Designer Portfolio! The elegant and chic work of Sara Gilbane

Probably the element of Sara's work that I appreciate the most is how practical it is! It's not so matchy-matchy that you can't add your own personal possessions, and it looks comfy but also has personality.

Do you agree?


Above two photos by Anna Wolf

The color of that bench next to the turquoise tables is perfect. I'm a big fan on fuchsia right now




Loving the ethnic, old world character of this room

See more of Sara's work at her website.

Glamorous: French decor and bohemian style home decor

I'd never heard of FCL until I saw their ad in this month's Elle Decor. I liked what I saw and checked out their website, where I saw even more things I liked! THey categorize the merchandise into four catagories - "Bohemian," "Classique,"Crème Fraîche," "Country Chic," and "Naturelle." Which look is the closest to yours?

A. Bohemian


B. Classique


C. Crème Fraîche

D. Country Chic


E. Naturelle



Some more random shots from the site:






My style is definitely bohemian, or atleast, I'd like my space to look that worldy, with a mix of old and new. How about you?

via FCL

And the winner is...

Kelly P.! Congrats! Kelly P. - email me at ashley@decorologyblog.com by Wed. July 29th so I can mail you your fabulous new book!

Number generated by Random.org

Giveaway - Downtown Chic by designer couple Robert and Cortney Novogratz

A super surprise for you guys today! Just by commenting on this post - you'll be put in the drawing to win the book Downtown Chic by Robert and Cortney Novogratz of Sixx Design

I've been flipping through this book on and off all day - they give some really good advice for making your home yours, and flea market shopping tips!


This is just a little nibble of the content:

How to Flea by Robert and Cortney Novogratz
• The great stuff sells before 6 AM; get there early, before the dealers snatch up the best things
• Get a large cup of coffee - it's too early to be up on a weekend
• Negotiate. You can always walk away and go back later
• Be sure to bring the measurements of the spaces you are furnishing and a tape measure when shopping.







Contest closes Wednesday the 22nd at 5pm. Good luck!

Yes - cabin decorating can be done without taxidermy!

Shocking I know, but I still have nightmares about the deer hoof coat rack my parents had when I was a kid. So even when going for the country, "one with nature" look, I try to avoid dead animals. And when reader Carrie proposed a little challenge for me to provide her with inspiration for her newly renovated cabin - I agreed to take a stab. Anyone else have some ideas?

Carrie's cabin:

Carrie's own little "Shady Nook" - what a dream!



Of her *gorgeous* home she says,

Definite likes would include Adirondack, Mission and Shaker... a rustic chic.... Bold, warm colors, even though most of our space is filled with wood. Our cabin is outside of Philadelphia, that's why I say rustic chic. I'm a city girl, living in a cabin an hour from the city... we're not exactly in no man's land and I love the city. But how does I combine the two without things looking Felix & Oscar?

Dislikes include whites (in the woods nothing stays white), those cutesy bears that accompany so many cabin decor sites, and those metal chairs from the '60s (that my husband already collects). I don't have any interior shots, but I can give you some exterior shots of our cabin, "Shady Grove", for inspiration. The outbuilding with the canoes is my husband's workshop, and the cute one with blue and red trim is my "Shady Nook", and guest room."

Some yummy ideas I found:

Rich warm colors like navy blue, red, golden-tan, and plums offer bright color without being too worrisome of dirt showing through.
via Sunset


Don't you love farmhouse sinks?
via Cottage Living

The use of wood for seating and cabinets says cabin - while the back splash and clean lines ads a little touch of the city.
via Cooking Light


via Sunset
via Whole Living
Though an entire supportive column from a tree trunk may not be a realistic possibility for most of us, you can bring the forest in on a smaller scale like this tree branch used as a towel hook.

"At left, the open-air dining room features reclaimed redwood siding salvaged from an abandoned water tower that once served a local stage coach station." -
via Sunset


Use ample soft home goods to juxtapose wood and rock
via House to Home


I always equate open shelving with rustic-chic. The numbers on the back of the dining room chairs also add refinement to the country look.
via Southern Living


via My Home Ideas

via Dwellings and Decor via Country Living

via Marie Claire Maison

Little details and "imperfections" are actually nature's embellishments, and personally, I find that's where the charm lies.
via Marie Claire Maison

Wood needn't mean "cutesy bear" carvings and animals made from corn husks - wood can be sensuous and elegant like in this bedroom!
via Marie Claire Maison (?)



Dark furniture and glass accessories, and designing in symmetry or "pairs" ad elegance, and the Tuscan-style paint finish ads polish.
via Marie Claire Maison (?)

Accessories with a more organic shape and feel will fit in better than "manufactured" items.
via Hudson Goods

-love this table
via Hudson Goods

via Hudson Goods

Vintage accessories will lend themselves better to a cabin than objects shiny and new.
via Hudson Goods

Look! It's Cynthia Rowley's house

So glam and chic. There's definitely a fairy tale feeling to her home!

The bathroom decals are designed by Rowley.

What lucky little girls to have such pretty bunks.





Love the fire screen


Images via Elle Decor