Chez Larson: Another project down...lots to go

I finally re-covered my antique footstool with my new "firebird" design. I think he looks pretty good! As promised here are a few pictures.

Here' the original (or what's left of it) needlepoint version that was my inspiration.The original cushion was filled with horsehair and now my floor is covered in horsehair. Yuc. You can just make out the bird detail in the middle of the piece. I simplified mine to be a bit more modern and clean.

What about you - any projects planned for the weekend?

Gender-Neutral Nursery Project

I'm having a blast working on a scheme for a friend's Nursery. She wants something gender-neutral, calm and a little modern. She's expecting twins so she'll need all the calm she can get!

We are going for a restful pallette of toned blues and chocolate brown.

Stay tuned for progress.

Dollar Store Decorating

Are you ready? For Halloween that is. Dollar Store and decorating are two things that I generally do not use in the same sentence but for Halloween I scored. A bunch of packages of "spooky cloth" (yes - I know it's just colored cheeses cloth), some Styrofoam skulls, light-up eye balls and a lot of glitter and we are all set. Plus if I don't dust this month it just looks like part of the theme!

Note: the jar on the dining table was filled with candy eyeballs but they seem to keep disappearing.

The skeletons were a splurge (aka NOT from the dollar store) but I love how the girls have one stepping on the other's head to climb the column. We tried to paint the boys with glow-in-the-dark paint but it didn't seem to work. Oh well.

Gotta' go finish sewing costumes....Have a fun weekend!

Trends: Hello Yellow!

Have you noticed all of the great yellows this fall? Luckily the trend is towards rich, beautiful, mustard-y yellows and nothing too lemony.

this yellow print from Scalamandre is always in

via House & Home

 I decided to freshen up our entrance and painted our front door this cheery yellow. The deep red was getting old.

new "leaves" design on linen/blend in (you guessed it) - yellow!

Sheer Madness

Maybe it's the cooler weather and the darker days that are making me dream of warm and light places and spaces. I'm loving patterened sheers for window treatments.

via Fjorn Scandinavian

 via Designer's Guild

via Designer's Guild

seaglass sheer cotton voile

dandy sheer cotton voile

Big News Brewing

like my Halloween reference?

Sorry I've been away from the Blog for a while but I've been working hard on a new development. I will have some really exciting news in the next few weeks....

I'm curious if any of you use indoor/outdoor fabrics. Do you like the way they feel? Do you use them strictly outside or indoors too?

IF you had to choose some of my designs for indoor/outdoor, which would you choose?

school of fish?

burst?

sticks?

garden stool?

any others?? I'd love your feedback!

Design Crimes: Production "Art"

I was watching one of my favorite shows, HGTV's Design Star, recently and one of the finalists used the term "design crime" to describe decorating mistakes. I loved it so much I am going to borrow (and by borrow I mean steal) it for a series of design advice posts.

Todays’ Design Crime is not using original artwork in your home. Seriously. With all of the great and affordable original art available why WHY would you hang anything else? You are a grown up now. Leave the mass-produced stuff for hotels and your dentist’s office.

Art in your home doesn’t have to be expensive. Etsy is a fabulous resource for fine art prints and original works at great prices. You can buy a beautiful piece of real art for the same price as a mass-produced piece at Home Goods. Here are a few of my current favorites.

TCapone Photo via Etsy

united thread on Etsy

LoveALittle Art via Etsy

nature and art via Etsy

Many cities have festivals and fairs where you can pick up original art at a bargain. Art schools are another resource. Many have yearly sales (usually in the spring), and New York and LA have the Affordable Art Fair.

Photography is another way to decorate for less. Frame a grouping of images with the same mat and frame color and viola! You have art.

What about childrens’ artwork? Sometimes a finger painting in a really cool frame can substitute for that modern piece you’ve been longing for. And speaking of children, don’t neglect your kid’s room. Start building your child’s appreciation for art early.

spaces design by atlanta media and blogs simple thoughts

And don't forget about fabric. Have a favorite print but don't know how to use it (or can't afford yards and yards of it)? How about wrapping the fabric around wooden stretchers (available at art stores) to add a pop of color to your space. do two or three of the same size and pattern and group them for real impact.

via Ohdeedoh. click here for instructions

Goodbye Summer (sigh)

There's no better way to spend the last days of summer than with dear friends. Goodbye Summer. I'll miss you.

Inspiration: Menswear

(1) cut out swivel chair, designers call; (2) Chloe suit; (3) marcusdesigninc via pinterest; (4)J Crew; (5)grey interior, pinterest; (6) bowtie necklace, etsy; (7)houzz.com; (8) Marie Claire magazine; (9) J Crew oxford flat.

If you haven't already noticed, menswear is this fall's look. Tailored pieces, oxfords, pinstripes and houndstooth are showing up on the runway and in interiors. Will you get in on the trend?

And the big news from Benjamin Moore for Fall 2011 is purple. The paint experts say top watch for vintage wine 2116-20.

Greys will continue to be popular, and Benjamin Moore suggests that its smoke 2122-40 will be on trend.

Today I'm at House of Fifty!

Thanks to Janell at the House of Fifty Blog for such a fun interview. Check it out!

Chez Larson: Progress

The girls' Bath is complete with a new peony shower curtain. Again faced with a seafoam green Bath I decided to go with the green and compliment it with pink and white. The tub, which used to be a fleshy pink, got a bright white makeover using special tub paint. It takes a bit of elbow grease but is worth it if your tub is in good (just ugly) condition. You can find it here.

here's the "before" of the Girls' Bath featuring seafoam green and fleshy pink. Yuc.

Olivia's tween wetern riding room is well under way and I'm pleased to say that the client is happy. Whew! What's left? Nailhead trim on the newly-upholstered suede headboard, a few more decorative pillows (can a girl ever have enough pillows?) and a few remaining pictures to hang.

We found the horse head carved out of an old fence at an antique store. I think we might whitewash it a bit. I love how the Dash & Albert rug still works in the room and looks like a horse blanket.

Griffon approves too.

Field Trip: Oliver's Buy Sell Trade

It was back to Maryland Avenue in Annapolis last week to a great destination named Oliver's. This funky little shop offers womens and childrens clothing on a 'buy, sell, trade' basis. Owner, Kelly, has a great eye for clothes so the inventory is well-edited. Clothes are organized by color and the racks are not so jam-packed that you can't think. I secretly love the disco light that is always on!

Clothing is vintage and designer. I'm definitely inspired to do a little fall closet cleaning.

One of the reasons for my visit is that Oliver's carries a bright, new(to me) Annapolis deisgner, Kalivoda. The ultimate in recycling, the designer, Lacey, re-makes found fabrics and garments into gorgeous new pieces with high style. The line also includes some really cool macrame jewelry.

If your near Maryland Avenue, Oliver's is worth a look. You can find Kelly Wednesday through Sundays after noon. Check out her facebook page too. Happy shopping!

A Summer Moment and Instagram

I was having dinner with friends recently and lucky enough to capture this little summer moment on my i phone. This is taken right after an intense storm came through with nice cool air. The children hopped the fence, ditched their shoes and headed for the mist. What fun!

I didn't use Instagram on the image above but I am definitely hooked. If you haven't already discovered it, Instagram is a cool little ap that lets you take a picture, choose a filter and then share. Find it here.

Happy Monday!

Inspired by: New Zealand

Bethels Beach (Te Henga)

Some dear friends have decided to be kiwis instead of yanks and have been planning a big move back to Auckland. All of this NZ talk had me dreaming of my time there and definitely inspired some of my latest collection.

I was lucky enough to live in Auckland, albeit for too brief a time, while my husband was part of an America's Cup team in 1999-2000, and visit again a few years later. The landscapes there are simply stunning and the images are permanently imprinted on my mind. I often look at my scrapbooks and watercolor sketches of that beautiful country when I need inspiration.

fern image above via Dianna Adams @ newzealandplantpicks.com

Two new designs, Koru and Fern n Dot are directly inspired by the silver fern (Koru means unfurling fern in the native Maori) and the frightening yet beautiful Ta Moko (traditional Maori tatoos). Fabrics are available now on the web site and via Chairloom.

I highly recommend a visit if you get the chance! In the meantime, here are some images that may inspire you.

Coromandel Penninsula, detail of fern, Waitakere Ranges

black sand beach

view of Lion's Head, Piha Beach

the Coromandel