Inspirational Sundays

Because sometimes we just need a little bit of inspiration to get us going in the right direction!

11/13/2011: Old Books Are So Cool!!

I absolutely ADORE old books! They look so beautiful neatly lined up on a bookshelf. There is something about the old book cover with the old pages and the old print on those pages that makes for a wonderful piece of art to hold in your hands. Using old book pages to make wreaths, pumpkins, Christmas tree ornaments, and more is a very hot trend right now. Well, why not take that old book and turn it into a personalized hanging piece of wall art...??


I found these pieces on Etsy.

Or even into a beautiful candle?



You can buy these candles at Pottery Barn.

I am DETERMINED to find some old vintage books and make my version of these beautiful items this week, with a little twist: think texture and tangible!! You WON'T want to miss Funky Friday's post... It will feature a tutorial on how to make my versions.


I hope you were inspired today!!


Your slightly obsessed host,
Christi


11/06/2011: Today's Inspiration?? Fashion! 

With winter officially upon us I've been looking at a lot of cute and comfy fall clothing lately. Today's inspiration comes from an outfit that I found on Pinterest:

It made me think of a hipster kind of traveling lady, one that's always cozy, chic, carries a bit of the unexpected, and most importantly: always confident!

I designed this weeks inspiration room around that basic idea: somewhere that is hip and has somewhat of a traveled feel to it through some eclectic elements. Somewhere that is cozy, chic, and has an unexpected flair that will always draw you in.

The most obvious starting point in this room is the very graphic blue and white patterned wallpaper. The large, classic print makes a bold statement but is balanced out by the large, white modern sofa. Carrying the white throughout the room is key to pulling off the bold blue and white wallpaper. It helps to unify the room without bringing in too many other heavy colors and weighing the room down.

Lightening up the rich wood floors is accomplished by bring in a large white chunky throw rug. It is layered with another throw rug--this one a brown and white cowhide. Together the two rugs add a sense of texture, again without bringing too much contrast into the room and weighing it down. The light spice wall color brings in some warmth while still keeping the room light and airy. Simple shapes with very little color like the wall sculpture and the lighting fixtures help to add additional modern and classical influences, additionally tying the two styles together.

Even if this classical-modern eclectic style isn't for you, these simple guidelines of tying colors, styles, and textures together can and should apply to EVERY room in your room!

I hope that you have found some inspiration in today's post!!

Your slightly obsessed host,

Christi

10/30/2011: Non-Boring Forms of Inspiration

Wow... When I saw this photo over at Centsational Girl I couldn't help myself with this weeks Inspirational Sunday post.

There are so many different forms of inspiration in this non-boring neutral room. When creating an entire room of neutrals it can get really boring, really fast--unless you pay attention to the little things. Simple details like a nice headboard, textured fluffy pillows, detailed pillow shams, and some metallic stenciling can bring a lot of life to an otherwise drab, neutral room.

This upholstered headboard with the nail details frames out the bed nicely and brings your eye to the center of that GORGEOUSLY stenciled wall!! What a simple way to bring life to such a plain wall. Neutrals are very much alive and well... It's the little details that take a neutral room from drab to fab!!

Your slightly obsessed host,

Christi

10/16/2011: Two Shades of Gray 

If you're anything like me, you might have a slight obsession with changing your decor {uh-hem: regularly}. I am DYING to change decorate my master bedroom. With the exception of hanging some very bland drapes, I have yet to do anything to the space. As I have been considering when and how I will improve our bedroom space I have been finding both styles and color combinations that I LOVE! I love almost all styles of decor, all of the new colors, and all of the new trends. I love to bring new elements into a room and make old things work in a new way. And, as I've already told you, I LOVE the new gray.

Last week I showed you three simple color combinations that worked very well with gray. The one that I received the most feedback on was the blue and gray room. Color can make such a HUGE impact on a room but different styles can be equally as important. So, here is your inspiration for this week:

Both styles are based on the same color combinations, but a simple change of fabrics, where a tufting is located, lighting, and what materials your accessories are made out of prove to make all of the difference in the world.

Which one do you like better? Traditional or Modern??

Your slightly obsessed host,

Christi

10/9/2011: Gray With a Splash of Color

Gray is the new beige!!

So, I've been looking a lot at some of the most magnificent gray rooms and have found that EVERYONE has migrated to the new trend of gray and yellow... but, what happens next spring when EVERYONE has transitioned to the new gray and yellow?? EVERYONE will be sick of it and go for another new trend. Well, why not start now?! I love the new gray, but let's add a little bit of uniqueness and see what happens!! Here are some of my favorite gray combinations:

I found this picture and just about died because of the clean beauty and freshness that is given through the soft gray, crisp blue, and vibrant white. This space is grounded by a large square coffee table with a glass top which gives an additional feeling of airiness to the room. The space is further stabilized with this simple but structured sofa that is spiced up with a few unique throw pillows. The blue wall behind this built in bookcase draws your eye into the room and gives a unique touch to a simple bookcase.

This textured bedroom is very simple, but a few key pieces give the masculine space an elegant feeling without going over the top. The simple bedding was given an elegant, tailored look with the white tufted headboard and "jewelry" that was added around the tufting to accentuate its beautiful shape. Additional sparkle was added to the simple textured pillows and is carried up the wall to add a mirrored interest right above the headboard. Sexy silver table lamps help to balance out this textured tailored bedroom with just a little bit of shine. While the gray is definitely present in the room, the whites, silvers, and textures help to brighten up the room and add some sparkle where it is needed.

This living room will NEVER get dull! The dark charcoal gray carpet and sofa ground this chic, modern room. The gray ceiling is enhanced by white walls and a large white area rug. Pops of red immediately warm up the dark colors and excite the room even further. The final icing on the cake is the pendant chandelier that adds sparkle and shine to the top of the room where otherwise it would have been just a gray ceiling. This room undoubtedly keeps the visual interest going without having too much color overwhelm ones senses.

Your slightly obsessed host,
Christi