Two Milk House Tours

Milk the fabulous french magazine is always filled with inspiring images. You can' help but find a space that stops you in your tracks. I find that I always find something delightfully inspiring that gives me a kick start. I want to share two very different spaces, yet they both work so well and are equally gorgeous.

I love the maximalist approach in this space. It has a very easy vibe, perfect for kids. It is not too precious that you are worried about kids messing up, or breaking something. They can write on the wall and it will look like its all part of the decor. The mix of colors is gorgeous. I love that pink dresser. I love seeing shared kids spaces as I will soon need to create a space for my two girls, and a part of me is not ready to do that. My older daughter's room is probably my favorite room in the house. Her room is the first room I completed, and since then things have been removed and added. It fits her so well, and she is already at a stage where she likes to pick out little finds for her space. Just today she picked out the cutest little framed needle point for her room. I have to say I was quite proud, I have a little prodigy. :-)

I love white walls in kids rooms. I think because it works as a great canvas to layer on all the colors and patterns. I do like the simplicity and clean lines of this spaces, and the pops of pinks are brilliant.
Are you a less is more or more is more kinda person? When it comes to kids rooms what is your approach?

Have a beautiful day!

(Images Milk: here and here)

Inspiring Photography

Perhaps in another life I would either be a photographer or musician. There is something about the two art forms that truly connects to their audience at a very deep level. I can't help but imagine what a high it must be for the artist, especially musicians since it's instantaneous. For some reason great photos and music have a wonderful way of touching me at a very soulful level.

I came across these shots, and I found them breathtaking. You can feel the energy of the leaping kids and their excitement is certainly contagious. I could not help smiling looking at these.

(Photos by Jacob Holdt via WACLRA)

Some Favorite Design Elements

Hello everyone! I rounded up some wonderful spaces that each have a special feature that makes them extra special. These are some of my favorite design elements done very well. Ready? Here we go.

Martha Stewart Living

There is so much going on in this space that I love, but what stands out the most is that gorgeous vintage chair. I am a sucker for a vintage chair used as a nightstand, or in a bathroom. I have actually been looking for the perfect one for my daughters' bathroom for a while now.

House to Home

The chair in this bathroom is used in a different way, and I'm loving it. More for it's color than anything else. What drew me to this bathroom though is the use of stripes with those irridescent tiles. It is a very smart and sophisticated way of doing stripes.

Style at Home

Speaking of sophisticated stripes, check out this gorgeous room. The colors are amazing, and I love how airy the space feels.

Style at Home

Okay, c'mon how can I not love this breakfast nook! Not only does it have a wonderful pop of yellow, but a painted door?! Painted doors are my newest obsession. It is one of those things we don't really think of decorating when designing a space because it is just there as a function. Painting a door in a bright color is a clever way of bring in color, and interest to a space.

House to Home

I have a soft spot for doors as headboards and I really like the use of these shutters as a headboard. I like the whole feel of this room, it is very laid back and casual. Like you could walk in and feel completely relaxed.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

Peachy and Minty

Peach and mint are fast becoming colors I quite like. Mint especially, I'm borderline obsessed with right now. I've never paid attention to either color really. Something about peach was always a turn off for me, but what started my very short "like affair" are my Valentines day roses. They are the peachiest peach and incredibly gorgeous, especially when the sun light shines on them. I find that peach brings a very easy softness to spaces it's added to. It makes a nice neutral in soft tones I think.

Via Martha Stewart

Via Martha Stewart
I love love how peach is the bold color in this room. In a soft palette in pops so beautifully without being too much.

Mint on the other hand has been growing on me for a while. I started noticing how subtle it can be, and how it lends a very calm feeling to a room. I especially like it in bathrooms, and kitchens, it is a wonderful surprise when found in a kitchen. It opens up a space and makes it very fresh.

Katie Peck via Pinterest

Via Weheartit

Via House Beautiful
Now this is not a timid mint, I love how it pops out of the darker colors. I love it combined with the teal. 

Diane Anderson via Pinterest

What about you? Have you always like these two colors and have you used them in your home? If you are like me are you warming up to them?

I hope you had a lovely weekend and will have a great week! Happy Monday y'all!

(Images Linked)

Decorating Green

I am so excited to talk about some very easy and smart ways of designing green (and cheap). Some of you are probably doing it without even thinking about it. Kudos to you, I went through this list on Style at Home, and I was quite proud to check off a lot of the listed to dos that I already do.
For me it is a style preference, and the bonus is some of them happen to be environmentally friendly too. Bonus! Here are some of the tips I'm talking about.

1. Buying from thrift stores, craigslist, ebay, garage and estate sales etc. You can find one of a kind pieces at great prices. Most things you find this way add so much personality and unique style to a space. They are usually one off pieces and/or can be personalized using paint or any other techniques to make it your own. You know I am all for adding your own personality to a space. After all decorating is personal, and it should reflect YOU at all times.

This chair hubby got for me at a thrift store for under $10 and I've had it for over 2 years now and this is the second personality it's taken on. It is still sturdy and quite gorgeous! All with just a coat of paint and a pillow cover I used to reupholster the seat.

2. Reuse pasta sauce jars, jam jars and old tins. I love using the mason jars, they make adorable flower vases. Another tip I read at Style at Home is to paint the lids fun colors and use the jars as storage for grains in your pantry, or I say use it in your home office to store supplies. I have a thing for vintage soda bottles or any interesting drink bottles for that matter. The shape of the bottle can make me buy the juice. Below see old bottles that I spray painted to use as vases. You can decorate these as elaborately as you want, or just leave them solid. Wasabi tape is a great quick way of adding color to them too. Just get some fun colors and prints and tape around the bottles to create some interest.

BEFORE

AFTER

Part of my Valentines Day flowers ;-). Lovely way to wake up. 

Old pasta sauce jars with one of the painted juice bottles.

3. Another great way is bringing in free natural items into your home as decor accessories. Pick up pine cones on walks, or branches.  Sometimes you can find beautiful wild flowers like we do in the summer on the trail by our house. My daughter picked up some pine cones last summer that she still has in her room, and she is so proud that she's the one who got them.

4. After all your painting projects, we all know how it goes, you have those paints just sitting in a dandy storage somewhere,  never to see the light of day. A great thing to do is take it to Home Depot, or Habitat for Humanity to recycle them. Also check in your local area for any paint exchange programs that might be available.

Okay that's plenty, but I hope you found something that makes sense to you, that you can easily add to your decorating routine.
If you have any tips or ideas I'd love to hear them. I hope you are having a lovely week! :)

(Images by: Fatou Bah)

Happy Valentines Day!

Hello lovelies! Wishing you a day filled with love and joy. Valentine's day is a great day I think, because it allows us to shower our loved ones with as much attention as possible. You don't have to wait for somebody either, even if you have someone in your life, I say take the time to do something special for yourself. I might go for that long over due pedicure. :-)

Okay clearly I'm thinking of desserts, probably because I'm on a self imposed ban. I shall feast with my eyes instead.

Happy Valentines Day!

(Images: Marie Claire Maison)

Abigail Brown

Abigail Brown is the fantastic lady behind these gorgeous creatures I'm about to share with you today. She produces all the birds using new or used fabrics in her studio. They are all unique and all very charming.

When have a cluster of birds looked this adorable!

I particularly love the pink swan, love the color of course, but swans are gorgeous creatures, and Abigail did this so beautifully. Check out those sexy legs on the last guy. :-) I love the monochromatic body with the colorful legs.

I have been into bird cages for a sometime now, and these are some the most exciting I've seen. It would be a fun DIY project too I think.

Happy Monday guys! Midterms for me this week, wish me luck. :-)

(Images: Abigail Brown)