Design Influence: Modern Glamour

 

 

The striking contrast of the dark finishes used on the moldings and floor gives the room structure to seamlessly carry the cream and ivory color palette used in the furnishings and the wall finish.  The singular painting and arched built-in shelving was all that was needed to punctuate the look.

 

 

The chandelier, mirror, and silhouette of the chairs injects feminine flair giving the room character and depth with elegant sophistication.

 

 

The curve of the stairs along with it's railing and the custom tufted banquette in a lush fabric furthers the Hollwood regency style.  I love the birdcage-esque crystal chandelier!  Very glamorous!

 

 

 

 

Using draperies to line the walls is another glamorous touch.  I would feel like I'm in an old black and white movie lounging on the chaise and drinking a glass of wine (white wine)!

 

 

Marble flooring, glass, and antiqued mirrors grounded by rich dark wood finishes...can you think of anything they missed?  I cannot!  Well, maybe I would have considered using different lighting fixtures, but the work here is beautiful!

 

 

Mission accomplished in this home that was built in the 1930's.  The color palatte of ivory and cream with dark finishes and details, such as the furnishings, moldings and cabinetry enhance the look and feel that the homeowners were after; 1920's Hollywood regency.

 

Make it AMAZING!

Rhonda

 

*Images via At Home In Arkansas magazine



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Fashion Inspiration: What I Want Right Now!

 

 

I love Burberry's Fall 2012 Collection!  They really did military right with their coats and jackets this season!  Oh my gosh, just look at the soft, lush corduroy used in the riding jacket and skirt!  You've got to click on the link below to see up close the amazing details!  The same attention to detail was used on the leather Hobo bag with belts wrapping around the bag, giving it a chic edge! 

 

I'm falling all over the Alexander McQueen blue suede boots!  There is something about a dark or midnight blue (anything) in suede or velvet or mohair that is incredible!  Again, the gold buckle detail along with the rounded toe platform, and the towering 5.5" heel!  My goodness, this is "tough luxe" without a doubt!  Wearing that boot would put me at 6'3"!  And I would wear them as if I were 5'2"!

 

Bib necklaces are my favorites right now.  I wear them with simple blouses and T-shirts, so they are able to make the statement they were designed to make.  Whether I'm wearing a pair of jeans, a lovely dress, or a jacket/blazer, it is the ultimate accessory and always gets major compliments!  It is the piece that deserves to stand alone!

 

I've gotten a little slack on my manicures here lately.  Sorry!  Well, unless you want to include the ones Gillian gives me...hmm, anyhoo!  I'm really vibing on the nail art that's happening right now!  I think it's pretty cool and I totally like this look in black on black chevron!  This pattern is not just for interiors, my friends! 

 

Make it AMAZING!

Rhonda

 

*Burberry look; Burberry Handbag; Alexander McQueen boot; Bib necklace; Chevron manicure



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It's Good To Let Go Of The Plan And Be Lead From Within

Yesterday when I sat to plan my day, I had already felt a sense of accomplishment because the tasks that I needed to complete would put me ahead for the week and obviously make my week easier.  Well, what do they say about the best laid plans?

 

 

On the way to drop my son off at school, something said "On your way home stop at the park and walk around the track".  I'm thinking, "Really?  I'm not dressed to go the track and further more, I've got a lot to get accomplished today.  I've got a plan, remember!"  Well, I did as I was lead to do; but in my mind I was only going to walk one mile and leave!

 

 

I begin to walk at a pretty brisk pace around the track.  I figure as long as I'm out here I may as well get a decent cardio workout in.  I wasn't going to attempt to jog--you do see the All Stars I'm wearing, right!  I've got my tunes in my ears; and oh, just so that you know, whenever I do go for a walk or a task that doesn't take much thought, I listen to Gospel music.  I always need to hear from Him and I knew I was at that track because He placed that in my spirit.

 

 

Something very exciting happened to me last week that I want to share with you; but I can't right now.  When I can, I will!  It is something that I didn't think I was remotely interested in doing.  To be quite honest with you, it scared the mess out of me to even think about it!

 

 

With the counsel and support of friends and family, I was able to wrap my head around it and go for it.  You know what, let me be real about this--I let their belief in me propel me forward.  I sometimes see things in my friends that they don't see; so I thought this maybe one of those times when I need to trust what they see in me and run with it.  It is no secret that I credit God for everything I am, I have, and will be...period.  This is where He is AMAZING-- He knew that He had to place these people in my life to get me to walk in all that I am, to get me to the place I needed to be for Him to show me all that he is and how much He loves me.  When we are inspired to do something in our lives, we already possess all that we need in order to accomplish it.  He just needs for us to take our eyes off of the challenges and obstacles and place them on Him so that He can make it happen.

 

 

I met another individual that has been awarded this same opportunity, and she commented "The haters are coming out"!  We laughed about it, because it was funny how she said it; but we both know it's the truth.  Now one would think, I would somewhat be accustomed to this, especially having modeled.  I mean, how much more catty can anyone be!  Believe it or not, I don't like to be the center of attention.  I don't seek it and I am just fine flying under the radar.  Really! 

 

 

I can't concern myself with what people will say or do as a result of my successes and failures.  I have to embrace all that I have been blessed with; own it and walk in it.  Sure, this sounds so simple and it is as long as it's praise and not criticism.  However to succumb to what will be said is to deny myself the chance to live my best life and experience God's goodness.  Yes, I'm sure I am going to have those moments of insecurity and doubt in my abilities.  I think that's only human!  I will commit to myself that those times will be brief and I will quickly get back to the work at hand, not holding back and making the most of all of my talents.

 

 

 On my drive leaving the park, I felt a sense of peace that I did not have prior to going to the park.  Oh don't get me wrong, it's not as though I was in turmoil!  I was just heavy in thought and by being lead by my spirit I am now in a place of knowing regardless to what it may look like or feel like, it is going to more than work out in my favor.  Why?  I showed myself obedient with something as simple as going to the track and not home to get started on my plan for the day.  God's grace is sufficient to get all things done in half the time!

 

 

I could see things a lot clearer and be able to take a rest in knowing that since this opportunity is nothing I'd ever considered doing, God is going to direct my path and lead me in the way that I should go.  That's not to say that it will come without a hiccup or two, but He's got it worked out and knows exactly what I need in order to quiet that hiccup.  As a friend reminded me last week, these are the occassions that God likes because when it's over, and since I believe in Him, I won't be able to give anyone the glory but Him and this will be my testimony to you.

 

Make it AMAZING!

Rhonda

 

By the way, I walked two miles instead of the planned one!

 

*Quotes via Pinterest



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5 Pinterest Pumpkin Picks

I think this weekend the kids and I will visit one of the many pumpkin patches in our area.  We enjoy going because we go on the hayrides, eat yummy caramel apples, drink hot apple cider, and have a blast creeping out over the funny, bumpy, sometimes scary looking gourds, squash, and other veggies we only see this time of year! 

 

 

 

We've carved pumpkins in the past and roasted the seeds, which was a lot of fun; but it was also a little tedious.  Last year we painted and decorated them using different things like glitter, ribbons, and bugs we made from old fashioned clothes pins.  That was a little messy, but it was so cool to see who could be the most creative.  I think that's what we'll do again this year along with decorating the many pinecones we picked up last year on our hikes on nature trails and park visits.  Other things that we gather on our walks are birch bark and sticks, and acorns.  You can find all of this for sale at Pottery Barn and other retailers, but just a quick look around while out in nature yields all of these things for free.  We've collected some of the most amazing leaves in beautiful colors, but I've not yet learned to preserve them where they don't dry out and crumble.  Note to self:  Research for solutions!  If you know of any, please email me and I will publish your suggestions!

 

 

 

When we're done with our creations, we place them on tables, the mantle and hearth, and everywhere else there is a flat surface, including the floor.  You know how much I love randomly placed decor!  A great place to get pumpkin and Fall decor inspiration is www.bhg.com and www.marthastewart.com.  I really love the ideas that Martha Stewart and her staff come up with!  I still have one of her Halloween publications from a while ago that I refer back to for creative ideas.  Both sites have really easy to do projects that don't require a lot of time and effort. 

 

Whatever the weekend finds you doing...

 

Make it AMAZING!

Rhonda

 

*Images via Pinterest

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Chilly Days and Comfort Food: Nigella Lawson

Oooh, woke this morning to a chilly house.  Loved every bit of it!  My family will tell you, a chilly day at home with my faux fur throw, faux fur covered pillows, a cup of hot chocolate, and the Domestic Goddess herself, Nigella Lawson on the television; and I'm in a great place!  Ask me anything and the answer will be "Yes, now get out of here so I can hear the TV"!   

 

via google

 

Have you not ever watched her prepare her special meals on The Food Network? Oh my gosh, you are totally missing out! She makes it look so easy, seem as though it tastes so good, and have you thinking you can look as gorgeous as she does preparing it! Her accent and the way she describes what she's doing and why is so hmm, sexy!  Did I say she was gorgeous?  Oh yeah, I covered that just a couple of sentences ago!  Everyone in my house enjoys watching her!

 

 

 

Food Network via You Tube

 

Chicken Mushroom and Bacon Pie

 

Butternut Squash with Pecans and Blue Cheese

 

 I have a couple of her cookbooks, How To Be A Domestic Goddess and Nigella Bites. No, I've not ever cooked not one thing from these books, but the recipes look delicious! Just having them in my kitchen makes me feel like I'm only one recipe away from being a Domestic Goddess!  Please don't laugh at me!  I often fantasize of throwing together these tasty little meals Nigella seems to do so effortlessly on her show.  My kids and I, especially Noah, can sit and watch the Food Network like it's a movie.  Is that sad?  Whatever!  You've got your thing and we've got ours! :)

 

 

 

Chowder with Asian Flavours

 

Mexican Hot Chocolate

 

via dailymail.com

 

So today my Friends, while Gillian is on a brief Fall break, she and I are cuddled on the sofa, under my warm, soft throw watching Frazier and drinking hot chocolate until the woman of the hour makes her appearance!  Well, Gillian's not drinking hot chocolate; she HATES chocolate!  But anyhoo, to my friends Dorothy and Glennette--you guys think you can't start blogs because you have nothing to talk about... Well, did I not just prove you wrong with this posting?  Living your life gives you all of the inspiration you could possibly ask for!

 

Make it AMAZING!

Rhonda

 

*Recipes via Nigella.com

 

P.S.  I LOVE Frazier and will be talking about this show and my favorite characters in an upcoming post!



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Guest Post: Clever Ways to Display Family Heirlooms

Clever Ways to Display Family Heirlooms

Being a designer for a living and having the knack for arts and crafts, I adore old stuff, especially if it holds a certain amount of significance in my life. Heirlooms in my family are as important as a buried bone to a dog. Most of them are hidden in the darkest part of my parents' attic -- not to be totally neglected, just set aside until we find a better use for them.

However, as we continue with our daily lives and everyone grows old, we tend to forget these memorable things that we hold so dearly. From old high school photographs to grandma's rocking chair, or pricey sets of chinaware and fancy pieces of jewelry, we refuse to give them away, yet keep them "in the dark."

So, instead of hiding our family treasures and forgetting about them, I have decided to showcase them in variety ways.

Mix and Match
Nowadays, mixing and matching styles is a trend. This means that you can combine old with the new without clashing or overpowering one from the other. Check out these suggestions below and see if you can apply it to yours.

• Furniture sets can be separated to individual pieces. Dining chairs can be juxtaposed with the other seats in the patio or veranda, while the dining table can be placed in your garden to serve as a breakfast nook. Sofa sets, especially those made of hard wood can also be divided and placed in the patio, gazebo, and bedroom.
  
• Display china, glass, and silverware in a nice cabinet with glass doors to showcase their beauty.
  
• Kitchen ware, especially pots and pans, can be displayed using a hanging rack on top of the island table. It's not just a great adornment; it also helps you to easily get the equipment that you need.

Re-purposing Items
Some items may no longer be useful. However, we still want to keep them for sentimental reasons. The best solution is to re-purpose these pieces -- whether as a display or used for another function.

• Cut up old clothes and turn them into quilts, purses, lamp shades, and pillow cases.
  
• Use old, sturdy trunks as benches or coffee tables.
  
• If you're renovating, old doors and window frames can be transformed into tables and picture frames. Use large house beams for updating stairs and floors.
  
• Break vases and ceramic or glass figurines into pieces and create a colorful mosaic for the walls or floor of your home.

Arts and Crafts
Hand-crafted memorabilia can be distributed to family members as gifts on special occasions or displayed at home.

• Use family pictures for collages and frame them. The good thing about photos is that they can be duplicated if you wish to distribute them to your relatives or if you just simply don't want to cut the original copies.
  
• Arrange medals, jewelry pieces, child's clothing, and other sentimental knickknacks in a shadow box.
  
• Place memorable pictures and postcard under the glass sheet of your coffee table or office desk.
  
• Purchase or create your own photo album. Organize old photographs by dates and by special occasions. Scan them to create a back-up copy. Place these photo albums in your living room or bookshelf for easy access during family reunions or if you wish to show them to your guests.
  
• Personal journals and diaries, letters, and greeting cards may be placed in a box or basket. Older family members can share stories of wonderful memories to the young ones with these written documents.

Divide and Distribute
Don't be afraid to divide sets of family heirlooms and distribute them to your kin. You may not be able to keep precious collections forever. At some point, you will have to break them up to fit your current lifestyle and taste.
If you're still left with a bunch of stuff after choosing the ones you wish to keep and giving away the rest to relatives, maybe it's time to let them go. Organize a garage sale, put them up on eBay, and donate to charity or to a new home that would create new family heritage.

Jessica Phan is a designer for Balsamhill.com a purveyor of high-end artificial Christmas Trees. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area is perfect for her because she has a wide range of interests, including Art & Design, Fashion, Photography, Painting and Thrift Store Shopping.

 

 

Make it AMAZING!

Rhonda



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Happy One Year Blogiversary!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 *Images

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