The Best Home Depot Washer and Dryer

Just a little update on the house. It is slowly coming along, but the bear of unpacking is overwhelming on top of everything else that needs to get done. A small start on decor with some new pillows. Ikat, of course, is the fabric design of choice. You can check out my post on Ikat here to learn more. All pillows were bought on etsy.com.

Two of these for my white slipcovered sofa.

I have a beige chaise lounge that although not the most perfect piece to keep for my living room, it is ridiculously comfortable. I even had one guest take it into the guest bedroom b/c he wanted to sleep on it! Many a nap have graced this chaise, so am going to dress it up with this Robert Allen designer ikat fabric. The lumbar should brighten and update.

The other exciting purchase other than bath light fixtures and my front porch rocking chairs, is the pair of LG True Steam Front Loading Washer and Dryer. I'm sure everyone has already upgraded their washer and dryer, but I am riveted especially since these weren't crazy expensive. They sense your load, adjust on a dime, spin to almost dry so little time in dryer, and steam out wrinkles. And, for all the mommies out there, it has a sanitary cycle for when those little accidents happen. I am in love!

I have done a tad bit of organizing in the laundry room, but I need to purchase some matching storage baskets for a more clean look. Here are some laundry rooms to envy:

{Via DecorPad}

{via Laura Casey Interiors}

Check out the stainless!

If you have to put your washer dryer in hallway, this is a good way to dress up

with chandelier and wallpaper.

A little french and beachy.

Slate floors, great pendant and art on easel.

A Few More Gilded Mint Interiors

Happy Friday! Here are just a few pictures with all shades of mint, a little gild and even some silver.

This is just a beautiful office space with mint lamps, huge gold mirror and delicate chair.

Wall color set off nicely with pink chairs.

The Gilded Mint bedroom. Look at those poofs!

Deep rich mint hues allow silver frames to pop.

Pale mint walls and soft interior.

Hillary Thomas Design

Mint colored walls, gold mirrors and shades with a pop of pink.

If Gilded Mint were to throw a dinner party, this would be the tablescape!

Is That A Missoni & Chanel Knockoff? Why, Yes, It Is!

I have been asked recently about inspiration behind my paintings and what I consider when creating a piece. First, and primarily, I think about how a piece will look in a home. What good is a painting if it doesn't look good in your house or office? Second, inspiration definitely comes from fashion and fabulous color pairings. Let's chat fashion first. Recently, Chanel and Missoni have been my go to's. Chanel is an obvious choice...no need for explanation. But, Missoni you may wonder? Here's why:

Last fall Missoni teamed with Target for a line of items fit for home, apparel, accesories. Well, it's not likely that you'll ever see a riot at Target. The Missoni/Target line was a first! Everything sold out immediately, and shopppers were giving death threats over a towel in LA. It turned into a bit of a mess for Target as there were a lot of empty handed shoppers. Wish I had these:

Rachel Zoe is the style IT girl of the moment. Reality show, check. Stylist to the stars, check. Launched own successful fashion line, check. Women using her coined phrases everywhere, check. If I see one more blogger say, "Amazeballs," I'm going to scream. Anyhoo, her California home is uber sheek with Missoni pillows as seen here:

And, with her new baby, the Missoni bugaboo has been hitting the streets everywhere.

Last summer I wanted these expensive flip Havaianas BAD! Unfortunately, I was just as late as every woman who showed up at Target 10 minutes after it opened on 9/13/11 to grab some Missoni. Nada in my size anywhere online or Net-A-Porter. Oh, there were some posted on ebay for about 300% of original cost, but I just couldn't give the seller the satisfaction.

There is a super cute new design out at Nordstrom now, but I just got my heart set on the black.

Style icon and popular blogger (my personal FAV and go-to blog) Bee of Atlantic Pacific and ladies of fashion wearning Missoni dresses. Notice Miss Union's for some inspiration reveal!

            

Ok, almost done, but here is a fashion and color mix. Pinks, Oranges, Turquiose shades are so in right now.

My Color Combination Inspiration!

 And, now, the reveal of my latest painting, "Spring Missoni & Chanel Inspired Acrylic Abstract Painting on Canvas" available on Etsy. Various pinks, oranges, a pop of turquoise and highlighted with a touch of gold.

Here you can see the depth and highlights that the gold paint gives to the piece.

Gold tones look beautiful set against gold frame and white matting if you wanted to change the look.

Water, Water Everywhere-- Favorite Baths

For the last 10 hours, it rained in Charleston. Really rained. Now, that might not be such a big deal, but living in downtown takes on a whole new meaning when it rains. We flood everywhere...streets, yards, you name it. I mean, even some areas flood at high tide. It made getting into my car early this a.m. quite a soggy chore, and my Lexus on the streets looked like an off-road Land Rover crossing rivers and streams. This is still the most fabulous city to live in though!

All this water led me to think about bathrooms. Crazy how my mind immediately reverts to home design mode. But, when you think about it, bathrooms and kitchens are the two most remodeled rooms in a house. And, provide some of the biggest investment returns. CNN Money ranks bath remodels #1 on their list of 25 Rules to Get Rich By. Uh, sure, I'll remodel my bath if it makes me rich! Funny, because I am replacing the sinks and fixtures in both of my baths now. I will expect checks to show up in the mail here soon CNN! Here are some of my favorites:

Dark wood cabinets with white and a pop of pale blue is sublime. {via Decorpad}

I've had this bath photo saved for years!

Many of us don't have huge baths to luxuriate in. Mine are minuscule because in 1938 nobody seemed to primp or be larger than an ant I guess. Here is a smaller bath with just a few elegant touches.

{via Palm Design Group}

I love this mirror on mirror look and need to figure out how to do this in my own bath.

I have a clawfoot tub, but it certainly is not set in its own marble tiled alcove. Wow!

{via Williams Design}

A chandelier in the bathroom is a must if you have the room!

{Katie Lee's home in West Village via Prudential}

There is something rich and warm about dark gloss walls in a half bath. {via Decorista}

This is another one of my saved photos from over the years. Before Pinterest, it was in my design folder.

The huge mirror is such a statement piece.

White bathrooms really allow you to change your theme at any time. Change your shower curtain, art or accessories to a new color scheme and instant transformation!

Chanel & Florence & The Machine

So, I absolutely LOVE Florence & The Machine. Her songs are passionate, raw and make you want to sing out loud with abandon. Let's just recap why Florence Welch is ridiculously cool:
1. Blake Lively is her best friend and worships her. Seriously, who wouldn't want Miss Gossip Girl idolizing YOU?
2. Nominated for Best New Artist at 2011 Grammy's. Latest album, Ceremonials is fabulous.
3. Ummm, she not only performed at Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel Spring/Summer RTW 2012 Paris Fashion Week Show, but she was his final walk out. When has a musician taken over a supermodel's role?

Florence pushes fashion and design boundaries, so here are some rooms I would pick for her.

 

Her bath...

Florence Welch's kitchen...just need a vase of pale pink flowers and Gilded Mint abstract painting!
This is too rich not to want in your home.

Purple, deep pink and black Chanel dress.

Florence's foyer {via DecorPad}

Living room...Mr. Lagerfeld would so LOVE this.

Red heads and turquoise were meant to be siblings!

The Machine's Bedroom {via Taylor Howes}

Florence's dinner party for her celebrity contingent {via Decorista}

This is if you want to play it safe:-)

{Above images Tobi Fairley}

{Via Lonny}

Phew, so glad I put together a library of posts in preparation of my house closing. Yes, I have been MIA on posts, but I have not only moved into my little bungalow, but also sold SO many paintings this week!  So, in addition to customizing and filling orders, I have been diligently working on a commissioned piece. This isn't my day job, so it has been countless hours at night and on weekends to get everything just right. It's what you are passionate about that drives you afterall, and I love all my buyers for their amazing compliments and stylish taste. Ciao Ciao for tonight as time to get back to work!