White

Kelsey Sofa, Oatmeal

Orange Chairs, South Beach, Worldly Photographs

Kilim Bench, The Spare Seat

Not Your Typical Shower Curtain

2013-05-22T12:54:00.000-04:00

Is it weird that my heart races when I see anything beautiful- including shower curtains that are just so right!?

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Color Inspiration

2013-05-21T14:10:00.003-04:00

Color schemes are all around us... in nature, fashion, just about everywhere we look. My Favorite magazines and catalogs always inspire my color palettes. Where do you find yours?

My Boards:

Eye Candy at ABC Carpet & Home

2013-05-07T15:05:00.002-04:00

There's nothing like a morning of scavenging through beautiful pieces at ABC Carpet & Home. Here are some of my favorite finds from today's trip... (one of which will find a home in a house I'm working on now, stay tuned for photos...).

Gorgeous Jewel Tone Rugs:

Dining in Style:

Inlay Obsessed:

Cozy Seating for Two:

My Virtual Wish list!

2013-04-23T11:45:00.002-04:00

Items I am obsessing over now!

Cayman Console Table

Ryan Velvet Sham

Sunset Hanging Spotlight

Muriel Chandelier

Sneak Peak: Powder Room

2013-04-17T13:17:00.001-04:00

Here's a sneak peak into a powder room that I've been working on... I can't wait to show you the house when it's done!

Great Color Combo: Royal Blue and Gold

2013-03-19T20:56:00.000-04:00

I know that I'm channeling the wrong holiday but recently I found the most beautiful mirror (that I need to find a home for) and beyond gorgeous shoes (that I am drooling over) and they both made me obsessed with royal blue and gold! This color combo is so hot that it's hard to do it wrong!

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How beyond gorgeous are these LK Bennett "Nelly" sandals?

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Osborne and Little "Summer Palace" wallcovering

The Unexpected Jewel Box: Laundry Rooms

2013-03-16T23:22:00.001-04:00

If you've asked me for advice on your home renovations you know that one of my biggest pushes is to make your laundry room your unexpected jewel box. Not many people love doing laundry so adding a special something to your room will definitely make the tedious task more bearable. You all know how much I love good wallpaper, check out how fab it is in the laundry room!


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Shops that Never Fail Me

2013-02-27T12:29:00.000-05:00

I'm not the type of shopper that likes to browse. I walk into a store eyeball everything from afar and either go in for the kill or turn my back and move on. So it definitely helps to go to the shops that I know will have what I want like J.Crew, One Kings Lane, Serena and Lily, and Anthropologie. Here are some of my favorites from their current collections.

Which are your go-to stores that never fail you?

J.Crew

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One Kings Lane

El Casco Blue Stapler

Webb Accent Table

Martin Barstool

Martha Stewart Chalk Rug

Serena and Lily

Brass Ring Table Lamp

Poppy Mosaic Mirror

Foundry Side Table

Anthropologie

Odion Desk

Petrified Wood Bookends

Update on My Entry Foyer

2013-02-26T15:21:00.002-05:00

I know I promised to start posting daily but life has been extremely hectic and every time I think I could get a break something happens... like ummm... all of my kids are home because two have a nasty stomach bug and one could get it at any second... Just saying! Anyway, some exciting news is that we have started our trim work and my favorite art prints by Cozamia are on a 25% off sale! The finished product is sooo near!

The inspiration photos for the trim in my entry foyer:

via Farrow and Ball's Inspiration book

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The first-round mock up:

We are waiting on the chair rail piece that will go smack in the middle, the base piece is laying on the floor and the crown molding will be a little less heavy. So, what do you think? I want input! advice! critiques!

As for Cozamia... One of these three will hang gloriously in my entry once we are done with the trim and painting (which is your favorite? I'm heavily leaning towards the third):

"Brittle Stars" click here for sizes and to purchase (don't forget to use code: cafe25)

"Night Peonies" click here for sizes and to purchase (don't forget to use code: cafe25)

"Color Migration" click here for sizes and to purchase (don't forget to use code: cafe25)

Paired with:

Edge Console Table

Shopping Spree Sunday

2013-02-17T15:52:00.000-05:00

With two of my boys and hubby out all day and my laid back, happy just hanging around son home with me I had a bit of a chance to scan some of my favorite shops online. I'm swooning over exotic cement tiles, architectural hardware and gorgeous lighting.

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(For hardware info. message me)

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Amazingly organized Linen Closets

2013-02-15T12:18:00.003-05:00

Gorgeous, organized linen closets are on my mind these days since we are finally adding shelves to ours! Yippee!!!!!!! I can't wait until my house is back in order and the sofa is out of my kitchen and the dining room table is out of the living room and we have floors again (which they are working on today). Until then enjoy these inspirational photos...

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When Life Happens

2013-02-12T14:05:00.000-05:00

It's been a bit too long since my last post which means that I broke rule no. 1 of blogging to post daily. My excuse? Life happened. After the Sandy Hook tragedy I really didn't feel like writing much and then a few other hardships happened and then pretty much more life happened. Some good, some irritating. The good news? We will be welcoming a new addition to our family (B"H the baby should be healthy and all my kids should have healthy and happy lives) early August. People keep making comments that I must be wishing that it's a girl (after 3 boys) but honestly I am uber happy with my boys and as long as I deliver a healthy baby I am happy. As for the irritating news? We went away on vacation and had a blast but came home to somewhat of a disaster. A pipe froze and burst and wreaked havoc on my wood floors (that are just 3 years young), some furniture (some that I liked a lot and some that I couldn't wait to get rid of anyway), walls, ceilings, ac ducts and more. Thank G-d we are able to live at home because the bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen were unharmed but it is a total construction zone. Good news again? I'll have new wood floors and we are finishing up the space with trim-work, new paint and hopefully some new pieces. YAY! I won't bore you with the pics of what everything looks like now (everything from the office, play room, and dining room are now in my kitchen or living room) but I can't wait to show you the after photos once it's all done. So to make up for all the lost time I'm going to share some thoughts/ideas about fashion, beauty, and home.

Fashion

I have an aversion to maternity clothes so I've been shopping (with success) in regular stores like Anthropologie and Madewell for adorable, fashionable roomy tops.


Static Blouse at Anthropologie. It has a super cute back that you should check out by clicking here.

Mesilla Peasant Blouse at Anthropologie

Dotty Monochrome Blouse at Anthropologie

Beauty

My lips are a disaster area in the winter and I needed to finally take care of them so I ran to Sephora to purchase an amazing lip exfoliator . I was shown two of their top selling exfoliators one of which is made from brown sugar and lemon (from Fresh). It smelled delicious and looked easy enough to use but I walked out empty handed thinking I could totally make my own. I can't wait to try this amazing sugar lip scrub recipe from Sarah Howard of Beauty Banter later tonight.

All you need is:

Pure coconut oil
Honey
Brown sugar
A teaspoon
A tablespoon
A mixing bowl
An empty jar or 2.5 oz baby food jar
Labels (optional but oh so cute)

Home

Gorgeous millwork is on my mind...

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Storage Solutions for Kids Rooms

2012-11-25T20:57:00.001-05:00

We are still in the process of making our home feel more like a home (a process that is pretty much never-ending) and lately I have been itching to work on my boys' bedrooms. My first issue to tackle is storage for their "stuff" and since the built in's that I have planned for their spaces are a thing in the future I've been looking at some more affordable, temporary, functional and obviously good-looking options.

Ikea's Expedit Bookcase

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For My Budding Artists

"And You Brought a Clip" to hang their artwork

"Cubby Cups"

"I Could've Bin a Art Caddy"

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"Build Your Own Stanton Wall System"

A Sneak at Bathrooms in Progress

2012-11-23T12:19:00.001-05:00

A couple that I have known since elementary school recently contacted me to help with their home renovation. On the second floor, they added a master bathroom and gutted their existing bathroom. For the master bathroom they wanted what all of us with hectic schedules want at the end of a day... a soothing, spa-like escape. Their adorable son who is a true boy's boy wanted a green and blue bathroom and his mom wanted a bit of an industrial/nautical look. Check out the results (sorry for the poor quality photos, professional ones soon to come).

Setting the Table: Thanksgiving Style

2012-11-20T12:22:00.004-05:00

This is the second year in a row that Thanksgiving will be in my house and as crazy as it is to prepare for 20+ guests I LOVE SETTING the table (and of course being able to share my favorite holiday with some of my favorite people (Liker, you will be missed)!

A sneak of my table:

Thanksgiving Inspiration:

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Spruce Up Your Bookcase

2012-11-15T14:09:00.004-05:00

Check out these great ways to make an otherwise visually boring bookcase, pop!

4.Penguin Clothbound Classics

Living Room Ideas

2012-11-08T21:53:00.001-05:00

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Coffee Tables that I'm Lusting Over

2012-11-07T22:40:00.000-05:00

Rosie Embroidered Suzani Ottoman

Timber Cocktail Table

Stevenson Coffee Table

Eva Zeisel Coffee Table

Royce Coffee Table

Post Cocktail Table

Reclaimed Wood Coffee Table

The Perfect House Warming Gifts

2012-11-06T23:01:00.000-05:00

It's been a tough month between my kids getting sick (strep, bronchitis, pneumonia) and one very unwelcome guest named Sandy there has been little time to check in with you guys. We lost our power for a few days but are extremely lucky to have friends and family that took us in. Which is why house warming (get it?) gifts for those who hosted us and showed us extreme hospitality have been on my mind. What is your favorite house warming gift that you either gave or received?

Chairs Covered In Madeline

2012-10-29T13:27:00.000-04:00

I am obsessed with Madeline Weinrib's fabrics and would love to cuddle up in a chair upholstered in one of her amazing fabrics!

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