Oh Joy! Oh What a Nursery!

(via ohjoy.blogs.com)

While catching up on my blog reading, I came across this post from Oh Joy.  This post features Joy's nursery for her little baby girl, Ruby.  Wow.  First of all, I shouldn't be surprised.  Joy has impeccable style. (I just want to swap closets with her!)  Secondly, loved seeing that her color scheme is similiar to Evie's room!  

Now, THIS is what I mean by timeless decorating, especially in a kids' rooms.  I love that there's a movement toward more sophistication in kids design.  Not in a snooty way, but in a way that truly celebrates the freedom, joy and imagination of childhood and not trying to compartmentalize it with some theme.  Plus, in the end, I really think this is a much more economical way to decorate.  Keep the big pieces neutral and classic and change out the accessories.

My favorite part of the nursery?  That amazing chest of drawers!  Seriously, Craigslist?  How come I never find stuff like that? 

(via ohjoy.blogs.com)

Well, since my chances of finding something similiar to that dresser is zero to none, I'm feeling a DIY project coming on.  I'm seeing an IKEA Rast or Koppang dresser, drawer fronts painted with some fab hardware like in this tutorial...Ta dah!

Now if anyone sees this again on Craiglist, tell me!  In the meantime, I'm off to find an IKEA dresser on craigslist.  :)

Have a great weekend!

J.Crew Inspired Rooms

Happy Monday!  I admit, it's been a long couple of weeks and I desparately needed just a little "me" time this weekend.  My husband graciously blessed me with a few hours to myself and I jumped on the chance to doing some window shopping.  I walked into J.Crew and saw the dress that I've been conveting the past week ever since I saw it here.  It was on sale AND in my size so I took it as a sign and snatched it up!  I can even fit it over my belly and post-baby, I'll be able to wear it with a belt for a long time. 

(image via fabsugar.com)

Yes, include me among the countless bloggers you'll read about who LOVE J.Crew.  What I love about their style is that it is classic, timeless, but in a updated, fresh and quirky way.  There's always something unexpected about their looks whether it's a bold, but beautiful color, or an new mix of patterns or textures, like denim with glitter or hot pink and orange. 

I first came across this these photos in January and knew that I'd want to share them again someday.  Click here for a link to all 10 J.Crew inspired rooms.

(all images via houseandhome.com)

I'd consider all these rooms classics that won't go out of style, yet, there's nothing boring or predictable about them.  There's something in each look that makes you say "hmmm"  :)  Thanks Jenna Lyons!  We love you!

What about you... do these looks speak to you too?

Pantone 2011 Fall Colors

I know, I know, summer is far from over. In fact it seems like it's just starting here in Seattle. :P  I'm a summer person, so trust me, I'm in no rush for fall. I'm soaking in every bit of sun and letting the kids play late into the evening, but I do love the anticipation of a new season. Out with the old, in with the new, an opportunity for a fresh start in a fresh season. There's something soothing about the natural rhythm of the seasons. I love this verse:

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens

- Ecclesiastes 3:1 -

So, here are the projected colors trends for Fall 2011. Gorgeous huh? To be honest, I've never met a color I didn't like. I think my favorites in this collection are the pinks and the greens... great combo, so fresh! What are your favorites?



(via pantone.com)



You think J Crew's Fall Collection has got it right?





 



(all images via mamasrollingstone.com)

LOVE IT!!

I've already started noticing lots of plums and pinks and the olive green is coming back again from last fall.  Funny.. I knew there was a reason I just bought an olive scarf!  :)  Now... for that pink sweater...

BTW... this is the last week my one year survey will be up.  If you haven't gotten a chance to complete it, I'd LOVE your feedback.  Thanks!

WHY IT WORKS - Serena and Lily Does It Again

It feels like it's been awhile since I did a proper WHY IT WORKS post so I'm making up for lost time by posting 3 gorgeous photos today.  These are from the newest Serena and Lily catalog.  Drool worthy once again!  What I love about Serena and Lily's look is that it always feels well traveled, collected, fresh and approachable.

Here are a few more specifics about what I love!

Living Room: 

• Unexpected chandelier.  I'm a sucker for great lighting! 
• Color Palette.  Coral, pale yellow, soft blue and lavender.  Gorgeous!
• Mix of textures.  Ceramic lamp, silk shade, weathered wood console table, metallic coffee table mixed with great textiles.  Perfection.

 Bedroom:

• What a great example of that white 4 poster bed I talked about a few weeks back.  Simple, but adds just a hint of drama.
• White.  I'm really drawn to the freshness of this all white room.  Walls, window treatments and furniture.  White does not have to feel cold.  This room feels airy and calming. 
• Finishing touches.  Loving the gorgeous chandlier, artwork and bed linens.
• Color Palette.  Orange, white and soft aqua.  Love it.

Playroom:

• Saturated colors.  Blues, teals, and greens all broken up with just the right amount of white.
• Wall art placement.  Kids need to have art hung at their level.  These pictures are placed for perfect viewing for the kids who will be hanging out in here.
• Texture.  Love the woven stools and the metal lantern.  Style belongs in kid spaces too!
• By the way... love the floor?  Serena painted it!

So seriously, do you think these rooms are as beautiful as I do?  :)

WHY IT WORKS - Penelope's Room

I've mentioned before that I've been collecting design ideas as we put together a room for my 1 1/2 year old daughter, Evie. I'm so excited! Nothing like a redecorating project to get those creative juices flowing. My husband on the other hand is bracing himself for some DIY weekends. :)

Here's a photo I found via ohdeedoh that I find oh so inspiring.  Here's what I love about this room:

WHY IT WORKS:



(via melissaesplin.com)



• The Color Palette.  I'm particularly fond of non-pink room for little girls.  I just love that it's unexpected and fresh.  Isn't the peach, orange and yellows in this room so charming?
• Wall Treatment.  I really love the scalloped border.  So eye catching and graphic.  Melissa created this one using contact paper.  I'm leaning towards just painting the ceiling in Evie's room and keeping the walls off-white.  I think I could create the same effect with paint.
• Repitition of Color.  The best way to give your room a put together feel is to have your splashes of color spread throughout the room.  I like to have the colors talk to each other.  :)

INSPIRATION:

• Paint Treatments.  There are so many fun ways to work with paint.  Paint is THE cheapest way to change a room and there are a ton of great ideas out there for using paint in unexpected ways.  I've been so happy with our painted striped walls.  I've also seen some great stencils, like these ones here.  The scallops here is just another great idea.  Again, Melissa used contact paper, but once you make a template, you could easily do this with paint.  Click here for her tutorial.
• White furniture.  Use white as a unifying color to bring all your different pieces of furniture together.  White paint or spray paint is easy to use and you can't go wrong.  White furniture will work in any space, any time.
• Splashes of color.  The best and most economical way to bring in color is through large pieces that can be changed and isn't a forever investment.  Rugs, bedding, artwork, pillows are all high impact, low commitment ways to bring great color into a room.

Click here to see more of Penelope's nursery. 

WHY IT WORKS - A Green Room

Happy Monday!  St. Patrick's Day is coming up on Thursday and I thought it would be fun to use it as inspiration for our WHY IT WORKS for this week.  Green is one of my favorite colors, gray is up there too.  Green never goes out of style.   It's the color of spring, freshness, life and to me, joy.  Here's a lovely home I saw over at House Beautiful and it showcases several good design principles that we can all use.

WHY IT WORKS:

• Window Treatments.  There are so many options for window treatments, almost too many options.  I know I've been paralyzed as to which one to choose as they are expensive and you don't want to make a mistake !  This photo showcases a good option; woven shades.  Woven shades add a natural element to any room whether it's modern, contemporary or traditional.  Any room feels more inviting with a bit of nature tucked in.
• Wall space and art.  When looking for places to hang wall art, consider the space between your windows.  Whether wide or narrow, many times these little areas are just the right place to hang art.  With the framing of windows on either side, you already have naturally symmetry and a focal point.
• Floating furniture.  We've heard this from designers over and over again.  So many of us make the mistake of pushing all of our furniture up against the walls thinking it's going to open up the room.  In many cases, it just makes rooms feel disjointed and uninviting.  Take a look at our inspiration photo.  It's a large room and imagine if all the furniture was placed along the perimeter... it would really leave the room feeling empty and cold.  With the furniture floating inside the space, it feels full, cozy and comfortable.

INSPIRATION:

• Ok.  Let's review.  Consider woven shades for window treatments.  It's a timeless choice that is versatile and gives texture and life to a room.
• Wall art.  Reconsider those spaces between your windows or on the side of your windows.  Could they work for you?
• Float furniture.  Don't be afraid to experiment and move furniture around.  In my experience, often you can't really tell unless you see it and feel it.  All it takes is some man (woman) power.  :)

WHY IT WORKS - A Charming Living Room

Hello!  Here we go with WHY IT WORKS Mondays!  Here's a room that I saw way back and just dug out recently.  It's amazing how good design is timeless. This room was published in House and Home back in 2009.  I know only 2 years ago, but the colors and ideas remain just as fresh today.  Here's the break down.

(via houseandhome.com)

WHY IT WORKS:



• Color Palette.  Man, isn't this room just plain beautiful to look at?  That framed textile is just gorgeous!
• Lines.  Notice how the lines of the couch, side chair and table are curvy and "light".  Nothing big, square or bulky.  It plays off the circles of the artwork and makes the whole room feel light and playful.
• Pops of color.  Notice how the colors in this room just dance around.  A splash of yellow in the garden stool, some magenta in the side chair, lovely colors in the throw pillows and all nicely balanced out with a creamy white rug, lamp and accessories.

INSPIRATION:

• Framed textile or paper as artwork.  I love this idea!  There are so many beautiful fabrics and papers out there.  There's a print and color palette for everyone.  Frame it up and you add instant graphic punch to a space.  Best thing, you put it together yourself, so it's one of a kind!
• White lamps.  The lamps in this room are interesting.  They almost fade into the background and you hardly notice them.  It allows the artwork and furniture to pop into the foreground.  Maybe try this same technique in your space.
• Throw pillows.  Boy, sometimes placing throw pillows on a couch or a bench can seem like putting together a work of art in itself.  There's a fine balance between too much and too little.  I like this arrangement that they have. 3 on one side and 2 on the other.  All coordinating solid colors.  Nice.

To see more photos of Emily Walker's charming home, click here.

Why It Works - A Little Pink

Hello everyone!  Sorry the late post starting off this week.  I have to admit, I was a bit distracted by the Oscars on Sunday AND I was having some techinical difficulty.  All is resolved now.  :)

Speaking of Oscars, I do have to say, I just love Colin Firth.  Isn't he dashing?  I first fell in love with him as Mr. Darcy in BBC's Pride and Prejudice.  (*swoon*)  I haven't seen The King's Speech, but I definitely hope to soon.  What a great story!

I can't talk about the Oscars without talking about fashion.  One of my favorite dresses of the night... Melissa Leo's Marc Bouwer dress.  There wasn't too much talk about this dress, in fact it was on someone's worst dressed list, but I think it's beautiful.  I really like the lace and the cut.  Classic and timeless.  What do you think?  Now, I'm not saying anything about her acceptance speech.  :)

OK, onto Interior Design.  This week for WHY IT WORKS, we'll be picking apart the "pink" room featured on this the March issue of House Beautiful.  I think this room its feeling of fun and girly, but modern and graphic.  I'll be referring back to this photo when redoing our daughters room next month. 

WHY IT WORKS:

• Color.  This is Pink Begonia by Benjamin Moore.  Again, what an easy way to use bold color when you have great white millwork.
• Lines.  Take a look at all 4 pieces of furniture in this room.  They all have exposed legs, curvy lines and great details.  This is what gives the room its "fun" factor.
• Pattern.  I'm really loving chevrons these days.  My favorite piece is that yellow/white armchair.  This picture is a great example of mixing patterns and colors.  It really works!

INSPIRATION:

• As I've said before, don't be afraid of using bold color.  If you plenty of white to tone it down, it can really work in any room.
• Furniture.  Think about the feel you want your room to have.  If you're going for light and airy, stick with pieces that are quite tailored and have exposed legs.  Notice there isn't anything bulky or oversized in this room.  Now, if you're going for loungy and warm and have the space for it, definitely go for things that are a little more billowy and fluffy.
• I'm loving this color palette:  pale pink, golden yellow, light blue and white. 

Why It Works - Taking Risks

Hello!  Happy Monday!  I came across this photo and was reminded that good design really means taking a risk.  This room may not seem edgey to many of you, but for me, an everyday decorator, I was was inspired by the boldness of the artwork and rug.  Any room that makes you say "wow", evokes that response because it has something unexpected.  I love how Candice Olson puts it, "good design is knowing the rules and knowing when to break them".



(via lonnymag.com)



WHY IT WORKS:

• Artwork.  Go BIG!  What sings to you?  Buy it big or blow it up.
• Rug.  Black and white works.  I can't take my eyes off the rug.  I like how they paired a graphic rug with a glass coffee table so that it doesn't take away from the pattern. 
• Mantle styling.  Here's a great inspiration for how to style a mantle.  A big, beautiful mirror and simple candle sticks.  Elegant and chic.

INSPIRATION:

• In a world full of beautiful patterns and colors, black and white STILL works!  White walls and black accents.  Easy to do.  Notice the touches of black are spread throughout the room to keep your eye moving around the whole space.
• Bold prints/photos in simple frames.  The RIBBA frame from IKEA is my go to wall frame.  They are affordable, simple and clean.  Large wall frames can get very pricey.
• When you go bold with one element, it works to keep everything else simple.  Notice there aren't many tschochkes to distract the eye.  In other words, EDIT.

WHY IT WORKS - An Eclectic Modern Design

When I saw this room on Martha, it brought a smile to my face.  There is so much in this room to love.  Hopefully it brings a smile to your face too, on this Valentine's Day.  Smooches.  :)



(via marthastewart.com)



WHY IT WORKS:

• Color.  What a great palette!  Yellow, apricot, and white.
• Architectural detail.  The use of sawn balusters is genius!  (BTW... I didn't know what sawn balusters were, after some research... they are the decorative pieces used mostly for porch railings.  Here's a good resource.)
• Graphic patterns.  I'm partial to bold graphics, particularly classic lines that won't go out of style.

INSPIRATION:

• Yelllow.  I love a yellow room, but you do have to be careful with the shade you choose.  I haven't been able to get yellow quite right.  As with any color, it's best to do a test patch of it, no matter how sure you are of the color.  I tried yellow walls for my sons' room and I had to have the whole room repainted.  It was so bright, I could hardly walk in!  If you have a yellow you like, my advice is to go one shade lighter and always do a test.  It's worth it!
• White.  Anytime you use a bold color or pattern in a room, temper it with white.  And have the white spread throughout the room.  It's easy to do with paint on millwork and ceilings and through furniture.
• Architectural detail.  Man, I'm loving those sawn balusters.  Just beautiful!  If we didn't already have wainscotting in our home, I'd really consider this.  I'd do it contrasted with a nice, dark gray wall.  If you're renovating, I'd definitely consider this look.



(via marthastewart.com)



Click here for more photos of this gorgeous space.

Why It Works: A Blue and White Guest Room

We just got back from a little family vacation and I'm pooped.  So here's a quick one for this Monday.


WHY IT WORKS:


(via House Beautiful)



• Color.  Black and white or navy and white never go out of style.  It's clean, simple, and it's easy to put together. 
• Beds in front of windows CAN work.  Bed placement in a bedroom is key because everything else revolves around the bed.  Every room is different, but don't rule out putting a bed in front of a window.  Try it.  :)
• Vignettes.  I love how they styled the nightstand and the wall behind it.  Clean and beautiful.  Consider doing the same thing with a round mirror, small lamp and a couple of books and accessories.  A framed photo of your guest is always a nice touch.

INSPIRATION:

• Color.  Pick 2 colors and go with it!  Pick basics and you can easily pull the look together with pieces from different stores.   A lot of times you can find great single pieces at TJ Maxx or Target.  With basic colors, you can easily mix and match.
• Duvets/Pillows.  This is usually a great starting point if you're not sure where to start.  There are tons of beautiful stuff out there at all price points.  Start with your bedding and get inspired by the colors and prints.  You can EASILY get paint, rugs and accessories to match.

Why It Works and Happy New Year

HELLO!  Hope you all had a Happy New Year!  We ended the year on a somewhat odd note... My husband and I both caught the stomach flu on New Years Eve so we skipped out on a get together with friends.  Then after dinner, our power went out so we packed up the whole family and spent the night at my in-laws.  Everyone was in bed by 10.  :P  Thank God for family and thankfully we're slowly recovering!

My Why It Works for this week comes from House and Home's 2010 Show Home.  House and Home has become one of my favorite decorating magazines and this home is gorgeous.  Check it out.


WHY IT WORKS:

• This one of my favorite rooms of the house.  What caught my eye immediately was the color palette.  I love that fresh chartreuse color and what a great contrast with the light walls and dark floors, and dark couch.
• Fire place.  What drama!  I really love the idea of extending the stone/tile work around the fireplace all the way up to the ceiling.  It creates drama, a focal point and really sets the scene for a gathering place.
• Simplicity.  I love how the accesories in the room are kept simple.  The mantel is accesoried simply as is the coffee table.  I know editing is hard, but it makes such a difference.

INPSIRATION:

• Color.  If you're debating on wall color or flooring.  My go-to is dark floors and light walls.  I just think the contrast is stunning and timeless.
• Furniture placement.  This room is a great one to use as a model for furniture placement.  If you're can accomodate all this furniture, this is a great arrangement.  If not, a couch facing 2 chairs would also work too.  It really makes for an inviting conversation area, rather than all attention focused on a tv.
• Pillows.  I love how simple and coordinated the pillows are, they really help to bind all the colors together and finish off the room.  I really like using 2 pillows on each end of a couch and maybe a lumbar in the middle too.  Designers can often get carried away in using too many pillows.

Here's some more photos and click here to see the whole gallery.

Why It Works - A Holiday Staircase

Still in the Christmas spirit, this week I'm posting a holiday photo from one of my favorite designers, Sarah Richardson.  What I love about this photo is all the inspiration it has, both holiday and non-holiday.  Here it is!

WHY IT WORKS:


(image from houseandhome.com)



• Color, Sarah's color palettes are always easy and beautiful.  Here we have soft grays, browns, yellows and white.
• Stair runner.  I LOVE the look of stair runners.  This one happens to be painted with a contrasting orange border.  How fun!  Don't you love the numbers on each step?
• Console table.  This is the easiest way to dress up the space right below a staircase.  A simple console table with just a few well placed accesories.  Maybe a lamp, flower arrangement and/or bowl.
• Garland.  I love how clean and simple this boxwood garland is.  It's accented with justt a few gold ornaments that pick up on the yellow/golds in the room.

INSPIRATION:

• Color palette.  This is a beautiful palette to copy and use for your home.  Grays, white, buttery yellow, anchored with dark browns is a palette that will stand the test of time.
• Stair runner.  This is such a simple and economical look to replicate - especially if you're painting your runner.  My favorite part is the numbers.  You can easily pick those up at any hardware store.  I love how they are mismatched.  This is a great look to consider for stairs even outside, leading to your home.  So charming!
• Console table.  In my opinion, one of the most versatile pieces of furniture you can buy and you can find them anywhere!  My console table has moved from entry to family room, to loft and now in our master bedroom.  Find one that you love and invest in it.

 

Why It Works - A Charlotte Living Room

Boy, when I saw photos of this living room, I was immediately in love!   This is the home of interior designer, Beth Keim, owner of Lucy and Company in Charlotte, NC.  Let's break it down!



(image from lucyandcompany.com)



WHY IT WORKS:

• Wall Color!  HELLO!  (you remember that line from Jerry McGuire?  "you had me at hello")  What a gorgeous choice! 
• Symmetry.  The lamps behind the sofa definitely works!  One of my favorite looks is a sofa table behind a sofa, especially if the back of the sofa is facing another room like in this photo.  It helps that those lamps are GORGEOUS!
• Accent color.  Notice how the accent colors are spread throughout the room so that there's a sense of flow among all the elements.  You have orange in the throw pillows, lamps, decorative bowl, and side chair.

INSPIRATION:

• Wall color.  This is a big decision and not something you want to rush into.  Always buy small samples and do test patches.  If you have a room that has lots of light and white trim, you can definitely get away with bolder colors and it doesn't feel too heavy.  Notice all the white trim in the inspiration room.
• Matching lamps.  ALWAYS look chic.  You can place them on an entry, sofa table, buffet, mantle... you can't go wrong!
• Color Palette.  Pick a palette and stick to it.  I like spaces where I can immediately pick out a color palette, rather than a hodge podge of colors and patterns.  To me, it's calming.  I love how she picked a color palette and committed to it.  It makes more of an impact.  There are tons of gorgeous things out there... but you don't have to bring them all home.  :)

Later this week, I'll be sharing more inspiring ideas from Beth's beautiful home.

Serena and Lily

My inspiration room comes from the pages of the most recent Serena and Lily's catalog.  I swear I heard a choir of angels sing as I was flipping through each page, they were so beautiful.

WHY IT WORKS

Their current selection of fabrics are GORGEOUS!!  They are graphic, classic and just ridiculously beautiful.  I love how they delicately combine old and new,  tailored and rustic, bold and soft. 



INSPIRATION

• Color palette.  Personally, I love using soothing colors in a bedroom.  There was a time when I had a red wall in our master bedroom and it worked, but right now, I'm loving pale blues, brown and grey.  Take a look around your master bedroom.  Remember this is the room where you literally come to rest.  Is it soothing?  Does your room help you feel calm?
• White linens.  I'm a big fan of white linens.  They make you feel like you're in a luxurious hotel room.  Plus, you can get beautiful white linens at any price point and they match ANYTHING.  Beautiful and practical, music to my ears!
• Found pieces.  Do you have items in your room that has a story?  It can, but doesn't have to be furniture.  It can be an old photograph, letter, book, etc...   Found objects add character and helps keep any room from looking like a showroom.  You want your spaces to reflect you and your story.

Here's more inspiration from serenaandlily.com

Outdoor Inspiration

WHY IT WORKS

This week's WHY IT WORKS inspiration comes from a weekend getaway we had with some good friends.  I'm typically a city girl, but every once in awhile, it does feel good to be out in the fresh air.  We stayed at a charming lodge set right in the middle of a forest, next to a river.  It was beautiful.  As I was clicking away on my camera, I spotted a small match of reindeer moss tucked beside some river rocks.  The bright green of reindeer moss is one of my all time favorite colors.  The following pieces are all inspired by my little patch of moss.  Just goes to show... inspiration is everywhere.  If the color palette and textures work in nature, it will work in your home too!

Crate and Barrel Bennet Green Pillow

             

Anthropologie Coqo Rug

West Elm Tree Stump Side Table

Crate and Barrel Braden Coffee Table

John Derian Plates for Target

Nate Berkus!

I have always loved watching Nate on the Oprah show!  I was ecstatic when I heard he was getting his own show!  I love his design philosophy and his style.  He's definitely one of my favorite designers!  In honor of his new show, The Nate Berkus Show, starting today, our inspiration room this week is from Nate's Chicago Apartment.

WHY IT WORKS:

photo from Elle Decor via Apartment Therapy

Wall Color:  Like in most things, balance is key.  Notice how he kept the background of this room neutral so that things in the foreground can pop.  The rug is amazing, I'll be featuring a similiar rug on my blog on Friday.  I love paint and I think color is great, but sometimes, you just can't go wrong with classic white.

Legs:  Tables, chairs and sofas usually have exposed legs or covered legs.  Nate has used exposed legs for all the pieces in this room.  When you see the legs on a piece of furniture, it makes it appear lighter because your eye can travel all around it.

Color Story:  The color story in this room is basically black, white, brown and green.  Neutral, but definitely not boring.  Most importantly, notice how the colors relate to each other.  The black is seen in the rug, bookshelf and art.  The browns are in the sofa chairs, and art.  Lastly, a punch of green is brought in through the chair cushions, pillows and flowers.

INSPIRATION

Colors:  Take a look around, can you narrow down your colors to 3 or 4?  Do they relate to each other?  Do you see your primary colors in various pieces and throughout the room?  A common mistake is to err on either extreme.  Often we put too much color in a room because we can't decide, or we're so afraid of color that the room is too neutral and boring.

Rug:  I love rugs.  Because they're usually large and in the center of a room, they make a big impact.  Even if you have wall to wall carpet, go ahead and put an area rug on top.  It works!  Rugs are a great place to draw color inspiration too.

Wall Space:  Take another look at Nate's room, notice how well he uses his wall space to display art and collections.  Another common decorating mistake is not using your wall space well.  Many times, artwork or photos are too small and you're left with a blank wall that looks unbalanced.  Look around your space,  how are you using your walls?   

For more photos of Nate's Chicago Apartment, click here.

A PB Entry

One of my all time favorite stores is Pottery Barn.  I've even worked there for a couple of seasons.  So, it's only fitting that I include Pottery Barn in this series.  I love their look because it is timeless and classic.  Home furnshings are expensive, so if I'm investing on items I'm going to have for awhile, I don't want to worry about it going out of style.  With Pottery Barn, you won't. 

WHY THIS WORKS

• Wall color!  The blue in this room is beautiful!  You're drawn in to this room, but it doesn't overpower.  You're not thinking, "Woah, that's a really blue wall."  This color is dramatic and soothing at the same time. 
• Art Gallery.  Notice how they have several different pieces of art, but they all relate.  They're all  in black and white and are framed in either a mahagony or black frame.  With so many elements on this wall, limiting the colors is key.   
• Symmetry.  You can't go wrong putting a pair of candles, lamps, sconces, etc. on either side of a table.  Again, because this wall has several small elements, the candle hurricanes help give a sense of order and a place for the eye to rest.

INSPIRATION

• Do you have a focal wall?  Use color to draw your eye into a space.  Not sure on color?  Benjamin Moore has a fabulous palette of colors, one of my favorites!  Check out their Pottery Barn swatch books, free at stores and they come out with new colors each season.
• Photos/Art.  Display your photos!  Live with reminders of special times each day!  Put them in the same style frame, but in differing sizes.  You can't go wrong with changing your photos to black and white.  Timeless!
• Accessoring a table.  Stuck?  Try arranging items symmetrically.  You can even follow this photo exactly.  2 lamps/ candles on each end, tray in the middle, add flowers and decorative objects.  There you go!

(photo from Pottery Barn)