Where have you been!?

A few people have sent me emails asking where I have been? I guess when you are a daily blogger and than fall off the blogging radar people wonder. I can't tell you how WONDERFUL that feels, to know I am missed. First I was rethinking the blog and its direction, I have started to refocus and am coming up with some great weekly topics and will have more of a definitive "affordable" voice. I love sourcing pieces and bringing you alternative to items we find in our swoon worthy photos. So while I was off working on that my mom became ill and for the last week has been cooped up in the hospital, thankfully it is a concern but not too serious. Anyhow we have been spending lots of time reading all the magazines I have been bringing her. She LOVES her magazines just like me and we have been tearing out pages finding lots of things to blog about. So with this I apologize, I promise to be back as soon as she is up and back to her happy self. After all I am sure she wants to get out of a room that looks like..........

this hospital room (well not nearly this glamorous)

and get back to a cozy retreat that looks something like this. Notice the glorious windows and stack of magazines on the floor? This would be a big upgrade!



In all honesty, knowing my mom this is where she would really prefer to be! Here with a cup of tea and her book looking over the water!

Thanks to all of you who continue to pop over and leave comments, I truly appreciate every single one!
jul

(images from Carolina Business Furniture and Coastal Living via My Home Ideas)

Shade Change

Want to know a quick and easy way to change up a room for fall? Change out your lamp shades. Trust me, I recommend it to clients all the time. Your friends will walk in and instantly wonder what you have done differently. Especially if you are changing from a solid shade to a graphic print one. Take a look at this fun Bamboo Trellis Drum Shade from Shades of Light The details: 16", available in chocolate, kelly green and yellow and only $79. My Favorite detail? It is a linen fabric shade, love that! I have had enough of the "paper shade". So what do you think? Would you try this in your home?

(images from Shades of Light)

Chair love by Judith Miller!

I resist the thought of making any kind of "wish list" until after Thanksgiving but when I saw this book I had to make an exception! "Chairs" with its bright red, simple, to the point cover just beckoned me to open its pages. It's a fantastic education of the chair, how it has evolved and more importantly how each sits. An incredible chronicle of the years where it's form curved and other years when it sat straight is just fascinating. Paired with Nick Pope's photography, Judith Miller's book is one that will make you look at your chairs in a much more loving way...if that is even possible!







(images from San Francisco Chronicle, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Chicago Tribune)

Mixing it up with Stephen Shubel

Browsing through an old issue of House Beautiful I came across the work of San Francisco designer Stephen Shubel and immediately felt comforted. His combination of vintage, high end and easy to purchase pieces is such a welcoming style. You feel like these rooms are completely attainable and that makes me admire him even more!!








If I could wish for one room of my own it would be this bathroom! It reminds me of a Henri Bendel box, though one in black!! Pure Relaxation!

(images from House Beautiful)

Scouting - Iron Beds under $1000

Lately I have been thinking about Iron Beds and how versatile they can be. There is no need to match wood finishes and most can work with any style room. They are perfect for a smaller room as most are light in scale, what an easy solution, right? In true CreateGirl style I scouted out a few Queen options from simple frames to more intricate all under $1000.

Pottery Barn Claudia Bed $649

Ethan Allen Tango Bed $629



Charles P Rogers Campaign Bed $799



Humble Abode Calypso Bed $549

Do you have an iron bed in your home?

A cozy Jan Shower Library

With the day becoming dark so early courtesy of Daylight Savings Time it makes me want to curl up in a library with a good book. I came across this cocoon like room by Jan Showers and immediately fell in love. The navy walls and same shade panels create such a warmth. Notice the playful zebra rug, patterned pillows and lime green leather chairs? These are all little reminders that this is not a "stuffy" room!! So the next time you wonder if you can paint a room a real dark color use this space as your inspiration. Though be warned you might want to just light a fire and read all the books you have in the house!



(images from Traditional Home and Jan Showers)

Headboad + Window

As I was doing a little inspiration scouting for a client's bedroom project, One image kept popping up. The bed placed directly in front of a window. I wonder if this is just for styling purposes or if this is really how the rooms were designed.




What's your opinion. Would you place your headboard directly in front of a window? Do you like this look? Please comment, I would love to hear from you!

(images from House Beautiful, House to Home and Point Click Home)

NOT an Inflight Recliner

There's been a lot of talk in the last week about pilots and well, sleeping. Of course being someone who remembers every piece of furniture that has crossed her eyes I thought what a perfect time to share with you Design Within Reach's Flight Recliner. Now I am not saying they did or didn't but what a present this would make! I am a big fan of recliners that don't scream lean back on me, this one does the trick and it's available in multiple stocked fabrics even nicer. So sit back enjoy but please not operating anything more than the remote!






(image from Design Within Reach)

How to Thursday -indulge in the gray trend

We have been seeing lots of gray in our favorite shelter magazines and you might want to know how to add this in your home without spending a ton of money. Accent pillows are the answer whether in the Living or Bedroom. Whatever style your room is you will find many options out there. Below are just a few of my favorites. All but one (I couldn't resist) are under $100 so go ahead enjoy the gray!!

Shine and Metallic from Pillow Decor and Treacle Toffee



Animal Whimsy with Thomas Paul and CB2


Fun geometric shapes from Aimee Wilder and Jonathan Adler



Add a bit of 3D interest with Etsy's Miss Mosh and Oromono

Nature Inspired pillows from Etsy's Kain Kain Shop and Mod Diva

A Surface View

In the previous post I mentioned the fantastic wall decor featured over the bed. Here is the source, it's from Surface View. Their "interior graphics" are reproductions from images found at the Victoria & Albert Museum, Marvel Comics, the Royal Photographic Collection and Nic Miller just to name a few. Each image can be recreated as Blinds, Prints on Canvas and Murals. I especially love the silhouette of a person standing next to the size of each print/mural. A priceless visual tool!

Below are a few of my favorite images and some actual applications!

This piece is titled "Belgian Veil" from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
A lace image we saw here above the bed.

One of the things I absolutely love about this company is their flexibility! Each image has multiple sizes and styles which makes it easy to use in many room schemes. Very consumer friendly!

(images from Surface View)

Find It - Calm Bedroom + Laser Cut Rug

I Love the clean look of this room I found over at Living Etc! It feels so restful and the white floors are quite refreshing. Add a laser cut rug like the one below from Brocade Home and you create just a bit of interest. 5 x 8 is $499. Check out the next post for more info on that amazing piece of wall decor. No need for a bed frame here!



(images from Living Etc via House to Home and Brocade Home)

Diary Entry - The affordable headboard

You can find me over at Stylefeeder today blogging on an affordable headboard idea! I submitted this post back in September and was so excited last night to finally see a real application in this photo over at Turquoise. It is a perfect example on how to use these headboards, I just love the contrast! Vanessa has an incredible eye and ck out the perfectly placed Anthropologie Ikat bowl on the nightstand. A stylish place for change or last minute jewelry you forget to take off.




(image vis Turquoise Blog, Anthropologie)

The Tessalight

I came across this photo over at Desire to Inspire by the talented photographer Martin Cederblad. Than I recalled the fabulous Tessalight by Christine Price Hamilton. I am not sure if this is the same light but I would love to see it in this room! Imagine the glowing patterns this light would create on the bedroom ceiling?! Check out Christine's website to see the work see creates with just an X-Acto knife, thick paper and wooden beads. Just lovely!




(images from Desire to Inspire, Daily Candy and Christine Price Hamilton)

Lighting Up Vermont

Take a peak into this cozy Vermont Retreat. Doesn't it look the perfect place to enjoy a fall getaway? This is the home of the unbelievably talented lighting designer Craig Roberts. As you peruse each room notice his use of subtle lighting. It makes such an impact!

There is nothing like the warmth of wide pine floorboards

Notice the perfectly placed bookshelves nestled under the windows. The lights are placed inside the shelves to create a simple glow and quietly highlight its contents.

By working with the architectural details of the room a cozy nook is created!

The indirect lighting in the soffits, calls the eye to wander to the height of the ceiling and beautiful bead board.

Just down a sweet flowered lined path sits the "summer house". A smaller structure with escapism written all over it. I just adore this and wonder if the small cottage is all one needs. With its screened in porch, working fireplace and enough windows to enjoy the view...well that just sounds like perfection to me!

(images from Design New England)