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

Trend Snapshot: From Runway to Home

"The High Point Market is the world's runway for home fashions. With only one month to New York's Fashion Week, the Market's Trend Snapshot showcases how the hottest styles from the catwalk translate into home furnishings." (Taken from: http://www.highpointmarket.org/res_article.aspx?id=68)

I don't know about you, but now that the holidays are over, I'm getting a bit anxious for spring! A trip to several home decor stores in the past week "fueled my fire" when I saw pretty, spring floral arrangements all over the place. These fresh colors remind me of the big, bold graphic fabrics - some of them floral in nature - that are coming back into the scene.

The last segment of the video - "Lady Like" - speaks to the master bedroom I started to work on this week for a client of mine.

My question is: which of these 3 trends do you like best? Will you be incorporating any of these into your home in the coming months? Be sure to post your answer below - I look forward to hearing from you. Enjoy the show!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Just a quick post to share with you this cool concept that I saw on Design Sponge's blog: arranging your books on your bookshelves by color! What a bright, clever, fun idea!

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2011/01/sneak-peek-fiona-douglas-of-bluebellgray.html

Balancing Act

So, we're on day 6 of the new year. Are you struggling to balance your new year's resolutions while getting back into the swing of post-holiday day-to-day life? I'll admit it; I am. I was reading an article on Benjamin Moore's website about color trends for 2011 and they emphasized "balance" and how life is about creating balance, which is exactly what this year's color trends embrace. Maybe I need to get out my paintbrush this weekend?

The folks at Benjamin Moore have selected the color of the year to be Vintage Wine (2116-20) describing it as a "color that's luxurious and comfortable at the same time. Violet has always been a color linked to royalty because it was so hard to get the dye. Vintage Wine has a layer of a rich brown which is culturally a color of comfort and familiarity. Think of things that give us a sense of relaxation like nature (soil/wood), chocolate, a warm cup of chair/coffee...you get the idea. When the two sensations come together, we have Vintage Wine to represent the idea of balance."

http://livingincolorwithsonu.typepad.com/sonu_blog/2011/01/benjamin-moore-color-trends-in-2011-for-your-home.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/