This year, I resolve to...

Happy New Year!  I can't believe it is 2015.  I really can't.  I was just thinking where did the fall go?  And, is spring and summer really coming up??  I'm in disbelief.   Needless to say, over the Christmas season, I had some quiet time to reflect a bit about my home and where I'd like to take it.

Resolution #1:  Add Color

I think over the past couple of years, I've strayed away from color because I didn't want my home to become too trendy.

But lately, I slowly want to add bits of colors;  especially, colors blue, green, and do I even dare to say a tiny bit of red??  I want my interiors to be bright and fresh, but, all the while…..remaining true to my traditional and classical sensibilities.

Resolution #2:  Add more slips.

Slipcovers are a fantastic way not only to add a dose of color, but to inject some pattern and softness to a room.  And, if you find a great seamstress, many times they can be affordable.  When my home is all said and done, I won't be surprised if I have slips in every room!! 

Resolution #3: Grow my blue and white collection.

I love blue and white porcelain and I really love it when it is displayed as a collection.  I'd really like to add a couple of more pieces to my collection this year so I can group them like below.  But, first, I also need to find a secretary/hutch.  :)

Hi Dad….if you ever tire of the Delft vase, you know where to reach me! Ha!  We also plan on getting a contractor out to price out some bigger renovations we'd like to start planning.  It's something we won't start this year, but perhaps in the next year or two.  Well, there you have it……let's hope 2015 is a fulfilling one!  Happy New Year!

Inspired: Alice Ryan Miller

Last night was the first night for what seems like a long time that I didn't have any 'must-dos' on my list - no gifts to wrap, cards to write, cookies to bake, teacher gifts to organize, Christmas shingdings to attend, etc.

I just had a lovely, quiet evening with my husband.  I had a chance to peruse IG for a bit and that is when I spotted Alice Ryan Miller's sitting room on the Domino feed and became completely inspired.

So simple and not fussy, but yet so cozy!  I love how she avoids overloading her home with Christmas decorations, yet keeps it natural making a timeless statement.

Once I saw her sitting room, I had to look her up on IG and fell in love with her style!

Her family is completely adorable and her children are precious!

Alice Ryan Miller owns her own event and PR company and is known for her fabulously designed events.  The one below is for Bonpoint, the children's clothing company from France.  

I hope you enjoyed this small bit of inspiration this Saturday morning and are having a lovely weekend! 

Inspiration: A House Tour in Georgetown

I hope you all had an enjoyable Thanksgiving!  We did and I am a bit overwhelmed at how soon Christmas will be here!  I love the Advent Season and so I am trying not to let all the crazy holiday stuff get to me too much.

Over the Thanksgiving break, I came across this Georgetown home tour on Apartment Therapy.

An aesthetic that is relaxed, comfortable, layered, neutral with touches of blue and green is perfect in my book!  All those elements I want to achieve in my own home.  Hope you enjoyed!

Should a Master Work Double Time?

I'm slowly getting a better feel how each room will function for us as family with two small children in our new home.  I'm currently considering creating an office space in our master bedroom.  Our master certainly has the space to adequately accommodate it.  Now, is it ideal when the master should be considered the place of refuge?  Probably not, but the ideal space is our small den (on the main level) which is currently being transformed into a small TV and toy storage room.  There is no room to add a desk.  The only other option is the guest bedroom on the 3rd floor which seems too far removed from the rest of the house.

I read some where that the bedroom should be one of the most welcoming rooms: focused on comfort and pleasure in every detail.  It is the room more than any other that allows us to take refuge.  Therefore, forcing your bedroom to work double time (and serve as an office space) diminishes its ability to offer you a sense of peace.

I agree with this in theory, but I do believe you can create an office area that is peaceful, tranquil and chic without letting it take over the rest of the room.  The fortunate thing is both my husband and I don't work from home and we both have offices at our place of employment.  So, this office space would be more of a place to answer emails, research stuff, surf the internet, blog, shop online, pay bills, and store some frequently accessed files, etc.

via

via

via

via

via

What are your thoughts on this?  I think all of the above images could easily fit into the decor of a master bedroom without compromising the peace and tranquility that a bedroom should serve.  

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  2012 will always be dubbed the year of major change for our family.  So many wonderful changes and never a dull moment.  I hope 2013 will continue to bring us happiness, but I wouldn't mind slowing things down a bit.  Meanwhile, I really want to focus on tackling the many projects that come with buying a new house.  I'm not talking about big renovation type projects, but smaller organization type projects to get this house feeling comfy and homey.

To keep me motivated, here are some inspiring photos I would like to see influence my home decor in 2013.

A small but impactful entry:

A white living room:

Lots of lighting with cone shaped shades:

And, while we're on the subject of lighting, I would like to add sconces to the mix.  And, lots of them.

Sconces:

Some pretty DIY projects:

I want to paint my sunburst mirror in a matte black color.   

Invest in one or two classic furniture pieces:

I am trying to stay away from trends, but I am still in love with Kartell's ghost chair.  I love the chair paired with the zinc table.  And, I wouldn't mind that pine bookcase, either!

And, have lots of shelf space for family pictures, mementos, family board games and books:

I am looking forward to a 2013 (with less change) and more focus on our home and family.  I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and are looking forwards to a new year!

Long & Narrow Living Room

If you live in West Hartford, CT., chances are you live in an older home where you have a challenging room or two.  Our challenging space is the living room -  it is long and narrow.  I am considering having a set of casegoods/bookcases flank our front facing window like the picture below.

via

I would love to see the rest of this room.  I believe it is designed by the design team duo Good Bones, Great Pieces.  Below is a picture of my bookcase that I would like to use to flank our living room window (picture from my old home).

Green Street

The problem is I have only one which I bought years ago for a steal from Lillian and August.  I would like to find its twin so I can create symmetry next to the window.  I don't know what the likelihood is of finding it's twin??  I need to look into it.  

But, for now, I am thinking about this look.  This would give us the necessary storage and shelf space we currently lack.  But, I'm a bit on the fence if I really like this look.  

The two images above probably illustrate best how narrow our living room is and I wonder if the bookcases make the room seem cramped?

This room seems wider, more spacious and the bookcases don't feel like they are dominating the room.  I would have to play around with the bookcase styling as I'm sure that can make a big difference too.  Decisions, decisions.  Who knows, I might not even find it's twin and will need to do something like this instead.  

While not exactly symmetrical, the desk and large yellow piece of artwork help balances the secretary on the opposite wall.  Design at it's best - working with what you have and fooling the eye to make you  believe that everything works seamlessly.