Showing posts with label Martha Stewart. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Martha Stewart. Show all posts

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Araucana Blue Inspiration & A Big Surprise!!

With Easter Sunday right around the corner I wanted to share with you some beautiful Araucana Eggs. A few years ago, a friend who raises Araucana chickens presented me with a gift of a dozen Araucana eggs. They were the most spectacular soft shades of blue, green and beige. I admired them for several days then blew them out so I could display them and preserve them forever.
Aracuana eggs have always been a favorite of mine since I first saw them in Martha Stewart Living. This is a similar photo of what my eggs looked like, before my new puppy thought it might be fun to play with them and crushed them. Notice the pale shading and incredible colors.
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Inspired by these eggs Martha Stewart created the Araucana Collection of 22 soft shades of blue, green, beige and brown through Fine Paints of Europe. Though the paint deck is no longer available, I still have it and still love the soft palette she created. In honor of the Araucana Collection I wanted to share several rooms painted in those lovely shades.
(All photos from Martha Stewart Living) Above notice wonderful pale blue on the walls. I think it is interesting to also notice that the small demi lune table is painted in a very similar shade as is the urn below. So often we are afraid to put similar shades against each other, but if they are in the same color family the result can be beautiful. I also love the bleached wood floors. Beyond our blue room we transition to a wonderful beige tone also from the Araucana collection. Beautiful antique chairs draw your eye through the hallway and into the next room.
This is the far room we see from the above photo. Araucana Sage is a gorgeous choice to highlight these antique chairs, linen and pedestal. Again floors are pale and windows are unadorned.
This photo is from Martha Stewart's Turkey Hill home. This room is at least 7 or 8 years old. It is a testament to the fact that good design is truly timeless. I love the color of this room. Again notice Martha's repetition of color with the plates on the wall. Antiques add patina and texture to the space. I may be mistaken but I believe the ceilings are also painted very pale blue.
Finally a beautiful bedroom in another Araucana pale blue. Slipcovers and white bed coverings pair beautifully with the drab painted floors. What a soothing bedroom.
This photo, though not from Martha Stewart, is also wonderful mix of subtle shades to create a striking effect. It reminds me of the beach and where I am heading to enjoy sun this holiday weekend.
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Finally the big surprise......Stop by on Sunday night for a fantastic (and extremely generous) GIVEAWAY!! Our wonderful friend, Kym Fraser of 3 Fine Grains, has selected the most fabulous new item for you - It is the most valuable treasure we have ever had in the history of Willow Decor so don' t miss it!! Until then you can visit 3 Fine Grains or click here and see if you can guess what fabulous surprise lies ahead for you!!!
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To all my readers, I wish you a wonderful and relaxing weekend! Happy Holidays!!
xx-Gina

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Food for Decoration

What foods do you use for decoration?
pumpkins, gourds, apples, nuts, carrots, etc...

More ways to follow BBB

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Halloween Decorating

Cast a ghostly glow {via redbookmag.com}
Creepy crawlers {via goodhousekeeping.com}
I love the shadows on the wall made from these silhouette candle creatures
More ways to follow BBB

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Beautiful Bouquets

I had to share these gorgeous Wedding Bouquets from
They are so Bright, Bold, and Beautiful.
Some Best of BBB you may have missed:
Beautiful Living: Outdoor Lighting
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Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Beautiful Cupcakes

Cupcakes are so wildly popular now... I love this one from
This display is fabulous... look at the adorable bow detail!

Some Best of BBB you may have missed:
Beautiful Living: Outdoor Lighting
Follow BBB on facebook and twitter

Friday, September 4, 2009

Some decorating ideas to inspire your long weekend

Well, folks, I've spent this morning lovingly scanning, cropping, and trying to get rid of the horrid stripes my scanner leaves on my images - guess you get what you pay for. Anyway, we have a long weekend, and, if on the off-chance you'll be indoors, I hope I leave you with some yummy ideas to incorporate into your decor. Happy weekend!


I love "high beds." The quilt on this is gorgeous, too.
via The Best of Martha Stewart Living How to Decorate
A guide to creating comfortable, sylish living spaces



The stool above was a stuffy, dark, upholstered piece. It was repainted white and the upholstery was replaced with a glass top.

I've never seen the idea of little pictures hung in a grid under one larger picture - but I like it!

Hanging a picture on a bookshelf is an all-time fav. look of mine!


If you have/find some pretty brackets, you could use this idea and safe some floor space by creating a "nightshelf," as opposed to a nightstand.
via The Best of Martha Stewart Living Decorating Details
Projects and ideas for a more comfortable, more beautiful home

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Butterfly Bouquet

You know how I heart Butterflies.... I fell in love when I saw this lovely bouquet on Delicate Creature. This charming bouquet was created byLaura Normandin for her wedding (featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, Summer 2009 issue).
More Beautiful Bouquets and More ways to follow BB&B

Be sure to download BB&B on your iPhone iPad or iTouch today.
Go to the iTunes App Store and Search: Bright Bold and Beautiful

Have you heard of Bamboopink! It's coming your way soon!!!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

How to achieve a simpler space

Do you know someone whose home you just love to be in? It's not just one thing, room, or object that makes you feel so comforted, but rather everything as a whole...
Homes like this illustrate the effect physical surroundings can have on your mood.

Well, I've long wondered how this is achieved, and I found some clues over at Whole Living. Read on....

"Homes can feel happy, welcoming, comfortable -- or just the opposite. And because you live there, your everyday environs can be reflected in your sense of well-being. We've pinpointed five common problems with solutions as simple as moving a piece of furniture. Call it an energy makeover for your home -- and for yourself.

Problem 1: Too Much Clutter in Living Spaces


How the Room Looks: Messy (with papers and other items accumulating on floors and flat surfaces) and cluttered, with no space for new things.

How You Feel: Overwhelmed, creatively blocked, embarrassed (which can limit social gatherings), depressed, or sometimes even financially disorganized, as you lose track of bills, bank statements, and other paperwork.

How to Fix It: The easiest way to minimize clutter is with proper storage. Everything needs a place to "live." Boxes and baskets work well; use several that match to create a sense of organization and intention. Minimize clutter by the front entrance, in hallways, and crammed behind doors, which can keep energy from flowing into the room. Eliminate objects you don't often use as well as those that harbor negative memories. Limit yourself to just a few purely sentimental objects in each room.

What You Gain: A sense of clarity and renewed control over your space -- plus a feeling of being unburdened.

via Blueprint

via Martha Stewart

via Blueprint

via Martha Stewart

Problem 2: Couches and Chairs Blocking Doorways or Positioned with Their Backs to the Room's Entrance

How the Room Looks: Empty and uninviting, since we tend to feel uncomfortable sitting with our backs to others on ill-placed furniture.

How You Feel: Unwelcome, uncomfortable, restless, or nervous.

How to Fix It: To create an inviting space, arrange furniture so that it faces the entrance of the room. Move seats and sofas away from doors and hallways so they don't prevent energy from flowing. If you have two sofas in a room, put them facing each other so that you see their sides as you enter the room; neither sofa should have its back to the entrance. Additionally, you can place a chair perpendicular to the couches to "greet" you as you enter. Chairs placed diagonally in corners also help open the space.

What You Gain: A welcome feeling that invites connection, conversation, and comfortable gatherings.


via Martha Stewart


Problem 3: Dull Colors on Walls, Bedding, Furniture, and Floor Covering

How the Room Looks: Drab and weathered, even with brand-new furniture.

How You Feel: Unmotivated, unenthusiastic, even depressed.

How to Fix It: Cheerful colors in your home can enliven your emotions. Light blue and lavender work well in bedrooms, bathrooms, and other private spaces. Pink and peach comfort and nurture the spirit, making them ideal for bedrooms as well. Green, a healing, inspiring color, benefits living rooms and sitting rooms. Like the sun, yellow "feeds" us with energy; it therefore works well in dining areas. The stimulating shades of red and orange invigorate entertaining spaces. You can either paint the room or add colorful furniture or linens. To create more-intense moods, choose items with deeper, more saturated shades.

What You Gain: A sense of feeling uplifted or relaxed, depending on the colors you choose.

via Martha Stewart

via Whole Living

Problem 4: Energy-Zapping Plants, Dried Plants, or Lack of Plants

How the Room Looks: Cold and lifeless, with stuffy or musty air.

How You Feel: Low on energy, stressed out, and agitated.

How to Fix It: Plants help clean the air. They also give off oxygen and circulate nature's energy, so consider adding thriving selections to your home. Upward-growing plants with rounded leaves, such as ficus, peace lily, and pothos, add a feeling of liveliness. Place them in corners to keep energy circulating in the room. Other plants that have spiky leaves, such as cactus, are believed to disrupt energy flow. Since dying plants, dried flowers, and potpourri lack life, avoid these as well.

What You Gain: Improved air quality and energy flow -- plus a connection to nature and a sense of tranquility.

via Martha Stewart

via Whole Living

Problem 5: Artwork and Photos Don't Inspire

How the Room Looks: Unbalanced, uninviting, and cluttered.

How You Feel: Low on self-confidence, unmotivated, and unable to break old thought patterns and habits or move on after challenging events.

How to Fix It: Take time to evaluate your art and photographs. If a given picture doesn't generate a positive impression, a poignant memory, or a thought-provoking outlook, rethink its inclusion in your space. Remove any images that you've hung up just to cover the bare walls and replace them with ones that add a measure of balance, insight, or joy.

What You Gain: Increased feelings of confidence and personal power.


via Martha Stewart

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

A hodge podge of homes!

I'm doing a little spring cleaning of my inspirational folders. Here are some images that for some reason or other didn't make it on any of the posts, but are lovely all the same! *If some of these are repeats I do apologize!





I like this apartment featured on Apartment Therapy. It is orderly and neat, but it has a nice human touch - something we could all replicate in our own homes.


via Country French Antiques







via Martha Stewart

via Marie Claire Maison

via Todd Romano Home

via Sherwin Williams via Colors of Inspiration