Bringing the Outdoors In

{"Limelight" hydrangeas and hosta leaves straight from my little garden}

Have you been watching the latest Design Star on HGTV? Do you have a favorite designer? Well, I do and her name is Emily Henderson. Did you know she has a a blog where she not only shares styling tips and design inspiration (and her quirky sense of humor), but she also gives us DS fans a glimpse of the behind the scenes drama - so much fun! After reading this post on her blog about fresh flowers, I was instantly inspired to get out in my tiny garden to bring some of the outdoors in!

To see my previous living room posts click - here and here and here -

I also did a little pillow switch-a-roo (of course).

{some "Guacamole" hostas and hydrangeas}

I recently removed a vintage print from the frame above to see if it could be professionally cleaned. I left the frame empty and it's kind of growing on me that way. However, new art IS on the way!

The chairs pillows are covered in a silk velvet in "lichen" from Kravet.

I also want to report that Fred the Fiddleleaf Ficus is alive and well. He's actually grown a bit!

Love This

Designed by Brooke Giannetti of Velvet and Linen Blog (one of my favorite design bloggers). This master bedroom just speaks to me. All that white with pops of blue and pale green are right up my alley! Ah, and that light fixture!

:::::::drooling:::::::

Here is the adjoining master bathroom. To die for!

Check out her full post here.

Inspiration - According to Grey Likes Weddings Blog

Check out her fab post on finding inspiration. Everytime I check out her blog I want to throw a party, be it a bridal shower, cocktail party, what have you. She posts such party planning eye candy!

Blog Crush - Grey Likes Weddings

Who doesn't love a wedding, right? Grey Likes Weddings is by far one of my favorite wedding blogs out there! It offers great inspiration for wedding decor, but can totally be inspiration for your next dinner party, baby shower, etc. I particularly love how she creates beautiful color scheme collages. Check it out!

Photographer Crush

I'm still totally bogged down with a million things to do these days. My house is a wreck from the painters that were here all last week and my kitchen tile is still not finished (I ran out of tile...who said I was good at math?).

I just wanted to share with you all one of my favorite blogs/photographer, Jessica Claire. I loved her style so much, we hired her to photograph our wedding in Cabo San Lucas 4 years ago. She is young and energetic and just all around a fun person which, I think, is apparent in her photography style. Here are some of my favorite Jessica Claire photos...

{me and the hubby the day after our wedding}

Smitten With This Kitchen

One of my blog crushes, Urban Grace Interiors, posted this beautiful little kitchen the other day and it has me smitten. If you haven't already, check her fabulous post showing some great before and after pics of the space.

I love the fact that they worked with the existing cabinets. It just goes to show you what a good paint color and fabulous hardware can do!

I also love the timeless feel of the kitchen. To me, it doesn't say "I was renovated in 2008".

And I'm in love!

So, this got me thinking of ways I can tweek my little kitchen to make it more special. We haven't touched the space since moving in.

I've decided to go for it and give it a little facelift. Well, maybe more along the lines of some fabulous make-up and jewelry.

I'm borrowing the following ideas from my inspiration kitchen - painting the lower cabinets gray (the walls are already a soft gray/taupe).

Change out the hardware to some fabulous pulls from Restoration Hardware. I'd love to do something different with this pass through, but major renos are out of the question.

Find some new window treatments - currently we have mini blinds that just aren't doing it for me.

Replace the old microwave and tile the backsplash with white subway tile (that I have had sitting in a closet waiting to be installed anyways).

Unfortunately, I'm not going to touch the lighting in this room. It's hideous, but totally functional. Hopefully, nobody looks up when they come over. I'll keep you posted. Off to call the painter!

Okay, This Time I Mean It - Blogging Break After This Post

I just happened to stop by Janet Hill Studio's blog right after I finished creating my last post and couldn't resist sharing this with you...

Isn't this a beautiful grouping of her original paintings?

And, this is the gorgeous office that the grouping is displayed. What a fun space!

{This is my work-in-progress office. It's slowly becoming one of my favorite rooms in the house. I'll share more if this space with you soon}

I hope to one day have a little collection of her work in my office as well.

Until then, I have one of her pieces hanging in a special space. It brings a smile to my face everytime I see it!

Change of Scenery

Seeing those dolls faces was giving me the heeby-jeebies. This is MUCH better.

Photo courtesy of one of my favorite bloggers Pia Jane Bijkerk. You MUST visit her blog if you haven't already. It's a delight!