fab website with vintage state plates, pillows and table cloths! plus! vintage picnic tins!?!? OH MY....

whisperingpinescatalog.com

the difference between color and black and white photos.....

one look is cheesy pet photos - and the other look is art!

just add  black,white or silver frames and i'm, ehhmm sorry, YOU are no longer THAT "cat lady"; now you are an animal artist!

playing with my weekend flea market finds: that silver hand? i know o... m... g........

design advice: room by room - focal point and floor plans

focal point:
every well-decorated room has a focal point - a place to which the eye is drawn. it may be built into the room, such as a fireplace or a window with a great view. you can also create a focal point with paintings, accessories, mirrors and furniture.

floor plans:
after deciding on a focal point, plan to place furnishings in an arrangement that contribute to and enhance it. keep balance in mind and establish a traffic pattern that allows confortable access to the room and seating. major traffic patterns should be at least 36" wide and flow around the furniture setting.

in a living room, be sure to allow room to access windows, entertainment plugs/setups, and bookcases. avoid routing paths through the middle of the convesation areas or between the tv and viewers.

in the dining room its ideal to have 36" betwen the backs of chairs and perimeter wall or other furniture. *and don't forget to plan and measure for sideboards and consoles BEFORE you place your table and chairs.

in the bedroom, 24" on either side of the bed at the least (most nighstand average 36"). while traditional bed placement is most convienent, consider diagonal placement.

real simple's 50 best "new uses for old stuff"...and that coaster idea? been doing it for years!

http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/new-uses-for-old-things/favorite-new-uses-00000000019718/index.html

honor your ancestors - decorate!

an easy way to honor your family and personalize your home is by adopting some of their hobbies. my grandfather's collection of swizzle-drink stirrers looks BEYOND pretty sitting in a julip cup on my bar- and some sticks are over 50  years old! my favorite women in the world: my mother, my grandmother and my aunts, all collected limoges boxes. today my sister and I add to our collections by giving limoges boxes to each other as a fond reminder of a special trip or event.  and don't be afraid to let the world know about your collections - it makes gift giving much happier and easier for all involved (you are simply doing everyone a favor by educating them).  petite collections are great decorating tools in smaller spaces such as shelving and desk tops. but a group of vintage napkins or table cloths can be displayed neatly folded in a basket or framed along an entire kitchen wall.  tip: to keep collections from exploding, be specific about your pieces. for example,  i only collect the green/blue and pink mccoy pottery vases and pots - it looks better/cleaner in clusters and works with the other colors and designs in my home.  have fun!

What’s Your Decorating Personality? | Real Simple

What’s Your Decorating Personality? Real Simple

space saver and showcase: shoe art! one of my finest moments......

most new york women live in very, very tiny apartments they are never home and they invest all their money on accessories, clothing and work gadgets. but there comes a time in glam gal's life when her space becomes more than a crash pad.  what to do? my client had no room for more "stuff" - literally every square inch was covered with 15 years worth of clothing and shoes. i couldn't even see her beautiful hard wood floors.

solution: after a quick look around the apartment, it was immediately clear that this woman already had her own FAB signature style and she didn't even know know it! she was surrounded with loads of beauty  and art: her shoes and bags! thus, and in order to clean up her space, we designed a wall of her accessories/ART. we bought modestly priced shelving (at ikea) that would run the length of her wall and blend with the existing paint (so as not to take up more space visually). in minutes we had the wall loaded with gorgous art and more space to walk through the bedroom.  was it a success? see for yourself!

how to hang paintings and pictures

•hang pictures so the center is at adult eye level. somewhere between 5-6 feet or 58" - 62" from the floor.

•cluster three to four smaller pictures together instead of spreading them out across the room to create a unit and more finished look (see photo for example).

•pictures in a dining room can be hung lower on the wall since they will be viewed while seated.


•when creating a picture grouping, usually place the heaviest picture at the bottom (note: heavy can mean color and/or weight).

•cut out newspaper templates and tape them to the wall to help determine the best placement.


•vertical artwork creates a more formal setting; horizontal artwork creates a casual and restful setting.

room design worksheet for your next interior design project!

this blog is dedicated to helping people create their ideal homes in the least expensive and quickest way. therefore, i have below created a worksheet for our projects. this sheet give you direction and concrete solutions to the decorating questions of each project.


feel free to steal/"borrow" it from me!

DESIGN WORK SHEET OUTLINE

TIMELINE

Ideal start date:_____________________PRACTICAL NEEDS AND DETAILS

Ideal completion date:________________

WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL FOR THIS PROJECT: _________________________________________________________

WISH LIST:

_________________________________________________________

WHO USES THE ROOM?
Family ___________________________________________________
Children __________________________________________________
Pets ______________________________________________________

ACTIVITIES
reading _______________
hobbies_________________
________________________
computer - desktop
computer - wireless
TV viewing/importance (1-10)? ______

ENTERTAINING

business large groups

social informal

small groups casual

number of chairs NEEDED:________

DAILY USE

daytime

nighttime

equally

What is your biggest concern at start?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________


What pieces will stay in the room?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________


What needs to be added to this room?
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________


CEILING
normal_________ high_________ pitched________

DETAILS
Natural light? ________________________

Focal point?__________________________

STYLE PREFERENCES

List three adjectives that describe the feel
of your dream room.
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________


STYLE
What style/s best appeals to you:
cozy traditional
lived-in contemporary
romantic west indies
formal eclectic
country casual elegance
elegant seaside cottage
transitional aspen lodge
casual urban loft
country french english
old world european


COLOR SCHEME
What color combinations appeal to you?

whites naturals/neutrals
grays and blacks earth tones
pastels warm colors
jewel tones nncool colors


What amount of color appeals to you?

loads of color
subtle color
color mostly in accents
color limited to walls and floors


What feel appeals to you?
rooms that appear spacious and open
rooms cozy, intimate & comfortable


What colors and wood tones appeal to you?


___________________________________


___________________________________


___________________________________


stripes
mini-patterns
plaids
geometrics
florals
leather
abstracts
tapestries
large patterns small patterns
bold, bright patterns
subtle patterns with texture

WINDOW TREATMENTS
Do you have existing window treatments?

If so, what are they?

top treatments
vertical blinds
full draperies
shutters
side panels
wood blinds
woven blinds

outside view /colors
__________________________________


fabric shades importance


(1-10) ______


DECISION MAKERS
____________________________________
___________________________________

BUDGET PLAN

up to $5,000
$5,000 to $10,000
$10,000 to $15,000
$15,000 to $20,000
$20,000 to $30,000

____________________________________


If completing in multiple phases, how much
for phase 1, 2...
_________________________
_________________________
__________________________


Floor type? ____________________________________


Adjoining room details? ___________________________

FABRICS THAT APPEAL (include item numbers)
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________

PAINT
LIST PAINT COLORS WITH ITEM NUMBERS
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
___________________________________________________

in honor of my mother....who would have loved that i am doing this blog and big life change...

as much as we may hate to admit it (especially as adults), mothers are pretty much right about everything, including (and especially in my case) home decor. i'm sure many of you have experienced the subtle eyebrow raise of disapproval when your mother saw your new rug. or as my mother would ask "is this a deliberate design decision?", which basically means she hates it. no matter what the gesture, consider this--she's probably right - your personal tastes have probably evolved from growing up around her decor and designs - so in essence, she will be the best expert by default and years of experience.

interior designer, donna hoffman shares with real simple famous phrases from mom and how you can apply them to your interior design strategy:

What design tips have I learned from my mother?

Slow And Steady Wins The Race. Don't feel like your home needs to come together in 1 fell swoop. It's better to finish one room completely than spritz budget dollars and energy in 10 different directions. All you'll end up with in a depleted budget and rooms all missing critical finishing touches. Remember: good things come to those who wait (did your mother say that one too?!)

You Get What You Pay For. Cheapest is not always the smartest way to go in home furnishings. Cheapest will always be the most cheaply made, cheaply designed, cheaply executed and cheaply built. You get the point. Buying the cheapest in design is often a case of "throwing good money after bad money".

But You Look Good In Florals. Yeah, well you might, but your sofa doesn't. What large scale florals do to your hips...imagine that on a 84" wide piece of stuffed furniture. It'll suck up more visual space in a room than you can imagine and you'll tire of it faster than you can say, "Does this sofa make me look fat?"

Don't Buy Suits. End tables and coffee tables need not be matchy-matchy. Beyond a dining room or bedroom, that "room in a bag" look most usually is a down market look. If you want a look that rivals something in a design magazine- let there be conversation between your case goods, not duplication.
*If you currently have the matchy-matchy thing happening, you can easily fix the problem. Start breaking up the marriage...of furniture that is. Separate matched pieces by relocating 1 'twin' into an alternate space.

Sit Like A Lady. Particularly, if you're wearing a skirt. Chairs are marvelous. Think of the chairs in a space as being little works of art- yes, think comfort, but also think shape, think pattern, show a little leg on some, demurely skirt some of the others, go bold and deep in some places, and ever so darling elsewhere. Sit like a lady. It'll feel great.

A Way To A Man's Heart Is Through His Stomach. Yes, so we all know. However, that doesn't mean that the Mr. of the house shouldn't have his appetite indulged when it comes to design. He may not want to help select every single piece of furnishing, however let his voice be heard regarding the overall theme, colors and style. In your personal offices, hobby rooms, etc- well, all bets are off. However the common areas of your home should be enjoyed by both. A way to a man's heart may be through his stomach- but there's a sensitive, artistic core in that fella too and as a normal human, he does indeed respond to environment and design.

accessorizing with nature; fun feng shui

everyone knows plants will clean your air and bring beauty to your home. but there are also many subtle benefits. feng shui encourages clutter free rooms filled with plants and flowers to help create an embracing atmostphere. here are some other "fun"g shui ideas with nature:

.a peace lily or golden pothos plant near a computer or laptop will soak up the emissions.

.in the bathroom geranium or marjoram essental oil to calm you or lime and/or lemon to invigorate - just add eight drops to a warm bath.

.spider plants and ferns increase a room's positive energy.

.basil or jamsin incense pormotes good feeling.

.accessorizing with pebbles or glass encourage grounding energy

.healthy, round leaf plants or flowers encourage personal growth.

trailer court tree - a fun photo for the end of the week!

from my facebook bff: dru quarles in north carolina

defining design styles: which one are you?

Traditional

Many furniture styles fall into the traditional category. The most enduring styles are English-inspired such as Regency, Federalist, Queen Anne and Chippendale. French-inspired styles of Louis Philippe have also withstood the test of time. Mahogany, cherry and other richly toned woods and cherry finishes are staples of traditional style. Designs will often feature carvings, burl veneers and details such as marquetry. Traditional upholstery often features formal fabrics such as damask, jacquard and tapestry, in jewel-tone or muted shades.

Country & Cottage

Country and cottage styles encompass a broad range of designs that vary by region. The most influential in this category are French, English, Italian and American Colonial. Inviting comfort is the harmonizing theme with rural inspired touches. Lines are simple and tend to be minimally adorned. Woods are usually pine and oak in washed, pickled, antiqued or painted finishes, often with hand-applied and painted accents. Painted pieces may be one color or two-tone combinations. Wicker and iron elements are also often incorporated. Natural fabrics such as cotton and linen are frequently used in upholstered pieces. Florals, stripes and checks are combined for a casual, comfortable look.English country is somewhat more formal. One of the most recognizable examples of English country style is the Windsor chair, characterized by a spindle back, turned legs and a saddle-shaped seat, which originated from England's Windsor Castle in the early 1700s. Chintz fabric, in elegant floral, striped, gingham and plaid mixtures, is typical of English country upholstery.

Cottage style is often based on American Colonial silhouettes, in white or whitewashed finishes or even distressed black finishes. Cottage upholstery can vary from subdued pastel colors to brighter hues as in French country style, using a combination of floral, striped and solid fabrics for layers of visual appeal.

NOTE: Prefer a more relaxed look? Many classic designs are available in lighter woods and in more casual upholstery such as cotton, chenille and microfiber.


 

Modern & Contemporary

Inspired by the rise of industry in the early 20th Century, modern style echoes the streamlined silhouettes of industrial design used in inventions of the day such as skyscraper architecture and transportation. During this Machine Age, smooth surfaces, sweeping horizontal lines and rounded corners came to signify the image of efficiency and speed. Both French- and American-inspired, Art Deco was enamored with this glamorous and futuristic aesthetic, using new materials to construct home furnishings such as tinted glass, plastics, steel and chrome to accent pale or dark wood furnishings. Sleek, monochromatic upholstery in fabric and leather is generally used to complement this look.
Though "contemporary" and "modern" are sometimes used interchangeably, the styles have distinct differences. Contemporary style reflects current trends, often incorporating convenient elements into the furnishings, such as chairs with casters or sofas with built-in drink holders. Contemporary silhouettes often feature gently curved lines. Woods can be light or dark in tone with minimal grain, such as maple and birch. Accents include clear or frosted glass and metals such as stainless steel or chrome. Upholstery emphasizes the natural textures and neutral tones of cotton, silk, wool and linen, as well as leather. Vibrant colors and geometric patterns are also used, though usually in accessories such as rugs or accent pillows.

Eclectic

Not a style in itself, eclectic is a fusion of designs. If implemented carefully, the possibilities are endless. The key to mastering an eclectic look is to avoid an even 50/50 mixture. Instead, aim for a 2/3 to 1/3 mixture of styles. Even combinations of classic and contemporary home fashions can complement each other, creating interesting contrast. For example, one or two pieces of Louis Philippe-style or Federalist-style furniture can create a dramatic point of interest in an otherwise modern or contemporary room. Eclectic style is also a great way to incorporate family heirlooms into your décor without sacrificing your own style. Similarly, a rustic piece such as a French country armoire or a cottage-style chest can work well with more refined traditional furniture, such as Queen Anne or Chippendale. Color balance is also important. The controlled use of one or two colors in upholstery fabrics and accents provides a common element to unite the various periods.

Transitional

Transitional style blends fresh contemporary furnishings with the best designs of the past for an attractive, easy-to-live-with style. Defined by understated form and restrained approach to line and material, this style is versatile, adapting easily to different décors. A transitional sofa can be dressed up to complement a more formal environment, or casually accented to suit a contemporary room.
Woods may be warm in tone, or even dark, but generally have minimal carving and ornamentation. Upholstered pieces feature solid colors or simple patterns that are easy to coordinate. Camelback silhouettes with exposed frames and feet, Lawson-style sofas with loose, square cushions and many leather pieces fit into the transitional category.

Shaker styling, with its straightforward, unadorned lines, exemplifies transitional wooden furniture. Mission or Arts & Crafts furnishings, featuring heavy squared forms, exposed joinery and wrought iron accents, are also well suited to a transitional décor.
Open floor plans (in which one room flows into the other, such as a kitchen to a family room) and rooms that are multipurpose (such as a living room that doubles as a home office space) are particularly well suited to transitional furniture, which can easily create a sense of continuity from one room to the next.
Choosing an overall style establishes harmony and unity throughout the home. However, you can still create a custom look for individual rooms through different color schemes and with accents such as collections, artwork or themes from nature, sports or even a favorite hobby. Once you've decided on a style, you're ready to move forward with your decorating plan.

NYSM orange (yet green!) grocery bags available now!

nysm grocery bags are in!!!

be the first on your block to get the new green (or orange in this case) grocery bags. help save the environment while shopping in style. best of all? it's totally free. just send me your address and i will mail you one free of charge (hey, it's a tax right off!)

order while supplies last! we'll make the world more beautiful, one room and one bag at a time.
email address details to: melindabnyc (you can also leave details in your comments if you are feeling bold.)

99 cent easter eggs added to

my mercury silver and gold

collection give a refreshing

spring update!

vaulted ceiling help

so many mcmansions and old homes have vaulted or high ceilings. man times people are at a loss as to how to design around the space.  here are some tips and ideas:
-crown molding and wainscotting
-paint one wall
-drape one wall
-use a tapestry on one wall or upper portions of walls

-blow up images and/or art work to fit on the wall

-hang lighting from ceiling
-hang objects (toy planes) from ceilng
-paint the top parts of the walls a slighly darker color
-large architectual pieces hung on walls make space seem smaller
-stay away from mirrors on these walls as they will appear to increase the size

Ferm Living: New!

Ferm Living: New!

your sign posts - personalized (from contributing artist: dru thomas quarles)

updating silver

you can update your silver accessory pieces by adding other metal colors into the mix. i've used gold here but as of late, i've seen quite of a bit of copper used and it works very nicely with silver. another tip: add clear glass items into your mix of silver. it "matches" quite well. (see photo)

having fun with the my bar bottles...

you can find these stickers on martha stewart's website.

faking it!

not all fake flowers are cheesy. you can find good looking silk flowers and use them around the house during the winter months or for when you are in-between real arrangements. i have found some pretty cool stuff at the pottery barn. try to arrange the stems in modern arrangements. this will help the flowers look more real. using just a few colors is another trick to create realistic arrangements. i use silk in the dining and living room. but i always have real flowers when i am entertaining and at the side of my bed. and remember to dust your silk treasures! there is no bigger dead giveaway than dusty flowers.

the best silk flowers with the most types and colors are at benjamin's craft store in middletown, ky

just so freaking cute

TIP O'DAY animals can benefit from a bit on care and attention to their comfort. see how the plates don't match up still look fabulous? and even little ones know that you can never have too many plates or pillows. they effectively use a bit of pink to go along way. you don't have to color everything in such as strong color. one or two big piece can be enough al long as your other colors compliment the piece.

i believe in pink

“I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.”

Audrey Hepburn

display your bling - hooks

If you don't have your own dressing room you can easily turn a closet or bathroom into a showcase for your bling and favorite things. Buy some hooks for the walls and they type that hang over doors. Hang your favorite scarves and necklaces. You can also use hooks to showcase your favorite hang bags. Choose colors that match your home decor so that the items become part of your design scheme.

tip of the week: making your house smell like you

The scent of your home is often an after thought and more about the candle light instead of the wonderful smell you can create. Have you ever walked into a house and it had a particular smell - and not a good one? You can manipulate the scent of your home with a few basic tips. Think of your favorite scents, your perfume, your favorite flowers. Find a complimentary combination including your favorite flowers - or use flowers that have no smell like hydrangas. These are all part of your preferred smells. Use those smells to create your home scent -and be consistant - don't mix with detracting or distasteful matching scents (like lavendar and gardenia). You can look up your perfume one line and find out the scents used and bring those into your home. Then test candles that will match that scent. Use expensive candles and your complimentary scents only - nothing smells worse than a cheap lavendar candle from KMart. When in doubt, buy unscented candles. All of these additions will help become your scent and special to your home. If you switch scents or use cheap candles it will muddle the effect. The only time you may want to change the scent of your home is during the holidays when you want the clove, cinnimmon, apple pie scent. Another tip: After cooking a smelly dish, like fish, use lemon scented dish washing detergent and lemon peels in your disposal. This will netralize the smell and remove any bad ordor. And don't forget your bedroom, closets (sachet is always nice) and bathroom. Bathrooms look and smell better with a scented candle. Scent your sheets with your perfume. Finally, tell everyone your about your perferred flowers. You will recieve the properly scented and looking flowers for your birthday and anniversary and you will also be known as the woman who loves gardinias or lilacs. Very feminine. Very cool. Very you.