Let's be social!

I'm a busy gal. I'm sure a lot of you out there know what I mean! I'm a mom, an interior designer, an artist, etc. And, I always try to fit in some time to reach out to you...my readers. People who want to be inspired. By art. By architecture. By design. To see more of what I think and feel about design, follow me on FaceBook!  Here's a little bit of what you're in store for...

Exposed beams are always interesting...but I really love the treatment 
done to these. It looks like dental molding, but I'm pretty sure this look 
was achieved by using nail-heads. Love this!!

I love a good Ikat, and this is really good! I love the colors.
Cowtan and Tout always has fabulous fabrics!! 

I'm a big fan of old buildings. They have a sense of permanence.
Unfortunately, here in the states, when a building gets "too old," we
tear it down. But that doesn't have to be the case! This is a great
example of keeping the integrity of an old building, while renovating
the interior for modern use. ♥

One of my (nearly) daily quotes

"Like" me on FaceBook to see more!!!

Art in amazing places

There are all sorts of things that inspire the creative side of me; architecture, nature, textiles, art... The list goes on and on! Today I'd like to share with you some really interesting art that moves me.

There's an artist named Jacqueline Lou Skaggs who painted a series called "Tondi Observations" on old copper pennies. They are amazing! In most of them you can still see the engraving on the penny...but in a few of her portraits, WOW! They're just stunning little canvases filled with soul.

The part that inspires me the most is this idea of taking one thing, often with little or no value to others, and turning it on it's head to create something that is totally unexpected and amazing. Enough talking... how about I just show you the art?

Celebrity Outdoor Spaces

Last, but certainly not least, how do your favorite celebrities spend their time outdoors? While most have spectacular pools, it's often the views that stand out to me. So why only enjoy breathtaking views through panes of glass? Go outside and live!! Your outdoor spaces can be utilized for dining, relaxing, meditating, and even showering! So don't be afraid to maximize your outdoor square footage... after all, it's yours!

Indoor/Outdoor living at it's finest in Kelly Klein's Palm Beach, Fl home

Outdoor living room complete with fire place at Jenni Kayne's home

Outdoor balcony at Will and Jada Smith's home

Also at Kelly Klein's home, this outdoor shower
connects to the master bathroom

Lounging area around the pool at Ellen Degeneres and Portia DeRossi's home

Outdoor pavilion by the pool at Jonathan Adler's home

Multiple outdoor living spaces at Adam Levine's home

(All photos courtesy of Architectural Digest)

Celebrity Dining Rooms

We're just about done with our whirlwind tour of celebrity homes, and I hope you've had as much fun perusing them as I've had curating them. Yesterday we saw where they prepare their meals; today we get to see where they enjoy eating them. And remember, you don't need to be a celebrity to live like one. Just send me an email and we can get started in creating your very own celebrity worthy spaces!

Dining room of Ellen Degeneres and Portia DeRossi

Dining room of Brooke Shields

Breakfast nook of Will and Jada Smith

Dining room of Nina Garcia

Dining room of Darren Star

Dining room of Diane VonFurstenburg

(All photos courtesy of Architectural Digest)

Celebrity Kitchens

This week we've had a peek into the bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, and closets of some world famous celebrities. Today it's time to take a look at the heart and soul of any home...the kitchen. Do you have any favorites? Comment below!!

Adam Levine

Ellen Degeneres and Portia DeRossi

Brooke Shields

Will and Jada Smith

Jonathan Adler

(Photos courtesy of Architectural Digest)

Celebrity Living Rooms

Clean, modern, transitional, traditional, or funky, celebrities live just like we do...but often on a grander scale. One of my favorite parts of peeking into the homes of celebrities is seeing their personalities reflected in the spaces they live in. I think that is the true goal of good design; to translate a persons own sense of style into a room. From color to furniture to art, each of these living rooms speak to the people who live in them.

Nina Garcia's living room in her Upper East Side apartment

Will and Jada Smith's living room in their Malibu home

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia DeRossi's living room in their Beverly Hills home

Brook Shields living room in her New York townhouse

Adam Levine's living room in his Hollywood Hills home

Diane VonFurstenburg's living room in her New York apartment

Valentino Garavani's living room in his Parisian chateau 

(All photos courtesy of Architectural Digest)

Celebrity Bathrooms

This week is all about where celebrities live. Starting in the closet, we made our way to their bedrooms, so the bath seems like the next logical step in our tour!

Darren Star's master bath

Bathroom in Ellen DeGeneres and Portia DeRossi's home

Shower in the master bathroom of Will and Jada Smith

Adam Levine's master bathroom

Brooke Shield's master bath

While most of these celebrities go very modern, clean and stark in their bathrooms, noone would ever call Diane VonFurstenburg's style clean or stark. Her bathroom is rather wild...but that tub is just awesome!

Diane VonFurstenburg's master bath

(Photos courtesy of Architectural Digest)

Celebrity Bedrooms

Do you ever wonder how your favorite celebrities live? I know I do! Today I'm providing a peek into the sleeping spaces of some very well known people; from singers to actors to style makers, what do they wake up to every day? Sleek and contemporary, quiet and serene, or fun and funky...which bedroom would you like to slumber in?

Master bedroom of Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan

Master bedroom of Nina Garcia

Master bedroom of Diane VonFurstenburg

Master bedroom of Adam Levine

Master bedroom of Jenni Kayne

Master bedroom of Will and Jada Smith

Bedroom of Willow Smith

(All photos courtesy of Architectural Digest)

National Geographic Photo Inspires Room

National Geographic Traveler magazine recently published the winners of their 24th annual photo contest.  This first-place winning photo was shot inside of a family yurt in the Kyrgyz lands of the Wahkan Corridor in Afghanistan.

This image is hauntingly beautiful. I love the layer upon layer of textiles and patterns. The deep, warm, earthy colors must be such a nice respite from the rough, rugged terrain that surrounds them outside.

The intimacy of this everyday life moment, shot inside of a family yurt, is
in total contrast with the harsh environment these nomadic tribes live in.

Here is my room concept based on the image. Everything shown here comes from one of my favorite places... Etsy!!  Handwoven textiles, natural materials, and both Asian and Morrocan influences create a comfortable  casual space that speaks of a globe trotting inhabitant.