Category: fireplace

  • Luxury Bedroom Wish List

    Luxury Bedroom Wish List

    The bedroom is one of the most important rooms in the house,  not only for it’s obvious function as a place to sleep or store your clothes and shoes, but the role it plays a private haven or sanctuary away from everything else ( remember when you were a teenager!).Ultimately a bedroom should be relaxing, comfortable and a little self-indulgent, after all it’s your bedroom and need reflect only your tastes and personality, with maybe the exception of your partner if applicable! But just for the sake of self-indulgence here are the top 5 contemporary furniture essentials for the perfectly luxurious bedroom….

    The Walk in Wardrobe
    It’s hard to imagine any woman who hasn’t fantasied about a custom fitted walk in closet to house all of her clothes and shoes, equipped with full length mirrors and a dressing table (yes I’m thinking Sex & the City style!) Although many of us may not have the space to have essentially what is a bedroom within a bedroom; a great alternative is fitted wardrobes with customized accessories to organize all your things along with mirrored sliding doors to make the most out the space available.

    via Ivy and Piper

    via Chico Deco

    via Design With Christine

    King-sized Upholstered Bed

    I used to think King-sized beds were unnecessary. But now, I find myself liking more and more space to stretch out when I sleep. And nothing is more luxurious than a fluffy upholstered headboard.

    An over-sized floor length mirror.
    A generously sized mirror casually leaning against the wall adds an instant sumptuousness to any space.  It’s a great way to reflect candle light, and add some romance.  It’s also the best way to make sure your look is pulled together before leaving for the day!

    Flueless Fire
    I grew up with a fire always going in the winters, so I’d be happy with any fireplace. But, there is nothing like a flueless fire to warm up a contemporary bedroom and provide a fantastic focal point.  Not only do they keep the room pretty toasty the glass protector in front never gets too hot to touch making them a health and safety dream!


    Appropriate Bedroom Lighting

    There’s nothing I dread more than harsh and cold overhead lighting.  The bedroom, more than any other room in the home, demands dimmer, warmer lighting.  If you have an overhead fixture, it must be on a dimmer switch.  In fact, I’d like every light switch in my home to have a dimmer switch.
    Since your be is often the focal point, it’s especially important that your bedside lamps, whether matching or not, be beautiful and give off soft light (though still provide enough light to read by).

    Vanity 
    Another glamor girl must have, a vanity, or dressing table, makes your otherwise dreary morning routine feel a little more like pampering. Make sure your dressing table has ample storage options for cosmetics, whether through the use of drawers or pretty baskets or containers, a luxe chair or stool, and a mirror.  This is one place where you want to make sure you have access to good lighting.  Strip lights or bulbs along the sides of the mirror are better than overhead.  It helps to place your vanity near an outlet so you can use your hot tools or other electronics while getting ready.

    What are your must-haves or on your luxury bedroom wishlist?

    All images via gomodern.co.uk unless otherwise noted.
    disclosure*: This post was sponsored by Go Modern

  • Little bits of pretty around the home…

    Little bits of pretty around the home…

    Ugh. I’m stuck at the airport. Bad weather has delayed everything. It’s 9:30 AM in San Francisco and now it looks like I won’t get back to DC until after 9 PM. The weather here is foggy and wet. Here’s a few gorgeous interior details to get you through the day if you’re in a not so cheerful place…

    This chest of drawers is stunning

    via Tradhome 

    via BHG

    I love curling up with a good book on a rainy day
    via Anthology

    2 above via Lonny
     

    via ?

  • Preparing you home for winter: touches of coziness and luxury

    Preparing you home for winter: touches of coziness and luxury

    I want to wish everyone here in the states a happy Thanksgiving – cherish time spent with family, friends, and loved-ones.
    – xoxo, Ashley

    With the weather turning for the worse and the temperatures plummeting, we all seek little comforts to keep us going. Whether it’s indulging in some spontaneous shopping or giving in to that chocolate craving, there’s still nothing better than coming home to a warm and cosy home. So, here are some design tips on how to make the cosiest living room.

    via Scandinavian Chic

    Now that the days are shorter, it’s usually dark by the time most of us get home from work. Set one of the lights near your entry or foyer on an automatic timer to turn on a few minutes before you usually get home. Having a light on when you enter will add a welcoming, comforting feeling.

    The lighting can make or break the cosiness. Keep the lighting soft by using a collection of small table lights, and floor lamps. Also, track lighting can not only highlight your favourite features but add to the mood, which you can control best with dimmer switches. A main factor of the room’s atmosphere is its colour scheme. Focus on warm colours. You can have a combination of soft and warm colours, or liven it up with a deep red or bright yellow.

    Lamplight is far cozier than overhead lights

    via Alice in Designland

    via TradHome

    via Apartment Therapy

    A reading nook with throws and pillows is a perfect way to spend a comfy day inside and out of the cold
    Home Sweet Home

    via House to Home

    Accessories play an equally important role for setting the cosy scene, so get lots of them and make sure they’re soft and touchable pieces. You can use stylish accent pillows to pile up, and drape throw blankets over the sofa and furniture. Keep these in tone with your chosen warm colours, and be sure that you really love their style and texture. Then you won’t be able to resist their comfort.

    via Elle Decor?

    I’d cozy up with this little guy any day.
    via Pottery Barn

    More and highly recommended accessories are accent pieces, like candles, mirrors, and wall art. The wall art can underline and combine the overall theme of the living room, while candles lit in front of mirrors provide a soft yet dramatic glow to the room. However, for this to work when you need the comfort, which could be any time of the day, you’ll want to stop natural light or the glare from street lamps from spoiling it all. The best window coverings for the job are Venetian blinds, since they are available in many different colours, styles, designs and materials, and can be matched with the existing decor. And when you’re ready to let the world back in, you just adjust your Venetian blind.

    These are just some design tips to get you in the mood of the cosy living room experience. Aromatherapy products, relaxing music, and area rugs are some more of the endless options for the cosy design. The main point is to make sure you love the design and are comfortable with the colours and features chosen. Enjoy designing and Happy Winter.

    disclosure: this post is sponsored by Hillarys.co.uk

  • Simply lovely living rooms from Domino

    Simply lovely living rooms from Domino

    Domino is gone, but not forgotten. It’s living rooms like these that keep the magazine’s spirit alive…

    This living room is really unique – I like it.

  • Take your pick: Living rooms for every taste and style

    Take your pick: Living rooms for every taste and style

    Along with your bedroom and the kitchen, I think the living room is one place in the house that should be a reflection of you – and be comfortable and beautiful. Hopefully one of the images below will provide some inspiration:

    A simple and cozy country living room
    via Ideal Home

    A family friendly, flea market style living room
    BHG

    Elegant and feminine
    House to Home

    Traditional with a little twist of rustic
    House to Home

    Eclectic
    via House to Home

    Modern
    via Home Sweet Home

    New traditional
    via Canadian House & Home

    Which is your fav? What style is your living room?

  • Check out this amazing basement/den makeover

    Check out this amazing basement/den makeover

    I think we can all agree that the photo below is a pretty common, albeit horrible den. Well, Southern Living featured the makeover of this den into a living room/craft area over the holidays. I think it turned out great, and is a great example of efficiently using the space you have.

    The before….
    The after! (Click on the image for a larger view.) Notice the narrow bookshelves on either side of the fireplace which offer storage that didn’t even exist before – a perfect example of making the most of your space. A couch instead of chairs offers more seating and cozies up the room. Large baskets under the console at the back of the chair create storage, and the table acts as a desk when needed. Shelves on the wall create a pretty gallery space.

    A pretty wreath hung from the bookshelves.

    A corkboard displays invites and cards.


    What do you think of this makeover?

    via Southern Living

  • A cabin retreat in Denmark – to rough for you or just right?

    A cabin retreat in Denmark – to rough for you or just right?




    ahhh…that hot tub might just make it just right for me…


    What do you think? Could you live in this cabin full time – or just a week?
    via indenfor & udenfor

  • A mix of Natural and industrial – an beautiful fusion in one home

    A mix of Natural and industrial – an beautiful fusion in one home

    This glam and fabulous home is that of designer couple Jamie and Larry. They both have a love of natural objects and industrial style and have carefully edited their home to reflect just that.

    amazing fireplace





    I love all the little vignettes throughout their home

    Did you ever think a kitchen could be so glamorous?


    via Rue

  • Welcome weekend!  These warm and peaceful living rooms will inspire you – some Christmas inspiration too!

    Welcome weekend! These warm and peaceful living rooms will inspire you – some Christmas inspiration too!

    I definitely tend to go for Christmas decorations that aren’t the typical green and red


    via Crate and Barrel

    I adore the chandelier contrasted with the rough walls. This is actually the Jayson Home and Garden store. PS- if you like Jayson Home and Garden Gilt is having a sale on their accessories.
    via Lonny Mag

    via Indenfor & Udenfor

    via House to Home

    Beautiful chairs
    Great ottoman too – providing the fur is faux…
    via Doryn Wallach

    Even if your fireplace is non-working you can still create a cozy fire with a grouping of pillar candles. BTW – this is a real home -not staged or professionally decorated.
    via DIY Network

    some minimalist staircase cheer.
    via Living at Home

    Have a great weekend everyone! We will be baking cookies at my house 🙂

  • Snow day!  I’ve got your cozy here

    Snow day! I’ve got your cozy here

    We have our first real snow here in Maryland today. There’s nothing like cuddling up warm and toasty inside with the little pleasures in life…

    …a warm fire, some handmade patchwork quilts..

    …a creamy hot drink, a chunky wool blanket…

    and some divine home baked treats and some luxe throws…

    Have a great weekend everyone!

    top: pottery barn, fine art america, middle: polylooks, serena & lily, bottom: pottery barn, Deirdre Rodney