wallpaper download

i was thrilled when i was contacted last week about my blog being mentioned in a new book by meghan carter:

she had a few pages with a list of blogs to turn to for design inspiration, and design dump was listed!

along with my blog, there were dozens of other blogs mentioned, including some of my favorites like:

6th street design school, the decorista, little green notebook, copy cat chic and elements of style.

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this is a great "down and dirty" book about interior design. it's not filled with images of polished and perfect interiors, but rather it is filled with vital information on HOW to make your room or home polished and perfect. it's a very instructional and informative book. i was pretty impressed with the amount of information meghan covered in this book...everything from how to properly measure a room, to what questions to ask yourself to make sure you plan enough storage for your room, to how to draw a proper layout...

thanks for the mention meghan!

you can buy her book here.
(and just in case you do buy the book, turn straight to page 83!)

isn't that mirror just stunning and the lamp is just as gorgeous...

it's been sad to see the demise of some of my favorite magazines over the last few years...southern accents, metroplitan home and cottage living are some of the most notable.

i recently learned that hgtv is coming out with it's own magazine, and while i was online a few days ago changing my address on mymagazine subscriptions, a window popped up asking of i wanted to subsribe, why not, i figured? it's worth a shot. 

i'll give it a try...

how bad could it be?

honestly, i rarely watch hgtv anymore. the only designers that i really like on the network are genevieve gorder, emily henderson, and candice olsen. i DO have to admit that i LOVE watching house hunters, though-especially house hunters international! i think i am living vicariously through all of those people out buying a house right now. (especially if the house is in italy or st.croix.)

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so, what do you think?

do you watch hgtv?

will you subscribe to the magazine?

is the design they showcase too watered down? 

dated and tacky?

decent, but not your thing?

amazing and always on trend?

let me know...i have some pretty strong opinions about it, but i'd like to know what others think.

i spent some time this weekend (but not nearly enough) curled up in bed reading some of the magazines that came in a huge stack that completely filled my mailbox. *i guess the mailman finally figured out where i live!

one spread that really caught my eye was coastal living's new beach house in norfolk virginia. the interior design is by phoebe howard, and the architectural designer is jim, phoebe's husband. they are an
amazing team, and always create layered, classic homes that exude warmth.

here are my favorite images:

i love classic architecture. this house has some great details that i really like...the shakes, the "real" shutters, and the metal roof.

 

i love the symettery here, and the fact that while is is balanced, it is a little "off center" from what one might normally expect....see how the art above the night stands is not centered directly over the night stands, but is off center from them?

th angled panels in the cabinet doors add a lot of texture and whimsy.

check out the tile floors! a hexagonal tile is a true classic, and i love how the scale of these tiles has been exaggerated. it's still classic, but has a modern feel as well.

love the melon and beige color scheme. i am thinking of using these colors, plus a soft yellow, in my daughter charlottes room.

I'm loving my gorgeous duck egg bedspread from Laura Ashley...