A Few Good Pillows & 7 Decorating Tips

IMG_1518

Over the weekend I played around with the pillow shams I bought in Cambridge at my favorite rug shop last month.  Using inserts I already owned, I stuffed the kilim covers and placed them on our sectional.  Our prior pillow collection was a mix of kilim, cotton and shag in light natural tones, but I'm really liking the way the deep pink hues look with the dark brown sofa and the brick wall.  The plan is to get a few more to balance out the large seating area and to purchase art for the brick wall.  Take a look at our renewed sofa.

IMG_1639

IMG_1685

IMG_1688

t mag

IMG_1657

IMG_1658

art

IMG_1677

I love mixing things up every once and while around the house.  The kids take notice and the space suddenly feels revived.  Here's a few more ideas to freshen up your space with little or no money spent.

1.  Remove curtains or replace them with a patterned fabric that is appropriate for the season.

2. If space allows, re-arrange your furniture.  

3. Add plants or repot the ones you have in coordinating containers for focal interest. 

4.  Give your sofa or chair a new look by draping a throw on it. 

5.  Rehang your art or find wall space for pieces you haven't hung yet.

6.  Rearrange your coffee table accessories; add books and magazines that you may not have read in while.  Keep books open to a page you find inspiring. 

7. Let your kids change things around for a day.  You'll either be completely mortified or pleasantly intrigued by how they see the space.  It's only for a day!

If you recently made some changes around your house, I would love to hear about them.

'Til Monday: 8 Weekend Favorites

Images:  1./2./3./4./5./6./7./8.

Off The Counter: A Summer Salad

I have this reputation as "the salad queen" that I haven't been living up to lately.  My obsession with kale (which I only like sautéed) may just be the reason.  While visiting family and friends back East, I was reminded of my once salad greatness.  When the first few people we visited asked if we were going to have one of "Debra's salads", I realized I needed to begin preparing them again.

Here's one that combines all my favorite summertime ingredients:  figs, tomatoes, peaches and fresh mozzarella.  Drizzled with honey and chives the salad takes on the fresh, sweet flavor of the season.  Ingredients and instructions below.

Ingredients:

Figs, peaches, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, honey, chives, olive oil,  rice vinegar and sea salt.

Instructions:  

This salad holds its pretty appearance best if prepared in individual bowls.

Cut the figs, peaches and tomatoes into generous slices.  Lightly salt the tomatoes prior to adding them to the rest of the fruit in the bowls.  Using your hands tear chunks of mozzarella into each bowl.  Drizzle all the ingredients with honey and lightly dress with olive oil and rice vinegar.  Top it off with chopped chives.

Enjoy!

Do YOU have a favorite salad?  If so, do share.

Many, many thanks to LB for her Cambridge hives honey!

The Creative Residency & Room Forty

Over the weekend I flew to LA to work on my Social Media skills with Justina Blakeney and Dabito of the The Creative Residency.   This Social Media Practicum was held at Room Forty,  where 13 other creatives and I shared professional goals, critiqued each other's web presence,  advanced our camera skills and learned of ways to hone our brands and maximize our social media platforms.

I left feeling totally inspired!  With both short and long term goals in place, be ready for some changes around here (all good).    Take a look at a few images from the day:

Being a part of The Creative Residency was an invigorating experience and one that I highly recommend.  Be sure to check out all of their offered seminars here.

Many thanks to Justina and Dabito for lending themselves full heartedly to us, the folks at Room Forty for feeding us so well and to Kelly Cuadra of Brown Paper Designs for providing the beautiful botanical arrangements.

Loving The Familiar: A Maine Cottage

Arriving at the Maine cottage we've stayed in for the past three summers felt like seeing an old friend again.  There is a comforting ease in visiting a place you're familiar with and I like that.  What I noticed this time, more than during previous stays, is how we always manage to make it our own.  Sheer necessities, like a favorite pillow, a brand of coffee, sea salt flakes and even a sharp knife now travel with us.  Certain things are moved around to our liking and others stay put to remind us of just why we love this space as much as we do. As the beds get slept on and the morning and evening rituals are established, the rented cottage suddenly feels like a second home.

Even the familiarity of the landscape surrounding the cottage lends itself to exploration, whether one goes at it alone or with others.  Many thanks to JG for yet another unforgettable Maine adventure.

Today we leave Boston and head back home to the Bay Area.  We've had an amazing month visiting friends and family.  I'm very grateful for the opportunity to stay connected and remain part of so many people's lives regardless of the distance between us.