Get the Look: Cozy Little Aqua Sitting Room

lonny mag

A room I have been enamored with for a while. Just a simple little space, full of character, color and coziness.

Here are a few little found favorites that would help you achieve a similar fee, if you felt so inclined.

vintage red wing violin 1950's wall pocket via antionettes whims

mirror hollywood regency gold gilt french style wall mirror via fabulous mess
(Okay, so this mirror has a very different style than the one in the original room, but I still love it.)

spray paint these white if you must: shabby chic lime green syroco wall shelves sconees via rubys girl

vintage turquoise and gold vases via betty sells sea shells

 woman pencil portrait via faffina 

cloud birds pillow cover by skinny laminx

 morroccan lantern via casbah decor 

snuggle pillow dark yellow faux fur cover by pillow talk 33

vintage crewel embroidery pillow cover via eberplex

 

 8 point whitetail deer antlers via kennys antiques 

 laerke duvet cover turquoise urban outfitters

vintage yellow shabby chic roses painting via lady green jeans

mantida rug by anthropologie

 handcrafted jones end table by nyen designs

modern solid brass letter g via jolly time one

Inspired Room: My House of Giggle's Dreamy Striped Bedroom

 Tracey of My House of Giggles featured her lovely gray and white striped bedroom so I am finally getting around to showing you some of it. Be sure to visit her best of 2010 projects, they are all so beautiful and full of inspiration. I love her use of gray, blues and white, and the careful additions of stripes. I tried my own striped little cake pedestal stand, and though I love it, I simply could not get the lines to be as straight as I would have liked.

 Her chandelier work is enchanting, and so inspiring. See how she did another one here.

  I would never have thought of using two, thin, ornate contrasting colored mirrors like this. Love it.

 As a jewelry designer, I am in desperate need of cute and creative ways to store jewelry, I adore these.

 I did ballet as a toddler, does that count if I want to add some ballet slippers in my room?!

 Aren't her flower paintings lovely? She also has an etsy shop, which is currently closed, 

but hopefully she will add more items soon!

Inspired Room: Soft Whites and Natural Light

This Edwardian house in Streatham was featured in Light Locations.  The white and creamy color pallate is so refreshing and dreamy, especially since the dominating accent color is turquoise. I am truly amazed at how much natural light and charm this home boasts.

This is quite possible the most beautiful entry way I have ever seen. From the light grayish blue writing desk, to the old portrait, it has a touch of everything. I truly adore the grandfather clock. The soft color and curved lines makes it appear less menacing than so many others I have seen.

The sunburst mirror is so right in this room. I love the detail, and and so glad it isn't overdone in this home, by appearing in every room in the house.

The pet portraits and the green lattice print pillow brings a pop of charm and color to the room.

I love those stain glass windows flanked with the open white shutters. So lovely! And, though the focus of the room is this charming rocking horse, I find the feather duster hanging on the wall quite charming.
And those painted white plank floors are perfect. The mix of vintage and shabby with the contemporary chair and desk are refreshing. Do you have a mix of style, and how do you pull it off?

Homefront: The Story of the Perfectly Blue Broken Urn

I found this gorgeous robin's egg blue urn several weeks ago at a garage sale for $2. It was so lovely and I thought it would make a beautiful home for one of my succulents. I had it on our fireplace next to the afghan draped white chair for about two days, before this happened. My 4 yr old thought it would be a perfect holder for his toy cars, so he picked it up to collect them, swinging it a bit, then dropped it when he realized how large and heavy it was.

I loved the details, the deep, milky aqua color, the way the glaze showcased each distressed placement, the iron handles and their handles and the large, raised fleur di lis. The square base of the urn had an elegantly curved taper. Not to mention, it looked so pretty in that perfect spot, next to the white chair by the fireplace.

Sure I was upset, for about 5 minutes. While sweeping up the pieces, it occurred to me I could probably crazy glue it together, and it would be just fine. But, I decided to let it go. I really had other important things to attend to and knew that I could not be angry, or spend too much energy over this. I needed to conserve that energy and do a brain dump. 

All unimportant matters needed to flow out to make room for everything else going on in my life. Also, I did not want to spend this time upset at my oldest son for breaking something. He's broken a lot, and I'm sure will do so again, but holding on to every one of them is not healthy for me, for his self-esteem, or for my relationship with him.

parker fitzgerald

The truth is, things break. Kids do it, I've done it, and I'm pretty sure you've done it too. We have to learn to move on from that broken thing, and more importantly to forgive the breaker of that thing. Whether the thing was broken out of malice, accident... or if you have multiple kids, a mystery.... you need to let it go.

That thing may have been a family heirloom, it may have been a piece of junk you were going to donate anyways... it may have been of great value or it may have been made of flesh and bone, that required stitches and a cast. Maybe it can quickly be repaired, or replaced, maybe it can only live on in our memories.

Whether you decide to glue it together, or throw it out, or keep a shard, be sure to mend that break in your heart over that broken thing.

The Influence of Color

shana rae {florabella}~ yellow ranunculas blooms

Today's color combination is quite, obviously, turquoise and hues of yellow.  I had a discussion with a friend years ago, about using colors as verbs in our writing. Aside from "feeling blue" as a form of sadness, I couldn't really justify using color as a verb, or even a noun. I know cliches exist, red=rage, green=envy and the like, but wanted more proof than that.

objet petita~ 1980's nike sneaker roller skates

Then, he wrote a lovely prose that ended with something along the lines of, "he reached out to the sky, and he could feel blue." It made perfect sense and changed my mind about the use of color as more than just imagery, but as a way we wrap ourselves up in something greater then needing to name or objectify it outright.

prim originals art~ redhead and birds print

My husband once pointed out to me, that when ever we go shopping, I always pick up something that perfectly coordinates with my current outfit. If I am wearing my muted orange sweater, everything will be orange or caramels. If I am wearing a pale pink blouse, then all I pick up will be pinks. If I'm wearing gray (which is the usual choice), then everything will be... you get the idea.

spiro creations~ tinkerbell mustard flats

I found that interesting how I was magnetized to the same color I had been attracted to in the mornings. How, I can look perfectly fine in one thing, but change it because the color isn't suiting me that day and makes me feel "too bright", "too down", "too noticable"...

jeweled ambrosia ~ turquoise, mustard rhinestone earrings

It is amazing to realize how deeply influencing color can be. If you could feel a color today, what would it be? What color do you surround yourself with when you are feeling sad, happy, confused, energized?

*This is a repost from last year. Our computer isn't set up at or new place, so no access to my photos yet.

Pin it Forward: What Home Means to Me pt 1

 the white gerbara daisy fine art photograph ~ elr104

 I've joined in with Victoria of sfgirlbybay's pinterest pin it forward sharing. It was a real treat to be a part of this bloggy experiment. Read here to see how it works, and here for the schedule, and you can see the sfgirlbybay boards here. I had so many I liked, I'll have to do it in two parts.

 white bedroom library ~ in the fun lane

 
Visit my pinboard to see more of the things of what home means to me. In essence, it is a serene haven, that is not without it's crazy times, but throw in some family snuggles, faith, sweets, and lots of white and modern vintage quirkiness... and that is where my heart is.

 soft dandelion in a pink sky ~ La Coccinelle (Angie) photography

 no Jesus, no peace. know Jesus, know peace. ~ honey from the rocks

 father n son colonial family portrait ~ modern library

 succulents ~ blog delanie

 it's an anni clothing collection via simple blue print

 vintage aqua glass jars ~ south home window

 birds of a feather print ~ urban pink photography

 tossing and turning in a cozy white bed ~ ivory faces photography

 love of horse friends ~ star lisa

 strawberry ice cream ~ skrocodile

love between cotton swabs ~ white qtip heart ~ teresa marques

The next blogger in my group on the list is milk & honey, so be sure to check her "what home means to me" post on May 31st. Can't wait? Visit other groups pins here.