Books and bookcases

I wanted to post these photos I took today. I think many of us find it difficult to arrange the many books we collect in an aesthetic arrangement. Even as a designer, I at times need to see creative ways to rearrange those shelves. Here are a few ideas: cover books in your favorite color of paper. Kraft paper can be used or simply a pretty wrapping paper. Group all the same color books together or place them with the pages out. (gives the appearance of the books in the same color) Add cork board with pretty tacks that can be used for invitations, magazine pages, or pictures.

Adding baskets can help with the clutter that collects. Also add architectural elements to any built-ins or bookcases for interest. What I think works well in these rooms is that everything is tonal or in the same color palette. It is easier for the eye to take it all in, because your eye is not going directly to an object that is really sticking out. It's a really quiet space.

Here 2 different color bookcases have been stacked on top of each other. Great idea!!! Get creative in those small spaces with all the books you have collected that you just can't get rid of. If you're like me you never know when you might need to open one of them. So appease that spouse (who you have been arguing with to keep them) and make them interesting and presentable.

Photos taken at http://hickorychair.com/

Day 3 at High Point

I love the tufted sofa in this picture. The color is beautiful. I call it an icy lavender. I love the combination of pillows and adding a little red with the kilim rug pillow. This has been a big color in the new trends I have seen this week. It looks beautiful with many color combinations. I love it with shark tooth blue to a deep indigo blue. Icy lavender also looks great with a clear crisp celery green. You will see much more of this color in the next coming months. Looking forward to creating fun color combinations with this lavender for a beautifully designed space.

Wow, the picture of this chaise does not do it justice. Its really a rich lime green. The fun striped pillow adds life and reminds me of summer creamcicles.

Another basic sofa but love it paired with this kilim rug upholstered ottoman. Great prices on these pieces.

To learn more about this great upholstery company check out their site. http://www.leeindustries.com Use the website and select your fabric. The selected fabric will then be shown on the piece so that you can really see what it will look like. Also what I LOVE are the selections of outdoor furniture. It looks like slipcovered furniture and it can be left outside!!!!! Love it!!! I need to add these pieces to my own outdoor space. Everyone needs a double chaise outside. Let me know what you think of this upholstery company.

Day 2 in High Point

Turquoise

Blue-greens were definitely the theme of my day today at the High Point Furniture Show.

Global Views

http://wesleyhall.com/

I also love the large white carved frame leaning against the wall

Art and accessories really pop off of this ocean blue wall

I love the beautifully painted tables used as nightstands

http://centuryfurniture.com/

The fabric on the headboard is one of my favorite patterns

The pillows really work well with the orange and gilded gold

Check out the latest Elle Decor. Look at their highlight on this trend

http://www.elledecor.com/decorating/articles/trend-alert-turquoise

Day 1 at High Point

Splashes of Color

Yellow leather....Love it!



These stripes are lovely!!

The most memorable showrooms I viewed today were the rooms with lots of color. Turquoise is still hot! It's seen paired with a fresh pear green, chocolate brown and tangerine. The combination has given us inspiration for the new design of a comfortable family room.

Other colors we loved were orange and coral.

Pink! Fresh!

Tangerine....and charcoal? It actually works.

I love the large over-scale ottomans shown in the above pictures. The detail in the upholstery has really stood out; everything from a multi-pleated skirt to an upholstered nail head trim. Special favorites are all of the contrast-lined box pleats on skirted chairs. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings. I have many rooms designed off of the inspirations found today.

High Point Furniture Show

We have just arrived at High Point, North Carolina. I always enjoy coming here this time of year. I love this part of the country and the true southern hospitality. I am so excited to see what's new and hot for this new season in design. I will be posting my favorite finds of the day. Interhall, in the IHFC building is my first stop. I often find new companies that are creating the newest trends. So excited to see that Bobo Intriguing Objects is in Interhall. http://bobointriguingobjects.com/bobo_web/BoBo.html I fell in love with Bobo, and the repurposing of objects, when I first saw them in Atlanta. So stay tuned in for the week, and experience all these beautiful things with me.

I am going to start a series of interviews that will be posted here on the blog. I am doing this out of the selfish ambition of wanting to know more about the people who influence our surroundings. I am so excited for this part of the blog. Tomorrow, I am sitting down with an amazing and talented floral designer. You will have to come back and find out who I am talking about.

Spring Cleaning

It is another beautiful sunny day which inspires me to to continue my posts about spring. I decided to attempt the topic of spring cleaning. Just the word "cleaning" brings mixed feelings. The thought of hours of cleaning sounds dreadful, but yet I know how much satisfaction and joy I have when my house is transformed and sparkles. I grew up with a family of women, who I think enjoyed this laborous chore, or at least never complained. My mother was one of these women! I remember coming home early mornings from spending the night at a friends so I would be there to help. As the years have passed into adulthood I have grown to appreciate what she has taught me. But trust me, at the time, I never understood what was soooo important about cleaning!!! After all watching the smurfs was so much more important. So what is my process? I am going to attempt to explain it.

I have to make everything an experience to appreciate the joy I receive through the cleaning process. Create your own environment.

• Wear something comfortable but yet sexy! Why not feel good while you work!!


• Grab your drink of choice...I have to have my iced coffee with soy milk before my brain and body can accomplish anything. Yes, my crutch, but I do get so much joy from my coffee.


• Music, music, music. And play it loudly. And yes your neighbors can enjoy it as well. I have to open all the windows to get that fresh air in.


• Start with the hardest room first. For me, that is the kitchen. I get it done and feel like I have accomplished a lot in that first room. (Finish a room before moving on to the next. This makes you feel like you're making progress.
  

http://http//www.housebeautiful.com/kitchens/dream/hewlett-new-york-kitchen

I love this kitchen -especially with all of the color on the counter tops. Wish this was the kitchen you had to clean?

Here we go-

1. Prepare a bucket of hot water with non-toxic detergent. Pick your fragrance of choice.
   
2. Clear off all counter tops and free them of clutter. Put everything away in its proper place. It's always a good idea to go through your cabinets first and de-clutter and sort.


3. Clean all appliances on the inside. (I wait to turn on the self cleaning on stove until I am done with the kitchen because of the smell.)
   
4. Wipe down all cabinets, woodwork, walls, appliances, counter tops and any other surface.


5. Clean sink. I like to use the Barkeepers Friend. I also use this on pots and pans; it's great for many things.

6. Clean all windows. This is my favorite because there is nothing like seeing the outside of the world through a clean lens. I think this makes the biggest difference. My mother always did this first in every house I would move to.

7. Clean all light fixtures. Take down any glass and clean well. Put fixture back together.

8. Vacuum floor.

9. Mop floor. I prefer to do it by hand so that every corner and hard-to-reach spot is cleaned.

10. Turn the oven on for it to self clean.

11. Stand back and enjoy your new kitchen and the satisfaction of your hard work.

12. Move on to the next room.

For living rooms:

• Vacuum under all cushions
• Take out area rugs
• Clean lamp shades
• Have window treatments sent to the dry cleaner

For bedrooms:

• Wash all linens. I love to hang them outside on a sunny day for the fresh air to dry them. I love climbing into bed at the end of a long day and smell that clean freshness.

Good luck on your spring cleaning projects. Make them all about the experience and joy you can get out of this process. Remember to make it your own and add things that you enjoy. Another way to add fun into cleaning is to clean with a friend. Take turns helping each other out with both of your houses. Make a day of it: make a fabulous lunch and use the time to catch up with what's going on in your lives.

Last, but not least: Buy fresh flowers and arrange in a vase for those special clean rooms. I would love to hear what products you like to use or what ideas you have on cleaning. It's always nice finding new ways to improve my own cleaning process.

Happy Cleaning!