Hitting the Road

(image via Garden & Gun)

This has been another crazy week! I apologize for the lack of posts, and I'm headed out of town tomorrow for a wedding this weekend in NC! I promise I'll be back with a fun post to redeem myself for this past week!

Dog Couture

Meet Max...he's a handsome fella with a bark that is bigger than his bite (and he doesn't bite!). When we were looking to get Max, I naturally got really excited about all the fun "accessories" to buy him. Now, I have to clarify - I'm not a fan of clothes or car goggles or jewelry for dogs (all though I do get a kick out of it when I come across a dog donning any of the above) - but I do like a handsome collar, tasteful dog beds, etc. Below are a few things I consider "dog couture."

(Max)

I absolutely love this fabric! Peter Fasano is the original creator of this great, whimsical pattern. Most of his designs are available in both fabric and wallpaper. However, Country Swedish has made their own version that is a bit easier on the wallet. I plan to make a dog bed cover out of this for Mr. Max!

I love this needlepoint, graphic collar from Harry Barker. This company has got the right idea - all their products are quality and in good design.
Again, more great patterns from Peter Fasano! This one is called Dotty, and I think it would look fabulous in a powder room. It has a glamorous appeal to it. I would mix it with a fabulous gold mirror and some bold red accents!

Also from Peter Fasano, this pattern is called Pitter Patter. How fun would it be for kids if you covered your mud room walls with this!?

Happy Friday!

(image via Perry Cabin)

TGIF! I'm headed to The Inn at Perry Cabin this weekend for a girlfriend's birthday celebration (and this is where me and the Mister got engaged!). Hopefully this hurricane won't mess up our plans! Enjoy the weekend~

The Heartbeat of a Home

(all images via Cottage Living)

Kitchens have always been called "the heart of a home," and I truly believe in that statement. It's always the place where friends naturally congregate when you are entertaining, it's the headquarters for a family - where you gather to eat together, where the kids do their homework, and where you sit and enjoy your morning with coffee and the paper. When the Mr. and I took our 2 month hiatus to Europe, we always found ourselves sitting around the kitchen table of our various hosts talking late into the night while filling ourselves with hot tea and cookies.

I know for my future kitchen, I want to make sure to get it right...and to not skimp on the details of this all too important room of the house. I thought I'd share what I think to be something of the "must-haves" of a great kitchen:


THE PANTRY - this room/closet should be easily accessible, and of course not overlooked when it comes to decorating it. I love the mirrored doors and how the inside door has been wallpapered - it's like a little surprise every time you open the pantry doors!






A BANQUETTE - I love "nooks" and if the room can handle a breakfast nook with a banquette, I consider it a must! The space encourages sit-down meals together and lazy mornings with the paper and coffee. (I'd take the kid to go along with it too!)






THE FARMHOUSE SINK - This sink is not only good-looking but extremely functional...the ideal balance between form and function. Traditionally, these types of sinks can cost a pretty penny. However, Ikea has provides a great cost-efficient model!





THE WORKSPACE - My kitchen tends to be where the mail , the keys, and the calendar of life etc. all pile up. Having a place to keep it organized in one location would be divine!






THE ATTACHED OUTDOOR LIVING AREA - I love how this space is connected to the kitchen through the French doors. It makes complete design sense to have an outdoor living area right off of the kitchen, so all you have to do is step inside to refresh drinks. I can just imagine using this area during fall mornings for my coffee and paper!

1st Home vs. 2nd Home

(image via NY Times)

I was having lunch with a friend the other day, and we were discussing how wonderful it would be to have a vacation home. Nothing fancy, just a "place" where family and friends can meet for holidays, long weekends, and spontaneous getaways. I started thinking about this and images from the movie Dan in Real Life popped into my head...I love that movie! In particular, I love how they had a family lake house that was old and shabby but in a quaint, charming way, and everyone knew where to show up when the family was getting together. I think older homes that are well-lived in are like the Velveteen Rabbit....it may have some "worn" areas, but it's just a telling sign it's been well loved.

So in thinking of this idea of a second home, I came across this wonderful article in the New York Times about a young couple who lives/works in NYC, but decides the first home they would buy would be a weekend home in the Catskills. They find a fixer-upper, spend around $12,000 in renovations, including decorating the house (I'm sure it helped the wife was an interior designer)! I showed this article to the Mr., and we were inspired. Maybe we should peruse the listings for a cabin in the Shenandoahs for our first home purchase!

Check out this little jewel!

It's All in the Details

One element that sets "interior design" apart from just furnishing an interior with any ol' stuff is detail. It's the careful thought of adding an extra pleat, fold, bit of trim to curtains, a particular finish on hardware, and the texture and pattern of a fabric that tunes the entire room to a perfect harmony. I wanted to leave you this Friday with a few pictures of details that add a powerful yet understated punch to a room. Enjoy!

(image via Lindsay Harper Interiors)

I love this idea/memo board with all it's various colors which ties in the green limes, yellow lemons, and fabulous blue Chippendale chairs....it just sings to me!

(I'm not sure where I pulled this image from...suggestions?)

The Greek key trim and inverted pleats add a soft sophistication to this table skirt. I love the subtle banding around the top of the skirt too.

(Again, I'm not sure where I pulled this image from...suggestions?)

Two things to notice here - the wonderful architectural remnant above the door frame and the painted handrail in a beautiful bluish-grey that correlates to the floor. Again, it just sings!

(I'm sorry, I did it again. I'm not sure where I pulled this image from...suggestions?)

I love this little carved out reading nook. Painting the inside of the space creates a little jewel box - perfect for a cup of tea and a good book in the early morning or on a rainy day.

(Image via The Inspired Room)

What fabulous shutters and a perfect gas lantern to complement the curb appeal!

(Image via Pink Wallpaper)

Isn't wallpaper one of the best design concepts? Wallpapering the inside of this cabinet adds a just little punch. You could do the same with a more traditional china cabinet creating a younger, fresh look.

Small Spaces and Small Budgets

I've been playing "nanny" this week for a friend of mine that recently had a baby and just went back to work. She is trying to find a great nanny that is located in the Capitol Hill area since she works on the Hill....if you know anyone please pass their name along. Anywho -my week has been a bit busy on top of working on several projects.

Therefore, I'm skimping out a bit today by providing you a link to a must read blog post by Cote de Texas. Joni shares with us six great homes that prove you don't have to have a lot of money to have a well-designed home....it just takes having an eye for style and being creative with your resources and the way you arrange things. This post speaks to my mantra!