White and Bright

I grew up in a white house. Not the outside, but the inside. My dad had pretty good taste and enjoyed shopping and decorating (that must be where I got the bug), but he didn't believe in painting the walls. So we had white walls. And a white sofa. And white carpet (just in the living room).

When I bought my own home, I was finally free to add color to the walls. And I did—blue in the bedroom, yellow in the dining room, green in the master bath.

But browsing through my Pinterest boards, I've noticed that a lot of the spaces I choose to save are light and bright, with white walls and large windows. That might have something to do with the fact my house is a bit of a cave, with little natural light, despite having fairly large windows.

While I don't think I'll be covering my walls with Benjamin Moore's Linen White any time soon, I do enjoy revisiting these spaces:

Source: bhg.com via Beth on Pinterest

Source: breakfastattoast.com via Beth on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Beth on Pinterest

Source: nestegg.typepad.com via Beth on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Beth on Pinterest

Source: emmas.blogg.se via Beth on Pinterest

Source: seesawdesigns.blogspot.com via Beth on Pinterest

Source: providenceltddesign.com via Beth on Pinterest

Source: livecreatingyourself.com via Beth on Pinterest

Source: tumblr.com via Beth on Pinterest

Source: prettystuff.tumblr.com via Beth on Pinterest

Which do you prefer: clean and white or full of color?

Inspired by: Animals

You may have noticed that I like animals. And I live with lots of them—some real and many others representations.

Decorating with animals can be tricky. It's easy go too cartoony or childish. That's fine if it's the look you want, but if you're going for a more elegant style, you have lots of higher-end options.

Of course, the first place to start is with the king of kitsch himself, Jonathan Adler:

Fox

Jonathan Adler Interior Design

Elle Decor

Whale pitcher

West Elm is another purveyor of humorous yet stylish animal decor. A pair of these cuties live on my living room console:

Ceramic owls

Using art is another way to inject some animal style into your decor. I've blogged about this picture before, but it's such a striking image:

I'm Mad About...

Mad Men!

amctv.com

• Can't wait another month for Mad Men? Here's a little something to tide you over.
• Tuesday is World Spay Day. Is your pet neutered?
• Love these pet adoption glamour shots.
• Are you prepared for an emergency?
• Have you checked out The Everygirl yet?

Have a wonderful weekend!

All Mixed Up

What separates the pros from the amateurs in design, I believe, is the ability to mix patterns and create a sophisticated and purposeful space. I've always been afraid of using too many patterns, whether in an outfit or in a room. But I've been branching out lately, trying to bring an interesting mix into my bedroom. I like the results, but I have a lot to learn.

There are some rules (in fashion as well as decor). Color and scale are two things to keep in mind. The large-scale pattern on the rug in this dining room works well with the smaller-scale pattern in the chairs, and red is used throughout:

Effortless Style

The tiny pattern on the chairs here doesn't compete with the bold wallpaper motif, and again the main color is the same in both:

Sarah Richardson

Both the patterns and colors here are soft and subtle:

Sarah Richardson

But you can have fun and go bold:

Windsor Smith

Decorate via Apartment 34

Dooce

Emily Henderson

High Gloss via The Nero Chronicles

Emily Henderson

This one's a little crazy, and I can't tell why it works, but somehow it just does:

Via Pinterest

What do think? Do you like a mix, or do you prefer to play it safe?

Warm Up to Winter: Fireplace Edition

It's been unseasonable warm here during the day, but at night it still gets chilly, and I love sitting in front of the fireplace, hot chocolate in hand, paging through a design mag or reading a book.

While we have a fireplace, it doesn't get much use because of wood-burning restrictions related to air quality. I do love the fireplace as a focal point, though. Even in our relatively mild climate, I'm not sure I'd buy a house without one, if only for the ambiance.

With that in mind, I rounded up pictures of some of the loveliest mantels I could find. If you don't have one at home, I hope this warms you up.

There's a lot going here, but it doesn't seem too busy:

Lonny via Angie Helm Interiors

Very California:

Apartment Therapy

Rita Konig's bold fireplace:

T magazine via A Lovely Being

Marble and pink (swoon!):

CWB Architects

Love the white mantel against the pale blue walls:

Elle Decor

Possibly my favorite space from Domino, the living room of its former creative director, Sara Ruffin Costello:

Domino: The Book of Decorating

Keri Russell's living room—so quiet and elegant:

Elle Decor

I'd happily stay in this hotel:

La Belle Juliette

The wall color and art make this such a happy space:

Lonny

And just in case you're wondering, this is mine:

The Blue Room

I'm Mad About...

Seth Casteel via Dangerous Minds

• These photos of dogs underwater are a little creepy but kind of cool.
• I love this idea—must make a mental note to do it next year.
• Goodbye, Whitney.

Have a lovely weekend!

Reno Revisited

This space has been a favorite of mine ever since I spotted it on designstILes last year:

Problem was, I didn't know anything about the house. So imagine my delight when I came across it on Nutmeg & Company Home.

It's a 2,600-square-foot Brooklyn row house renovated by CWB Architects. Here's more of the project:

The whole place is stunning. I love the multiple fireplaces and the way the playroom opens onto the lovely yard. And the light fixtures! LOVE.

Do you have a favorite room in this house?

P.S. Speaking of designstILes, last week I won a Kirkland gift card giveaway. Thanks again, Irene!

Photos by CWB Architects.

Sweet and Seductive

A little chocolate...

Cafe Johnsonia

Some flowers...

Simply Seductive

Something sexy...

Anthropologie

Have a happy Valentine's Day.

I'm Mad About...

NextMovie

• Betcha haven't seen these movies.
• I must get one (or two!) of these T-shirts.
• Didn't get your Jason Wu for Target bag? Me either.
• Cute (and free) Valentine's Day e-cards for your Fido-loving friend.

Have a great weekend!