Idea House Inspiration

Have your eyes feasted on photography from this year's Southern Living Idea House in Alabama? It had an all-star decorating cast - Mark D. Sikes, Margaret Kirkland, Ashley Gilbreath, Lauren Leiss, Amy Berry - so no wonder the whole house is ridiculously good.

Seriously, have you seen Margaret Kirkland's dining room?

That is Sally King Benedict's art...and boy did Margaret take a slew of color and pattern and pull it together beautifully.

And the jaw-dropping doesn't stop there:

Bucket loads of inspiration. This is one idea house I would definitely want to see in person! Do you have a favorite space from this particular house?

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Lavender Bedroom

Design by Maggie Currey, photo by Laurey Glenn for Southern Living

Oy. It's one of those weeks where I squeeze my eyes and fists (at the same time) and wish for a clone. Not enough hours.

But this image put me at ease amidst my frenzy. Lavender and green is high on my list of favorite combinations and I find this bedroom so incredibly lovely. I would actually never go for a geometric wallpaper like that, but it totally works with the curtain fabric.

I also like that all the pretty gets anchored with khaki sheets, tailored bedskirt, neutral rug and heavy nightstand. It's what makes the whole room feel less sweet and more sophisticated.

Bonus point for the painted trim and the fact that those curtains (Rhododendron by Carleton Varney) remind me very much of the print in my own dining room. 

Sources to recreate this look via Southern Living here...

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Traditional Twist in Richmond

It's rare that I post photos from an entire home. But this home 100% deserves it. Because every single space is fantastically fetching.

And, bonus points, it's located in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia.

Designed by Charlotte Lucas, it's true to Virginia tradition with a striking nod to modernity.

Photos by Laurey Glenn for Southern Living

Every space nails it. The wonderful mix of color, the touches of brass and gold, the wall treatments, the floor coverings...it's all so balanced and so mixed and so everything.

And let's talk about the lighting which is phenomenal - the mustard lamp pair, the acrylic chandelier, the glass foyer pendant, the brass kitchen pendants...literally the lighting alone makes me love these interiors.

Can you tell I completely dig this house? Do you like it as much as I do?

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Turkey Plate Tables

Thanksgiving is like the table-setting Olympics for me. It's a big deal in my table-setting-obsessed world.

I'm still a big fan of last year's table so I've been thinking for weeks now how to top it for this year. I will likely be using Caspari again because the patterns are just too good....and then Southern Living came along and put together these amazing turkey-plate scenarios for contemplation...

Photos by Laurey Glenn for Southern Living

THAT BLUE + MAGENTA. Woah....a vibrant palette that holds on to the holiday with that lone turkey plate. And it works.

And then an arrangement of brown turkey transferware with gorgeous chartreuse and crimson touches. LOVE the gold flatware. And the buffalo check/gingham combo, of course.

It's all being filed away as I concoct this year's table...do you have inspiration all set for your own table? Please share it in the comments!

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Happy Fourth of July!

Photo by Laurey W. Glenn for Southern Living

Happy Fourth of July! I hope you are having a lovely summer day enjoying some patriotic fun with your loved ones. I've escaped to the mountains with my best friends, our husbands and our kids! I'm looking forward to a fun weekend ahead...I hope yours is equally as good. See you next week!

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Chintz Circa 1988

 

Chintz, circa 1988, as used by designer Brooke Huttig. Found it on a fun slideshow by Southern Living.  Now, at first glance, my eye was happy as everything is working well together. A closer look starts to reveal some outdated elements that showcase the room's era, but the foundation is still relevant. The gorgeous blue chintz on the sofa and chairs, the silhouette of the sofa and chairs, the dhurrie, the gallery wall arrangement, the tree, the awesome architectural ceiling, the juxtaposition of white walls with color and pattern. 

Give this room a new coffee table, some updated artwork and new pillows and we'd have a pretty thrilling space. And that is what one can hope for in a room - that you've chosen the foundational pieces well so that the accents can change and evolve over time without needing to completely overhaul the space. 

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Speaking of Gil Schafer...

The February issue of Southern Living features a kitchen by my most recent design crush, Gil Schafer. This time, though, it's in CHARLESTON. South Carolina. Be still my heart.

All photos by Laurey W. Glenn

So, Gil basically has magical powers. I'm just in love with his new historic spaces. See how I used an oxymoron there to drive home my point? His spaces just feel so charming and lived-in...and timeless. Like completely current yet completely old. How does he do that?

Some details from the feature...

 And some wise words from the master:

I circled that last one for you. Remember that pottery vase I bought at the South Carolina State Museum? Here it is with cut flowers by my sink:

#gilapproved

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Wreaths on Windows

image via Southern Living

The Christmas season is flying by....slow down, Christmas! I'd like at least two more weeks of enjoyment. Two more weeks to completely savor images like this one...I LOVE wreaths on windows. And the size of these wreaths with big red bows adorning an adorable cape cod with Chippendale railings...well, it's Holiday Heaven. Totally saving this idea for the day when I have that gorgeous window-walled sunroom.

What's your favorite way to decorate outdoors for Christmas?

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Blue & White Traditional Thanksgiving

Still looking for Thanksgiving table inspiration?

HE-LLOOO gorgeous....

James Farmer knocked my socks off with this traditional table for Southern Living. L-O-V-E the blue and white porcelain with gorgeous florals and pops of cranberry red. I think this works for any fall/winter celebration, including Christmas.

Check out the beautiful details:

photos by Hector Sanchez for Southern Living

Vintage silver, traditional Spode china mixed with blue and white porcelain, gorgeous linens on a plain wood table. The dimension and texture of this table are just breathtaking...could you imagine walking into this room to eat dinner? I wouldn't be able to focus on the food...and that's saying a lot.

And I adore the clever idea of having some kraft boxes on hand with some ribbon to send folks home with leftovers. Definitely better than my beat up tupperware that I lend out. You'd have a very Martha Stewart moment with your guests if you broke out wrapped packages at the end of the night.

Check out the photos at Southern Living...and there is even a fun video! Great to watch if you want to see more details...

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Best Planned Community: Beaufort, South Carolina

Southern Living just put out its annual Home Awards honoring the year's best in Southern architecture and design. Like most all things Southern Living, I devoured the content and was thrilled to see one of my favorite places on this earth - Beaufort, South Carolina. Remember this post? Heaven.

But I was struck by the award it won - Best Planned Community. Huh? Beaufort is known for its OLD Southern charmers...not for its new construction. But apparently, a little slice of downtown underwent a recent revitalization and the results are gorgeous!

How could you not want to live in one of these adorable homes in one of the prettiest areas of the country?

All photos by J. Savage Gibson

Hold the phone. Those brick steps with that Chippendale railing trimmed with a black top rail, AND floor-to-ceiling black shutters? Just stop. Hello dream house.

It's great that this kind of revitalization went on smack-dab in the middle of town. "Planned community" tends to be synonymous with suburbia, but these homes are taking advantage of what the small city has to offer within walking distance for the residents.

Love, love, love.

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Friday Crush

Photo by: Laurey W. Glenn, Styling by: Elizabeth Demos via SouthernLiving.com

This gem of a dining room is located in a little beach pre-fab cottage in Florida, home to Onno Horn and Jennifer Hunter (she's a designer...can you tell?) I am completely digging the table - I L-O-V-E how it works with the artwork. It's like the table is almost a pedestal atop which the artwork sits. Gorgeous. And the light fixture gives the perfect organic shape to this super crisp dining space. So fresh, so clean.

Happy weekend, y'all...see you next week!

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Friday Crush

Photo by Jim Franco, Styling by Lydia Degaris Pursell, via Southern Living

So technically this is a holiday table from Southern Living's December 2012 issue...but I think it's perfect for any winter soiree. Removal of the star confetti leaves a beautiful palette of blush pink and vibrant mint paired with gold flatware, a scalloped dinner plate and monogrammed linens. Sign me up! So feminine and beautiful...perhaps for a winter bridal luncheon? 

Have a fantastic winter weekend...see you Monday!

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Sara Tuttle in Southern Living

I just finished the December issue of Southern Living and, per the usual, it was good. Really, really good. I'm trying hard not to just republish the issue. But one feature did make me particularly happy as it included a local designer, Sara Tuttle, and a house in Maryland that she recently designed.

You may have seen these images before (I spotted them on La Dolce Vita) but Southern Living decks out the spaces for Christmas and, as always, Laurey Glenn's mad photography skillz really bring a space to life. It's fun to see the same space styled two ways:

Via Southern Living, Photo by Laurey W. Glenn

Image via Sara Tuttle Interiors

Via Southern Living, Photo by Laurey W. Glenn 

Image via Sara Tuttle Interiors 

Via Southern Living, Photo by Laurey W. Glenn 

Image via Sara Tuttle Interiors

Don't you love how the tree and presents look with those vibrant green curtains in the first photo? And I really like the switch over to a large, round, skirted table in the second photo...not as practical since you lose seating, but very pretty for a picture - especially the large pink poinsettia centerpiece!

And Southern Living includes a little bit on Sara (I like that touch):

Sara's interiors are fun to tour - she's a master of the color mix. Check out her portfolio here...

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Melissa Rufty Thanksgiving Table Inspiration

Seems like every month, I'm obsessing over the table designs featured in Southern Living. They might be my favorite feature in the magazine and this month was no exception as they tapped three designers with the task of designing a show-stopping Thanksgiving table.

My favorite was from Melissa Rufty. It is jam-packed with pattern, texture and warm jewel tones.

Images by Laurey W. Glenn for Southern Living

These images literally make my heart race they are so gorgeous...I dream of creating a table this good, though that won't be happening for a while. But I love to absorb little bits and pieces that maybe I could incorporate into my own table.

One week to go for Thanksgiving! If you're hosting, have you thought about your table? What are your plans?

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Divine Bar from Phoebe Howard

A divine bar from Phoebe Howard...

Photo by Laurey W. Glenn via Southern Living

This photo mixes so many of my favorite things! Chinoiserie, Phoebe Howard, Southern Living, booze....it's music to my eyes. Let's note some items:

1) The color scheme of aqua + tobacco punctuated by white is gorgeous

2) I always love mixing in a bit of rattan or natural fibers...the ice bucket is a great choice here for color and texture and I love it on the silver tray

3) Note that this bar is a great idea for an impromptu set-up...if you don't have space for a permanent bar, just get yourself a large silver tray and keep it handy for entertaining. Then you can set this up anywhere for your party.

I would like to be a bar stylist if my web design career doesn't work out. I'm obsessed with bar vignettes and how gorgeous they can be...which probably comes from my love of entertaining. And now that we're ramping up the holiday season, I have this urge to throw fancy parties and redecorate the house...and then I come back to reality. A great reality that we're in baby mode, not party mode, but still...I can have the urge.

The article that uses this photo in Southern Living is a good little Q&A with Phoebs and how she goes about stocking the bar...check it out here.

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