‘Round Here

Happy Friday!  It’s still rainy around here, so the light is not the best, but below are a few shots around the house these days.  Seasonal decorating is such a challenge for me.  I don’t want to get too kitchy, but with a 4 year old who loves to help decorate, I want the house to remain playful and fun, especially for Halloween, which was one of my favorite holidays as a kid.  So, I tried to incorporate a lot of brown, orange and black with some kid-friendly touches.  Oh, and if you make it to the bottom, there is a little bonus sneak peek of the nursery paint….

{Corner of the mantle}

{Living room}

{Front hall console}

{Dining room}

{Corner of the family room}

{Front door.  Need Pumpkins!}

{Painted nursery.  Mentally remove the mess and insert better lighting!}

Have a happy Fall weekend!

An Open Letter to Rachel Zoe

Dear Rach:

I love your show and happen to think that you are BANANAS.  Your fashion styling is impeccable, spot-on and always uber fashion forward.  However, your interior styling needs some serious help.  I die, literally. 

 

I know you put a lot of stock in your new assistant, Jeremiah Brent, who has some interior design experience, and I agree that he is adorbs to look at, but lemme tell ya, hmm how to say this, umm well…HE SUCKS. 

I know he was under a time deadline and you and Rodge love clean, white and glam, but he HAD NO BUDGET, and this is the best he could come up with for your dining room?   

No rug, no fabric, a builder’s light fixture.  Really?  YAAAAAAAAAAWN.

May I suggest….

Which is still white and black with pops of yellow, but is way more glam, warm, and sophisticated and not THAT complicated.  Bloggers DIY floors like that everyday.  See what I mean, girlfriend?

Moving on to your living room.  Le sigh.  It has some nice features like the tufted sofa with nailhead trim, but the lamps are the wrong scale and look straight out of Homegoods.  And I happen to detest the overgrown bean bag chairs, SO. NOT. GLAM.  Are window treatments too much to ask for? 

How about this?  Which is way more sophisticated, not THAT complex, yet still simple and chic….

And finally, the library/ study.  Sweetie, this is just plain sad.  Couldn’t Jeremiah find more furniture for the room?  Shoot, head on over to Ikea.  The bookshelf styling, well, isn’t.  This room needs some oooomph, like stat. 

You need something like this where you can relax, read your fashion mags and gossip with Kate Hudson:

Clean, bright, warm, functional, simple, inviting. 

So, Rachie-poo, as cute as he is, Jeremiah ain’t cut out for interior design.  Call me.  We’ll chat and get you pointed in the right direction.  In no time, your house will be EVERYTHING.  But I can’t promise that I will get along with Joey and Rodge — they are serious divas.

xxoo, ada

P.S. I miss Brad.  Like, a lot.

{To see more pics of RZ’s digs, go to Bravo TV.
Photo credits: 1. People Magazine, 2. Casa Sugar, 3. Casa Sugar, 4.  Pinterest, 5. Casa Sugar, 6. Skye Kirby, Elle Decor , 7. Casa Sugar, 8. Here}

 

Floating Lights and Vintage Chairs

Yes, that is a swimming pool in the dining room. 
(The attorney in me is wondering about the home insurance premiums and the existence of a kid-proof fence!) 

Although this set-up could provide for some very interesting dinner parties, it’s the playful light fixture arrangement and the modern vintage chairs that caught my eye.  You could totally recreate this look on a budget using your traditional dining room table. 

For  lighting,  purchase a few affordable Ikea ceiling fixtures and throw in a couple battery-operated pretty paper lanterns, all hung at varying heights over the dining room table.   

May I suggest the Ikea Fillsta Pendant Lamp ($49.99):

And the Ikea Maskros Pendant Lamp ($89.99) (my almost-neighbors John and Sherry from Young House Love recently used this in their bedroom):

And the ubiquitous Ikea Knappa Pendant Lamp ($34.99):

And add a few of these which operate on batteries (so no electrician required):

And you are in business.   The floating white lights would look amazing against a saturated wall color like a peacock blue or an emerald green.  

As for the companion modern chairs, Target and West Elm are good inexpensive options.  I love my Target chairs (found here online for $79.99 for 2, but are almost always cheaper in the store):

Or West Elm has these Scoop-Back Chairs for $158 for 2:

Add your traditional dining room table (which no one will even notice because of the cool lighting and unexpected chairs), and you got yourself a gorgeous dining room on the cheap!  Oh, and throw in a pool too, if you are so inclined…. 

{First image from March issue of Veranda Magazine}

J. Lo’s Gorgeous California Home

Jennifer Lopez’s house featured by Veranda is stunning.  Surprisingly so.  It has an amazingly understated glamour and elegance. 

I start with this image because it’s the entrance to the home, although it’s not my favorite part of the house.  I love the wide runner on the curved staircase and the light blue couch, but I would do away with the fluffy wheat sheaves/feathery things next to the couch and add a more impactful piece of art
at the top of the steps.

I love this serene kitchen with the beautiful soft blue cabinets, pristine marble counters and gooseneck faucets.

The unexpected light fixture is perfect.  Great table and nailhead trim on the chairs.  Oh, and I love the styling — cupcakes, yes please!

The furniture placement in the family room is brilliant.  I love the use of chaises with those gorgeous mink pillows.  I would enjoy a punch of color in this room, maybe magenta or even a brighter blue like turquoise or teal.

This dining room is perfection: the luxurious wallpaper, the tufted chairs, the glamorous crystal chandelier, the pop of red and green from the calla lilies and peonies (?), and the ethereal window panels.  Ooooh and aaaaah.

Below is my favorite image — I love the whimsy of the flamingoes, the simple art  layered on top of that amazing wallpaper and the pretty styling of the lucite console. 

Can you believe that this is J.Lo’s house?  It’s a far cry from what I would expect to see from her on MTV’s Cribs (remember that show?).  Don’t be fooled by the rocks that she’s got, she’s still, she’s still Jenny from the Block….

A Cozy Cape

I am loving the new spreads in Veranda magazine since Dara Caponigro (of Domino fame) took the helm as the mag’s Editor-in-Chief.  Dara and her team hit it outta the park with this pictorial on an amazing cottage renovation on Cape Cod. 

{I love the double decker porches and the natural landscape.  I spy an outdoor shower too!}

{Ok, you all know me, I am a sucker for flags as art, and especially at the beach.}

{IMHO, this is a little too Pottery-Barn beachy-matchy, but I included the picture because I love the color of the walls and the contrast with the crisp white wainscoting below.}

{The owner/designer used local beach stones on the fireplace.  Loves!  Also, the use of driftwood as the mantel was brilliant.}

{Great casual eating area.  A great example of how wood finishes don’t have to match to look fab (e.g., white table with natural chairs).}

{I like the simplicity of this bedroom.  The built-ins are drool-worthy and I am coveting the Schoolhouse Electric pendant and Dash and Albert rug.}

{Doesn’t your laundry room look like this?  Matching monogrammed Bean totes and all?}

Images courtesy of Veranda, click here to see the whole story;
Designed by Meredith Hutchison; Photos by Tria Giovan.

Modern Richmond Penthouse

It’s not often in Richmond, Virginia, that I peruse the real estate offerings and see a truly modern aesthetic.  Usually the decor includes a combination of overblown bright blue toile, waaaay too many country accents and civil war muskets used by the resident’s great-grand-daddy.  Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Richmond, but the home decor in this city could use an update!

So, imagine my surprise when I came across this gorgeously modern penthouse at Rocketts Landing overlooking the James River and Richmond’s skyline:

{I love this clean, all-white Master Bedroom, especially the white floor-to-ceiling curtains and the all-lucite table lamps.}

{I like the simplicity of this dining room, especially the lines of the table and chairs}

{The perfect modern kitchen — fabulous Bertoia bar stools and Elsa Peretti-esque light fixtures!}

{Now THAT’S a man cave!!  I love the Greek Key rug and the mod light fixture.}

{Two story view of the gorgeous James River and the scenic Richmond skyline.}

{Rooftop Deck.  Yes please!}

And this can all be yours for a cool $1.5M!  For more pictures, click here.

{All pictures courtesy of Lynn Pritchard, Joyner Fine Properties}

The One Picture Challenge

Ally over at From the Right Bank is challenging design bloggers to choose one picture that sums up their design aesthetic. 

I chose this amazingly simple dining room designed by my new design crush, Skye Kirby:

I am smitten with its simplicity, symmetry, the soothing artwork, the fabulous capiz shell chandelier, the lines of the chairs, the oval-shaped pedestal table, the easy natural rug, the mirror over the mantle, the glass urns on either side of the mirror, and the sprig of greenery as the spartan centerpiece.  Every piece looks considered and edited.  The vibe is light, open and free, and the antithesis of cluttered and suffocating. 

I cannot tell you how hard this was, but it was a revealing exercise for me.  All of my “finalists” had the following in common: a ton of white, pops of bright color (mostly turquoise or orange), something organic (like a great woodsy view or fresh greenery), simple or sparse pieces of furniture, amazing light fixtures, and all were either dining rooms or bedrooms.  Maybe I will post my runners up tomorrow….

What would your one room look like?

If you are a blogger, click HERE to join in the challenge!

{Image Courtesy of Elle Decor}

Design Crush: Skye Kirby

I fell in love with Skye Kirby’s design aesthetic while leafing through thie month’s issue of Traditional Home.  May we have a moment of silence for one of the most perfect rooms ever?

I wish that Traditional Home had the digital image of the sweeping view featured in the magazine.  I love the soothing colors, the symmetry, the layers, the casual yet refined vibe, her choice of artwork, the sisal rug and the floor cushions…I could go on and on.  This project was designed for the pool house for the 2009 Hampton Desigher Showhouse.  Skye (I feel like we should be on a first name basis!) envisioned this space as a summer studio for an artistic couple. 

So, I searched high and low for more rooms designed by my BFF Skye.  Here is what I found (I hope you are sitting down!):

Holy gorgeousness!  In addition to being a kick-butt designer, Skye is the vice president of stores and marketing for Lillian August.  I absolutely love her work and can’t wait to see more! 

I will leave you with one of Skye’s 10 “Must Have” design elements that I really identify (and struggle) with: “Over-accessorizing can take away from the calming nature of a room and become distracting.”  Loves!

{Image Credits: 1. Design My Way, 2. Can’t Find Source, 3. Elle Decor, 4. DecorPad, 5. Elle Decor, 6. Elle Decor, 7. Can’t Find Source, 8. Elle Decor, 9. Elle Decor}

Buy This, Not That: I Did!

I have been eyeing these modern dining chairs for a while.  So….

LOVE THIS?

{Eames Molded Plywood Dining Chair, Design Within Reach, $499 for white}

AND LOVE THIS TOO?

{Scoop Back Chairs, West Elm, $99 for designed chairs, $79 for white chairs}

BUY THIS!

{Modern Stacking Chairs, 2 pack, Target, $59.99 for 2 (in stores), less than $30 per chair!}

I did a post a while back on the gray and white West Elm chairs above and have been thinking about those beauties ever since.  Earlier this week, I saw the Target chairs above on sale at my local store for $59.99 for 2!

We have the kitchen table and chairs that my family sat at throughout my childhood.  For sentimental reasons, I don’t think that I could ever get rid of the table, but the set looks really dated (uh hem, ’70s).  I wanted a little update without getting a new kitchen table set.  These chairs are perfect!

I snapped some impromptu, before-and-after pictures last night before dinner:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I love the new sleeker look!  There is no longer a jumble of thick wooden spindles under the table. I was considering painting the table, but I really like the contrast of the wood table and white chairs.  The white chairs break up the color of the floor and the table.  I am really enjoying my $30 chairs!

Happy Memorial Day weekend!  I hope it’s fabulous.  xxoo!

Dreaming of a Vacation

Won’t you join me?

{All images courtesy of Coastal Living}