light on the top and dark on the bottom

I didn't realize how much I loved this....not just black & white mind you (I do love that, too), but particularly when a room is mostly white and then contrasting black or dark brown on the bottom.

I remember reading years ago (I think Gwyneth said it) that she always went darker as she went down in her outfits.  She did so because it gave an elongated look.  I have found myself following this rule (except for nude shoes...especially great nude heels) and it rings true for me.

I didn't realize how much I love this in interiors.  I find it all over my home and throughout my files.

image and design from Tracery Interiors, Rosemary Beach home

I find myself thinking about this kitchen all the time!

I find it so spectacular in its simplicity.  And the stools

make this space.  I really am not a fan of these stools alone

but any other type of seating would take away from this seamless

brown bottom and seamless white top of the room.  The ceilings, albeit

high already, just look crazy high now with the all white (minus the awesome,

singular beam).

another example:

oh, I love the white & black & brown!

Here are more images that speak to me:

Emily Followill Photography

Cottage Living Magazine

MFAMB

how fun is this one?

unknown source

This is the kitchen from Cottage Living's Idea House (2008?)

Again, I love the dark green bottom with dark countertop, contrasting

with the all white wall paint, open shelving and white bowls and serving

dishes.  If the shelves or the bowls were any other color, I don't think

they could pull this off.  Wooden or iron shelving would have

stolen the show from the backsplash.

This image from Country Living really needs no explanation.  Do you 

find it as beautiful as I do?  One of the top 5 all-time images in my files, for sure.

You take away the white uniformity, the brown chairs or the black cloth....and it

wouldn't work for me.   They all need each other to balance.  Even with all

this white, I still find this room playful, timeless and striking.  I know I have said this

before, but truly monochrome collections and backdrops act as canvases for 

the rest of the room.  

I am basing the inspiration for my downstairs office on this image.  I'll take some befores

and hopefully afters this month!!

An inspiration photo for the downstairs bath's

renovation had this theme as well:

myhomeideas.com

I kept coming back to this one. 

 Here is the translation:

Boy, it is tough to shoot a bathroom shot!  I need to get

someone to take a good one of this room.

I find the same light-to-dark in our guest bedroom

(which has already changed since this photo)

I am realizing how much I love black...but I do

love it tempered with white.

in bathrooms...

(myhomeideas)

in hallways...

Elle Decor

And finally, I see this throughout the stylings of Atlanta Bartlett's

spaces....she is sooo good.

I have a fun week planned for y'all!  Some guest

posts later in the week...

I hope Monday is kind to you.  Julie

Elle Decor News, Lonny & The Mart

I am sure you have heard by now that Margaret Russell is out as the editor-in-chief of Elle Decor and will now take over at Arch. Digest.  Big news, huh?

(image via Elle Decor)

I am not a reader of AD, but I may begin now.

Who do you think will take over for Elle Decor now?

Also, in magazine news, Lonny will be out in a few days (on the 10th).  Aren't you excited?

Lonny image via Blueprint Bliss 

I also wish I had the option of buying Lonny at newstands.  Would you pay to buy it?  I would.

And here is some eye candy from my day at the mart yesterday....

these barstools are coming home with me

These sconces in-person are unbelievable!

And me, one tired mama, driving home.  

By the way, I am now a registered buyer at the mart (for my client...as her decorator for set design).  Whatever the cost would be to hire me to help you figure out things for your home or business....it may be insignificant at the end of the day because you can save so much buying items at cost.  Feel free to email me!

Have a good weekend,

Julie

Just Sharing Some Things I Love...

Get ready for lots of eye candy.  That is what I am feeling today. 

 I am also going to the mart with my client today so I can't wait to show you what we buy!  (We are hitting Arteriors Home hard...she is in love with all of it!)

Some tartan plaid.  So ready for fall.  My mom always said, "Don't wish your life away...enjoy the day we are given."  True, but I can't help it in a summer in Atlanta full of 100 degree days.

Girlfriends.  That is me on the far right...kidding, but aren't they cute?  I can't wait for the baby shower on Sunday...selfishly for the laughter, girl talk, and catching up over peach bellinis.

(source...unknown...but somewhere of the land of tall, thin, blondes...perhaps a Norwegian catalog?)

This awesome, inspiring book.  You know...I list all these books on the blog for me, really.  They are reminder of ones I need to get to or ones I need to buy (I load them once I hear they are coming out).  Sure, Amazon gives me like a dollar credit to use to buy more books, so that is good...but guess who clicks on my page to buy them---me!  That is pretty smart, huh?  Being a former English teacher, I am still such an avid reader...can't help it....so books are eye candy for me.  I would rather have books and go naked.  Really.

But this book just kicks ass.  I love them--they are SO just doing what they love and don't care really about the outcome.  They love each other, their kids, and are passionate, talented people.  I have been reading this book to Chris telling him we can do that!!  (Okay, not the kids.  I really question on a daily basis how God thinks I can handle two boys.)

This wedding dress.  Have you ever?  You do have to have her butt, though.  Only that butt for horizontal stripes.

I can't get enough of galleries and art.  You can't have too much good art, in my opinion.  I love it from floor to ceiling.  (via Elle Decor.  Can you believe I have a source.  I am horrible.)

I am loving kitchens that are somewhat makeshift and not so "kitcheny".  I love free-standing furniture in kitchens, skirts like the one above, open shelves and countertops that don't match.  I know my kitchen isn't this way at all...but I love funky, undesigned, and romantic kitchens.

An old pic of fashioning interiors by delight by design 

I love her blog.  It is ok that she doesn't write me back and has a million followers.  Blogging is not high school and I am learning that love doesn't have to go both ways on blogland.  Blogging is about expression and inspiration and creativity.  I remind myself that I do this because I am obsessed with design and knew there had to be others out there (and there are! :)  Anyway, I just love her blog and this made me think about blogging in general.

I'm loving our home.  Can I say that?  I guess I just did.  I am so grateful to, at 37, finally live somewhere where it feels like the outside expression of me is matching in the insides.  I am so full of gratitude.  It is so nice.  I know they are material, I think all of us "get" that and truly know what matters.  But it is still nice...and it is so nice to love where you lay your head.

And from my old files....I am loving this image.  As much as I love a million other styles, and I even feel confident I can decorate for others in very different ways than my own, this image is so me.  I really am messy, love art and books around me, and a lot of white and vintage fabrics.  I wonder if I can look back on this image in ten years and say the same?

Thanks for reading if you are still here at this point.  And blogging is kinda fun.  Sure, there are negatives to anything good in life....but the positives far outweigh it.

Julie

Oui, Paris!...and Italy...and Greece

So I have never heard of Italian designer Paola Navone until I read about her from the blog from one of my favorite stores, South of Market

I saw this image (orignally from Cote Maison), and I was sold.

Now I want to paint my Lyle chairs green!  (Green has always been my favorite color)  This Parisian apartment is perfection to me!  And, since I can do no short posts, here is the rest of her home here....as well as her home in Greece.

And that blue!  My second favorite color.

I am not a big fan of red...but she does it so well.

To die for!  The wall of blue vases, the red flowers, huge red chandelier and green chairs peeking around the corner...

Love the painted walls.

I don't recall ever seeing a sink like this.

Okay...ready for Greece?  (via Marie Claire Maison 

needs no words.

renewing our vows here, perhaps?  Can you imagine?

how inventive is that seating??

another picture from Elle Decor's files

a restaurant she designed

And more of my favorite green

Happy Weekend....back with more of my conversation with my client next week

Julie