Michelle Kroll

Chevron Love

2011-08-16T21:42:00.000-07:00

2011-07-13T09:44:00.000-07:00

Lighting is an important element in every interior space. And table lamps provide task lighting and a warm feeling. They really make a room come together so it is important to pick out lamps that work well with the decor or style you want. Table lamps are also an easy accessory to switch out often if your taste changes or it is just time for an update!

I LOVE looking at lighting and especially using table lamps in my own home decor! I thought I would share a few of my favorites at the moment.

1. Anita Antique Brass/Black Marble Lamp - Shopten25

2. Mariposa Table Lamp, Aquamarine - Z Gallerie

3. Stained Gunmetal Porcelain Lamp - Shopten25

4. Marrakesh Melon Table Lamp - Ballard Designs

5. Owl Table Lamp - West Elm

6. Silver Mercury Glass Lamp with Perforated Shade - Burke Decor

7. Newport Teardrop Lamp - Jill Rosenwald Studio

8. Electra Table Lamp - Home Decorators Collection

What do you look for in a table lamp? Color? Do you have a favorite lamp that tells a story?

Patio Inspiration

2011-06-02T18:18:00.000-07:00

So, I've been wanting to spruce up my patio for the summer, especially after looking at everything that died during the winter months. A few weeks ago, I had my hubby remove and dump the dead potted plants. Now I can begin making it cheerful with some colorful flowers so that we can enjoy using this space for BBQs or just to relax outside.

I have been looking for small patio inspiration online and wanted to share my favorites with you! I will post pictures of my patio as soon as it is finished!

Image via Pinterest

Image via Apartment Therapy

Image via Designyourrevolution blog

I love this flower box! Isn't it beautiful?

Image via BHG

Our Baby Boy

2011-05-30T16:21:00.000-07:00

My little boy arrived three weeks early and is happy and healthy! We are so in love with him!

Cocoa & Hearts is now open!

2011-05-02T07:36:00.000-07:00

Jen Ramos from Madebygirl, has just launched her new shop Cocoa & Hearts which is where she will be selling her original artwork! Take a look at a few of my favorites from her shop!

Images via Cocoa & Hearts

Painting a Curvy Moroccan-Star Design

2010-11-28T10:35:00.001-08:00

This Old House magazine shows us a step by step guide on how to paint a Curvy Moroccan Star Design on the wall! It looks just like wallpaper, doesn't it?

Check out their website here for complete instructions! Good luck painting!

"French Blue" Digital Design Project

2010-11-07T08:39:00.000-08:00

This is a digital design project I did for a thirteen year old girls bedroom! She wanted a sophisticated room with a little french style, using blue and taupe as the color scheme! I had a lot of fun working on this space and can't wait to see how it turns out!

Visual Design Board

Bedroom Floor Plan

If you are interested in purchasing a digital design service for a baby nursery or children's room, please e-mail me at michelle@lullabyinteriors.com or visit my website www.lullabyinteriors.com!

Romantic Chandeliers

2010-10-18T19:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a relaxing weekend! I'm looking forward to the rain this week, so excited for some cold weather!

Have you ever dreamed about adding some romance to your bedroom or living room? A beautiful chandelier would be the perfect piece of decor to add. You can find them in many different styles! Today I am posting a few of my favorites from Lowes and Home Depot! And the best part is...they are all reasonably priced!

Wish you can add a romantic touch to a small space? This Platinum Traditional Mini-Chandelier would look amazing in a corner of a room, powder room or office.

Here is another gorgeous mini chandelier! This Rustic Iron Chandelier has curvaceous scrolling arms in aged iron finish and features crystal cut French pendants.

This Maria Theresa Chandelier, from Home Depot, is truly a classic design.

This White Traditional Chandelier, from Lowes is very romantic! The detail adds some extra charm to this fixture.

Isn't this Crystal Chandelier, also from Lowes, just stunning?!

This elegant Black Chandelier is accented with lucite beads and jewel pendants! How beautiful!

Nate Berkus on HSN

2010-10-15T10:30:00.000-07:00

I LOVE Nate Berkus and watch his show everyday (well I Tivo everyday and usually have small Nate Berkus marathons)! If you have not heard, he also has his own line of home decor items which are sold on HSN! I picked out a few of my favorites but you should take a look at all his other pieces here.

This beautiful porcelain Ikat bowl, for $29.95 ($19.95 event price) would look amazing as a fruit bowl or a special serving piece for the dinner table.

This pillow would add charm to any room. Just place on a sofa or a reading chair! This beautiful knitted pillow is $34.95.

Look at these star studded candle cuffs! They are gorgeous! A set of two for $29.95 ($19.95 event price).

I am in love with this leather studded table for $199.95! This will definitely make a statement in any room!

Want to add some extra seating with an updated look? The silver metallic pouf for $99.95, is perfect for seating, a foot stool, a small table with a tray or functional accent piece.

Deep Shades of Purple

2010-10-07T20:55:00.000-07:00

This beautiful bedroom just makes me smile! How gorgeous are those deep shades of purple? I had this photo saved on my computer and am using it as inspiration for a young girls bedroom I'm working on!

Halloween Inspiration

2010-10-05T06:57:00.000-07:00

Is everyone getting ready for Halloween? I plan on getting all our decorations out this weekend! Maybe this year the hubby and I will carve pumpkins! Last year, we bought a pumpkin but ended up never carving it. Today's post is all about Halloween inspiration I've come across on the web. Hope you get some ideas, I know I did!

Photo via BHG

Photo via Apartment Therapy

These tissue balls look great in black and gray! You can also add some orange tissue balls to add some color (if you don't have an orange wall)!

Love these spiders! Creepy!

Photo via Good Housekeeping

Photo via Living Locurto

Photo via BHG

I LOVE this idea of decorating votives! Its so easy, just cut strips of scrapbook paper to fit around glass votive holders. Adhere double-stick tape to the cups and wrap the paper strips around them. And then embellish with rhinestones and sequins.

I'm Back!

2010-10-01T06:16:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! How was everyone's week? I just came back from a wonderful vacation in St. Lucia so I apologize for the lack of posts lately! Today I thought I would post some pictures from my trip to show you the beautiful island of St. Lucia.

This was the resort we stayed at...Windjammer Landing!

Have you ever been to St. Lucia? This was my first time there.

On Vacation in St. Lucia!

2010-09-26T15:02:00.000-07:00

Sorry for not posting lately...my hubby and I are vacationing in St. Lucia complements of the Newlywed Game! I'll be back at the end of the week!

The beauty in Design

2010-09-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

"Design is not making beauty,
beauty emerges from selection,
affinities, integration, love."

~Louis Kahn

Image via Home Interior Design

Image via ArhZine

Image via Metropolitan Home

Image via Out in Home

Image via Delhi Interiors

Hope you have a wonderful Monday!

Advanced Interior Designs...original designs & reproductions!

2010-09-17T15:55:00.000-07:00

Today I was looking through Advanced Interior Design's website and found many great furnishings! I especially love their lighting section...just stunning pieces! The site provides high quality original designs and reproductions of modern and classic furniture. Check them out here. I decided to post a few of my favorites!

This modern Ludlow Platform Bed is very luxurious! It has a sleek button-tufted headboard and framed in a rich wenge border. Can you imagine this bed in your bedroom?

This Aristocrat two Piece Sofa Set is so classy and rich looking! They would look amazing against dark dramatic walls!

The Daybed Lounger shown here in white, can work in any room while looking very sleek in design.

The Dub Cafe Table is fun and functional. A great way to add some modern style in a small dinning area.

The Le Corbusier Pony Chaise Lounge is a classic modern reproduction of the Le Corbusier chaise lounge LC4 originally designed in 1928. Very classic!

This Cellula Style Triple Chandelier is just stunning!

Isn't this Black and Crystal "Dripping" Chandelier beautiful?! Very glam and chic! I love the black base with clear crystals!

What do you think about this website? Do you have any modern furniture in your home?

Design Inspiration

2010-09-16T10:59:00.000-07:00

I have a folder filled with images of interiors that I have saved simply because I love something about each one. Every other week, I will post a few of these images and describe why I fell in love with them. This digital folder is not organized or labeled (I need to work on that) so I apologize for not labeling each image. If you know where one came from, please let me know.

This interior is very dramatic. The grouped gold wall art pops against that dark blue wall, which also bring out the gold pillows on the sofa. By using the clear coffee table, the focus is on the zebra rug and all the pattern and color on the white sofa!

This vanity is very chic and elegant! I love the diamond pattern on the walls. Its either wallpaper or painted. I would be thrilled to get ready everyday in this space!

This room is very neutral with a lot of texture and pattern. The rug really brings the room together and the orange pillow adds a much needed pop of color.

The soft colors are a beautiful backdrop for that bright yellow chair. It is very unpredictable and bold!

Image via Architectural Digest

I was drawn to this interior because of that gorgeous chandelier! I want one for my dinning room! Also, the piano is stunning in the corner with that beautiful view of the city.

Besides the color scheme using my favorite color (turquoise), I love that silver coffee table! Don't be afraid to add different furniture finishes to a space.

******************
Images from my (unorganized) design inspiration folder. Please let me know if one of these images is yours or if you know where it came from, as I just save images I love! ******************

Oh how I love Zebra print

2010-09-14T10:25:00.000-07:00

I've been noticing how the zebra print is poping up everywhere lately, especially the Zebra print cowhide rugs! I have always loved zebra print...it started back in high school when I decorated my room in blue with ALOT of zebra accents! Here are some beautiful interiors designed with some zebra print that truly make me drool...

Image via Luxury Interiors

Of course I just LOVE pairing a zebra print with a bold color like these chairs! So dramatic!

Images via Tonic home

Image via New York Social Diary

Image via Modern Design

Image via Monique Lhuilier

How do you feel about Zebra print? Do you have it somewhere in your home? I'd love to see pictures!!

Painting Tips

2010-09-13T15:41:00.000-07:00

Choosing the right color

First off, when selecting a wall color, you need to take the color of your floors into consideration. Usually, people think only about how a paint hue relates to their furniture and forget that their floors have a color too. You need to experiment with warmer and cooler versions of the shade you think you want.

Remember that samples are cheap but repainting a room is not.

You can paint large test swatches on the walls or paint pieces of poster board, which can be moved around to see how colors look in different light. Don't forget to feather the edges with a brush, when painting the on the wall, to avoid creating ridges that will need to be sanded.

Design Button

katy elliott

Selecting a finish

Figuring out which finish to use depends on taste and your lifestyle. Flat finishes have barely any sheen and usually absorb light and hide imperfections. I love eggshell because it has a subtle sheen and texture and is MORE durable and washable which is always nice, especially if you have children! Semigloss is even more durable and washable and has an obvious sheen, this finish is great for woodwork and doors!

Then there are high-gloss finishes which are best for bathrooms. Try to buy a paint that is moisture resistant when painting your bathroom.

countryliving.com

Don't be afraid of color

People often choose white walls because they do not want to commit to a particular color. I can totally understand that! But keep in mind that in a white space, it is harder to make white furniture look good. With color on the wall, white furniture tends to stand out.

Easy maintenance tips

Keep a small jar of paint and a sponge brush handy for touchups. If stored indoors, latex paint can last a decade.

To clean walls, apply mild dish soap to a wet cloth and gently wipe away stains; never apply soap directly to a wall.

Do you RUE?

2010-09-09T09:27:00.001-07:00

Only a few more days until the first issue of Rue Magazine (September 16th to be exact)! I am very excited! I am sure you have all heard about this new online magazine by now but if you have not...

The lovely and talented Crystal Gentilello, Anne Sage, Alain Kaczmarski, and Caitlin Flemming, who met through the blogging world, formed their own design magazine.

Rue Magazine gave us two sneak peaks so far of the first issue! I don't know about you but it definitely has left me wanting more.

Sneak peak #1...

Look at that Chandelier! Love the soft colors with the dark furniture and wall decor. Very Chic!

Sneak Peak #2...

This bookcase is stylized perfectly with old and new!

This interior is just luxurious! I want to move in! That rug is amazing.

Don't forget to spread the word with a "Do You Rue?" button on your blog. I just did! Go here to get a button and post it in your margins and link to their site!

Re-decorating

2010-09-08T13:18:00.000-07:00

So after falling in love with the Big Brother house decor, I am now on a mission to add new pillows to my sofa. I need some more pattern in my living room! Here are some pillows that are on my wish list!

Love this fun blue and brown flower throw pillow from Donna Karan Home!

This Trellis pattern is just fabulous! Both pillows are from Burke Decor. The square pillow retails for $75 and the long pillow reatils for $95.

I am really loving this zig zag pattern! It's everywhere right now. You can find this pillow at Linens n Things for $50. I also found the same fabric from fabric.com and am thinking about making it myself.

This beautiful botanical pillow is from Donna Karan Home and retails for $34.99

These pillows are from All M odern for $60

I found this website www.inmod.com offers a Pillow design studio. You can customize pillows for your home! You start by choosing from dozens of designs, and select a premium fabric, size, and the embroidery color for each element of the design.

2010-09-07T19:30:00.000-07:00

Ever wish you had a place in your home to throw shoes, jackets, etc, after walking in the door? I sure wish I did! But I do not have a large laundry room or extra space in my entry way. Here are a few images that I found of beautiful mud rooms and entry ways with storage.

I love the numbers placed on the bottom of the bench. Such detail! This space is very simple yet you can tell there is a lot of organization to it. I'm sure that cabinet on the left can hold a lot.
via Working Woman's Guide to Domestic Success

This space is very cheerful! There is definetly a lot of individual storage areas.
via Real Simple

This space has a worldly style with the maps on the wall and the antique decor on top of the furniture piece. See, storage can be stylish!

This mudroom is also the laundry room. A great way to combine two important functions into one. By adding a vase with flowers and keeping storage behind closed doors, this room does not feel cluttered at all.
via john and michele blog

Again, by adding some pretty decor items above the storage piece, you take the focus off of the shoes and hung items.
via Decor Pad

This mud room has to be the most functional, just look at that dog bed! How creative!
via Home House Design

This entry way is proof that you do not need a very large space to add some storage and organization to your home. I love how everything is labeled!
via Home Life

Do you have a room or certain area in your home that helps you feel organized?

Big Brother House

2010-09-02T20:38:00.000-07:00

I am LOVING the colors of the Big Brother house this season, especially the HOH room! The theme of the house is South Beach meets Art Deco that the Big Brother producers have nicknamed “Playground by the Shore.” The turquioise, creams and greys in the HOH room are just my favorite of course. My hubby works on the show and found out that the sheets and a few items are from Z Gallerie but other than that, I've had no luck with finding out about everything else.

And my FAVORITE, the HOH room! The face statue on the night stand is from Z Gallerie.

All images via Yahoo TV

Gorgeous Grilles

2010-09-01T18:55:00.000-07:00

I've always thought those air vents just get in the way when decorating a wall! And sometimes they are located in awkward areas. Sometimes I paint them the same color as the wall to help them blend in and also have kept them white to match moulding. But this still does not make them look pretty at all. I have recently come across Pattern Cut who makes these beautiful air conditioning and heating grille covers!

The wood grilles can be cut to any size and any shape that you need. They are laser cut from 1/4" thick Baltic birch hardwood ply with oak, maple or cherry furniture grade face veneer. Prices varies depending on size but start at $30 each. I am definitely going to order a few for my home! Take a look...

Return Air Filter before

Return Air Filter after
All images via Pattern Cut

Crafting Spaces

2010-08-31T18:18:00.000-07:00

I dream of one day having a beautiful (and well organized) craft room. But in a two bedroom condo with the hopes of a baby one day soon...this dream is going to have to wait awhile!

I am currently helping a friend with her scrapbooking room and came across these spaces for inspiration...

My favorite part of this craft room is the fun artwork.
Image via Simply Me blog

This space is very cheerful and organized! I love all the color coordination!
Image via BHG

I love these cabinets and those bookcases!
Image via the little things blog

Isn't this room simple and classy?! There are many different options when using shelves & cabinetry with a hard surface top. You can use furniture pieces to make a desk or this would be a great DIY project.

*Organize your workroom around decorating solutions that do double duty.

This is a very artsy sewing station. I love the letters and that yellow chair!
Image via Country Living

This multifunctional craft space has so much natural light. And look at those chairs!
Image via BHG

Love all this color! Who would not want to hangout crafting in here?!
Image via my aim is true

Reupholstery Project - Wingback Chair

2010-08-30T07:24:00.000-07:00

I brought this wingback chair home from my grandmother's house (she's moving) and thought it would look great in my living room once it's reupholstered! I just have to make a decision on a fabric! Here are a few pictures of the chair as of now...

And a side view...

I am LOVING these chairs with studs from Z Gallerie...

Clift Accent Chair in Eggshell

And the Pauline Chair, even though it's a different style than mine

And the Chelsea Wing Chair from Williams Sonoma Home shown in different fabrics...

I am thinking of an off white fabric for a sleek look!

But then a beautiful fabric print like the Vine Silhouette, Espresso makes me crave some pattern!

Images via Williams Sonoma Home

Some other fun fabric styles...

Image via La Dolce Vita Blog

Image via Decor P ad

Image via Dear Designer's Blog