Nicki's New Definition of Social Media

The P-Doodle and I were out on a walk earlier this week and she ran into 2 of her fellow poodles.  Although they were a WEE BIT bigger than she was - we're talking BIG standard poodles vs. a miniature poodle - she enjoyed saying hello and being social with them, despite their deep, loud barking.  Look at all that beautiful kinky, curly black hair!  Ta-da - Nicki's new version of social media.

This brings me to the topic of the day - social media and social networking.  Yes, yes, Blogging and Facebooking and Twittering - oh my!  Inspired Interiors is having fun, but working hard to entertain you, educate you and INSPIRE you through ALL of our social media outlets.  And, we KNOW that you have a lot of friends who would be interested in what we have to say!  So, I'm wondering if you can help us get our name out there by posting a comment to this blog, signing up to follow us or even "like" us on Facebook.  Share the love a little, why don't ya?  Here, I'll make it easy for you:

Inspired Interiors Facebook Page

Inspired Interiors Twitter Page

Nicki and I thank you and wish you a wonderful spring weekend!  Woof, woof.

April Showers...

Nicki-Noodle is hanging out with me here at the Inspired Interiors home office this afternoon as it sprinkles on and off here in Richmond, VA.  You know what they say about those April showers!  Nicki also enjoyed barking and greeting the nice FedEx delivery man who dropped off my client's Abbie Crystorama Chandelier a short while ago.  I love that my client decided to add a little touch of sparkle and femininity to her newly remodeled laundry room!

Anyway, I digress...the overcast weather and stormy skies around the area today have reminded me of all of the wonderful uses of gray seen in interior design.  Be it in FABRICS - often paired with warmer shades to keep a space from feeling too "cold" - or in PAINT COLORS.  I'm even seeing gray pop up in the increasingly popular washed and stained finishes on CASEGOODS.

Benjamin Moore's AF-685 Thunder, paired with yellow accents to warm things up!

Benjamin Moore's AF-700 Thunder graces the back of these bookcases, but doesn't look heavy or dark paired with the white doors and wainscoting. Also notice the reuse of the "thunder" color on the sofa upholstery and the use of both cool and warm accent colors.

The washed gray Wyatt Lamp Table from Lexington's Twilight Bay Collection.

And I love this entire bespoke "bachelor pad" filled with shades of gray such as: "pearl, dove, pinstripe, oyster, fox, seafoam, mist, moonlight, pebble, mushroom, taupe, smoke, cloud, steel, platinum, ash, pumice, slate and, of course, silver."  This flat was designed by Geoffrey Bradfield and was featured in the September 2008 issue of Architectural Digest.

Thanks for reading; I better go and rescue my natural woven shade sample from the grips of Nicole's puppy teeth!  She does love finding things that interest her in my office...

More About that P-Doodle (a.k.a. Nicki)



Nicki-Noodle at 3.5 months old putting her seal of approval on my client's carpet selection.

While Nicki, the black miniature poodle I wrote about in my last blog, is technically my parents' dog, I happen to live very near their house and conveniently get to spend a fair amount of time with this little bundle of joy.  In fact, several of my dog-loving clients have already met her since she's occasionally kidnapped to "ride along with me" on Inspired Interiors errands and official business appointments!  I think Nicki really likes the design business - she's always checking out my fabric and finish samples.  She even likes to walk on carpet samples to make sure the fibers are appropriately soft for an afternoon cat (oops, I meant dog) nap.  Really, I'm convinced she loves this design stuff...it's not just that it frees her from the confines of my parents' house while they are at work, right? 

Regardless of Nicki's feelings toward my design business, you'll be hearing a lot more about this little dog, who is fast becoming the Inspired Interiors official mascot.  Just so you can't say I didn't warn you, she's frequently called any of the following names:

• Nicki
• Nicki-Noodle
• P-Doodle (watch out P. Diddy)
• Doodle Dog
• Nicole (when she's in trouble)

Well, that's about it for today; I'm back to planning what trouble Nicole and I are going to get into this week!

Is It Time for a Tune Up?

This past weekend, I had what I consider to be a milestone birthday...I won't tell you what milestone it was, but I can tell you it has been the cause of much reflection on my interior design business and myself personally.  This afternoon was a beautiful day here in Richmond, VA and I had the pleasure of letting my parent's adorable 7 month old miniature poodle puppy, Nicole (a.k.a. Nicki) out for her mid-day bathroom break.  After she "did her thing," I took a moment to sit her down on my lap and soak up the warm spring sun on our faces.  She took the opportunity to reflect on all of the new sounds she was hearing in the backyard - the rustle of leaves in the wind, the chirping of birds and the cackling of a few crows flying overhead.  Nicki was certainly taking it all in - processing which sounds she liked and which she didn't. 

While I was sitting there today, it occurred to me that we sometimes need to reflect - not only on ourselves - but on our homes and consider undergoing little "tune ups" that will make our lives a little easier, a little more comfortable or even a little more bright as we go about our busy day to day lives.  So, I challenge you to take a few moments, look around your house and determine which things you like and dislike and what "tune ups" you might make this spring.  Can Inspired Interiors help you accomplish those goals?  ABSOLUTELY!  Give me a ring or shoot me an email.

And the Oscar Goes To...

"Where will the stars be before they hit the stage at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards on February 27th? The Architectural Digest Greenroom, of course. Each year, AD selects a noted designer to transform a raw space into a backstage oasis for presenters and winners alike on Hollywood's biggest night. This year, interior designer Michael S. Smith - who was appointed in 2010 by President Obama to the Committee for the Preservation of the White House - is the man for the job. His vision for the room is inspired by luxe, tailored 1940s Hollywood style, complete with a sophisticated color palette and furnishings that reflect the era."

See a slideshow of past Greenrooms by following this link:

http://www.architecturaldigest.com/architects/features/2011/03/oscar_greenroom#ixzz1EotxDJlw

Inspired Interiors wants to know which was your favorite?

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

I thought you might enjoy reading about the history of Venetian style mirrors (mirrors with embellished mirror borders). They are so beautiful!

These mirrors originate from "the island of Murano in Venice, Italy. Today, more affordable versions are produced by skilled artisans around the world, particularly in the Phillipines. In the late 13th and 14th centuries, Venetian artists renowned for glassblowing began creating ribbons and flowers to frame their mirrors. These expensive, coveted creations were collected by royalty, and the glassblowing techniques were kept secret - for a while."

You can use these mirrors "anywhere you want to brighten a room or add a dramatic focal point; over mantels, in the entryway, or above a dining room buffet, bedroom dresser or bathroom sink."

Photos from http://www.horchow.com/

Text Taken from Horchow@Home

http://www.horchow.com/store/catalog/templates/F0.jhtml?itemId=cat13660731&parentId=cat8730733&ecid=HCEC022011LRLEvt&ncx=n&uEm=karen@inspiredinteriors.net

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