For the love of our nation...

Summer is here in all its glory. With June coming to an end it can only mean one thing...it's time to celebrate our nation! Plus it's another reason to decorate...Cheers!

I love the 4th of July...and I love decorating my home and shop for every changing season and holiday. Sometimes it can be hard to work a very traditional color palette of red, white and blue into your existing color scheme. Here are a few ideas to get you started...

This area of the shop is primarily robin's egg blue, pale yellow and touches of soft pink. So how does it become center stage for a festive 4th display...

Simply add pieces that will complement your decor yet invite the spirit of the holiday...add a collection of mix-and-match red transferware...

Look for ways and places to repeat your color scheme and new holiday colors...



Don't lose your own personal style when decorating...just find creative and innovative ways to add a punch of the holiday spirit!



Well, I have a house and shop to decorate so I best get to work...and I can't wait! Take time to play house this week. Bring out pretty white linens, fill classic Coke bottles with miniature flags, fill a bowl with shiny red apples and have fun. Be filled with the season and show how much you love Miss Liberty!

Design Inspiration

I live in a creative world and am so blessed to do so. By trade I am an interior designer. I originally opened my business strictly offering design consultation. Quickly my business transformed into a retail boutique. It has been 15 years now and even though both halves of my career are surrounded by creativity, they are so very different. For the most part, my design work is comprised of commercial installations. The aesthetic is quite contemporary yet always reflects my heart and soul. As I gather fabric and paint swatches I can see more than the project at hand. Even as I sit at my drafting table today, whether I am aware of it or not, my inspiration is obvious...

The job before me is to design a contemporary professional building. It is a complete remodel and the clean, modern design must portray the technology of today and the direction the company is going. Yet it must reflect on the company's incredible history. The materials are natural and the lines are sleek. The end result...classically modern design.


The design takes shape without a second thought to my inspiration. Then I see my palette clearly. It is not my own but a classic color scheme directly from Mother Nature herself...

It is ironic that I am designing a very contemporary environment yet my inspiration is as classically natural as can be. It has been a joy to create and develop this design and now I can't wait to see it come to life...or should I say "hatch".

Asian Influence...

Design trends tend to come and go, but the ones with true staying power are derived from history. By adding pieces to your decor that have historical significance you will be adding depth, character and a true sense of relevance. There is a way to blend historical and classic design elements into your own personal style. As for me, I have always been drawn to an Asian inspired design aesthetic. The following are examples of how these elements have been integrated into my home, shop and personal style...



Asian design has been based on tranquility, peace and harmony for centuries. I find that simple yet beautiful organization creates a sense of peace in my home. By organizing clutter, even simple bars of soap and votive candles take on an elegance and charm.

Another key to Asian design is the use of bold dramatic color like gold, red and black. My personal style is, for the most part, void of color. However, this drama can be created by the bold use of black as a stark contrast to white.

The design influence can be extremely subtle yet still make a huge impact on the space.

Natural materials are heavily utilized in Asian design. The pieces below were made from balsa wood and twine. When manipulated in a very delicate manner, they create beautiful but simple works of art. It reminds me of the intricate and delicate paper art of origami.

Another key practice in Asian design is the use of multi-purpose furnishings. Space was very limited in many Asian homes so furnishings had to be practical and functional. Beautiful trunks and cabinets with individual drawers and compartments were at a premium for storage.

Texture is also a key element of design. Natural wood intricately carved created a pictorial of historical significance. Not only were the pieces beautiful, they were recording history through visual story telling. An incredible level of craftsmanship that has endured for centuries.

Even a simple doll can be transformed into a piece of art in a very sophisticated fashion.

Utilitarian objects like rice paper parasols can also be transformed into elements of design. They are simple and elegant while they play into another element of Asian decor...light. The filtering of natural light was a playful art that could be seen in lanterns, screens, fans and of course...parasols

To me, there are no rules when it comes to design. Mixing items you love is the perfect recipe for a beautiful, eclectic home. Be creative, playful and most of all...love your surroundings.

oddities...

My design aesthetic has truly grown over the years as I grow and have the opportunity to experience more and more wonderful things. I used to have a completely white canvas with every piece of furniture coated in shades of white. No wood ever saw the light of day. Over the last few years I have begun to embrace not just wood, but many other materials in many new ways. I have also learned to appreciate rich black, deep charcoal and warm shades of chocolate brown. The transformation has developed with each new oddity that finds its way into my home. My inspiration comes from old slate chalkboards, delicate bird's nests, pitted old metal in any form, hard working utilitarian baskets, and the list goes on...and on. Of course I still have an ongoing love affair of all things white and lovely...but now I can appreciate how dramatic a charcoal wall can offset a collection of Ironstone...or how a heavily carved Indonesian door can be a beautiful backdrop for a simple white hydrangea.

Picking up sea shells...

For the love of the sea...

I truly love living on a little island in the Gulf of Mexico. It is a blessing to be a mere walk away from the shore. The beauty that surrounds me makes me feel like I am home. From the first time I visited the shore as a little girl, I couldn't help but to fill my pockets with shells and tuck them in my suitcase. I have always had shells around me, even living in the hills of West Virginia. Now that I am a grown up little girl I feel as though this is where my inspiration for an entire career was formed. I am known as a designer by my affinity for a muted monochromatic palette...my appreciation for antiquity...and for my love affair with all things naturally beautiful. It is no mistake that I landed on the shores of Sanibel Island. Even though sea shells grace every little spot in my home, I can't help but fill my pockets as I walk along the shore. I have tried to integrate the same serene palette, simple elegance and love of all things natural into my shop. Here are a few images from inside Surroundings...


Vintage metal tin bucket with charming shell motif.


A simpe jar filled with shells adds a charming accent.


A lovely piece of vintage fabric with a delicate shell pattern lends grace to a small chair.


Tuly special sea shore treasures are artfully displayed and perfectly protected under glass garden cloches.

a few of my favorite things...

My love of creating continues to grow everyday. From bits of lace, old picture frames and glorious shells comes lovely whimsical treasures exuding femininity and subtle elegance. So gather your bits and bobs and create something lovely...

a new adventure

This is a wonderful new adventure for me to be able to share a bit of my world with you. Life is full of unexpected surprises...thank goodness. I have been blessed to have a career that is a seamless addition to my everyday life. It is a privilege and honor to share the creative process with you.