Swoon Interiors

interiors that make your heart skip a beat.

Starting the weekend early …

Please excuse my lack of a substantial post. I am attempting to get to bed early to fight this cold I have and keep it from ruining my weekend! Well, it won’t ruin my weekend, because it’s my birthday and Memorial Day all rolled up into one … but I want to feel good for it! And we are off to a good start  … my seven year old, who has just been dying to lose his first tooth, (“I’m the only one in my class who hasn’t lost one, Mom”) came out of bed shouting “Mom! Mom! My tooth fell out! My tooth fell out!” at a little before 9 pm. Well, the excitement was just too much … we were up taking pictures, videos (he wanted to reenact how it happened and then show me what he is going to do when he wakes up in the morning.) I am so happy for him.  He has been wanting this so bad. He did not want to finish first grade without losing at least one. Still not sure what the going rate for the Tooth Fairy is these days. I think she may be a little more generous for someone who’s waited so long, right?

Anyway, looking forward to some warm weather, a date night with my dear hubby,  maybe a little pool time, an excursion into the city and a party at my parents’  house.  Mom, I know you’re planning something like this, right?

Elements of Style
Just a small intimate gathering?  Maybe whip up a little something like this?

Style Me Pretty
(Seriously, my parents could almost pull off something like the party above. They’ve got a beautiful deep yard with a waterfall and koi pond. That’s where we’ll be on Monday. )
Hope everyone has a great long weekend! Let summer begin!

Sometimes it’s the little things …

When you look at the beautiful homes or rooms in design magazines, there is one thing that almost all of them have in common … whether it’s a kitchen or a bedroom, modern or traditional … do you know what I’m talking about?
Elegant Homes

Elle Decor
It’s that perfectly placed vase of flowers.
 

More often than not, it’s a big, puffy ball of a single variety of blooms. 

While, obviously, the rooms themselves are wonderful eye-candy … there’s a reason why stylists always add the flowers.  They just bring life (literally and figuratively) to the room. 
I’m a big believer that flowers should not just be for special occasions or when company is coming over.  Anyone can get that “magazine-styled” look so easily. If you notice, none of the flowers I’ve featured here are perfectly “arranged” or look like they came from a florist.  A vase and a big bunch of the same kind of flower and voila …. anyone can make any of these arrangements.
Pick up flowers at the grocery store, Trader Joe’s, your backyard.  It’s like jewelry for your room …. or a great pair of shoes, or a spritz of perfume.  It’s those little things we add on to an outfit or a room that just pulls everything together and makes you feel good.
House Beautiful

I have a few favorite go-to vases that are perfect for that big-puffy-ball-of-flowers look.  The one below I bought recently on Hautelook for $15.  I love the smokey blue-gray color, the texture and it’s worn rustic look.  Unfortunately when it arrived, one of the handles was broken off.  I called to see if they could replace it but there were all sold out.  So they refunded my $15 AND gave me a $15 credit. So somehow I actually made money on this vase!?! I got out my super-glue and was able to put the handle back on. Since the vase has some imperfections anyway, it looks fine. Hydrangeas from Trader Joe’s complete the look. 

Just a little something that makes me swoon ….

At the Height of Debate …

It’s a question I get often and one that stirs up quite a bit of debate … What should I put on top of my kitchen cabinets?

Nothing? Something? if something, what?  Green plants?

My response?  There is no such thing as green plants above kitchen cabinets … gray plants maybe … because they are either dead or covered in dust. Let’s be honest … who is ever going to go up and regularly water plants up there?  We all know it and so we all know that any type of greenery “growing” up there is fake. Take ’em down! (At least that’s my two cents worth.)

So then what?  It’s a tough one, I’ll admit, and really depends on the kitchen.  I think that’s why so many newly designed kitchens feature cabinetry that extends all the way to the ceiling … it is beautiful AND eliminates the need to figure out what the heck to put up there!

I think if there is less than 10 or 12 inches between the top of your cabinet and the ceiling you shouldn’t try to shove a bunch of things up there that are practically touching the ceiling.  The only things that would fit up there would have to be so short or small that they wouldn’t give much impact anyway and it would end up looking like clutter.

But again, as so many newer homes have higher ceilings, there is often quite a bit of space between the top of the cabinet and the ceiling and it sometimes just begs for … something.

Here are a few ideas …

Baskets … while I kind of think there are a few TOO many in the picture below, I like the idea.  A collection of baskets adds a nice warm color and texture.

House at Ross traditional kitchen

These baskets look like they are actually used for storage.  What a smart idea for a kitchen that is lacking in that department. I like how they are labeled with little numbers.


via Decorpad


On a smaller scale, a few baskets mixed with a fun birdcage adds a lot of personality to this otherwise plain kitchen.

Cottage/Country Kitchen traditional kitchen
via Houzz

A collection of plates or pottery … if you have some beautiful pieces, group them together for more impact.

River House eclectic kitchen

Again, another collection … I love this idea using vintage tins. With those soaring ceilings, it’s nice to have something to draw your eyes upward.

Family Room traditional family room

One of my favorite bloggers, Emily A. Clark, just did a post on this topic as well and featured these images … all very different but I like them all.

Effortless Style

via Decorpad

In my own kitchen, the big empty spaces just begged for something and it has taken me awhile to find the perfect mix … baskets, vintage tins and glass jugs that I love and I think blend in well, without being overly distracting.  I guess that’s my general rule … to keep it from looking too busy, I suggest using more neutral colored objects. That’s why natural or wire baskets, tins, clear glass jugs, vases, etc. work nicely.  I have used wire baskets and natural wood crates for some of my clients too.
In case you’re wondering, that little topiary on the shelf above my rangetop IS real … I can reach it standing on the floor to pull it down and water it … and it is pretty hearty too … I have managed to keep it alive for almost 5 months! Yea!

 So what do you think?  Do you have anything above your cabinets? I’d love to see pictures of fresh new ideas?