Be Inspired No. 52 - Stripes Turned Sideways

The classic stripe.  It's nothing new, we've all seen it before.  But I am loving the reminder of just how amazing it looks turned sideways!  It's the rebel in me, daring to be different, unorthodox, fresh.  Afterall this pattern doesn't dictate a direction and it keeps the classic feel vertically or horizontally.  So be brave - turn it sideways!

Stripes on a wall are nothing new, but turn it sideways and it says loud and clear, this person takes chances and isn't afraid of showing her stripes!

Two classics coming together beautifully - gingham and stripes!  What a quaint corner.

You just can't go wrong with classic black and white.

Snug as a bug...

Very chic!

Loving the combination of the same stripe both ways!

What a freshness at the window!

Even a silk stripe turned sideways is right.

Ralph never gets it wrong.

This...superb.

Image Sources:  4Men and 1 Lady, Elle Decor, HGTV, House and Home, Home Edit, Maddie G. Designs, New England Home, Ralph Lauren, Water and Main, Zillow Blog

Be Inspired No. 51 - Just Like a Red Shoe

The color red is a bright, warm color the evokes strong emotion.  Red is associated with love, passion, and comfort.  Red demands a fine balance.  Being surrounded by too much of the color red can cause us to become irritated, agitated and ultimately angry.  Too little and we become cautious, manipulative and fearful.

My rule on the color red is use a little like red lips and red shoes or use a lot like a red dress with those red lips, but hold the red shoes.  No matter your comfort level with the color red, I love how even a little can create such drama and happiness in a room!

Red Fun Fact #1:  In China red is associated with good luck and fortune.

Red Fun Fact #2:  Red amulets were worn in many cultures to prolong life.

Red Fun Fact #3: In Singapore the color red traditionally symbolizes joy.

 Red Fun Fact #4:  Red is the first color you lose sight of at twilight.

Red Fun Fact #5:  Feng Shui recommends painting the front door of a home red bringing prosperity to its residents.

Image Sources:  Boston Magazine, Country Living, Decor Pad, Elle Decor, Kelly Proxmire, Lennoxx, Sumner Design Studio, Directors Cut House, Veranda

RSVP Collection No. 46 - Wine Infused Ice Pops

Kim Crawford Pinot Noir Infused Blackberry Ice Pops

Makes 10 ice pops

2/3 cup organic dark cane sugar

2/3 cup water

1 1/2 pounds fresh, ripe blackberries (about 5 cups)

3/4 to 1 cup 2010 Kim Crawford Pinot Noir (may substitute your own preferred pinot)

Make a simple syrup by combining the sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Allow to cool completely.

Rinse the blackberries and dry them with paper towels. Transfer them to a blender and puree. The yield is 2 cups.

Add 3/4 cup of the cooled simple syrup and 3/4 cup of pinot noir to the puree, then taste. There should be balance between the acidic blackberries and the fruity wine. If the mixture is too acidic, add the remaining 1/4 cup of wine.

Pour into ice pop molds, leaving a little room at the top for the mixture to expand. Freeze until solid, 4 to 6 hours. To unmold, place the molds in a container of room-temperature water until the ice pops naturally release.

Sauvignon Blanc Infused Yellow Peach & Vanilla Ice Pops

3 to 4 baseball-sized ripe to overripe yellow peaches with pits and stems removed

4 ozs. organic dark cane sugar

4 fluid ozs. water

1 inch piece of vanilla bean cut lengthwise

7 ozs. 2011 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc

Combine sugar and water in saucepan.  Gently heat while stirring until sugar completely dissolves.  Remove from heat, add cut vanilla bean and steep for 18 minutes.  Remove bean and allow syrup to completely cool.  Lightly puree peaches, being sure to leave some texture, resulting in about 16 fluid ounces.

Combine puree with cooled syrup and 7 ounces of Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, stirring well.  Pour into molds, add sticks and freeze until solid (about 4 to 6 hours).  Unmold and serve at once, or place in plastic bags for storage.  Makes 10 ice pops.

Sources:  Kim Crawford, Washington Post, The Traveling Vineyard

Well Dressed Home No. 35 - Skipping Rocks

Who would have thought that the same rocks we carefully chose to skip across the water would offer such beauty to our homes?  The smooth shape created by nature in the hands of a designer and tile artisan can create amazing results.

And the spa-like feel on our feet as we walk across the pebbles in our home setting is just as relaxing as skipping rocks!

Stunning!

Great backsplash!

Just enough.

What a great outdoor shower!

Dramatic!

What a beautiful commercial restroom application!

Framing a window to perfection.

What a great alternative to an area rug!

A chef's delight!

Subtle is the guideline in some cases.

Just a touch, perfection.

Clean and crisp.

Image Sources:  Emart Mosaic, EHow, Houzz, Marble Mosaics, Stage Lecture, Elle Decor, Pinterest

Finds No. 8 - Collections Exposed

I don't think one wakes up one morning and says, "I'm going to start collecting teapots".  It just happens.  We see a piece that catches our eye and we take it home.  And so it begins.  

Some collections start out as a talent gone a stray. (Okay, obsession, I might as well say it.)

Sometimes we find our travel souvenir starts the collection. Sometimes we inherit a collection from our childhood.  No matter.  What is important is that we display that collection as a part of who we are in our homes. 

Just make it your goal to display it with creativity - or it just becomes clutter, and that my dear, is blasphemy to the collection itself!

(Be still my heart!)

(One just wouldn't have the same impact.)

(I predict a larger piece of furniture will be needed before this collection stops.)

(Yes, a collection can sneak up on you.  You just bought a few frames for a 

project....and then it happens.)

(Etchings and globes, oh my!)

(Lead the way to compasses and I'll keep track of the time.)

(A spot of tea is always appropriate.)

(Oh those Englishmen!  Even a dirty habit was ornamented.  This collection of 

snuff boxes is beautiful.)

(What a perfect corner for displaying the vintage luggage collection!)

(Love the play on the ceiling angle with the miniature globe collection. And the

painted back of the cabinet shows off the whiteware collection too! Yet

still so crisp and clean.)

(Collection as function, pretty creative. Sneaky, but we

caught you - you're a collector.)

(Collection as art and function!)

(Who needs coffee table books, really?)

(Lepidopterist, fancy word for collector.)

Image Sources:  Garden Home and Party, Imagine Your Homes, Mark D. Sites, NY Social Diary, Ruth Burts, One Kings Lane, Pinterest, Flicker, Real Simple