Spring Flowers

Its always nice to have flowers blooming in your yard. Take advantage and bring some inside to really spring up your home.

This was a simple arrangement I created using Wisteria, Dogwood blossoms, Cherry blossoms and some variegated foliage. Placed inside a footed urn this little arrangement is an excellent addition to an entryway or dining table. Bring some blossoms in yourself and enjoy!

In the Meantime. Get this Chair.

An excellent way to update any style or any room is with occasional seating. This Solvar Chair from Ikea is a great way bring a little modern twist to any room. Add a chair in your entryway for tossing on jackets or sitting down to put on shoes. Add one to a living for extra seating, or a bedroom. At only $50 a chair, update a traditional dining room table with these chairs to create a juxtaposition that will add interest.

By adding a modern piece to any room, a new style can easily be created. Why not try something simple, inexpensive and easy like this great little chair.

Speedbump.

My blog is not allowing me to upload any photos? Please forgive me as I try to figure this out. Dont forget to start planning for Mother's Day. Coming up May 9th.

Rain.

Today the weather calls from rain and storms all day. I had so much planned to be doing outside today however there is nothing you can do to change the weather. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said it best:

"The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain."

So today I will let it rain. However I will take advantage of my time indoors. You can find me organizing my computer, pictures, documents, itunes and ipod. Trust me this simplification and organization will be worth it.

Check out this cute Rainy Day print on Etsy. If it is raining where you are today, let it rain, and make the most of your time indoors.

Happy Earth Day.

With the constant push for going green, and reduce, reuse, recycle, the design industry has taken a big turn in that direction. One of the easiest things to see and for you to enjoy is organic fabrics. Organic cotton is a huge market. This cotton is defined as being grown with as zero earth impact as possible without use of chemicals, and by only using non genetically modified plants. Today, help celebrate Earth Day and take advantage of the free shipping and sales on organic bedding and towels from Pottery Barn.

No said organic fabrics had to be boring! Take a look at this Woodland Organic bedding from Pottery Barn. Buy purchasing organic, not just fabrics, you can help to reduce the use of harmful chemicals leached into our earth. Another great design tip that helps with the three R's is buy thrift, vintage and antique. By reusing something already created you can reduce the amount of energy required in making new items. Take something old and add a new twist with paint. Sherwin Williams offers an amazing selection of paint colors with low VOC's, volatile organic compounds, that are vaporous gases harmful to the earth. This is not only going green, but allows you to personalize and tailor items to your own taste and style. So get out today and celebrate Earth Day. Clean up some trash, plant a tree, promote going green through design, or just be outside and enjoy everything the earth has to give us.

Colorful Inspiration.

Color always inspires me. One of the best places to look for colors is nature. Colors are always changing in nature and provide fresh new choices depending on when and where you are.

I stumbled across a print of a Painted Bunting in a little design store in Sylva the other day. I had heard of them before from my grandfather who is an avid birdwatcher. I never new the intricacy and beauty of the colors of this male bird. The greens, greys, sherbert orange and almost royal blue are paired naturally on this pretty little bird. Hopefully nature can inspire you with color as well.

All White at Twilight.

My dear friend Alex Gegenheimer was married in February. She asked me to help with the event and floral design and of course I was more than happy to assist. Here are some of the pictures from her wedding. It was an all white floral display perfectly complimenting the other colors she chose: black, white and Tiffany blue. The wedding took place at twilight by candlelight at the Peacock Inn in Newton, North Carolina. Photography by Seize the Photo Photography.

Alex wore a beautiful vintage inspired lace gown and a whimsical floral headpiece with a birdcage veil.

I created her all white bouquet using hydrangeas, roses, tulips, anemones and ranunculus. The stems were fully wrapped with a white silk chiffon ribbon.

The boutonnieres incorporated white spray roses and freesia flowers and blades and wrapped with Tiffany blue ribbons.

The tables were divided and either featured a bubble bowl with an all white arrangement of hydrangeas, roses, tulips, anemones, ranunculus, and Fuji mums, or a bubble floated with Fuji mums, roses and hydrangeas. All tables also featured white tapers in vintage crystal candlesticks and silver display cards. Individual gift boxes of chocolates were also on the tables in white with a Tiffany blue bow or Tiffany blue with a white bow.

Get this candle.

Something I am wild about is scents. I love perfumes, colognes, splashes, candles, soaps; anything with a smell. I tend to either lean towards a deeper, woodsy scent, or a light, fresh scent. If there had to be only one scent I could enjoy for the rest of my life, it would be New Mown Hay by Paddywax.

This candle comes in a variety of sizes and styles but the scent is worth investing in the biggest pillar they make. This candle provides a fresh burst of cut grass, thyme and verbena. A truely lavish and easy way to bring the smell of spring into your home.

Im back.

After a long time away, I have returned, better than ever. I have many things to share with you. To start off with, a little bit of inspiration. Spring has sprung and the birds are chirping. Speaking of birds, to incoporate a little bit of springtime into your home try adding some aviary touches. Birds have recently become a huge trend in interior design. Try something small and changeable to bring newness into your decor. An item I am currently craving is these euro shams by Shelley Hesse.

These shams feature parrots, maccaws, and cockatoos. The variety of colors will blend with many color palettes and adds an instant whimsy and bird trend. Try using these on a couch rather than just for a bed. The shams, availabe at Anthropologie are $98 for the set and also have a matching duvet option for someone striving for more of a bird impact.