 |
| Design is really about the details, so I continually focus on them. I am always rotating objects in my home... a new accessory here, a freshly painted piece there.. Rearranging your home keeps things updated but also saves money. I have a photo shoot at my home this week and the photographer asked me if she could snap a few photos of my office!! I'll share my revamped inspiration board and any other "eye candy" when I receive the proofs. |
 |
| So I've long loved the striped floors at the Kate Spade store, {LOVE}, they are so graphic and inspiring! Clearly so was the home owner above, what a great idea Kristin Kauffman had to create a similar stripe on her dining room floor. I love this colorful, glossy perfection! It's kid friendly too. I can see my son using it as a race track now! Dare I try this if I move?? Looks like a lot a work but the end result is surely gossip worthy. |
 |
| Image 1 - Fric and Frac blog via Better Homes and Gardens 2.11, Kate Spade, Kate Spade. |
 |
| Small digs? No problem. A tiny space can still look amazing and function well. This adorable condo beautifully proves that point. Let's look at what they did to visually enlarge their place.... 1. Limit your color palette. The use of cream, copper, brown, white and coral is repeated throughout. The punches of color add interest and tie all the rooms together. 2. Varied Texture. They've mixed old and new, shiny + rustic, modern + classical. It helps to warm up this home and prevents the "one stop shopping" look. 3. They've varied scale. One of the biggest mistakes I see when visiting a client's home are issues with scale. More times then not homes are filled with a bunch of mid-sized things, they are usually the same scale, so the place just looks cluttered. Be sure to keep your eye bouncing around the room. Larger objects in a small space ALWAYS make the space feel bigger, just don't forget to layer in smaller pieces! 4. Create points of interest, the entire space can't scream for attention. I'm loving their unique finds; like the small wooden stool and gorgeous Suzani blanket. 5. Both vertical and horizontal planes have been considered here! |
I'm often asked by people, "What inspires you?"
Today's answer: My students! My list is long and varied. I'm constantly stumbling upon inspiration everywhere, everyday, all the time! I love what I do and I feel blessed to have discovered my "calling" per say.
As most of you know, I don't just practice interior design, I teach it at Endicott College and Suffolk University {New England School of Art and Design}. I am always pushing my student's ideas. If they succeed it means I have done my job well! I often discuss the importance of strong concepts, and how they should be somewhat abstracted! Literal design looks juvenile to me..Yes, throw in an ounce of kitch or a nod to the obvious..but always keep it fresh and unique! I was discussing using simple objects, en masse {or in large groupings} and how something very common can take on a sculptural quality when used unexpectedly and in large quantities. Well my student was inspired by Anthropologie's window displays..They practice this very idea! Gorgeous! I'd have to agree with her!!! Well Done.
Milk jug igloo? Brilliant..
Lizzie turned her basement into a wine cellar!
So the "big" week is here..I'm having my baby at the end of this week. I'm of course, a bundle of energy and nerves. I wanted to share my baby boy ideas..I simply can't wait to find out what we are having gender wise..oh and please do feel free to share your favorite boy names in the comment section. I have three girl names I adore but we're having a tough time finalizing our boy names..
My creative starting point for the room was this painting shown above along with vintage nautical references. I don't love thematic rooms so I tried not too push it too far in that direction. I will mix in a number of various elements but the overall concept was boating and the sea!
This third board represents a mix of paintings and drawings I found on eBay. I am going to hang a salon art wall with a number of boating inspired paintings..I like the quirkiness of this mix!
From top to bottom left to right:
1. Large Painting - ebay
2. Monkey Knot - Door or book stop http://www.chadingtons.com/
3. Flame Stitch Pillow - Dransfield and Ross
4. Polar Bear Print - Linnea Designs
5. Crib Bedding - Rickshaw Design
6. Bamboo Pillow - Annette Tatum
Board Two:
7. Green Headboard - will be custom designed by Shelter
8. Shade idea - Custom by Shelter
9. Lamps - 1st Dibs
10. White Lantern - tbd. I do want to use an oversized white hanging lantern
11. Ship Print - ebay
12. Rug - Dash and Albert
The drawing room corner where Rajee sits and works on the laptop while enjoying the whole house with just the light from the table lamps.
Her coffee table, the center of her life in the house, always has flowers on it.
Rajee adds "It has to have some of my candles. Almost as if to say my coffee table reflects my moods"
Latest edition of Architectural digest and some recent books picked by the family. 
One of the side tables in the drawing room , a lovely little flower arrangement of the latest blooms from her pots, the floribunda roses and hydrangea leaves.
Rajee says, "The strongest influence for my home and me has been 
Rajee's older girl Aimee snoozing with her teddy in the dining- drawing area.
Old project still underway, photos of three generations of her family.
The crockery unit. Rajee had this made centered around the carved panel from Rajasthan, it now houses her complete glassware, barware and crockery.
Dining area
A lovely corner with blue and white pottery.
Rajee, "My bedside~ another oriental table in my collection, with a Buddha, blue and white pottery piece from Rajasthan filled in with my husbands coin collection. I especially love the Chinese jar I bought at a San Francisco flea market, while antiquing one lazy weekend. A print of Thakur Singh's work."
Red crewelwork pillows and one of Rajee's own artwork in the back ground.
The antique silverware, the gerberas, the gorgeous furnishings and blue pottery blend so well into her unique urbane space.
Thanks for sharing these lovely corners from your home, your world, Rajee!
Do visit her stylish blog Rajee Sood.
P.S~ If you have any questions for Rajee about her home, please ask in the comments section so she can reply to you.
Innovative hang tag greeting cards made by Ayelet using old magazine cuttings and fabrics.
Lovely designs from her sketch books.
These patterns designed by Ayelet were printed on tea cups by golf & co. Aren't they simply beautiful! 
A huge book shelf in Ayelet's home. She says, "Her side of the shelf has books on textile design & interiors and her husband's side has cookbooks & books on typography".
This interesting lamp is a mix from habitat and decorative felt that she received as a gift from Brussels.
Ayelet shares her creative work space here, she has many boxes filled with colourful yarns, fabrics, buttons and craft materials.
This inspiration board is one-of-a-kind, Ayelet and her typographer husband Yanek, have been adding inspiration for the pass 15 years and the rule is , you can only add but you can't remove anything from it!
What a creative storehouse of inspirations and memories!
