“Life is too short not to say “I Love You” often, to save the fine china or to skip the whipped cream! It’s too short not to play dress up and drink champagne with your girlfriends on a Tuesday night!”
Sabrina Pflug
Planning a fun party for the girls can really be executed anytime of the year, but I find it especially festive to throw an “over the top” girly party around Valentine’s Day!…a Galentine’s Day Party, if you will. Add a theme to your party and the fun can begin before guests even knock at your door! With only one guideline for party attendance, guests were asked to arrive dressed in their favorite Sex and the City character. So in the days leading up to the event, friends were scouring their closets for their best Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte or Miranda outfits! So. Much. Fun.
No matter the date on the calendar, this Rosemary Beach Condominium was designed to be the quintessential endless summer getaway for a busy couple and their three young sons. The home, situated in the heart of the Rosemary Beach, Florida town square, is a light and airy space where graphic punches give way to organic, woodsy respites, all thoughtfully woven together with a rich, leafy thread that feels neither forced nor overused.
The interior design world has been swimming in a tranquil sea of soft greys and neutrals for several years now. I, too, have swooned over and embraced the trend of a less fussy, achromatic interior. But who says you can’t have the best of both worlds!? Both calming and colorful! Continue reading →
I don’t know about you guys, but just looking at this breakfast nook makes me instantly HAPPY!!! So imagine getting to eat your Cheerios in the midst of all this happiness every morning or your mac n’ cheese at night?! And then further imagine that you’re the kid(s) that created these modern art masterpieces! I mean…wouldn’t you feel super duper proud of yourself and want to go out into the world and drink up every ounce of it’s goodness; maybe cure some rare diseases or write the next Great American Novel???!!!! Continue reading →
One of the most frequently asked decorating questions I get from clients is what to do with a fireplace wall, how to style the mantel and how to make them both become a “feature” and not a “flop.” Continue reading →
I can’t disguise my being MIA from Peach and the Willow any more than I can disguise the great fun we have been having this summer! Yes, I realize that peaches are literally bursting with peak summer sweetness, weeping willows are tenderly slow dancing under a waxing moon and you must think I’m missing it all! Quite the contrary! I am soaking it all up, squeezing it out, and soaking it up some more! I promise that the blog will be the better for it!
Just like my recent getaway to Rosemary Beach, Florida. Not only did my family and I do our very best to drink up every ounce of Gulf of Mexico goodness during the day…we had the exponential good fortune during the night of resting in a couple of the most blissful, most cozy, most tranquil and perfect coastal bedrooms in the village. These bedrooms have the “it” factor and are worth studying and analyzing for use in our own homes. Take a look!
My dear friend, Kim Jameson, and owner of this special house, has mastered the art of the bedroom…one that is relaxing, gracious and serene… and oh so pretty!!! Ever since I was first invited to her Rosemary Beach abode, I have raved about these bedrooms…and how well I rest in them!
Both bedrooms retreats have black french doors that lead onto an expansive sleeping porch. Dreamy to say the least!
The master and guest bedrooms are both painted in the same soft minty hue and topped with hipped ceilings wrapped in white washed pine. This is a very special architectural detail and a feast for the eyes. The colors and textures mimic the landscape of the Emerald Coast without “bonking you over the head” with the beach theme. (You know what I’m talking about. Turquoise and peach color schemes and too many beachy knick knacks. Eek!). Everything here BREATHES…which encourages the home owner and her guests to also breath. You know the ones…those unhurried deep breaths that allow the pulse to slow and the relaxation mode to kick in. A bedroom like this makes you want to linger in the morning and look forward to returning at night. Dear Kim…Dear Bedroom…job well done.
I am always emphasizing details in design and this is a perfect example. Atop a luxurious king mattress are “grandma soft” linens. Let’s stop there. Does this resonate with you? My grandma Berta had the softest linens I could ever imagine. Her cotton sheets had probably been washed AND ironed a thousand times before I slept on them (or at least that’s what they felt like to me). So do Kim’s linens! And Kim mixes her textile patterns beautifully…floral sheets topped with a simple white down-filled duvet and striped blanket along with custom shams in a light blue and moss awning stripe with a gold threaded “J” monogram. A custom slipcovered head board in the color of sand complete the look. The bed feels rich without being “stuffy” or formal. Perhaps you’d like to make your bedroom look and feel a bit more luxe? Spend your money on great sheets and a few custom details like these!
The homeowner has a great eye for original art as seen here and throughout her house. The painted bookshelf is a whimsical and light hearted touch among the luxurious drapes and linens.
And then there is my favorite bedroom…This bedroom is the definition of tranquility. It has a farmhouse feel (remember, farmland is a mere 20 miles north of Rosemary Beach) with its soft, billowy linens, soothing colors, beautiful artwork and velvety feeling heart pine floors. I particularly love the headboard in this room. This bedroom’s headboard slipcover is made from a blue and chartreuse floral quilt. IN LOVE! Both bedrooms have primary windows that open to the north in one bedroom, the south in the other …so drapes can be closed to block the summer sun and the perfect day napping can commence.
White Matelasse Shams, Beige Ticking Stripe Sheets, a White Down Duvet and a playful linen throw pillow…the recipe for a cozy coastal bed. One of my favorite pieces of art in the home is displayed here.
As you can imagine, the rest of this home is as lovely, warm and inviting as its bedrooms. In fact, my 13 year old son’s favorite bedroom isn’t pictured. It’s a tiny sleeping nook that only this year he finds he is too big to fully enjoy (sigh). Still…we love passing it at the stairway and smiling at it’s tiny proportion and colorful disposition. It may be small in stature but it sure is large in personality!!!
To see more from my amazing friend Kim…follow her on instagram @kimjameson. Her photo blog is stunning and she is working on a “Coming Soon” project in Columbia, TN that is not to be missed. Key Word: Vintage. I can’t wait!
Photo Courtesy: Jessie Myhre
Kim… I must first thank you for being my dear friend and for loving me and my family the way you do! Our faces in this picture tell the story perfectly…that God is Great and He puts amazing people in our lives, the warm sun on our backs, sand and sea within reach and smiles on our faces. Big sloppy kiss for you! Then…I must thank you for allowing me to display some of your private spaces on the worldwide web! You are an inspiration to all who know you and this is but a glimpse into your bright and beautiful world! Thank you!
You’ve earned a diploma…check! Said the “I Do’s”…check! You’re climbing the ladder of success…check! Having kids and adopting pets…check! Vacationing regularly…check! You’ve bought your first home…then your second…check! You’ve decorated the living areas “to a T” and tricked out your gourmet kitchen…check! You’ve created a beautiful and serene bedroom…________________. Wait, what?…You can’t check the box? (Silence…crickets…chirp, chirp.)
Does this sound familiar? Why do so many of us put the decorating of our master bedroom on the back burner? For my friends, Cathy and Doug, it was because of what I call “decorating burnout.” When they purchased their second home it was a new construction which meant having to make dozens of decisions regarding finishes, paint colors, tile choices, plumbing and light fixtures, appliances and on and on. They decorated the public spaces of their new home impeccably, but when it came time to put together the master bedroom, Cathy admits that she hit a decorating road block. That’s when she enlisted my help.
“I think I’ve hit a dead end,” she admitted while discussing her master bedroom and its unfinished state. “Every time I try to start putting ideas together about how I want this space to look, I feel overwhelmed and uninspired. Will you please take over the decorating duties for our master?”
…and my Master Bedroom Takeover began in earnest. Take a look at the before photos…
The bedroom was providing a place to sleep…but little else. While the rest of the home showcased charming new furniture and accents in fresh styles and light colors, the bedroom suffered from bland hand-me-downs and mis-matched furniture with no definable style.
WHAT STAYED:
The gorgeous walls painted Conservative Grey by Sherwin Williams. This grey paint reflects a green tint which really informed many of my design decisions.
The homeowners original art above the bed…fantastic!
The bed
WHAT HAD TO GO:
The side tables
The mismatched lamps
WHAT WAS NEEDED:
New Bedding
Side Tables
Lamps
Window Treatments
Artwork for 12 foot wall
Rug
Accessories
THE RESULT…VOILA!
The result is a restful retreat for a busy couple. The soft, organic palette includes bedding reminiscent of a luxury hotel, a Marrakesh inspired rug, mid-century tinged side tables, honey colored linen drapes, woven baskets and natural accents.
The bedding features organic white waffle weave duvet and bedskirt layered with a light grey comforter, dark grey standard shams, silk grey Euro shams and a modern ethnic throw pillow. None of these elements were “part of a set” so don’t be afraid to mix and match for color, texture and interest. Even the pets received new beds that match the bedroom! Orchids and birch branches bring natural outdoor elements inside…
I love, love, love the way this little art/craft project turned out! Artwork was needed for a blank 12 foot wall and this was my solution. I grabbed photos of the couple and their adventures from their social media pages and created a dimensional photo art exhibit that spanned the length of the wall. Super personal and unique decor!
Natural weave baskets create a footboard affect that mimic the headboard color and serve to bolster the length of the bed. They also add storage and texture to the room.
Roxanne and Eleanore Rigby approve!!!
Nap in Neutrals…anything but boring!
A big thank you to Cathy and Doug Phillips for entrusting me with their bedroom haven and allowing me to blog about their project! Xoxo!
This bedroom is the definition of tranquility. It has a farmhouse feel (remember, farmland is a mere 20 miles north of Rosemary Beach) with its soft, billowy linens, soothing colors, beautiful artwork and velvety feeling heart pine floors. I particularly love the headboard in this room. This bedroom’s headboard slipcover is made from a blue and chartreuse floral quilt. IN LOVE! Both bedrooms have primary windows that open to the north in one bedroom, the south in the other …so drapes can be closed to block the summer sun and the perfect day napping can commence.
Peach and the Willow 