Off to the Movies

I have this thing I do that drives my family crazy! I will watch a movie over and over again, just because I love the house.

Some of the movies I have driven my family crazy with:

To see more of these homes and many others, please visit
http://hookedonhouses.net/houses-onscreen/

Color of the Year 2011

Have you seen Pantone's color of the year?

Every year Pantone gathers many people from different design fields and they decide on a "color of the year". You will start seeing this color everywhere. I don't think I'll be using this much in my home.

Although I love lasts year color,Turquoise.

I was curious, so I looked to see other past years colors and found I am a decade behind...?

 

Luckily I try not to follow trends. I have always loved aqua/turquoise and apricot/orange (funny that the 60's and 90's are very similar).

Try to stay true to the colors you really love, and not end up with a honeysuckle home (unless you love honeysuckle!).

all images from Pantone's website

Fun Design

I love these!!!

Patchwork furniture -All you need is ONE piece to really make a statement!

Where do I have a place in my home...??!!

Lights!

I have a thing for lights-floor lamps, table lamps, chandeliers, wall sconces...We need lighting in our home so why not make it fun.

This is my favorite light fixture, it came from my grandparent's home, I always think of them when I look at it.

This dining room chandelier was a big splurge. I waited almost five years to replace the previous (came with the house) fixture. It's a little over the top, black metal with many crystals (I have a drawer full of crystals I did not attach!) but this is the focal point of the room. Dining rooms should have a little drama since they are used mostly at night. I found this on the Lamps Plus website.

This chandelier came from Lowes and was very reasonably priced. It hangs in my room. I added the striped shades to add a little more color and soften the light.

This is another Lowes find. The sconce is in the half bath. A clear glass light shade came with it, but for very little money, we added the yellow glass.

I have had this small lamp for years. It works in any room. The simple black iron looks vintage and I just change the shade to fit the room (red check shade looks great in my yellow bath).

This floor lamp was another splurge (although I did get an employee discount) I purchased when I was working at a local home store. The shade is silk and the base is made from a vintage mold. 

This floor lamp was only $30. I found it at a local discount store. I love the vintage style and the extra three light fixture. I did add the shade (burlap from Pottery Barn) and yes the shade cost more than the lamp, but all in all a good deal!

Some of the lamps are vintage, most are new. I have had many of them for years. Just change the shades for a new look. Also, my husband installed dimmer switches for the chandeliers (easier to control the ambiance!).

I am still adding more lighting to our home. We have an ugly white ceiling fan in the living room that really needs to be replaced and the den overhead light is very plain and the mudroom's light is on the small side and... It's all a process!

Comfort

Making a house into a home is all about comfort. Sure, the sofa may be beautiful but if no one wants to sit on it, what's it good for? This is one reason I like old things so much, they have been broken in.

When we purchased new leather chairs for the living room, I knew that the arms and backs would darken over time. This only adds to the charm. They say leather wears in, not out. I couldn't agree more. We have had these pieces for over ten years and I still love the way they look and feel. Now too much leather in a room could make the room appear cold. Leather is a great addition, but make sure to mix in some fabric upholstery also.

When purchasing new upholstery remember to ask what's underneath.

Hardwood kiln dried frame? 8 way hand tied springs? Top grain leather? Warranties? What are the cushions made of?

Feeling comfortable mentally can be as important as physically!

I could go for any of these pieces above

I know white slipcovers are "in" at the moment and I do like how they look in a room, but do I really want to wash them daily??

This looks very comfy, but what will it look like after your done sitting? (pillows everywhere!)

Does this even look practical??