Sunshine and Mother's Day

Happy Monday after Mother's Day!

Mother's Day comes around once a year and a new tradition started several years ago that mom and I will spend one day playing in the garden and the next day celebrating all of her wonderful-ness with family.  This year was no exception, so the fact that we had such nice weather in our area was a bonus to our regularly scheduled plant shopping trip!

Last week on Facebook, I posted a pin of the week of my new obsession for outdoor spaces...the succulent variety of plants.



Pin of the week from Real Simple

This pin caught my eye because I have a bird bath that no longer holds water AND it's in a pretty dry spot so flowers that need constant moisture will not work - believe me I've tried!

Before

So during our plant gathering outing, I picked up several varieties and this is what I created....

after

I'm looking forward to seeing how these grow and fill in the blank spots.  These are all great for in this very warm, full sun spot.  I also found one that is perfect for use on our covered porch that works in shady to partial sunny spots giving a little life to our outdoor room!

I know... this is suppose to be a blog about Interior Design, but let's face it, we want our exterior spaces to be special for us this time of year too!  What are your plans for creating a beautiful exterior living space for this summer?

I'll Have A Blue Friday...

In honor of this week's play off game, I thought I would highlight a little thing we like to call Blue Friday here in the Seattle area.

And before I get any comments... please know I am not saying your house should be painted this color (in fact if you do, the design police should visit you), but if you want to show your team spirit, there are appropriate ways to pull these colors into your celebration!

These colors come from my friends at Benjamin Moore - Go Hawks!

A Little Furniture Throwback

It's throwback Thursday and I thought we would head back 50 years to 1965 to kick off the year!

This mid-century sofa is called the "Thunderbird Couch" created circa 1965 by Flexsteel when the height of interest was in contemporary furniture.

Flexsteel was established in 1893 as the Rolph & Ball Furniture Company, and has been sold several times through the years to beccome what we know as Flexsteel in 1934.  They are still manufacturing furniture today, although I don't see this beauty among the current offerings.

According to the company history it was "In 1965, Flexsteel led the industry once again by establishing the Brunswick Converting Division to produce printed nylon fabrics known as Fantasia® and Astrolon®. Called "the star of space-age fabrics," Astrolon was furniture's most durable fabric."



image from Pinterest


So what do you say... are you ready to search retro stores to include this piece in your living or family room or is it a bit too Jetson's looking for you?

Ok, I've just dated myself but that is exactly what it reminds me of!  Whatever your thoughts on the Jetsons, in the end if your style is mid-century, and you can find one of these to include in your collection, you will be displaying a piece of history, especially if it comes with it's original fabric!

The Designer is in....

It's taken a bit to get this Friday blog started, but here we go fresh in the new year.  You asked, and now I'm starting to answer!

Here is what's on the mind of one follower... "How do you know what style of decorating will really make you happy? I seem to like everything except for really modern. How do I mix the different styles I like and make them look like they go together?"

Well, that first part is a tough question to answer because everyone is so very different.  That's why it is so important if you are working with a professional you engage someone who focuses on creating a space that reflects you and your lifestyle and not what they think your style should be.  If you're trying to navigate your style on your own, I suggest starting with the one thing you know you will love over time... that might be a piece of art you've collected, a piece of furniture that you love, or even a theme that always draws you in.

It sounds like if you are not tied to any one style, you are most likely in that "eclectic" camp. I haven't touched on that since 2013, so let's take another look.  Here's how dictionary.com defines it...

ec·lec·tic /ɪˈklɛk tɪk/ Show Spelled [ih-klek-tik] (from dictionary.com)

adjective

1. selecting or choosing from various sources.

2. made up of what is selected from different sources.

3. not following any one system, as of philosophy, medicine, etc., but selecting and using what are considered the best elements of all systems.

4. noting or pertaining to works of architecture, decoration, landscaping, etc., produced by a certain person or during a certain period, that derive from a wide range of historic styles, the style in each instance often being chosen for its fancied appropriateness to local tradition, local geography, the purpose to be served, or the cultural background of the client.

This is not as easy as it sounds to achieve - rather than a mish-mash of items in a space, it is a balance of all the differing styles.  Where to start depends on that first piece that you absolutely love - if it's an antique piece of furniture, then add a more contemporary piece of art and sofa.  If your theme is a rustic lodge - maybe bring in a more transitional (or even contemporary) piece of furniture in a great rustic fabric, then start adding your accessories around that.

I hope that helps to answer your question, but the bottom line is to start with the things you love and work from there and you cannot go wrong!

Tami

To submit a question... just send me a private message (yes it must be private) to tami@tamijones.net and I'll add it to the pile for consideration and answer them as they are appropriate for my blog.  No names will be published, just the questions and answers.

Happy New Year Giveaway!

To get this new new year started right, I'm going to give one lucky winner a $75 design gift certificate towards services for your new project in 2015!  There are 3 different ways to get your name in the hat!

1. Like my Facebook page (if you haven't already) for one entry into the drawing
2. If you have already liked my page - share this post on Facebook and tag "Tami Jones Interior Design" for one entry into the drawing. 
3. Get your friends to like my page and then mention your name in the comments below for a second entry for you AND your friend! Get all your friends to like and share, and your name could dominate the entries!

There are many ways to use this certificate... schedule a color consultation, an initial consultation, any new project really!  If you aren't local, you can use it with my new Home Design Kit program kicking off this January - watch for details on that!

The drawing will take place on Sunday, January 5th and the winner will be found using random.org.  This certificate is good for new design work (services only) can cannot be combined with any other gift certificate.

Now get to that Like, Share and Tag part and get this new year started...

October Color Watch

It's the first of October and it seems as though the colors of fall are popping out all over.  There is something beautiful in watching how nature changes with the seasons.

A dear friend let me borrow this picture she took on a recent cycle trip here in our beautiful state of Washington.  So many beautiful autumn colors to choose, but these vibrant colors from Sherwin Williams seemed to pop right out of the picture!

Tell me your favorite colors of this season below!

Another Apple Trial From Pinterest

Remember a few weeks ago when all those local apples were baked into some fabulous apple sauce?  Well, this latest Pinterest test (see pin here http://www.pinterest.com/pin/131730357826100269/) used some of that yummy apple sauce and became "Apple Puffs".

They were pretty easy since the main ingredient was Bisquick (no haters please - it makes great pancakes so I was eager to give this a try!).   I served these for my nieces breakfast for dinner birthday dinner and they were a hit.

I might make a few adjustments - a little more of the apple sauce and possibly make them in the mini muffin tins to make them less muffin like and more puff like, but other than that, they were down right tasty!

What's YOUR favorite apple treat for the fall?