Tablescapes

Since Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner, I thought I would share some of my favorite tablescapes. Thank you to Macy's on State Street and AB Home at High Point Market for sharing these wonderful ideas!

I love the winter mix of this display by Macy's. There was enough wood to give it an organic look and then they added some sparkle on the candles.  You could add your own touch of painted twigs or add a 2" cut of wood (I got some from my neighbor when they cut down a tree) for a very natural charger.

 On this table, natural pebbles act as a mock runner.  The cut crystal against the natural pebbles are an interesting juxtaposition of textures.

With the addition of succulents which are a hot trend. I saw them incorporated in all kinds of arrangements at market.

I love this color of green.  This color works well any time of year, during the fall when we still want to see some green and in the spring when we watch nature come to life. The swans and black wire pair nicely with the cut glass candle sticks.  The dinnerware had a little crown at the top of each plate and mercury glass candle holders added sparkle. This was at the AB Home showroom but look for similar items in Kansas City.

This fun display was at Macy's on State Street.   Sorry, I will always remember the store as Marshall Fields. Again, I loved the fresh look of the green and white.  Those are balsa wood airplanes hanging from fishing line hovering above!

I hope these pictures give you a spring board to your own style this year.  Don't be afraid to mix color and texture  and add a little sparkle.

Stay inspired and thankful,
Barb

CR Laine Showroom

I wanted to share these photos of the CR Laine showroom in High Point.  CR Laine is a great upholstery line that has some of the most comfortable chairs and sofas I have sat on.  I didn't find one piece in the showroom that felt uncomfortable!

Several showrooms had a theme to this year's market, but this one was the BEST!  It was fun and upbeat, but the florals stole the show! I think it would be fun to incorporate these floral ideas for a shower or fun birthday party. I am including some photos toward the bottom so scroll down please.

Red is a very popular color this year and CR Laine used it in a bold way.

What a cute cake idea!

Or this!

Or this- complete with a cake server stuck in the top!

And how about that fabric! This is a great choice for those of you who want to create that coastal feel.

Stay inspired!
Barb

The British are Coming

I wanted to share some photos from High Point Market that highlight an upcoming trend.  It seems we are all in love with the British newlyweds!  The colors selected for their wedding, pale blue ties to royal blue gowns are having an influence on fabric designs and colors, and what is more British than polo! The C.R. Lane showroom won an award for this display.  Great job highlighting this trend!

The fabric on the pillows was a stylized version of a polo match in pale blue sepia-like tones.  Beautiful!

On the love seat, they have used the same cotton fabric as the pillows above and mixed it with a black and gray plaid. The dog pillow echos the canines in the portrait above, and the contrasting wall color picks up the outline in the pillows.

A beautiful blue velvet sofa from another showroom.

The equestrian theme was sprinkled throughout market.

I love the ikat fabric on this chair highlighting blue.
Have a great day and take time to be inspired by design!
Barb

Texture is the New Bling!

Recently Jackie Jordan, Director of Color Marketing for Sherwin Williams, introduced the new colors for 2012. One of her statements, "Texture is the new bling" was tucked in the back of my mind when I attended the High Point Furniture Market. I was on a treasure hunt for the latest textures of 2012 and here is a little of what I saw.

These objects were made out of drifted wood.  I imagined them on a fireplace hearth, repurposed into a hanging light with a vintage bulb inside or on a shelf.  The gray tones complement the Belgium influence when paired with a natural linen sofa or chair.

These shells would add an element of nature to an office or living room.  The glossy pattern adds texture!

This low profile leather sofa with tufting everywhere adds that Soho loft or urban glam look to your space.  The tufting adds texture and looks great with a soft faux fur pillow and throw!

This fun lamp was surrounded by a natural wood pod look.  The contrast of the silver mirror and rough wood makes a bold statement.

I really liked this piece.  It was sculpted from a timber with cracks and grain adding to the interest. A very interesting piece that would add some rustic influence to any space.

 OK speaking of texture...how cute is this!  A showroom had several cakes made out of flowers! The showroom's entrance was decked out in a candy shop theme so more of that later.
Enjoy and embrace your creativity!

Highpoint Market News

I recently attended Highpoint Market, and I can't wait to show you what is new.  There was inspiration everywhere! I met many great designers from Texas to New Jersey and learned so much about what is happening in their area. People are changing it up and staying put! 

The European "rough luxe" is still very hot mixed with industrial inspired furniture added to the mix.  Here are some things to inspire you or that you might want to add to your space.

This weathered wood antique barn doors form the perfect backdrop for these antique quatrefoil mirrors.

Texture was everywhere! I loved the rustic texture formed by the wood grain of this French farmhouse table! It was made of reclaimed wood from an old barn. Can you picture your family gathered around this table for a special dinner? The English chairs upholstered in a natural linen are the perfect complement and add a spark of contrast to the table top.

This was taken in the Beautiful Tara Shaw showroom.  Her French, Italian and Swedish antiques were stunning. Again we see the use of the natural linen on the chairs.

This French chair is always popular.  The wing chair in the background had a nice nail detail around the wings and seat bottom.  Again, we saw the natural linen with a combination of burlap that formed a nice juxtaposition of refined and rough.

This was a great piece that has made a debut in several furniture lines that you may see in a store near you. The "printers cabinet" was finished in a white wash over reclaimed pine.  This very versatile piece can be used in a dining room, bedroom or perhaps with a flat screen mounted on the wall above it.

Texture and color and style oh my!  I will share more photos to inspire you over the next few days.
Stay inspired and enjoy!
Barb

A Few Favorites

I have been taking a break from this heat wave to visit a couple of my favorite shops.  Here are some new items trending right now.

This cast resin that resembles concrete can be found at Restoration Hardware.    I filled it with some weathered gray wooden balls, a globe and an old rope and gear.

Old wine bottles are making a BIG statement.  This antique was at a local shop.  Restoration Hardware also offers 3 different ones from the 1920's.  They look great on a table. The vintage wine bottles from Restoration Hardware also has markings on the outside and no wine residue on the inside.

A unique lamp can really set your space apart and add personality to any room.  I can picture this lamp on a sideboard ready to provide a soft light while you sip your cup of tea.

Last but not least, I came across these handsome trunks.  The aged patina add character to these metal trunks.  Add these to a bookcase or beside a chair.

Staging Your Home for a Sale

It is a privilege when a seller trusts you with their most important investment. It is the job a a stager to make the property look the most appealing to the widest audience. That means taking the owner's personality out and bringing in the personality of the house. Every house has a personality waiting to be discovered! A vacant house does not sell as well as a staged house so I needed to infuse some personality in through fun furnishings and art.  It is really a beauty!

The dining room is ready for an intimate dinner.

An area rug anchors a seating area and draws you near the fireplace. Colors in the upholstery are picked up from the colors in the artwork on the mantle.

Fabulous built-ins will hold a flat screen TV.  Greenery added to the shelves add interest and scale.

Again, the use of a patterned rug anchors the seating area, adds color and scale to the room.  A glass coffee table makes the room appear larger.

I love that this bedroom has a built-in Murphy bed. This is a great space saver!  A place for a picture above the bed softens the wood.

The cool comfort grey of the master bedroom is a welcome retreat.  The neutral bedding appeals to all!

Belgium Palace

I have become a fan of Belgium Pearls. A blog by a Belgium designer.  I love that we can now view work and the  inspiration of designers all over the work with a click of the mouse!  I recently ran across this post when I was searching Belgium Castles.  As I read her post and viewed the pictures, I realized that I had been there and stood in the very rooms that she wrote about. You can view her post here:
http://belgianpearls.blogspot.com/2010/07/restored-palais-in-antwerp.html As you will read, the castle is steeped in history.

                                             Here are a few shots inside the chocolate line.

                                                              I just loved this guy!

                                These guys were good sports to let us take their pictures.

This shop is located in a restored castle that is located on the Muir in Antwerp, BE. The rococo facade is similar to other buildings that are nearby.

                                        Here area some more Rococo exteriors to inspire you.

                                                   Shopping anyone?  Yes this is the  local mall...

Belgium

I arrived home from Belgium and although the trip was wonderful, the citizens of Belgium are some of the most gracious people I have met, it is good to be back in the good old USA! In her book, The Not so Big House, by Sarah Susanka, she writes about the philosophy of many of us who want to build a "new" house and not one that is handed down through the generations. "It is the exception rather than the rule for people to stay where they are planted." We do not tend to build homes for permanence in the states, but the opposite of that was what I saw Belgium. The buildings, many hundreds of years old, stood in all their grandeur for our enjoyment.

This is now a small restaurant I went to for high tea. We almost missed it while we walked back to the hotel it is quietly tucked among the larger buildings. The inside was just as beautiful as the outside and Spring flowers were breaking through the soil in the many gardens that surrounded the home.

I couldn't resist posting this shot of one of the gardens.

This is why we love Europe! These building have stood through world wars and are still as beautiful and vibrant as ever.

This is a square in Antwerp.

These shops and homes above are in Gent.

You always know what time it is!

And how would you like to live here? This castle has stood since the middle ages. I hope this gives you a little taste of Belgium.  Tomorrow, we will visit some cathedrals.