Who Lives Here?

Praying for our friends in Boston. Please keep everyone safe today.

Take a gander at my curated collection of  

There-is-no-way-children-or-dogs-live-here rooms

all images via pinteerst

Am I white or am I right?

I would love to have an all white house with painted wood floors. Doesn't it look so relaxing and serene? sighhhhhh ... someday.
I would need a full time staff just to keep up with the mud and grime that would plague me, and honestly, ... aint nobody got time for that.

But I do want to let you in on a little secret about these spaces ... in reality, most of these rooms don't even look like these rooms.

It's kind of like celebrities before and after a makeup artist gets a hold of them. Most of the beautiful rooms we see in magazines are photographed and styled by serious professionals (see some below).


Scott and Emily have worked at Martha Stewart Living and countless other place on styling photo shoots -- not sure who the other guy is???

Before a magazine shoot, stylists and decorators come in and remove clutter, change out rugs, add accessories, side tables etc. And the photographers -- well they can transform any room into a work of art with lighting and their mad photography skillz. It's basically like airbrusing for your home!

Feel better? No?

Do you know there is an entire website dedicated to poking fun at the way stylists arrange a room for catalog/magazine photo shoots?

It's called Catalog Living ... a glimpse into the exciting world of  the people living in your catalogs. Check it out here. Total silliness.

Stuff I'm loving

This Flooring

Could my love affair with dark hardwood floors be over?

source?

dcasa.it



I don't know these are looking mighty good to me. Pretty french oak flooring ... possibly in a distressed grayish finish? I've been seeing it all over the shelter magazines.

MUCH easier to  maintain ... would hide the dirt ... the dog could do 360's and I think it would actually make the floor look better??? What do you think?

This outdoor fabric

Windsor Smith for Kravet

Lisa Mende Design

Kravet

But I could be biased...

My chairs

This Throw


But this is always on my list so you can just ignore it.



This necklace



jcrew

These Plates

here

This Book

here

This Hair

 

Gwyenth

Speaking of hair, I have a confession to make I have frizzy, curly uncontrollable locks. I love them but every once in awhile I feel the need to get my hair straightened.

I go to Salon Ziza in Ardmore to get a process called Lazzio (not sure of spelling) so that my hair is summer-ready. Gone are the days of waiting three days to wash your hair to get that sleek smooth straight hair -- its only 24 hours now.

They do an amazing job -- also, wait -- are you sitting down? Salon Ziza offers a rewards program where you can get a shampoo, express conditioner and an amazing blow dry for $20! Yep - doesn't get any better than that my friends. Now there are specific rules that apply in order to receive this discounted price but call them and they will explain. BEST DEAL IN TOWN!

Ok, bye for now -- next time we are going to discuss outdoor rooms-- so fun!!

Let me introduce you to the most beautiful carpet ever

So excited about this!!!

Whaaaaaaat? Why so happy about green weeds?

No my friends in a few weeks they will look like this

ALLIUM



here

Allium are stunning when planted in bunches or when freshly cut.

 Allium and peonies. Does it get any better?

The good news? Anyone can grow allium -- even me with no green thumb whatsoever. They're also perennials so they come back every spring. And here's a bonus -- deer won't eat them because they're basically just big flowering onions.

"Hello? yes? This is 1985 calling. I'd like my headband back."

The bad news? They have to be planted as bulbs in the fall. Don't worry -- come September I'll remind you to order the bulbs and tell you exactly how to plant them so we can both admire our work together next spring. Deal?

Impressed? Don't be.

This is impressive.

An entire town square made to look like a carpet made out of flowers . Begonias to be exact. Takes place every other year in August in Brussels. These people plan the design a year in advance and it takes over 600,000 flowers to make it happen.

Simply Spectacular

You can read more about it here.



So what can you do right now to create your own carpet of flowers? Run to your local market and buy either tulips (no deer) or daffodils (if you have deer) and plant them in bunches (odd numbers preferably). Plant near your entry or walkway -- and then sit back and enjoy your view:)

Not a gardner? How about some allium inspired art for inside your home?

You can buy it here

How about some Allium-inspired shoes?... just kidding!!!

But, really I did just get these and I love them! I will be sporting them this weekend fur sure. Comfortable, stylish and they will add some serious height.

You can buy them at JCREW.

 Enjoy the nice weather this weekend!

Need a little freshening up at your home or even a second opinion on your design choices? contact me at kraussteph@yahoo.com