Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Home Feature: Palmetto Bluff

Mike and I love Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, SC. It's only an 1.5 hour drive and has all the low country feel of Charleston, but when you combine an Auberge resort and a community set apart on its own...it just feels like an escape. The home styles are all architecturally symbiotic and consistent, but rarely have I seen the inside of some of the newer homes with updated interiors. With the building boom back on track, here's a look into one of the newer private residences.

metal roof and gray shutters white siding

palmetto bluff home 2013 interior design updated

brick fireplace southern living palmetto bluff home


black soapstone countertops dark wood floors coffered ceilings

soapstone counters black windows lining counters corner kitchen view
wood french doors white and cream interior design southern living
 
gray and white grey bathroom with tub


white vanity marble gray wood paneled walls

southern landscaping large oak azaleas

liriope lined path palmetto bluff southern gardening

Friday, April 26, 2013

My Art is Now Fashion!

About a month ago, a friend of mine pointed to a dress and said, "Hey, that print looks like it could be one of your paintings!" I thought to myself, "Well, that would be cool to make fabrics from my art designs." That has now become reality. Kenneth Jay Lane has selected six of my paintings for his Summer 2014 silk scarves collection. Can you say EXCITED???!!!! They will be sold worldwide, and you will find them on all your favorite shops like Shopbop, Gilt and One Kings Lane. I cannot wait to see the art transform to a silk print. I am a huge fan of KJL and his lion door knocker necklace is a favorite in my wardrobe...and even helped garner my outfit a feature in Charleston Magazine. If you want to peruse his jewelry while you wait for the collection's launch, check out Net-A-Porter.

art print on scarves abstract painting

Let's just take a look at some of his jewelry on the celebs!

gwyneth paltrow smokey eyes makeup long curly hair

emerald drop earrings kenneth jay lane celebrity style

bold chunky necklace with tank top
celebrity stone necklace
celebrity style at NBA basketball games

rihanna blonde hair red carpet fashion kenneth jay lane jewelry

lady gaga all black outfit

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Take a seat; window seat that is.

Wish you could sit and stare out your window at the lovely spring blooms? Pop open a book and enjoy the view wistfully? How about needing a little extra storage in a room and there is a nice big window ominously sitting by itself? The window bench/seat is the perfect solution. I personally love the storage additions you get with one. Here are some swoon worthy seats with a view!

cozy window seat nook for girls bedroom play area
A cozy little space with curtains for a girls room.

interior design ivory blue bedroom master
Plenty of pillows to cushion with a great view to a wooded back yard.

ivory and beige hall decor decorating interior design hallway with window
Tucked into a hallway.

polka dot stools black and white citron yellow green decorating
Don't be afraid to continue the color from outside in!

corner seating interior decorating decor
Create a full seating area with some chairs and a small table.

blue and white and black design decor stair case built in book shelves
Creative use of space on staircase landing.

interior decorating girls bedroom white trundle bed
Maximizing space in a girls bedroom.

settee under window trellis drapes curtains corner living room decorating
You don't have to go with a built-in unit. Simply set a nice chaise lounge under a window!

beach cottage reading nook
Cottage chic for a small space.

beige ivory living room decor design interior
Double window seats for added seating.

soft pale green and blue interior design decorating decor living room low ceilings
More seating options in a small living room.

interior decorating decor design blue and yellow coastal living attic bedroom
Can you imagine this little space opening to the water view? Sublime!

Monday, April 22, 2013

Stately Homes by the Sea Designer Showhouse

In just 8 days, the Stately Home by the Sea Grand Opening will reveal the top interior designers choices for transforming a mega tudor style mansion into a gleaming piece of design art. And, even MORE exciting, is that one of my paintings will be featured in the guest bedroom suite designed by Lauren Guarcello of Porter Design Company. You can see my post on Lauren here, but you know that bedroom she designed for the 2011 showhouse anywhere! It was pinned and posted on blogs everywhere...not to mention several features in Traditional Home Magazine.

Most importantly, proceeds from tours and sales go to the Visiting Nurses Association Health Group. Founded in 1912, VNAHG, is the largest voluntary, nonprofit in home health, private care, hospice and community wellness organization in New Jersey caring for more than 120,000 individuals each year. Very close to my heart as my full time job at Allscripts helps provide software solutions for these home health workers so they have more efficient days and better clinical information about their patients. It all means better care for sick patients:-)

The 11,000 square foot Harthorne Mansion was built in 1929 by world champion figure skater Harold Harthorne and designed by noted architect Roger Harrington Bullard.

lauren guarcello porter design company jennifer latimer art new jersey charleston sc abstract artist
Here are the fabric and color inspirations from Lauren that helped me create the perfect painting for the room. We went with a take on my Mod Floral series.

I CANNOT wait for the big reveal! Stay tuned.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Tackling the Yard

Well, Spring has sprung in Charleston. That means the azaleas have lost their blooms, and the weeds and bugs have emerged in full force. If you haven't gotten your yard under control yet, then chances are it is knee high in weeds from every direction. Currently, I am in a full hate relationship with my back lawn. This isn't North Carolina where it seemed so easy. There, I could even do everything organically. Here, with the full sun to full shade swings in seasons, from parched dry to floods, let's just say gardening is a bit difficult. So, while I fight the good fight against nature's odds in a wacky coastal climate, let's sit back and envy some other yards:-)
stone walls back yard landscape design white and green
If this is your back yard view to your pool and stone pool house, well then you BETTER be drinking champagne out there every night, splashing around and throwing Gatsby style parties every week. If you aren't, then I would highly recommend you sell your house to me for a reasonable rate:-)

gravel and pavers path wooded shad gardening
A simple pathway with caladiums, azaleas and ferns for shade.

front fence landscaping plantings gardening
Yes, we all want a white picket fence with climbing roses. Did they put that in children's books when we were little?

landscaping back yard gardening ideas
Curve those beds!

planting under large trees steps sloped yard
Shade plantings laddered up into woods.

using boxwoods to create beds in back yard gravel paths
Love the use of boxwoods to frame out planting groupings.

landscaping a suburban back yard flower beds

planting a sloped front yard bushes hydrangeas
Addressing a front yard with a slope.

curved garden beds perennials plantings

gardening under large trees shade border

plantings for a slop in back yard wooded area patio
Slopes are SO hard to plant. Water runs off easily creating a dry environment. This looks perfect.

small back yard grave and boxwoods
If you have a small backyard, this would be perfect for the no maintenance type. Good idea for a townhouse as well.

landscape design front yard pergola gray house blue shutters
Talk about perfect bloom timing.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Saturday Spring Sale

Check out today's Bright and Beautiful sale on One King's Lane for some prints and print to canvas deals on my paintings. Time to embrace Spring with some bright colors for your home!


Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Houzz Feature

Usually I can tell if my art has popped up on a blog or featured on website. I can't tell you how thankful I am to the bloggers, interior designers and art enthusiasts out there that have shown the love. You can check them all out here. Well, this time I had no idea that one of my pieces was part of a Houzz article on decorating with coffee table books. I LOVE Houzz articles...almost every single photo featured I like. As it turns out, the piece featured was my very FIRST painting sold. I cannot take credit for the styling and beautiful easel...that all goes to Jennifer Willis of Virginia Haskins & Company. Love it!

interior decorating design popular painting console table decorating arrangement brass lamp black shade

Friday, April 5, 2013

What to do with the Powder Room?

Any size home will present the challenge of the powder room. You know, that closet sized bathroom on the first floor that has just enough space for the loo and a sink. But, mind you, it's usually not your normal sized sink and most powder rooms get stuck under a staircase so there is limited head room. People try all sorts of things and search endlessly for that small person sized vanity to squeeze into a non-standard space. Here are a few powder room ideas to spruce up your space as well as some small fixture ideas!

small bath vanity solution storage design interior
It can be challenging to find a vanity for your space.
Custom can ease a lot of time and effort searching for a fit. 

beige and white small half bathroom under stairs wood furniture vanity
For such a small space, visual interest is key. Wallpaper adds the right touch.

small vanity with marble top crystal drawer pulls heart pine floors marble tile
Clean, fresh and simple.

black and white navy heart pine floors small space idea decorating
Just a little wallpaper, again, helps transform this space with some molding details.

grey silver chrome half bath mirrored vanity storage ideas
Gray grasscloth walls add texture and warmth.

chrome marble black small bathroom decor molding wainscoting
Sor very Parisian. I absolutely love everything about this powder room!

half bath powder room storage ideas with vertical shelves browwn wood mirror
I am all about storage baskets on shelves to hide clutter. These vertical shelves with baskets are a great small space solution.

green and beige small bath decorating ideas sconces on side walls pedestal sink
Some more grasscloth and rustic touches offset by a crisp pedestal sink and elegant sconces.

powder room beach house shabby chi rustic small bathroom ideas
Oh, so very beach chic. This is a challenging space!

yellow and white bathroom decor open shelves storage ideas
I love this idea of a storage shelf above a door.

wood floors half bath under stairs storage design solutions
Go bold with your wallpaper!

narrow bath ideas design grey and white elegant wainscoting
Using wood work and molding to create visual appeal.

small half bath storage decorating ideas
Kelly Wearstler trellis wallpaper and excellent storage built ins.

small half bath storage decorating ideas
Sparkle and graphic wallpaper.