Spring Inspired Interiors

Happy Friday to you! Here is something to get you going for the day! I just love the vibrant colors of Spring and how they pop in a room whether soft or bold! Take a look at how the colors of Spring come out in these interiors.

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10 Things (When I think of Spring...)

This Spring I want to bring in a new sense of revitalization because come this time next year, things are going to be different mind, body, and soul! This reminds me that this maybe the perfect time for me to see how I am progressing on new year's resolutions since a quarter of a year has already passed. YIKES!

Well anyhoo, I would like to share with you 10 different things that rushes through my head when I think of Spring...

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1. When I think of Spring...I think of Spring cleaning.  There is nothing like a clean house! I find cleaning as good way to meditate. Its so rejuvenating. It clears mind so you can focus on other important things. Check out Martha Stewart printable spring cleaning checklist here. I actually use it more than one time a year!

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2. When I think of Spring...I think of Organization. It is a fact that when you are organized life is alot easier. It keeps you sane. The important thing is that you maintain that organization. Once everyone is on the same page...it goes like clock-work! Two places I feel are key for organizing are my closets and my pantry. I am not going to dare show what they look like right now, until I have afters for my befores. Closet and pantry organizers are on my to-do list.

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3. When I think of Spring...I think of Pretty Blooms. I just love seeing the forsythia trees bloom at Spring. I have stopped traffic before looking at them. I can remember riding south down I-75 towards Punta Gorda and I saw these forsythia topiaries in yellow and pink. I had never seen anything like it. I just wish I had a camera with me that day!

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4. When I think of Spring...I think of Outdoor Dining. I cannot wait to create an outdoor living space on my lanai. Besides the kitchen it wast the main selling feature of our house. I currently have a craigslist table and chairs that I got for $25 out there right now that we often use. I love it most when the sun in setting and the breeze is whisking through, so refreshing!

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5. When I think of Spring...I think of Fresh Fruits and Veggies. I would love to plant a garden of herbs and lettuce. I just need to figure out where. Can't you imagine going to your garden to make a fresh Spring salad?  The array of natural colors of fresh fruits and veggies are so appetizing. Don't you love the taste and smell of fresh roasted vegetables? My mouth is watering, literally right now, where is the butter?!!

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6. When I think of Spring...I think of Old Southern Fashioned Fish Fries and Crab Boils. Who does not  love seafood? I know they are out there, but ain't no party like a seafood party. Just good food with good people, and good fun. I love the sound of the sizzle when you drop those battered fish in the hot oil and then crunching on the fish tails once they come out (that has to be a southern thing). Don't forget about the hush puppies and the bur!

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And if you are from the South you definitely know about dumping those crabs on newspaper in the middle of

the table with corn, sausage, potatoes, and eggs. I love it when the crabs are so spicy that it makes your nose run. How many of you know "Old Bay?" OK...really hungry now. Really,where is that butter?

7. When I think of Spring...I think of Fresh Lemonade. I love the idea of serving a tray full of lemonade to my kids. I do not make lemonade that often, but when I do...mm-mm-mm, especially since I learned about simple syrup on the Food Network. I sometimes like to mix Kool-aid in with the lemonade too. Very good, kids love it!

8. When I think of Spring...I think of Pretty Sundresses. Take a look at this one! You can find it here. There is nothing more easy than putting on a sundress. You can wear them anywhere from the grocery store to a Spring Fling! It's like instant beauty. I love them in all lengths.

9. When I think of Spring...I think of Flip-Flops. This is the time when flip flops come in a rainbow display of colors and sizes. The possibilities are endless. Since they are so cheap I always get the kids at least three different colors. I try to give them options you know!

10. When I think of Spring...I think of Spring Inspired Weddings. This is such a busy wedding season. Its the prettiest time to have an outdoor wedding because of all the fresh blooms. My husband and I were actually married in April. This year will mark our 4 year anniversary. I love to look at the wedding magazines this time of year also. They are always so pretty!

And Spring Break Ends with a...

I am so upset right now! I go back to work this morning after a nice Spring break vacation last week :( ! Whah!  But that is not the real reason I am upset (part of it but not all of it)! I left my diaper bag in a Applebee's in Clearwater, FL with my camera in it! I did not realize it until we were 45min into our commute back home, uugggg!

We spontaneously decided to go the beach yesdiddy! It was actually the first time in about three years. We went to Sand Key Beach in St. Petersburg, FL. I would have beautiful pictures to show you, but I am frantically trying to get my camera home safely! I called the restaurant by finding the phone number on  he receipt. The manager was very nice and he assured me that he would get it to me one way or the other.

I am usually the one making sure everyone has everything before we leave out of anywhere! I could just.....well you can imagine. Have I just completely gone mad doing something like that?!?!?!! My plan was to show you our beach pics from yesterday, but I will just leave you with happy thoughts of one of  my favorite beach houses!

Design by Kristen Ewart! All images are from House Beautiful:

Have a oh so happy day!

Shopping for a Day

Yesterday, the kids and I spent the day out shopping. We started out the day at a local  consignment shop called Second Time Around here in Bartow. I didn't really see anything except a couple of large lamp shades, but I decided not to get them.  My new strategy is not to buy something unless I know exactly what I am going to do with it.

The funniest thing happened though! The kids were going through a small corner where they had old books, VHS videos, etc... Well, my curious daughter picked up a cassette tape and asked, "what is this for?" So funny right! You forget how the "new" thing is always coming out and replacing its older counter-part. I can remember when I got my first CD player, I think it was on my thirteenth birthday, with the Xscape CD. That was and still is a good record!

Well the next stop was Furniture Consignment in Lakeland. I saw a couple things that I am still pondering on right now. If its still there this weekend I may go ahead and get them.

 

First, at the top were these pair of side tables. They were fairly large and $50 a piece. I could use them in my living room where I am planning a grouping of four chairs. I will definitely want to paint them. I love the ethnic appeal of them. The second was a set of  raised panel headboards that I can use in my sons room. They were $35 a piece. I am thinking of doing  creative with the raised panel and definitely painting them.

My second stop was an antiques furniture store in Lakeland. Forgive me because I can not recall the name of it, but the kids had fun there!  This is where I saw a couple of large accent pieces.

The first was this red lacquered chest. It appealed to my son because he loves red. That's the color he wants his room, but I just can not do it. So we settled for blue with red accents. This chest was $150. The white bamboo chest was also $150. I loved the hardware. It could be something to use in one of my daughter's rooms. Last, was this really interesting accent table. I find that I am attracted to the ethic looking pieces. It was to low though! You could almost use it as a bench!

Our next stop was Design Furniture Consignment in Lakeland. This was my favorite stop of the day. I spent he longest amount of time in here.

First was this beautiful large accent with a bowed front. I want to use this in my entry. Although very traditional, it has clean contemporary lines. I would paint this maybe in a lacquer finish, but I just do not know what color yet. This will run me $250! The second was this 9 drawer dresser. I was attracted to the beautiful burl wood fronts of the drawers. After coughing up $350, I would stain it darker and add feet and chrome hardware! 

We also stopped by the mall. It had been awhile since I've been there. This is where I stopped by Kirkland's. Am I the only one who did not know that Kirkland's has a website? Well, I found out after visiting the a blog (beautiful blog) where she was looking at this red accent chest from Kirk's.  I actually saw it in person and fell in love with a blue chest next to it.

I also saw a picture that I love the colors of and a bench that I love the scale of. I am looking for a bench for a accent wall in my house that I can do a piece of art and wall shelves above with some decorative pillows. I want to use leather to break up all the fabric that I am planning on using. I would prefer it in a cream.

Also at the mall were Old Navy where I saw the green ad yellow rubber boots and the colorful scarfs that remind me of Spring. At Burlington Coat Factory were the color clay pots in three different sizes. I also stopped at a nearby Joanne's to find some coordinating fabrics that I have found ( I will let you know about them in a later posting). This is where a shot a pic of the polka-dot and bird rubber boots.

Last but not least I stopped by Pier One. We spent a lot of time in there too. I had to look at and touch everything in there. Here were a few of my favorites:

First was this set of sea glass colored lamps. This picture does not do them any justice. Second were a set of chalkboard jars, so pretty! And last was this cracked look mirror on sale for $99. I would like to get three of them. to use in my informal dining room above a buffet server when I fin the right one!

Well, that sums up our day of shopping. I actually bought a new outfit for the baby from Children's place, some flip-flops form Burlington, and a set of spray and lotion from Bath and Body!

Feeling Inspired

I love coming home, after a long day at work, to a brand new catalog in the mail. I gasped with each page flip. I even love there new website design. It is so much easier to navigate. Last time I created a style story, I presented you with my wish shopping list from Z-Gallerie and West Elm. With this style story I am presenting my inspiration  for a Crate and Barrel "Sophisticated Springtime Brunch!"

I started with the beautiful Chloe Chair in Bella Porte Citrine fabric. Picture four of these beauties nestled around this gorgeous pedestal table. I love the idea of pairing upholstered chairs in a dining room setting. Conversations are guaranteed to last longer for you and your party guests because of the relaxing and comfortable vibe that the chair provides with its angled back. The low arm profile of the chair will allow these chairs to fit easily under any table. The movement of the pattern in the light fabric would be the perfect contrast to the stiffness of the dark masculine table.


Speaking of tables, how gorgeous is the silhouette of this 42" round Arcadia pedestal table. The dark finish is a multi-step layered antique rub. Its transitional in design and can work in any traditional or contemporary setting. The best feature of this table is that it is a indoor/outdoor table. What a beauty and paired with the citrine color of the chairs will be just stunning!


The table and chairs would be crowned with beauty from the rustic Winston Chandelier topped with linen shades. The lines of this chandelier holds true to the integrity of the lines in the pattern of the chair and the silhouette of the table. Its so classic. The linen shades introduces a natural element into a already naturally soothing color pallette of blues an yellows.


Atop the table will sit a vibrant turquoise Calypso Centerpiece Bowl. Its a green product because its made form recycled glass. The fluidity of the swirls and translucent characteristics in the glass make it the perfect centerpiece for this setting. I could see this filled with green apples or yellow lemons.


The Avery Bombe Chest is the perfect compliment as a buffet server. It too has an antique finish. Over-sized, so lots of storage space come from its three drawers. The rounded front and corners coincides perfectly with all the other silhouettes of this setting. Atop the bombe would sit the complimentary Calypso Vases. Again the fluidity of the vases just like the bowl make them a perfect accessory to sit on top of such a dark masculine piece.


The piece de resistance to this setting would be the strikingly fresh set of three Liquidity Art with framed with crisp white matte. This fluid water color art with its vibrantly fresh colors of blues, yellows, and greens rounds out the entire style story. It really brings home the Springtime feeling. 

Spring is Blissliving

I just got the Spring/Summer catalog for Blissliving-Home! Faaabulooous.....(I'm singing)! It is inspired by a London-Calling Trend with greys and pops of color like tangerine and mint! I am always in love with their color combos and this one is no disappointment:

Trafalgar Duvet

This is checks done right! This duvet is sooo... versatile because its putty in color and you can use it through all the seasons. The check pattern called Trafalgar is used on a multitude of different applications and colors throughout the catalog.

Tate Throw in Charcoal

Trafalgar Half Apron
Look at how sweet this apron is!