How To Thursday - the empty room Stage 2

Welcome back to "How To Thursday." Last week our focus was stage 1 of how to decorate an empty room on a budget. Stage 2 usually happens when you have lived in the house for a bit of time and experience how you will use each room. We will continue with the living room, you can review the first stage here.

Stage 2 - Window treatments

Window treatments are both functional and aesthetic. We need them for privacy but they can also make a room feel complete. Have you ever had bare windows than installed a rod with panels and suddenly felt like the room was bigger and warmer? At this point you should be clear on the color scheme of the room which will help with the selection. There are many options, starting with a few questions will make it easier. How are you using the room?



Can the neighbors see right into the house? In this case I like to use sheers especially patterned tone on tone panels. With this option you can keep the sheers closed all day which helps with the privacy but still lets daylight in. The above picture shows a very bright room!



Are the windows drafty and you need a treatment which will help with the heating/cooling bill? In this scenario, honeycomb blinds from Hunter Douglas are a great option. They are available in a huge range of colors and are extremely energy efficient. I would suggest pairing them with panels which hang on either side of the window. This will make the panels your focus and not the blinds.
















If your desire is more on the decorate side but are also interested in the function of the 2 scenarios above, Roman Shades are a fantastic option. Alone they create a clean, crisp look. They can also be "built" on as time passes. Since we are talking about keeping to a budget and stages, start with romans on their own. When you want to create a different feel you can layer on side panels as shown in the picture on the right.


If this all seems overwhelming ask a designer for help or use one of the internet resources like Smith and Noble. Another "How To Thursday" post will focus on picking rods and hanging techniques!!

Next Thursday we will continue with Stage 2, selecting entertainment units and area rugs. If you have questions on either subject please leave a comment and I will answer them next week.

(images from Better Homes & Garden, Smith and Noble, Pottery Barn)

All about the Green

It is a very special night here in Boston as the Celtics are playing their home opener game. Last year was inspiring as the basketball team went from last place the previous year, to winning the NBA Championship this past season! For years I have been a faithful fan so to honor my team I wanted to share with you a few green paint hues which are truly Winners!!

Valspar at Lowe's -Ultra Premium
Sprig of Mint


From Domino Magazine
Benjamin Moore Pear green 2028-40



Sherwin Williams Direct Green 6924

As you can see above the green possibilities are endless!

The view from the Boston Celtics Opening Night!
Look at all the green!

(Boston Celtics Images from here)

Welcome Home Brocade!

For a certain style Brocade Home was always one of my go to stores, than over the summer it abruptly fell off the internet map. Word was going around blog land that they had closed and people were not receiving their orders! Well rest assure they are back up and running once again. If you are not familiar with Brocade Home take a peak here. It is a great site with a style I would describe as simple, sweet with an ever so slight romantic french flair. They are a sister site of Restoration Hardware. We can see some similarities, most of the wood finishes are either white or coffee, the lines are very clean and have a simple elegance. What sets them apart is the price point and with those simple lines comes unexpected curves!
Here are a few of my favorite pieces:



The Lace Cut Media Storage is perfect for hiding all the not so pretty media boxes we have. It looks a bit similar to this one from Pier 1 though I like the 56"w size of Brocade's a bit better.


One of the main reasons I am doing the happy dance is for the Silhouette Storage Piece above. I love that this piece is shown in the category "petit boudoir", doesn't it just sound like a little girls dream. Just as it is stated we are using this in a young lady's room. More to come on her transformation from a little girls room to a teenager with a great creative eye! Back to business here, this piece is perfect for storing so many items and it is the a reasonable size at 45"w and 65"h.

(turned wood pedestal accent table)

(the scroll base accent table)

Lastly are two of my favorite side tables. The turned wood pedestal is a perfect accent table for so many rooms! I love the weight of the coffee finish and the heftiness of the solid ball, in some ways it reminds me of a chess piece! The scroll base table is just lovely! It is delicate but strong at the same time and can work with many styles. It's a piece that creates interest, especially if every other piece in the room has clean lines! Best of all this is on sale now for only $79!
Check out the sale page of the website for many more items as it looks like they are clearing out to make way for newer products. Welcome back Brocade Home, please do not disappear again.

(all images from Brocade Home)

Welcome to CreateGirl

(you can almost always find me with some sort of magazine in hand...)

I am so excited, today I am officially launching CreateGirl!! The emails have been sent out and I am hoping the word spreads rapidly. If this is your first visit welcome! CreateGirl is a place to share my design finds with family, friends, clients. and anyone else out there willing to read. I am always scouring magazines, stores and the Internet for the perfect piece whether that be a sofa, accent or even clothing so I thought what better way to share than to start a blog!! The name CreateGirl comes from my need to always be creating, it could be a dinner party, a room or an outfit, my mind is always going!
There will be a few posts you can count on weekly including: Monday Morning Happy which will be a little insight into my weekend along with posting a new "cute picture of the week" to get us all started. Thursdays will be a post on "How To" a little tutorial on how to decorate certain spaces in your home. If you have any how to questions please send them in and I will add them to the list! In the coming weeks I will be introducing you to one of my guest bloggers Betsy Phillips. She has great style and will bring ideas and products to CreateGirl that I am sure will have every one talking.
In the meantime when you need a break from the work day why not stop over for a quick read. For those who are new to blog reading you can bookmark the page or just click on the orange RSS feed by the web address to find us easily!
Thanks for taking the time to read, I truly appreciate it and please leave comments when you see something you like or even disagree with......bloggers LOVE comments!
Thanks a bunch
Julie

Monday Morning Happy

(shops on Newbury St, Boston)

Happy New Week everyone! I think I am needing the Monday morning happy more than ever, it was hard to get moving today. Maybe it was because this weekend was so much fun - shopping in the city, meeting friends for drinks and enjoying the warm weather. The Northeast was 67 degrees, sunny and just a picture perfect fall day. So I guess when the weekend is so great, Mondays can be that much more difficult.
The cute picture of the week is a tuckered out pup. This is yet another dog picture hanging on my bulletin board (are we seeing a pattern here or what?!) and is just adorable. I am a big fan of Airedale dogs they are a great size, well mannered and have a beautiful coat of tan and black! Very sweet!
Enjoy the week!

(cute picture of the week image from Beautiful Interiors 2005)

Enjoy the weekend!

Let your hair down, put a pretty party dress on and swing from the chandelier - it's the weekend!!

(image from Brunschwig & Fils)

City Scouting for Fall Fashion

This weekend I have a few appointments in Boston and plan to do a bit of fall wardrobe scouting while I am down there. Every year I take a few days to scour the internet and see what I might want to put on my wish list and sometimes "dream list" for the new season. I am giddy thinking of all the options and than become crazed trying to find the perfect boot, coat or bag, but once I find it I am more than overjoyed!! Here are a few inspiration looks I found over at my favorite, Paul Smith. All three look extremely comfy, classic and most importantly can work with a few layers! This fall I am feeling the need to have more dresses and fun colored tights, but I also really cherish a great wool blazer like the gray version below. Don't you just love that fun pop of fuscia? The burnt orange scarf is a nice fall accent too!!



(images from the Paul Smith website)

How to Thursday - the empty room

Thursdays at CreateGirl will now be known as "How to Thursdays"! People are always asking me questions like...."how do I find the perfect paint color" or "how do I decide what size rug is best for my room" so I thought what better way to answer those questions than with a weekly post dedicated to the topic. If you have any "how to" questions you would like answered please email me and we will put them on the list! Thanks and hopefully this will help answer some of those lingering "how do I" questions.

First let's start with the "How to design an empty room". Many times I get this question from my new home owner clients. They are completely overwhelmed with where to start and what to buy first. If they are on a tight budget (like most are after a new home purchase) I suggest working in stages. The first stage is the "essentials". For instance in the living room I recommend the purchase of only a few pieces. The sofa, coffee table, lighting and tv area if this is the "main living space". These are the pieces which will make coming home after a long day relaxing, you have something to sit on, a piece of furniture for a book or drink to be set on and lighting to see.

Here are a few examples of Stage One:














The Sofa: above are 2 great options from Mitchell Gold. A perfect size sofa for any standard living room is between 79"w and 84"w. The Chloe on the left is 79"w and has a classic look with the rolled arms and turned legs. The 2 cushion seat and back give off a bit of a modern feel. The Reese on the right is 82"w and also a sofa which will not go out of style in a few years. The more reserved 3 seat sofa is off set with a modern straight arm and clean legs. If you are able to afford to spend a little more on a well made sofa it will be worth it as it will last you years! By purchasing this piece in a neutral or solid fabric you will have more flexibility down the road when you are ready for stages 2 and 3. This will only make it easier to add accents and additional pieces later on as you are working with a neutral base.



Depending on the style direction of the room you could go with either of these coffee tables, each would work perfectly. The Reed Table from Crate and Barrel creates a bit of interest with the steel weave which gives off a wave feel on either end. The strong chestnut finish will anchor the neutral sofa and create a nice grouping. The 44"w size is also a perfect compliment to both sofas.
The bottom option is a clean lined simple coffee table from West Elm. The round 36"dia shape is perfect for most rooms and again interest is created with the cutouts on the bottom of the piece.





Next up is lighting as this is by far one of the essentials since you need to see! The reason I picked floor lamps, is if you don't have an end table right away this is an easy solution and most always can be used in another room if you need to replace it! The first up is the Trenton Floor lamp from Restoration Hardware. This is a fantastic option with the bronze base and turned base. It is classic with more interest than a simple straight base. I would love to see this with the Chloe Sofa and West Elm coffee table. The turn of the lamp base would mimic ever so slightly the Chloe leg. I really like the Perry Lamp from Crate and Barrel since it can fit into many style schemes. The oval shade is simple and adds a touch of softness to the severe lines of the sculptured steel base. In a way it would act as a piece of architecture in the room with its A framed vintage style.

The next "How to" will focus on the Stage 2: area rugs, entertainment unit and window treatments.

My photo tour of Las Vegas

Our trip to Las Vegas was absolutely amazing, filled with lots of family time with relatives who live all over the country. As I wrote about here in a previous post we were out there to celebrate my Gram's 90th birthday. After traveling all over the world Vegas was one place she had never seen and always wanted to visit. It was a great time and as a creative girl it was an incredibly visual place. I took a day to myself and wandered through each hotel on the strip, here are a few of my most visually pleasing finds! Enjoy!

Above is heaven in a tiny alcove. When you enter the restaurant Tao you are greeted by 10 of these cement "tubs" filled with rose petals and candles. The vibe at Tao is incredibly calming and peaceful. Honestly I could have jumped right in...if only there had been a curtain to pull across!

The chandelier above at Mandalay Bay, literally made me stop in my tracks. Isn't it just gorgeous? The space has amazingly high ceilings so a chandelier like this was needed to make a statement. There is great balance with the large table and the soft flowers, which only add to the drama of the fixture. Love it!

This wallpaper was just stunning. I have to say I forget which casino it was in, I just remember it was part of the "high roller" suite I walked past. The dark wallpaper with the dark wood felt very masculine but also very warm. It was striking and it's something I will keep in mind for a room scheme.


Tiny diamonds dancing on the ceiling was how the rows of enormous chandeliers, at the Paris Hotel made me feel! These were in the lobby and was such a nice welcome as you entered, it definitely set the tone for the rest of the hotel. Job well done since that is exactly what a foyer should do, set the feel for the rest of the space! I also loved the detail of the bronze medallions, it gave the room an old world feel. Perfect!


Lastly we arrive at my favorite shots! More to come in another post on this topic, but I have to say I become giddy by a creative window display. One of my first jobs was to create eye catching windows on the high end Newbury Street in Boston. It was hard work but so much fun!
The above photo was at the Barney's New York window in the Venetian Hotel. If you look closely you can see the mannequin is sitting on a shoe made entirely of wire hangers. So creative and well executed! Below is a simple window at Fendi, I believe it is Fendi, I was so excited I forgot to write down the store! Mounting all the closed circuit cameras to the wall pointing at the stylish woman is just perfect and when you think about it, has a hidden message.

Thanks for taking a tour of my favorite Las Vegas sites! If you have ever been please share some of your favorite sites!


(all images taken from creategirl's collection)

Monday Morning Happy

Its the start of a new week and I am happy to say the tshirts and sun dresses have been put away and are now replaced with cozy warm sweaters and cute jackets!! It is such a relief when that task is done and I have a new wardrobe to choose from. Now to start with the switch of decor and bedding, but we will address that project in another post!
The Cute Picture of the week is from a Hallmark Shoebox card and was given to me by another dog lover. I am a huge sap for a good card and tend to save the ones I love for years....yes this can become a problem but they are so cute!!
Enjoy the week

(image by Randall Michelson and Juan Tallo and Creative Closetsworks)

Dive Right In

Since I am about to go on vacation I thought I would leave you with some swoon worthy pools! Don't you just love a great hotel pool? These are more over the top but they are fun to dream about!
Above is the absolutely gorgeous pool at Burj Al Arab in Dubai, isn't it spectacular? I love the color scheme and the columns are more than amazing. I will need to do some research on this hotel since I am sure if the pool is this gorgeous imagine what the rooms are like?

Staying with the topic.....next we have the serene indoor pool at the Observatory Hotel in Sydney, Australia. It looks so relaxing, a place where your troubles could literally fall away as you float on your back looking up to the stars!!

The Reflecting Pool above at the Grand Wailea Hotel in Hawaii is just stunning! The grounds looks so lush and to be surrounded by all those palm trees with the lull of the ocean could not be any more relaxing!

Do you have a favorite hotel pool that has made your vacation even more enjoyable? If so please share!

Running off to Vegas

I apologize in advance but posts will be light this week as I am off to Las Vegas. The entire family is going out there to celebrate Gram's 90th birthday! Vegas was here choice and all 25 of us are excited to spend some time together. I am especially looking forward to good food, shopping and HOT weather by the pool. Hopefully I will have some new home decor finds and great house pics to share when I return! Check back in next week when I will officially launch CreateGirl for everyone to see.
Enjoy the week!

(image from HGTV)

A look into Pier 1

This weekend I did a little scouting over at Pier 1 Imports. To be honest I forget about this store until a catalog arrives in the mail and reminds me to take a peak. Their focus seems to be very Moroccan and Mediterranean these days but there were still a few pieces I found interesting so I will share!


The teal drum lamp is impressive at $50. The curved cast iron base and silk teal shade creates a sexy feel and would be a great color compliment with many color schemes.

The Orange and Brown Floral Window Panels were fairly hefty which I like for the winter. Of course we are seeing orange again which is ever so trendy right now but as I always say put the trend on the window as it is easier to switch out later! These are $35. They also had a great pair of deep chocolate tone on tone floral sheers for $25 which I wanted to scoop up but decided to wait on, unfortunately they don't show them on the website.

The Hana is the piece I saw in the catalog which prompted me to go into the store. It is a very low entertainment unit and quite compact, which is something I have been scouting for. It is not the most sturdy but for $199 (on sale, even better!) it will make do for a few years. What attracted me to the piece is the cut out floral design on the doors. Most Entertainment Units have glass or solid doors which are not always very interesting. These Asian inspired doors give off a creative feel and one I would not mind sitting the tv on. It becomes an interesting piece of furniture as opposed to a block of wood who's only purpose is the sit the tv. Plus it would be multi purpose in nicely hiding stacks of a magazines!!


The purchase I did leave with and almost always leave with when I go into a Pier 1 is the Buttercream Vanilla Candles. I absolutely love the scent, when I light them in the house and have guests over they always ask what I am baking! Since I am feeling the fall in the air I also purchase an Ember Candle which is a fantastic mix of cinnamon, orange and nutmeg!

(all images from Pier 1 Imports)

Monday Morning Happy!

Here we are at the start of a new week. How was your weekend? Hopefully you were able to fit in a few minutes of "me time" and relax!
The cute picture of the week is one I took of my niece - mid slid. I love the shadows on the gray metal and if you could see her face, she was laughing so much I didn't think she would make it to the bottom. It was a fun day of laughing and simply being a kid! Sometimes a trip to the playground can lift the spirit and remind us of how fun it is to act like a 5 year old!
Happy New Week!

Recharge - It's the weekend!

Happy Weekend everyone! Hopefully you can take some time to pamper yourself. This tub just beckons me to slow down, soak and recharge my creative mind. How will you relax this weekend?
Enjoy!

(image from Domino Magazine)

Beachy Blue Grays

In June, Elle Decor did a feature on the Cuomo's Hampton house and it is just darling. I have only selected 3 pictures out of the lot but to enjoy the entire article click here. The Settee above is perfect with Madeline Weinribs Navy Luce fabric, it gives off a very beachy feel. The reflection in the mirror ever so slightly shows what I think to be the same fabric on the window treatments! I chose the picture below not only to show off the lovely Christine Cuomo but for the flower arrangement on the dining table. Isn't it sweet to have vases and flowers of different heights haphazardly placed on a table? It leads to a real casual feel. The sofa and chair below are in the sun room, I would love to see this just outside a kitchen as I could imagine enjoying my morning tea here soaking up all the sun from those FABULOUS windows! The blue gray from Farrow and Balls Estate Emulsion collection is a favorite of mine, just perfect and a nice departure from the typical cottage white. I wonder what draws me to a particular article in a magazine or makes me stop and tear it out for the inspiration folder. In this instance I think it was the paint color and the large windows, they are strong but soothing at the same time!


(images from Elle Decor)

The Trustworthy Piggy Bank

I remember as a child it was so exciting to have someone give you coins to put in your bank. I loved the sound of the quarter (I could only hope) hitting the ceramic inside. I would sit and wonder how much money was in there, than dump it out to count on my bed. These were the good ol' days! It seems as if the Piggy Bank is the way to go once again so I thought I would do a bit of scouting to find the sweetest ones out there. This is what I have come up with!
Who can resist a classic silver piggy bank like this one from Carters? Precious! From Elegant Baby comes the "huge piggy bank". It's available in many bright happy colors and I love the sharp white polka dots, might just make saving pennies fun. If you want to be high tech about it, Back to Basics offers the Pink Pig E. Bank which calculates as you add coins. To empty just push the snout to release the coins.

Just Say It

As you can see from the picture of the week, I love words and letters in any form! I am not sure what it is but I love the variety of fonts and sizes which can scream or whisper.
Orange Beautiful on Etsy has some fantastic finds, her cards and books are perfect for any occasion. For instance I love this memo book which reads Get Your Sh*t Together could it be any more blunt? The Laugh, dream, love print from the same Etsy shop would look darling in a front hall or even a bathroom with a nice crisp white frame. Seriously?! I could purchase a stack of these cards to send to friends and they would be appropriate for so many situations. Seriously, you're boss said what to you! Seriously, you are in love? Seriously, you won the lottery!! Now that would be a great card to send!