The Power of a Focal Point

See? A focal point makes a big difference!

Okay, this one is kind of disgusting (said the stager girl)

{images from Houzz}

Back in the saddle...kind of

Had some time to get inspired by others...

It is challenging to furnish a room when the fireplace should be the focal point but it is difficult to get the furniture gathered around it due to space. They did a great job here.

 This room is very similar to how we stage. Love the brown and white look throughout.

 I would not feel bad about having this as a guest room in a pinch. What a pretty little space.

 This is a great idea in a space that may be temporary or one where remodeling is not an option. Clever indeed.

This looks like it was staged by us-but it is not. We own the pillows, the urns, lamps and have a similar coffee table.

All photos from Houzz.

{images via houzz.com}

Urban Farmhouse

We have a fun project coming up in a couple of days. The planning with Sister Extraordinaire has been half the fun. Here are some of the ideas that have been coming up from California.

Jute Interior Design

Pop of Colour

{images: Living etc.}

Table Setting

A last minute scramble to put together a simple Valentine dinner for four. I wasn't feeling well but new I had to rally and find some way to make this day different from the rest. For my husband I made a card that listed many of the things I love about him. (I can make a list better than I can create a poem.) The girls got a  simple gift and the table setting I think is more for me.

Slighty annoyed that husband broke the best plate of this collection while serving dinner. ugh... It's my luncheon china by Villeroy and Boch called Design 1900 (now discontinued). I can tell I wasn't feeling well cause I missed several details in the setting that I am certain Mother and Sister Extraordinaire would notice.

Take it Outside!

{country living}

{country living}

{housetohome}

{country living}

{real simple}

Dining

{house beautiful dec 08}

Love the look of white chairs and a dark table it's just not done very often. We have been wanting to do this look with our staging but our white chairs have a sage green toile fabric. They would need something a bit stronger and bolder.

{traditional home 08}

{house beautiful 08}

Swith it up with a white table with dark chairs.

My Inspiration

{countryliving}

So fun to run into this photo online. This is the inspiration for painting my dining room table a high gloss light blue, the chairs a high gloss white and the upholstery different on the end chairs. When I went in search of the discontinued Martha Stewart paint color I found out that it is actually a GREEN! So I went in search of my own blue.

Would love to dazzle you even more with professional photographs. But you get the idea. Love that I took a risk-believe me it was scary. If the blue clashes with one of my sets of china then I add a cool heavy upholstery-grade white vinyl table cloth. It creates a modern twist with the ornate-ness of it all.

My dining set was found at auction by Lisa Gleason. It was a 70's stained wood with red crushed velvet upholstery.