Use Wallpaper scraps

Check out this video about ways to use wallpaper...
OMGoodness! I LOVE these ideas, I am ready to dive into my craft closet to find some wallpaper pieces. I wish I had some stairs just to put wallpaper on them....someday I guess.

Actually I have had a wall art idea for a long time that is very similar to the picture from Better Homes and Gardens that he showed. I have wanted to do that exact idea on a smaller scale on a block of wood or canvas and hang it on the wall as art. I think it could be fun doing the wallpaper art boards because you could even cut the wallpaper into different shapes and possibly create patters like you would a quilt.

Pictures from Fern Living

What are your wallpaper ideas?

Peace out!
Cyndi

Color Palette Sample

This is an example of a color palette we would create for you, plus we'd provide all the paint colors, textiles, etc., you'd need to make this color scheme come alive in your home. I call this one: Female Aquanaut. I could see it in a beachy girl room.

Love and lugubrious (and Happy Friday),

Martha

Design Board Sample: Sitting Room

Here's an example of what our first service, Design Board Inspiration, would look like. This is a funky, eclectic formal sitting room with some traditional touches. The floral print rug makes the room explode with color and allows you to choose a variety of color accents to draw from. The antelope head and owl print keep the room fun and lighthearted and could provide a nice conversation starter. The deep purple chaise lounge and the cream sofa add some elegance and formality while the black coffee and side tables provide modern touches along with the yellow latice pillow and yellow checkered lamp. The white wall flats are a three dimensional, eco-friendly alternative to wallpaper. The white and orange poppy pillows are a fresh addition to the leather side chairs and the ruffly purple pillows keep the sofa from being taken too seriously. What do you think about this room? Would you live in it?

Design Board Sample: Bedroom

Here's another sample of a Design Board Inspiration sample. This is obviously not a color palette that would suit everyone, but I was in the mood to create a bright, happy bedroom, and this is what I came up with. The black and white map print was my inspiration and jumping off point. This is a modern, hip space that has the potential to be unisex. There are basic pieces like the bed, chair and armoire that anchor the room and the accessories and art make it come to life. My favorite items are the cylinder lamp, the stackable cube shelf and the XO accent pillow. I could imagine this as a college bedroom that would also double as a great place to entertain and just hang out. What do you think? Pretty daring, right? You could totally pull it off, though. The sky is the limit when it comes to decorating your house. I love what Cortney Novogratz said in her Downtown Chic book I blogged about earlier. When they re-did a country house in New England, they were the only ones with yellow shutters - everyone else had black or dark green ones. One day another kid said to Cortney's son, "My mom thinks you have the ugliest shutters in Massachusetts." That didn't deter Cortney. They still liked the yellow and kept it.

Design Board Sample: Living Room

And finally, a mod vintage living room. The thing I love about this room (not only because modern and vintage are my two favorite throw-together looks) is you could start out with just a few of these pieces, like the couch, the coffee table and the shelf, and switch out everything else whenever you wanted. I am a creature of change - I need it to survive. And in this room, change is always possible. Switch out the mosaic serving platter when you've finally collected your three favorite coffee table books. Change the pillows based on the season. Rotate your vase collection whenever it tickles your fancy. When you have a few standard, quality pieces, you can add the rest from your flea market shopping adventures. Go forth and flea!

Love and laryngitis,

Martha

OCTOBER IS 1/2 OFF MONTH!

October is LAUNCH MONTH at InCircle Interiors and we are offering half off each of our services.


That means...


Design Inspiration Board is $175


Space Planning is $50 (or $35 as an add-on) and...


Color Consultation is $75.


See right column of the blog for descriptions of each service and email us at InCircleInteriors@gmail.com to get started today!


(We'll be posting examples of what each service looks like really soon! But if you have questions and want to get started ASAP, we can send you samples via email right away.)

Ottoman

I have ottomans on the mind and a sad story to share. I went to Value Village (like a Goodwill) last week and stumbled upon an awesome $14 vintage green leather ottoman. I mulled over whether to buy it or not. I went home. I mulled some more. I called my husband. He said, "Dude, buy it!" I went back later and ... it was gone! Now I think it's even cooler than I originally thought it was because I can't have it. You know what I mean, right? At heart we're just like little kids: once someone else has it, we immediately want it. Like, NOW!

Anyway, I'm still on the lookout for a cool ottoman. And even though these rad ones at $80 each aren't a bad price, I still think it's outrageous. After you find a $14 green leather ottoman, everything else is second best.

Love and (don't) laugh (at me),

Martha

NATE!

SOOOOO ... you all watching The Nate Berkus Show? I've caught a couple episodes here and there and this is my take on it so far: 

*First question: Hey Oprah, when does Peter Walsh get his own show? He's way more entertaining and inspirational if you ask me.

*Too many neutrals going on upstage. Add some pops of color, Nate! At least in a pillow or something. Maybe they think it's too distracting, but I think it's distracting that he doesn't have color. I do love the chevron rug and differing chairs. But otherwise I think it's kind of boring decor-wise. And isn't that what we're sitting down to watch? Eye candy decor? I am.

*I think it's hilarious when he (like Oprah, Ellen and Martha) tries to empathize with stay at home moms, his core audience. He's not a mom. He's also not a woman. He can't change either, but I still think it's funny. Also the fact that he is surrounded by women ... I just wonder if it ever bothers him. 

*Thank heavens for a daytime lifestyle show that isn't Martha Stewart. The woman bores me to tears. Nate's personality flaw is that he's a little too boppy. But at least he doesn't have to feign interest in his guests and struggle to keep a conversation going like Martha does. 

*Nate does have some nice subject and guest variety. I mean, I guess I was surprised to find that it's not only about design. However, that's the only reason I'm watching it. So I suppose that means I won't be watching it that much.

No matter how much or how little I pay attention to Nate, I now have a piece of him in my house. To have, to hold, to cherish, to sit on. I just got this studio sofa he designed:

It has surpassed my expectations. It was really easy to assemble and it's comfortable to sit on. It looks perfect in front of the tiny, awkward wall we needed it for. I was really worried about the comfort part because of the absence of arms but I'm happy to report that the seat goes back deep enough for me to curl my legs up and lounge back. Ahhhh yeah! Go Nate!

Love and lipstick (of which I am sparkly gloss, according to Nate's design personality quiz),

Martha

Sunny Home Tour

Well, what do you know? It's been sunny in Seattle the past couple days and I need to get out in it ASAP! But before I do, here's a bright home tour that's one of my favorites from awhile back. Jordan is an acquaintance of my sister in North Carolina. Here's the full home tour with helpful commentary on the background on some of her items. What I love about Jordan's home is its thoughtfulness. A beautiful, well put together home does not just happen buy accident. Nor does it happen overnight. She and her husband spent a year searching for the perfect home to purchase. And then it took years to set it up just the way they wanted. 

I'd also recommend Jordan's blog. Just a sweet glimpse of everyday life as a very in-tune mom of four.

Love and livers,

Martha

Design Books

I just bought a couple design books I've been drooling over for awhile. Since Domino magazine is gone in body (though still with us in spirit/online at Brides.com), I wanted to have their design advice immortalized and on hand in giant book form. Every page is beautiful and full of rule-breaking advice about decorating your home. Got a big, chunky wooden table? Add clear, acrylic chairs. Want floral and striped patterns together? Do it! Emancipate your weird decorating fantasies and pull them together tastefully with the help of this book.

Speaking of rule breakers, Robert and Cortney Novogratz do this for a living. They take your right brain and give it a good shake. They make the outlandish stylish and the impossible possible. The best message they get across in Downtown Chic is don't be afraid to make your house totally unique. You can be safe and boring in your design and decor and be ... safe and bored. Or you can add color, pattern and that funky thing you found at the flea market and wake up everyday to awesome.  Please bless their Bravo show 9 by Design gets renewed for another season.

Love and Lollapalooza,

Martha