Houston Tested

I love my design magazines. I especially like to revisit them to see what still resonates with me or if there's something new/relevant for a project that I missed the first time around. My office it stacked high with issues of every shelter magazine from the last couple years. It's a magazine hoarders paradise.

Mary Brown's house in Houston, which was featured in Traditional Home, is one that still resonates with me months after the initial viewing. I love houses that are beautiful and functional, but most of all comfortable/approachable. A house should be lived in and not off limits. She did a beautiful job of creating that kind of environment for her husband and 4 boys! (if you need to test any home products - a house of boys is a great place)

I love the simplicity of this room. Not to mention it has my favorite elements, sisal and shiplap. I love the bold choice of her grandmothers settee covered in white cotton duck. White makes people so nervous but it is so livable and fresh. Love the pop of turquoise and lavender to make the room come alive

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She repeats the color palette of grey and off-white throughout most of the house which helps make all the transitions seamless.

The barn doors in the family room are insane. It's nice to see the traditional X pattern instead of a modern barn door. The brick herringbone floors that were salvaged from her grandmother's house add history and visual interest.

The open kitchen and casual dining that leads to the butlers pantry and the dining room. Simple and elegant.

I'm currently obsessed with skirted buffets and they are the perfect complement to all the wood in this room. Lovely.

But, the Master Bedroom is my favorite room in the house. The color palette is too die for - lavender, grey and white. Those bed linens and bench (swoon).

Which carries over to the sitting room and the Master Bathroom.

I also love the more formal library with it's painted grey mouldings, tonal curtains, English arm chairs, citrine x-benches and Lucite end tables.

The young boys room is preppy and fun

While the oldest boy's room is a little more urban hotel chic. The grey walls, white antler, and grey flannel give it a touch of sophistication while still tying it to the overall color palette of the house.

The exterior of the house remains period-less. Just like the inside.

A little bathroom glamour

I spent the day working on a clients master bathroom and powder room. Bathrooms should be functional (of course - that goes without saying) but should also reflect their owners sense of style. Whether it's ultra modern, cottage, traditional, etc - every room should tell a story about the people who live there. These bathrooms show the glamorous side of their owners.

Image via House Beautiful

The tile in this bathroom combined with the shell sink is drop dead. I bet the light in this powder room is very forgiving.

Design by Seattle's very own Carrie Hayden.

Image via Traditional Home.

Design by Kendall Wilkinson

Lovely and chic. But, in my house they'd be covered with little finger prints just like my stainless steel appliances.

Pink - The Color of the Year

Pantone declared Hot Pink the color of the year. Since then it's showing up in all the shelter magazines and blogs. A reader asked me if it's really a color for the home or if it's just a fashion accent color, so I thought I'd dedicate a post to the answer.

Hot pink is actually a great happy/mood-boosting color. If you've been reading me, you know that I'm a big believer in neutral foundations and using your favorite color as an accent or pop. That way when you get tired of it, it's easy and inexpensive to switch out. Well, hot pink can actually act as a neutral if you pick a shade that's saturated and sits down or is dirty (meaning not a bright day glow pink - there's nothing neutral about a fluorescent pink). Then, it just becomes the canvas or background for the pieces you want to be the focal point of the room.

Alessandra Branca uses hot pink and chocolate in a living room to create drama and warmth.

A hot pink entry via House Beautiful

One of my favorite bedrooms. The glamour of the hot pink, mirrored bed, pale pink bedding and brown Schumacher fabric.

Windsor Smith's hot pink living room.

Jonathan Alder's medium pink entry. Could live without the giraffe, but it's perfect for his brand.

And if Hot Pink is too much of a statement for you, Pale pink can act as a neutral as well.

Image via Traditional Home

Image via Gary McBournie. Love this pale pink, white and chocolate room. It's so soothing and romantic.

Hello headboard...

Jan Showers uber romantic pink and lucite room.

Sophisticated yet fun pale and hot pink room via Cote de Texas. Now this is the way to do a little girls room that will grow with her.

And if you don't like pink enough to paint your entire room, then you can bring it in via accent pillows or pieces. The color makes the room pop and gives it a sense of whimsy. I'm actually loving it as way to bring a little spring into your house right now.

Windsor Smith using a salmon pink as her accent. Lovely and unexpected.

Sara Richardson's hotel room for Breast Cancer awareness.

Love this white and pink room. So fresh. And again, when you don't like it anymore you just have to replace the pillows and drapes. Okay, and paint the cabinet. But this person obviously loves pink or doesn't mind switching color palettes every couple years.

A hot pink throw is an easy and affordable way to bring the color in.

A touch of hot pink on the back of a chair in an otherwise neutral room. An inexpensive pop that makes the room interesting.

Palmer Weiss's hot pink day bed in a neutral cream and blue room.

Palmer Weiss's using pink and citrine. Fabulous.

Massucco Warner Miller using pink as an accent in a yellow and brown room. Brings the room to life and makes it modern.

Hard to see in this picture, but Mary McDonald paints the ceiling of this blue room pink. This is my kind of master bedroom.

The master of Modern design, Kelly Wearstler paints her doorway Salmon pink and uses it as an accent in the entry.

Hot pink poufs make a dynamic statement in this room.

Traditional french chairs covered in hot pink faux leather. Image via House Beautiful.

A black and white office with a dose of hot pink from Elizabeth Martin.

A rustic yet glamourous room with chocolate and pink from Elizabeth Carney.

Amanda Nisbet's famous hot pink room. A classic.

So does bringing a little pink into your house feel a little less scary now? It's a great way to boost your mood and transform a room. And it's not just for little girls rooms - it's a very classic color when paired with other neutrals as an accent or used as the main color.

Now go forward and bring a little pink into your life. It might just make you smile.

One of the best from Traditional Home...

Usually, Traditional Home is a little too formal or old "traditional" for lack of a better word for me. But this month's house by Suzanne Kasler left me inspired. It's beautiful, simple, approachable, and best of all, livable for a family. Something that you don't see very often in shelter magazines.


Beautiful neutral living room. Sophisticated, yet casual and inviting. I could curl up in here an read a book or have a glass of wine with friends.


Family dining room off the kitchen. Love the nature inspired chandelier - it's an incredible, casual focal point. Too bad it's been discontinued.


Chic, young dining room. I'm in love with the aqua grass cloth wallpaper.


Kitchen is perfect blend of classic and contemporary. This kitchen will age beautifully.

My favorite part of the house. The bluestone patio and pool is resort worthy. I would love to spend my nights around this pool with friends and family.

This house also has a great kids wing and bunk room. A must if you have a large extended family like mine. I will include it in future posts. Right now, I just want to dream about this pool.....