Gwyneth Paltrow's Chic Hamptons Home

Okay, I've never been one to ooooo and aaaahhh over celebrities. However, I've always admired Gwyenth Paltrow's style. I find her style to be a combinaton of sophisticated, simple and edgy.

House & Garden featured Paltrow's summer home in the Hamptons, which she shares with hubby, Chris Martin and two children. She claims to have been very involved in the design and decorating of the house. Paltrow used muted tones throughout and patterns sparingly. She describes the style of their home as "minimalist with a feminine twist." It offers unexpected twists and takes risks! I hope you enjoy!

Feautured in House & Garden

CREATING A CHIC OUTDOOR SPACE

One of my favorite things is coffee table books.  There is nothing better than curling up on your sofa with a coffee in hand and gazing through one of your, personal books!  I find that coffee table books not only help create a "cafe" experience from your living room, they can cozy up a space and create a welcoming environment, as well.

It seems with summer rapidly approaching, the more and more attention we have given our outdoor spaces.  Owen and I found it exciting and quite amusing when we opened our front door a couple weeks ago to begin sprucing up our front yard, to find that all of our neighbors had the same idea!  As I mentioned on a previous blog, adding seating and a table can really add usable square footage to your home. 

Just as our interiors should reflect us, our outdoor spaces should do the same.  Knowing that, we should put

just as much effort and attention on these spaces as inside our home.  A wonderful book I found that gives great inspiration is Perfect Porches:  Designing Spaces for Outdoor Living by Paula S. Wallace.

Wallace, the president of Savannah School of Art and Design, offers great insight about "outdoor rooms" and offers practical design ideas on creating a lovely space.  Of course, it's filled with pictures (or eye candy) of fabulous outdoor rooms from forty homes!  What's not to love?!

If you want to begin or add to your collection of coffee table books with this great find, I've attached a link to make life simpler!

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

EXTREME RECYCLING FOR LIGHTING

Attention: Small budgets call for creative measures.

Not sure if you're into recycling...but I had to show you this! I call it extreme recycling for lighting!

Tyler Velten, an architecture student at Yale who designed and created this chandelier is defintely creative. I think we can all agree that he thinks outside the box as far as materials are concerned! His material---60 used plastic grocery bags. How did he do it? He draped the bags over five 11-watt bulbs...using a wire-mesh basket around each bulb (to keep the chandelier from creating a disaster, of course).

I'm curious...what do you think of his masterpiece?

Featured in the New York Times

LAYERING

Layering isn't just for clothes. It's for interiors, as well!

Quick tip: adding different textures creates a cozy and more balanced space. Think of the textures that you typically use. If you find that you are only using a couple...try introducing others. Remember there is a whole world filled with different textures... wood, silver, leather, linen, iron, crystal, tole, etc. For example, if you find that your kitchen is limited to primarily wood and stainless steel, try adding a porcelain bowl with fresh flowers.

Take a look at all the different textures used in these spaces:

wood, iron, wicker, soft fabrics and what seems to be a soft rug and porcelain

wood, wicker, iron, leather, steel, marble, porcelain and glass

velvet, leather, wood (polished and rustic), hide, crystal, moss and limestone floors

seagrass, silk, acrylic, wood and beautiful linens

wood, steel, granite, porcelain, leather and iron

Have a great weekend!

Jenna Lyon's House Tour

Let me introduce you. This is Jenna Lyon, and she has fabulous style. As the creative director and fashion visionary for J. Crew, she has brought ribbons, ruffles, sequins and fun patterns to many girls' wish lists... And for some, their closets.

I thought it would be fun to take a peek in her home located in New York. I am not only interested in her clothes..but her home, as well! Ha! Her house has an elegant and modern feel, using black and white with a splash of bright yellow. I find her home to resemble the brand, classic with unexpected twists. She is not afraid to take risks!

I hope you enjoy and find inspiration!

Let's go inside!!!!!

Jenna in the entry with her husband

Entry

Living Room

Parlor

Dining room

Another view of the dining room

Kitchen

Jenna in her bedroom

Another shot of the bedroom from another shoot

Bathroom

Now this would be a fun dressing room to wander about! (Melanie..you can come too! ..hehe)

Nursery

Another view of the nursery

Hope you enjoyed today's blog! Have a wonderful Thursday!!!

COLOR IS BACK PEOPLE

Okay, I am almost positive... color is back!

Not too long ago, all we saw were neutrals and browns. I must admit, I love neutrals and browns.. you find it all over my wardrobe. Well, things are changing for sure! I find that adding even a splash of color really adds alot and brings fun to a space. A neutral wall with a dash of turquoise in pillows, lighting or prints, bright or soft, can be stunning! There are so many options! Just as I have discussed in previous blogs, take a look at the fashion industry to see what is in for interior design. Color is back people!

Kate Spade Wellie Magee Bag

According to designer Juan Montoya (above), who holds a spot in the Interior Design Hall of Fame, monochromatic is fading out. "What are some tired design trends? What’s going out of use is to do rooms in a monochromatic way. People are starting to find that color can be quite exciting, and that not every room has to be beige and colorless. You can say you can live in a beige room and be comfortable. But at the same time, I think it depends on how it’s used. And I think that the overexposure of these elements, which only read very monochromatic, is what is going out of style."

*Quote taken from Southern Accents, pic of bag from Kate Spade.com

RECLINING IN STYLE

What do these four chairs have in common?

Let's be honest--do you recognize any of these guys? I do! They are large, overstuffed, comfortable, take up alot of space, out-of-date and recline!

It isn't difficult to find recliners that provide comfort with a sleeker and more refined design these days. If you or your loved one insists on having a recliner, remember that updating your chair from overstuffed to a more up-to-date design can be the quickest way to update your space. Amazingly enough, I found some great antique recliners with heavy price tags online. And, yes, trends and furniture designs tend to cycle overtime...but, it is just hard to believe that these four above will ever be in again! Who knows???!!

Here are some more up-to-date versions I found online. Who knew that it was possible to drool over a recliner?

Taylor King recliner. They call it Ahhh!

Classic Nirvana Taylor King recliner with nail head trim.

This is a beautiful tufted recliner by Restoration Hardware.
1st Dibs Contemporary Swedish recliner and ottoman. $14,500.

Another beautiful recliner from Taylor King. They call it Habersham. I am always a sucker for claw feet!

Pair of 1970's walnut recliners and ottomans on 1st Dibs. $3000.

I love the transitional look of this leather recliner by Bradington Young. It really marries traditional and contemporary.

Just for fun! I found this on 1st Dibs, and it is sold in a group of three--including a table and lamp. This recliner is from England and dates 1952. Price, $6450.

Have a wonderful Monday! Thanks for stopping by!