Archive for the ‘Inspirations’ Category

Styling Vignettes with The Decorista

Wednesday, May 8th, 2013

Lovely Lanterns

Styling a look book with the super talented team of Ashlina from The Decorista and photographer Michelle James on Monday was such fun and the fact that our friend, Sue, from The Zhush graciously lent us her gorgeous home was the icing on the cake.

Elegant End Table

We’ve been dying to do a look book with Ashlina and it’s been a year in the making.  In preparation for the shoot, Ashlina had us pull our favorite vignettes for inspiration and create coordinated looks to fit the settings.

Pretty Pop of Color

Once we unloaded two car loads of flowers and botanically inspired gifts, Ashlina went to work creating vignettes all over the house.  From the powder room, to the bar, to the front hall table and the living room coffee table, she created looks that brought our designs to life.

Bedside Beauty

Watching Ashlina work was a real treat and she shared so much about her creative process…  Ever mindful of color and pattern, she likes to use odd numbers in her settings and loves putting unexpected objects in her shots.

Sensational Shelves

We even overheard Ashlina discuss with Michelle the type of girl who would live in the environments she created – the blue powder room shot was definitely a single girl in the city while the pink powder room shot belonged to a married lady in the country.

Blossoms in the Bath

After a busy day of primping and posing, we called it a wrap in Sue’s beautiful garden with the sun shining and bees buzzing in the bushes…  All in all, a very productive and wonderful day!

Photos via Pinterest and Pretty Pink Tulips

P.S.  Catch a sneak peek of our day on Instagram here, here, here and here!

Run for the Roses

Friday, May 3rd, 2013

Beautiful Bunch of Blooms

Something about early May brings a spring to our step…  The weather warms, the flowers bloom, we celebrate yet another birthday and the Kentucky Derby is always a great excuse for a party.  We’re also mindful as we age that we need to try to live in the moment and have fun, even as time seems to speed up exponentially.  The words of Dan Fogelberg’s iconic song are especially appropriate today…

Heavenly Hues

Pretty Posies

And it’s run for the roses
As fast as you can
Your fate is delivered
Your moment’s at hand

Crowned Glory

Pink Perfection

It’s the chance of a lifetime
In a lifetime of chance
And it’s high time you joined in the dance
It’s high time you joined in the dance.

Garden Gems

Will you be dancing this weekend with a spring in your step?  We hope so!

Photos of our favorite David Austin roses via Pinterest, Flower Magazine and Decor8

Spring Bling

Friday, April 19th, 2013

Baublebar – Blue Hibiscus Ring

Have you ever experienced what we like to call “analysis paralysis”?  Here’s the scenario: Over the years, you’ve gathered all your favorite pictures for a home renovation, your binder, folders and Pinterest boards are brimming with ideas, but when the time comes to finally design your dream bath, kitchen, etc., you can’t make a decision or you second guess the decisions you’ve made!

Kate Spade – Ladybug Earrings

We’re not the kind of girls to wing home décor so we do spend an awful lot of time (perhaps too much?) thinking about our projects before jumping in.

Finn – Emerald Leaf Bracelet

Alex Monroe – Fine Gardner Charm Bracelet

Ever since we hired a contractor, he’s been cracking the whip and we’ve had to make quick decisions on the fly – tile, molding, carpet, and paint colors and now, hardware!  Needless to say, we’d rather be shopping for hardware of a different kind to wear this spring…

Lanvin – Pearl and Crystal Necklace

Oscar de la Renta – Resin Rose Ring

Have you ever renovated your home and felt the same way?  Can you wing the bling or do you get analysis paralysis?

Photos via Baublebar, Kate Spade, Barney’s, Alex Monroe, Lanvin, and Oscar de la Renta

 

Wanted: A Tree House!

Wednesday, April 17th, 2013

Home Sweet Home

You may have gathered by now that there’s a bit of construction going on in one of our homes and after a week of Chris, Hebert and Erno (not to mention Dan – the plumber, Gilbert – the electrician, and Tony – the tile guy), we’re thinking of moving into a tree house in the back yard to get away from all the mess.  The dogs aren’t quite ready for life in the trees but having seen some really great arboreal homes, we’re game…

Tree Chic

A Magic Tree House

Especially if they happen to be in a far away land and room service is involved!

Spa Botanico at the Ritz Dorado Beach – Puerto Rico

Hapuku Lodge – New Zealand

Chewton Glen – Hampshire, England

Have you ever been up a tree?

Photos via Pinterest, Hapuku Lodge, Ritz Dorado Beach and Chewton Glen

Bouquets + Eggs = Bouqueggs

Friday, March 29th, 2013

Plants + Eggs = Pleggs

When Elizabeth from Pretty Pink Tulips asked us how we liked our eggs the other day, we immediately thought “with plants and flowers, of course!”  That’s because we had just picked up the pretty little plantings above at Terrain for our Easter table.  Two of the plants are actually growing out of dyed eggs while the other two are planted in ceramic ones.

Ranunculus + Eggs

Spring Flowers + Eggs

Lilies + Eggs

While we’ve seen Easter bouquets using eggs before, we like the fact that our little eggs hold live plants (for now!)  We’re even thinking these might make great place card holders and our guests can take them home after lunch…

Terrarium Plants + Eggs

Chamomile + Eggs

Here’s to appreciating the beauty of budding blooms this weekend and Happy Easter!

Photos via yours truly, Fleuropean, Pinterest, Martha Stewart, Sunset and Eat Drink Garden

Come On… Get Your Hands Dirty!

Wednesday, March 27th, 2013

Petit Pots de Paris

“In the spring at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”  We laughed when we read this Margaret Atwood quote on Eat – Drink – Garden last week as it seems Spring has yet to make an appearance in the Northeast.  While the daffodils and tulips are valiantly trying to sprout from the ground (which is still covered in snow in some parts) it will be a while before we get our hands dirty (and kill some garden greens with our black thumbs!)  But there’s still hope and inspired by this Monday Mood, we thought we’d share some potting shed pretties.

Garden Goodies

Potting Place

Tulip Trowel

Seed Sachets

Poppy Pod Pots

P.S.  You don’t have to wait for your garden to bloom to bring the outdoors in…  We’ve just added our new spring collection online at Diane James Home – over 35 new designs to choose from!

Photos via Vicki Archer, Taigan, Garden Trading, Terrain, Women’s Day and Campo de Fiori

 

Coastal Crush

Wednesday, March 6th, 2013

Lakeside Dining

With yet another winter storm brewing today, we thought we’d whisk you away to sunnier climes and extol the virtues of our talented friend, Brielle Ferreira, homes editor at Coastal Living.  We met this stylish young thing when she was at Luxe Interiors + Design and we’re so excited to see her name next to the features in the front-of-book “Havens” section as well as other editorials.

Lakeside Sleeping

According to editor-in-chief Antonia van der Meer, “Brielle has an eye for luxurious, yet approachable home decor” and we couldn’t agree more.

Blue Hued Kitchen

Swinging in Key West

So far, she’s taken us to Key West, Lake Michigan and Winston, Florida and needless to say, we’d trade this winter’s day for any of these locales…

Pretty Pink Twins

Nicely Nautical

Do you have plans to escape the cold this month?  We’d love to hear about them if you do!

Photos via Coastal Living

Sweater Weather… Still?!

Friday, March 1st, 2013

Soft Sweater Style

Ahhh, we’ve made it to March 1st which means spring is less than three weeks away…  But it’s still sweater weather in these parts!  The jet stream is not cooperating in the least bit and is dipping as far south as Florida.  We kind of want to crawl back into bed…

Sweater Bed

with our socks on!

Sweater Socks

Even our coffee mugs, vases and pencil holders are a bit chilly and need a wrap.

Sweet Sweater Pots

Cute Cups

Not to mention the ponies…

Shetland (Pony) Sweaters

Wishing you a warm, cozy weekend!

Photos via Ruche, Habitual Bliss, Leif, Posh Living and Visit Scotland

Sitting Pretty

Friday, February 22nd, 2013

Sofa Styling 1.0

Styling a sofa is one of those talents, along with accessorizing a coffee table, that not everyone is born with and many of us have to turn to the pros for ideas.  Thankfully, there have been a number of articles, blog posts and even a lookbook dedicated to the subject so have no fear, help is here!

Roxy’s Sofa

Roxy at Society Social brought 1 white sofa, 11 designers (two of whom we know personally – yeah for Eddie and Lisa) and 52 pillows together to produce Project Sofa, a lookbook that shows you what you can do with a white couch (besides cover it in throws and pray that the boys and dogs won’t stain it!)

How to Get Roxy’s Look

The March issue of HGTV Magazine features an article on how to create different pillow combinations for its cover star, a pale blue couch.  Perhaps the editors realized that the white sofa they styled five different ways online was a tad impractical for the everyday family!

Star Sofa

Pillows Piled On

But then again, we know Kate at Centsational Girl has kids and she opted to style a cream club sofa with patterned pillows and a great rug.

Centsational Seating

Regardless of the style and color of your sofa, picking the right pillows and piling them on will add a bit of polish…  as long as they don’t end up on the floor!   Here’s to sitting pretty this weekend.

Photos via House BeautifulSociety Social, HGTV and Centsational Girl

West Coast vs. East Coast

Wednesday, February 20th, 2013

West Coast Dining Room

When we revisited Michael Smith’s New York City duplex for our Monday Mood this week, we were struck on how different this home’s decor is from his place in California.  While his East Coast pad is inspired by 18th century France, his Holmby Hills contemporary (previously owned and built by a board member of the Museum of Contemporary Art to house her collection) is definitely more clean and modern.

West Coast Library

West Coast Bedroom

Needless to say, Michael’s range with respect to interior design is all encompassing and what fun it must be to have two homes, one on each coast, both with very different personalities.

East Coast Dining Room

Michael takes bi-coastal to a whole new level and we wonder if he has two different wardrobes to match his homes…  We definitely would!

East Coast Living Room

East Coast Bedroom

Photos via Michael S. Smith Inc. and Architectural Digest