'ray for the orange and the blue

there's no doubt i'm a little biased since my school colors are orange and blue, but i thought we could all use some bright colors after friday's post on predominantly white rooms. this color combination is certainly an unlikely one but i find that it can look good when done right.

i haven't been able to get this color combo out of my head since i first saw it in this photo of the olsen twins — so fresh and unexpected!

{massucco warner miller}

as it turns out, this unlikely combination can be equally refreshing in interiors, as the design firm du moment proves in this funky orange and khaki space with turquoise accents.

{belle maison via from the right bank}

it also works in the opposite colorway: a primarily light blue room with bold orange accents in the form of a throw pillow and a lively quilt.

{bird & banner}

orange and blue even works for a unique wedding palette!

{steven gambrel via plaisirs simples}

i love this blue bed! the orange pillow is just the icing on the cake. gambrel keeps the rest of the room simple with neutral walls, fabrics, and flooring.

now it's your turn. what do you think of orange and blue?

there's no doubt i'm a little biased since my school colors are orange and blue, but i thought we could all use some bright colors after friday's post on predominantly white rooms. this color combination is certainly an unlikely one but i find that it can look good when done right.

i haven't been able to get this color combo out of my head since i first saw it in this photo of the olsen twins — so fresh and unexpected!

{massucco warner miller}

as it turns out, this unlikely combination can be equally refreshing in interiors, as the design firm du moment proves in this funky orange and khaki space with turquoise accents.

{belle maison via from the right bank}

it also works in the opposite colorway: a primarily light blue room with bold orange accents in the form of a throw pillow and a lively quilt.

{bird & banner}

orange and blue even works for a unique wedding palette!

{steven gambrel via plaisirs simples}

i love this blue bed! the orange pillow is just the icing on the cake. gambrel keeps the rest of the room simple with neutral walls, fabrics, and flooring.

now it's your turn. what do you think of orange and blue?

thank you notes

hi friends! just dropping in on this rainy saturday to thank a few of my fellow bloggers for their recent kindness.

{corrie bond}

thank you to trish at pink preppy lilly lover for the happy 101 award and the alternative wife for the happy 101 & sunshine awards! i received the happy 101 award from beatriz at that girl in pearls a while back and will direct you to that post if you care to read ten things about me! thank you for thinking of me, ladies!

{via my favorite and my best}

big thanks to franki of life in a venti cup for announcing that i won her greeting card giveaway! i was so surprised when she emailed me and i'm so excited to see the assortment she sends over.

{abby try again via dress, design & decor}

p.s. if you haven't seen franki's newest venti challenge, do yourself a favor and pop over to check it out. she is a lovely writer and definitely knows how to motivate! have a lovely weekend, everyone!

hi friends! just dropping in on this rainy saturday to thank a few of my fellow bloggers for their recent kindness.

{corrie bond}

thank you to trish at pink preppy lilly lover for the happy 101 award and the alternative wife for the happy 101 & sunshine awards! i received the happy 101 award from beatriz at that girl in pearls a while back and will direct you to that post if you care to read ten things about me! thank you for thinking of me, ladies!

{via my favorite and my best}

big thanks to franki of life in a venti cup for announcing that i won her greeting card giveaway! i was so surprised when she emailed me and i'm so excited to see the assortment she sends over.

{abby try again via dress, design & decor}

p.s. if you haven't seen franki's newest venti challenge, do yourself a favor and pop over to check it out. she is a lovely writer and definitely knows how to motivate! have a lovely weekend, everyone!

Blank Canvases

happy friday, everyone! i'll be spending the weekend dreaming of warmer weather since temperatures in tours have taken a turn for the frigid...

{stevie dance on garance doré}

now i know you're not supposed to wear white before memorial day but frankly i'm a little over that rule and i think that white is the perfect way to bring about some warmer weather around here. what do you think? let's top off the week with some summery whites!

{via my favorite and my best}

i love a painted white floor. the key to this space is its layers — subtly different whites used for the floorboards, the rug, the sofa, the armchair, the table, the lamp, the walls...

{via plush palate}

natural wood tones will do too, however. i like how low all the furniture is in this room... it's very relaxed and unpretentious.

{victoria pearson via delight by design}

white walls and a cozy chaise create a spa-like oasis out of an unusually large bathroom. it even has a balcony!

{via slumber designs}

i believe i spy one of my favorite flowers (tulips!) on the coffee table of this light and bright space.

{simple blueprint via {this is glamorous}}

i love, love, love this old school fireplace. isn't it pretty in white?

{interiors magazine via delight by design}

an all white dressing room with enviable size and natural light would allow the clothes to steal the spotlight.

{marie delice karlsson via desire to inspire}

white freshens up built-ins and a clawfoot tub. wouldn't you kill for that much storage?

{vicente wolf via plush palate}

the king of white pulls off another clean-cut space. more white floors!

{michael partenio via desire to inspire}

one of the best features of white is that it creates a blank canvas for more colorful objects like this abundant bouquet. the shape of the table and chairs is fabulous.

{via delight by design}

the dark frame of the chairs highlights their unique shape and stands out against white walls and bookcases.

{jill stuart's home in elle decor}

a very white apartment (see the rest here!) uses strategic color in the form of art and pillows to brighten the space. isn't she adorable?

have a lovely weekend, darlings!

happy friday, everyone! i'll be spending the weekend dreaming of warmer weather since temperatures in tours have taken a turn for the frigid...

{stevie dance on garance doré}

now i know you're not supposed to wear white before memorial day but frankly i'm a little over that rule and i think that white is the perfect way to bring about some warmer weather around here. what do you think? let's top off the week with some summery whites!

{via my favorite and my best}

i love a painted white floor. the key to this space is its layers — subtly different whites used for the floorboards, the rug, the sofa, the armchair, the table, the lamp, the walls...

{via plush palate}

natural wood tones will do too, however. i like how low all the furniture is in this room... it's very relaxed and unpretentious.

{victoria pearson via delight by design}

white walls and a cozy chaise create a spa-like oasis out of an unusually large bathroom. it even has a balcony!

{via slumber designs}

i believe i spy one of my favorite flowers (tulips!) on the coffee table of this light and bright space.

{simple blueprint via {this is glamorous}}

i love, love, love this old school fireplace. isn't it pretty in white?

{interiors magazine via delight by design}

an all white dressing room with enviable size and natural light would allow the clothes to steal the spotlight.

{marie delice karlsson via desire to inspire}

white freshens up built-ins and a clawfoot tub. wouldn't you kill for that much storage?

{vicente wolf via plush palate}

the king of white pulls off another clean-cut space. more white floors!

{michael partenio via desire to inspire}

one of the best features of white is that it creates a blank canvas for more colorful objects like this abundant bouquet. the shape of the table and chairs is fabulous.

{via delight by design}

the dark frame of the chairs highlights their unique shape and stands out against white walls and bookcases.

{jill stuart's home in elle decor}

a very white apartment (see the rest here!) uses strategic color in the form of art and pillows to brighten the space. isn't she adorable?

have a lovely weekend, darlings!

recent rug finds

why is finding an attractive and inexpensive rug so very hard? i'll definitely need one for my new bedroom next year as the floor is unfortunately covered in hideous wall-to-wall blue/purple carpet but it is proving to be such a challenge! here are some of my recent finds. if you know of any other great sources, please let me know!

{overstock's perspectives wool blend rug, $100 for 2'3" x 7'6"}

i think this organic polka dot print would be a playful alternative to your average black-and-white stripe.

{overstock's hand-tufted world classic grey wool rug, $170 for 5' x 8'}

i love the pattern (and the price!) of this neutral rug. it's a great lookalike of this pricey alternative:

{kelly wearstler}

{overstock's hand-tufted medallion turquoise wool rug, $300 for 6' x 9'}

the colors of this understated option remind me of this pretty space:

{christopher maya via desire to inspire}

{overstock's hand-woven natural wool flokati rug, $159 for 5' x 7'}

what are your thoughts on flokati? i know it's not very practical as far as cleaning goes but i think it could be really cool in the right room.

{fab habitat's lhasa rug in royal blue and chocolate brown,

$105 for 6' x 9'}

{fab habitat's lhasa rug in orange and violet, $105 for 6' x 9'}

i stumbled upon these rugs on haven and home and i swear my heart skipped a beat. the colors are beautiful, the size is awesome, the price is unbeatable, they can be used indoors and out, and, oh yes, they're reversible. i'm in love.

why is finding an attractive and inexpensive rug so very hard? i'll definitely need one for my new bedroom next year as the floor is unfortunately covered in hideous wall-to-wall blue/purple carpet but it is proving to be such a challenge! here are some of my recent finds. if you know of any other great sources, please let me know!

{overstock's perspectives wool blend rug, $100 for 2'3" x 7'6"}

i think this organic polka dot print would be a playful alternative to your average black-and-white stripe.

{overstock's hand-tufted world classic grey wool rug, $170 for 5' x 8'}

i love the pattern (and the price!) of this neutral rug. it's a great lookalike of this pricey alternative:

{kelly wearstler}

{overstock's hand-tufted medallion turquoise wool rug, $300 for 6' x 9'}

the colors of this understated option remind me of this pretty space:

{christopher maya via desire to inspire}

{overstock's hand-woven natural wool flokati rug, $159 for 5' x 7'}

what are your thoughts on flokati? i know it's not very practical as far as cleaning goes but i think it could be really cool in the right room.

{fab habitat's lhasa rug in royal blue and chocolate brown,

$105 for 6' x 9'}

{fab habitat's lhasa rug in orange and violet, $105 for 6' x 9'}

i stumbled upon these rugs on haven and home and i swear my heart skipped a beat. the colors are beautiful, the size is awesome, the price is unbeatable, they can be used indoors and out, and, oh yes, they're reversible. i'm in love.

one of my favorites!

i discovered this incredible space by kara mann on desire to inspire ages ago and it instantly became one of my all-time favorite interiors. the designer's website states that "KMD reflects a luxury lifestyle with clean lines, warm layers and timeless designs." i think you'll see what she means in this home. i hope you'll enjoy it as much as i do!

there are two things i noticed right off the bat: the seamless transition between inside and out (and we know i love a good outdoor space!) and the flawless layout of the furniture within the room. two couches positioned across from one another allow for unrestricted traffic flow throughout the center of the room, while the absence of side tables between the oversized armchairs as well as the two chairs by the fireplace continues this unpretentious vibe.

another shot of the beautiful exposed ceiling beams and — gasp — that waterfront view. the objets d'art on the coffee table are simple and natural to let the view do the talking.

i love the idea of hanging lightweight curtains to soften the transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. you'd have to live in the right climate, of course, but i think they reinstate the casual come-and-go-as-you-please feel of the entire space. and how perfect are the suzani pillows?

a glimpse of the room from the foyer of the home. isn't that mirror awesome? i love the big wide doorways.

the outdoor dining area. i love the chairs, which appear to be slipcovered, and the way they mimic the furniture used in the interior portion of the space.

a heavy table anchors this informal dining room, which makes me think that the homeowners really do spend a ton of time out here. then again, why wouldn't they?

now that's a view i could get used to. how about you?

i discovered this incredible space by kara mann on desire to inspire ages ago and it instantly became one of my all-time favorite interiors. the designer's website states that "KMD reflects a luxury lifestyle with clean lines, warm layers and timeless designs." i think you'll see what she means in this home. i hope you'll enjoy it as much as i do!

there are two things i noticed right off the bat: the seamless transition between inside and out (and we know i love a good outdoor space!) and the flawless layout of the furniture within the room. two couches positioned across from one another allow for unrestricted traffic flow throughout the center of the room, while the absence of side tables between the oversized armchairs as well as the two chairs by the fireplace continues this unpretentious vibe.

another shot of the beautiful exposed ceiling beams and — gasp — that waterfront view. the objets d'art on the coffee table are simple and natural to let the view do the talking.

i love the idea of hanging lightweight curtains to soften the transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. you'd have to live in the right climate, of course, but i think they reinstate the casual come-and-go-as-you-please feel of the entire space. and how perfect are the suzani pillows?

a glimpse of the room from the foyer of the home. isn't that mirror awesome? i love the big wide doorways.

the outdoor dining area. i love the chairs, which appear to be slipcovered, and the way they mimic the furniture used in the interior portion of the space.

a heavy table anchors this informal dining room, which makes me think that the homeowners really do spend a ton of time out here. then again, why wouldn't they?

now that's a view i could get used to. how about you?

small space, big impact

i love the idea of using a small space like a bathroom or a closet to go all out with color and wallpaper that you might not dare try in a more prominent part of your home. here are a few of my favorite examples of bathrooms where this dramatic approach pays off:

{amanda nisbet}

one of my favorite designers experiments with a wild pink mirror and orange subway tile. the paisley shower curtain isn't quite my taste, but don't you love the color scheme?

{canadian house & home via peppermint bliss}

happy wallpaper and cool art make this bathroom a sight to behold.

{elle decor via katie did}

{robin bell via my little happy place}

this bathroom is a prime example of risks with color paying off big-time. blue tile, black stone inlay, red/pink trimmed curtains, amazing white cabinetry, a little leopard print vanity chair... and somehow it just works.

{kim coleman via the love list}

big, bold, and blue. plus a mirrored vanity. i could make this work!

i love the idea of using a small space like a bathroom or a closet to go all out with color and wallpaper that you might not dare try in a more prominent part of your home. here are a few of my favorite examples of bathrooms where this dramatic approach pays off:

{amanda nisbet}

one of my favorite designers experiments with a wild pink mirror and orange subway tile. the paisley shower curtain isn't quite my taste, but don't you love the color scheme?

{canadian house & home via peppermint bliss}

happy wallpaper and cool art make this bathroom a sight to behold.

{elle decor via katie did}

{robin bell via my little happy place}

this bathroom is a prime example of risks with color paying off big-time. blue tile, black stone inlay, red/pink trimmed curtains, amazing white cabinetry, a little leopard print vanity chair... and somehow it just works.

{kim coleman via the love list}

big, bold, and blue. plus a mirrored vanity. i could make this work!

i thought wrong

happy monday, my darling readers! how was your weekend? london has been lovely and, as always, the street style here has not disappointed! while we're on the subject of style (aren't we always?) i'd like your opinion on the following trend. you see, i thought oxford shoes were dreary and masculine, but then i saw these lovely ladies rocking the look:

{in style}

{via the neo-traditionalist}

and now... i think i thought wrong.

what's your take?

happy monday, my darling readers! how was your weekend? london has been lovely and, as always, the street style here has not disappointed! while we're on the subject of style (aren't we always?) i'd like your opinion on the following trend. you see, i thought oxford shoes were dreary and masculine, but then i saw these lovely ladies rocking the look:

{in style}

{via the neo-traditionalist}

and now... i think i thought wrong.

what's your take?

london calling

my dears, can you believe it's the last day of april? my time in europe is winding down just as the weather is warming up, so you can bet i'll be making the most of it! i'm off to london this weekend for michael's birthday (he's turning 21 — this is big!). it will be fun to see him and a few friends before they head back to the states. here's a little weekend wardrobe inspiration for me and for you...

{fashion gone rogue via dress, design & decor}

how about an effortlessly chic headwrap and a classic cardigan for traveling? (somebody please teach me how to do this without looking sloppy — i could just go incognito until my curly hair grows out!)

{via we heart it}

simple but chic layers for traipsing around the city on saturday, though i think it's still pants weather in london (i should check that out...).

{woodford & co. via delight by design}

something a little sexy and sparkly for the birthday festivities...

{corrie bond for marie claire}
...and some pretty little things to lounge around in come sunday.

what are you up to this weekend, my loves?

my dears, can you believe it's the last day of april? my time in europe is winding down just as the weather is warming up, so you can bet i'll be making the most of it! i'm off to london this weekend for michael's birthday (he's turning 21 — this is big!). it will be fun to see him and a few friends before they head back to the states. here's a little weekend wardrobe inspiration for me and for you...

{fashion gone rogue via dress, design & decor}

how about an effortlessly chic headwrap and a classic cardigan for traveling? (somebody please teach me how to do this without looking sloppy — i could just go incognito until my curly hair grows out!)

{via we heart it}

simple but chic layers for traipsing around the city on saturday, though i think it's still pants weather in london (i should check that out...).

{woodford & co. via delight by design}

something a little sexy and sparkly for the birthday festivities...

{corrie bond for marie claire}
...and some pretty little things to lounge around in come sunday.

what are you up to this weekend, my loves?

desk du jour {is bigger better?}

the talented mother/daughter team at good bones, great pieces recently raised an interesting topic that i've been mulling over for a little while. they say here that the widespread use of laptop computers has eliminated the need for such "hulking" desks, which we now seek to replace with sleeker pieces that could be put to use in a number of different rooms. does this ring true for some of you?

personally, i love having space to spread out my textbooks and whatever project i'm tackling at the moment. while suzanne and lauren picked out some truly gorgeous pieces, i have to ask: where would you put your stuff? a desk with no drawers might look stylish, but where do you put your school supplies? similarly, a desk that could do double duty as a console table is definitely more versatile, but where would you place your printer?

{the desk of malene birger via full house)

it also makes me think of jen of made by girl's home office, featured here, where she pushed together two parsons desks. might that be the perfect compromise between a desire for less bulky pieces and the opposing need for extra space? i love the big wide desk in the space above and the fact that it could even be shared by two people. as an aside, i also like the idea of propping frames on shelves instead of hanging them directly onto the wall. what are your thoughts on this space and what seems to be a new trend in workspaces?

the talented mother/daughter team at good bones, great pieces recently raised an interesting topic that i've been mulling over for a little while. they say here that the widespread use of laptop computers has eliminated the need for such "hulking" desks, which we now seek to replace with sleeker pieces that could be put to use in a number of different rooms. does this ring true for some of you?

personally, i love having space to spread out my textbooks and whatever project i'm tackling at the moment. while suzanne and lauren picked out some truly gorgeous pieces, i have to ask: where would you put your stuff? a desk with no drawers might look stylish, but where do you put your school supplies? similarly, a desk that could do double duty as a console table is definitely more versatile, but where would you place your printer?

{the desk of malene birger via full house)

it also makes me think of jen of made by girl's home office, featured here, where she pushed together two parsons desks. might that be the perfect compromise between a desire for less bulky pieces and the opposing need for extra space? i love the big wide desk in the space above and the fact that it could even be shared by two people. as an aside, i also like the idea of propping frames on shelves instead of hanging them directly onto the wall. what are your thoughts on this space and what seems to be a new trend in workspaces?