Trend Tuesday: Fall Color Trends Part II, Rich Purple

I had a little tougher time with this color trend. You see, I am not a big fan of purple, personally speaking, but there are people who love it! So it is good to know that I am able to work with the regal color.

I anchored this room with a plum rug and plum sofa. I threw in darker accents with black and a coffee/grey with the coffee table and love seat. I brought in some texture with the lighter leopard chairs which work fabulously with my favorite accent of the room, the gold!

As I said, purple is not my color, but this room is SEXY!

Fab Find of the Week: Great BIG Canvas

I really like using canvases for styling since they can be used without frames. I have absolutely nothing against frames mind you, but a good one can be pricey. Canvases are also more contemporary in feel without the frame. I found all the canvases for this blog at http://www.greatbigcanvas.com/. They have many sizes available as well as options for 3-in-1 panels, framed and black and white. The site has many photos available, but I love how abstract the floral canvases are.
The photo below is from http://www.uktv.co.uk/. The photo canvas above the bed is so dramatic, not much else is needed in the room.

Either of these photos would work in the bedroom above. I would take it one step further and paint the walls a dark, almost black, plum in a high gloss finish. Talk about dramatic!

Friday Musings...

I am accompanying a friend to a casual wedding reception tomorrow night and being that Summer is still 100% here, this cute little number from Topshop would be my choice of outfit for the fete. However...

I do not own this outfit and even if I did, it wouldn't really fit in at the Stampede. Yes, the reception is at a country bar. I will be wearing my favorite boyfriend jeans and a very pretty floral silk strappy top.

On Sunday I will be trading in my boots for a bikini to go tubing on Poudre River. Late Summer in Colorado, never a dull moment!

Have a great weekend!

TC

photo from http://www.refinery29.com

Food for Thought: Deliciously Simple, Tuna

Last night I wanted a simple, no fuss (meaning minimal cooking) dinner since it was another gloriously hot August day. And I wanted tuna, Mediterranean tuna. My Mediterranean tuna usually finds itself between two pieces of sourdough in the form of a panini, but last night it was accompanied by pasta. The only cooking involved is the pasta and also a little olive oil to slowly saute the garlic. In a bowl combine a can of tuna (Trader Joe's Tuna in Olive Oil is my favorite), capers, kalamata olives, and quartered grape tomatoes. Once the pasta has cooked, add it and the "garlic oil" to the tuna mixture along with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Toss together and voila, deliciously simple.

Enjoy!

Wednesdays Interior: Domino Archive

After spending a majority of my day finishing yesterdays "camel blog", primarily trying to remember where I found the "LBC"! I found the apartment of fashion designer, Liz Lange, to be a breath of cool and happy air...

Her partner in crime for creating this fantastical apartment was Jonathan Adler. I can definitely see Mr. Adler's touch in the color scheme.

The two of them are certainly a dynamic duo!

Trend Tuesday: Fall Color Trends Part I, Camel

Refinery29 Everywhere, listed the top 6 color trends for Fall. They were referring to fashion mind you, but I thought I'd apply them to interiors. This weeks color is camel.

I honestly can't think of a Fall/Winter when camel wasn't on trend, it is a classic. I paired it with black and white with coral for an accent. Camel can of course be paired with many other colors, the possibilities are endless.

Work in Progress

Still gathering goodies for todays Trend Tuesday blog, will post it tomorrow along with Wednesdays Interior :)

Fab Find of the Week: Rubelli Fabrics

I have a serious addiction to fabric and when I came across Rubelli fabrics today while doing some research, I was mesmerised. This chair below is done in linen, the design looks hand painted, but it is actually computer generated. The Italian company was founded in 1835, no computers back then, but the hand painted replication done today is beautiful.
I'm really not a red person, but I would love the opportunity to style a room with the floral linen above and the the happy white and red striped gem below...any takers?

Rubelli fabrics are " To the Trade", visit http://www.rubelli.com/ for a showroom in your city

Friday Musings: Ralph Lauren

I went out with a guy who had mentioned on his dating profile, that he preferred Ralph Lauren over Calvin Klein, naturally I asked him about it. I said, "So, you are in to fashion? You like Ralph Lauren?" He said, "Yes, I have like eight Polo Shirts." Let's just say we weren't a match.This, to me, is Ralph Lauren...

These dresses are from his 2010 collection, and I find them to be absolutely gorgeous. Bravo Mr. Lauren, bravo.

all photos from BAZAAR, http://www.harpersbazaar.com/

Have a great weekend!

TC

Food for Thought: Basil

By this time of Summer, my basil is plentiful! Not the prettiest due to stupid "pincher bugs" eating holes in it, but still delish. This week I made a Yellow Squash Risotto with fresh basil. It was the best risotto I have ever made! The recipe came from Cucina Rustica and zucchini was the original squash used, but the neighbors had a plethora of yellow, so...I will gladly share the recipe, it had fresh mozzarella in it, just let me know.

Last night, since I had fresh mozzarella and plenty of basil, I made Pizza Margherita. Since Pizza Margherita is made with all fresh ingredients, not to mention easy, it is truly a Summer pizza.

Enjoy!

Wednesdays Interior

On this gloriously HOT August day here in Colorado, I couldn't help but pick this charming, relaxed, cozy and oh so cool L.A. bungalow which I found in my Cottage Living archives.
The use of white throughout the home, from the walls and cabinets to the soft goods, just instantly envelope you with cool and comfort. The weathered woods and woven accents feel so tropical.

I love the texture of this counter wall... and the white cabinets with the soapstone counter top is so crisp.

This home is truly lovely. It is small, so carrying the same style and design throughout the whole home is important for the flow and feeling of the house. And this bungalow certainly does flow, it is simply fantastic.

Trend Tuesday: Fashionable Interiors

Back in 2007, Thom Felicia started hosting a fabulous home makeover show on Style Network called Dress My Nest. The show is still going strong and the concept of styling a room around fashion is definitely mainstream, so I had to give it a try!After seeing this fantastic little jacket on Glo yesterday, I couldn't stop thinking about the room I would style from it. The paints would be warm antique-y whites from Benjamin Moore,Creme Caramel, Overcast or Antique Lace, walls and trim. The sofa would naturally be my favorite Oasis Sofa from Crate & Barrel.

I can't imagine a more beautiful fabric for drapery panels that puddle so glamorously on the floor. Two of these hexagon tables placed in front of the sofa to represent the chevrons on the jacket.

This chandelier would throw such a warm light throughout the room and the delicate glass resembles the flower pin on the jacket.

My pillow choices for the sofa would be this yummy olive, lovely gold and pretty ivory organza number.

I simply cannot resist Designers Guild "reptilian velvet", better known as Maitland in Nabucco Pearl, for my floor pillows, gotta have floor pillows.

Well that was fun, I may have to do this again!

Fab Find of the Week: Shagreen Desk

I took some time today to go through the Aug./Sept. Lonny mag, http://lonnymag.com. This fantastic desk was shown in the Elegant Upgrade article."Shagreen is a type of leather or rawhide consisting of rough or untanned skin...now commonly made of the skins of sharks and rays." It is rough and was "traditionally prepared by embedding plant seeds in the untreated skin while soft...leaving the surface of the leather with small indentations", source, Wikipedia. I have seen many Shagreen items this past year. It is a visually and texturally cool leather, not to mention pricey. I have seen it priced anywhere from $40, for a faux Shagreen waste basket and up to $12,000 for a stunningly beautiful dining table.

The desk above is from http://www.lampsplus.com, and it is a steal at $399.91. That is why it is a "Fab Find"!

Friday Musings...

Well, after a busy week, I have finally recuperated from last weekends camping and river floating, just in time to start this weekend!This weekend starts off with a Rockies game at fabulous Coors Field, then tomorrow...a lovely day trip south of the city to Weston Pass with a stop in one of our nifty mountain towns for beverages and nibbles.

No plans as of yet for Sunday, maybe chill with some fashion mags,( just got my September BAZAAR!) but who knows, the weekend is young...have a great weekend everybody!

Ta-ta,

TC

Let Me Just Say Wow...Domino Archives

This loft, from domino, October 2008, is a fantastic blend of industrial-contemporary-glam, while staying comfortable and homey...The exposed beams, pillars and pipes are what true lofts are all about, as well as the openness of the space. The blend of casual, yet contemporary sofas and chair. The touch of glam with the beautiful, over-the-top chandi over the dining table along with the glitzy, almost disco-y gold, mod coffee table. One of my favorite features of the room are the built in bookcases. Books are hard to do, I know, especially in a room that isn't an office or library. But with the mix of stacks and leans, these books become art, in and of themselves.

Again, a great blend, a clean-lined contemporary kitchen that opens into a great great room.

Trend Tuesday: Girlie Goodies

They kinda speak for themselves...This oh so fabulous Lana Wool Ottoman (above) is from http://www.moderndose.com/. Love, love, love it!

The peachy petalled pendant, the Rose Pendant Light, is form http://www.dbsources.com/.

This petalled pillow looks like it just floated down from heaven, available at http://www.nordstrom.com/.

Fab Find of the Week: IKEA Bookcases (as headboards)

Yes, more headboard ideas. I found this tear sheet from Country Home, March 2006. This is such a great idea and it looks amazing. I always loved the idea of a shelf behind the bed, since seeing one behind Carries bed on "Sex and the City", the series. So simple, yet awesome, not to mention beneficial. I think folded blankets would look nifty inside the shelves.

This large unit above is part of the Expedit line from IKEA. This unit is $199 and you can add drawers or doors like the one below right, prices ranging $20-$35.

I also like the idea of using two narrow bookcases like the red one below instead of nightstands, then add a shelf between them, leaving a great space above for a mirror or art. All of the bookcases shown here are from IKEA ranging in price from $70.99 to $199, and the shelf is $29.99, making the bookcase headboard quite economical, as well as unique and functional.

Friday Musings: Headboards (yes it's a couple days late)

I am working on a few bedrooms for clients, so that is where my focus has been as of late. I'm not one for "traditional" bedroom sets, at all. While there are some fabulous headboards and structural beds available, I like doing something different for headboards. The headboard above is a very cool use of a screen. It resembles an upholstered headboard with and is quite classy with the addition of nail heads The bedroom itself is one of my favorites with the mix of soft blues and browns with vivid yellow thrown into the mix.

Another great headboard idea is simply to cover a board or two with wallpaper. The board above, if used as a headboard, would also double as artwork above the bed. You could also take it a step further and hang a mirror on it to give it a little more structure and depth.

This headboard is way cool. It is actually two table tops! Love the look of this and the attached lamps and photos just add to it.