colorado's home of the year

If you reside in sunny Colorado, now is the time to enter your home in their 2011 home of the year contest. Here are some stunning photos from the winner for Colorado's 2010 home of the year. Goodness gracious I love everything about this house! I think my favorite rooms are the dining room and charming little nook. I am crazy about the mismatched chairs and use of benches as seating. So comfortable and welcoming. Hope you enjoy the pics as much as I did...makes me want to redecorate my house!

don't be afraid to go bold with color

Ellen Hamilton was featured this week on Decorati...and her portfolio has inspired me to not be so cautious of using bold colors! Life is too short to play it safe all the time - if color is what you love...I say go for it and go for it big! Why not? If you're using bold colors in paint and accessories it is an easy fix if you grow tired of it.

net-zero energy home

KB Homes built a remarkable Green home in Orlando Florida that opened this week for tours. Martha Stewart was among the design team that built this first time ever 'Maximized Energy-Efficient Home'. Over the course of one year, this home will produce more energy than it needs. A solar thermal water heater is just one of the innovative products used that KB Homes feels will be a standard feature in new construction in the future. I would absolutely love to be a part of a project like this...hopefully someday!

the future perfect

You absolutely must check out this company, The Future Perfect! They have an eco friendly laundry detergent sure to turn heads. A plastic ball filled with little beads goes in your washer, and it will wash up to 1000 loads - that's up to 4 years! It's better for the environment too because it is a soap-less detergent. Genius! Here are some other very unique finds from their website...great gift ideas!

Music Balloon Speaker

Antler Chandelier

Banana Bowl

Shovel Birdhouse

 

 

 

 

Knotty Bubbles Chandelier

 

pink is back

2011's color of the year is PINK! Pink bathrooms are even starting to make an appearance again...there are (believe it or not...) tasteful ways to incorporate splashes of pink into a room. If you love the color, don't be afraid to use it in your home - the bright, cheery hue is said to help lift peoples' self-esteem, spirits, and attitude. Color can have a dramatic affect on your mood...so give it a try! Here are some inspirational rooms from decorpad to help get you started.

Happy New Year!

I can hardly believe it is 2011 already! Hope you all enjoyed your Holiday...it's back to work and reality for me. This morning I have been inspired by these beautiful photos of a townhome in Amsterdam. My new years resolution is to plan our trip to Europe...and Amsterdam is on this list! Kate Hume has done a beautiful job using rich colors and texture to draw warmth and interest to the home. Absolutely loving the wallpaper in the bedroom - yummmmm! She has motivated me to to take a trip there and explore all that the city has to offer. Cheers to a happy and healthy 2011!

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas...I will be trying a new cocktail this holiday season! Not sure which one yet, but one of these tasty little numbers will probably be making an appearance. Gosh, they all look so delicious - good thing I have all next week off to try a few new cocktails!

Hot Buttered Spiced Cider (Food Network)

• 1/2 gallon (8 cups) apple cider
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice, plus 1 strip zest
• 1/2 cup fresh orange juice, plus 1 strip zest
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 4 whole cloves
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
• Bourbon, rye or whiskey (optional)
• Cinnamon candy sticks, for garnish (optional)

Chai Toddy (Food Network)

• One part chai tea concentrate
• One part whole milk
• 1 star anise
• 1 oz. cognac/brandy
• 1 oz. DeKuyper Buttershots liqueur or butterscotch schnapps
• 1/2 graham cracker, crushed and powdered

Apple-Ginger Sparklers (Martha Stewart)

1/4 cup Ginger Syrup

4 1/2 cups sparkling apple cider or Champagne

6 cinnamon sticks

6 pieces crystallized ginger

  White Cosmopolitan (Martha Stewart)

1 cup white-cranberry juice

4 ounces vodka

2 ounces Cointreau

Pear & Cranberry Bellini (Martha Stewart)

1 cup pear nectar

1 cup craberry juice cocktail

1 bottle Prosecco or other dry sparkling white wine

 

handmade stockings

I decided this year I would try and make our Christmas stockings...something cute and creative. I'm a little late for this Christmas - but I'll be ready by next Christmas. Here are some adorable ideas I found on Etsy to get my wheels turning. I have all next week off, so a little project sounds fun!

2011 design trends

ASID shared a very interesting article about one of the big new design trends for 2011. It's quite a simple trend...reassessing what you really need to live comfortably, finding local balance, and looking for more personalized products.

Simplistic designs are the new thing as the financial crisis has forced many to simplify their lives. Designs mixing modern ideas with technology and basic forms will be a strong focus. Mixing glass and metal with softer elements will also become more common to transform perspectives and the function of a space.

People are going to me more interested in selecting items for their home that have meaning or are from their local city...something that has been personalized to fit their lifestyle and family.

Cheers to a great year in design for 2011!

displaying your Christmas cards

What do you do with all the cards you get in the mail? After looking at some of these fabulous ideas from Habitually Chic...you may think twice about just putting them in a basket!