The new Rue: Issue 4 is here!

When Rue's Editor in Chief, Crystal Gentilello, said this issue was her favorite so far...she was setting the bar pretty high. As the past 3 issues of the new online mag Rue have been completely bananas!

But she was right...these four uber-talented and fun ladies of Rue have hit it out of the park with Issue #4. There are so many cool articles, amazingly beautiful photos, and fun videos!

You must check it out today...but here are a couple of my fav pics from Rue, Issue 4:

PS--check back tomorrow. I have some amazing pics of my girlfriend's French/Hollywood Regency home to share--it is insane!

One of my to-do's is to start styling my books on my tables.

I think my mom would love this wallpaper :)

I have already prayed to the design gods many times to let me have black window panes in my next house...but if it doesn't work out...this is a good idea to hang black framed window-looking mirrors

I totally agree...I have been loving brass lately, and I'm even incorporating some brass/gold frames into my gallery.

I'm currently researching table top styling for an upcoming post...and this is going into my image library!

 

All images above courtesy of Rue!

Genevieve Gorder's 2011 Color & Design Predections

One of my favorite HGTV designers is by far Genevieve Gorder...and not because she is just as beautiful and fabulous as her designs...or that my high school French class name was also Genevieve.

But because her effortless style is something you can't fake and is ridiculously hard to emulate...it also doesn't hurt that her legs are longer than my entire body.


Two examples are her chicer than chic engagement ring...it's in the shape of an emerald cut, but it's all metal? I am actually dying to know what it is made out of and have searched endlessly online to no avail. I also love that in her show intro she is carrying her super cute baby Bjorn-style. It's so refreshing to see a fabulous city girl, with her own TV show, rock motherhood too!


But I digress...

According to an interview Genevieve gave to The Star, she forecasts the biggest interior design trends for 2011 including a palate of oyster, cream and blush colors replacing the world of neutral and beige....how lovely do these words sound? Oyster, cream, blush...

Genevieve also thinks bold, Ikat and Suzani folk prints will be prominent on everything from wallpaper to linens and china....I AGREE!


Valspar, which you already know is my favorite paint line ever, has partnered with Genevieve to create her Spring paint palette. Genevieve has selected eight Valspar colors that make up her Spring palette. They are Plumberry, Green Tea Leaves, Swiftly Green, Sage Morsel, Ancestral Haze, Golf Infusion, Channel Seal Gray and Promenade.

Valspar Green Tea Leaves 5004-1C

Valspar Plumberry 1004-3A

Valspar Promenade 7006-3

Valspar Sage Morsel 5005-1C

Valspar Swiftly Green 3008-5C

Valspar Ancestral Haze 1004-10C

Valspar Channel Seal Gray 1009-C

You can get free samples by liking Valspar's Facebook page. The free 8-ounce samples will come with a roller, a paint pan and coordinating paint chips—everything needed to make choosing the right colors easy. The kit also includes a coupon for $5 off a gallon of Valspar at Lowe’s stores nationwide for when consumers are ready to start their paint project. (NOTE: I think this is first come first serve, so if the contest ends before you can get your free sample, just head down to Lowes...I think the samples are $2.95--I literally buy about 5-10 samples to test and live with for a couple days before I "commit.")


More reasons to love Valspar...


Valspar is the National Paint Partner of Habitat for Humanity International and by 2012 will have donated more than $45 million in paint and cash.  Your purchase of Valspar branded products in 2011 supports Valspar’s donations to Habitat and helps low-income families benefit from the transformative power of color.

From Inspiration Board to Reality: Amy & Brian's Living Room

I am so excited to post the first Inspiration board come to life!

My friends Brian and Amy asked me to do an Inspiration board for their dining room here. Almost immediately they started painting, reorganizing...but quickly realized that if they redid their dining room, they had to also update their living room which is connected to the dining room...AND...is the first room visitors see when they enter the house.

Quickly, the living room became priority one. Although their living room was streamlined and serene (see Before below):

BEFORE

It wouldn't work really work with the new look and feel of the dining room:

 

 

So with a few simple updates such as:

• Benjamin Moore's Oxford Gray Paint (same paint as the dining room)
• White curtains
• Navy solid pillows
• Cobalt blue & white accent pillows (Sabrina Soto's pillow from Target)
• Trio of my new favorite black mirrors (from Target!)
• Fuchsia fresh flowers...always a must!

The room was completely transformed, and now flows perfectly into the dining room. Look how bright & inviting the new room is for guests as they enter!

AFTER

What an amazing job Amy & Brian did!!!

They are still working on their dining room...but here are a few sneak peeks:

BEFORE

BEFORE

BEFORE

Mid-progress. The dining room already looks so much brighter and more modern!!! Hutch removed, Benjamin Moore's Soft White above chair rail, Oxford Gray below chair rail...look how their gorgeous windows pop against the white!

I can't wait to see the true AFTERS! Fantastico!

MID-PROGRESS

Finding graphic inspiration in unlikely spots

Man I have never been more ready for the weekend! This week was brutal on my sleep needs, and I'm ready to relax and hang around my house.

Some small items I want to tackle are...finding more vintage frames for my to-be-basement-gallery, possibly sanding and spray painting my side table, and buying the supplies for my staircase reno (more on that later).

Next week look out for posts on tabletop styling & interesting ways to dress a mantel and fireplace.

Meanwhile...the other day I was looking for some fun graphic pillows, and I visited the Potterybarn Teen site for the first time in a while!

I have to remind myself to check this site more frequently, as they have a ton of great graphic pieces that are great for people of all ages. Check out some of the great finds below...

These rugs would be great in a bathroom, mudroom, our screened porch in the spring/summer.

 I would love these graphic pillows in a guest room or entry way on a chair!

Have a great weekend!

Jeana Sohn's Closet Visit

I saw this super cool site on Apartment Therapy yesterday and have since become obsessed.

Artist Jeana Sohn (pronounced like "gina") lives in los angeles and visits creative, inspiring and stylish ladies' closets.

She documents all of her "visits" on her site, Closet Visit. If you love this site as much as I do...check out Jean's personal blog here, it's delicious!

These photographs are, stunning, 100% charming, and completely capture the easy going bohemian vibe of Californians.

Are you looking for inspiration for spring fashions? Two of my favs are The Sartorialist & Who What Wear!