Category: light

  • Cozy Cottages: Light or Dark?

    Cozy Cottages: Light or Dark?

    Cozy Cottages

    Just the word cottages makes one think of being curled up by the fire with a great book, or of lazy mornings at the beach front.  How do you prefer your cozy cottages – in light or dark?  Beach breeze coming through an open window or thick wool blankets and crackling bacon?

    Light Cottages

    Light cottages often feature rustic charms like white walls, often shiplap, and bare time-worn floors. Window treatments are kept to a minimal to let as much light in as possible.

    cozy cottages cozy cottages cozy cottages

    Nothing in a cottage like this screams “new.”  Woods have an aged patina and everything is full of character and charm.

    cozy cottages

    images above via Southern Living

    Dark Cottages

    Snow and wind outside your door?  If you are in a dark cottage that won’t bother you.  Layers of warmth in the means of blankets, deep cushioned armchairs, and firelight abound.

    cozy cottages

    In dark cottages walls are usually painted in moody blues or grays.

    cozy cottages

    Lots of wood tones.

    cozy cottages

    Heavier upholstery and textiles are also a mainstay of dark cottages.

    images above via Apartment Therapy

    cozy cottages

    image above via Tumblr

    So – which way do you lean?  Light cottage or dark cottage?

    Craving more cottage eye candy?  Check out a past post featuring beautiful cottages and little escapes.

  • Cozy Cottages: Light or Dark?

    Cozy Cottages: Light or Dark?

    Cozy Cottages

    Just the word cottages makes one think of being curled up by the fire with a great book, or of lazy mornings at the beach front.  How do you prefer your cozy cottages – in light or dark?  Beach breeze coming through an open window or thick wool blankets and crackling bacon?

    Light Cottages

    Light cottages often feature rustic charms like white walls, often shiplap, and bare time-worn floors. Window treatments are kept to a minimal to let as much light in as possible.

    cozy cottages cozy cottages cozy cottages

    Nothing in a cottage like this screams “new.”  Woods have an aged patina and everything is full of character and charm.

    cozy cottages

    images above via Southern Living

    Dark Cottages

    Snow and wind outside your door?  If you are in a dark cottage that won’t bother you.  Layers of warmth in the means of blankets, deep cushioned armchairs, and firelight abound.

    cozy cottages

    In dark cottages walls are usually painted in moody blues or grays.

    cozy cottages

    Lots of wood tones.

    cozy cottages

    Heavier upholstery and textiles are also a mainstay of dark cottages.

    images above via Apartment Therapy

    cozy cottages

    image above via Tumblr

    So – which way do you lean?  Light cottage or dark cottage?

    Craving more cottage eye candy?  Check out a past post featuring beautiful cottages and little escapes.

  • Cozy Cottages: Light or Dark?

    Cozy Cottages: Light or Dark?

    Cozy Cottages

    Just the word cottages makes one think of being curled up by the fire with a great book, or of lazy mornings at the beach front.  How do you prefer your cozy cottages – in light or dark?  Beach breeze coming through an open window or thick wool blankets and crackling bacon?

    Light Cottages

    Light cottages often feature rustic charms like white walls, often shiplap, and bare time-worn floors. Window treatments are kept to a minimal to let as much light in as possible.

    cozy cottages cozy cottages cozy cottages

    Nothing in a cottage like this screams “new.”  Woods have an aged patina and everything is full of character and charm.

    cozy cottages

    images above via Southern Living

    Dark Cottages

    Snow and wind outside your door?  If you are in a dark cottage that won’t bother you.  Layers of warmth in the means of blankets, deep cushioned armchairs, and firelight abound.

    cozy cottages

    In dark cottages walls are usually painted in moody blues or grays.

    cozy cottages

    Lots of wood tones.

    cozy cottages

    Heavier upholstery and textiles are also a mainstay of dark cottages.

    images above via Apartment Therapy

    cozy cottages

    image above via Tumblr

    So – which way do you lean?  Light cottage or dark cottage?

    Craving more cottage eye candy?  Check out a past post featuring beautiful cottages and little escapes.

  • A kitchen transformation: dark and cramped to bright, open, and beautiful

    A kitchen transformation: dark and cramped to bright, open, and beautiful

    This kitchen transformation is going to knock your socks off!  As you’ll see in the before pictures below, this kitchen started out dark and stifling and closed.  Interior designer Carla Aston worked her amazing magic and turned it into a bright, open, and beautiful space to be in.

    First, just a little teaser of the “after”  So pretty…white cabinets, subway tile backsplash…

    Okay…here it was before.

    Sorry, that had to be done.  All that dark granite and honey wood is too much in this space.  Let’s go back to where we can breath..

    Ahhhh, that’s so much better. Wouldn’t this be a lovely kitchen to walk into each morning?

    A love that the backsplash tile goes all the way to the ceiling.

    There used to be a doorway on either side of the fridge but Carla cleverly reclaimed some of that space for cabinets.

     The sandy hue of the counters add some warmth to the space.

    The open shelves break up the white wall and allow the owner to show off decorative items.

    What do you think?

    Go to Carla’s Aston Designed to read more about this project.

  • Why you shouldn’t neglect your hallways

    Why you shouldn’t neglect your hallways

    It’s not a new idea to utilize your hallways and not let them be wasted space, but some – myself included- are still guilty of this.  Now that the weather is cooling we will be spending more time indoors, therefore freeing up time to show your halls some love.

    A lot of the examples below are foyers, but entryways often pose similar design conundrums as halls, and similar solutions.
    via Pinterest 

     I love that this hallway is so glamorous but gets cheeky with the addition of a giant framed chalkboard.
    via Pic toViral

    Our hallway is narrower than this one, no kidding.  Wainscoting and a lovely collection of framed art give this hallway a studied feel.

     So, this hallway is all about amazing bones.  The vaulted ceiling is so pretty.  The horizontal shiplap creates a sense of length.
    via ?

     I love a round table in the middle of an entry.  It boasts – “hey look at all the space I have!”  It is not a boast I can make.
    via Fresh Designpedia

    If you have enough width in your hall to allow it, built-ins or shelves are a great way to display more than art or serve as additional storage.
    via Foter
    Traditional and pretty.

  • The best of August!

    The best of August!

    Fall is right around the corner and routine is back in the air! Here are some of the best posts in August in case you missed them:
    The Perfect Office - InfiniteUSB, Flic Smart Button, Kodak PixPro and Office Ideas:
    stunning black and white kitchen with a modern ethnic vibe:
    What was your favorite post this month?
  • Lovely Bedroom Inspiration

    Lovely Bedroom Inspiration

    I love to transition my bedroom with the seasons and I am feeling like a bedroom transformation may be in order! Here is some lovely bedroom inspiration that’s caught my eye:
    Interior Design Inspiration with light pink and white accents:
    You can’t go wrong with light, bright, and cozy decor!
    See how Jen Bishop redecorated her bedroom with the help of a west elm Home Stylist!:
    I love the mix of colors in this room.
    My Chicago Bedroom // Parisian Chic, Blush Pink — bows & sequins:
    A girls dream bedroom! Everything pink and gold!
    This beautiful, old farmhouse is ready for summer with fresh flowers, relaxed decor, and plenty of sunshine. Come take a tour!:
    Check out this great rustic cottage feel! I love the simple but yet stunning decor.
    Chic bedroom features a metal canopy bed, Oly Studio Marco Bed, dressed in soft white bedding and pink and gray ikat pillows as well as a pink ikat bolster pillow placed atop a beige and navy striped rug illuminated by glass vintage barn wall sconces and a Suzanne Kasler Morris Lantern.:
    Do you want to transform your bedroom too?
  • Get More Natural Light

    Natural light is something almost all of us crave. Our bodies literally love to soak up the sun, but how do we get more of when we are stuck indoors?
    Love door with glass to bring in all natural light. Too tight walkway though:
    Besides the obvious add more windows, consider replacing your door with something that will let the natural light in.
    whitewash brick Industrial Dining Room Designs London brick wall distressed wood industrial pendant light natural lighting pendant light reclaimed wood skylight white dining chair whitewashed brick wall wood ceiling beams wood dining table wood floor:
    via homecol
    If the thought of glass and doors combined isn’t your thing, imagine where you could put a skylight! This will give you the privacy and safety you are after will still flooding your home with natural light.
    Bed Bath and Beyond $500 Gift Card!:
    For those of you who can’t just add a window to a ceiling, there is always the amazing trick of mirrors. Mirrors do an amazing job of reflecting light. Place a mirror right across from where sun comes in and watch your room brighten.
    White bathroom, free standing tub, monogrammed towel, grey floor tile, glass shower, pendant lighting above tub | Lilli Design:
    Natural light and bathrooms have always had a tug of war between brightness and privacy. My favorite way to add natural light in a bathroom is high windows! Then the added feature of mirrors reflecting the natural light again.
    Olive tree in the livingroom, natural light undisturbed by blinds:
    The most simple way to add extra natural light? Make sure your windows are clean and if you haven’t considered it, you can always look into replacing your windows. There are so many new styles and designs that can give you the more natural light you crave.
    How will you add more natural light to your home?
  • Beautiful Simplicity in this Scandinavian-Inspired Minneapolis Home

    You’re going to love this light-filled clean and stylish home. This is a REAL house, in fact – it’s a rental, and at only 1,250 square feet it’s a size most of us can relate to.

    I’ll start off with the foyer since it’s one of my favorite spots.

    I love that wardrobe, which was a craigslist find.
    The twin’s nursery is so sweet, see below

    The narrow wood floor is gorgeous and really fits in with the aesthetic of the home.  The couple are grateful that their landlord has really helped been open-minded when it comes to painting and changing out light fixtures, etc.

    The master bedroom also serves as a home office. Since space is tight, the couple decided to forgo nightstands and lamps by hanging simple but gorgeous bare bulbs.

    The armoire is an Ikea hack!

    The living room showcases the home’s old bones, but also cleverly blends modern furnishings with Craigslist finds.

    The dark gray Turkish Kilim rug helps anchors the space.

    The curved doorway is a great frame to a custom DIY dining room light fixture.
    The wooden chairs are Ikea, metal chairs are Target, and the table is a DIY by David Morse of Stéypå!
    See the entire home and read more at Apartment Therapy.