Fabulous Fabric Fridays...Harlequin UK...

Getting ready for the long Memorial Day weekend and thought I would leave these beautiful images from the 'Coast' collection of fabrics from Harlequin UK. So fresh and modern and adaptable to any design scheme...from soothing to vibrant colors...the choices are yours...

So much more to see on the website - http://www.harlequin.uk.com including wallpaper...I hope you have a wonderful weekend! I will be back here on Tuesday morning for another week of inspiring images...


(images via harlequin.uk.com)

Bermuda Artist Carole Holding...

A friend of mine just got back from a cruise to Bermuda and told me she visited the shop of an artist and I immediately wanted to know who it was and if she has a website. Of course, she does...its Carole Holding, born in Britain but living in Bermuda for years. She owns three shops and besides art, Carol makes gourmet foods and offers other crafty items. Here is just a tiny bit of her work...

Summer Day - original watercolour...

Barber's Alley, St. George's- original watercolour...

Hamilton from Pomander Gate - original watercolour...

Carole has a wonderful online shop and you can purchase all her items including original watercolours and lithographs. Carole ships to the USA, Canada and Europe. I visited Bermuda on a cruise when I was a teenager and fell in love with it...I will always remember my trip and cannot forget the pale water and beautiful pastel colored homes...I think another trip there may be in order...! Have you been to Bermuda?

(images via Carole Holding's website - to visit go to:http://www.caroleholding.com )

The Green Scene...Plastic Fantastic...

These fantastic floor mats are made entirely from recycled plastic fiber...great for the outdoor deck, living area and even the beach. I think these are also practical for indoor rooms like a basement, playroom or even bathroom...

In blue, green and red and under $60! Helping the environment and spiffing up the home! visit http://www.exclusivelyhome.com for more information...rugs are made by Koko Company.

Would you decorate with this kind of 'green' product? If you did, which color suits your taste?

(images courtesy of exclusivelyhome.com)

Kitchen Kool...

Wow! if you like turquoise, you will love this kitchen! Sleek, shiny and retro...check out the ceiling! the lights, the counter tops and that island...the pops of yellow with lemons, the blender and the floor. Notice too the blue inside the wall cupboard. Such attention to detail. A cool, icy drink should be made in here for a hot summer day!

Kitchen designed by William Diamond and Anthony Baratta (original image for House Beautiful by Tria Giovan)

New England Architecture...

New England is obviously chock-full of great architecture from the colonial era...and it is very evident in this coastal port town - below is a newer addition to a home, but the other homes are all stunning examples of an era long gone. Examples of Georgian, Federal and Colonial styles all co-exist here and are preserved for new generations to admire.

I love the juxtaposition of the older home with the new architectural addition (or complete re-build), which is aesthetically pleasing and blends in beautifully...

I love the front door and all the windows that are symmetrically balanced...

Love the purple with the blue front door...

The fencing here adds a sort of exclamation point to this beauty...

For those who have never travelled to New England, it is worth a visit if you love architecture (among other things like lobster)...you won't be disappointed!

(images by Sarah for Monaco Interiors)

Sunday in the kitchen...

When I first saw this kitchen in House Beautiful last year, I thought, this is the most gorgeous kitchen - and I still think it is...the fabric is stunning, the creamy yellow cabinets, the light floor and the punches of red...aaahhh!

Designer: Jay Jeffers (Sonoma, California)

(original image for House Beautiful by James Carriere)

Saturday special...

I thought this gorgeous kitchen designed by Erin Martin had a vintage wallpaper...but, noooo...this is the work of artist Michael Dute and it is absolutely stunning. Imagine making any meal in this room...I'm putting a pot of tea on now...

(Design by Erin Martin, painting by Michael Dute, original image by Dominique Vorillon for House Beautiful)

Fabulous Fabric Fridays...Amy Butler...

Its late on Friday, and due to technical difficulties, I apologize I have not been able to post until now. Although obvious, these Amy Butler fabrics just seemed appropriate for the warm and sunny days upon us. I love her retro vibe and great colors...herewith from top to bottom: Peony, Henna Paisley and Daisy Chain...

I'm beginning to see colors I keep choosing...lots of blues or turquoise and yellow...loving all these...for more visit http://www.amybutlerdesign.com - there is soooo much more!!

(images courtesy amybutlerdesign.com)

The Green Scene...Furniture Refurbishing...

More fun with old pieces of furniture...I did a lot of painting last summer. This table needed a makeover! I love yellow so I decided to paint it a happy color...I started with a primer and you can see the results below. It looks great now!

Do you like? This table could be red, blue, black, glossy white...if I get tired of the yellow, I can just paint it again and it will be like a new piece of furniture! Recycle, refurbish, re-paint!

Rooms for Television...

I often think it would be nice to have my own 'Media Room' to view favorite DVD's, movies and TV shows...these three rooms would be acceptable to me! Which one would you choose?

British designer Peter Dunham designed the room above...love the chair fabric and furry couches! (image by Victoria Pearson)

I love the brown walls and the interesting choice of pale blue for the gorgeous cabinet...wouldn't a lot of people have done the opposite with these two colors? designed by Nancy Price...(image by Eric Piasecki)

Lovely, light and bright room with jewel-tone fabrics - and of course, the leopard pillow! This room was designed by Faye Cone (image by Jeff McNamara) -

I will watch my fave show in bed, not in my media room...oh well...maybe someday...

More Designers Guild Inspiration...

I just love browsing the Designers Guild website for inspiration...their colors and pictures are so beautiful, fresh and modern...I visited their store recently at the Design Center in Boston and fell in love...here is some eye candy to carry you through to Monday...

For more sensational fabrics, wallpapers, accessories and furniture, visit http://www.designersguild.com - I want the wallpaper in the last picture please...

(images courtesy of designersguild.com)

Fabulous Fabric Fridays...Clarissa Hulse...

I found this fabulous fabric designer in the UK's May House Beautiful magazine. Clarissa is creating some absolutely stunning fabrics for the home and she has an equally alluring website and blog. Just a smattering is shown below, please visit her site for more fabrics...

Vintage sofa with the Burnet Ombre Twilight fabric...

Reeds silk douppion fabric in paprika/neon...

Burnet Ombre upholstery fabric in Twilight...

Burnet Ombre upholstery fabric in Sunset...

Clarissa shown above at the John Lewis store on Oxford Street in London earlier this month...Clarissa also offers lampshades, wallpaper, gifts, vintage furniture, bedlinen, cushions and throws. Please visit her website: http://www.clarissahulse.com


(images courtesy of clarissahulse.com)

The Green Scene...Furniture Refurbishing...

This week, I am showing more pictures I took last summer of a chair makeover. I picked up this wicker chair for about $25 from Goodwill a few years ago. The last picture of it in white is actually what I FIRST spray painted it before I decided it was boring! So, I went back to the store and bought Sunflower Yellow and went for it. The yellow just perked it right up! Now, I love it and added the three pillows...

Here it is in white...originally it was a creamy tan color...you can see where I started with the yellow...

This is a great way to bring old furniture back to life...I used inexpensive spray paint but you can use any paint...

(images by Sarah for Monaco Interiors)

More Frank Roop eye candy...

I couldn't resist more pictures from the Frank Roop portfolio...absolutely loving the turquoise colors in each of these rooms...

So calm and relaxing...

(images courtesy frankroop.com)

Fabulous Fabric Fridays...Pacific & Rose...

I found this company on the 'Style Court' blog the other day in my daily rounds through the blogosphere and I fell...in love...long story short (please go the website for more details), after a trip to India, Elizabeth James fell for the art of block-printing fabric. She ended up starting her own business and here are the results - gorgeous designs with an Indian influence...

I really love the curtains and pillows - and even better, they are very affordable! For more products including tablecloths, placemats, kitchen towels and napkins go to: http://www.pacificandrose.com

(images courtesy of Pacific & Rose website)