Its All About The Details

Hi from the road! I have my Honda Pilot back today and feel like a bully heading on 78E toward Easton….rrrrrrrrrr.   By the way, Mike (phenomenal carpenter), I was not a half hour late for our meeting, and yes, I am extremely hurt (ouch says my heart)  that you made fun of my seal clapping; yes, I do seal clap and do the robot when I get excited over incorporating architectural detail, doesn’t everyone?? 

Back on the road after a shot of something from a little coffee place off 22, I am headed to Tuesday Morning to get last minute details for a client.  I had luck picking up a 4’ canvas art piece for under $90 and a spectacular mirror that I may keep.  I had to arm wrestle a great grandma of sixteen over it-it was worth it.  

My tip when shopping for those details that finish off a room- think about color and volume.  That’s right, go big or go home.  Size does make a difference and so does color.  Its the funky table accent that visitors will gravitate toward; its the art piece that explodes with cranberry and lime that make a space fun.  Go for a bright yellow, orange, or green.  

Here is a mirror, lamp set and vase I put together to go on a buffet table for a dining room painted grey blue.  The mirror is oversized and artistically designed.  The lamps are clear yet, the black shades create the drama, and the vase is that bold color detail that brings it all together.

 

Little Girls Yellow Flower Bedroom

Kids bedrooms are so much fun to design.  I get to think big, and let my imagination take over totally.  Kids spaces should be over the top and very personal.  This is where children create and make believe on their own.  I loved working on this particular kids bedroom re-design.  It was inspired by the striped comforter you see. The colors reminded me of a beautiful bright summer day.  The mother of this little cutie showed me paper flowers she had purchased a while back that she wanted to incorporate some how into the design.  And thus the room plan was established and within days, the room was complete.   

After the yellow paint went up (two tones of the buttery yellow) I began work on the wall treatment.  With a pencil, I drew flower stems at different heights.  I painted them a deep green, highlighting certain areas with a lighter green (to get that 3-d look) using a thin paintbrush.  I then added leaves.  Using small nails, I hammered the flowers on to the tips of the stems-such an easy project.  Took a few hours.

BEFORE

AFTER

Inspiration From One Happy Island

I'm BACK!!!  I haven't blogged, tweeted, or answered the phone in a while.  It has been a great and busy year but by June my creativity tank was almost on empty so I went MIA for 10 days visiting a little popular island called Aruba with my family.  My Dad came along for the fun and I am newly refreshed (a bit heavier-bcse their food is smokin' good!)...and inspired. How could you not be inspired and refreshed after being on an island with vehicle license plates that read "One Happy Island".  

Here is my cute kid feeling happy!!

I brought back some of the island's coral, which I love because of the bleached white color and the many organic shapes and sizes.  I found some that looked like hearts, some that had holes through it which I will be making into necklaces for friends, and I love it because it can be found all over the island!!  I placed the little ones my daughter collected, in a bowl in her bathroom, and displayed the larger pieces on a bookcase at the end of my upstairs hallway (when you look at the photo of my bookcase below you should start singing ..."these are a few of my favorite things" from The Sound of Music).  

I also brought back a georgous necklace made of beautiful stones and shells in the shape of a flower.  I know I won't wear it that often but love looking at it so I added it to my bookcase also.  I hung it around an old bell I brought back from Aruba ten years ago, on my honeymoon.  Oh happy happy memories!! 

p.s. - if you find yourself needing a place to rev up your creativity engine I would prescribe Aruba as your remedy.  Here are my recommendations on the island:

1. Drink frozen mojitos in the pool; then drink frozen mojitos on the beach until its time to eat dinner.

2. Take a sunset cruise that has a rope to jump off the boat from (always the instigator, my husband was doing flips mid air).

3. Rent a car for 1 or 2 days and explore the island.  It is way cheaper than taxiing it everywhere.  Our little white mobile was so small that if you sneezed the entire car shook.  Although the island is only 11 miles long there is good stuff on the other end like Baby Beach and lots of old ruins to explore.

4. Stack rocks. You will find thousands of stacked rocks everywhere. Supposedly if you stack 3 rocks on top of one another (Each rock has its own name (love, wealth, and health)) you can make a wish and if the rocks are blown over by the waves, your wish will be granted.  

5. Eat at the Flying Fishbone! Get a table right in the water.  Let your feet dangle in the ocean as you eat the most delectable food and watch the sunset. It doesn't get better than that.

 

Bon Bini friends!!