One of the things I love most about Easter is its sense of splendor. It’s a special time of year when everyone and everything gets decked out and dressed up. Whether you’re a girl, a boy, or an egg—if you stand still long enough, you’ll eventually be wearing a new pastel outfit.

My childhood memories of Easter are all about family gatherings and eating. Sure, most of it was eating chocolate bunny ears I snuck from my Easter basket. But I also fondly recall Easter lunches where we all sat down together at my aunt’s large dining room table. While I’m sure the table was beautifully decorated—what I remember most vividly were the special ‘bunny dishes’ my aunt had just for us kids.

Beatrix Potter Bunnykins china

Back then, we were content because nothing made you feel more grown up [...]

More >
1 Comment
Tags: dining, dining room, dining room chairs, dining room collections, dining room furniture, dining room table, holiday decorating, painted finish

Kermit may have questioned the appeal of green, though he did conclude in his hit single, Being Green, that“it’ll do fine”.

What’s fine about the color green isn’t merely its connection to a singing frog, healthy vegetables, or a thriving planet. Green is good for a peaceful, balanced state of mind. It’s also been known to treat nausea, claustrophobia, and over-active kids!

But if you’ve ever shopped for green wall paint, you likely concluded that there’s more variety in green paint colors than nature! Simplify your choices by determining how you want a green color to feel in your home.

Turquoise feels exotic & adventurous

Here’s a quick summary of how different green hues affect us… along with what type of home furnishings they complement.

1) Vivid greens feel energetic and fresh.

Pale and mid-toned versions of vivid green such as chartreuse [...]

More >
Leave a comment
Tags: bedroom, color ideas, decorating with green, dining room, green and white, green fabrics, green interiors, living room, picking the right shade of green

Looking for a versatile color for your next home decorating project?  Give green a second look!

Green is a color with so many personalities.  From earthy, neutral olive green to bright, fresh lime green, you can find a green to fit any decor.

Although green is not necessarily considered a neutral color, I have used it as a neutral in many rooms.  Choosing an earthy green with brown or gray undertones gives you the option of pairing it with nearly any accent color.  Red, orange, plum, gold, robin’s egg blue – they all work beautifully with green’s neutral side.

A perfect example is seen in this garden green living room from the House Beautiful Decorating with Green website.

Or what do you think of this restful sage green for a bedroom?

Green [...]

More >
2 Comments
Tags: bedroom, color ideas, decorating with green, dining room, green and white, green interiors, House Beautiful, House Beautiful magazine, living room

I have to say that this is just about my favorite time of year, and has been for as long as I can remember. Certainly I am looking forward to spring time and warm weather, but that’s not why my excitement level rises exponentially, just about … now.

It’s March Madness! As the Men’s College Basketball NCAA Tournament kicks off this weekend, game day parties — and favorite team colors and décor — will liven up homes across the country.

Growing up, it was all about wearing your team colors, sweat shirts and hats. Today, loyalty to your team and your school is a part of home décor as well.

Remember when flying the flag was simply patriotic? A drive through neighborhoods right now will offer a glimpse of collegiate flags proudly on display. Whether the flags are UNC, Duke, NC State, [...]

More >
Leave a comment
Tags: chair, chairs, college décor, college flags, Duke, March Madness, NCAA college basketball, Ohio State, UNC-Chapel Hill, University of Kentucky

The color green is about to have a coming out party in, of all places, Washington, D.C.

That lime green wing chair looks fetching in front of the Kennedy Center, don’t you think? And how do you like the moss green “palace” chair in front of the Capital or that 19th Century upholstered lounge chair striking a profile at the Supreme Court?

All the fun with fashion chairs is thanks to House Beautiful magazine. For the third year in a row, House Beautiful is placing stylish, color-themed chairs in iconic places in a major city.

Last year it was pink chairs in Chicago. This election year, it’s only fitting that House Beautiful has selected Washington D.C. as the spot for its Street Chair Giveaway Scavenger Hunt.

The magazine has placed and photographed 19 chairs around the city in notable locales. They [...]

More >
1 Comment
Tags: chairs, club chairs, D.C., decorating with green, Green, Hooker Furniture, House Beautiful, Made in America, Sam Moore Furniture, the color green, Washington, wing chairs

In my opinion, there is no designer more inspiring than Mother Nature.  As an avid gardener, I’m constantly reminded of the vivid colors, textures, and patterns when I begin to see the buds forming on trees and as the foliage and flowers burst into their full splendor.  It’s the time of year when I begin to sort through catalogs and chat it up with my favorite greenhouses to decide what I’ll plant as soon as the weatherman gives the thumbs up.  There are some definite tried and true plantings, as well as new varieties or colors.  Hmmm . . . Sounds like trends are alive and well in garden design, too!

While I’ve been browsing through my photo albums of last year’s beauties, it brought to mind how natural influences are translated into interiors and accent furniture. Of course, [...]

More >
Leave a comment
Tags: accent furniture, home decor, Honeysuckle, natural-inspired décor, nature-inspired furniture, Pantone Color of the Year, Spring Decorating, Tangerine, Wing Chair