Chaise Lounge: To Relax or To Clutter

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As it is, I have a glider between the nightstand and the closet with a window behind. The glider is very convenient with a baby but now that my baby is actually considered a toddler, I’m starting to rethink the space. I imagine having a pretty chaise lounge with a floor lamp behind. This would be the perfect place to read and/or unwind. I have to wonder, though, since it’s right next to the closet, will it be a clothes magnet? Will it be asking for it to have clutter thrown on top so all I see is a pile of books, toys and tops and I won’t even notice the gorgeous fabric that I would have spent days choosing? It’s definitely very inspiring to see such relaxing photos of the chaise lounge in a bedroom with a blanket resting on the seat. Do you find the thought of a relaxing bedroom nook with a chaise lounge inspiring? Or do you visualize it as simply asking to be a fancy, expensive hanger?

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York Show House Bedroom 2010 traditional-bedroom
jamesthomas, LLC industrial-bedroom
Bedroom contemporary-bedroom

A Navy Blue Home

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The color of a home and the landscaping are the two most important elements for your home’s curb appeal. Yesterday, the weather was gorgeous so I spent some time outside working on the yard. It’s so great having that time in the dirt and sun after a snowy Winter and then a rainy Spring. It’s also the time of year that I stand out and really take a look at the house to see what I need to do. A major thing on the to do list… paint the house. Right now it’s a bluish/grayish. It’s time to make the color pop! A dark navy would be beautiful! It’s time for me to start doing my research to find the perfect color and this is a very fun step for me. I posted a bunch of navy houses that inspire me. I think I have a favorite… which one is yours?

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Exterior traditional-exterior

Clyde Hill Home traditional-exterior

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Exterior traditional-exterior

Heritage Kitchen craftsman-exterior

Less Lawn More Garden eclectic-landscape

Colorful Mondays {tiles}

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One of the wonderful things about traveling is viewing new architecture styles. Azulejo is a form of Portuguese painted, tin-glazed, ceramic tile work. It comes from an Arabic word, az-zulayj, which directly translates to “polished stone.”  It has been produced for five centuries and the tradition is also seen in former Spanish and Portuguese colonies throughout the world. Azulejo is a major aspect in Portuguese architecture. The tiles are on the interior and exterior of all types of different buildings from residential homes to city fountains. They are gorgeous and bring so much color to what could be an ordinary street. At home, I pretty much see tiles just inside a home in the bathroom or kitchen. I love walking around Portuguese streets and seeing so much beautiful blue in an intricate art placed in various places. It’s inspiring to see unique walls and objects in a village or city. Looking at these colorful buildings encourages me to go home and paint something! Do colorful buildings inspire you?

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The tiles are still hand-painted today.

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Photos courtesy of Ma

People Watch: Grand Central

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It’s Good Friday and the beginning of Easter weekend. Grand Central Station is probably very busy today with travelers! What a great day to people watch. I used to work above Grand Central Terminal in New York City. There were those days when I would get stressed, need a breather, or need some inspiration so I’d head downstairs to people watch. Ok, there would be a quick stop at Starbucks, but after my purchase I’d take a walk, with my drink, through the terminal. Do you have a favorite place to people watch?

Tourists and Shoppers in Grand Central, NYC

© Depositphotos.com/Jovannig

Outdoors in the City

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“Often when we feel depleted we reach for a cup of coffee, but research suggests a better way to get energized is to connect with nature,” says Richard Ryan, lead author and a professor of psychology at the University of Rochester.  Research shows that nature helps not only physically but also mentally. People have more energy, less stress, more creativity and just feel better overall! There are also studies on how nature is important for children’s development. “This study shows that there really may be a connection between kids’ experiences in nature and their later life attitudes and behaviors,” Nancy M. Wells, PhD, a Cornell University environmental psychologist, says. How do we do that if we live in an apartment in a big city? There are parks which is beneficial but it’s also gratifying if we can open the doors and let the nature in. It’s pleasing to open windows and not smell exhaust. Stepping out to a landscaped space, even while living in a concrete jungle, is very inspiring. Having a balcony like one below would be a great area for the entire family to unwind.  As research proves, it’s good for the soul! In general, does greenery inspire you?

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exterior beach-style-balcony
Traditional Patio traditional-deck
NYC Roof Garden: Terrace Composite Deck, Planter Boxes, Container Garden, Plants traditional-deck

 

Something Basic, Something Routine, yet Something Interesting (to Me)

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After thinking about my People Watch: Dubrovnik post, I decided to post some of my laundry photos. Traveling to other countries and exploring the neighborhood streets is very inspiring to me. I love it when I see the laundry hanging from the clothes lines. To people who live in these countries, this could be boring and just a standard of living. I see it as if I am stepping into a local’s life. It’s a chance for me to step into someone’s routine and out of my own. This mundane activity brings more color to a building’s facade with various hues and patterned fabrics. In the United States, I don’t see the laundry hanging from city windows so that is why it’s more of a treat for me, as a nonresident. When you come across how a local lives in an unfamiliar country or city, do you find it inspiring?

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Photos courtesy of Ma

People Watch: Dubrovnik

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In the United States, it’s not very common to see laundry hanging out of people’s windows. When I travel, I always notice the clothes hanging from the line and I take a lot of pictures of them. This woman looks like she has hung a lot of clothes from this window. I wonder what she is thinking about as she, again, dries her clothes. I do get inspired when I see the clothes-filled lines but this is probably because it’s something different, something new, something foreign. I’m exploring and that is truly what inspires me. When traveling, is it something different and new that inspires you?

Photo credit: Ma

A Basket Full of Chocolate

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Easter is getting close and I’m starting to think about my children’s Easter baskets. How much chocolate is too much for a three-year-old? Well, this is simply a rhetorical question. I have taught my children to share (with me)! Anyways, these thoughts get me thinking about quaint chocolate shops. There are certainly less of them around here nowadays. I find it inspiring to walk into a family run chocolate shop. It’s even better if it’s chic and has character. When you find a unique chocolate shop, do you always make a point to stop and sample a few?

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Colorful Mondays {white}

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I actually had a Colorful Mondays written about another topic but since I woke up to snow falling, I decided to post one about white. More specifically, this post is about Scandinavian interiors. As I look out my office window, all I see is snow falling! It is gorgeous, I must admit. The flakes are large and soft. The snow might be depressing for some people around here because it’s Spring and we keep getting teased by warmer temperatures, blooming flowers, and singing birds. I am very excited about the snow and I still find it very inspiring, despite it’s the end of March. By looking out my window, I could imagine I’m sitting in a small village in Sweden. What an inspiring thought! Scandinavians design rooms with lots of white because of their long, dark, winter days. I love the minimal use of color within the white. It pops! I am also fond of the way woods are used in such modern spaces. The rustic wood adds just enough warmth for the stark, white rooms. Do the white, Scandinavian interiors inspire you?

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Photos courtesy of: Sköna Hem, Garbo Interiors, Woon Blog, Sea of Girasoles, Scandinavian Retreat, and Inspiring Interiors

Outdoors in Indoor Private Space

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A private space that is outdoors and indoors is a great place for me to daydream. It’s very relaxing to have the comforts of home but hear the birds chirping so clearly and smelling fresh-cut grass. Watching the breeze sail through the rustling leaves and then feel it flow across my face is so refreshing. When I am in an indoor yet outdoor space like this, my thoughts are definitely very positive. I even enjoy just looking at this picture of the covered patio. Does this space inspire you?

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