These eco-friendly wall panels by Inhabit are a cinch to install and are removable. Instant texture and drama in a snap.

Today I am dedicating my post to those of you who had your first dusting of snow this week.  I know it’s bittersweet; so pretty and peaceful but also the beginning of the truly cold weather.  I used to live up North so I can sympathize.  So in the interest of optimism, let’s celebrate winter with a glimpse of beautiful items all dressed in white.  They are modern, crisp and beautiful any time of year but small accents can freshen up the interior of your home, where you are bound to be spending a good bit of time in the next few months…

I love these White Birch Branches from Nettleton Hollow. A cool new way to decorate for any holiday. Three branches for $12.50.

This marble top end table from Layla Grace is a French antique reproduction that would make itself at home in the bedroom or living room. On Sale for $475.

The Amelie Pillow from Blissliving Home is not pure white but I could not resist the misty forest image.

Le Klint pendant light from Lightology. Made of white PVC, it glows like a wonderful ball of ribbons. Don't be a afraid to throw a little mid-century modern in with your traditional pieces!

Remember that white adds great contrast to any color and a small dose brightens up any room.  A little dab will do ya!  Enjoy your weekend:-)

~Lorrie

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The Pop Art Mirror from The Artful Home

Have you seen the HGTV show, Double Take,  where a homeowner selects a photo of a room designed by a high-end interior designer and then tries to reproduce the look for less?  They call the original photo, “the Inspiration Room”, and before you know it a $50,000 living room has been imitated for $5,000.  I like the show but feel they leave out some important details because we all know you cannot get something for nothing.  Yesterday, I ran across two similar items and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to help you make informed design decisions. 

The Inspiration:  The “Pop Art Mirror” above is a colorful and striking accent piece that would add a lively conversation piece to any room.  This mirror is featured on the Artful Home website where you can find artistic treasures for your home from artists the world over.  I have purchased a number of pieces from them for my clients and the prices range from quite affordable to very high end.  This particular piece is a 32″x32″ hand made mirror created by the husband and wife team, Mitch and Susie Levin, who use materials of contrasting colors and textures with dramatic results.  Their philosophy is simple: “Art and furniture should be both expressive and timeless. “  The mirror is $1150.

Recycled Tin Mirror from CB2

The Imposter:  The Recycled Tin Mirror from CB2 (Crate and Barrel’s little sister) is going for the same look.  They use international recycled tin sheet packaging in a patchwork design to create a colorful 30″ x 30″ mirror.  The mirror is $99.95. 

CB2

While I know the price difference in this case is huge, and most people are not going to spend $1,000 on a mirror, I do have a good point to make.  The higher end pieces are fine quality furnishings that are made by hand with thoughtfulness, pride and artistic consideration.  The top mirror has a much better distribution and harmony of color.  It almost has a stained glass feeling to me.  Each piece of tin has been nailed by hand to the frame and the small nails form a quilt-like pattern.  The CB2 piece just leaves me kind of flat.  No texture, the color selection is uninspired and it looks like a bunch of poorly designed business cards tacked to a cork-board. 

The Artful Home

So when you are considering pieces of furniture that are look-alikes, make sure the less expensive option is sturdy enough to withstand the slings and arrows of your family and dear enough that you want to pass it on.   For example:  You can purchase one $3,000 sofa that lasts for 5+ years or two $1000 sofas that may last a year each.  While you may be able to get the look for a lot less, you rarely ever get quality for a lot less, so spend your hard-earned money wisely. 

My two cents:-)

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Live plants are lovely but such a commitment!  They struggle with seasonal changes in your home environment and when summer comes you have to hire someone to plant-sit while you’re on vacation!  I resisted silk flowers and plants for a long time because they were plastic looking and lifeless.  But no more, my friends.  The faux floral industry has come a long way and they are making many realistic and attractive plants that you will find hard to resist.  Well-preserved palm fronds and orchids delicately bowing over the side of a beautiful crystal vase are great investment pieces in a well-designed room.

So, consider starting with one silk plant and take it from there.  But first a few words of advice…

1. This is definitely a “you get what you pay for” situation.  So consider the lifespan of one silk or preserved plant versus the cost of buying fresh flowers repeatedly. 
2. Maintenance is critical to them looking real.  If dust has accumulated on the leaves, wipe them down with a damp cloth and fluff them up a bit.
3. Orchids are your best bet for florals. They have a long bloom cycle and therefore will seem more realistic.  They are also light and airy so they don’t weigh down the space or get in the way of sparkling conversation.
4. Don’t forget other preserved pieces of nature.  Freeze dried seeds, vegetables and fruit make intriguing centerpieces.

Enjoy the greenery!

Shop for Silk & Preserved Plants, Trees & Florals in My Secret Database!

Globes add a certain intellectual, world-traveler feel to your home.  They are the perfect addition, especially if you have someone as curious as my husband, Tim.  He loves history, is a voracious reader and watches documentaries every chance he gets.  So this past Christmas I felt it was time to welcome a globe into our home.  But I had not prepared myself for the wide selection that is out there…

Globe manufacturers such as Replogle Globes have great websites that show their entire product line, but they don’t necessarily sell directly to the public.  They will refer you to online vendors that sell their products such as www.worldglobes.com or www.onlyglobes.com. 

It’s great to keep the globe in the TV room and grab it while watching the news or Discovery Channel. Scanning a map on the Internet isn’t nearly as enticing as spinning a globe in your hands and wondering how it is that you didn’t know that Alaska and Siberia are neighbors.

You can choose a globe for its beauty, its history or its current geo-political accuracy.  It’s really up to you.  They are easy conversation pieces and come in so many shapes and sizes that you can surely find one that adds intellect and flair to your home.

Search vendors that carry a wide variety of accessories in My Secret Database!

My heritage goes back to both Northern and Southern Italy, so my love for all things Italian seems natural.  Italians treat every meal like a celebration; as it should be!  On breezy summer nights, tables and chairs are transferred outdoors to a backyard enveloped in bougainvillea vines and warm candlelight as close friends enjoy fine wine, food and laughter.  The Italians really know how to live.  In honor of their love of life and food I would like to share my favorite Italian Designer Secret: Firenze Italian Specialties

Firenze Italian Specialties features Italian Ceramics and Decor that will inspire you with a little dose of Italia.  They import their pieces from the Tuscany and Umbria regions of Italy and describe them this way:  ”This dazzling colorful Italian earthenware is called Majolica (also known as Maiolica or Maioliche) and was named by the Italians after the Spanish island of Majorca. Originally this type of earthenware was exported from Majorca and introduced to Italy in the 13th century. Majolica became popular during the Renaissance period and centers for producing the earthenware arose throughout Italy. During this time, these artistic ceramics were often given as a gift to celebrate momentous occasions, such weddings and births.”  You can see exactly how the pieces are made here.

From large carnival-colored appetizer and antipasto sets to graceful pitchers and vases, there is a wide selection in patterns from rustic to refined.  Their pieces are 100% food safe and dishwasher safe.  When using a dishwasher, they do recommend a cooler, energy-saving cycle.  They don’t recommend putting them in the microwave.  They are having a huge summer sale until June 30th so be sure to pop in soon for a tour of Italy’s finest ceramics.

Visit Firenze Specialties in My Secret Database!

The color orange is everywhere this year and personally, I love it.  It really looks great with just about every other color.  Orange and yellow set a happy tone.  Orange and blue provide a classic nautical look.  Orange and black have a retro feel.  So if you are looking to spice up your room with some throw pillows, art or an accent rug, give this succulent shade a try. 

Choosing accessories in contrasting colors adds much-needed depth and interest to a room.  Arrange them on your coffee table, on top of your armoire or on your bare fireplace mantel.  Vivid place mats welcome your family to the dining room table.  A beautiful bowl on your foyer table makes a statement to guests as they enter your front door.  Some color experts say that those who choose orange are fun-loving, talkative, and trendy.  That sounds good to me!

Search My Secret Database for harmonious hues!

I call it “Mod-tique”.  Combining timeless beauty with a fresh new twist.  A classic sofa with a contemporary fabric.  A loft decked out in ultra-modern furnishings with a reclaimed wood floor.  State of the art kitchen cabinets with rustic, hand-hewn knobs.  These are choices that are the hallmark of professional designers.  The ability to select items that combine timeless beauty with a bold new look.  It lends an air of sophistication to your design that takes it to a whole new level.

Here are a few items that fall into the “Mod-tique” look.  Check out the colors, finishes and shapes and you will start to see the light.

Create your own Mod-tique look by searching My Secret Database!

I hope you have found all sorts of tasty little morsels on My Design Secrets in the form of my professional advice, decorating tips and tricks.  But never, ever forget My Secret Database!  This is where you gain special access to my professional database of vendors that have been carefully collected and selected for over 10 years.  Today I would like to introduce you to Viva Terra, a company that offers lovely items that help you celebrate life and home in a kinder and gentler way. 

Viva Terra has a sumptuous selection of home furnishings with the most lovely earthy qualities.  Graceful root wood tables that are rustic yet refined.  A wide variety of vases that are sculptural and a fitting home for your freshly picked flowers.  Luminous lighting in the form of candles and sconces that integrate themselves flawlessly with natural hues.  And many unusual items that will be right at home in your garden, kitchen or bath.  I love the depth of their product line. 

Viva Terra is selective about what they put into their products and they choose their business partners with careful consideration.  They care deeply about the earth, the people they work with and their valued customers.  Their newsletter is fun and informative and it provides Eco-friendly ideas that are actually doable for the average person.  Their ”Sale” area is definitely worth a look, with most items at least 50% off.  Give Viva Terra a try.  I think you will like what you see!

Visit Viva Terra, one of our Eco-Friendly Vendors!

I am not talking about a dog but rather something that could make your home just as warm and inviting.  Stray Dog Designs carries a stellar selection of home furnishings and they have a unique back-story.  Bill Pritchard and Jane Gray were newly-weds in Mexico in 1994 “figuring it out” when they came upon a small, sad looking pup that needed a good home.  They took La Princessa in as their first joint project and things just took off from there.  They started importing pottery to the States and that soon evolved into having a tinsmith bring Jane’s artistic visions to life in the form of lamps, mirrors, urns and other cool stuff.  In 1995 they were very warmly received at the Atlanta Gift Show and the rest, as they say, is history. 

They now live on Lookout Mountain in Tennessee with 3 kids and a houseful of pets which of course includes a former Stray Dog (a Great Dane named Big Girl).  They carry accessories, lighting, furniture and cool holiday stuff.  I would say their style has a Dr. Seusslike quality to it but with a bit of modern polish.  In their words: “Stray Dog Designs’ core design principles are simple: all items are handmade with careful construction from quality and recycled materials, melding quirky charm and true artistry, and providing fair wages for local workers.”  The vivid colors and whimsical shapes are the product of two people who run a company with a lot of heart and soul.

Come Visit Stray Dog Designs on My Design Secrets!

Are you ready to unleash your creativity?  I know, I know…your half-finished scrapbook sits up on the shelf and somehow that inanimate object has the ability to make you feel guilty.  Well, worry no more.  I have an easy project for you that makes the most of family photos by transforming them into clever artwork to hang on your walls.  The fantastic and fool-proof website, Picnik, will guide you through the process step-by-step.  Actually, it’s so much fun that I bet you will spend a lot more time than you need to! 

Go to www.picnik.com and easily upload your photo.  You then can Edit the photo by cropping, rotating or removing red-eye.  Now comes the fun part: Create.  Here you can apply any number of effects to make-over your photo. I chose a photo of my dog, Emma, and applied some technicolor.  You could also go with a simple black and white or sepia tone for an old-fashioned or “gallery” look.

At the end of the process you can save your photo to work on later, print it, email it or make a slide show.  It’s fun to apply different effects or colors to the same photo.  Or if you have several photos, it would be nice to apply the same effect to three different photos and hang them up in a group.  By using the same style, it will unify them.

To finish off these photos I would recommend a simple black frame with a large white mat that you can pick up from several vendors in My Secret Database.  Your friends will be impressed, your photos will come out of the box and your walls will be fashionably decorated.  Who could ask for anything else?