style board: framing and matting selection

I didn't have time for a full Style Board today, busy with client stuff; which included getting a couple things framed this morning for the Norwegian bookcase wall. While picking framing and matting for my client, I couldn't help but start planning for the arrival of my lifeguard tower photo from diemdesign at Etsy... #1 Gunmetal Metal Frame with Arctic White Mat

#2 White Metal Frame with India Mat

#3 White Metal Frame with Dawn Gray Mat

#4 White Metal Frame with Photo Gray Mat

#5 Gunmetal Metal Frame with India Mat

#6 Gunmetal Metal Frame with French Blue Mat

#7 Gunmetal Metal Frame with Dawn Gray Mat

#8 Gunmetal Metal Frame with Arctic White and India Mat

#9 Same as above, reversed

#10 Shiny Silver Frame with Granite Mat

#11 Shiny Silver Frame with Powder Blue Mat

#12 Shiny Silver Frame with Bamboo Mat

#13 White Metal Frame with Dust Mat

Sooooo, whadya think? Which do you choose?

tuesday's treasure: an amazing guesthouse, domino february 2009

The Hollywood guesthouse of designer Mary McDonald is a nonstop smorgasbord for the eyes... if I were visiting her, she would have a doozy of a time getting rid of me! The den above was designed around the black floral pillow on the sofa. The striped wall is freaking fantastic! This room has such a mix of styles, but one element ties them all together, white.

Talk about a breakfast nook with a pop and a pow...as well as a zig and a zag. She calls it her Tom Jones rock 'n' roll breakfast nook, yep indeedy. It, and the rest of the house, is stunning!

Even though the guesthouse has graphic punches here and there, the element of glam runs through and through. Fabulously gorgeous, the paint, the furnishings, and most importantly, the details.

Who wouldn't want to be surrounded by walls draped in fabric? And a tented ceiling? Love it!

There are so many special features in this guesthouse; the use of moulding, fabric, paint, the figures on the wall in the Chinoiserie inspired bedroom above. I have the editorial in my hot little hands, so if you have any questions about something you see above, let me know.

Would love to know, which room do you treasure?

fab find: pb teen, pssst, it's not just for teens

While shopping for an accent table for a client today, my search took me to PB Teen and boy am I glad it did...from lighting, curtain panels, accent tables & chairs, to mirrors. A great assortment of stylish pieces at great prices, everything I featured here is under $149.99. I am so loving the lighting options! How amazing is this Coconut Shell Table Lamp? These two sheer panels together? Me likey! These colorful Take Along Tables are only $19.99 right now. What a great little addition to a patio.

Some fab finds, don't you think?

sunday musings: spring prep

The first Saturday of Spring 2011 was splendid, a fabulous start to the season...we went out for breakfast burritos and shared the most delicious Michelada. We then ran some errands, Prairie Taxidermy to be more specific, followed by an invigorating hike at Maxwell Falls and burgers at The Little Bear Saloon.

Today I have been doing a little Springifying; planted some basil seeds, moved the antlers and brought out seashells. Switched out Autumn/Winter to Spring/Summer; pillows, bedding, wardrobe, shoes and nail polish. And last, but certainly not least, prepped silk flowers for the patio Bella Lights.

What do you do to Springify?

food for thought: lo mein

One of my favorite go-to dishes is lo mein, it's an all in one meal; meat, veggies and noodles! I discovered the following recipe in Cooking Light, October 2003. The original recipe calls for beef and broccoli, but any meat and veggie can be substituted. Last night I made salmon and broccoli lo mein and it was delish!
I found the same Cooking Light recipe on My Recipes, and for a fun and stylish way to serve...
you can't beat Chinese takeout boxes KegWorks.

Enjoy!

style board: boho chic enclosed patio

The big winds have finally died down to a breeze. The sun is out, the birds are singing and I am anxious to dine and lounge about outdoors! True, it is a bit too early for the full spectrum of outdoor living, but that is where enclosed patios come in handy...


all the comforts of an interior with the freshness of outdoors. This enclosed patio would be surrounded with glass walls and have a rolling glass garage type door. I am a huge fan of curtains outdoors, so dreamy the way they move with a breeze. The curtains for this room would be a white burlap with a Moroccan lace stencil across the bottom.

The furniture would be a boho mix with vintage mod chairs, bamboo bench and a simple farmhouse table. The table actually has a natural wood top, but I would refinish it with a whitewash and distress the table a bit (it's rather inexpensive, so no fret). A couple of mattresses scattered on the floor with DIY coffee bag pillows for lounging.

The soft touches come from the lovely Euro rug, crystal chandi and many, many, many mercury votives and voila!

Product sources available upon request, TCSTYLIST1@GMAIL.COM

tuesday's treasure: ed's lobster bar

The only thing better than great food is great food with a great atmosphere. Great atmosphere is achieved with spot on design that fits the cuisine, making the overall dining experience, well, an experience.I have not been to Ed's Lobster Bar, yet, but it is on my list for my next trip to NYC. Refinery 29 recently posted their Top 10 Soho Restaurants, and just one look at Ed's and I knew it was a must.The simple and quaint, beachy painted brick. Shiny nickel light fixtures. And the bar!

I have to say, I love, love, love dining at bars. Sushi, breakfast at Sam's No. 3, burgers at The Cherry Cricket, Effin Onions at Seasons of Durango and any meal at the parents. If a restaurant has a bar and serves the full menu at said bar, you'll know where to find me.

a pefect pairing: ferragamo and mcqueen

dress: Salvatore Ferragamo

wedge: Alexander McQueen

HAPPY SPRING!!!

friday musings: great finds on broadway in denver, co

I am happy to say that I have had a nicely productive Friday... got my youngest nephew on the road early for his trip home and then "Dog Faced Boy" and I went downtown to tend to some business. After the business was successfully tended to, I took "DFB" for a walk around the capital area and then we were off to Broadway.

The first stop was The Collection. Fabulous lighting, some splendid little chairs and the most gorgeous and ginormous walnut armoire that I fell in love with. They also carried a couple lines of jewelry made by local artisans...a future purchase is necessary.

Next stop, Decade Gifts. I found many, many things I wanted, but somehow left empty handed? Oh right, I was shopping for books for a client...future purchases are necessary for Decade as well, apparel and chairs.

So, the mission of this Broadway adventure was prop books for a clients bookshelves, mission accomplished. I was able to find an assortment of blue and linen colored spines at Denver Book Fair, for the styling of the Norwegian bookshelves.

Looking forward to other missions this weekend that I hope are just as successful today's.

Have a great weekend!

TC

happy st. patrick's day!

I wonder what St. Patrick thinks of his holiday? He banished snakes from Ireland (with a shamrock) and a day in which we wear green, eat and drink until we can't see straight was named in his honor. Hey, I'm not complaining, I'm Irish. I love Shepherds Pie, Guinness, shamrocks and the color green.

I have touches of green throughout my home. Green to me is the color of life. As I look out a window, I see little baby green leaves sprouting out on some shrubbery. According to Color Wheel Pro, I'm not that far off in meaning...

As for the print at the top of the page, Art.com, that will be on one of my walls very soon.

Happy St. Paddy's!

P.S. Sorry for today's disembodied ramblings, horrible night of sleep due to a cold.

style board: color trends 2011, lavender euro country office

I definitely saved the hardest Pantone color from the Color Report Spring 2011 for last, purples are sooo not my thing, but I did it!

This office is what I call Euro Country, with a touch of Mod Glam. The desk top is glass, painted coral on the bottom side (a la yesterday's post). The wood panel wainscot adds enough visual interest to the walls topped by lavender paint, which would also be on the ceiling, that I didn't pick any art. I wanted to keep the room simple, somewhat understated. The bookshelves would of course house books as well as a few lavender, coral, and white objects d'art to add a little extra pop.

Product sources available upon request, TCSTYLIST1@GMAIL.COM

style board...in the making: lavender

tuesday's treasure(s): interior sunshine

Mother Nature is teasing us here in Colorado; sunshiny warm one day then gloomy and chilly the next. Today is one of the gloomy chilly days which has me craving sunshine, and I found it in the following stylish interiors...this first room has touches of sunshine within a neutral palette. My favorite touch is the table. One side (obviously the bottom) of the glass top is spray painted yellow. This is one DIY tip I will most definitely utilize in the future.

Warm, cozy and glam.
This happy room above has a few great things; first off, the cut and framed map of Paris on the far left wall. Oh so appealing to the eye and the graphic feel is replicated in the striped fabric on the slipper chairs and sofa pillows. And lastly, the window treatment. It is hard to see in this photo, but there is a sheer curtain hanging from a wrought iron rod halfway up the window; allowing plenty of light in without impeding the view of the outdoors.

The following rooms are from a home in Florida where the rooms were all painted bright colors and everything else is white. The silk curtain used as wainscoting is pure brilliance. It was meant to expand and soften the room...

I love the fact that the silk sheers were brought into other rooms as well. And that "onion" light, fabulous!


My favorite tile in the world, Moroccan Zellige.


A simple addition of sunshine. Moulding doesn't (and shouldn't) always be white.

The Modern Country dining area below is perfection to me. I can just imagine that a feast served at this table is always delish and lively. The room exudes such warmth as well as a laid back feel that feeds not only the eyes and tummy, but the soul as well.