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Sweet Blue & Lavender Girl’s Bedroom by Margot Austin

Canada’s most talented Margot Austin wears many hats. She is a stylist, decorator and senior design editor for Style at Home, a magazine read by 1.6 million people per month.

This darling girl’s room was designed by Austin. She combines blues, lavender and white to create a cool, yet inviting color palette. The crystal chandelier, floral throw pillow and painted floral motif above the bed {wall decals from Ikea} gives the space a feminine feel.

A pair of three-drawer sidetables in turquoise flank the bed and are a brilliant addition. The key here is to have the table’s color be a few shades darker than the wall {Benjamin Moore’s Bird’s Egg} so that there is some contrast. The silver table lamp coordinates beautifully with the bedframe.

Here Austin maximizes the room’s vertical space by using two tall cabinets that provide additional storage. The desk is beautifully positioned in between to balance the look. The desk chair is slipcovered in a darling floral print that is repeated in the bed and chair pillows.

The small bright yellow sidetable is delightful between the two white slipcovered armchairs. What a fun place to read a book or chat with girlfriends.

*photos by Donna Griffith and images courtesy of Margot Austin
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Read full story By on December 7, 2009 in baby and children, bedrooms, girl's bedroom, interior design

Friday Find: Bocci Lighting and Electrical Wall Accessories

I never thought I’d use the word elegant when referring to an electrical outlet, but that’s what I thought of when I saw this design by Bocci, a contemporary design and manufacturing house located in Vancouver, Canada. Bocci offers a complete suite of innovative electrical accessories simply named 22. Power receptacles, on/off switches, data connections and more may be mounted flush into the drywall or millwork with a new CSA approved utility system that eliminates the need for a cover plate. Electrical outlets will blend in and be more visually subtle. Love this!

In addition to fabulous electrical accessories, Bocci designs fantastic lighting. Their latest line of blown glass pendant lighting, named 28, was created by lead designer, Omar Arbel. Each unique sphere is the result of a glass blowing technique where air is periodically blown in and then out of an intermittently heated and then cooled glass matrix. Designed to be clustered in hexagonal shapes, globes can be made in clear, white or frosted glass and housed a low voltage or LED lamp.

The following images are of Bocci’s 14, a family of low voltage pendants designed to be clustered like 28. The light from the center of the sphere interacts with the rifts, bubbles and other imperfections to create a soft halo of light. When the pendants are hung in masses it makes quite a dramatic statement reminding me of a winter’s snowfall or starry night sky.

*images courtesy of Bocci

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Read full story By on December 4, 2009 in friday find, healthy home, interior design, lighting

Designer Bedrooms: Four Poster and Canopy Beds

I just can’t seem to get the image out of my head. Designer Charlotte Moss showcased a gorgeous four poster canopy bed in her Aspen home that made quite a dramatic statement.

According to Wikipedia, a four poster bed is a bed with four vertical columns, one in each corner, that support a tester, or upper (usually rectangular) panel. A canopy bed is similar to a four poster bed but with ornate or decorative fabric that is often draped across the upper space between the posts and a solid swath of cloth may create a canopy directly over the bed. Here are some of my favorite designer bedrooms featuring four poster and canopy beds.

This guest room in an Ojai Valley, California estate was designed and briefly owned by interior designer Kathryn M. Ireland. Actress Reese Witherspoon now owns 6+ acre ranch style compound designed by Wallace Neff. While in residence, Ireland used her own colorful suzani inspired fabrics to cover the chunky four poster bed. The stunning long pillow is made of antique suzani fabric.

Designer Nancy Price created a formal, yet tranquil retreat in her master bedroom. The dark wooden Planter’s Bed by Hickory Chair contrasts beautifully with the soft, white bed linens.

In this nautical bedroom, designer Tom Stringer placed a traditional four poster bed between two matching 3-drawer sidetables. The sunny yellow sidetables coordinate beautifully with the bed’s headboard in Ralph Lauren’s Coastal Stripe. Keeping the room simple and serene, Stringer paints the walls, ceiling and antique chandelier white.

The antique barley-twist four poster bed makes quite a statement in this traditional master bedroom by designer Meg Braff. The room’s red, white and lime green color palette is beautifully balanced.

In this soft pink, white and brown bedroom designer Gary McBournie centers a Loire iron canopy bed by Niermann Weeks perfectly between two windows. The sweet bedside chest of drawers with monogram is a lovely touch.

The black anodized aluminum four poster bed by Ralph Lauren takes center stage in this modern bedroom designed by Kerry Delrose. The sleek carbon fiber CF1 chair in black leather also by Ralph Lauren gives this white, tan and black room a punch of color.

This tranquil bedroom was designed by Albert Hadley. The 18th-century folding bed in a soft shade of blue is covered in white linens to keep a simple look.

Wow. This stunning mirrored four poster canopy bed in this room designed by Jonathan Berger was based on a 1940s Serge Roche bed. I particularly like how Berger mixes the patterns – the geometric rug and stripes are brilliant together!

Are you sold on four poster canopy beds? For more information on manufacturers, interior designer Patricia Gray has compiled an excellent list of 10 Top Four Poster Canopy Beds.

*images from House Beautiful and Elle Decor

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Read full story By on December 1, 2009 in bedrooms, beds, interior design

Friday Find: One Kings Lane Invitation

Have you heard about One Kings Lane? It’s a fabulous online destination for private sales on home decor, accessories and gifts. Prices are up to 70 off every day! If you want an invitation, please go here. Take a look at some of my favorite items currently on sale:

This Contemporary Sunburst Mirror in ebony and gold leaf caught my eye and so did the One Kings Lane price tag for $299.00 – retailed for $649.00!

With the holidays just around the corner, I couldn’t resist including this darling John Robshaw Elephant Stocking on One Kings Lane for $59 (retails for $125). Hurry this sale ends on 11/23 at 11am EST.

This lovely reversible fringed throw made of Merino wool is woven into a striking jacquard pattern. I love the subtle, rich colors. This is a classic. Available at One Kings Lane for $129 – beats the $245 retail price any day!

Are you ready to shop amazing deals at One Kings Lane? Happy Friday and happy shopping!

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Read full story By on November 20, 2009 in discounts, home accessories, interior design