Supernatural Botanicals

Gary Chang, an archetect  in Hong Kong, has created the most amazing apartment in a space that’s about as big as most of our kitchens in the US.   Utilizing his 330 square feet to the max, he has created a sliding wall system that will just blow you mind.  What a genius mind he has for design.  Take a tour of his apartment here: 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg9qnWg9kak

“If you touch it every day, it should be beautiful—from your cabinet knobs to your mail tray. My toothbrush holder is a heavy cut-glass tumbler that I got for a couple of bucks at a flea market. It’s lovely, and it feels special to me.”  …Nate Berkus on how to make your house a home. 

Look of the day:  Gorgeous Black and White on Tan.  Clean, classic, simplified, and stylish.  This look courtesy of HGTV’s Rate My Space.  If you adore interior design (it’s practically part of my DNA code), then you’ll love Rate My Space.  Budding designers everywhere with great ideas.  

HGTV’s Dream Home is in New Mexico this year and it’s absolutely gorgeous from top to bottom.  Linda Woodrum, the home’s interior designer, must have had great fun decorating this home, pulling inspiration from Sante Fe decor.   The tile work in the kitchen is mind-blowing .  To me, the style feels sexy-urban with a twist of Santa Fe.  It really works.  There are five days left to enter the Dream Home giveaway.  Enter at www.HGTV.com.   Take a look inside.

Steal this look:  Gorgeous brown toile.

Are makeup vanities an area of forgotten interior design?  Approximately 90% of women are wear makeup every day, so one would think this would be a vital and key area in a girl’s home.  A quick Google search on makeup vanities depicts sad results.  There are scarce findings, and very few gorgeous makeup areas to be found …anywhere.  Since this is an area most of us utilize every morning, it should be beautiful and inviting, and a gorgeous place to start your day. 

I have, however, found a few examples where they got it right.  Check out the amazing spaces below. 

  What they’ve done right:  Crisp and clean white walls and curtains makes this makeup area feel light and breezy.  The carpet and chair add a nice punch of color and contrast.  The over head chandelier brings beautiful elegance to the room. 

  What they’ve done right:  They stuck with a theme …old Hollywood with a twist of French decor.  The furniture is ultra-feminine and girly, the lamp picks up the color from the pale pink walls.  Sunlight streams in for the back, reflecting off the mirrored table.  Gorgeous!

  What they’ve done right:  Beautiful architectural details with the arches, filled with a wall-sized mirror that reflects the light from behind.  Beautiful tiled flooring in white with flower accents brightens the space.  Small mirror attached to the wall for tasks such as putting on mascara. 

If you adore design, visit my friend Julia’s blog, over at Hooked On Houses.    She has an amazing blog that features everything “houses.” 

Ikea…it’s a total experience.  If you’ve never been to an Ikea store, it’s a must-experience type of place.  If you adore interior design (like I do!) and great prices, Ikea is the place for you.  Visiting Ikea can be an all day event.  There’s even a restaurant inside (go for the Swedish meatballs), so you can make a day of it.  The word on the street is that going to Ikea is the new trendy thing to do on a date.  Makes sense….lots of things to stimulate your senses visually.  Below is my video log of my day at Ikea.  There was so much to love there!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgrkZGgXE2k

There’s no doubt that that many of us are channeling our “inner designer” , and at HGTV.com, these designers are showcasing their skills, some of which are simply brilliant.  My favorite backyard makeover of the day is submitted by Sir Chandelier on Rate My Space.  He created this absolutely stunning backyard makeover.  I see French outdoor bistro when I look at this.  The colors are perfection.  The stripped black and white awnings are gorgeous!  The furniture is elegant.  The double-ended fireplace takes the cake.  It makes my head spin with new, creative ideas.  Gorgeous! 

When checking out design ideas, don’t forget to look into the Rate My Space files over at www.HGTV.com.  You’ll be amazed at how creative everyday people can really be with their interiors. 

before:   

Another home office to love!  Take advantage of the niches, arches, and insets in your house.  Remove the doors off of a closet, and create an inset desk with great bookshelves (I did!)  Take advantage of existing alcoves, or have a carpenter build these for you.  It’s an easy project for a professional….questionable if it’s your husband doing the work.  Use your better judgment on that one depending on the husband.

Great idea to take advantage of every inch of space in your home.

   Nike is helping people get in touch with their inner shoe designer.  After all, we want to look stylish at all times, including our workouts.  One of my favorite forms of cardio is step aerobics, and for that reason, I adore Nike Shox.  They have built in shocks in the heel, making them perfect for stepping, jumping, dance, running, etc.  They provide maximum cushioning to the heel.  My favorite part about my Shox is that I can design them myself, choosing from color, design, material, embellishments…right down to the color of the shoosh.   Not only is Nike my favorite workout shoe for performance, but they also step up the fun by letting you design them yourself.  Go To NikeID now to design your own kicks!