VT (for all of my design-obsessed peeps)

photobeatrizdacosta courtesydesiretoinspireblog Peeps, Tomorrow I'll be heading south for some much needed R + R.  Although the weather report suggests that it's gonna be pretty windy and perhaps lots of rain, I intend to pack as if it's 82 or 8.  I already know that regardless of nature's fury or favor, the costume parties will keep banging until 2 or 3 (pm).  Thanks for all your emails this past week, and be sure to keep an eye out for next week's series entitled, ' The BLACK + WHITE Of It All.'  Until then, keep living it up, as well as reaching for the stars!! Sincerely, Shane Today's soundtrack is DAVID GONZALEZ's I Would Give Everything For Nothing ( http://soundcloud.com/david-gonz-lez-espinosa/sets/ambient-and-chillout-music )

imagecourtesyathoughtfuleyeblog Peeps, Reception or waiting rooms seemed to have fallen out of favor to some, somewhat similarly to 'good manners.'  It seems odd or strange to the uninitiated or ignorant (or unaware) that perhaps not all callers at the door should be entertained in one's private rooms, such as the kitchen or family room/den/library, or bedroom.  Sure, I'm all for relaxed casualness, yet nothing beats the slow process of carefully worded civilized conversation--in the waiting room--to flush out the undesirable and pretentious, as well as keeping riff-raff at bay.  And if finally allowed entree to the more private areas of a home, be a good guest and keep one's feet off the coffee-table, use the coasters, and try not to linger past 10 unless invited to do so, verbally or otherwise . . . Have a wonderful day. Thanks, Shane Today's soundtrack is ZAIKA's I Always Wanted To Watch The Sky With You ( http://soundcloud.com/zaikad...

photocourtesytrunks12 viacoloroutsidethelinesblog Peeps, We've all come to expect so much of ourselves with the advantages of new technology.  Suddenly--actually not so suddenly but a way of life that has crept up silently upon many of us--everything and everyone is expected to be on-line or available through the wee hours to keep conducting the business of the day.  Wearily, I've noticed that emails keep arriving, text messages proliferate, and incessant tweets have become deafening to tired ears.  When is enough, enough??  In the evenings and practically every weekend I am most content when sequestered within the walls of my little nest.  As of late, bundles of books have began creeping from shelves onto table-tops, and now almost cover the kitchen counter-top which functions solely as a coffee-bar and prep-area for micro-wave meals.  Innumerable lamps provide illumination, as well as visual warmth, allowing me to gaze upon walls of accumulated ...

imagecourtesystylesalonisteblog Peeps, Besides allowing us to peek into the rarified world of Ann Getty's famed West Coast interiors, today's visual treat most aptly demonstrates that nothing is more stunning, challenging, or satisfying than wonderful art hung against the backdrop provided by a patterned paper.  Oh, how many times have I read (or heard) some designer (or decorator) justifying their decision to use a neutral color (read: pale, insipid, forgettable) so as to allow the 'art' to be seen; or better yet, 'we didn't want anything to detract from the art.'   Rubbish, I say.  Good art looks even better against bold, rich color; and if one has the mojo, hang it against a pattern.  I can almost guarantee that you'll either see it all in a new way, or, realize that whatever had been considered a piece of art is now closer to an article fit for passing on to some less fortunate, or discerning, soul.  Re-echoing the words of Washington-based de...

photosourceunknown designbyluispuerta Peeps, I've always struggled with the concept of the 'accent' wall.  The decision to paint, wallpaper or decoratively treat one of the room's four walls, in a manner quite different from the other others, must never be arbitrary but should feel as well as look just right.  When done by the wrong hands, an interior could feel unfinished, off-balanced, or just plain odd. To me the accent wall should add a dash of whimsy, a bit of drama, a hint of mystery, a sense of expectancy, a thrust, a burst, a hit--whoa! bam! kaboom!!  An area or segment of wall which offers some architectural interest, like: an extension or addition/a curved wall/a protruding or recessed wall/a half-wall/a partition/a free-standing wall.  The reason behind an accent wall is to accentuate or highlight some feature of an interior (or exterior); it should never never be about playing it safe with neutral or blah-blah colors on three walls, ...

designbyjeffreybilhuber sourceunknown Peeps, If I had realized earlier, much much earlier that is, that autumn's glory as seen and experienced through the phenomena--we've now come to expect-- as the foliage undergoes the transformation from green to the brilliance of brown-and-gold, is not always guaranteed, I probably would have cherished more deeply the past week where the garden seemed so perfect.  Crimson dahlias abounded, sunflowers arched and preened, and miniature zinnias nodded merrily from every little corner (and flower-pot).  Even the tomatoes and ocra and pumpkins over which Lady Emblom fretted during the drought of July and August, as well as September, have come around and now offer abundance without restraint.  At times, looking back with some regret for not having embraced 'that moment in time' seems to be my modus operandi, and this I vow to change.  Thankfully, today offers another opportunity to start fresh, and slow it down. Hope ...