Happy *Fashion* Friday

Have a fun and fashionable weekend. Meet me back here next week for content prepared fresh just for you. Ciao!

Flipping Out Over Reunion Episode

Someone please hand me a (virtual) tissue...

Did you watch the reunion episode of Bravo TV's "Flipping Out" last night? Totally heartbreaking. Two people who make such beautiful (design) music must reconcile! Let's pause for a moment of reflection...in the meantime, have a Happy Hump Day!

Tastemaker Tuesday: Ryan Brown

Known as the better half of the real estate flipping duo in the Bravo series, Flipping Out, and owner of Brown Design + Development, Ryan Brown is high on my list of mentors (though he doesn't know it yet). His design aesthetic is the perfect marriage of Californian, Modern, Rustic, and Eco-Chic. He uses texture and pattern to capture interest in his earthy color palettes and accentuates his design with beautiful travel finds. His rooms always appear to have the mark of a well-traveled individual.

I've chosen to focus on the use of trees/greenery in Brown's bedroom designs. Interestingly, I've read that house plants act as natural air purifiers, they make you feel calmer and more optimistic, and they reduce fatigue and cold-related illnesses by 30 percent. Recently, I've been considering greenery for my bedroom and was inspired by what I saw on the Brown Design + Development website.


This image is actually one of my favorites. The artwork over the bed creates a beautiful focal point and offers an array of options if one decided to add more color at a later date. The oversized chair near the window is great for reading and simply enjoying the view. The duo toned curtains are clean and classic!


I love all of the textures and tones in this room; from the silk drapery to the bamboo roman shades and linen side chairs. I would guess the throw at the foot of the bed is cashmere.

Talk about bring the outdoors in! In a room this beautiful would be convinced I was breathing fresh air and not city smog.

Am I in heaven? Waking up in this room would make everyday a great day. I'm loving the window sheers hung high and wide.

This image has me hankering for a trip to the west coast. This bedroom gives literal meaning to the phrase "California Dreamin'."

Check out the enormous Shoji screen and once again the view of the outdoors. This is probably the closest I would get to camping. I could watch the sunset, gaze at the stars, and behold a glorious sunrise in the comforts of my pajamas.

What aspects of his design would you integrate into your home decor?

Evolution of My Home Office - Part I

It's been a long time coming, but I finally have a dedicated space to call my own! Previously, I've operated my business from the corner of a 525 sq.ft. condo, to the junk room sunroom of our previous home, and now from the "study" of our current home. It's been almost 3 months since we've been here and I have yet to hang one picture on the wall. I've got to get started especially since a few clients have already come to the house for meetings. My space is a total embarrassment.


The space is quite generous measuring at 15 x 10. The ceilings are about a story and a half. I'm playing with the idea of painting or wallpapering accent walls, but can't seem to make up my mind.

There is so much wall space that I could do just about anything: hang a framed bulletin board, stencil a inspirational quote, or design an art installation.

My husband has claimed this chaise lounge for his domain once we finish the basement. Until then, it remains here and is the perfect spot for taking a power nap or reading with the kids. It looks a bit shabby in this photo, but is actually in good shape.


The only thing I think I am committed to in this room is this mirror. It belonged to my Grandparents and I just love the detail and its scale. I'm open to spray painting it. Do you have any suggestions on what color?
I know my office design will not be completed overnight. Patience is a must. Please know that I am open for suggestions as well. Journey with me through the process, let's learn from each other, and delight in the final reveal! Any thoughts so far?

Scent and the City - Bond No. 9

"Another way to take up more space is with perfume. I really love wearing perfume." - Andy Warhol

Talk about blog-worthy...this weekend I was introduced to the Bond No. 9 Collection by one of my close friends and I instantly knew I had to tell all about it. This amazing line celebrates the spirit of New York City and consists of 39 women's, men's, and unisex fragrances that each represents a specific downtown, midtown, or uptown locale or a city-wide sensibility. The bottles alone are works of art and the fragrances are absolutely tantalizing.

My personal pick is the New Haarlem Scented Candle. It has all of my favorite fall fragrance notes, lavender, cedarwood, coffee, vanilla, and patchouli and the purple glass is quite handsome. Spotted at Saks Fifth Avenue here in Atlanta, they are also available in the four Bond No.9 New York Boutiques. Click here to see international locations.

Fashion Friday: Weekend Looks

My weekend lineup:

A. Disney on Ice (I love spending quality time with the entire family!)
B. High Style in the Pumpkin Patch (to include picking pumpkins and a hayride)
C. Moonlighting...The 19th Hole Magazine Event - Golf Rocks

Have a fun and FASHIONABLE weekend! See you on Monday, ciao!

BluLabel Bungalow: Atlanta Edition

Coming soon...stay tuned for updates!

TASTEMAKER TUESDAY: NICOLE SASSAMAN

Today's Tastemaker Tuesday features a hammer toting, Gucci tool belt wearing woman who is seriously talented and serious about style and great design. Who else can be fierce in stilettos while on a construction site, but Nicole Sassaman. Having a keen eye for building and reinventing homes for her celebrity clientel and other fat wallets, Nicole Sassaman has been flipping houses from Hollywood to Malibu and is also an interior designer and builder. She's a triple threat in the industry of residential design and construction.

She currently holds a top slot on my list of people who inspire me. I admire her work and her vision for diamonds in the rough. Here are just a few of her amazing before and after transformations, others may be found on her site. Believe me, it was hard to feature only a few in this post. I wanted them all!




You can also find Sassaman's designs in HGTV's Designer Portfolio. She's also written a book, Design Life, and has another book, Sassy Tips, due in stores soon.

If you are now one of her newest fans, you will want to check out this video where she shows how to decorate your house with 5 dollars in 5 just minutes! Take a look.

If Walls Could Talk, They'd Ask for This...

"To be successful, a room must contain the element of contrast - in forms as well as in colors and textures." - Michael Taylor

We all know that a coat of paint does wonders for a space and can even make your old stuff appear new. The same can be done using wallpaper. There are tons of affordable options out there and easy installation methods you can employ on your own. One of my favorite wallpaper sites is UK-based Graham and Brown. Their new and improved site is fantastically user friendly. You can search by color, style, designer, brand, or by room usage. Plus, unlike most wallpaper sites, Graham and Brown also provides images of each design in an actual scene making it easier to envision the prints in a room. Here are a few of my favorites



The wallpaper series below is specifically designed for bathrooms and kitchens. The Contour Collection is designed to stand up against high moisture content and are also waterproof. The only place they are not suitable for are shower stalls!

As you peruse the site, you may recognize a few of the patterns from ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition Show. With such a wide selection, choosing a pattern is no easy task. Thank goodness the samples are only $2 each. There are some awesome things you can do with the samples too...stay tuned for more info. Ciao!

The Giveaway Winner is...

The winner (chosen by Random.org) of the AllModern.com Housewares Giveaway is, Tricia Blanks Allen!Congratulations Tricia and enjoy your fashion-forward tableware. Thank you everyone for your participation and for your content suggestions.

Yesterday's post The Beginner's Guide to Mixing Patterns was prompted by readers Laurie and Keshia who wanted advice on combining fabric patterns. Enjoy!

See you again soon for more solutions to your design dilemmas...your topic suggestion could be next. Ciao!

The Beginner's Guide to Mixing Patterns

For a beginner, accent pillows are a great place to start when experimenting with colors, textures, and patterns. Blend contemporary with traditional by using patterns with sophisticated color palettes. Try using patterns that vary in scale to add interest to the mix.

For example, in the above image PATTERN #1 is the sofa fabric with it's large scale leaf motif and in a vibrant red! Talk about being the strongest statement fabric in the room...PATTERN #2, #3, #4, and #5 as seen in the accent pillows are mainly florals and stripes and their scale is about half the size of PATTERN #1. Note also that the accent pillow fabrics contain the same color palette as PATTERN #1 with the addition of the steel gray.Another reason this fabric combination works together is because it's made from the same set of dyes in the same hue. These fabrics are sold in a collection and are referred to as companion fabrics. They are purposely designed to blend harmoniously in a room.

Why not play with patterns using wallpaper and fabrics? Here again in the image above the colors are of the same intensity and blend together seamlessly even though each pattern is completely different from the other. Like the sofa in the previous example, the wallcoverings boast large-scale patterns and are complimented by medium- and small-scale patterns seen in the chairs and in the accent pillow.

There is always an opportunity to play it safe while decorating like a pro. Take a look at the image below. This bold wallpaper pattern contains an array of colors and is a good source of inspiration for the room. Here, there is only one pattern and the sofa and accent pillows are all solid colors found in the wallpaper. Add even more interest to solids by using texture. Solid colored pillows made from mohair, wool, silk, jacquard, or velvet for example are still considered solids (not patterned), yet they add both visual and tactile appeal.

With just these few tips, you can be well on your way to fearlessly mixing patterns, color, AND textures.
Here are some "take home" points:

• The key to successfully mixing patterns is to choose a large scale pattern with many colors, a medium scale pattern with some colors, and a small scale pattern with just a few colors.
• Use colors with the same intensity. Do not mix pastel with primary colors or subdued with vibrant tones.
• Use pattern evenly throughout the room.
• Look for companion fabrics to make mixing patterns virtually foolproof

{courtesy: All fabrics featured are by Romo Fabrics}

Oh yes, today is the last day to enter the AllModern.com Housewares Giveaway! Do not miss out on your chance to win these fabulous prizes! Click here to register! The winner will be announced on tomorrow.

Will You Be the Winner?

Don't forget to enter today for my Allmodern.com Housewares Giveaway. Contest ends tomorrow Wednesday, October 7th at 11:59pm EST. Click here for the original announcement and details on how you can win!

In the meantime here are a few creative ideas to display your prizes:

• Display your Ben Fashion Plate on a plate stand on your bookshelf.
• Need somewhere to place your accessories at the end of the day? Use it as a jewelry catch-all.
• Hang your Ben Fashion Plate on the wall with other plates, artwork, or portraits
• Use your Ben Fashion Plate or Ben Bowl on your desk to hold small office supplies
  

Ideas for your Ben Bowl:

• Add scented wax to the bowl for a stylish candle
• Favorite cereal bowl
• Use it as bath decor to hold bath salts, soaps, etc.

Good luck, remember have to enter in order to win!

Sharing Spaces - Tips for Hosting Loved Ones During a Recession

"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." - Unknown

In today's glooming economy, many families have lost jobs, depleted their savings, and broken their nest eggs in an effort to survive. Friends and families are welcoming displaced loved ones into their homes and at times the transition can be a bit rough. Here are a few tips to help the
transition go a bit smoother; the getting along part is a whole different topic.

If your home is now starting to resemble a shelter, consider these tips:

1. Use a room divider to create a private space within a larger area. The use of a room divider will give any room in your home a new look and feel that enhances the room's decor, creates new and interesting spaces, and makes large rooms feel more cozy and welcoming.
2. Take inventory of furniture and storage needs. If it is necessary to purchase additional furniture, consider a trundle bed. Essentially a bed on wheels, a trundle bed can be stored underneath another bed and is a convenient way to have a guest bed available when you need it. It can be stored when not in use. Beds with drawers are also great space savers. The drawers take the place of additional furniture and preserve precious floor space. Before purchasing brand new furniture, shop local flea markets and Craigslist for small furniture needs. You'll be surprised at what's available and the money you can save buying second hand. Other alternatives such as storage boxes, cots, and air mattresses can be easily stored under furniture or in a closet.
3. Allow the new occupant to help decorate the space they will be occupying. Be sure though to pare down as much as possible, but don’t make them feel as if you are stripping them of their personal belongings. Allow them choose what to keep, toss, or donate.
4. This tip, I cannot stress enough, Practice Housitosis Prevention! Is this a new term for you? Simply stated, housitosis is when your house has bad breath. Common culprits are pet odors, dirty laundry, stale food, and shoe odors. We all have different household habits, but when living in a communal household the following is non-negotiable:

• Wash clothes on a regular basis

• Thoroughly clean pet accidents from floors

• Clean litter box DAILY

• Clean your kitchen DAILY

• Do not leave kitchen trash in the house overnight

This tip list is not all encompassing, but these few are applicable in all situations no matter who the guest may be.