From My Nest to Yours...

The Wonders of Wallpaper

2011-01-24T11:23:00.000-08:00

I love that wallpaper has made a comeback in a big way. The wallpapers out there today are not your grandmother's wallpapers (although you can still get some of those too, if that's your thing). Today's wallpapers are modern, bright, sophisticated, and delish! Take a look at these!

I am truly in LOVE with this wallpaper by Cole and Sons. I used it in a mud room with big windows and a painted white concrete floor, and it STOLE the show!

This picture not only shows off the FABULOUS wallpaper, but how adding a little dash of a warm color (the pink pillow and orange lamp shade) to a cool color pallet can really take a room to the next level.

I love the subtlety of this mirrored wallpaper by Anna French

I love a good dramatic wallpaper in a small bathroom, don't you!?

I am crazy about this gray paisley wallapaper...can't you just see yourself with a cup of cofee and a good book... (Photo from BHG and Designer Veronica Toney)

This photo is BEYOND beautiful. This may be wallapaper, but you could easily create the same look with paint and masking tape. (Room design by Brown Design)

Sweet yellow wallpaper by Casa Mila. And again, notice the placement of the cool toned blue chair against the warm toned yellow wallpaper...getting the picture?

Crazy Fabulous! I know this look may not be for everyone, but it IS lovely to look at in someone else's room! (Cherry blossom wallpaper by Clarence House)

Oh how I LOVE this wallpaper by Thibaut. In fact, I'm hard pressed to find a wallpaper by Thibaut that I don't love...

For those of you who find this whole wallpaper idea a little too much...I brought back an example of the calm and sophistication of grasscloth wallpaper.

Yes, it's Thibaut! Didn't I tell you? Amazing papers, right!? This is from their "Julian" collection. Very Jonathan Adler...

This one is so perfect! I'm thinking about featuring nurseries next week, so you may be seeing this one again!

This is WOVEN WOOD VENEER! Seriously! (Design by Masse Frankfurt)

Love the look of this room I found on the "madebygirl" blog.

Great way to create a focal point and add texture and visual interest to a large room. (photo from Movingdesignz 2)

Rich and bold...but subtle. I LIKE!

Love this "Rubani" wallpaper by Romo for a formal dining room or half bath.

And yes, again, it is Thibaut. Just can't help myself...

I ADORE this flocked (yes, I did say FLOCKED!) wallpaper I used in this retro dining room!

Ohh...and this one from Hooked on Walls I used in a guest room.

What's YOUR favorite?

We're Bringing Sexy "Black"!

2010-04-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

OBSESSION OF THE WEEK: Black! Black is sexy, mysterious, and moody. It can be an amazing backdrop to showcase your art and treaures, or create drama in your life...(in a good way). If painting an entire room black sounds too daunting for you, try it on an accent wall or hallway. Pair it with a crisp white or a shock of color such as yellow, turquoise, or blood red. It's very glamorous & lux when painted in a high gloss finish, and modern and chic when used in flat, but no matter what the finish, black is ALWAYS sexy!

This is a room I did for my teenage daughter...it's "drama" in a good way!

All this natural light, neutral furnishings, and black and white art makes this room work!

(Photo from Style at Home magazine)

Beautiful living room by Ruthie Sommers

LOVE this bedroom!!!! (Photo via Apartment Therapy)

Dining room by designer Mindy Weiss.

Dressing room by one of my favorite "think outside the box" designers, Kelley Wearstler.

Have dated old oak cabinets in your kitchen? Give them a modern face lift with black paint.(Gwyneth Paltrow's kitchen)

SEXY black tone on tone wallpaper in Gwyneth Paltrow's guest bath.

Dramatic wallpaper from Bravo's Top Design show.

You can't deny the artwork on this black wall. It's the perfect backdrop.

(photo from Domino magazine August '08)

LOVE the black walls, crisp white furnishings, natural elements of wood and antler, and a little hint of apple green. SO BEAUTIFUL! (Photo via Decor Pad)

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! this tone on tone wallpaper!

( Photo via Apartment Therapy)

This room is pure GENIUS!!!!! Not sure I could sleep there,

but I can certainly appreciate the vision.

Black accent wall: Room by Laura Ashley.

All black room with punches of shocking yellow from IKEA.

Opposites Attract

2010-03-02T17:47:00.000-08:00

This theory is not just for human behavior, but color as well. Colors that are opposite one another on the color wheel will have great visual impact when paired together in a room. If the majority of colors in your room are in the warm tones (red and yellow based colors), then try adding a few accessories in a cool tone (green and blue based colors). I think you'll be pleasantly surprised! Here are a few fabulous examples to get your juices flowing!

This beautiful color combination of turquoise and hot pink just so

happens to be my FAVORITE!

(design by Polly Wreford)

This is a room I did for some folks that wanted to keep all their same furniture,

so we just added a smoky blue to the walls and funked it up with a playful opposite of orange

on all the accessories.

(Room by: MOI...Judith Balis)

LOVE this acid yellow against the gray...so clean ond fresh!

(Photo from Southern Living)

This beautiful combination of turquoise and persimmon
is quite delicious, don't you think?
(room by: Jennifer Flanders)

LOVE everything about this nursery
by Heather Thompson!

Orange is a WONDERFUL accent color with almost ANY of the cool tones!
(Photo from Better Homes and Gradens)

Again...the cool tones of the lavender Hydrangeas look amazing against

the warm tones of the table and art on the walls.

(Photo from Beyond the Table)

I love the peace and tranquility, yet subtle vibrance of this room.

(Photo from Weddingblog)

Makes you want to drink lemonade, doesn't it?
(Photo from Moving Design)

Warm-toned centerpiece against a cool muddy gray/blue background.

(Photo from Apartment Therapy)

SEXY, SEXY gray and yellow!

(Design by David Jiminez)

I love this vignette:

(Design by Alexandra Rowley)

LOVE THIS ROOM!!!

(Photo from Decor Pad)

Oh Martha! You've done it again...

LOVE the burst of orange against the cool gray and white walls!

And please note that I did NOT say "pop"...it's a personal pet peave.

(Photo from the "Beyond" Hotel)

And last but not least, my most favorite room I have ever done.

Young, fresh, whimsical, (just like my clients!) and my all-time

FAVORITE color combination!

Hot Mess Apology

2009-12-08T21:33:00.000-08:00

Please forgive my hot mess of a blog...I am having some "technical difficulties" getting things to format correctly on the page. It looks all symmetrical and lovely in the "draft phase', but once I hit "post" it goes all kattywompus. I have my teenager on it, so it should be fixed in no time! XO

"Wood Walls and Faux Bois and Deer Heads..Oh MY!"

2009-11-26T08:13:00.000-08:00

I love to mix a little bit of nature into every room I do. It doesn't have to jump out at you, but I guarantee that even the slightest piece will have a huge impact on the "wow-factor" of your room!

Had to get my deer head into at least ONE job! (The gold frame needs to be adjusted...too high, but you get the picture.)

I love the warmth and simplicity of the wood veneer drum shade against the stark white walls. (Photo from BHG)

I LOVe this faux bois rug from the Martha Stewart collection! Simple and elegant...

A little faux bois (fake wood) wallpaper from Cole and Sons. I'm just waiting for the right room to use this in....any takers? How about on one wall in a nursery with green accents?

I love this faux bois wallpaper...a modern take on wood paneling. (Design by David Duncan Livingston)

I am CRAZY about these faux bois wallpapers from Graham and Brown. Delish!

Beautiful, functional, and clever headboard made from recycled flooring. (Design by Vincent James Architects)

Does this wood wall make your knees weak? It does mine...and the best part is that it is a hidden door! Uh-huh, that's right. (Photo from styleniche blogspot)

More rustic wood paneling and woodland tid-bits. (Southern Accents)

More fabulous fake heads from Z Gallerie.

Faux Bois table from Crate and Barrel.

Simple antler chandelier...very unexpected...that's what makes it WORK! (photo from HOME Magazine)

I LOVE the rough-hewn texture of this wall!

This is NOT your Grandmother's wood paneling! (Photo from Better Homes and Gardens)

Have some left over flooring? Try putting on your walls. (photo from Styleniche blogspot)

LOVE these quirky pieces from Velocity.com. Can't you see them in your mud room?

Modern, chic, and earthy.

I love this rough wooden table against the crispness of all that white. (Kahrs Kitchen Design)

Iconic wall panel from B&N Industries

Aren't these the greatest! Your fireplace has never looked so good! $450 from Kleinreid.com.

The wooden basket-weave piece above the table makes the room. (photo from Sunset Magazine)

I love this recycled wood table and the collection of woodland tidbits... (Photo from Decorpad)

I ...LOVE...THIS...WALNUT....TABLE (!) from Hudson Furniture!

This was a table I created for a client out of a fabulous new material called Kirei Board. The lamps were a SCORE from TJ Maxx (Home Goods)...they look like high end pieces, but I got them for a song!

I am OBSESSED with these!!!!! I love the artistic and playful take on something otherwise gruesome. (betterlivingthroughdesign.com)

I LOVE this coffee table. Simply genious! (Photo from My Home Ideas)

Oh deer head, sweet deer head....how you make the room....

DIVINE! LOVE the wooden head with all the stark modern furnishings... (photo from Canadian House and Home...my personal FAVORITE magazine!)

The Little Sofa That Could

2009-11-15T16:07:00.000-08:00

I found this darling little sofa at the consignment store the other day for only $189, and started dreaming of all the possibilities it held for a fabulous new life...

Here are some "mentor sofas" I found for this sweet little nugget!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these sofas from

http://www.metrosofa.com/

Are you feeling the love....

Here's a great example from the cover of Domino
(I miss you Domino, may you rest in peace...)

And this dapper little fella was one I had made for some clients about two years ago with another consigment store find and some delicious $3/yrd fabric I found on the internet.

Now, let's all go forth and Save the Sofas!

Samantha Robinson Porcelain

2009-08-31T20:55:00.000-07:00

Samantha Robinson Porcelain

perfectbound: Favorite Things

2009-08-31T20:48:00.000-07:00

perfectbound: Favorite Things

Welcome!

2009-08-31T20:35:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my design blog! I am an interior decorator that eats, sleeps, and dreams, all things design. My goal is to share with you beautiful and creative ideas that you can translate into your own home.
Please be patient with me while I get things rolling. This form of communication is rather new to me, so I'm trying to work out some bugs.
Cheers!
Magpie