Mar 2, 2013

Mellow Yellow

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Just sat down at my computer and my new March screensaver calendar caught me eye. Yellow, green and red tulips are sooo cheery!

American Greetings Wallpaper

Makes me happy that spring will truly be here in a few short weeks. Taken from nature, these bright colors work well together, in an analogous color scheme on the color wheel, meaning that they sit next to each other.

yellow color wheel

Although I don’t have any yellow walls in our house, I found a few inspirational spaces to share with you this morning- hopefully it will get you into the spring spirit too! This gorgeous country kitchen by Witt Construction is in a barn/art studio (oh, one can only dream…)

Yellow Witt Construction

This eclectic kitchen by Echelon Custom Homes is so bright and cheerful- who wouldn’t want to wake up and start their day with a morning cup of coffee in this space?!

Yellow Echelon Homes

 Speaking of kitchens, if you haven’t seen the new West Elm “Market” product line, you have to take look at this!!

West Elm Market

Lots of vintage look, diner-inspired dishware and appliances in yummy colors.

West Elm Market Plates

Obsessed with these refrigerators! Can you imagine this brightly-colored SMEG Italian beauty as the focal point in your yellow kitchen-LOVE!!

West Elm Smeg Fridge
The decor on this porch by Dear Daisy Cottage Blogspot is vintage but so modern with its glossy painted furniture in more trendy hues.

Dear Daisy Cottage

This one is also from Dear Daisy Cottage- I sense a theme going on…cute, colorful, country pretty.

Dear Daisy Cottage setting

I am always blown away by interiors by Anthony Barratta- so dramatic and over the top!

Modern by Anthony Barratta

Loving this clean and simple, yet rustic and fun interior featured on the Houzz.com pages of Kailey J. Fynn Photography.

Cafe by Kailey Flynn

And, of course, we cannot forget my favorite in this room by Savvy Southern Style- Buffalo Plaid!!

 Yellow Buffalo Plaid Savvy Southern Style

So whatever style of interior you favor, whether its sleek modern, victorian glam or country charming like this adorable bath by Crisp Architects

Yellow Bath by Crisp Architects

a yellow-red-green color scheme can make it pop!

Yellow Victorian Kendall Wilkinson

Have a “springy ” Saturday everyone! Susan

Filed Under: Color Class, Country Pretty, Inspiration · Tagged: , , , ,
Feb 8, 2013

Warm and Cozy, Fireside Toasty

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Here in the Northeast, we have been fortunate for the past two winters, with only an occasional dusting of snow that melted soon after. But today, this one looks like it might be the real deal, so we are hunkering down with firewood and food, hot cocoa and lots of candles… just in case.

 snow

As we sit and wait for what is reportedly to be “a potentially historic storm“, I would like to share some images of warm and cozy spaces from my Houzz.com Ideabooks featuring fireplaces, this week’s design High Five for Friday! These are spaces that invite you in to peel off your hats and coats,  kick off your boots and cuddle up in a warm, fuzzy blanket to sit and read awhile. This space by Peace Design is so grand, but so warm and inviting, using wood and stone to create a cabin-like feel.

Peace Design Interiors

This spicy red walls of this space by Smith and Vansant Interiors envelop you in warmth.

Smith and Vansant Architects

Who wouldn’t want to cozy up in this lakeside cabin by Lands End Development.

Stone Hearth Lands End Developers

Who couldn’t dream of sleeping in this spectacular space by Bill Poss, with the snow-covered vista in the background?

Interior by Bill Poss

And this bedroom by Bess Jones Interiors is just plain dreamy

Bess Jones Interiors

I adore the simple bohemian farmhouse style, with white wainscotting and stone fireplace by Bosworth Hoedemaker

Bosworth Hodemaker

And this copper clad fireplace in an eclectic dining space by SF Girl By Bay

Fireplace SFGIRLBYBAY

Now if I had a library like this amazing one by Timothy Corrigan Inc., I wouldn’t mind those 5000+ books that Coach has collected…

Timothy Corrigan Interiors

OK, time to grab a good book (hey, check out my goodreads section, I have added some awesome decorating books!) and wait for this storm to pass. Keep warm and safe everyone!! Susan

Filed Under: Uncategorized · Tagged: , , ,
Oct 25, 2012

Red and White Delights

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So, I don’t know about all of you, but I am starting to grow a bit weary of Halloween decor with all the oranges, yellows and browns. Now, I like trick or treating as much as the next girl, but the stores and magazines started featuring “your all-time favorite hearty fall recipes, scary decorations, costumes and painted pumpkins, etc!!) back in August!! So, as a little refreshing change of scenery, I give you red and white!

Crisp and clean, bright and cheery. Country Curtains buffalo plaid panels (one of my most-pinned boards on Pinterest).

One dotted umbrella, so cute! (photo via Cinco de Kiddo)

Time for a cheery spot of tea?

A harbinger of things to come here in New England (of course, that’s not til after the hurricane hits next week…) Photo via PixDaus.com

A blog post can’t be complete without a mention of one of my special DIM projects: my dining room country plate rack!

 Stunning gown- not that I have anywhere to wear this, but Oh, how I wish I did!

But I could always wear it in this stunning living room! (via Lola Watson Interior Design)

Red and white is perfect for kitchen ware

and kitchen fare (photo via Country Living Magazine). And country kitchens! (photo via tumbleweed and dandelion.com)

If you were going to have a red and white wedding, would this not be the perfect cake?

Would love a couple of these beauties for my dining room bench-sooo country pretty!

What a nice cheery bedroom! Loving the window pane mirror! (via backporchco)

And who doesn’t love a touch of black and white?! (Phot via Name Design Studio)

Now seeing all these red and white images, just realized that the next big holiday season will be upon us shortly! Maybe I should have chosen tropical blues instead? Have a cheery day everyone! Susan

Filed Under: Color Class, Country Pretty · Tagged: , , , , , ,
Jul 13, 2012

Bathing Beauties

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For the past couple of years, Coach and I have been discussing the hot topic of replacing our “upstairs bath”. Living in an antique cape that did not come equipped with a “master bath” (heck, it didn’t even have a master bed), we have made do over the years with one tiny bath at the top of the stairs. The 9′ x 5′ bath that we inherited when we purchased our home had what I would refer to as an eclectic style-lol! Old dark grey bathtub, aqua porcelain tiles, beige toilet,  grey sink on stainless spindles, speckled linoleum floor tile. Seems like whatever the plumber had handy when something needed replacing, that’s what was installed.   Over the years, the D.I.M. (Do It Myself-because if I don’t, who the hell else will!?!) projects have included tearing out and replacing the aqua tiles with wainscotting, painting and wallpapering and painting again,  and replacing the linoleum with stick-down tiles. That one required a trip to the ER and a few stitches in my thumb. Time for a new bath, this time done right by the professionals!

There isn’t anything vintage or pretty about this room except for this floor grate and this faucet both of which I would like to keep.

I was fortunate to find these pretty glass tiles at a yard sale- $20 for 3 cases of 4 x 4′s!!

So I’ve got my start, time to find some inspiration. I’ve been searching for pictures, starting with Pinterest and Houzz, working my way over to Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn & Google Images, where I have seen the good, the bad and the very, very bad.

Seriously, a Christmas tree and two white shag rugs!?!? Santa’s boots would leave some pretty nasty footprints in that bath!

I have found that my eye is drawn to vintage style… And Bling.

And of course, I love color, but not this color!!  

Or this one…can  you imagine stumbling in there after a night of partying!?!? Talk about green around the gills!I have found a few baths that have my brain bubbling… this one is so country pretty~

This one is simply beautiful, but a bit too modern for my vintage home.Who wouldn’t want to have a long soak in this sun-filled space from Pottery Barn? Although this Stainless Lab Bath by Restoration Hardware is striking, I think it’s a bit too clinical for my space. I adore farmhouse vintage, but I worry that the rough, unvarnished surfaces may not clean well.

This is the one. The bath of my dreams. Colorful. Restful. Vintage look with marble and modern chrome finishes.But way too big for my space. Perhaps Coach would be open to taking down a wall…

Here’s hoping you make a splash today, no matter what you do!! Susan

Filed Under: My Little Red House · Tagged: , , , , , ,
Apr 10, 2012

Spring Stylings for the Mantel

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I know you are anxiously awaiting the results of the Hall of Shame project, but that is still ongoing, and clearly will take longer than I first anticipated. In the meantime, I thought I would share some other design changes happening in my Little Red House.

The family room was in desperate need of a spring overhaul.  Added a creamy slipcover to the sofa, a new tribal rug for the floor, changed out the curtains and added a fresh spring face to the focal point of the room- the fireplace mantel. 

I find fireplace mantels, in general, to be a tricky design challenge. Whether you are using your mantel to display your prized posessions

or using mirrors for drama

or to stylishly decorate a flat-screen TVt

or to warm up an outdoor space-wow!!!

the scale has to be correct (2-story rooms require LARGE design!!and the overall effect should reflect the room decor

So I did some online shopping on Houzz.com and Pinterest to see how other folks are decorating their focal points. I found some eclectic and amazing ideas, including using mantels as headboards and barn doors to hide TV’s

If you need more ideas, or just some Mantel Inspiration, click here. Time to start sanding again… Susan

Filed Under: My Little Red House · Tagged: , , ,
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