For The Love of Your Home - Sacremento Street

Grab your cup of tea for a mid morning break with the lovely Caitlin from Sacremento Street. You might know her for the fantastic series "10 Things I am Loving Right Now" on her blog. She is full of gorgeous posts with the most beautiful pictures!

Over the past few month's I've been trying to put together an art wall by collecting pictures, painting and drawings that embody my aesthetic. When I came across this portrait on Williams Sonoma Home I was in awe of how Katie Van Home captured the dancer's grace. This artwork would complete my vision for my art wall. I hope you see the beauty in it as much as I do.

Follow Caitlin on Twitter @caitlingoebel

(images from Williams Sonoma Home & Megan Lee Katauskas/Craftzine)

For The Love of Your Home - High Heeled Foot

Please say Good Morning to Camila of the blog, "High Heeled Foot in the Door". Daily she takes us with her as she redesigns her house and starts out on the road of business owner! Pop on over, I bet you will pick up a tip or 2 for your own design projects!

The Great Gatsby by F.S. Fitzgerald is one of my all time favorite books. Lucky for me even my hubby who rarely picks up a book enjoys it as well. Another love of mine is seeing book covers used as artwork. To marry these two loves I'm itching to gift my living room with this Penguin book cover for The Great Gatsby.

What's the best part of this gift? It's low-cost. The postcards below, which unfortunately are not available until Dec are another easy way to display your favorite book covers!

Follow Camila on twitter @HighHeelFoot

For The Love of Your Home - Bryn Alexandra

Tonight's "For The Love of Your Home" post comes from Bryn Alexandra who is an amazing lady. She just took the leap and is going out on her own as a designer! I am so excited for her to follow this passion full time. Pop over to her blog and say hello, she is always working on a great DIY project!

Hello! Currently I am painting our bedroom black and I keep imaging/dreaming of a great graphic throw on our all white, neutral bed. This one from Anthropologie would be perfection:

In the process of painting...

Follow Bryn on twitter @brynalexandra

(images from Anthropologie, Bryn Alexandra & Megan Lee Katauskas/Craftzine)

For the Love of Your Home - Chez Liu

This afternoon's "For The Love of Your Home" guest post will be from the Christine Liu, aka the girl who knows everything about events in Boston! Not only is she super stylish & energetic but she is also the Boston Citysearch Editor. Please say hello!

Ever since I've seen one propped up in a showroom, I've been obsessed
with the oversized, as-if-stolen-from-the-circus, exposed-bulb letters framed in galvanized steel.

As both a typographic fiend and a hyper-organized minimalist, I've transferred my carnal carny lust to these enormous Swiss-designed alphabet structures that do double duty as sleek shelving and storage. What's more fancy than fontage as furniture, especially when you can also indulge in geeky territorializing? Consider the unabashed installation of CHEZ LIU a declaration of love.

Follow Christine on twitter @liuliuliu

(images from SET26 & Megan Lee Katauskas/Craftzine)

For the Love of Your Home - Apartment #34

The ever so chic Erin from Apartment #34 is our morning Home Love! Her blog is chock full of interior, fashion and pure style. I always look forward to her posts on "Wedding Wednesdays" & "Monday Work Wear"! Please say hello!

I am so excited to be featured on CreateGirl, especially when I get to brainstorm a perfect Valentine's Day present - for my house! It certainly needs to be showered with gifts right now but if I had to picky I'd have to go with a fun new accent or two.

I'm particularly loving the Scales Linen Pillow and Bubble Hanging Light chandelier from Clayton Gray Home . They satisfy my love of grey and the round edges make the look of both the light fixture and pillow so soft, warm and inviting.

The pillow and the chandelier add lovely point of interest to any room. It makes my heart go pitter patter to think they could be mine.

Visit Erin on twitter @apartment_34

(images from Grayson Home & Megan Lee Katauskas/Craftzine)

For the LOVE Of Your Home Series

Today starts "For the LOVE of your home series". I am not a big Valentines Day girl so I thought this would be a fun spin on the holiday. What could say I love you, more than the items we buy for our house?



I have asked 8 of my favorite twitter girlfriends to share that one piece they are loving for their home right now. You know that one piece which might just be a tad bit out of your price range but the piece you just can't stop thinking about! Let me tell you it's difficult to pick just one piece! Grab your cup of tea and check in throughout the day, maybe you will find a few pieces to add to your own "Home Love List"!




(images from Home Ideas and Megan Lee Katauskas/Craftzine)

Thanks to Stuff Magazine

A special thanks to STUFF magazine and Erin Gates of Elements of Style Blog for including me in their article, "Designing By The Book". I was so honored to be asked to participate with my favorite design book and excited to keep company with such amazing local designers! Can you guess which book is my pick? Pop on over to STUFF to find out!

Ohh Baby Jonathan Adler

Cooing ensued as I browsed Shelter Pop's photos of the new Jonathan Adler Junior line! Isn't it just adorable? They introduced the new pieces during the New York International Gift Fair. I love how they have paired the "Pre-K" items with the "adult" Home line. Yet another example of how a kids room doesn't need to look overly childish! For more photos click here, I dare you not to find a few pieces you would like for yourself! For me it is the lion rug!




(images from Shelter Pop/Laura Fenton)

Escape the Winter Blues with Summer Blues

Check the date, it's Feb 9th this is about the time of winter when I have just about had enough of it! I am dying to shed my wool coat (even if it is adorable), peel off the layers and open the windows to let some fresh air in (my shriveled dried skin would be oh so happy). Just as I am about to go under the electric blanket I come across this Southhampton home in House Beautiful and just like that I am transported to July. A gorgeously warm day spent at this amazing beach house is just what I need. The variation of blue throughout the home evokes a relaxing vibe while the large picture windows make you feel like you are sitting in the sky! Come on let's go for a tour!

the guest house

The blue-green soothing great room with enough space for all the guests to gather and relax. Notice the lack of pattern in the fabrics? This leads to less movement by the eye and creates a purely calming space.

Screened in porch perfect for brunch, dinner and nightly board games! I love the reflection of the iron coffee table on the floor...the sun is definitely out!

Lounging on my favorite Janus et Cie furniture would be a little slice of heaven!

If you were to have your choice of any of the 3 bedrooms above, which one would be your pick to relax?


A clamshell sink?! The perfect way to bring the outdoors in!

A driftwood chandelier and artichoke lamp are the little accents which make this space oh so beachy!

When winter gets to be just a little too much how do you escape? If you have a favorite beach house photo please share with a link in the comments!

Well I best get back to my layered sweaters and warm scarf with the thought we are a bit closer to the warm days!

(images from House Beautiful)
Designers Kim Coleman and Michelle Green

and the Blooming Winner is....

How could the day almost get away from me without announcing the winner of the Blooming Pillow giveaway?! Que the drum roll, horns and fireworks please....the winner is Julie Q! Congrats! There is one tiny requirement when accepting this giveaway, I ask once you receive your pillows from Two Yellow Shoes, please shot a picture and send it over so we can all share in your happy. Thanks again to Laura at Two Yellow Shoes for offering this giveaway!



(image via Two Yellow Shoes)

Wake Up Sunshine!

With last night being the Super Bowl I thought we could all use a little wake me up with some Sunshine Rooms! If these yellow rooms don't wake you up (while having your tea/coffee...we need the extra kick) than I am not sure what will! How was your weekend? Do you need a little sunshine to get you going? Enjoy your Monday!







(images House to Home and House Beautiful, Desire to Inspire/Anita Behrendt)

Go Red Women!

Today is National Wear Red Day which brings awareness to Women's Heart Disease. It is something that is dear to my heart, quite literally as heart disease runs strongly on my Mom's side. If you have heart disease in your family do what I have done and talk to your doctor on ways to prevent it and know the signs of an oncoming heart attack. When the time comes like when my mom suffered an attack you will know exactly what to do!



Of course the best way to stave off heart disease is to live a healthy lifestyle but come on we know that can be difficult with all of life's stresses so maybe you can remember to....

Live the posters message and keep calm

or indulge in one of your favorite books. "The Art of Doing Nothing" is one of my go to gifts for girlfriends, if you have not read this order it now. It's beautiful!

If all else fails put on a gorgeous red dress and take a look in the mirror, its bound to make you feel beautiful and put a little happy in your heart!

Take care and in your travels today notice all the red around you and remember to stay healthy!

Let's talk....write on it & painted legs

OK gang, can we have a little chat about this room? I came across it and was immediately WOWed but that is because I have a strange obsession with typography in the house. How do you feel about enormous letters painted on the wall? Would you ever consider this in your house?

We also have the style of painting one leg on a kitchen chair. I have to admit I could live with the letters but the painted leg, not so sure.
Please share your opinion in the comment section, I would love to hear from you!

(image from Desire to Inspire and Beckers)

Color Time - In Your Eyes Benjamin Moore

Here it is Color Time again! I adore this bright, happy blue! I would describe this as more of a "cool blue". The light colored pine floors and furniture make this the perfect color selection. This room would be the perfect place to have my morning tea but I also could see myself working on my laptop gazing out the window for inspiration!




**Always remember to sample a color before painting, computer screens can vary in tone

(image from Country Living)

Sending Birthday Wishes!!

Not only is today Groundhog day but it is also my little (she loves when I say that!) sisters Birthday!! Unfortunately she does not live in the same state as the rest of the family so I thought I might take this post and send her some virtual presents like....

a beautiful bouquet full of orange flowers, our "family color"

a chance to relive her wedding this past fall, the most perfect day

some quiet time in the beautiful Boston Public Library with a few of her favorite classics (she is a HS English teacher...you know the cool class you always wanted to be in, that's her!)

mostly I wish I could give her a laid back Sunday Italian Dinner on the deck with the entire family

and the one thing I know she would love most are my Mom's Marble Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting!
Happy Bday Amy, hope this is one fantastic year for you!
xo jul

(images from Martha Stewart Flowers Tom Underwood Posh Chicago, Desire to Inspire, Womans Day)

A Blooming Giveaway!

Last week I promised to all those who participated in my blog survey a little thank you in the way of a unique giveaway! This is a special one you can make your very own! The extremely talented Laura Larson from Two Yellow Shoes has been nice enough to offer up a set of her "Blooming Pillows". I discovered TYS while scouting local Boston Etsy designers for a STUFF Magazine article and immediately fell in love! She is one incredibly creative lady and I love the fact these sweet pillows came out of a desire for a ring bearers pillow for her own wedding! I would also see these pillows used with an accent chair in a nursery, as the wow piece in the living room or even better one for my bed and one as a surprise gift for a friend!


"Pillows measure approx. 13" x 13" in size. The pillows are made from canvas and the flowers are felt and measure in various sizes, 12" x 12" being the largest layer. Eight layers of wool felt make up each flower. These pillows "pucker" in the center giving the illusion that the flower is blooming." Two Yellow Shoes

A sample of felt colors available for the "Bloom"!

Not only does Laura create amazing pillows she also is an expert in beautiful wedding invitations and accents. I just adore her custom favor boxes check them out at her Etsy Store!

In order to enter please leave a comment below with your Blooming felt color selections and where you would use them in your house! There will be one winner (of 2 identical pillows) which I will announce next Monday 2/8/10.

Good Luck and thanks again for participating in the survey, your honest feedback was just incredible!