blog-folio: June 2012

6.25.2012

The Finishing Touches

It truly is all of the personal items and family heirlooms that make a space personal to you. I am a firm believer in the idea that a space should reflect the people living in it. Yes the gorgeous spaces in Architectural Digest are amazing to look at and I would only be so lucky to call one of those spaces home. But if you look closely, a lot are devoid of personal object, pictures, or life. Who wants to live a magazine {not me anyway}.

6.22.2012

Moving

D and I are moving into our place this weekend and it is going to be HOT! We have lots of help though and we are so grateful. Hoping you all have a happy, relaxing weekend.

Something New

I have an interesting space for you done by designer Laura Bohn. I think its unique and certainly inventive with an industrial flair.

OK so I have never seen a rolling metal cart as a sink vanity before... Thoughts?

6.20.2012

Today's Inspiration

[image via]

I was inspired this week by some of the masculine spaces that have been featured in Lonny lately. I really love the bold, moody feel you get from the rich textures and clean lines. The crisp white linens add a classic {refined} element balancing out the dark colors and finishes. This is a style I like myself and I'm thinking of incorporating a masculine influence our new bedroom... perhaps with more refinement.

6.18.2012

Entryway

I found a few entry spaces I like:

So I'm excited because our new place actually has an entry/hall way. It is not grandiose by any means but I actually have one so I am pretty happy. I have been trying to come up with ideas for a nice table or artwork or something to give the entry some presence. I like the idea of a table to put the mail on and set our keys on. It is not priority number one but it would be nice to have something there. {ps. the image with the stripes is of my cousin Killy's apartment in NYC}

6.15.2012

TGIF

Happy Father's Day weekend everybody. I hope you all get to celebrate, we are doing a dinner thing with my Mom and Dad. I'm sure Ryobi will enter into the picture at some point. The rest of the weekend is devoted to packing yay!!!

A few links for your weekend reading:

Glamping

Check out these beauties

25 things you didn't know about "Mad Men" that will blow your mind

Too funny

Girls Night?

Fun cover for your listening pleasure

Must make these

Image

Ode to Camping

Lately, I have been in the mood to go camping {the friends can attest to that}. With this great weather and the prospect of relaxing with a good book and a cozy fire, how bad can that be? Plus, anything involving a toasted marshmallow is alright in my book.

[1] Fute tent [2] Anorak Kissing Rabbits Sleeping Bag [3] Hershey's S'more [4] Highlander Bombay Style Picnic Basket Set [5] Red Butterfly Chair [6] Duck Boots [7] Hanging Lantern

6.14.2012

Bathroom

On to the Master Bathroom! Ok so I have been trying to focus in the key living areas so the move will seem less stressful {Bedroom, Kitchen, Bathroom} and in doing so I have been really focusing on the master bath. I think getting the master bed and bath done will give us a nice place to go after a long day, and a place to escape from the rest of the work in progress.

A Romantic Setting

Inspiration can come from the littlest thing; a place setting, a flower arrangement, a photograph, its the small things about them that might spark those creative juices. D and I move into our new place in seven days {eek!} I am so excited I can't hardly stand it. I know how I want our new place to feel, but getting it there can be the hard part. The mental blockage sets in sometimes when I work on a space that is mine. I want a space that feels soft and romantic {much like these pictures}. The trick is achieving what I want on the shoestring budget that I do have; but I am crafty, so there will probably be some work in progress photos here to come.

6.08.2012

Happy Friday

I hope you all have fun summery outdoor plans this weekend. I'm off until monday, we are having a get-together celebrating my brother's birthday this weekend and I'm excited. Here are some weekend links for you.

Fashion Illustration

So Cute

Camping

Making this

White with neutrals

Star charts

Girls paper dolls

Today's Inspiration

Todays inspiration is brought to you by the color PINK. I think just about every girl goes through a pink phase at some point in there life. Mine was my entire childhood, but with rooms this lovely, I could revisit.

I love the moody gray pared with the soft pinks. It really updates the color making it sophisticated and grown up. I think I could sneak some pink into the guest room, I must do some looking into this.

{Images found here}

6.06.2012

Accessorizing a Fireplace

With my new apartment comes the fun challenge of accessorizing my new fireplace. I would love to say that I omitted my TV from the living room, but I didn't. So I have the task of incorporating it into the accessorizing of my new fireplace.

I could always hang the television over the mantel like these:

Or I could hang it off to the side in a built in or on shelving like this:

The built-ins in the last photo make a nice transition between the fireplace and the television. Derrick and I don't have quite the setup that is in the last two photos, but I like the look of both. The images are from houzz a home design website full of inspiration {a current obsession of mine}.

Guest Post

Hi, all! It's Mari here from Arcadian Lighting, a fabulous online place to find pendant lights, chandeliers, wall sconces, and other lighting fixtures, along with a†cornucopia†of lighting ideas and trends. While you're there, be sure to take time to check out our great blog. I'm so excited to be here visiting with you at Blog-Folio Design For Life. My guest post today is about lovely romantic spaces in shades of grey, or if you prefer, gray. Grey has taken its rightful place among today's go-to choices for neutrals. From whispery pale to deep moody shades, grey is being used to create stunning romantic rooms around the globe. Here are eight of my favorites. Enjoy!

The moment I saw it, I fell totally in love with this tiny dining room. With a French garden look, it's pure romance. The mix of greys is perfectly done against pure white walls, draperies and floor.

I've recently begun to notice a trend to romanticize the kitchen. Here grey and white combine to create a lovely space. Pretty pendant lights add to that feeling of romance.

Grey and smoky lilac make for a romantic palette in this feminine bedroom. Lush fabrics and gold framed mirrors contribute to the opulent feel.

Romantic rooms are not always soft and feminine. This stunning living room proves that sleek lines and masculine touches can also look romantic in shades of grey. I love the single vase of greenery on the mantel and one dash of velvety color on the sofa.

This romantic space might be a welcoming guest room or a lovely bedroom retreat for a teen girl. In any case, it's a dream room in shades of grey.

A sleek grey bath goes romantic with a massive ornately carved mirror. I would love to see moreóthe corner of an intriguing folding screen is reflected from across the room.

An antique door gives entrance to a fairytale great room in shades grey with earthy tones. The delicate frilly chandelier hangs in stunning contrast to the rustic architecture of the space.

This inviting backyard is dressed up in shades of grey. Outdoor lanterns can add to the romantic feel of an al fresco dining space. This one is ornate and gorgeous. Are those hammocks hung from the fireplace? Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 Which gray design is your favorite? Leave us some comments below! Be sure to check out our website for more lighting inspirations and a wide selection of wall sconces, pendant lights, and chandeliers to complement your home!

6.01.2012