Blue & White in the Garden

Today I'm linking up at the The Pink Pagoda to join others in sharing our love for blue and white.  Whether it's in interior design, fashion, entertaining or outdoor spaces, we just can't get enough of it!  And speaking of "enough", I've HAD ENOUGH of this winter weather!!  To beat the winter blues (the only type of blue I don't like!), I've been thinking about my gardens...the colors, the flowers, the smells, and getting my hands in the dirt.

Blue and white is a great combination to use in the garden...whether you're planting in your yard, container gardening, or cutting flowers to enjoy in your home.  Let these photos inspire you...starting with one of my all-time favorites...hydrangeas.

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Don't those beautiful blooms make you (even more) ready for Spring? Do you need help creating gardens in your yard? Summerland Homes & Gardens can help!  Visit our website to see how we can design an outdoor space for you to enjoy.

And don't forget to head on over to The Pink Pagoda for some more blue & white inspiration!
As always, feel free to leave a comment or ask questions in the comments section below.

Need help creating a home you love? Contact me about our design services.

One Room Challenge Update

Today the lovely Linda at Calling It Home is hosting the One Room Challenge Now, where participants of past One Room Challenges can show updates they've made to their rooms.

In the last One Room Challenge, I tackled my dining room-

You can see all of the photos here. 

Unfortunately, the painting I had commissioned by Linda Donohue to hang above the mantle wasn't done in time for the reveal. But by the end of November it had arrived!

I absolutely love the painting! The colors are fabulous and when the afternoon sun hits it, the painting glows...stunning! Linda was a pleasure to work with and she has new paintings in her Etsy shop ... I've got my eye on her Pink Abstract Seascape!

 

Now head on over to Calling It Home to take a peek at what everyone else has done!

As always, feel free to leave a comment or ask questions in the comments section below.

Need help creating a home you love? Contact me about our design services.

A Blue Library

"A house that has a library in it has a soul"  - Plato

I've been drooling over this gorgeous blue library ever since I saw it in the June 2013 issue of House Beautiful.  It is so inviting and cozy..perfect for these cold winter days!  The walls and woodwork are painted a deep saturated color- Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue and the ceiling is tented with a Michael S. Smith Indian block fabric, Jasper. How amazing is that!?!  The tufted sofa is upholstered in a blue Schumacher silk velvet... if I was to curl up on that with a good book, I don't think I'd ever want to leave!  The pair of gold & mirrored tables and wall sconces provide sparkle, while the lighter area rug and roman shade keep the room from feeling too heavy.

 **You can find more of Michael S. Smith's fabrics here: http://www.jamb.co.uk/jasper-fabrics-by-michael-s-smith

Lately, more blue libraries have been crossing my path, and I love them all!  

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Elle Décor

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If you can't pull the trigger on those dark, saturated blues, how about one of these lighter, muted hues?

Architectural Digest

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I love books...reading them and holding them and turning pages (You won't find me on a Kindle). Our house has bookcases full of them, and you'll find an ever-growing stack of books next to my bed.  They also find resting places in baskets, on coffee tables and stools, and on the piano.

This is SO me...

Someday I would love to have a library...and most likely, it will be a shade of blue.

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As always, feel free to leave a comment or ask questions in the comments section below.

Need help creating a home you love? Contact me about our design services.

Coastal California Cottage

This 2,000 square foot California home was featured in the June 2013 issue of Coastal Living, and it is the perfect coastal cottage.  Designer Laura Motley found inspiration from the ocean views and incorporated soft variations of blue in the furnishings and textiles. Using similar colors and fun fabrics throughout, she created a fresh space that says "Relax".

 In the living area, white walls and large windows draw your eye to the amazing view of the Pacific.  Dark woods are used on the chairs, coffee table and stools to ground the space, while bamboo blinds, a sea grass rug and wicker baskets add texture and warmth. The large ikat pattern (from the China Seas Suncloth collection) on the chairs is fabulous!

Coral, lanterns, blue glass bottles and the pebble fireplace surround all add to the beachy vibe without going overboard. I love how she successfully mixed three bold blue and white fabric patterns.

In the dining area, white denim slipcovered chairs keep the space from looking too busy.

What a soothing bedroom retreat!  The headboard is upholstered in Kashmir Paisley fabric by Peter Dunham.  The linens are by Serena & Lily.  The blue walls continue in the master bathroom, and white cabinets, tile and marble give a clean look.  I like the pops of black on the tile floor.

I could definitely get comfortable sitting out here! The chairs and table are from Pottery Barn and the pillows are from Williams-Sonoma Home.

Laura Motley offers her design services at Rooms & Gardens in Santa Barbara, CA- an AMAZING home furnishings store that I always stop in to visit when staying with my sister in S.B. They have beautiful furniture and home décor items...I would be happy to live in their store!

As always, feel free to leave a comment or ask questions in the comments section below.

Need help creating a home you love? Contact me about our design services.