It’s fun to look back on what we obsessed about in DIY and design over the last year, from chevron patterns to chalkboard and pallet everything!  There were so many inventive projects and gorgeous spaces we saw in 2011, when I look back on my own inspiration files, I’m amazed all the beautiful rooms I see.  In the interior design world, several elements have been trending in 2011 which I believe will continue into 2012, and for good reason. 

Reclaimed and Natural Wood.  Raw and repurposed wood has surged to the forefront of design and it’s good to see that wood is back in a big way with its amazing organic qualities. I can’t wait to see more of it in 2012 and I hope to work with more salvaged wood myself in the new year. 

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One of my most favorite things to do in life (other than snack on Girl Scout cookies by the dozen and ignore the scale) is to surf the net or discount stores hunting for high end looking décor for a great price.  Raise you hand if you share my love of snagging something stylish for a bargain?  Oh, all of you. 

I’m a huge fan of Style at Home and I frequently pop over to see what’s new and inspiring.  There’s always something!  Seleta blogged about this space earlier this week, and it’s one of many in a favorite series over at SOH called ‘High/Low’ where they feature two practically identical spaces, one designed for top dollar, and the other at a much lower cost.

Take for example this garden room.  Here is the High version at $9,937 and Low version to the right at $3,109

Here’s another . . .

. . . and another. 

Can you tell which is which? 

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It’s raining again  today, grrrr, and I can’t take it anymore !  I crave sunshine, I need warmth, I’m dying to put my winter clothes away permanently for the next six months.  Why won’t this weather cooperate hmmmm ????

In contrast with these gloomy April showers, today I’m craving orange, especially tangerine, persimmon, and burnt orange mixed with all shades of blue from indigo to teal.  The combination in so fresh, so invigorating, so cheerful, so inviting.

And oh so complementary !

Here are some of my favorite spaces featuring blue and orange:

Southern Living

Massucco Warner Miller

Palmer Weiss

 Real Simple

Southern Living

House Beautiful

Homes and Gardens

  via Colour Me Happy

Massucco Warner Miller

Southern Living

Coastal Living

This looks like black not blue, but still works so well

Sunset

Celerie Kemble

via Home Interiors Zone

via Young House Love

Home Magazine/Elle Decor

Doesn’t orange and blue work so well with crisp white ?  I’m so inspired by this classic color combination, I must add some more orange to the (in progress) blue and white boy’s room.  

Want to add some pops of orange and blue to your living space ? 

Here’s a few fun fabrics !

Waverly Sea Scallop Coral Reef; Annie Selke Scramble Bluemarine; Thibaut South Beach Orange; Chippendale Fretwork;  Rebecca Fern;  Waverly Lattice Lagoon.

How about some modern accessories? 

Deco turquoise lamp; orange croc coasters; teal vase; bottle vases; labyrinth pillow;  butterfly pillow; turquoise throw;  small orange trunk; floral teal pillow; swag chandelier; martini side table. 

What about you ?

Do you love the classic mixture of orange with blue ? 

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Over the past months, I’ve been putting just a few finishing touches on my stepdaughter’s bedroom, and one of the last things I wanted to do for her was inject the space with a dash of big girl glam.  As you know from my fixation on metallic finishes, I’ve been wanting to silver leaf something, anything, for quite some time.  An inexpensive bronze Kmart lamp became the victim.  I’ve had this lamp for over three years and it was just looking a little, well, plain to me.  So rather than buying her a new lamp, I just decided to give it a glitzier look. 

For the faint of heart, the lovers of standard lamp bases, and the devotees to dark bronze, avert your eyes, look away, look away !   Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Now, for those like me who adore all things shiny, feast your eyes on my latest transformation, a lamp refinished in silver leaf. 

Before and After:

This project was incredibly simple, and took only a few hours to complete.  Here’s the play by play. 

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone !  In honor, I’ve rounded up a huge collection of my favorite images, and also some fun accessories, all in shades of the color green . . . . .  just because collages and inspiration boards are so much fun !

As you can see, I love all hues of this verdant color.  It represents growth, nature, spring, pistachios, mint, margaritas and guacamole.  You know, the good stuff in life. 

Enjoy !

image; candleholders; lamp; vase; sandals; image: via this is glamorous

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