Pinterest – Summer Inspiration

Photo Credit: Ted Baker London

Need an inspiration pick-me-up? Here’s a collection of Summer Pinterest finds I created for 12th and Broad earlier this month. From exotic hotels in Panama to tulip fields in Holland, this collection will awaken your senses and have you planning multiple summer vacations. Enjoy!

Tatler UK Balloons by Luis Monteiro

Recently I stumbled upon a photoshoot by Tatler Magazine and photographer, Luis Monteiro. The composition and colors in these photos are quite stunning – they are the essence of summer bliss, European excursions and care-free fashion. I’m thinking oversize balloons is a must for my next party.

Alfred Coffee

Who is Alfred? Alfred is a delightful coffee shop in Melrose, California. The ultra-chic café is in a renovated 1925 ballroom-dance facility. The design of the space is warm, yet striking with its high-contrast colors of black, white and turquoise. This is where the cool kids go to be seen, and to find some serious inspiration.

American Trade Hotel – Panama

A collaboration of Ace Hotel and Commune Design, the American Trade Hotel is an elegant mixture of mid-century designs and classic styles of Panama. The hotel sits in the town’s main square Plaza Herrera, and looks as though it has been there for centuries. An incredible example of innovative design and historical preservation.

Park Residence – Palm Springs

Park Residence is a contemporary mid-century style home with a sexy exterior – black and white with bold notes of saffron yellow, and lush tropical plants. This home has curb appeal that likely has the whole neighborhood in envy.

Jalapeno Watermelon

“Fresh, sweet watermelon puree, lime juice, Triple Sec, and jalapeno-infused tequila make these Jalapeno Watermelon Margaritas super summery and delightful.” Yes please! This is going to be my go-to drink this summer. Spicy, sweet, refreshing and enough alcohol to forget your daily woes.

Lombardi House

One of my favorite event spaces that I follow on Instagram. A beautiful Victorian farmhouse in the heart of Hollywood, California. Oh the events that take place here! Each one more splendid than the last. An all-white space with simple industrial black fixtures, lots of windows and lovely architecture.

Iris Apfel

Who doesn’t love Iris? This woman has been charming the world for decades with her iconic style and care-free attitude. I adore all her crazy colors and patterns, but her tropical blue attire in the One Kings Lane feature, has me smitten. Her documentary, Iris, is currently playing at the Belcourt. Don’t miss it!

Mid-century Renovation – Portland

A brilliant 1950’s Portland home renovated to its original glory. Multiple windows and doors, allowing nature and the interior to be one unifying space. One of my favorite features of this home is the use of dark paint on the exterior. The dark color is a striking contrast to the natural elements surrounding the home, and showcases the architecture beautifully.

Tulip Fields – Holland

Bri Emery has been on a six week inspiration vacation in Europe. She’s scouring various cities for new ideas, products, designs and an overall refresh of the mind. One of my favorite photos thus far is the tulip fields in Holland. Follow her travels here.

Top 10 Green Plants for the Body and Soul

Norwegian blogger Marianne de Bourg, gives great tips on how indoor plants can help you have a healthier home. She provides 10 excellent plants that are both beautiful and beneficial to your health.

Taroudant Morocco – The Colors of A French Designers House

Layers of dusty pinks, blush, peachy-cream and vibrant shades of verdant green, all under one roof. This home pairs these colors in way that almost seems magical. An exotic mixture of Moroccan and French designs that is quite captivating.

Threefold Restaurant – Melbourne

A distinctively charming restaurant that emphasizes servery and fresh food in their design concept. The restaurant has a wonderful mixture of eat-in kitchen and high-style café, creating a warm and inviting environment. Simple, yet decadent – the perfect place to spend an entire afternoon.

How to Compost

I know what you are thinking. How can composting be inspiring? Pretty Handy Girl has a darling blog post on how and why you should compost. The post is so cute, you’ll likely forget that she is talking about garbage and worms.

DIY Vanilla Orange Mint Sugar Scrub

A delicious concoction of summer scents that remind creator, Ashley Rose, of a blissful day in Hawaii. Not only is the recipe divine, her photos are equally luscious. Excellent prop-styling that evokes summer in the tropics. I especially love the combination of the vivid orange, pinks and greens with the soft off-white sugar scrub.

Alys Beach Home by Dungan Nequette

Have you been to Alys Beach? If you haven’t, you are most definitely missing out. Located on the magnificent 30A of the gulf coast, Alys Beach is a gorgeous all-white planned community with stunning architecture and landscapes. One of my favorite homes in this area is the home designed by the talented Dungan Nequette. It’s breathtakingly beautiful with its grand Bermudan exterior and luxurious interior details. Click through the photos and be prepared to be wowed.

Spring Greens & Vermilion Hues

I have been on an indoor gardening kick lately, filling every nook and cranny with plants (that I hope I won’t kill). One of my favorite places to implement greenery is on the mantel. When visiting homes in the south, I rarely see plants on fireplace mantels. Maybe it’s more of a west coast thing? Whatever it is, I am a huge fan of juxtaposing books, plants and sculptures together in this tiny little area of the living room.

After the holidays, I left my mantel pretty bare. We are talking two plants. I don’t know about you, but after Christmas I need a non-decorating season. A clear the clutter, let the house breath, decorating hiatus.

I decided to leave the mantel clear until I felt inspired. Well, January and February came and went. And then March came along with spring, and I still didn’t have a shred of inspiration. But! Then one day I stumbled upon a gorgeous vermilion colored candle on a stack of vintage red books at West Elm. Ding! Ding! Ding! I was smitten by the simple display and could not wait to take this candle home with me. I had finally found my inspiration. This color combination was exactly what I had been looking for, except I didn’t know it until I saw it.

Searching for inspiration without perimeters is a beautiful creative process. If you haven’t tried it, you should the next time you are re-designing a space. Look for a feeling, a color or a flavor instead of an object – the process is more interesting when you don’t have specifics.

Sunday Morning Luxe

This morning I sat in a bit of luxury. Minutes after I woke up, I knew that all I wanted to do before the chaos of today’s festivities was relax on the porch (with no agenda in mind). Responsibilities would wait, and I would enjoy an espresso and magazine while basking in the morning sunshine. And that is exactly what I did. I happily marched past my dear husband and sweet pups, and ventured out on this fine morning. Well, ventured out about ten feet. But it might as well have been 400 miles south, because my front porch felt as if it had been transported to the gulf coast. The air was crisp, the wind blew gently, and the sunshine drenched my chair in decadent warmth.

Before I cracked my domino magazine open (the one I have had for two months and have only read 3 pages), I sat in quiet and just watched & listened. Pairs of birds danced, fluttered, and darted through the trees before me. Spring was quite evident in my little urban neighborhood. Noisy chirps bouncing from one street to the next, echoing in every direction. It was quite a lovely scene, and exactly what my soul needed.

And then I delved into the gorgeous Domino magazine. Oh the treasures this issue had! Why had I waited so long to experience such goodness?! So much luxe and innovation, it made my heart pitter-patter. This morning felt as though I awoke ocean side, and then traveled to the most exquisite places designed by some of the most incredible designers on the planet. Just two hours, and I feel like I just went on vacation. Sigh…

Smitten with Emerald Green

I’ve been on a green kick lately. Specifically, emerald green. I’ve been implementing the color into so many of my current designs and I just adore it. It’s vibrant, unexpected and has so much classic appeal. A win-win in my book.

My dear friend, Audra Harvey, and I were discussing how perfect a vibrant green goes with grays, blacks and whites. And how lovely it is to use a bold color that is strong but not overwhelming. After our discussion, I moved my black-white entry rug into the dining room and decided to finally paint my dining table base emerald green. I have had the perfect green paint for two years, and a million Pinterest photos screaming for me to take the green plunge. And yet, I just couldn’t get myself to do it. What can I say, I have commitment issues when it comes to my home. ha! But when I saw the black and white contrast in the gray room, I knew I had the perfect opportunity to use a bright green. After painting one section of the table, I was smitten. My only regret is, I wish I had done it sooner.

Photos via Sage Atelier, Intimate Weddings, Burberry, Traditional Home, Domaine Home, Apartment Therapy, Honestly WTF, Brabbu, Enter My Attic

Inspiration – 2015 Color Board

A new season means new colors, patterns and textures. This past month I have been scouring magazines, blogs and design websites for color inspiration. Now that spring has finally sprung, I am feeling a pull to use new colors in my designs, as well as in my wardrobe. I love the combination of moody vintage shades and bold rich colors of the Mediterranean in this years Pantone color selection. The colors are reminiscent of the 1940-60’s, and summer travels to places like Paris, Marrakech, London and the Amalfi Coast. Just a day in these lovely colors and I am dreaming of all the ways to bring the romantic past into the present.

So what are my favorite colors for this season? Lucite Green, Deep Coral, Dusty Pinks, Tangerine, Mediterranean Blues and Golden Yellows.

Photo Sources (in order): Escape Button Blog, Celine Marks, Vogue Russia, Fashion Gone Rogue, Burnetts Board, Shop Ruche, Ruffled Blog, Pinterest, Erik Madigan Heck, Blog2Modern-Kustaa Saksi, Pinterest, Vogue-Ellie Saab