The Chinoiserie Collective

Over Thanksgiving (p.s. how was yours??), I discovered a new-to-me Instagram account that is now my absolute most favoritest ever. So. Much. Inspiration.

If you love punchy Chinoiserie, you must follow The Chinoiserie Collective. Now.

This is just a tiny dash of what this stylish lady has to offer her followers. I love finding these creative accounts that get my own artistic juices flowing.

Any accounts that you've come across lately that I should be following? Let me know in the comments!

Hope your turkey day was fab.

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Sitting Area Inspiration

This settee vignette from Schuyler Samperton is so welcoming...and the perfect filler for a large awkward wall.

Let's study the formula - wall screen + settee + end table + rug + sconce + pillows. Not too hard, though let's be clear that what Schuyler has created is pretty unique and you'll likely not hunt down the same objects online for a steal.

This arrangement did make me think back to one of my favorite Chinoiserie screens so I thought up a couple of punchy items to create something like this for an imaginary large wall in my own house.

Start with this pagoda screen:

Add a settee in a happy green solid fabric:

With one of my favorite end tables:

A colorful red rug:

And a gorgeous wall sconce:

Throw in some pillows, fresh flowers, and accoutrements for the end table and you are well on your way to a gorgeous sitting area!

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Color Study

There is a good lesson to be learned from this image:

 Photo by William Waldron via Elle Decor

Per the usual, Steven Gambrel works his magic to finesse a grand space out of a relatively small hallway. What a captivating pass-through...but that is not the lesson we are learning today (the one about even a small space being special when done right). 

Today's lesson is about color.

This very traditional hall was painted with lacquered teal/aqua/seafoam walls. A color that is loud and somewhat juvenile. But note that Steven counters the buoyancy of the hue with deep neutrals in the furnishings - rich browns and blacks provide balance. And the effect is stunning, dripping with sophistication. And the teal walls keep the space feeling energetic and designed...a twist to keep the eye happy.

So don't be afraid of using big, bold color! Just be prepared to strike a balance to keep it feeling sharp and tailored.

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Joe Nye's Colorful Eye

I have always been a devotee of the school of Joe Nye and now that I am pulling such inspiration from his own bedroom for the nursery, I can't help but fall in love with his work and style all over again.

This man has skillz. Look at this room he did for the House Beautiful Showhouse back in 2006:

Images via joenyeinc.com

I believe the curtains are once again our beloved Le Lac but in a pink + blue colorway. I adore how Mr. Nye pops off his color explosion with black. It looks so amazing. And while this room may not be your cup of tea (and I must admit that I would change a teensy weensy thing or two to suit my particular taste), you have to recognize that it's well-designed, really fun to look at, and it works. Or maybe I'm putting words in your mouth, but I love it!!

And if you are jonesing for those plates that he uses on his divine table setting, they are the Chinatown collection from home, james!

Lastly, if you don't own Joe's book Flair you are doing yourself and your loved ones a disservice. So much inspiration within its pages...it will instantly make you a happier person. Best $20 you've spent in a long time - trust me. Buy Flair here.

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A Country Farmhouse

I had to post some more images from the home I featured as my Friday Crush last week. Trina and Mike Burke bought a farmhouse in Portland, Oregon and took on the renovation themselves. I love that. And they have fantastic taste, as you'll see. They totally capture that simple aesthetic that I'm dreaming about for a vacation home...and my idea of country decor.

Photos by Max Kim-Bee via Country Living

Don't you love the restraint and how they have carried the theme of whites + woods throughout the home. It is SO refreshing to look at. And let me tell you, their home decor will never go out of style. They have decorated with such classics...makes for a beautiful home. Not to mention that Trina, Mike and the kids are adorable AND they write a blog! It's appropriately called A Country Farmhouse and they share oodles of renovation tales, decor sources, and more pictures like these:

Enjoy!!

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Bright Beautiful Bridal Luncheon

I just HAD to share yet another Southern Living spread that blew my mind. Like totally and completely blew it to itty bitty pieces...check out this a-m-a-z-i-n-g bridal luncheon hosted by SL's Editor-at-Large Kimberly Schlegel Whitman for her sister:

All photos by Laurey W. Glenn via southernliving.com

BA. NA. NAS. Have you ever seen anything so marvelous in your entire life???

Let's be real and realize that a petite fete such as this would cost oodles upon oodles to pull off, but who cares about reality. The varying monograms on the napkins are enough for me to go mad. And the pink tablecloth with the navy blue napkin and yellow vases. It's just so much to take in...and I love very bit of it.

Y'all, Southern Living is killing it in my book. I'm seeing so much stuff that I LOVE recently...thanks to Lindsay Bierman I assume. Remember the Tea Party? The stuff dreams are made of.

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Kelly Wearstler's Surrealism

Design by Kelly Wearstler, image via kellywearstler.com

If there is such a thing as surrealism in interior design, Kelly Wearstler is the premiere authority of the movement. Her spaces are startling and dream-like with wonderful juxtapositions of natural and unnatural.

This room above has left me speechless - the color scheme is beyond beautiful and the gigantic cranes coupled with the  light fixture make the room feel like you've stepped into a crazy dream. I LOVE the floors and the table. And the collection of objects on the table just makes the space feel even more quirky but beautifully cohesive at the same time. How one accomplishes a visual experience such as this is impressive.

Are you a fan of Kelly's work? If so, don't forget that One Kings Lane is blowing up today with a collection of her sales.

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Tea Party

My love of fine china is no secret on this blog. I'm obsessed. But I think my absolute favorite piece of china is a teacup - so delicate, feminine and usually the cornerstone of a pattern.

Several years ago, a friend of my mother-in-law's was redoing her dining room and wanted to get rid of a collection of mismatched teacups she had collected over the years - guess who was there to happily take her donation? So I am blessed to have a sweet little collection of cups ranging in pattern and color - thanks, Mary Kay!

And when I saw this spread in Southern Living's March issue, I wanted to whip out my collection, throw on a shift dress and a cocktail ring, and have my girlfriends over for tea. This spread is SOOOOO good y'all (Southern Living is killing it for me these days):

Hell yes.

Don't these images just fill your eyeballs with inspiration??? Before I go any further, major props to these people:

Produced by Mary Allen Perry

Photos by Jennifer Davick

Prop Styling by Lydia Degaris Pursell

Food Styling by Marian Cooper Cairns

They are talented and this article should win every magazine award available. So should the tablesetting spread that was in the December 2011 issue, but I digress.

So now that you all want to throw on your own shift dress and have your friends over, consider purchasing a lot of teacups off eBay (or Etsy) - it's a great way to kickstart your collection:

View listing

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Other things to consider:

- You don't have to buy a lot set to start a mismatched collection (especially if the set is pricey) - teacups are really easy to find at second-hand shops and flea markets and usually not that expensive. Or consider buying a teacup every time you travel as a souvenir.

- If you are getting married, register for 12 different teacups. Your guests will think you're a little nuts, but it will create a fun collection and you'll actually remember who gave you each piece because they will all be different.

- Next time you have a dinner party, serve dessert and coffee on your bar cart! (Because I'm sure you have one by now) You will look super-swank rolling out to the living room after dinner.

Don't even get me started on my feelings about miniature tea sets - thus far, I have shown constraint. But all bets are off if I ever have a daughter.

Party on with your tea.

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Lavumchid in Katie Ridder Rooms

I was thrilled to be sent a copy of Katie Ridder Rooms by Heather Smith MacIsaac for review. After spending some quality time flipping through its pages over Thanksgiving, it has earned the title of My Favorite Design Book for 2011 (Celerie Kemble's To Your Taste held the title for 2010).

I know a book should technically be judged by what's inside, but I can't overlook the fact that its cover is reason enough to own it. It looks killer sitting on this table in my house.

All images from Katie Ridder Rooms

The room on the cover is probably our favorite room by KR.

And since all shades of lavender, lavumchid, are having a moment in my own heart and the hearts of design enthusiasts worldwide, I quickly zeroed in on all the lovely shades of lavumchid that KR uses in her interiors.

I need to live in this room. The lamps and sofa are painfully beautiful.

Love how the gorgeous fabric is used as the piping on the plum chair!

Of course the book is chock full of color, pattern and KR's signature eclectic style - tons and tons of incredible inspiration. Like the floor of this kitchen that has me thinking perhaps we need to do this in our basement reno:

You won't regret getting this one (or asking Santa to bring you one). 

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More Den Inspiration

I really like this room, so I'm adding it to my basement den inspiration files.

Via bhg.com

Via bhg.com

As you know, I'm definitely contemplating a blue palette for the (eventual) renovation of our basement den and this space pictured feels so normal. Does that sound weird? It's just pretty. And looks comfortable. Nothing crazy or cutting-edge. Just nice. I think that's what I'm going for in the den.

I really love the wainscoting and the green couch paired with the blue wall paint. I didn't really think of using green as an accent, but it would make sense seeing as how it's the #1 color on our main level. I also have some snazzy fern prints that were displaced when we got this guy, so they would be a great choice for the walls in a scenario like this one.

All things to contemplate, folks.

Sara Tuttle

The latest issue of High Gloss Magazine introduced me to DC-area designer Sara Tuttle. And I couldn't be more pleased.

All images via saratuttle.com

To think Sara is whipping up these incredible, colorful creations in my own backyard is very exciting. Her interiors are fresh and full of personality...perfect for the young professionals that abound in our area.

I must meet Miss Tuttle.