Home Ideas - Modern Home Design

Designing with Flowers Event, Mon. April 12

<a href="http://www.fordflower.com/info.asp?id=2854" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459032885772057170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiB5ZXHtN5RuWJjDbRWJXu80BkrtOEF64jFci9BHzzUkcWa66m65jts-ibTgzn4rGJmgI-RW5k0Mff3gdfFLN-E2s6IokfmulK8G6DW0eowZ35xjlBJOP_6lafoAt3Qn0KTAqhB62aFVs/s400/web183vl.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 351px; height: 400px;" /></a> <div style="text-align: center;"> The Village Garden Club of Lynnfield presents “Setting a Spring Table” Monday, April 12, 2010 at 7:30 pm at The Lynnfield Meeting House Floral designer Bert Ford, owner of the <a href="http://www.fordflower.com/feature.asp">Ford Flower Company</a> in Salem, NH, will present professional techniques on how to set a table for spring using fresh flowers and plants. All arrangements will be raffled off to take home at the end of the evening. Refreshments will be served. Please join us and bring a friend! Open to the public General admission $5.00 Email yblacker@verizon.net for more information. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdADgKtr21j-lRykUpzsut3M54sr51yPmP2YXDY0mFVd_fx3tGnKeCYk3UX9hsRg3yOmqvGoNVsl7X8Y1acDhqeMhbh6JdllP7gagpA14_hoEukzjVtsc9zA-zi4ClfbpiawigOBegrE/s1600/HW0_118403.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"> </a>

Designing with Flowers Event, Mon. April 12

The Village Garden Club of Lynnfield presents “Setting a Spring Table” Monday, April 12, 2010 at 7:30 pm at The Lynnfield Meeting House Flor...

4:54 PM

Through the looking glass ...

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfn_14JYGbItZrTMY6_-L-FANpNvWLivkYK741VnRfLKOR0uH3jq29OrHnjZSRFDkCrQqwHa5KtQv660kv_2Sl1_t7QmRi0jsx7VRIaQb_2tTsSc-eySizJ_sN-IDJHbtMmXkXsyht5s/s1600/duraleepink.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458114890857485586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfn_14JYGbItZrTMY6_-L-FANpNvWLivkYK741VnRfLKOR0uH3jq29OrHnjZSRFDkCrQqwHa5KtQv660kv_2Sl1_t7QmRi0jsx7VRIaQb_2tTsSc-eySizJ_sN-IDJHbtMmXkXsyht5s/s400/duraleepink.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 313px; height: 400px;" /></a>A sweet vignette by <a href="http://www.bostondesign.com/showrooms/duralee-fabrics/overview/">Duralee</a> as seen at the Boston Design Center Ever long for an insider’s view on the world of design blogging? Yesterday I had the opportunity to see the person whose voice I have been listening to faithfully on <a href="http://skirtedroundtable.blogspot.com/">The Skirted Roundtable</a>, an interior design related blog that interviews some of the top names in the design industry. Being able to sit in on a conversation with one of the three moderators of this podcast-format blog was a special treat. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19-k-yHHGVtiFf6clI_wbLaKmpjNlI648xnd-A4TFESbF7BHiL4ZLZ53o4gnPXNdZkZFg8q5iWb2JsBHroslOplee_u3PR-SKeYg_U48FC2OuPVnN_887l6AfKok5YfVQukILJIk5lmc/s1600/lindamerrill-yvonneblackerBDCsm.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458114885224198210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19-k-yHHGVtiFf6clI_wbLaKmpjNlI648xnd-A4TFESbF7BHiL4ZLZ53o4gnPXNdZkZFg8q5iWb2JsBHroslOplee_u3PR-SKeYg_U48FC2OuPVnN_887l6AfKok5YfVQukILJIk5lmc/s400/lindamerrill-yvonneblackerBDCsm.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 333px;" /></a>Linda Merrill of <a href="http://www.chameleon-interiors.com/Chameleon_Interiors/About-Chameleon_Interiors-Biography-Linda_Merrill-Interior_Design-Massachusetts.html" style="font-style: italic;">Decorative Surroundings</a> with yours truly South Shore based designer Linda Merrill, whose main design blog (she has a few!) is titled <a href="http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/">Surroundings</a>, led the group in a very informative and often humorous discussion on the benefits of using social media to promote your business while connecting to the world of design. Besides taking home some great tips on how to add more bells and whistles to the pages of my blog, I really enjoyed listening to Linda share her insight on the best ways to blog with style and grace. She also presented a very honest view on the social aspects of putting yourself out there online. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the funny stories that she referred to that were related to specific blog posts/podcasts that I have followed online. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiJdoN7bvhvdR_g1GSwR15AstHJAvUhmm5v0N0j3ttr2T7XQfRY7x4ubPY0V3tqTmIRtjCn3oFj_BsQXlv148FCINn8FMQ-R3pDQDFrdO5n9foYmMFOKO9-xoNyxDiH9HrsD6o7a5yhM/s1600/duraleechairlight.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"> </a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFF81GW9R_YmW4cGX610WxH3_x8kOzFN7LOO3wY1RrO2k0yKMUtG-ylX514DGdLIccWum7Lw6EScGTsuZVC-P03jvDjviWhsuWqKpxPZ345c1o1DqHiG9DaFq-5jy5y516Pbi0Ha6muxw/s1600/kravetfabricsgraay.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458114912238568994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFF81GW9R_YmW4cGX610WxH3_x8kOzFN7LOO3wY1RrO2k0yKMUtG-ylX514DGdLIccWum7Lw6EScGTsuZVC-P03jvDjviWhsuWqKpxPZ345c1o1DqHiG9DaFq-5jy5y516Pbi0Ha6muxw/s400/kravetfabricsgraay.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a>Inside the <a href="http://www.bostondesign.com/showrooms/kravet-fabrics/overview/">Kravet</a> Showroom at the BDC </div><div style="text-align: center;"> One topic that was of particular interest to many of the audience members was the issue of naming your blog. How does one go about choosing a name? I have posted about how I chose <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/03/anniversary-present.html">Design Vignettes</a>. Recently, I noticed there is another person out there blogging as “Vignette Design.” I forgot to ask Linda if I should be concerned by this! If you are blogging out there, how did you choose your name? Do you ever wish you had chosen a different name for your blog? Or if you are enjoying the blogs of others, what are some of your favorite blog names that you have come across? Please leave some comments (we bloggers love to know that someone is out there listening!) </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZkpaKBFDHfAEL2Y8CGwfcJGV_qFkU0onpbFg1y624GhMbsMwuvXaMW2fc41d7C0xoHeSgPjh5bUZNphJt85Q9px9-FxglrO1_rhbwXhRe__fQKRFiccE0FHrlfjj_IP_8Hh-9i4_yeA/s1600/starkcarpet.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"> </a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOsFQZBYfpsP7p8U5hVwsx6kakKx3lyngMiwR9gfM6vFxY10uGx7Mx1x6icKINRwPE0zPhpXuDGeGgkRQofBXkShlw0GaPKhZUz_DVTvqpGhgtynyfwPiK1dnHxVNto1jpYk4Gdx35lE/s1600/kravetbedroom.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458114902657409074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOsFQZBYfpsP7p8U5hVwsx6kakKx3lyngMiwR9gfM6vFxY10uGx7Mx1x6icKINRwPE0zPhpXuDGeGgkRQofBXkShlw0GaPKhZUz_DVTvqpGhgtynyfwPiK1dnHxVNto1jpYk4Gdx35lE/s400/kravetbedroom.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a>A pretty combination from Kravet: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">pink, gray, cream and white </div> Another topic that raised many questions was how do you keep all online identities (twitter, facebook, blog and website) related, yet specific to their particular function and audience? With her extensive background in social media and communications, Linda was able to speak from experience on these very current issues in the ever-changing virtual landscape. What successes – or bumps in the road – have you encountered while navigating social networking? </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfn_14JYGbItZrTMY6_-L-FANpNvWLivkYK741VnRfLKOR0uH3jq29OrHnjZSRFDkCrQqwHa5KtQv660kv_2Sl1_t7QmRi0jsx7VRIaQb_2tTsSc-eySizJ_sN-IDJHbtMmXkXsyht5s/s1600/duraleepink.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"> </a> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZkpaKBFDHfAEL2Y8CGwfcJGV_qFkU0onpbFg1y624GhMbsMwuvXaMW2fc41d7C0xoHeSgPjh5bUZNphJt85Q9px9-FxglrO1_rhbwXhRe__fQKRFiccE0FHrlfjj_IP_8Hh-9i4_yeA/s1600/starkcarpet.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458115063504496146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZkpaKBFDHfAEL2Y8CGwfcJGV_qFkU0onpbFg1y624GhMbsMwuvXaMW2fc41d7C0xoHeSgPjh5bUZNphJt85Q9px9-FxglrO1_rhbwXhRe__fQKRFiccE0FHrlfjj_IP_8Hh-9i4_yeA/s400/starkcarpet.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a>These spring-colored carpets behind the </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">glass window of the <a href="http://www.bostondesign.com/showrooms/stark-carpet-corporation/overview/">Stark</a> showroom got a second look as I left the BDC. </div> Linda Merrill will be offering more great lectures on social networking this month. I highly recommend signing up for one if you are in the Boston area! April 14th at <a href="http://www.rdcboston.com/ResPlus/RDC/Workshops/?SHID=838997336.9331840%2043">Residential Design</a> <a href="http://www.rdcboston.com/ResPlus/RDC/Workshops/?SHID=838997336.9331840%2043">and</a><a href="http://www.rdcboston.com/ResPlus/RDC/Workshops/?SHID=838997336.9331840%2043"> Construction 2010</a> at the Seaport World Trade Center, Boston And April 29th sponsored by the <a href="http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e2s4sm2f4990c579">IFDA</a> held at the <a href="http://www.bostondesign.com/contact-us/">Boston Design Center</a> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFu3Xax0gdab4A56xq_gY3lXrr1d-WzAQfYmlHR_lAvXh6peGkLmz0RmVUuZMF2GwZ-MgknIjwBGFwkyFEjtf0LsOQVKt72flTUs4qxUOiJh_xtwmQ1RFHAgyM595Zsj0f5-CNJvHh6cY/s1600/kravetvase.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458203536855746034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFu3Xax0gdab4A56xq_gY3lXrr1d-WzAQfYmlHR_lAvXh6peGkLmz0RmVUuZMF2GwZ-MgknIjwBGFwkyFEjtf0LsOQVKt72flTUs4qxUOiJh_xtwmQ1RFHAgyM595Zsj0f5-CNJvHh6cY/s320/kravetvase.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 320px;" /></a> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19-k-yHHGVtiFf6clI_wbLaKmpjNlI648xnd-A4TFESbF7BHiL4ZLZ53o4gnPXNdZkZFg8q5iWb2JsBHroslOplee_u3PR-SKeYg_U48FC2OuPVnN_887l6AfKok5YfVQukILJIk5lmc/s1600/lindamerrill-yvonneblackerBDCsm.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"> </a>

Through the looking glass ...

A sweet vignette by Duralee as seen at the Boston Design Center Ever long for an insider’s view on the world of design blogging? Yesterday ...

11:20 AM

Design Challenge!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mKpfX3U43nNLdR1sDrgcJTxFG8fX1WzhGzgA17IVwlfhu0e_dApsFFTmgppdaDzYTChphhxUGHEfXATt3JiF67qOqAmbJMuOt41RUy7hjZAX_8qBLLHBExePOy6dobYeARGKAUByx1A/s1600/bluetablesettingYB.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457738506441669474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mKpfX3U43nNLdR1sDrgcJTxFG8fX1WzhGzgA17IVwlfhu0e_dApsFFTmgppdaDzYTChphhxUGHEfXATt3JiF67qOqAmbJMuOt41RUy7hjZAX_8qBLLHBExePOy6dobYeARGKAUByx1A/s400/bluetablesettingYB.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 295px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulCgFyM6-AYlGcBYngWynTiNO0aVx2YQvKpCYGlLxxhGLJqY6h0u5kPfEI_xplWR_McMmdOwuMs7bmUmP7GxKRduLrREhBnw45soWxU0Xy-cgg4v5jwSluhGnfWjQwa1U2L47p8GJD4w/s1600/VGC_Event_April12th.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"> </a> <div style="text-align: center;">If you are a huge fan of shopping at Home Goods like I am, check out their <a href="http://www.homegoods.com/springchallenge.asp?cmpid=H_EM203">Happy Spring Challenge</a> Contest going on right now! This is my entry for this week’s decorating assignment: <a href="http://openhouse.homegoods.com/2010/04/05/week-3-trend-45-49-true-blue/">True Blue</a>. Check out the <a href="http://openhouse.homegoods.com/2010/04/06/pairing-colors-with-blue/">Home Goods blo</a>g for tips on pairing colors with blue. Let me know if you enter! There are a lot of great images on the site that show the related trends. I will post more about it later. I am off to a seminar on one of my favorite topics ... blogging! <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-15777445-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {}</script> </div>

Design Challenge!

If you are a huge fan of shopping at Home Goods like I am, check out their Happy Spring Challenge Contest going on right now! This is my e...

5:12 AM

Guest Designer: Nicole Yee

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwg_UOKCEAfmt6k1cSp0OxU_TMnfWyGjNPQEi1JMdeSBDnX-DZ-2wPPR3FOCCwqvebxRsT3I7uvDwlXFKPIyiM7eGRpSe93zgQYkoz4Jz63yagUdsVLOQAD36Hq1nH3piyaWDtk85RLDU/s1600/LivingRoom.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457213347742098786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwg_UOKCEAfmt6k1cSp0OxU_TMnfWyGjNPQEi1JMdeSBDnX-DZ-2wPPR3FOCCwqvebxRsT3I7uvDwlXFKPIyiM7eGRpSe93zgQYkoz4Jz63yagUdsVLOQAD36Hq1nH3piyaWDtk85RLDU/s400/LivingRoom.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 352px;" /></a> <a href="http://nicoleyee.com/"></a>White looks fresh with blues and browns in a room designed by <a href="http://nicoleyee.com/meet2.htm">Nicole Yee</a>. </div><div style="text-align: center;">When spring arrives in New England, my first instinct is to head outside and replace my <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/12/decorating-great-outdoors.html">evergreen-filled winter containers</a> with <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/04/spring-container-gardens.html">fresh spring buds</a>. But how do those blessed with warm-and-sunny-days-on-end welcome spring? Who better to pose that question to than native New Englander, Nicole Yee, now living – <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/12/sun-drenched-decorating-for-holidays.html">and designing beautifully!</a> – on the West Coast. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTIQ8Ik-goHADeNckwNdWZ4NI3RTW7koSesSEGU_it9HPcyvLHcXsO1d8-KfK9YOpbp5tWCIWDtTN3QYGor3MpIDr9BqDID836odgY07JWGobvCENFaijrO2A3qhjfnqkyFB0o4kvVTs/s1600/Dining+Room_B-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457213336777876898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTIQ8Ik-goHADeNckwNdWZ4NI3RTW7koSesSEGU_it9HPcyvLHcXsO1d8-KfK9YOpbp5tWCIWDtTN3QYGor3MpIDr9BqDID836odgY07JWGobvCENFaijrO2A3qhjfnqkyFB0o4kvVTs/s400/Dining+Room_B-1.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" /></a>A palette inspired by spring colors <a href="http://nicoleyee.com/">Nicole Yee Interiors</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ic5hQ_imt3j71AdaGxOasiVuSWC3PbR_vSCaqz84zIJLtm57OM1MCS_-9PlkeilDeNXlOpk0lWl1jbVHmaSbxL5clt0m34EGt5jCEcuPEA9whkCAUPivAWKKvg_NlQdALD8-deG7U_k/s1600/Kitchen_A-2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457213344308225890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ic5hQ_imt3j71AdaGxOasiVuSWC3PbR_vSCaqz84zIJLtm57OM1MCS_-9PlkeilDeNXlOpk0lWl1jbVHmaSbxL5clt0m34EGt5jCEcuPEA9whkCAUPivAWKKvg_NlQdALD8-deG7U_k/s400/Kitchen_A-2.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" /></a>Crisp white and bold brights make this kitchen shine. <a href="http://nicoleyee.com/portfolio2.htm">Nicole Yee Interiors</a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExonmhsH8RRK2MCdexbMcjx0BIDdIdIGQaDwq_9SqRhCpdQyqAq9qs-iXIjzCNB01w6uKblYnVTcbk2tCzyIDZSLWiGyNOb5QpTP0ZiSZmdHbTN8ye3c3vgMMomowHsHVNvKst2jEOl0/s1600/PearsinWindow.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457221030879081746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExonmhsH8RRK2MCdexbMcjx0BIDdIdIGQaDwq_9SqRhCpdQyqAq9qs-iXIjzCNB01w6uKblYnVTcbk2tCzyIDZSLWiGyNOb5QpTP0ZiSZmdHbTN8ye3c3vgMMomowHsHVNvKst2jEOl0/s320/PearsinWindow.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" /></a> Here are Nicole’s tips on creating a spring inspired interior ... “I’ve been working with a client to change bedding, pillows and throw blankets in her bedrooms to go from cozy warm to cool summer breezy. Changing bed linens has a huge design impact and freshens things up for the season. For me, spring also inspires color! I have attached a few photos of recent projects that are blooming with cheerful color. While these rooms are designed to look good all year, there’s something about them that says, ‘spring is here!’ Finally, don’t skimp on spring cleaning! Purge, purge, purge so that you can live simply this season! Happy spring to you! – Nicole” All photos above by <a href="http://www.gregwestphotography.com/">Greg West Photography</a> for <a href="http://nicoleyee.com/">Nicole Yee Interiors</a> Thanks, Nicole, for sharing more great design tips (and photos) from the West Coast! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbruPZcwboPZr4yg-nS41MNFM6XLzjf7a1So7JdtqJI16lyVNhkSQjGfoEjpQeaBlAp57G9adUjjlahVX2OIUyV3aWrBauzUJ9hCNB-x4cWohANnNvjcoBrI-DsqbJbX3_Vo3IH_ya_M/s1600/pineapple.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457235289430058370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbruPZcwboPZr4yg-nS41MNFM6XLzjf7a1So7JdtqJI16lyVNhkSQjGfoEjpQeaBlAp57G9adUjjlahVX2OIUyV3aWrBauzUJ9hCNB-x4cWohANnNvjcoBrI-DsqbJbX3_Vo3IH_ya_M/s320/pineapple.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" /></a> While Nicole chose a plate of pears to decorate a kitchen windowsill, I chose a pineapple to be the centerpiece of our Easter table. Fresh fruit displayed on a white dish says warm weather to me – regardless of which coast it is served on : ) <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgJjK1bN95EBC0vaiu9ldhZ_reFs7x55qqrme9RwNTsDT8zVv3W_l-r5xFRTcVF35djeQyLdToaq3CGeBqnunBipzKxpsDMmOkVRZFnEFvWW64nByUDmm6OVVGXfd3kbU7D94aKrFlqY/s1600/pineapple.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div>

Guest Designer: Nicole Yee

White looks fresh with blues and browns in a room designed by Nicole Yee . When spring arrives in New England, my first instinct is to head...

9:03 PM

Spring container gardens

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWuMa_sbEs8xdPHF74zXvgWp7pmfWFe8iPkAhh4Yds00-0NCSNgV7oMYctjwZLd6fYj3lRfVme3RzYg6wIWRAhMSIFpS7cWDPNQkN0AIujer-czWa9JismqzNkpSGUkgEvE3y0LWaZaI/s1600/ranunculusupclose.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456992442585603762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWuMa_sbEs8xdPHF74zXvgWp7pmfWFe8iPkAhh4Yds00-0NCSNgV7oMYctjwZLd6fYj3lRfVme3RzYg6wIWRAhMSIFpS7cWDPNQkN0AIujer-czWa9JismqzNkpSGUkgEvE3y0LWaZaI/s400/ranunculusupclose.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a> <div style="text-align: center;">This year I am going for white, both inside and out. Our front porch now has fresh containers of delicate ranunculus blossoms combined with white pansies, tall branches and deep purple sage for a touch of foliage color. This miniature garden should look nice for quite some time. When the ranunculus are spent, I will find a summer replacement. </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1RbF5hKobxdrx4mkT-h6uX11v1YFUfYqmwe9N9Ajet9RTRaeejtch8UfM5vSWFtjRoWpXLbtXjS_Ia_qhZhrUPvk7pgiHFmbzPtpRiTl_AoWA4wq38o-lRnwtbCl-gyETiqlHC1MZoY/s1600/springcontainer.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456992445453668018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1RbF5hKobxdrx4mkT-h6uX11v1YFUfYqmwe9N9Ajet9RTRaeejtch8UfM5vSWFtjRoWpXLbtXjS_Ia_qhZhrUPvk7pgiHFmbzPtpRiTl_AoWA4wq38o-lRnwtbCl-gyETiqlHC1MZoY/s400/springcontainer.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a> On my side porch, growing tulip stems are supported nicely by a bird cage... </div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHw2cdVzf7GWmMmK6TbKqTYnPIv81ygt4R7T6Z00F1CC31DeKGyix1DA9zdygEeB6sr2xvwpfexqr5LnzSEq27tGc8Y4XejJoGLU7gmhWZpcE3d3WBR4OAw5kZRcpvFYoE_QItOmylzE/s1600/tulipcage.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456995970047326722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHw2cdVzf7GWmMmK6TbKqTYnPIv81ygt4R7T6Z00F1CC31DeKGyix1DA9zdygEeB6sr2xvwpfexqr5LnzSEq27tGc8Y4XejJoGLU7gmhWZpcE3d3WBR4OAw5kZRcpvFYoE_QItOmylzE/s400/tulipcage.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNm6mLU2yiET33MULwyY92wgzw-SmDQ1Fp9QrTrHV_IMcXmpUVE09RSKkmQysFiTiL5YB9QHYjKlV9viZ_LSGpxlgIsEhb5fE_Tb51LusljasJpYiCjxrzqwhajulnWXwnVp1nwZHqsA/s1600/4ducks.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"> </a>

Spring container gardens

This year I am going for white, both inside and out. Our front porch now has fresh containers of delicate ranunculus blossoms combined with ...

5:15 AM

An all white composition

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixW977mODWHL3esSje5vukc2c_AFGM61BxGnybpYXWdwhALficc4r1aWgGSqE9JFMcPYwV9UXwtV1hSzzvVIwctDVJnmyIQEqBF54WxSZihgq9i6rYkqaKlnvSP9Za3qyN3zMomt-7yb4/s1600/teapotsketch2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456730269506826626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixW977mODWHL3esSje5vukc2c_AFGM61BxGnybpYXWdwhALficc4r1aWgGSqE9JFMcPYwV9UXwtV1hSzzvVIwctDVJnmyIQEqBF54WxSZihgq9i6rYkqaKlnvSP9Za3qyN3zMomt-7yb4/s400/teapotsketch2.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Q_6hmRbtO5lL63G7j-ecDXCGBz1NpZwiuYYAClydhpZZmDAPlgKl0DxhUzHubt44vWLYvw13nmL1k0pZFs7YDfo4CKDCzFjZjN9dtNCETxLGsvgXJPHJuwSmPEF_2qaF94Xt8Qsan5w/s1600/values.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"> </a> <div style="text-align: center;">I was back in the art studio recently for another lesson with instructor Mary Taggart of <a href="http://www.taggartstudio.com/">TaggArt Studio</a>. We practiced using varying weights of charcoal pencil to establish foreground and background values when illustrating the all white still life shown below. </div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Q_6hmRbtO5lL63G7j-ecDXCGBz1NpZwiuYYAClydhpZZmDAPlgKl0DxhUzHubt44vWLYvw13nmL1k0pZFs7YDfo4CKDCzFjZjN9dtNCETxLGsvgXJPHJuwSmPEF_2qaF94Xt8Qsan5w/s1600/values.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"> </a> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwSeq7oku2YeJJPyxzkoiyD0WoJJ7bkiJM4lQhsf6UX7LHdWq8KuEul1MaoAxysYChzN4Hz5TQbn3nD9SOP2S_EEj4AaDWqV6Ot3hYShTYhJxYGTmmluymr95ido3Q_xiqHlZcrS2eiY/s1600/whiteteapotstilllife.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454643307030600994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwSeq7oku2YeJJPyxzkoiyD0WoJJ7bkiJM4lQhsf6UX7LHdWq8KuEul1MaoAxysYChzN4Hz5TQbn3nD9SOP2S_EEj4AaDWqV6Ot3hYShTYhJxYGTmmluymr95ido3Q_xiqHlZcrS2eiY/s400/whiteteapotstilllife.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a> More art from the studio that uses white as a focal point ... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCS4cWqr3o2fRH9FaZHVP_ipXz_TMrqWtelcSt2arIcxmlNuu1__XBVt-i4wohmtkr0nbNjumlj2BttKRvZc2AOXHxRVfOM9VULOO1RPbsyYB0J_4EJeIub0J9Vol1y9LU3a2RhXLbmjs/s1600/dresswithstarfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454643297715230930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCS4cWqr3o2fRH9FaZHVP_ipXz_TMrqWtelcSt2arIcxmlNuu1__XBVt-i4wohmtkr0nbNjumlj2BttKRvZc2AOXHxRVfOM9VULOO1RPbsyYB0J_4EJeIub0J9Vol1y9LU3a2RhXLbmjs/s400/dresswithstarfish.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a> I am really liking white as a dominant “color” right now. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlDNUhR0SDcL_5LlzVYxJ0-4aOT9Cb1KSZ5u-NBoOWcGlgprFJME52bqVQ5ziH_nR-6w9t9ycKHN-sd4ScZeGEXxdVgDFK7qOdkX_Hupe7dXjd9tLu7pbHvfLcuuAxHCSnvZLg4CeGi0/s1600/whitespace.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456724232825015010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlDNUhR0SDcL_5LlzVYxJ0-4aOT9Cb1KSZ5u-NBoOWcGlgprFJME52bqVQ5ziH_nR-6w9t9ycKHN-sd4ScZeGEXxdVgDFK7qOdkX_Hupe7dXjd9tLu7pbHvfLcuuAxHCSnvZLg4CeGi0/s400/whitespace.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 324px;" /></a> <div><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/white_space/set?.embedder=971780&.mid=embed&id=17558532">white space</a> by <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/profile?.embedder=971780&.mid=embed&id=971780">designvignettes</a> on <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/">Polyvore.com</a></div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Q_6hmRbtO5lL63G7j-ecDXCGBz1NpZwiuYYAClydhpZZmDAPlgKl0DxhUzHubt44vWLYvw13nmL1k0pZFs7YDfo4CKDCzFjZjN9dtNCETxLGsvgXJPHJuwSmPEF_2qaF94Xt8Qsan5w/s1600/values.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456717012628169874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Q_6hmRbtO5lL63G7j-ecDXCGBz1NpZwiuYYAClydhpZZmDAPlgKl0DxhUzHubt44vWLYvw13nmL1k0pZFs7YDfo4CKDCzFjZjN9dtNCETxLGsvgXJPHJuwSmPEF_2qaF94Xt8Qsan5w/s400/values.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 59px;" /></a> </div>

An all white composition

I was back in the art studio recently for another lesson with instructor Mary Taggart of TaggArt Studio . We practiced using varying w...

11:30 AM

An Easter tradition ...

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZObCQ6d4gwQSic7Wh7D60IVYdlm-ow3U9t8qm_A74ZIf14SFVyLEqj3xtX1eGgrGA60ti3hlkGGmhe7ysV3GLLRNDQ7BnKS66HCGGX94cxROZhzCctwOT0cPHD9e_raDqeugQY3OINgE/s1600/gettingready.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456068510030333538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZObCQ6d4gwQSic7Wh7D60IVYdlm-ow3U9t8qm_A74ZIf14SFVyLEqj3xtX1eGgrGA60ti3hlkGGmhe7ysV3GLLRNDQ7BnKS66HCGGX94cxROZhzCctwOT0cPHD9e_raDqeugQY3OINgE/s400/gettingready.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a> Getting ready to color eggs. Hubby cooked them. Boys will decorate. My job: supervisor. New this year: Twister mat as table covering. </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlIZaVVIcC1slGQAtPnAHu8dLn4sbM2Tca58HNCs_ssdIgqod-KMQgDXYjB7ZNptwwZKE7CHiYSWXajQ-TVZuAdbaa-GP1Sc5QgYucmBy-rpjFs7NdDGuOnA3M2HI-jC3wmzo29-qr-0/s1600/allhandsondeck.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456068495193021282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlIZaVVIcC1slGQAtPnAHu8dLn4sbM2Tca58HNCs_ssdIgqod-KMQgDXYjB7ZNptwwZKE7CHiYSWXajQ-TVZuAdbaa-GP1Sc5QgYucmBy-rpjFs7NdDGuOnA3M2HI-jC3wmzo29-qr-0/s400/allhandsondeck.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a> All hands on deck! </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISeUKJETRwJ7wWVqlSqSUiMoVB6Pfs79dHPcqIiv-ROx-kiDUmG6q4e7C7BG266xxjVZ8OG6ItRTJbk4k-QqCI98xLDcCNnjAdPjKerHUWDv_K_IxYCJt-4s2Ht96cWU-bGxMasJN8po/s1600/coloredeggs.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456068505811030082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISeUKJETRwJ7wWVqlSqSUiMoVB6Pfs79dHPcqIiv-ROx-kiDUmG6q4e7C7BG266xxjVZ8OG6ItRTJbk4k-QqCI98xLDcCNnjAdPjKerHUWDv_K_IxYCJt-4s2Ht96cWU-bGxMasJN8po/s400/coloredeggs.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 321px;" /></a> Lost a few eggs to starving artists. </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIlbnS19vkbXwXV-C5MaDPGDZ5eJX4sHtPPaCkqx_HysU6yvVmGNm8HnbaU4Z9QhF4kn5IAgYUUcWxU-GC3wWMzOs5UOpw2LW__lXD-uykZ3NBsmU9SHi5rnsv3v_bnDwAexIp1mdBUc/s1600/badeggs.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456068497293805794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIlbnS19vkbXwXV-C5MaDPGDZ5eJX4sHtPPaCkqx_HysU6yvVmGNm8HnbaU4Z9QhF4kn5IAgYUUcWxU-GC3wWMzOs5UOpw2LW__lXD-uykZ3NBsmU9SHi5rnsv3v_bnDwAexIp1mdBUc/s400/badeggs.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 321px;" /></a> Bad egg. Good egg. An interesting approach from our oldest son. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16tNqDF5_gvKI6ghJ_iiqnM9_n6cWCjUmMkLF3Ug6YVWK0CzhRzc9o0wVvUNrkMo5IUfdsWgbQj_uqtdet5TKKSXzRt4KOmXRb2vIuWcQ6tSqpfSiGZXkrBD3Sc6Iiqd23JBYqZa6MSA/s1600/luckywitheggs.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456068517063970450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16tNqDF5_gvKI6ghJ_iiqnM9_n6cWCjUmMkLF3Ug6YVWK0CzhRzc9o0wVvUNrkMo5IUfdsWgbQj_uqtdet5TKKSXzRt4KOmXRb2vIuWcQ6tSqpfSiGZXkrBD3Sc6Iiqd23JBYqZa6MSA/s400/luckywitheggs.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 287px;" /></a> Our version of the Easter bunny. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlIZaVVIcC1slGQAtPnAHu8dLn4sbM2Tca58HNCs_ssdIgqod-KMQgDXYjB7ZNptwwZKE7CHiYSWXajQ-TVZuAdbaa-GP1Sc5QgYucmBy-rpjFs7NdDGuOnA3M2HI-jC3wmzo29-qr-0/s1600/allhandsondeck.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"> </a>

An Easter tradition ...

Getting ready to color eggs. Hubby cooked them. Boys will decorate. My job: supervisor. New this year: Twister mat as table covering. All ha...

5:11 PM