Inspiring Images - Shopping the French Riviera

In May I had the wonderful pleasure of traveling the the Cote d'Azur for a sunny getaway. I found loads of inspiration and beauty to share with you. Today I'd like to focus on the beautiful images and vibrant colors I found while shopping. The French are truly gifted at window dressing, even in the smallest shops and sans windows. I found myself pulled into so many boutiques simultaneously wanting to buy the gorgeous items, yet not wanting to disrupt the artfully arranged display. If only photos could really do it justice... Enjoy!

This is my Cote d-Azur teaser. Look for more Inspiring Images coming your way very soon - including Cannes Film Festival, beaches, yachts, antique markets, and Art Deco.
Happy Weekend!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Still Obsessing: Nail Head Trim

I still in love with all the creative uses for nail head trim, and still planning my own DIY project. Here are more out-of-the-box applications for nail head trim that are inspiring me. I hope you'll find inspiration, too. Enjoy!

Leather wall tiles are certainly a way to make an impact in any room. Now, combine leather wall tiles with double rows of pyramid-shaped nail heads - WOW. This room was designed by Kirsten Fitzgibbons and Kelli Ford of Kristen Kelli, LLC  and featured in the May issue of House Beautiful.

If that look feels too edgy for you, try waves of traditional round nail heads on grass cloth wallpaper.

This room was part of the Denver Parade of Homes, 2007. Sadly I do not have the Designer information to give credit, but I loved it so much that I snapped these photos. If anyone knows the Designer, please share and I will be happy to credit them for this beautiful room.

Still working on my own nail head creations....stay tuned.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Latest Obsession: Nail head Trim

I am currently obsessed with nail head trim, but not just any traditional old nail head. I have been captivated by creative designs, uses and even shapes and color of nail head trim. So much so that I will be using it very soon on my own DIY project - watch this space. In the meantime, I'll share my many sources of inspiration for this particular project.
My number one source of inspiration on creative use of nail heads is Shine Home. The furniture line is amazing and creative.

Moorea Bed

Manhattan Sofa

Humphrey Ottoman

Verona Chair

Florence Bed

 This photo has another take on nail heads - notice the turquoise heads on red fabric. This is the home of Designer and Showroom owner Dan Marty, featured in Western Interiors & Design Magazine (no longer in publication)

In the next three photos, the nail heads aren't necessarily applied in a unique way. However, I like the use of nail heads to accentuate an interesting shape or line in furniture.

From Global Views poof collection.

The Quatrefoil Headboard by Ballard Designs.

This chair is featured in an ad for Scalamandre Fabrics. I like the combination of nail head over a tape trim.

And finally - nail heads (and fabric) don't have to be limited to chairs and beds, but go beautifully on case goods, too. Designer Tobi Fairly brought in side tables with great nail head accent in this room. The room was featured in House Beautiful magazine and tables are by Jan Showers.

Stay tuned for my incorporation of this nail head inspiration into a few projects - coming soon!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Metallic Wood Finishes

 Yes, your read that correctly - Metallic Wood. InOre is a stunning collection of solid wood flooring applied with real metal finishes.

Hand-produced in the UK by Seamless Industries, the products are available in Bronze, Brass, Copper, Nickel Silver, and White Gold (a composite of others metals, not real gold).

InOre is available in two finish types: Ingrained, in which metal is applied into the natural grain of the wood and reveals itself only when hit by direct light; and Coated with a solid coat of metal applied to boards with deep accentuated grain.

Ingrained finishes are delicate and subtle. 

Coated finishes are bold and dramatic.

InOre is made using only sustainable woods from renewable sources. The patented process involved in the application of the metal coating has received environmental awards applauding it's utilization of recycled materials.

Is there a US equivalent? I'd love to have some in my home.Drop me a line of you know of a US product like this.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

A New Use for Legos

By now you should know that I love unusual things and using everyday items or materials in unique ways. So it is absolutely no surprise that I LOVE the Lego Kitchen Island by Simon Pillard and Phillippe Rossetti.That's right - a Lego (as in little plastic blocks) kitchen island.The island is constructed of 20,000 Lego blocks surrounding an IKEA kitchen island.

I loved building with Legos as a kid, so here are some Fun facts about the worlds favorite building blocks, courtesy of Wikipedia:

• Legos come in 2,350 different pieces in 52 colors for a nearly infinite number of combinations.
• Billund, Denmark is the home of the Lego and also the prefab capital of the world
• Originally designed in the 1940's
• There are four Legoland amusement parks - Billund, Denmark, Windsor, England, Gunzburg, Germany, and Carlsbad, California USA.
• Lego was coined from the Danish phrase leg godt, which means "play well".

Stock up on Legos and encourage your kid's creativity and you could have your very own Lego furniture soon!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Cool and Cozy Pet Beds

 My wonderful readers know that I adore my dogs. I also love to keep a stylish home and feel strongly that the two concepts are very compatible. This collection of fun, chic and stylish pet beds makes that goal achievable.

The Le Corbusier Dog Sofa will bring a cool Bauhaus feel to modern or transitional dwellings.

Available on Dogbar.com 

The "Doodle" collection of dog beds was designed by artist William Wegman for crypton fabrics. Not only do you get a fun design, you also get the pet friendly benefits of crypton fabric. Crypton is a specially engineered fabric system with an integrated moisture barrier. The Doodle comes in additional colors. If it's too cartoony for you, there are other more subtle designs available at crypton.com.

For more tips on designing for pets, see the post "For the Love of our Pets" or "Design for Dogs".


Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Bloom and Bouquet Furniture

I very recently posted an Inspiring Images piece from the Chelsea Flower Show. Now I've come across some beautiful furniture that takes flowers as inspiration very literally.

From Kenneth Cobonpue, The Bloom Chair will add a sense of fun and spring time to any room. The chairs are handmade of a microfiber sculpted by hundreds of fine running stitches over a resin base. It is available in moss green, light green, red or yellow. I'd take it in any one of those colors!

 Also from Kenneth Cobonpue,is the bouquet table. It is a resin table with floral pattern relief, available in black or white and as a coffee table or end table.

For more ideas on how to find inspiration for your home anywhere, see my posts on inspiring images or my post on interpreting inspiration into your interiors.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Before & After: Choosing Wall Color

This room is one of my very favorite Before & After transformations. It's also a fun room in general. It is off of the foyer of my client's home and intended to be the study. Because they are empty-nesters, the office spaces have moved into other bedrooms to create this music room/library. It's a fun, yet sophisticated space.

Before: 
The room has beautiful built-in shelving and wood frames around the windows. It's hard to find such beautiful detail in architecture these days. The window valances were well chosen for the room and windows. But there were some minor problems with the room, and it wasn't making the WOW statement that it potentially could.

The first problem was the bold red wall color. Now don't get me wrong, I love a bold wall color. But this wasn't the room for it.The red actually competes with the color of the woodwork. Because those two darker elements are competing, your eye actually goes straight to the white ceiling, which seems to glow next to the darker walls and woodwork.
The next problem is the area rug, which nearly blends into the carpet, not really adding any value to the room.
Another problem is the arrangement of the bookcases themselves. See this previous post for tips on how to arrange a bookshelf for maximum impact.

 After:
 The wall and ceiling color were the biggest changes made in the space. We went with a golden tan on the walls, and painted the ceiling the same color, at a 50% intensity (A GREAT tip that I frequently use on ceilings). This color now draws all the attention to the amazing woodwork. The ceiling technique softens the harsh transition from the woodwork to the ceiling. No more glowing ceiling.

Next we brought in an area rug that coordinated with the window treatment colors.It adds more contrast to the floor and creates a focal area and flow around the piano.We added a cozy chair for reading or listening to the piano.
Now it's a more relaxing space to be in, while also making a great first impression to visitors.

I'll have more tips on choosing wall and ceiling paint. Stay tuned!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Inspiring Images - Chelsea Flower Show

"April showers bring May flowers". That's what I kept reminding myself through all the April SNOW showers this year. As I walked my dogs this morning, it certainly looked like the April showers were paying off with some beautiful flower beds and flowering trees. It reminded me of a visit to the Chelsea Flower Show in London.The Chelsea Flower Show is one of the best gardening shows in the world, put on by the Royal Horticultural Society every May. If you ever find yourself in London in May, I highly suggest getting tickets. If you can't make it, here are some inspiring images from 2008. I must give credit for the beautiful photos to my photographer friend Michele.

 These water gardens are so tranquil. I'd love to have that outside my home.

 I love these flower umbrellas and would absolutely put them in my yard. Think I could get them approved with our HOA?

 Hope you have some inspiration for your home or garden!

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design  www.beautifulhabitat.com