Vacation Time!

Yes, we are headed to Disney! I love the fact that now I can say we are headed to Orlando for vacation. Our family used to live there and I used to think my kids would never experience the joy of getting on a plane and heading to Disney. It would lose it's novelty and they would never know that excitement. Well now that we don't live there, I was finally able to see the joy on their faces when we broke the news! Now, today, as we make our way through the airport, I am all choked up thinking about the level of adrenalin pumping through their little veins at the eminent arrival in Orlando! So how does this relate to "Creating Home"? Well to me it is these moments and memories, that we create as a family, that makes a home. Aside from the obvious aesthetic in a home, it is a collage of those moments that create a feeling in the home. I think about our arrival back at the house, as we drag in tired from our trip, and know that within all the fatigue we carry the memories. It is those memories that will make their way to our photo wall. They will be topic of many reminiscent conversations we will have sitting around our table. Now that's creating home!

On a side note, and those who know me won't be surprised, I will take note of any design inspiration while I am on vacation. Yes, I am a little obsessed!

Friday's Fantastic Find!

Okay, people run, do not pass go and do not collect $200, to your local HomeGoods! Just in case you don't know this yet. I am obsessed with HomeGoods and shop there weekly to find great deals on fantastic items! This week I was blown away by the huge selection of beautiful pottery, all in great aquas and turquoise! To make it even better, the average cost of these great finds was between $15 and $20! You can't beat that at any high end boutique store! I love to pull a room together using high and low combos, like a great quality sofa mixed with a fun collage of off the shelf inexpensive pillows! Stores like this are great for that sort of thing! I can think of a lot of ways to mix this pottery into a room, for instance, how great would that bowl look in a coffee table! I love using pottery to add an element of color and splash it around the room like on the mantel or update tired old bookshelves. You can even use them in clusters on a console to make a more dramatic statement. However you use your fantastic find, just remember to make it your own and have fun with it. Happy shopping!

High Summer Style! Low Cost!

Today is "High Style, Low Cost!" and I am all about summer style. Summer is that time of year you find yourself enjoying the outdoors. Especially in the evenings, we tend gravitate to our porches and patios to hangout with our friends and family. But what if yours isn't so inviting and you don't think you've got the budget to do anything? Well hit the home improvement stores and you'll be surprised at the amazing outdoor style available for very little money. If you do anything at all, find yourself a great outdoor rug that can anchor your space and provide much needed style and texture. They are usually under $100 for a 5' x7'! Pair it with a few new colorful outdoor pillows usually around $15 to $20! Then all you have to do it refresh those pots with some colorful flowers and greenery and, voila, great summer style! All for less than $200 and an afternoon of shopping! So kick back and enjoy a refreshing drink on your stylish new porch! My favorite summer drink is white wine spritzer with a splash of frozen fruits. Mmmmm, think I am heading out to have one now! Happy Summer!

Color me happy!

I love it, love it, love it! Yes, I am talking about color. Over the past few years design has become more and more saturated with brilliant hues! Is this a sign of good things to come or are we making our homes reflect the future we want? I can't open the pages of a magazine without being overcome with bright beautiful pinks, yellows, greens, oranges, and blues. Yes, it may seem a bit much, but think about how happy the yellow hue makes you when you see it. It's no longer mustard or gold, it's lemon yellow! Greens are not olives shaded with gray, they are grassy, chartreuse greens! We are using pinks and purples, and who can ignore the blue craze? Blues are everything from turquoise to royal blue! So how do you take this color obsession and interpret it into a livable space? Just pair it with neutrals, like linens, grays, and creams. If you want to be able to change your color mood, keep your walls and sofa neutral and put your pops of color around the room in lamps, accessories, and pillows. I don't know whether this is a design phase or not, but I love it! Color me happy!