key to my heart

last week, while sis was home, i got a taste of what it's like to be an interior decorator - well maybe more like an assistant. she dragged me to store after store, searching for accessories to adorn cotton top. i walked aimlessly through the aisles, having no idea what i was supposed to be looking for.  my fascination = kitchen gadgets.  sis's fascination = different shades of stained wooden frames.  she really is a pro (even if she doesn't have the fancy degree) - she has that instinct we all wish we had.  sis just knows what goes together and what should be left on the shelf.

while on our excursions, i took notice to a fun trend.  (granted, i would've settled for people watching, but sis says i'm no good at being discrete.) so back to the fun trend - vintage keys. i'm a sucker for anything that looks antique even if there isn't a fancy story behind it. i took some pictures in the store to give sis some inspiration, but i also found some other really creative ideas.

a key display taken at local pottery barn store

another snap from PB.  vintage pictures of doors in a shadow box with the keys pinned on.

stencil of keys by your front door - you can't forget them this way!

a chalkboard and a place to hang your keys - what more can you ask more?

more inspiration from sis's holy mecca, PB

even urban outfitters is jumping on the bandwagon

so here's my first stab at a design post.  how'd i do?

(photo credits - potterybarn.com, urbanoutfitters.com)

mean green

i've never really been too fond of the color green.  oprah loves it but i just am not a huge fan.  i think it goes back to middle or high school when some kid told me the color meant a certain something...anyone remember what i'm talking about? 

i don't really have a whole lot of green going in my life. the fridge is slacking in the greens department.  my closet maybe contains 3 true green pieces. although, i do try to practice a green lifestyle.  and i do appreciate certain greens when decorating. 

so yeah, anyway, in honor of the irish, we have to get a little green on the blog today. i give you my favorite touches of just the right amount of green.

see you at the bar.  happy st. patrick's days, friends.

(photo credits - decorology.blogspot.com, hgtv.com, isuwannee.com, myfavoriteandmybest.blogspot.com and some other great images in my design files that i never tagged...so sorry!)

the color purple

in the spirit of my birth month and it's vibrant birth stone...let's get some purple going.  i managed to round up some acceptable, quite lovely home decor showing off the shade.

and then the one purple exterior that i adore.  i hope my landscaping looks just like this someday.

(photo credits - 30elm.com, flickr.com, housebeautiful.com, myfavoriteandmybest.blogspot.com)

show and tell

i couldn't be a bigger fan of open shelving.  especially in your kitchen.  it's the answer to clutter control because it forces you to keep things tidy and neat while featuring all kinds of pretty. 

and the best part - it's a bit of 'show and tell.'  open shelving gives you the chance to showcase vintage tins, a collection of spices, mismatched bowls and plates, antique glasses - you get the idea.  

(photo credits - auctiongirlvintage.typepad.com, delightbydesign.blogspot.com, donkeehouse.com, livemorenow.blogspot.com, prettyorganizedpalace.blogspot.com, remodelista.com, thekitchn.com, thisoldhouse.com)

picture perfect

i've always loved the idea of showcasing your family's pearly whites on a long wall in your home.  it becomes a timeline of your family's history.  a showcase of all the moments in life that are most dear. and a feature of precious snippets of time that you will can always relive.

i'm working on a gallery of frames for miss peg's home.  while i was home in november, i reorganized all of our family photos...tasked her with picking out her favorites...and promised to return in december with a plan to get all the frames up on our foyer wall.

i hope you will come by, laugh at my childhood bifocals, envy sis's baby platinum curls, heart on kenneth's half moon eyes, and remind you what love is all about when looking at mom and ton's wedding photo. it's gonna be good stuff.  stay tuned for the results...

(photo credits - apartmenttheraphy.com, bellemaison23.com, curbly.com, decorpad.com, foundsanfrancisco.com, pointclickhome.com, style-files.com)

chalk it up

again, not a new idea but a great idea.  one day, i will have my very own home.  and when i own my very own home, i will have the freedom to paint it, texturize it, wallpaper it, spackle it, blackboard it!  mark my words, i will have blackboard-esque wall in the dreamhouse.  and it will be scribbled on with cute things like -

"welcome to my little home, dear friend."
"please, please, please. stay awhile."
"home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to.”
"you are the cream in my coffee."
"mi casa es su casa."
"life's a voyage that's homeward bound."
"a meal without wine is like a day without sunshine."
"me loves you. and you. and you."

so, here's what sparked the inspiration -

for now - my large, leaning chalkboard will have to do (still up there as one of my most favorite gifts ever).  surprises are the best.

(photo credits - annporter.files.wordpress.com, apartmenttherapy.com, hgtv.ca, nattymichelle.blogspot.com, style-files.com)