Office Make Over!!!!!! YEAH!!!

I will be taking some time off from blogging this weekend to paint and re-do my office!!!! YIPPEE!!!! As you ALL know, this has been a project I have wanted to tackle for some time now!! I am SO thrilled that my amazing husband agreed to help me paint and fix up my space!!! YEAH hubby!!! Hopefully next week I will have some pics to share of my new digs!!!! Have a great weekend!!!!

Daydreaming...

Ok, so MAYBE I am a little bit obsessed with the ocean, the beach, coastal decor and living at the beach. I feel as though I didn't take full advantage of it when we lived in Destin 6 years ago. Oh, memories!! Smelling the salty air, sun on my skin, sand in between my toes!! It is simply divine!!! I love living close to my family and friends again, don't get me wrong, but a small part of me would give anything to live close to the beach again!! At least I can dream and look at pretty beach decor all day long!!

Where is your favorite place to go?? Or just your favorite place to daydream about???

Entryway Make- Over

Do any of you have an area in your home that you know can be better, but you struggle a bit with how to make it better???? Am I the only one??? (Gosh, I hope not!!) That area is my entryway. For about a year, it has been pretty boring and lifeless. Its a good space, and I have a table that is a perfect size for the space, but I just wasn't sure what to put on top of it. I started off with a green and red vase with white flowers from Pier One, a glass globe "thing" from Pottery Barn and a square mirror from Hobby Lobby. I love all of these pieces, but they just weren't doing anything for me as a group. So, I went "shopping" around my house and found other odds and ends to group together and hopefully create a space that says "hi there, welcome to my house, come on in"!!! HEHE!!! I think it finally says that!!

I was given the big "E" as a gift a few years ago and have never found the right home for it. I started there. I bought the starfish on our trip to Destin FL last summer and put them in a glass hurricane. (I LOVE having elements from the ocean and beach around my house as it is my favorite place!!!) The candlesticks were a clearance purchase from Hobby Lobby about 3 or 4 years ago. I never had a good place for them, so they sat on top of a small chest in the family room. (Do you think they need candles?? I king of like them empty.) The green "ball" was a gift this past Christmas. It is a set of three, the other two are in the powder bath. I thought the space could use an dash of color, green works well I think. And of course, I left the mirror. I like to use mirrors in entryways, it makes the space seem larger than it is.

So that is my entryway make over. What do you think?? Does it look better?? What would you add or do differently?? (Please don't say the tile!! I know it needs to go soon! So out of date!!!)

Before

Before

After

After

After

I Love Organization!!!!

I LOVE organization!!! LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!! But I, just like most people, really struggle with it. My home is clean on the surface, but I have a few little cabinets that are "secret" cabinets if you will. I am sure we ALL do. (And if you don't, just lie and tell me you do so I don't feel so bad!!) I am always looking for ways to de-clutter and be more organized in all areas of my life.

I recently came across a few new blogs that I am really enjoying lately. The first is http://creativeorganizing.typepad.com. At Creative Organizing, Aby Garvey, the organizing and productivity expert at simplify 101, helps you create real and lasting change in your life by getting more organized. She offers tips as well as online tutorials and seminars to help you organize your life. Her blog offers great tips and techniques to help you make your life as clutter free as possible! Love it!!

Penelope Loves Lists http://penelopeloveslists.com/ is one of my favorite daily reads. She seems to love office supplies and organizational "stuff" as much as I do!!! And it doesn't hurt that her real name is Meredith!! She makes no apologies for her love of lists, and notebooks, and pretty office supplies.

Organizing other peoples "stuff" is one of my favorite things to do!!! Honestly, is that a little weird or what?? Oh well, I won't apologize for my compulsive habits and my love for the Container Store and Staples!! Its just me!!

What would you like to have better organized??? Your closet, your kitchen, your life??? Maybe I can help!!! Leave a comment with an organizational dilemma and lets see if we can tackle it together!!!

Can I Just Take a Nap???

It's been an exciting couple of weeks at our house. The car that I have had since college gave its farewell performance last week. I was actually pretty sad although I haven't driven that car since August (I got a new car, we got rid of hubby's and he took my old car!! WHAT A GUY!!). I shed a few tears for my little green Focus, we have had some really good times. I have driven across the country twice, from Indiana to Florida too many times to count and countless other trips all over the place. We will be donating the old gal and I hope the next owners have as much fun as I did driving it! We actually bought a new car last night!! WOOHOO!! I am thrilled to be done with the search and I am even more thrilled to have a car again!!! I was without last week as the hubby needed it to get to and from work.

Anyway, we drove a little over 2 hours each way last night to get the car. It was a very LATE night for us as we didn't roll back into town until after midnight! And it was snowing like crazy on the way home!! UGH!!! Needless to say, I am a bit tired today and it is still snowing. This is one of those days you wish you could stay in bed ALL day and watch movies and drink hot chocolate!!! Hence the pictures below! I think these beds look SO cozy and inviting!! They are screaming my name right now!!! Oh well, too much to do today to take a nap!!! Must get to work!!!! Hope you all are rested on this fine day!!!

"It's Complicated"

Remember the movie "Somethings Gotta Give"??? Well, if you don't remember the plot, I am SURE you remember the home in the movie!! AH-MAAAA-ZING!!!!! It has to be one of my favorite interiors of all time. Jon Hutman was the production designer on that movie and he has done it AGAIN. Hutman also designed the interiors for the movie "It's Complicated" He is responsible for the film's comfy and casually elegant, California-style interiors. I doubt that the pictures due this film justice, but for now it will have to do. (I actually have yet to see the movie!! It's on my list though!!)

What do you think about this home? Do you like it better than the home in "Somethings Gotta Give"??? What is your favorite part of each home???

Fresh and Crisp

This family room is so crisp and fresh! I love the color combination of orange, brown and light teal. As I type those colors, it seems a bit odd that they would work together so well!! But they do!!! The white accents really make the room pop and the zebra print rug adds a little element of whimsy!!

I find myself drawn to orange lately. Well, its not really just lately, I did blog about this once before here. Maybe I have found my "signature color" if you will!! Sadly, I don't have one ounce of orange in my home! Maybe I should try and incorporate that somewhere??? Hmmmm....I smell a new project!!!

Do you have a "signature color" that you like to wear or decorate with???

Great Idea

After years of washing things that I shouldn't wash (dollar bills, lipstick, checks, etc.) I think that a note on my washing machine would be a great idea!! I am not completely familiar with Uppercase Living, but this decal is something that I might need to look into!! Now, off to do some laundry...let's hope I remember to check the pockets today!!! Happy Sunday!!!

BEST. KITCHEN. EVER!!!

This kitchen is from the movie "Something's Gotta Give". All I can say is that this IS the best kitchen ever!! Agree???

What do You Think???

Check out the flooring in this picture. What do you think of it???

Beach Dreaming

I had a dream the other night about the beach. I was laying in a beach chair, sitting beside the ocean. I could smell the salty air and feel the heat from the sun on my face (I can get sun on my face, it was only a dream!!). I was so relaxed and it was just pure perfection.

I hope you have a weekend that is pure perfection!! Enjoy and hopefully you will have sweet dreams of beautiful places!!

Serena and Lily

I have been a big fan of Serena and Lilly for a long time. They make really beautiful bedding for babies, children and adults. I am especially fond of the nursery collection. So many sweet and fun patterns and color combinations. How would you ever choose?? I hope that someday, my husband and I will be blessed with a sweet little baby and we can make the nursery sweet and beautiful just like they are!!! Enjoy!!!

Office Make Over

Everyday I sit in my office and I think to myself "I really need to fix this room up"!!! Ugh, I spend so much time in my office and I want it to be cozy and inspiring. I want to WANT to work in my office. I want to WANT to create and design in my office. I know it seems so bizarre, it should be awesome and I should love it!!! My office should be a reflection of me and who I am!! RIGHT!!?? So, my goal is to get a game plan and start making my space better and more "me"!! I found these pictures for inspiration.

Do you have a creative space in your home?? Is it inspiring and a true reflection of who you are??

GIVE AWAY WINNER!!!!!

Thanks to everyone who entered my Give Away over at Bless Our Nest!!! The winner is...

Brett and> Katherine: http://4littlefeet.blogspot.com/

If you would please contact me at meredith@spiredesigngroup.com we can get started with the design consultation!!! WOOHOO!!! Congrats!!!!

Be on the look out for more give aways in the future!!!!

Could You Do It??

So, as I have stated many times in my blog, I am a bit on the traditional side. (I like to call it transitional, but let's stay on topic.) However, I find myself being drawn to very unusual things lately.

Exhibit A: This bath tub which is actually some sort of metal tub. I can't imagine that it is super cozy, but it sure does look cool!! It's very rustic and somewhat "farmhouse" (and you know I am loving that lately). I also love the shower curtain and the rod that it is on.

Now, some of you will say that the room below is not that crazy. I agree, but HELLO it is all pink!! I don't know many people that could pull this room off. Especially me!! I would love it, Hubby, not so much! I love how rich and warm it is. Mixing in a really dark deep brown adds a lot of dimension and pop to the space. I think without the brown it would look to "sweet" and boring. The fabric and accessories are amazing as well.

So what do you think?? Could you do it? Could you pull off either of these rooms??

100 FOLLOWERS!!! THANK YOU!!!!

HOORAY!!!! I am so very excited!!! I finally reached over 100 followers on my blog!!!! Thank you so much to everyone who is following!!! This was a big goal of mine for 2010 and I achieved it!!! I hope you find my blog helpful, fun and entertaining!! If not, you just let me know!! I will try and spice things up!!!

Again, thank you so much to all my readers!!! 2010 is turning out to be a great year so far!!!!

Dark Grout, White Tile????

I would say my design style is somewhat traditional. I like to call it transitional actually, a nice mix between traditional and contemporary. I have ALWAYS been very traditional when it comes to picking the grout color for tile. I always pick a color that blends in with the tile, that doesn't stand out or look strange. When I came accross these pictures of white subway tile and dark grout, I was intrigued a wee bit. This is quite the departure for me in the world of tile and grout. But I gotta say, I kinda dig it!!! I could see myself suggesting this for a client sometime! What a great way to add a little spice to plain old tile!! Maybe I'm not so traditional after all???


What do you athink about the dark grout and light tile???

GIVE AWAY!!!!!!!

My new blog friend Shannon over at Bless Our Nest has been kind enough to host a

GIVE AWAY!!!!!!

Shannon is super sweet and I love reading her blog!! She is currently pregnant and getting her house ready for a sweet new baby boy!!!! If you have a chance, please go over and check it out!! She shares all of her home decorating projects and they are fabulous!!!!!

Now, about the GIVE AWAY!!!!!

I am giving away an hour long e-mail/phone design consultation!!!! WOOHOO!!!! This is your chance to ask a designer a question about anything in your home!!! YIPPEE!!! Its fun and easy and better yet, you never have to leave your house, and I won't be intruding on your day!!!

So, head over to Bless Our Nest for all the details!!! You won't be disappointed!!!!

Sunday Pretties

I hope you are all enjoying a pleasant and relaxing Sunday. Here are a few pretties to drool over today. Happy Sunday!!!!