{Crushing} on craft rooms...

I don't know what it is...but I am seeing craft rooms EVERYWHERE..and I am loving it!!! Here are some of the favorites that I have seen this week. I have to be honest..I am itching to make our office/formal living/music room an office/formal living room/music room/craft room!!!

I love the french looking arched bookcases and island. The sweet peachy walls with contrast of greens and whites screams relaxing, yet crafty!

Think this might be my favorite color scheme. I LOVE the checkerboard black and white floor with the brown and white striped chairs with a little touch of green. Love the back splash...a great place to store crafty fun...did you see the ribbon storage?

I love this this detail of ribbon storage, which is an excellent craft idea!

This is a fabulous little craft corner. Love the contrast of the green walls and red accents. The white furniture is fabulous and the complimentary colors and bright windows look so enticing to craft!

I love everything about this room! I love the checkerboard two toned floor, the taupe counter tops with contrast of white cabinetry. Love all of the storage and the gift wrapping station.

When I find more craft room inspiration...which I think I will! I will share them with you soon!

Til then'

Amanda

{Design} Project completed!!!

Had the opportunity to help in the design of "The B's" new living room. A wonderful client that has a great eye for artistic detail and a clear direction of their vision for their home; they just needed a little bit of help along the way. The B's installed beautiful hardwood floors in a blond finish (they had carpet before) and added details such as an inset rug from Pottery Barn in front of one of their three new seating areas, a new custom bay window seating area and game table alcove. We used soft greens, burgundies, golds and olive greens, stripes and solids to compliment the room and made individual seating areas to accommodate both intimate and entertainment setting for their many friends and family.

Created a new seating area with customized built in benches and contoured cushions to match angles of the bay window. Added bolster pillows in a bold stripe for added comfort and valances to enhance and proportion the cushions below.


View of the new sofa with accents of red and gold pillows with additional seating area in red parson style chairs and reading lamp for the game table area.

Detail of new bench area with baskets with number detail and lit displays for clients art collection.

Detail of rug insert in sectional seating area

Detail of staircase outside of living area.
New paint on walls and banister added during recent consult.


The photos above are from a quick little photo shoot during the installation of the bench cushions that happened last week. I plan to take more photos (in better lighting) in the next few weeks along with sharing the work that was done in the kitchen.

Til' then, Amanda

{Inspiration} from Paris...

Four years ago, my husband and I took an amazing trip to Paris. Rob "had" to take his final class to receive his bachelors degree in a 6 week summer session; and the only way that it made sense to do it this way was if I could come over and spend a week and a half at the end to celebrate his accomplishment! From time to time I find myself nostalgic of all the unique and beautiful architecture and art that we enjoyed on this trip. So this post it dedicated to some of the inspirational designer eye goodies I photographed (wish I had take more photos)!!! But looking back at them now, I find that I am taking new inspiration from these photos for my interiors, graphics and hair accessories. Take and peak and enjoy!

Paris store front...loving the raspberry colors and frenchiness of it!

Paris storefront...interesting displays (was into this at the time as I just finished up a dermatology office).

Spa like display and curly willow in green {love it}

Bisazza...some of the most amazing glass tile ever!!! {See Rob & I in the background?}

Bisazza walls and an AMAZING door..love the detail

Bisazza glass tile from floor to ceiling

A little bookstore that was closed when we walked by.. but got to enjoy the books and treats at the storefront.

More book love

Art Nouveau inspired menu

So...what inspired you today???

Sunday...

Lovely Sunday... enjoying the beautiful springtime weather, kiddos playing and the beautiful veggies growing and flowers blooming...

Geraniums

Lavender

Pomegranate blossoms

Corn!

Roses

Squash Blossom

Kind of wish everyday could be this lovely....

A Designer Confession

So I went to Daltile on Thursday with my mom to get some ideas and tiles samples in preparation to redo my kitchen tile and the such after the holidays...and I came to realize...I am a designer that can pick out finishes, furniture and all the fixings for a client, but it is a whole different ball game to make a decision on the design direction I want to go in my OWN KITCHEN!!! I guess it is a good thing that I am giving myself a time frame of a few months to make up my decision...just hope I am happy with it after it is all installed!!! Got on the web this morning and found some more inspiration...I am thinking subway tiles at the back splash with some small accent tile detail and tile on the counter tops, very light and airy as my kitchen is very dark. But I did see some black cabinets while I was searching...oh the decisions!!! Take a peak at some of the pictures I found for inspiration...what do you think???

Loving the light toned counter top with white subway back splash and contrasting grout. Really give it a different look. I also like the bisque toned cabinets...a great contrast to the back splash.

This kitchen has white subway tile backs plash and white cabinets. Like it, but I think I am liking the photo above more...there is more contrast in the finishes above...

And here is a totally different look...but I AM LOVING IT!!! The contrast between the black cabinets and white subway back splash is such a statement and a modern approach to a tradition subway back splash look...I am just not sure my small little kitchen can handle the black cabinets...Loving the wall color too!!!

My husband always said that this was our project house where we could try stuff out...more to come!!! I will share some of the colors and finishes that I pulled from Daltile after I go back and get more SAMPLES!!!

A little Halloween Before and After...

Well it has been a little toasty here in the central valley of California, but I did it, I got out the box of fall decorations. Tomorrow is the first of October and there is only one way to start off the holiday season...with some sweet little pumpkins, a little fall garland and wreath. Take a peak at the mantle before and after...what do you think?


Before...my favorite black mirror, watercolor that my grandmother made in college and a orchid flower arrangement. Also, a great spot for the things around the house you don't want a 2-1/2 year old to touch!

After - a little bit of orange, cream and black to get the family into the fall season. Here's hoping for some fall temperatures!!!

Kitchen Redo?

I am in the middle of contemplating the redo my kitchen...

The cabinets are a dark wood that looked good when we purchased the house, but now look dreary and are in some need of freshening up! The avocado green tile is something we were willing to redo when we purchased the home almost 3 years ago, but with the economy and two new kids to the bunch...needless to say...it is still AVOCADO green.

I have been looking at so many different ideas...granite countertops, wood countertops, tile countertops...subway backsplash...glass tile backsplash...

Here are some of the ideas I have been pulling for ideas lately...

I love the idea of wood countertops...there is something so RICH about them. I think that if I painted the cabinets a creamy white color it would update them and then pop the wood countertops even more. I love the idea of beadboard as the backsplash, although I have see some beautiful tile lately too.

So here are my thoughts on the kitchen for today.I will share more very soon and hopefully make a decision on my design direction so I can start on my budget!!!