Let Me Just Say Wow...Yellow

"Yellow shines with optimism, enlightenment, and happiness. Shades of golden yellow carry the promise of a positive future", from, Color: Meaning, Symbolism and Psychology on http://www.squidoo.com/. Well clearly I have been needing some optimism, enlightenment and happiness this week, because all I see is yellow, hence the happy flowers I bought myself on Monday.

Yellow has always been a color I have fancied. It has the ability to play well with others. Yellow can be casually playful or elegant, it truly depends on what you pair it with. The room above was designed by Nate Berkus and is from the July/August 2010 issue of "Elle Decor". The first thing you see in this fabulous room is the very modern painting by Jose Maria Yturralde. But once you see the painting, the rest of the room comes into focus. I love the mix of the simple modern chairs, with the elegant mid-century modern golden lacquer cabinet accompanied by a 19th century chair, and the texture of the travertine walls...love it!

The room above is a fantastic sample of how yellow does elegant. This room is from the Spring 2010 issue of "Decor", Robert Brown, designer. The fabric patterned walls and window treatment are just plain awesome. Yellow with black and white is a color palette that just works, and it works well.

Trend Tuesday: Horse Photography

I spent the afternoon stacking hay at the Colorado Horse Rescue, it was fun and physical, and I will no doubt be feeling it tomorrow, but I do what I can for the horses. While schlepping bales today, I thought about the pictures I've seen of fabulous interiors, fabulous contemporary interiors. The Uchitel home above, was featured in "Elle Decor", May 2010, and I believe the horse photo to be magnificent.

The home above is the Designer Visions showhouse designed by Thom Filicia for House Beautiful, featured in the November 2009 issue. Both of the photos featured here are just amazing, catching the natural, be it sometimes wild, beauty of horses. I have seen other interiors as of late with horse photography and the thing that I love most about them is that they are not traditional or country decor, but modern, contemporary and bohemian.

I am not using horse photography for any current clients, but you better believe I will at some point. I am very excited though about a project that I am working on. I will be doing a photo transfer on canvas of a beloved farm animal who has since gone on to greener pastures...stay tuned!

Fab Find of the Week: La Plates

I have a few addictions: shoes, watches, costume jewelry, bathing suits, martini glasses, cloth napkins, oh sorry, I got a little carried away...DISHES! I love dishes and I love, love, love these plates from La Plates, www.laplates.com.

They are available for customization in 19 different background patterns including solid. 17 different background colors. Seven font options and 15 font colors. They are nonbreakable melamine, dishwasher safe (top rack only) but not microwavable. They will scratch with sharp utensils, so they may not be the best option for everyday dinnerware, but how awesome are they for outdoor dining! What better wedding present is there?

Friday Musings...Classic Beauty, My Muses

I have a definite thing about the mid 50's to 60's, interior decor, fashion and beauty icons. One of my favorite beauties from that time was Briggite Bardot. I think she was absolutely gorgeous, sexy and cute, the ultimate sex kitten. The photo above is my all time favorite because you see the real Briggite, natural hair and natural face, simply stunning.

Yes, these beauties were natural, even with heavy smokey eyes, something I simply haven't been able to achieve, but am not afraid to try. I have nothing against celebrities today, but if had to emulate a celebrity, I would have to pick someone from the aforementioned time period. Hair was sexy, fashions were classic and these beauties oozed confidence.

Ursula Andress was the first, and my favorite, Bond Girl, Honey Ryder. She was strong, confident, athletic and of course sexy. Who wouldn't want to be her?

Then of course we have the Princess herself, Grace Kelley. She was the ultimate classic beauty. She was just class, plain and simple. Other than her beauty and style, she had the most incredible speaking voice. I am just so grateful that Alfred Hitchcock was so taken with her. My favorite Hitchcock movie, and perhaps my favorite movie of all time, "Rear Window". Ms. Kelley is sophisticated, demure, sassy, adventurous and her wardrobe, simply fabulous.

Classic, simply classic. Who's your favorite beauty?

Food for Thought: Blue Cheese

It still amazes me that I did not like blue cheese up until a few years ago,then I had my first Buffalo Wing. As a kid I hated the stuff. I remember Mom making blue cheese "balls" for her Christmas parties and that was all you could smell when you opened the fridge, but now... I LOVE IT!

As much as I love to cook, Summer is my time of year for big-_ _ _ salads for dinner. I have been eating my own version of a Cobb salad three or four nights a week: Romaine, thinly sliced red onion, halved grape tomatoes, bacon, hard boiled egg, avocado, grilled chicken and Mom's blue cheese dressing. Now, I would love to share her recipe with my readers, but I do not want to be disowned. I do have another recipe that I use, so I will share that with you, it is Emeril Lagasse's. It is super yummy, especially with a dash of cayenne added ;)

• 1 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Then there's Gorgonzola, it is sooo good with Arugula and thinly sliced red onion or pears. The following recipe is from Rachel Ray, super simple but oh so tasty!

• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup Gorgonzola
• Salt and pepper

Enjoy!

Let Me Just Say Wow...more turquoise

This is kind of a part II to Tuesdays turquoise...

While researching ideas for a client, I rediscovered this stunning room designed by Kim Coleman & Michele Green featured in the March 2010 "House Beautiful". The pops of turquoise within this light room are so beautiful and the balance of the room is divine. I especially love the zebra stools with the turquoise bedding in the foreground.

What can I say other than WOW, love, love, love it!

Trend Tuesday: Turquoise

Pantone has named Turquoise as the "Color of the Year 2010". I couldn't be happier because I have always loved turquoise and I am quite fortunate to have it as my birthstone!

Turquoise may be the color of the year for 2010, but it has been used in interiors for quite some time. Tricia Guild has done turquoise fabulously for years. The photo above is from her book "White Hot", copyright 1999. The photo below is from "Tricia Guild Pattern", copyright 2006

However you choose to incorporate turquoise into your life, from furniture to fashion, dishes to drapes or necklaces to neckties, enjoy the knowledge of knowing that you are stylish and on trend.

Fab Find of the Week: Oasis Sofa

While shopping with clients this weekend, I fell in love with the Oasis sofa at Crate & Barrel. I have always had an obsession with ivory colored sofas, don't ask why, I have a hairy black dog, but I love them, and this sofa is no exception.

Being a Modern Bohemian, my taste in furniture is all over the place, but when it comes to sofas, I prefer clean lines. The Oasis is contemporary, but it is also a slipcover sofa so it works well with many different decor styles. The slipcover is a fabulous linen, which is more elegant and sophisticated than cotton canvas, so that in and of itself ups the decor options. The nine linen color choices available for the Oasis, also expand the decor benefits; Earth could be used in a contemporary setting, while the Indigo is more cottagey and the Antique White screams beach home.

Aside from the look and lines of the Oasis, it is sooooo comfortable. The seat cushions are a soy-based polyfoam, wrapped in a blend of down, feathers and fibers. The seat is deep, but the seat height is fairly low so it is still doable for those that are a little vertically challenged ;)

Friday Musings...

I am looking forward to spending the weekend with my favorite clients, Mom & Pop! We have a busy weekend of shopping for the new house, a Rockies game, horse racing and dining al fresco for Father's Day. I'm grilling a pork tenderloin :)

I am also looking forward to the beautiful weather, so not the case last weekend. One outfit I picked for the weekend is a comfortable yet sassy tank with one of my favorite color schemes ever, yellow and grey. I will be accessorizing the ensemble with one of my favorite bracelets. I love how the balls on the bracelet mimic the "ball" on the flower, too cute!

Have a great weekend all!

Food for Thought: Refrigerators

A thought struck me the other day, or was it a jar of pickles? If you were to look inside my refrigerator you would think that a family of 12 lived here! I have sooooo much stuff in my refrigerator for one person, but I can't help it, I love food. There's the pitcher of water, the gallon (sometimes two) of milk, beer, wine, eggs, yogurt, pickles and many bottles of sauces, all of which I need and use.

The other night I made an Asian grilled salmon with stir-fried veggies and pasta. I used lime, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, chili sauce and a spicy orange infused oil that I had made previously , and that was just for the salmon! I wish I could actually see where the light is coming from in the fridge, but I'll settle for having fabulous dishes.

The thing that I don't get is that there have been times when I didn't have an ingredient I needed, really? I wish I could actually see where the light is coming from in the fridge, but I'll settle for eating fabulous dishes. Dishes, now that's a whole other story...I can't help it, I worked at Crate & Barrel!

Let Me Just Say Wow...Coastal Living

The June issue of Coastal Living was pure joy to flip through. Yes, I live in the Rockies, far from any coast, but I am a beach girl through and through. Besides, just because I don't live on a coast doesn't mean I, nor my clients, can't enjoy the style and feel of a beach home.

Not only are the ocean colors stunning, but coastal homes have texture, and lots of it! The home above was created by designer Sasha Emerson and featured in the June 2010 issue of Coastal Living. You can see more of the home, as well as other fabulous designs, online at www.coastalliving.com.

The overall palette of the home is neutral, but Ms. Emerson sprinkled oceanic blues and greens throughout. I simply cannot take my eyes off of the rug above, I love, love, love it! This home screams to be lived in and to be shared with friends and family. Pure style, well done Ms. Emerson, well done!

Trend Tuesday: Ikat

Is there anything hotter than Ikat at this moment? It is everywhere, from home fashions to human fashions, Ikat is hot, hot, hot! I for one am a huge fan, it touches that bohemian in me. It screams Summer when it is worn, but it pleasantly transcends any season when used in the home.

Ikat is a universal method of weaving using resist dyeing, which is similar to tie-dyeing. Love Ikat, tie-dye not so much, unless of course it is from Proenza Schouler, then I can do tie-dye.

There is something for everyone. Ikat of course is not to be "overdone", but presented in small doses: a rug, pillow, ottoman, window treatment, chair, sofa, etc. one at a time please. Same rules apply for fashion: a handbag, swimsuit (www.atropicalaffair.com has a beautiful one piece) tunic, dress, etc. To me, Ikat conjures up exotic locales, if only in my imagination.

Ikat dress from www.Gap.com. Ikat Pillows from www.grandinroad.com. Hanover Slipcovered Sectional from www.companyc.com.

Fun Find of the Week: Coconut Bowls

I came across these little jewels in the July 2010 issue of "Cooking Light". They are from www.lilyjuliette.com, they are so new that they are not yet available on the site. They are food safe, but I have so many other ideas to use them for around the home...

• a colorful catch-all on a console by the front door for keys, change, biz cards, etc.
• cotton balls and Q-tips in the bathroom
• paperclips, sticky notes, and other office stuff
• seashells
• floating candles
• floating flowers

So many possibilities. There happy colors just make me smile. ENJOY!