Where have you been!?

A few people have sent me emails asking where I have been? I guess when you are a daily blogger and than fall off the blogging radar people wonder. I can't tell you how WONDERFUL that feels, to know I am missed. First I was rethinking the blog and its direction, I have started to refocus and am coming up with some great weekly topics and will have more of a definitive "affordable" voice. I love sourcing pieces and bringing you alternative to items we find in our swoon worthy photos. So while I was off working on that my mom became ill and for the last week has been cooped up in the hospital, thankfully it is a concern but not too serious. Anyhow we have been spending lots of time reading all the magazines I have been bringing her. She LOVES her magazines just like me and we have been tearing out pages finding lots of things to blog about. So with this I apologize, I promise to be back as soon as she is up and back to her happy self. After all I am sure she wants to get out of a room that looks like..........

this hospital room (well not nearly this glamorous)

and get back to a cozy retreat that looks something like this. Notice the glorious windows and stack of magazines on the floor? This would be a big upgrade!



In all honesty, knowing my mom this is where she would really prefer to be! Here with a cup of tea and her book looking over the water!

Thanks to all of you who continue to pop over and leave comments, I truly appreciate every single one!
jul

(images from Carolina Business Furniture and Coastal Living via My Home Ideas)

Shade Change

Want to know a quick and easy way to change up a room for fall? Change out your lamp shades. Trust me, I recommend it to clients all the time. Your friends will walk in and instantly wonder what you have done differently. Especially if you are changing from a solid shade to a graphic print one. Take a look at this fun Bamboo Trellis Drum Shade from Shades of Light The details: 16", available in chocolate, kelly green and yellow and only $79. My Favorite detail? It is a linen fabric shade, love that! I have had enough of the "paper shade". So what do you think? Would you try this in your home?

(images from Shades of Light)

Chair love by Judith Miller!

I resist the thought of making any kind of "wish list" until after Thanksgiving but when I saw this book I had to make an exception! "Chairs" with its bright red, simple, to the point cover just beckoned me to open its pages. It's a fantastic education of the chair, how it has evolved and more importantly how each sits. An incredible chronicle of the years where it's form curved and other years when it sat straight is just fascinating. Paired with Nick Pope's photography, Judith Miller's book is one that will make you look at your chairs in a much more loving way...if that is even possible!







(images from San Francisco Chronicle, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Chicago Tribune)

Mixing it up with Stephen Shubel

Browsing through an old issue of House Beautiful I came across the work of San Francisco designer Stephen Shubel and immediately felt comforted. His combination of vintage, high end and easy to purchase pieces is such a welcoming style. You feel like these rooms are completely attainable and that makes me admire him even more!!








If I could wish for one room of my own it would be this bathroom! It reminds me of a Henri Bendel box, though one in black!! Pure Relaxation!

(images from House Beautiful)

Scouting - Iron Beds under $1000

Lately I have been thinking about Iron Beds and how versatile they can be. There is no need to match wood finishes and most can work with any style room. They are perfect for a smaller room as most are light in scale, what an easy solution, right? In true CreateGirl style I scouted out a few Queen options from simple frames to more intricate all under $1000.

Pottery Barn Claudia Bed $649

Ethan Allen Tango Bed $629



Charles P Rogers Campaign Bed $799



Humble Abode Calypso Bed $549

Do you have an iron bed in your home?

A cozy Jan Shower Library

With the day becoming dark so early courtesy of Daylight Savings Time it makes me want to curl up in a library with a good book. I came across this cocoon like room by Jan Showers and immediately fell in love. The navy walls and same shade panels create such a warmth. Notice the playful zebra rug, patterned pillows and lime green leather chairs? These are all little reminders that this is not a "stuffy" room!! So the next time you wonder if you can paint a room a real dark color use this space as your inspiration. Though be warned you might want to just light a fire and read all the books you have in the house!



(images from Traditional Home and Jan Showers)

Headboad + Window

As I was doing a little inspiration scouting for a client's bedroom project, One image kept popping up. The bed placed directly in front of a window. I wonder if this is just for styling purposes or if this is really how the rooms were designed.




What's your opinion. Would you place your headboard directly in front of a window? Do you like this look? Please comment, I would love to hear from you!

(images from House Beautiful, House to Home and Point Click Home)

NOT an Inflight Recliner

There's been a lot of talk in the last week about pilots and well, sleeping. Of course being someone who remembers every piece of furniture that has crossed her eyes I thought what a perfect time to share with you Design Within Reach's Flight Recliner. Now I am not saying they did or didn't but what a present this would make! I am a big fan of recliners that don't scream lean back on me, this one does the trick and it's available in multiple stocked fabrics even nicer. So sit back enjoy but please not operating anything more than the remote!






(image from Design Within Reach)

How to Thursday -indulge in the gray trend

We have been seeing lots of gray in our favorite shelter magazines and you might want to know how to add this in your home without spending a ton of money. Accent pillows are the answer whether in the Living or Bedroom. Whatever style your room is you will find many options out there. Below are just a few of my favorites. All but one (I couldn't resist) are under $100 so go ahead enjoy the gray!!

Shine and Metallic from Pillow Decor and Treacle Toffee



Animal Whimsy with Thomas Paul and CB2


Fun geometric shapes from Aimee Wilder and Jonathan Adler



Add a bit of 3D interest with Etsy's Miss Mosh and Oromono

Nature Inspired pillows from Etsy's Kain Kain Shop and Mod Diva

A Surface View

In the previous post I mentioned the fantastic wall decor featured over the bed. Here is the source, it's from Surface View. Their "interior graphics" are reproductions from images found at the Victoria & Albert Museum, Marvel Comics, the Royal Photographic Collection and Nic Miller just to name a few. Each image can be recreated as Blinds, Prints on Canvas and Murals. I especially love the silhouette of a person standing next to the size of each print/mural. A priceless visual tool!

Below are a few of my favorite images and some actual applications!

This piece is titled "Belgian Veil" from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
A lace image we saw here above the bed.

One of the things I absolutely love about this company is their flexibility! Each image has multiple sizes and styles which makes it easy to use in many room schemes. Very consumer friendly!

(images from Surface View)

Find It - Calm Bedroom + Laser Cut Rug

I Love the clean look of this room I found over at Living Etc! It feels so restful and the white floors are quite refreshing. Add a laser cut rug like the one below from Brocade Home and you create just a bit of interest. 5 x 8 is $499. Check out the next post for more info on that amazing piece of wall decor. No need for a bed frame here!



(images from Living Etc via House to Home and Brocade Home)

Diary Entry - The affordable headboard

You can find me over at Stylefeeder today blogging on an affordable headboard idea! I submitted this post back in September and was so excited last night to finally see a real application in this photo over at Turquoise. It is a perfect example on how to use these headboards, I just love the contrast! Vanessa has an incredible eye and ck out the perfectly placed Anthropologie Ikat bowl on the nightstand. A stylish place for change or last minute jewelry you forget to take off.




(image vis Turquoise Blog, Anthropologie)

The Tessalight

I came across this photo over at Desire to Inspire by the talented photographer Martin Cederblad. Than I recalled the fabulous Tessalight by Christine Price Hamilton. I am not sure if this is the same light but I would love to see it in this room! Imagine the glowing patterns this light would create on the bedroom ceiling?! Check out Christine's website to see the work see creates with just an X-Acto knife, thick paper and wooden beads. Just lovely!




(images from Desire to Inspire, Daily Candy and Christine Price Hamilton)

Lighting Up Vermont

Take a peak into this cozy Vermont Retreat. Doesn't it look the perfect place to enjoy a fall getaway? This is the home of the unbelievably talented lighting designer Craig Roberts. As you peruse each room notice his use of subtle lighting. It makes such an impact!

There is nothing like the warmth of wide pine floorboards

Notice the perfectly placed bookshelves nestled under the windows. The lights are placed inside the shelves to create a simple glow and quietly highlight its contents.

By working with the architectural details of the room a cozy nook is created!

The indirect lighting in the soffits, calls the eye to wander to the height of the ceiling and beautiful bead board.

Just down a sweet flowered lined path sits the "summer house". A smaller structure with escapism written all over it. I just adore this and wonder if the small cottage is all one needs. With its screened in porch, working fireplace and enough windows to enjoy the view...well that just sounds like perfection to me!

(images from Design New England)

Trimming it in Black

I just came across this photo and before I throw in my designer 2 cents...I wonder, what are your thoughts on Black molding?? Please share!


(image from Boston Magazine Home edition)

Quick Share - Side Board

This side board is fantastic, its amazing what a bit of apron detail can do to a piece. This is the Trollsta Side Board from IKEA, it's $349. I am searching for a piece for a bedroom for extra storage and to place a tv on, this could be a great option!


(images from IKEA)

What a week!

Happy Weekend! This was one of those great weeks which started with a family wedding, my birthday and a few great client meetings. Sometimes you just need to sit back and be grateful for all the inspiration and happiness which is in the everyday. I also wanted to say a BIG BIG thanks to all my fabulous guest bloggers and to everyone who showed them love with comments. It was such a delight to take a few days off. I hope the "Moving IN" series gave you all some great affordable tips for your own homes.

If you have not skipped over to their blogs here are their links again! Plush Palate, Coco+Kelley, SabbeSPOT, Verdigris Vie.
Enjoy the weekend
Jul

(image from NikkiLyn)

Knowing your secret numbers

You realize how well someone knows you when they call out your secret fascinations. This happened to me recently when a good friend announced my love of typography and well...its true. The next day I came across these FANTASTIC chairs over at Metropolitan Home and just had to laugh, yes I love my letters and numbers!



The Numbers Collection from EurotrendUSA is the perfect accent to any room. The chairs are available in over 100 colors, amazing!! Now to decide what number and where in the house to use it, I have a feeling it will be a great conversation piece.

Look what I spy!!

I love when I blog about a product and than randomly run across a photo of it in an actual room. Remember a while back I was scouting ceiling fixtures? Well I just found this photo over at My Home Ideas where they used the pendant version of the School House Electric Fixture! Than I spotted the photo below at Making It Lovely using the Ballard Design Chase Light, isn't it fantastic!?

Moving In with Verdigris Vie

** Sorry I had a bit of a technical glitch yesterday! Let's finish up the "Moving In" serious with the fantastic Vitania over at Verdigris Vie. First, don't you just love that name for a blog?! I am not sure when I "met" Vitania but she has been an incredible supporter of CreateGirl since I started a year ago. She always leaves the most uplifting comments! When you visit her blog you will immediately be inspired by the gorgeous photos she posts and wonderful commentary. I saved her post for last as she has lived in her house for a few years but with 2 small children these are her 3 "saving grace" tips!**

Thank you so much Julie for inviting me to post on your incredible blog, it is such an honour. I have such great respect for you as a designer and a blogger, and I appreciate greatly all the wonderful work you put forth.

Moving into a new home is incredibly exciting and emotional. Whether it's your first home, or you're upsizing or downsizing, the process of redesigning a living environment can be a delight and a distress. The opportunity to start fresh in a space that better reflects your lifestyle is usually offset by the disappearing funds, and the realization that you will never have another free weekend again. Here are 3 things that helped me through the rough waters.

Paint it! - This is the one thing you don't want to hold off on. Attack it before or as soon as you move in! Nothing is worse than staring at drab walls, or a colour you don't like. If it's too overwhelming, have a designer come over for a colour consultation. It's worth every penny. You'll have set the foundation for your design palette, and future buying decisions will come easier.

Focus on a good one - You don't have to buy all your furniture at once. Pick a great piece to focus on, and take your time building your collection of furnishings. Finding local artisans and craftspeople to create the perfect dining table , server or armoire can be a very affordable choice. Buying quality always saves you in the long run, and is less wasteful . CreateGirl can give you 100 + ways to fill the space around it.

Plant life -Using Plants, floral arrangements even branches and twigs, will make your new home comforting, bright and inviting. Living plants actually help clean the air of your home. Their natural beauty adds life and energy to static spaces. Best of all, you can add pops of colour, volume and height to your home with ease seasonally.

(images from top to bottom: Canadian House and Home, House of Turquise, Pheobe Howard, Canadian House and Home)

Moving In with Coco+Kelley

**Please Welcome the incredibly talented Cassandra from Coco+Kelley as our Monday Guest Blogger! I have been following Cassie for about 2 yrs & have found like me she is an Italian, Red Sox loving girl!! Her mix of glamorous fashion and interiors is just beautiful, I find myself daydreaming when I am over at her blog! Pop on over and say hello, I promise you will be inspired!**

Trust me when I say I've done my fair share of moving. The process of getting it all there? Horrible. Packing for days, having to throw out pieces you just won't have room for, and living out of boxes. Ugh. But the best part? When you're in a new space, with a clean slate, and all the possibilities in the world...

The last apartment I lived in was in LA - and let's just say that you don't get much for what you pay there - but even this junky old place felt like home by the time I was done with it! The trick? Thrifting, getting creative, and holding out for the good stuff. For example...




The bedroom I had was teeeeensy. The walls in the space were all beige as was the carpet (of course) and there was a huge ugly heater that was just left of center over my bed. There was no way I was investing in any pieces for this room since I knew I'd have a bigger space someday, so the name of the game here was Ikea. I purchased fabrics to hang from the ceiling to the floor behind the bed as a 'headboard' and to cover the heater. The other fabric I tossed on the bed as a coverlett. The colors in the room were inspired by my Anthropologie pillow (my one little splurge) and the bedding was all WalMart and Ikea as well. The bedside table was my favorite Ikea find though - from the office furniture section! The drawers looked lacquered and the handles were acrylic. So chic!



One of my favorite little corners of the apartment was the 'bar area'. This bar was an investment for sure. A gorgeous MidCentury piece. These are much easier to come by in LA, and finding something similar on Craigslist would probably have happened eventually, but the black acrylic top is what sold me! Every single other piece on the bar is a thrift store purchase! And the framed 'artwork' was actually a fashion editorial that I ripped out of a German magazine and framed.

The high-low mix is really what I do to make a space not feel 100% store bought and cheap cheap cheap, and this little vignette is a great example. The luxe Mongolian lamb pillow? $80. The chair? Ikea (again). Contrasting textures and styles? Priceless! Oh, and the artwork (such a cheap way to spice up any space!) is covering yet another heater. Who needs that much heat in LA, anyway??

While moving can be a pain, moving in should be a joy! Don't rush the design process, and don't feel like you have to spend a ton of money to get what you want either. Filling in the gaps with thrift store purchases or Ikea pieces is a good way to save a bit, but be sure to mix in a few investment pieces along the way!

Moving In with SabbeSPOT

**Hi All! Please Welcome Stephanie, she is also a new friend who just moved to Boston. Her blog, SabbeSPOT is full of crafty secrets and every time she talks about making something she inspires me to run to the closet and dust off my own sewing machine. Though to be honest I have nothing to show for it just yet, with the colder months lets keep our fingers crossed for some progress! Enjoy Stephanie's post!**


Hello, let me start with a little background. We tremendously downsized when recently moving from our 1400 sf house in Memphis, TN to our teeny tiny 700 s.f. apartment in Boston's South End. My key to design happiness was moving things around, and around, and around until it finally felt right. Unlike our larger house, that we were constantly trying to fill out, a small apartment is like a puzzle. You have to be more creative. And I LOVE being creative.

I am a huge interior recycler. I had a friend email me a couple of months ago about a blog post I did on the craft nook I carved out in our bedroom. She was amazed the dining room table from our college days was living on.

Our dining room is another great example of my re-purposed interior

1. The art is an Ansel Adams calendar I had matted and framed.

2. The rug is by Interface FLOR. If you haven't discovered carpet tiles, you must check out their site. My dining room was larger in my last house. So I just deleted a row of tiles and ta-da, the same rug fits in a much smaller space.

3. The table and chairs were a consignment store finds. I painted them black and recovered the chairs.


4. The fireplace art is a damask fabric that I stapled over a piece of plywood.

5. We had some pots that we used for outdoor plants at our last house. Our new apartment does not have enough natural light to keep plants alive. I bought a bag of Moss from JoAnn's, wadded up balls of newspaper, and spray glued the moss on top.




6. We received a lot of serving platters when we got married. When I'm not hosting a dinner party I use them as decoration. They are too pretty to keep in a cabinet.

So my entire dining room may have originally cost me $200, but as far as my for my new home in Boston...it was basically free.

Quick Share - A Grand Jubilee

Here's a Quick Share. I absolutely love this company Mod Green Pod! Their gorgeous fabrics are all 100% organic cotton and their wallpapers all have a vinyl free finish. Which equals healthy for your home. I have fallen in love with this Grand Jubilee wallpaper in earl grey. I think it will be just perfect for a bedroom I am working on right now! Hop on over to their website and blog, there are many more patterns to fall in love with!

Moving In with Plush Palate

**Please Welcome Crystal, she is an absolute sweetheart. I "met" her over on twitter and immediately fell in love with her style. To make this new meeting even better, it turns out she grew up with one of my friends here in Boston. It can be such a small wonderful world!**


Hi everyone, it's Crystal and I blog over at Plush Palate, a style, fashion, and interiors blog. I'm thrilled to be contributing to CreateGirl today and to meet all of you! Recently I moved into a new apartment and Julieann has graciously invited me to share a few tips I've picked up along. Moving can be an overwhelming and daunting task, so I've learned to keep it simple!

1. Design in Stages

If you're like me, you want every room perfect on day 1 and loathe the idea of living in a half finished home. But since our budgets don't always allow for this, patience is key. When we collect furniture and decor overtime as we find those pieces that truly speak to us, the end result is a much more thoughtful design that truly reflects our personality and style.

2. Recreate High-End Looks on Budget

Don't we all wish we had an endless budget when it comes to decorating our homes? I know I do! Lucky for us, there are more and more budget friendly shopping destinations investing more into creating affordable and stylish designs. I love scouring the pages of Elle Decor and House Beautiful to pick up ideas and then keep my eyes open to see if I can re-create the looks for less. The bed above via Elle Decor likely cost thousands of dollars. Below I found one that achieves the same look at Ikea for only $279!

3. Pre-used Is Sometimes Better Than New
When trying to fill a space, we don't always have to find something new. Sometimes it's as simple as pulling a piece out of storage and sprucing it up a bit with some new paint or hardware. In my case, I was in desperate need of a new duvet cover. Instead of heading to the store to purchase something, I first asked my mom if she happened to have an extra one. To my delight, she had a gorgeous, white duvet she had gotten on a trip to Europe just sitting in a linen closet. Generously she passed it down to me. It's prettier and of higher quality than anything I could have found new in a store! So, don't be afraid to ask friends and family if they have something you could use. You might just be surprised :)

(images via Martha Stewart, Elle Decor, Ikea, Simply Seductive)

The "Moving In" Series

While I am away I decided to ask a few of my favorite bloggers to pitch in with the theme of "Moving In"! Each one of them has just moved into a new home and they will share with you their 3 tips on making the process easier. Of course in true "CreateGirl" style all the ideas will be affordable. Moving is a big enough expense as it is and these posts will give you ideas on how to still have that beautiful "show it off to all your friends" house without the dent to your wallet! I hope you enjoy these posts.




(image from Real Simple)

Signing Off for the Wedding Week!

Morning! I am going to try and "unplug" the best I can for the next week. My sister is getting married and I am over the moon excited for her and her new family! While I am away you will be in very good creative hands as I have set up some great guest bloggers! Please stop back over and say hello, I know you will just love them! Thanks again for all the time you take out of your busy days to pop over and say hello. I am so grateful and always look forward to the fun comments you leave!
Enjoy the next week!












(images from frolic, utterly engaged & happy accidents)

Jace Interiors New Hues

I am so excited my design company Jace Interiors was included in the "New Hues" article over at Stuff Magazine. I was asked for a color back in the spring but feel it is still relevant this fall. Mix it in with the dark grays and the oranges we are seeing all over the fall pallet and you will create a bite of brightness.

Fall always means layering to me and adding a few extra colorful covers is a perfect place to use this blue!

This room feels so cozy with the dark gray and just a hint of bright blue, plays great against the strong color




This is a fantastic application of Behr Brilliant Sea. I found this over at Bonnie Van Voorst, a new favorite blog of mine!

I have been searching for the perfect accent clock for my bedside table, this would be a great bday gift (hint hint!) found over at etsy

what a statement this jacket would make, I especially love the high collar

(images from Coastal Living, Stuff Magazine, Bonnie Von Voorst - article by Marni over at Style Carrot)

Blogger Meet Up - Boston Style

The lovely Stephanie over at SabbeSPOT has put together a Boston Blogger meet up. If you are a blogger or blog reader head on over to Masa on Wed night and say hello. Sadly I will not be able to make it because of the wedding festivities but hope to attend another meet up before the year is out. Please say hello to Stephanie, she is new to Boston and an incredibly creative girl.
Enjoy!

Swingers in the Bedroom

OK I am sure this might get a few comments....what do you think of these bed "frames"? Could you imagine having a bed like this in your bedroom? I have to say the wood on the bed and floor is absolutely gorgeous (I know, I know always the designer..) and I am loving the simple orange area rug but could I actually toss and turn during the night without getting sick? Tell me what you think!






(image from Coastal Living)

Jailed in the Liberty

I just posted about the Liberty Hotel in Boston but left out a few details and just have to give you the scoop. Can you believe the hotel was once the Charles Street Jail built back in 1851?! It reopened in 2007 after some of the best designers and architects in the city gave it an amazing face lift. The modern hotel is glamorous but has some rough jail edginess to help you keep in mind the history of the structure. As you can see by the picture above most of the building stayed in its original form. The parts that catches my eye every time I enter are the incredibly 90 foot rotunda, cat walks and over sized windows. I often wonder if the inmates ever appreciated the details, jails were built to fit into the city instead of the big block of cement they are now.

The new facade of the Liberty

the breathtaking lobby, it is unlike any other and my favorite section of the hotel

the bars to the left are from the original jail. This is "Clink" one of the restaurants! Very fun!

the lobby for the meeting rooms

this is a dreamy room, I would sit in that chair admiring the window and the view all day!

Presidential Dining Room - imagine having a few friends in for an intimate dinner?


than have drinks on the roof deck of the suite. Ahhh looking out onto the best city!


if you are one of the guest at the dinner party you can turn in on this bed in one of the guest rooms. Now this looks like a much more comfortable cell than ones from the original jail!

Hope you enjoyed this little tour of the Liberty. It gives you a peek into why I love Boston so much, it is always aware of the past but knows how to live in the present!

(images from the Liberty Hotel and Concierge.com)

Karmalooping with the Boston Ballet

Where have I been you ask? Let me share as I think you will absolutely love and appreciate this event as much as I did. Here in Boston we have something named Fashionably Late over at the Liberty Hotel. This is an event where they take the lobby of the hotel and turn it into a fun fashion show/party.



The premise was to launch the Boston Ballet's new image which is a bit edgier and younger than previously known. The ballet paired with the clothing of Karmaloop to put on the contradictory show. The sleek ballerinas danced around in the edgy Karmaloop streetwear. Lots of flannel, leather, brightly patterned leggings and an array of the coolest hats. The girls hair was teased to high heaven which completed the look. Their dance moves were ever so soft and swan like while the dj blasted hip hop! I loved ever second of the mix, it was so visual! I left the photography to my incredibly talented friend Fernando since he would be the only one to do this show justice! Take a look below

The only photo not by Fernando, he is in the background, camera in hand ready to take the next shot!

love the earrings and hat on this one. gray is all over fall '09 both interiors and fashion

(images from Fernando Neves, Korn Design & Karmaloop)

Monday Morning Happy

Happy Monday, how was your weekend?

Do you ever have a week where time just flies right by you? Well that was last week for me I lost touch with the blog and hope you can forgive me! To be honest I have been spending more time over at Twitter since I can throw out inspiration quickly in 140 characters. Sometimes I come across a link and update it up over there knowing I don't need to pressure myself in creating a perfect post! With that said this is going to be a great week!



I have some fun guest bloggers lined up for you towards the end of the week, most I am sure you will recognize. You see my little sister is getting married this weekend and I want to make sure and be 100% present for her big day! A ton of family will be flying in from all across the country so I will be playing the best hostess I can while a few of them stay with me. I will be more than excited to share pictures of the amazing day when I return. Please keep checking in and give some "blog love" to my great friends, I am sure they will inspire all of you with their creativity!

Enjoy the new week!
jul

(image from Frolic)