Color Found in Subtle Shades of White

I have a hard time NOT adding color in my home.  I get ideas about a crisp white and linen palette...so soothing, calming, and a how it can be both comfortable and sophisticated when done right.  But, when it comes down to it I cannot help myself...I start neutral and add color upon color upon color!

But, also, I am always inspired by people's spaces that can beautify and add so much rich dimension to a home with whites and creams and neutrals.

Below are some of my favorite examples of that via a few blog-homes.

images via Dreamy Whites

images via Beach Cottage

images via Starfish Cottage

images via The Lettered Cottage

I try to take some inspiration from the coastal and crisp neutrals above, peppered occasionally with color that just jumps off the picture due to the white backdrop.  When I need to edit my living spaces back {which is often} I try to remember spaces like these...they are so lovely and calming and creative as well!

Thinking of fabrics & Kitchen Curtains...

My plan is, now that the interior house painting is complete, to make some curtains for the kitchen/dining area {which is all windows} to bring some color, pattern, and texture over to that nook of my little world.  I plan to buy fabric, get some non-sew tape for the edges, curtain rods, and curtain clips.  I am looking for a simple window height look that doesn't require any sewing {which, as of right now, I don't really do...lack of sewing machine being the largest reason for that}.

The area is flecked with turquoise, red, white, and a bit of yellow...so am looking to bring at least some of that in the curtains.  The accent wall brings in the turquoise and reds are in some of the textiles and appliances (the rug and kitchen aid mixer, coffee pot, and tea kettle).

I also have this rug {currently the new bed-of-choice for this guy} which is sort of the color inspiration for this area....

The rug is from Pier One and you can see a better image of the color and pattern here...

Textured Stripe Rug, Pier One

Here are some I have at the top of the list {c/o joann fabric online samples}:


















Annie Selke "Links" in Indigo

Waverly Outdoor Fabric in Muse Persimmon



















Waverly Carino-Buttercup


















   Home Essentials Print Fabric Dana/Red


Any thoughts?  Any suggestions?  I am looking for bright and clever without being too busy.  I think a lot of these (except the first one) might still be too busy to cover 3 walls of curtains.  Hmm.

What fabrics and textures inhabit your eating and dining spaces?


As a side note: I am also thinking about adding this print somewhere in the kitchen.  I have been eyeing it forever...

"blogs and tea" print by made by girl

Society 6 & Their 10,000 Skins {or nearly}

I could peruse the art and designs featured at Society 6 forever.  I especially love that so many of their art works can be converted by a quick click of your virtual order into a skin for your iphone or laptop or an iphone case!  How cool is that?

And the same images you can get in any number of permutations: from the cases and laptop skins to prints or canvas art and even on sweatshirts and t-shirts...it really is pretty cool.

Here are some of my current favorites...I really want to get a case from them.  I got a skin previous but when I traded out phones {or rather my husband traded it out} my skin was lost.  Soon, my friends, very soon I shall have a new lovely from them.  It is on the "to-buy" wish list for sure.  They are definitely one of my big go-spots for new prints or inspiration.  They are much like etsy in that they are a show space for new artists with unending creativity.




okshirahm sky mandala by Peter Patrick Barreda



In Groveland by Valentina Ramos


Sunny Leo by Robert Farkas 



Le Voyage by Ilaria Lazzaroni



Color Your Life by Bianca Green   : I think this is my current favorite.  I also really love the art print version of it ....

I mean who wouldn't want to color their life in this lovely palate?


I love that this great supply of wearable and useable art illustrates another way you can take beauty off your walls and into your life in new and interesting ways.

Anyone else have some favorites from the neverending society6 collection?

My Favorite Clippings from October Coastal Living

So, I discussed earlier this week some of the inspirations for my own home exterior face lift via the Coastal Living edition for October.  Well, the images are finally up on their website for some of my favorites and so I will share them with you as well as my home's redressing in progress.....

The turquoise doors and shutters are painted....the mailbox and art have been sprayed white and I am waiting on a new house number display to take down the old ones as well as a few other ideas up my sleeve including outdoor furniture of some sort!  I can't wait to share the DIY in process for the paint and spray paint projects and those will be coming shortly.

For now here are some of my favorite inspirations from Coastal Living in October!

Here they have a door very similar in color to my new door--except a little more green in the turquoise...and that great starfish wreath I wrote about in the earlier post!

image from Coastal Living

Here are some beachy and bohemian style accessories to wear in front of your well-appointed, light and bright home:

image from Coastal Living and earrings from shopbop.com


image from Coastal Living and Kaftan via theoutnet.com 

And here are some great sneak peeks into Coastal Living's Ultimate Beach House 2011 and it is gorgeous!  Here are some of my favorite views:

A simple, airy, and seafoam flecked front porch...

image from Coastal Living


I am in love with the paddle mirror!....

image via Coastal Living

I also love this bright kitchen with flip flops and a great seating bench nook (something I am hoping to DIY in something similar soon)...and I am drooling over the upholstery on those chairs...

image via Coastal Living

A great guest bedroom but I would love it as my master with that fabric headboard, valances with a wonderful moorish shape, footstools, and antlers, not to mention the rug...the colors are crisp and subtle enough as to not overwhelm but there is plenty of yumminess going on here...

image from Coastal Living

oh and ps: 
I am loving my new pillow from One Kings Lane!  My chair, or rather my husband's recliner, still needs some work in terms of it's dressing but this pillow is doing wonders for my love of it :).  I will talk more on the origins of my mohair love (last month) and the apartment therapy house tour that brought it on!

From me, my pillow, and my sniffly cold...a good night to you :)!

Movie & TV Inspired Art

I love the inventive way artists are incorporating the pop culture into artistic pieces like these great prints in homage to popular movies and television shows.  The Dexter one I got for my husband for his birthday a week ago--a bit dark but in a clever way {and he loves that kind of a combo}.

Ifop print inspired by  "Flight of the Concords"

Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back print by handz

80's movie inspired set of 4 prints by retrowhale

dexter by Olechka

Fight Club by Jerod Gibson

Hang Man {spiderman} by Liam Brazier

A Seashell Mirror & Some Inspirations

I have decided to take the bathroom mirror and make my own seashell mirror on the surround.  It is just a pane of glass on a piece of white wood right now and it was adhered crooked, which drives me crazy.  So, rather than replace the whole thing I figured I would take the usable beginnings and make myself a seashell mirror by glueing seashells and sea objects in neutral tones to the wood and mirror that exists.

Here is what it looks like now...

And here are some of my inspirations for the project...

White Seashell Mirror by beachgrasscottage

image from country living

image from phoebe howard & completely coastal

I especially love this new DIY mirror that Phoebe Howard has attempted.  I love a good DIY tutorial and it definitely has given my own mirror project new momentum.

image from Completely Coastal

See Phoebe's full tutorial HERE.

Besides the exterior house redo in motion this shell mirror project is next on my to-do list!
I am looking forward to this project but a bit intimidated as I know my own OCD for shape and symmetry and I know once glued it will always be glued :).

Any upcoming DIY's for anyone else?

Ode to Kelly Wearstler

I stumbled upon her fabric at Calico Corners searching for just the right fabric for my DIY headboard.  I was given the courage to even try a DIY headboard courtesy of the many blogging DIY-ers who spelled out the process so well.

I will be discussing the process at a later point but here is the finished product:

When I saw the fabric I was in love.  And every day when I go to sleep, wake up, or just stare fondly into my bedroom at the colors I am so happy I picked this pattern.  It has the colors of an oceanic seafoam and teal with a pattern that is fresh with a bohemian texture to it.  I am hoping to get the courage to try some DIY valances with the rest of the fabric I have to match...we will see!

I love this image, I found after I made my headboard, of a full room of Kelly Wearstler's using the same fabric in a different color.  I was pretty proud of my little idea when I saw her own version of it (obviously, much more intricately realized).

image from designzie.com

another image with her montage of great fabrics {if I could find a way to infuse my rooms in all of them I would}...

image from designzie.com

Here are some other great Kelly Wearstler creations and items for sale; she sells everything from fabrics to jewelry to decorative objects for the home.  I love it all!  Of course most of it {besides the fabric} I can just salivate at with wistful dreamy eyes :).

Wrap Facet Pendant 

Twisted Brass Bracelet

Metallic Drip Vase

Abstract Criss Cross Centerpiece

Hand Bottle Opener

Also you can follow her latest innovations in color, pattern, and texture at her blog "My Vibe Life" HERE.

Exterior "House Jewelry"

So I got my usual ripple of excitement today when my new edition of Coastal Living, October 2011 poked out of the mailbox to greet me as I walked up to the front door after a long day of work.  I am forever inspired by their room images and decorating ideas.  They are a beachy magazine but not too kitchy or cheesy...just the way I like my beach style.

This month's edition discusses dressing up your front door which is very timely for our newly purchased home with an exterior that just doesn't fit my love of bright colors and it's tiny ranch-y cottage architecture, not to mention its close proximity to the beach.

The image of our house below shows its current state.  My hopeful exterior is donning a really pale yellowish-cream color (which I can live with--dressed up with some color) and an olive green that just isn't me.  My feeling is if you look like a beachy-ranchy-block-house then you should just embrace it.  And embrace it we shall...me and my little "Sea Glass Castle" :).





I have some "Surfer" by Behr just waiting to adorn my front door (as soon as the Florida humidity calms down) and I want to add the Starfish Wreath highlighted in this month's CL (below) like a nice pair of dangling earrings, to complement the new color.  Although, I think at $120 I may have to attempt a DIY of this baby--unless I feel like an indulgent house-jewelry spurge :).

SURFER by behr, image via Coastal Living

"Starfish Wreath" from beachgrasscottage HERE.

I also want to pump up the house numbers since our thin silver current numbers just get lost in the yellowish background.  I want something that pops with color and life...and makes sure people don't keep driving past the house.  I love these (below).  Thank you CL for the suggestion! Although not sure my house can pull off paprika numbers...I like where the idea is going. They are from Heath Ceramics and just pop off the screen.

That said I really love what they did on this front door from House of Turquoise, the Dream House edition (which I agree, this house is a coastal dream).

This would also require less work because I could just take the house numbers on the side of the house next to the door and put them on the door.  In the end this, with my slightly brighter blue door (the house above used Wythe Blue by Benjamin Moore, which I contemplated but in the end brightness won my heart and my palette) will probably be what I will go with.  But I would still love a pop of paprika or coral...maybe in a some adirondack chairs or a door mat.  

Speaking of door mats...I love these....

"Maine Door Mat" from coxpond found HERE.

"welcome home" by damngooddoormats HERE.

garnet hill doormat collection HERE.

I think I am going to probably go with the last one because 1) I love things garnet hill 2) It's on sale 3) It goes with the colors of the house from the pale yellow to the new door color.  Hmm.  What to do?

The last piece I know I am going to add to this new door is a door knocker, as we have no doorbell.  One of the many quirks of the tiny Florida beach house (I will discuss others later--like the "outhouse" and laundry room deal).  I really want this one from Home Depot which at $39 isn't too bad.  Especially for a stylish and coastal way to hear someone when they come to the door.

What are your favorite bits of (exterior) house jewelry?  Do you have a painted front door and did you do it yourself?  I would love to hear some of your exterior home design inspirations.  And I definitely recommend this month's Coastal Living for some great inspirations!

Oh, Etsy. I Love You So Well. Today's Etsy FIVE.

Here are a few of my Beach-inspired etsy favorites as of...right ....now.  I am sure there will be plenty others by tomorrow. That is the beauty of etsy.  It is a neverending art market where creativity abounds.

"Docked" by donnageissler found HERE.

"Jellyfish Ocean" by sarahogren found HERE.

"Fluke Haven" by rustycricket found HERE.

Moby Whale by SouthernSlippin found HERE.

"Boats" by Lucysnowephotography found HERE.

Looking forward to blogging more about my favorite home inspirations, design and decorating adorations, and everything stylishly beachy and bohemian and all that falls betwixt and between!  This is the beauty and light that helps clear my brain after long and intense workdays :).