there's something about it...

my lastest obsession is photography with balloons in it??!! ever since i saw this photograph here, i can't get it out of my mind...i want to be that girl sitting in the chair surrounded in a world of balloons...

*pic courtsey of javiy at flickr, ellemoss/ etsy, juliane eirich, and dorthe alstrup

Industrial Chic...

i LOVE this office...it's so me. this is the perfect combination of industrial and feminine (and it's a classic example of how "junk" can look fab and tasteful). i love the hard lines of the metal desk against the girlie backdrop; the pale pink color in the chest of drawers works so well w/ the floral wallpaper. and the vintage touch in the mix-match accessories makes this a space i would kill to have....

junk style

i feel like my home is surrounded w/ my treasured junk from yard sales, flea markets, thrift stores, etc. i love my junk...it makes me feel at home; that is why i love the book junk style market (which i happened to find while "junking" in brevard, nc). it's all about ways to reinvent flea market finds and has lots of fun eye candy in it (btw, colin when are you going to give me back that book??!)...and i just discovered that they also have a blog that shares diy projects like the ones pictured above.....

the china closet....

i think this picture is so beautiful...maybe b/c it uses my favorite colors so well. and it makes me think about thrift shopping...maybe one day my future house will have a room like this...
i have a new love for the site 20 x 200, which allows anyone a chance to own fabulous art at any level...you should check it out....that where i found this little beauty!

what's on your table?

there are so many details that can go into decorating a home...things like tablescapes can really bring the personality into a room. while tables are meant for function first (throwing your keys on, piling up mail, a place to put your wine glass), adding objects that mean something gives character to a room. now, i am not going to lie- tablescapes are not the easiest thing to create....i would advise practicing, rearranging, and looking in magazines and books to get the hang of it. start by layering objects and adding various heights, proportions, and sizes (this gives you the pouch)...and once you have created your masterpiece, you will be amazed at how it changes your space!!

*pics courtesy of tom scheerer, desire to inspire, domino/ nathan turner, frolic

tile my wall please....

when it comes to kitchen and bathrooms, the more tile the better....take it up the wall to the ceiling, use it as a wainscoting.....start thinking beyond using it as just a back splash or to cover a shower area....the results are awesome!

*pics courtesy of casa reveal, decorno, porchlight interiors, restoration hardware

the master....

kara at steel magnolia interiors asked how the progress of my master bedroom is going...so here is a sneak peek/ all i am willing to share at this point b/c it is still a work in progress. i love my headboard- me and my hubbie made her! erin shared an article from house and home and it had an exact replica of the coveted madison by lulu dk in it....so i jumped on it and was shocked at how much i love the knock off...and its on a linen background vs. an acrylic and it cost $7 (yup, $7). lulu dk is loved in my house, my DR has moondance and my kitchen has catwalk, so this fab fits right in place! i painted my walls white (ben moore AF-25 paper mache)....and it definitely makes the room look fresh and clean...its a little institutional right now b/c of the lack of color. i searched tues. mornings for about 4 months and finally found the sheets i wanted (that gladly have an accent color)....they are peacock alley and are currently getting monogrammed (more on that later). soooooo, to make a long story short- i still need lamps, art, and the power of an accent (ha)...then i will have a full reveal of my bedroom!!

the power of an accent color....

i LOVE the power of an accent....especially when it comes in the color of turquoise! eva looks awesome in that dior dress w/ that pop of turquoise in her necklace....here are some examples of how a single color can take a room from great to fabulous!

*all pics can be found in my deco file.

knock knock

check out mary mcdonald's guest cottage...i hope she doesn't mind if a family of three moves in??love, love the kitchen wallpaper...the zigzag flooring in the bathroom...the rug in the master...the lacquer walls in the LR...

Katherine Slingluff and a killer New Orleans renovation...

in a major roundabout way, i stumbled upon an amazing photographer- katherine slingluff. i was drooling over her work and just when i thought it couldn't get any better, i found these pictures of this fantastic new orleans home (it starts on pg 49).....but i am unable to show y'all the pics b/c i can't get them w/ my lame computer. so if you have any interest in amazing renovations that include stripping off sheetrock to reveal cypress paneled walls, barn doors, or finding your kitchen island in a dumpster...this house is so worth checking out....and what an amazing job katherine did photographing it!

cleaning 101...

i think i have told y'all this secret before- i really am not good at cleaning....like it's a huge struggle for me. my husband doesn't get how one person (now two, tay has inherited my gene) can be so messy. which explains why i was really excited yesterday when i found a guide to cleaning (how dorky does that sound) on the real simple website. it broke things down in time frames: ie. if you have 15 min. do this...so with my "positive outlook" i decided to give it a try....it worked....i think i dreaded cleaning b/c i was doing it wrong (who knew that you had to let the disinfectant sit in the sink for 15 min in order to get it clean??). also, my old school tactics (like i still used the powder comet) took so long. now with these helpful hints, i feel like it's something i can try and be better at. i even went as far as going to target to buy the "supplies" they suggested. and my cute neighbors were so nice and gave me an electrolux for christmas b/c they know how much i despised my current vacuum....(it makes vacuuming a daily activity). so, stay tuned and see if this "new shannon" hangs around...

back to life....

back to reality....i kept saying that monday was going to be a sad day- reality would set in...no more eating yummy, high calorie food w/out caring, or drinking wonderful wines daily, shopping would come to a complete stop, and the grind of daily life would kick back in (unfortunately w/ tighter pants)....

i cannot believe that we are now in 2009 (i think i blinked and 2008 vanished)??!! i didn't make a new year's resolution (is that terrible)....but this morning i thought to myself (and maybe warren said it out loud before leaving for work) *be positive*. so i am going to start out today/2009 happy and positive and make a conscious effort be to happy in the moment i am in! i hope y'all had a wonderful holiday- i missed y'all!!

*i promise tomorrow i will return to design related posts vs. my personal life :)