Being Guest Ready

Whether you are looking forward to extra guests coming before the end of summer, or awaiting their arrival for the holidays (which won't be long!)...you'll want to be sure your guest bedrooms are welcoming.  So, in preparation, let's get started with some ideas...

This is a sea inspired retreat and the canopy makes it all the more special.  I love the blue, green and white color scheme!

Here is yet another tranquil feel and look at all the details put into this room design...the tufted headboard and footboard (luscious!) and the drapery border.  

This one has a bit more pop of color and a great personality.  I like putting in some extra "unexpected" touches in our designs too...like the people standing at the window...LOVE it!

A feminine glow of sunshine in this guest retreat.  I like the toile fabric and the parrot lamp!  I also like the richness of the darker furniture finishes (and the ceiling) used with the soft yellows.

What a great idea to add a headboard...use a picket fence!  I love the extra charm it gives this room...not to mention those brackets in the corner.

Perhaps you are into more clean lines...are you?  This little space was turned into a great guest room and I love how the ledge serves as a table for lamps and a headboard.  Really cool.

Pale lavender walls and deeper purples on the bed...isn't this grand?

Are YOUR guest bedrooms ready for company?  Which bedroom colors and style would you choose?

Have a "Simply Irresistible" Day!  

Image Credits:  Traditional Homes

*I TRY TO CREDIT ALL IMAGES, IF THERE ARE ANY PHOTOS OR IMAGES HERE THAT ARE NOT CREDITED CORRECTLY OR YOU WISH THEM TO BE REMOVED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL GLADLY OBLIGE. THEY ARE BEING USED HERE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING INTERIOR DESIGN. THANK YOU!

Farmhouse Beauty

Have you seen the new edition of Southern Living yet?  Well, if not, you NEED to!  I am swooning over this farmhouse renovation that is the 2012 Idea House.  It's located in Senoia, Georgia and it is open for touring through December 23rd.  Take a look...

My "swooning" started at the front door!!  Oh my, such simple beauty...everything about it.  

Here's a little closer view.  I could sit out here for hours!

What a lovely living room.  I love this antique table behind the white sofa...and what about all the pops of greenery?  Makes it so serene in here, wouldn't you agree?  Now I need a neutral room...and I thought that "wasn't really me"!

Another view...only "Simply Irresistible" can describe this.  I am liking the darker rug and dark furniture with all of the lighter fabrics...do you?

See why I'm swooning....bet you are too by now.  I love this mix of chair styles in the dining room.  How cool is that!  It looks like a settee is on the other side of the table.  What about these benches...does this look like a "do-able" DIY project to any of you?  I think so.

This is a cozy landing spot near the door.

I must show you this mix of frames and themes...makes for an interesting wall gallery, right?

We can't forget the kitchen...I even spotted that cool clock on the left...oh, and I love those pendant lights over the island.

I loved this pop of color on the sheets and the fact that two different style bedside tables were used...instead of "matchy-matchy" (is that even a word???).

A peek at the side porch...catch a glimpse of that BLUE ceiling, will ya!

Here is the back of the house...love that fence, the arbor, and the lovely landscaping!  See...I love everything here!

Now I KNOW you must be swooning right along with me...so be sure to stop by here and check out more rooms in this restored farmhouse.  Better yet, take the tour if you are in the Senoia, GA area.  Kudos to Tracery for a great design job!!

Photo Credits:  Southern Living

*I TRY TO CREDIT ALL IMAGES, IF THERE ARE ANY PHOTOS OR IMAGES HERE THAT ARE NOT CREDITED CORRECTLY OR YOU WISH THEM TO BE REMOVED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL GLADLY OBLIGE. THEY ARE BEING USED HERE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING INTERIOR DESIGN. THANK YOU!

Your Weekend...

I just thought I'd stop in to see if you are enjoying the beauty in your weekend.  I hope so!

I couldn't resist this beautiful, crisp bedroom here.  I love the fabric on the windows and dust ruffle...oh, and the bedding...Simply Irresistible!  The mirrored night stand and the silver frames on that artwork over the bed just add the right amount of "bling" in here!

Make it a "Simply Irresistible" Day!!!

Image Credits:  Traditional Home

Fun Art

Over-sized artwork....LOVE it!  This surely gives this room an entirely different feel, wouldn't you say? A very unexpected design for beside a fireplace yet it works.  And for those of you that know me...the theme makes it even more appealing to me.  A little bit of heaven in this corner!

So how about YOUR artwork...do you have any over-sized pieces with unique themes in your home?  If so, do tell.

Have a "Simply Irresistible" Weekend!

Image Credit:  Elle Decor

*I TRY TO CREDIT ALL IMAGES, IF THERE ARE ANY PHOTOS OR IMAGES HERE THAT ARE NOT CREDITED CORRECTLY OR YOU WISH THEM TO BE REMOVED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL GLADLY OBLIGE. THEY ARE BEING USED HERE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING INTERIOR DESIGN. THANK YOU!

NC Mountain Living

Since we are right here in the heart of North Carolina I thought I'd share with you what I ran across that is just good 'ole mountain eye-candy...a real treat!

Is this mountain view just absolutely "over the top" (no pun intended!)?  It's located right here in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of western N.C.  Want to see inside?  Come on, let's go.

Inside you will find the homeowner's collection of antiques that she has acquired over the years.  This mirror is actually made from an old window...and don't ya just love this door!!

In this room you will find a lovely blend of colorful fabrics...I just love the color scheme.  A comfy plush Henredon sofa and club chairs by Charles Stewart Company just make me want to stay awhile...but, we must continue on.  Are you with me?

Oh, and this homeowner is also a painter.  This is one of her gorgeous creations over the mantel...isn't it lovely?

Don't you just love using rustic ladders to hang throws?  It just adds a pop of color to the side of this fireplace, doesn't it?

A french antique dining room table adorned with custom side panel draperies in a Lee Jofa ikat linen...can it get any better than this?

You bet, it just did...look at these lamps!  Want to know what they are made from?  Antique tin containers that use to dispense spices....can you believe that?  These are the coolest!

This lovely mountain home wouldn't be the same without some custom cabinetry in the kitchen.  Oh, and I love these barstools with the turned legs!  One more interesting fact...see those light fixtures above the island...well, these are made from glass "cloches".   The French developed the glass cloche, or bell jar, formed of a solid piece of glass shaped like a dome. The purpose was to protect an early garden plant from bleak cold and frost. This would hasten their crops to maturity.  - facts from englishcreekgardens.com.

How neat is that???

Who wouldn't get a cozy night's sleep in this bedroom...don't you just love it?

Check out this drapery rod and tieback....how cool is that?  I also love the little desk used here as not only a night-stand but also a writing desk...hum, a great place to blog, right!!

Well, maybe after this blog post I'll just go to this side of the bedroom and prop my feet up for awhile...I bet that view is gorgeous!

Then I'll head on into the master bath....oh, how I LOVE this valance with trim on it.  You know me, I have a thing for...custom window treatments!  I think I'll stick around for a long, hot bubble bath....ah, after a loooong days work!

For those of you that wait around...here is the front porch.  Now "this" is a SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE surrounding!

I hope you enjoyed this little tour of a lovely NC mountain home.  If you want to see more of this home or get specific details about these designs you can go here.

Have a "Simply Irresistible" Day!

Photo Credit:  Traditional Home w/ photography by Emily Followill.

*I TRY TO CREDIT ALL IMAGES, IF THERE ARE ANY PHOTOS OR IMAGES HERE THAT ARE NOT CREDITED CORRECTLY OR YOU WISH THEM TO BE REMOVED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL GLADLY OBLIGE. THEY ARE BEING USED HERE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING INTERIOR DESIGN. THANK YOU!

Reader Request for Color

I had a request from one of our regular readers in regards to the post we did about the beauty of nature...with BLUE, green and white.  She wanted to know if we could come up with any room ideas using PURPLE...instead of the blue, with the green and white.  So, I said, let's see what we can find to appease this color palette request.

Here is one with lots of fresh green and white...and then the purple is added with accents in the artwork and flowers.  This is quite lovely, wouldn't you agree?

This one is a much softer palette using more muted color, but again we have the purple, green and white.  Very calming!

This one really in truly does bring the outdoor beauty of nature inside...and provides most of the green for this setting.  The purples are added in with flowers and throw pillows...and aren't those chandeliers just "simply irresistible" out here?

Again we're back to the bolder colors...and I believe this room would be even prettier with a white sofa....do you?  Well, this would then change the drapery color...so maybe we should just go with it "as is".  I do LOVE that bright purple rug!!

Simple...and very calming.  I love the size of the artwork and that it really POPS that purple in this area in a big way.  

I hope this helped to show our reader that yes...you can combine these colors in your room.  The choice is yours...go bright and bold...OR...more muted and soft?  Which do YOU prefer?

Have a "Simply Irresistible" Day!

Photo Credits:  Traditional Home, Decor Pad

*I TRY TO CREDIT ALL IMAGES, IF THERE ARE ANY PHOTOS OR IMAGES HERE THAT ARE NOT CREDITED CORRECTLY OR YOU WISH THEM TO BE REMOVED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL GLADLY OBLIGE. THEY ARE BEING USED HERE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING INTERIOR DESIGN. THANK YOU!

Inspiration

Once we know what sort of "mood" we want in our room we can then begin the hunt...for inspiration!  Even as a designer, I find myself needing some inspiration photos in order to scale down my oh-so-many choices.  For instance, in my dining room I have walls this color...(doesn't look quite as "pink" as on here)

SW6587 Valentine

In the foyer area I have this color...

SW6380 Humble Gold

And if this Humble Gold doesn't look YELLOW to you...then it isn't showing up as the true color!!  On my screen it looks tan...and it is so NOT!  It's a lovely yellow gold.

Where I am in need of inspiration is for my dining room drapery panels...stationary panels only...on each side of my two windows.  Today was my lucky day because I ran across this...

I think this two-tone stripe would be perfect in there! Love them!! I knew I wanted to bring in the yellow-gold somehow and I love the idea of using it with fabric that has the wall color too...voila!  And you know what?  This photo looks almost like the "true" colors in my rooms!  That's why it's always a good idea to test paint colors before painting an entire room by a chip...with Color to Go.  The chips I found to use here (above) don't really look a thing like my rooms!  There is a drastic difference...and I know monitor resolution has a lot to do with it too!  Oh well.

Decisions, decisions, decisions...but I do believe this may be a keeper!

What about YOU...have you found any great inspiration recently?

Have a "Simply Irresistible" Day!

Ta-Ta!

Image Credits:  Traditional Home

*I TRY TO CREDIT ALL IMAGES, IF THERE ARE ANY PHOTOS OR IMAGES HERE THAT ARE NOT CREDITED CORRECTLY OR YOU WISH THEM TO BE REMOVED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL GLADLY OBLIGE. THEY ARE BEING USED HERE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING INTERIOR DESIGN. THANK YOU!

To Do...or...Not To Do?

Did you know that being inside more, as we tend to do in this Southern heat, can make us think of trying crazy things?  What do I mean, you may ask.  Let's start first with the topic of...WHITE kitchens!  I have a white kitchen.  Most people love white kitchens, right?

Get the picture...WHITE kitchens!  Well, I for one have been thinking a lot lately (hum, could be the heat is really getting to me!) ... I am really tired of WHITE in my kitchen!!!  When I say really, I mean really!  So, off goes my imagination as to what this kitchen of mine COULD really be...I would love to paint all the white cabinets (or at least I think I would!) I am on a real turquoise quest of some sort and have been wondering...dare I do that?  To that extent of a color?  Would I really?  But then, I see other white kitchens that make me think all I really need is to enhance all of this white by adding lots more color...just maybe!

Like this perhaps....I just LOVE this white kitchen and it's all because of the pops of red all around.  I do have red in my color scheme around the house too (well, it's "Valentine" actually) so do I want this color and just add it in this simple way...???

Then, there are partially painted cabinets...the islands.  I really like this idea too and it sure does break up that white flow and really does change the looks all together - don't you think? 

And, since I also have yellows flowing in the house..I have tossed around the idea of painting the kitchen walls a cheerful color similar to this...(my floors are more neutral - not like this one).  This would also make a drastic change to my white kitchen.

This floor looks a lot like my floors...really close.  OK, see that far wall on the left?  THAT is the turquoise color I think I really really want in my kitchen...do I paint the walls this color...or do I dive in and paint the cabinets this color???  

Or maybe...

I should first bring in lots of new accessories with my colors and see if that alone will "do the trick".  If not, then I will just have to give it plenty more thought...especially before painting all these white cabinets!  

What would YOU do?  Do you have a white kitchen?  Are you tired of white kitchens...or do you still love them?  Do tell, I'd love to know your thoughts and opinions.  It's so hard to design...for ME!!!    

Have a "Simply Irresistible Day"!

Image credits:  unknown (1st)-if you know, let me know so I can credit accordingly, The Enchanted Home, Thornton Designs, Traditional Homes


 *I TRY TO CREDIT ALL IMAGES, IF THERE ARE ANY PHOTOS OR IMAGES HERE THAT ARE NOT CREDITED CORRECTLY OR YOU WISH THEM TO BE REMOVED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL GLADLY OBLIGE. THEY ARE BEING USED HERE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING INTERIOR DESIGN. THANK YOU!