I Can't Resist... this Driftwood Bull

from Ballard Designs.

I don't know why, but he just speaks to me. :)  Probably the combination of softly weathered natural elements, all the wonderful shades of gray, and the texture. Or maybe seeing an animal rendered in this material?  A cool marriage of my West Texas roots and my love for the beach. :) Forget the driftwood mirrors, give me the Bull!!

Happy Decorating!

I Can't Resist... This Elkins Loop Chair

Spotted in the July/August issue of Coastal Living...

Well, the space itself is hard to resist, but that 1930's Loop Chair... *sigh*.  This one was procured from Darrell Dean Antiques.  They pop up on 1stdibs occasionally, too, but get your checkbook ready.

Then I spotted these in the same issue...

Variations on a theme, no?  These lovelies are in the Pacific Palisades home of Steve McPherson and Jennifer LaCorte, decorated by the one and only Brooke Giannetti (of Velvet and Linen and fab designs fame, now a published author!).  The armchair is available at Palecek and these awesome barstools at McGuire Furniture. 

Now, THESE are more accessible for the rest of us!

What do you think?  Thumbs up, thumbs down??

All images scanned from Coastal Living magazine.

Don't forget to enter my latest GIVEAWAY HERE!  Winner will be drawn Friday at 5pm, EST.

I Can't Resist... Rustic Meets Refined Living Room

I'm back from a long weekend in Pensacola where we fished, boated, tubed (yikes), and took in the Blue Angels show from the water.  A wonderful, relaxing time!!  I loaded up on some shelter mags to read in the car on the way down and I came across this image in July's Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles magazine.



This is the living room of the 2010 Cashiers Designer Showhouse, designed by Suzanne Kasler.  You've heard of Suzanne, right?  ;-) She's a busy lady these days, turning up in the Ballards catalog with her own product line (one of several signature lines she has out there), writing design books, and maintaining her Atlanta-based interior design business.  I love (and fully ascribe to) her theory that rooms should be collected and not decorated.  Is she singing our song or what?  Head to her website to learn more and see what inspires her.

Now, to what I love about this room! The use of ivory and blues in contrast with the rustic stacked stone fireplace, stained wood floors and ceilings, and exposed beams.   Comfy sit-right-down furniture and a sleek contemporary coffee table,  layered rugs, that fab chandelier right balancing out the antlers over the french doors... shall I go on?  With views of Whitehead Mountain right out those glorious windows, you know you're in a mountain retreat.  But she marries simple sophistication in furnishings with rustic structures and finishes to create a match made in heaven.

And this is the tip of the iceberg in this fabulous home, open from August 21 - September 5th. See the complete article in Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles.   If you're in the Blue Ridge Mountains during that time, you will want to check it out.  I'm thinking road trip?

See the entire guide to the Cashiers Designer Showhouse HERE.

Photo by Erica George Dines.

I Can't Resist... A Great Sale {and This Entertaining Tip!}

Remember this Lovely from Avolli.com and a previous I Can't Resist...?



She can be yours for 55% off!!  Yes, Tricia is continuing her Early Retirement Sale by offering 55% off her entire inventory until June 30th.  She still has some incredible heirloom quality pieces left if you're looking for an investment, plus some wonderfully affordable artwork and accessories.  How about these pillars for $67.50 each??



Head to Avolli.com for this sale and find out how to help spread the word and win $100 at Tricia's blog-- I did!!

And because two is better than one, I also can't resist this outdoor entertaining tip to create ambience in your outdoor space. Strings of lights outdoors are the perfect touch, but I don't have any overhanging trees or structures on my back deck.  I spotted this photo in my July Southern Living magazine and am dying to recreate the bamboo poles strung with lights.



Their super easy tip is to anchor the bamboo poles with sand in the buckets.  They've done four poles and strung the lights up each pole and across above the table.  If you're pergola-less in your outdoor space, this is a really cool option!

And speaking of the July issue, Southern Living has also discovered our beloved Lake Rabun.



Touted as one of best family lakes in the South, Rabun is near and dear to us and a great North Georgia escape if you're looking one.  I introduced you to the lake and some of its gorgeous homes last week.  Take another peek if you'd like!

Images via avolli.com and southernliving.com.

I Can't Resist... John Gidding on HGTV's Curb Appeal

During a handful of days of spent *recovering* from my daughter's graduation and my son's departure for Greece, I lounged in front of the telly, flipping back and forth between the French Open and HGTV.  Decadent, I know, but I was seriously incapable of doing much else I was so emotionally and physically drained!

I'd watched Curb Appeal a time or two before and I love the premise of the show.  The crew shows up on a block (often here in Atlanta somewhere) and has chosen one house in particular that gets a stunning landscaping and often architectural makeover to enhance the curb appeal.  AND, while that makeover is going on, a handful of other homes on the block get a mini makeover, too!  Mailbox redo, trees limbed up, porches repainted and staged-- things like that.  Simple things that get you thinking: hmm, what a difference those little changes make to the way a house looks from the street!


Anyway, during my *two day recovery* I must have watched four or five episodes of this show and realized that part of the appeal of the show is this:



The impossibly good-looking, talented, and personable host, John Gidding.  My daughter just laughs at me, but he is fun to watch!  Out of curiosity I jumped on hgtv.com to find out more and learned he has a Master's Degree in architecture from Harvard's Graduate School of Design.  Okay, so he's brilliant, too.  And accomplished.  He's worked on Brooklyn Bridge Park and pavilion for the 2008 Olympics in Bejing.  Knew I couldn't resist him for a reason!  Oh, and throw in that he was a fashion model along the way... just sayin'.

Find out more about the show including airtimes HERE.  You'll be inspired to get out and enhance your own curb appeal!

Image via hgtv.com.

Happy Viewing!!

I Can't Resist... Sarah's Summer House {and a Graduation Gift Idea}

HGTV is my guilty pleasure.  In a house full of men and boys, a few stolen moments to watch ANYTHING other than Sportscenter or Modern Marvels or some such is... bliss.  So imagine my excitement when I stumbled upon an episode of Sarah's Summer House over the weekend.



Are you hooked yet?  First of all, Sarah Richardson is incredibly fun to watch (and I love her Canadian accent!).  Add in that her tiny little lake cottage is a diamond in the rough being transformed into an energy efficient stylish and comfortable getaway for her growing family and you've got a winning combination.

The episode I caught was the reno of the two guest rooms.



Here's a peek at one of them.  I love that she salvaged much of the original pine for this renovation and it turns up in several different variations.  She takes you along on her shopping excursions (!) and lets you see the challenges of managing an out-of-town project.  Just plain fun.  So much so, that I had my kids show me how to program my DVR to record it.  Now THAT's truly something I can't resist!  Visit HGTV.com for episode recaps, photos, and airing times.Photos via HGTV.com.

Now I have been consumed lately with my daughter's high school graduation (!) and thought I'd share what I am giving all of her friends for graduation.



I love these Wire Wall Letters from PB Teen.  At 14 1/2 inches tall, they are the perfect size for a dorm room... and at $15 each (with FREE shipping!) they're the perfect fit for my budget, too.  Each of her friends is getting their first initial.  I'm envisioning photos, messages from friends and roommates, and other college years mementos filling these. :)

Happy Decorating and Happy Gift-Giving!

I Can't Resist... This Cork Treatment!

I have to begin this post with the catastrophic storms that ravaged our area last week.  The images of devastation, loss, and courage are seared into our minds here.  Though that night was a sleepless one for us, we were spared any real damage.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to our neighbors here in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi that are suffering and picking up the pieces.  Please consider visiting redcross.org and donating to help these communities with their recovery.  But most importantly, please pray for them.  They will need courage, inspiration, and perseverence in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

--------

On a lighter note, I was thumbing through the pages of the Summer 2011 Cottage Style and came across this breakfast area.

scanned from Cottage Style

Lots to love about this space! I adore the soft blue walls, clean lines of the dark wood furniture, and the sleek light fixture.  But what caught my eye and my imagination is the cork treatment over the built-in desk.

Scanned from Cottage Style magazine.

I love the texture the cork treatment adds to the space!  Plus, can't you imagine the history encapsulated in this project?  Wine shared with friends and family over time, special occasions, vacations... each cork has a story. 

I'm now looking for space in which to do this in my own home... after all, remember these?

This is one of three hurricanes I have filled with wine and champagne corks... each of them has a date or occasion noted on them, even names of partners in crime. 

What do you think of this treatment?  Do you collect corks from special occasion bottles of wine or champagne?

Happy Decorating!

I Can't Resist... this Chandelier

If you're a follower of my friend Tricia over at Avolli, you've seen this beauty before:

This antique French chandelier from the 1920's just captures the imagination.  Talk about a statement piece! I absolutely adore the green crystals!  And I love its unexpected nature.  In fact, I love seeing chandeliers in spaces other than your traditional dining room. 

In a bedroom fit for royalty

In the closet?  Lovely.  Maybe my favorite surprise.

Dress up the kitchen? I'm hooked!

Your spaces should be enjoyable for you and your family.  Textures, scents, sounds and sights all play a role in making this happen.  The element of surprise is a great way to keep your decor fresh and fun, and to keep you loving your spaces.  

What kind of surprises do you have in your home decor?  Where would you put a fun chandelier?

Don't forget to visit my latest giveaway for this gorgeous Willow House Santorini Urn.  Entries accepted through Monday at 7pm EST.
Happy Decorating!

I Can't Resist... Book Boxes

I spied these fun and stylish organizational tools on the Home Decorators Collection website and instantly fell in love.  What a great way to contain clutter!

Love that they have seven different styles to choose from, starting at $34 per set.

Then, I just happened to be poking around Old Time Pottery, and spied these for under $10 a piece and in a variety of styles.  Sorry for the poor IPhone photos!

What do you think?  How would you use these book boxes?

Coming this week: Giveaway announcement, Willow House product highlight, and more on my home office makeover.  Hurry back!

Happy Decorating!

I Can't Resist... this Map Wall

Confession: I'm inspired by the Pottery Barn catalog. Not only do they stage their products brilliantly, but the pages are full of great design ideas that you can incorporate into your own decor. This map wall is the latest idea that's captured my imagination.

I love this idea for large expanses of wall space. Here they have used a collection of several nautical drawings and maps. But this is one of those projects that can easily be personalized. Choose maps or drawings of favorite travel destinations, your home state, or where your family comes from. Talk about a personal expression!

The catalog even provides "how to" tips, such as using a heavy duty double-sided tape instead of wallpaper paste. They also suggest starting at the top left and working your way down, smoothing and overlapping a bit as you go. Here they further secure them by mounting architectural elements that also add three dimensionality. The same could be achieved with ledges, which are readily available at Target, WalMart, or Home Depot in a variety of styles.

Take a catalog's inspiring pages and make it your own with a little imagination. Happy Decorating!

I Can't Resist... Chalkboard Refrigerator Doors

I love this idea... straight from the pages of Lonny.

What do you think?

I Can't Resist... Windsor Smith

I snagged a copy of December's House Beautiful to take to the beach with me last month and I could not stop pouring over Windsor Smith's incredible interior designs for a young family's home in California. Would you ever guess that family-friendly spaces could look so elegant and yet comfortable at every turn?  She's gifted that way! Her use of silvery tones, reflective surfaces, and understated color keeps the rooms light, fresh, and sophisticated.  Many of the fabrics and furniture are from the Windsor Smith Collection.  Soak these in and then click HERE to read her interview.

Happy viewing!

Living room

home theatre

All photos by Victoria Pearson for House Beautiful.

Don't forget to enter My First Giveaway!  Click HERE for details and to enter.  Winners announced on Monday, January 17th.  Good luck!

I Can't Resist... This Spool Chair

I spied it in my December issue of Coastal Living in the Get the Look section and am mad about this look!  Reminds me of my grandmother's spool bed. :)  Perfect if you need a substantial chair that won't overpower your space. 

Available at crlaine.com.

Starting Wednesday:  Holiday decorating and entertaining tips! See you back here then. :)

I Can't Resist... Music Themed Wall Art

Straight from the pages of the Pottery Barn Teen catalog (pbteen.com)... I love this idea of framing sheet music and using it as backdrops for your personal photographs!  It even looks like some have been enlarged to capture specific measures, notes, or symbols.  This would be super easy to do and what an original look!