Outdoor Living Spaces

  "Summertime and the living is easy."

Why are we so attracted to  dining outdoors? Perhaps it reminds us of picnics at the park or in the backyard when we were kids.  It's a puzzlement to me, like why food tastes better when it is cooked outside!  Just another mystery of life, I guess.

  I am inspired to share some outdoor living spaces that evoke lazy days and relaxing with family and friends, places to rest and restore or cool off with a cool drink or curl up with a good book.

One of the first images that delights me  are those of outdoor dining rooms.  I love tables set in gardens or in greenhouses, like this one above. This table is set up right in the middle of a garden of raised beds.  It could not be more charming. 

This elegant but simple outdoor dining table is beautifully coordinated with the colors of the flowers and surrounding landscape.


Outdoor dining does not have to be elaborate, in fact the simpler and more impromptu, the better, like in the  image below.  Just pull up a few Adirondack chairs and enjoy!

One of the most fabulous settings for outdoor dining is in a greenhouse....should you be lucky enough to have one you might create a special place like one of these greenhouse dining rooms.





This dining room is filled with the richest light.  I don't know where this is but I want to be there.  Do you know where this might be located?

 

Anyone can create an intimate garden dining room with just a couple of chairs and little table.                                     

 Bring them outdoors from your home or from the patio to the garden....don't have a garden full of lavendar?  Anywhere in your yard will do.
Where will you set up your own outdoor dining room? How will it look? Will it be large or small, formal or informal?  Who will you share it with?  What kind of food will you serve?  It is just lovely to think about isn't it?

Treat your windows right and they will delight you!

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Monday, June 10, 2013

 The following is a post from my Picture Pretty Interiors
blog that you might find interesting and maybe inspiring too.
 Stay tuned for more posts on navigating the world of
window treatment design.  Enjoy!

Window Treatment Design Portfolio

Over the years we have been challenged by many types of window treatment dilemas.  There is no one perfect treatment for a window!  It all depends on style, budget and the client's desired results.

 Of course the size and shape of the window and door, the price of the fabric and trim and hardware are also influential in the design of the finished window treatment.  Another factor may be the function that the window treatment needs to provide.  Do you need privacy? Light control? What about heat or cold?
Are you looking to create a focal point or enhance the overall design of your room?

As you can see there are many things to consider when choosing your window treatment design.  Here are a few examples from our Picture Pretty Interiors Portfolio.

 

 

Whether elegant or simple, traditional or contemporary the choices are endless and sometimes overwhelming.  Bay windows, arches, French doors and more offer oppotrunties to be as creative as you like.

 

Whatever window treatment challenge you are faced with there are always unique and beautiful solutions.  We will continue to post new photos to our window treatment porfolio.  For a complimentary on line consultation please email pictureprettyint@aol.com

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French Bistro Style Kitchens

Have you ever been to France and been charmed by the ambiance of a French Bistro?
I have often dreamed about that myself but having never been there, I certainly could create one in my own kitchen.  Why not?

What would it look like?  What elements of that style would I need to recreate that feeling?

The first thing I think about when looking at the outside is an awning.  Then I see colors like this rich gold and red.

  Or maybe blue?  I see little woven chairs and tiny round tables.

 Many have outside seating and are adorned with pots of flowers and herbs.

 

Color is strong on the inside too.  This saturated red is dramatic and fun.  Did you know that the color red also stimulates your appetite?  Red is a wonderful color for a dining room.

 

  Another design element might be a pretty tiled floor and dark woodwork.

Check out the Idea Book (website shown below) from  Houzz.com.  It is full of kitchens done in the French Bistro style.  What a fun project it would be to create one in my own home. 
 This stimulates my appetite for a new kitchen. What do you think?  How would you add touches of French Bistro style to your kitchen?

Oooo La La! and Bon Apetite!

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/7338673/list/9-Ways-to-Conjure-a-Parisian-Bistro-in-Your-Kitchen

Monochromatic Color Schemes

A monochromatic color scheme is one where everything is the same color or shades and tints of the same color.  You might consider a room done in all one color with one neutral as monochromatic,too.

The tricky thing in this one color design is to keep it from being blah.  Once I had a client whose room was all beige and she said she felt like she lived in a bowl of oatmeal!

Here is a living room from House Beautiful Magazine that is an example of a monochromatic blue scheme.  Blue is a restful color, hence if you wanted to create an exciting vibrant feeling, blue would not work.  Here the color enhances a relaxed and calm space.

You can see there are subtle changes in tones of blue.  For that matter, even if every blue were the exact same they would not match because each texture is different. 

What makes this work is the variations in texture and surfaces, including the reflective glass top cocktail table and light wood tones of the tables, and woodwork.  The pair of lamps, end tables, pillows, plants and chairs demonstrates a formal arrangement but the room is not stiff.  It is quite inviting.

I love the large window with light flooding into the room.  A blue room would feel a bit dreary if the window was facing north and did not get much light.

If I was going to make any change in this room it would be to use a mirror or neutral painting or sketch above the sofa.

What do you think?   What changes, if any, would you make? How would you use a monochromatic scheme in your home or next project?

Designing with color

Color is such and important element of design, but how and where it is used can be challenging.  Sometimes just a dash of color is all that is needed to add your personality to a room.

Look what I came across the other day at the Design NS Leather showroom.  It just jumped out at me and said  "look at me".  It actually made me smile.  It reminds me of a court jester both because of it's bold color and curl of the wings.

The color is fun and the overscale design is dramatic which make this chair  both playful and formal at the same time.  What a statement this pop of color would make in any space.

I can see four of these grouped around a cocktail table or a pair in a tall bay window.  They would look fabulous in the lounge area of a fashion designer's salon, too.  What if they were combined with bold black and white striped wallpaper or a black and white chevron patterened rug.  Wait, I see it in an all white room resting on a fluffy white Flokati  rug, surrounded by colorful artwork and a bouquet of brightly hued flowers.

 Where can you imagine this amazing chair? 

Getting to know Jonathan Adler

I love the special events at DCOTA (Design Center of the Americas).  This week was Winter Market.  The keynote panel consisted of design entrepreneurs
 Jonathan Adler,  Eric Cohler and Laura Kirar.  The moderator, Joy Longhino of  Modern Luxury Media and Miami Magazine, created an interesting and lively dialogue with her engaging questions.

 I have recently become a fan of tastemaker Jonathan Adler so being able to spend a few hours getting to know him was  a special treat.

 

He began by saying he is just a potter at heart.  Some of you may recognize his iconic Muse vase above.  But now he has lines of furniture, bedding, lighting, tableware, art and fabrics which are shown in Kravet showrooms across the country.  There are 15 Jonathan Adler stores that are filled with bright  spirited home furnishings.

Jonathan has a colorful approach to design. His patterns can be bold, geometic and modern.  They have also been described as energetic and up beat.
What do you think?  I would call his style, happy.

Jonathan's creative process involves tuning out noise, distractions, people etc so he can go within and listen to his own heart.  He says he needs to think impractically.  His creativity is sparked by seeing something that is just a bit wrong or twisted or, as he called it, "mental".  That is what he is drawn to for inspiration.

How does Jonathan view social media?  He does understand the need to be accessible and to put ideas "out there" but feels it is a weird messed up model of being in the real world.  Sometimes people tend to get lost in the immediacy of it instead of connecting in a more genuine way.  All of the panelists were grateful that they had "20 or 30 somethings" who could handle it all for them.

Another interesting comment Jonathan made was why he thinks he became so successful as an entrepreneur.  Although he should have gone out of business several times he had no recourse but to try again because he described himself as basically unemployable!  I find that so interesting to hear him say that,  a true testament to picking yourself up and starting over to follow your passion.

His new book Jonathan Adler, 100 Ways to Happy Chic Your Life, is brimming with inspiration, stories, tips, great advice and insights.  You can find it on www.amazon.com

What is his favorite client/project? His own house on Shelter Island is his delight.  What does he want most for his clients?  He wants them to be comfortable in their own home, just as he is in his.

Thanks Jonathan!  I loved getting to know him and can't wait to explore his website and showroom in Miami.   Can you see using punches of Jonathan's designs in your decorating? Do his furnishings inspire you to add new twists to your own home?
I would love to know what you think.  email me at pictureprettyint@aol.com
Or post a comment below.

DCOTA Hosts Palm Beach Designer Celery Kemble

The Design Center of the Americas, or as we call it, DCOTA,  has several wonderful design events throughout the year.  This year at the Fall Market, they hosted a panel highlighted by well known interior designer Celery Kemble.