That Touch of Inspiration......

What is it about the beginning of Spring that brings thoughts of inspiration.  Thoughts of all the wonderful projects to do around the house.  And.....way to many to-do  lists.

 

A touch of my inspiration below.  Hopefully I will get to all of it.

 

Quotes as wall art.  Black doors.  Simple, easy and effective.

Butterflies as wall art. Gray velvet.  Fancy Mirrors.

Bull in a china shop.  Genius.

Lots of mirrors and fringe.  As well as pillows and a great place to lounge.

Same room below, and I love it every time I look at it.  Fringe, lounging, great black table, inspirational pictures, everything, I love it all. 

Pillows on leather.  Look closely, the seat of the couch is covered and pillows are stacked on the couch.  Love the stacked art in the back.  That ottoman.....need I say more?

As always, black doors.

Ahhhhhhhhh, Inspiration.

Thank you Vogue Interiors......

Thank you Vogue......

I don't know whose house this is, but can I just say, I love the combination of leopard and leather.

 

Vogue Culture has a whole section devoted to Homes.  

 

 

I have some old red leather chairs, that need to be leopard.  Hmmmmmmm.  Now if I could only sew.

How do you use leopard?  Leopard is the new black, it is a great neutral.

Just add Leopard or Cheetah

Leather and Leopard or Cheetah.  That pretty much says it all.  I need a little leopard/cheetah added to my leather.  Leopard/Cheetah is the new neutral after all.

Happy Sunday.

Vogue.

 Above Domino Magazine.

 Laura Bush's apartment -- love the ottoman/footstool.

                                                  

Elements of Style, Glen Eden Cheetah Stairs.

Poinsettias in the Fireplace

Speaking of fireplaces.  This old house has two.  The front room is one of my favorites.  I love to sit and relax and read up here.  Or, have a cocktail. 

 

I have been putting faux poinsettias in this fireplace for the last couple of years, and it always makes me smile.  Faux, so the dog doesn't eat them.

 

This year, I am going decorations only, and a few faux tabletop trees.  And....maybe some red ornaments in the bowl on the table.  And, more candles, and, and, and.....

 

I am taking the less is more approach.

How are you decorating?

Book Stacks

I am a repeat offender.

I love to stack books.  This book stack holds a statue the Hubs got years ago.  Makes it larger and gives it more presence.

 

Do you stack books?

 

Little decorating changes, make one today. 

Paint Your Dresser Metallic Silver DIY - Finished - Martha Stewart Paints

Yay.  I finished the silver chest.  Here's a recap.

My inspiration.  The Pier One Hayworth Dresser.

My dresser in process.

Ta Da!!!  My dresser finished.  Love.

The paint -- Martha Stewart's Thundercloud Metallic Paint.  A small jar goes a long way.  I did 2 coats, and have paint left.  Love it.

Don't be afraid to try. 

Ghost Chairs and a Rustic Table

A while back I found some folding ghost chairs at Goodwill for $10 a chair.  Wanting to find some inspiration for their use, I looked to the dining room. 

Kartel Chair and rustic table.  Image from Kartel.com.

Ghost chair and rustic dining table.  Image source unkown.

 My rustic table and my folding ghost chairs.

Second view of the ghost chairs and dining table.

They have found a home at my daughter's house.  She was replacing her 1950's inspired table, and wanted something a little more eclectic.  They look darling or dahhhhling in her house.  These pictures were taken at my house prior to transport.

Repurpose, reuse, reimagine something today.

The Guest Room

Let's face it, most of us have more house than we need, or for that matter more apartment.  Ok, unless you live in New York.  So, for those of us that have more space than we need or use, what do you do with the other rooms?

Office, check.  Guest room, hmmmm? What do you do with the others?  I have struggled with this question for quite some time.  Yes, a guest room is standard.  But what if you don't have guests?  Do you do  a guest room anyway?  I do have a twin guest bed in the office so I am technically covered.  Do you dedicate a whole room?

What are some other options?  Exercise space, or maybe a game space, library, craft room.  Multi-purpose room. 
I think I am settled on a multi-purpose room type space.  You can go in and watch an old tv, exercise, craft, hang, or just get away.

Thus this photo from AD - Architectural Digest.  Look closely, skip the coffe table, and the chairs, although I will put a couple of chairs in there that float around the house.  Focus in on the couch -- it really is a twin bed.  Love it.  Kind of reminds me of the Brady Bunch Family Room, with the 2 twin beds that they used as couch/lounging/guests etc.  This is perfect.  Genius.  I have a twin bed, so I can just repurpose it and be ready to go. I love the way they made it look like a couch. 

Now, I think I may go with a color instead of the all white.  Love the all white, just not practical for me.

So, what do you do with all your extra space?

Yay, it's Friday.  I am making the Pinterest S'mores this weekend, can't wait.  Total diet blower.  Oops.

Ghost Chairs

Love my ghost chairs.  I actually found 4 at Goodwill quite some time ago.  They were $9.99 each.  Yep, that's $40 for all 4.  They roam around my house as extra seating.  Right now 2 are in the Hub's office under his Christmas Gift from my parents.  He loves that poster.  Now, if I could only find his old Fraternity pledge paddle (no longer politically correct) to hang next to it.  That should be one of my weekend projects -- to locate it.  I love pulling up one of these chairs when he is in his office and visiting with him.  Little things.  Smile.

Cold and gloomy here, weekend projects here I come. 
Go Lobos.

Silver Furniture & Mirrors

I am loving this silver furniture with glass, and mirror, no secret, I love silver furniture lately.  Also, love the photos all over the mirror.  Not practical in my life, but I am enjoying the inspiration. 

I should be spray painting an old side table gold today, however, as luck would have it we have 40+ gusts of wind today, so spray painting is totally out. 

This is from a mag, and for the life of me I can't remember where.  If you know, please let me know so I can give credit.

What is inspiring you on this President's Day?

Easy DIY Pleather Covered Box Spring

So, I decided to cover my daughter's box spring with pleather.  She isn't a fan of the dust ruffle, and she didn't want a sheet on the box spring. 

I got out the trusty sewing machine.

Made notes on how to cut my pleather.

Got $8 of pleather from JoAnne Fabrics - in black. Cut into strips 4" wider than box spring.

Sewed them together.  Sewed them so they would have a seam in the middle of the bed on each side.

Put on box spring.  Since her tastes may change, I just used good old fashioned Duct Tape to adhere it to the top of the box spring.  Sarah Richardson, and some other bloggers glued, sewed, used velcro, your choice.

Then wrapped it around the metal Hollywood bedframe and stapled it underneath to the box spring. Again, so it could easily be removed if wanted.

Finished.  Looks like a leather - pleather covered platform bed.  Love it. 
Happy Saturday projects to you.

TV watching elegance.  Much classier than recliners.  That's the way to watch a football game.  You?

I am really feeling this whole lounge chair vibe.  Hmmmm.

Great Trends and Fun for 2012

Happy New Year.  Will you be saying 2012 -- or Twenty Twelve?  I am not sure yet.  Here are some fun inspiration images to wet your appetite.  Oh, and in case you haven't been around the blogosphere lately, Pantone's color of the year is a Tangerine Orange. 

Below, loving the muted colors.  Always look into the pic.  It is a bench making a lounge area out of a couch.  Genius.  Tuffted gray, need I say more?

Black doors.  Inside or out, love them.

Again, look beyond the pic.  This lavender chaise is part of a couch, and has been recovered.  Love it.  Oh, and mirrors.  Love.

Animal print.  Get some.

Love Zebra.  Get some animal print.

2012 -- Twenty Twelve.  Here we come.
Images via Pinterest.

Dark and Moody Interiors

I am loving the dark and moody interiors seen lately.  Ralph Lauren, did a whole series on his site. 

 I am really wanting to rework my kitchen.  Love this dark, and those planters, not practical but loving.

Ok, so I saw a design show where they did a table makeover and it looked like the mags stacked in the corner.  So fun.  My daughter always twists her mags,  love the table as a night stand too.  Again, loving the black and blue.

What can I say about this bathroom other than yes please. I will be adding darker colors to my back bathroom, where I will be rusting the mirror.

My favorite of all.  Dark walls, dark shades, leopard.  Yum. Not practical for me but totally fun.

I love the topiary balls with the glass vases.  I see a trip to the dollar store in my future to make these should be so easy, will let you know.  Fun for after Christmas to get in the spring spirit.

Images via:  Atlanta Homes, Elle Decor, Apartment Therapy, Pinterest.