Palette: The Power of Red

Wow, the new year has started out with a bang for Inspired Interiors! It's been so much fun helping my clients make decisions and coordinate details for their design projects. My painter was hard at work juggling 2 jobs for me this week and my flooring installer will be putting down a gorgeous dark, tigerwood floor at a client's home next week. I'm sure some in progress pictures will be forthcoming on my blog. In the meantime, in honor of St. Valentine's Day on Monday, I thought I'd share this slideshow from one of my favorites, Traditional Home. Have a heart happy weekend!

http://www.traditionalhome.com/design_decorating/showhouses/palette-color-red_ss1.html

Sparkling New Year's Party

Launch the year with a luxe gathering that extends the glimmer of the holidays one more day.

Being from the South, I love the magazine "Southern Living" so I thought I'd share with you this wonderfully creative and beautiful table setting and ideas for a festive New Year's Eve party. Whatever is on your schedule for tomorrow night, Inspired Interiors wishes you a safe and happy one! I'm looking forward to 2011.

http://www.southernliving.com/food/holidays-occasions/sparkling-new-years-party-00400000037560/

The Blair House: A Capital Christmas

Dear blog, I'm sorry to have been a stranger to you recently. I have really missed you, but between the Fall Furniture Market in High Point, a wonderful vacation out of the country (I'll share pictures and stories over the coming weeks) and being sick for the past 4 weeks upon my return, I just haven't had time for you. To make up for some lost time together, here are some wonderful photos of Barry Dixon's Christmas decorations for the Blair House, the President's official guesthouse for foreign heads of state visiting Washington, D.C. I personally love his use of satin ribbons in the garland on the stairs and the blue and white bowl filled with glorious magnolia leaves and beautiful colored ornaments, which he cleverly used as a centerpiece on a table. What is your favorite component of his Christmas decorations?

http://www.traditionalhome.com/design_decorating/showhouses/blair-house-christmas_ss1.html

W-hooo's That?

Every now and again, I love to pop down to Colonial Williamsburg to visit a few of my favorite shops in the large outlet center. During a quick visit on Sunday afternoon, I spotted this adorable handbag at the Kate Spade store. It was all I could do to resist taking this unique owl bag home with me! I love the attention to detail: the eyes were several layers of leather stacked up to provide some dimension; the feathers on its breast were cut out pieces of suede that were tacked only on the top so tht the bottom was free to move; there is even a chain running from the one eye down into the feathers - like the owl is wearing spectacles. How classic and unique? It just goes to show that good design inspiration can be found anywhere! Can you imagine this little owl on a pillow on a sofa? What a fabulous fall accessory that would be!

The Debut of RUE

There's a lot of buzz out there on the design blogs about this new online magazine RUE. I checked it out this morning and love the "About Us" posted on their website

"We believe:

* That every color can be your favorite color.

* That a good coat of paint atones for a multitude of sins.
* That wallpaper isn't "back", because frankly wallpaper never left - it only went into hibernation.

* That friendships can be forged across continents by only a kind word, a warm gesture, and a shared lust for leopard print pillows.

* That what goes around comes around. So bake cookies for your neighbors, speak well of your competitors, and don't throw out your mother's platforms shoes.

* That great taste comes in many forms: the fringe of a carpet, the pull of a drawer, the lines of a sofa, the curve of a smile.

* That a glass of pink champagne really does a party make.

* That Coco Chanel said it best when she stated, "Fashion is not dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street. Fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."

* The everyone has the talent and drive to design their most beautiful life - we all just need a little nudge in the right direction.

* That the best ideas are found when you close your eyes and open your heart.

* THAT INSPIRATION IS EVERYWHERE."

Check their premiere issue out at:

http://issuu.com/ruemag/docs/rue_issue_01_final