My wish for YOU

With 2011 ending I took a few minutes and scrolled through the entire year of CreateGirl posts and it was a wonderful walk down memory lane! Not only was I reminded of fun client projects I worked on and wonderful events I went to across the country but I was overwhelmed by the personal changes I went through! Thank you a MILLION times over for popping in here weekly and sharing these experiences with me. Your visits and comments inspire me, motivate me and constantly give me lots of love! I appreciate everyone of you! So with the year coming to a close these are the wishes I have for YOU in 2012
:

I wish for you, more time to enjoy your surroundings! Whether it is a quick walk through your city neighborhood or a hike through the country woods. Whatever gives you serenity and a quiet time out during the week day I wish you more of this.

 

 Instead of emailing may you remember to pick up the phone for a "hello call" or mail a quick note to those you love from the youngest to the oldest! I promise this will not only brighten their day but your day as well!

I wish for you that the place you work is an environment of passion and encouragement. May your surroundings be one of calmness and organization (and if it is not may you be able to create a little bit in your corner)!

May we ALL take more time for ourselves in the new year to nurture our own souls! Whether it is taking a hour to indulge in a good book, calm our minds with exercise or sneak in that 15 minute nap when it is needed! Isn't it funny when we take the time to do any of the above items the rest of our lives benefit from it?

I hope all of your wishes and dreams come true in the New Year!

jul

(Images: Haute Design, Pinterest via Edris Kim anoth Design*Sponge Pinterest via The Bottom of the Ironing Basket)

Favorite Rooms of 2011

As we look back on all the gorgeous rooms that came past our desk in 2011 Ashley (who if you did not know is Jace Interiors fabulous new junior designer!!) and I picked 4 of our absolute favorites!

If I had one wish for 2012 it would be that TradHome would release another issue. It was the first time in recent memory I felt like a magazine really spoke to my personal aesthetic! I describe this room as casual elegance. I especially like the oversized floor lamps which draw your eye up to the stunning windows!

What was your favorite room of 2011?

(Trad Home Designer Lisa Sternfeld, Elle Decor designer Steven Gambrel, House Beautiful designers Parrish Chilcoat and Joe Lucas, Lonny Magazine Michelle Adams)

Adorable Holiday Decorating Ideas

Christmas decorating.....to be honest I am not a big fan. It could be all those years ago at Ethan Allen as a visual merchandising manager where I had to put up and decorate 8 trees along with 35 rooms or the fact that it can sometimes take over a house. Now that I have a house and a Christmas loving family of my own there is no getting around it and secretly I have enjoyed it this year! My favorite way to decorate is finding sweet little unexpected nooks to bring a little cheer to....in my opinion a little can go a long way! Here are a few of my favorites from the fabulous BHG!

I am in love with these houses and will be on the hunt where to buy them or if I am super ambitious make them! They would be a favorite year after year!

 

A nook which might not receive too much attention is the perfect place for holiday cheer and an adorable little tree!

How fabulous is this idea?! Take ornaments and turn them into lovely little vases. Personally I would use them as placecard holders and let each guest take theirs home!

Thanks to Pinterest for giving me so many great decorating ideas this year and putting a bit more holiday cheer into my life!! My Holiday boards has a few more of my favorites check it out here.

(images via Better Homes and Gardens)

Ribbon Reindeer

At times the creative people in the world truly blow me away! How adorable are these ribbon reindeers! When Ashley and I stumbled upon Ribbonesia in the office yesterday we were ohhh and ahhh all afternoon long.

The sweetest reindeer! Can you believe how they have worked this ribbon? So intricate!

Honestly if I wrapped my presents like this I would never want anyone to open them!!

 

This is the gift I would give to all my Twitter Friends! tweet tweet!

Simple Stunning Right? To see their wearable ribbon animals visit Ribbonesia!

(images from the fabulous If it's hip, it's here)

Monday Morning Remembrance

Morning Friends! Usually I reserve CreateGirl for all design business but there are times like today where I just feel the need to show off someone special to me.

 Not only my Gram but my friend and wine tasting partner!

You see, one year ago today I lost one of the most important people in my life, my beloved Grandmother. If you knew Frances Maravigna Covino you would know that she was up for any adventure! She traveled around the world, volunteered her time endlessly and was up for just about anything! If she was in the city and saw you with a map in your hand she would immediately walk up to you, ask if you needed help and most often invite you over for dinner. Growing up these dinners expanded our knowledge of different cultures and shaped up to be much more open minded people!

On her 90th birthday her wish was to take all of her children and grandchildren to Las Vegas, a place she had never been to. This is Gram above with one of my cousins at midnight making a last run through the casino!

She died at 92 and up to the very end she was the one coordinating trips for her friends. Often she would say daily exercise, reading and being social was what kept you young! Of course since she was a Sicilian lady a Mediterranean diet was also what kept your energy level up!

Today take the time to give someone you love a "hello call" just for a moment. I promise it will be something that will brighten both of your days.

xo jul

(images property of Jace Interiors please do not duplicate)

Going Home with Lands End

I am not sure if it was my move to the burbs or becoming an instant Mom but I have been purchasing many items from Lands End lately. I will be the first to admit I never gave it a second glance as I blew by the racks on my way out of the mall but one day I saw a turtleneck (if you know me this is not shocking in any way...) and stopped. The Lands End Canvas line is spectacular and very well priced! So enough about the clothing, let's check out the home line. Yesterday I was scouting for affordable bedding options for my client and look what I found, yup great items from Lands End Home!

Check out this cozy cashmere throw! The Regatta Blue color would immediately chase my chill away and remind me of summer days by the ocean.

 

Speaking of summer daydreams how fabulous are the above duvet covers?! Even the headboard and lamps are part of the Lands End collection oh and don't forget that fantastic basket for all my bedside magazines!

 

I don't want to leave you winter lovers out so take a peek at these two bedding options, both would fit perfectly into your ski lodge schemes! 

Do you like what you see? Well here is a little tip sign up for their emails and you will always have a discount code in hand! Now go on over and fall in love with Lands End yourself!

(images from Lands End)

Holiday Gifts for the Typography Lover

Welcome to the Holiday Gift edition of Home Type Tuesday! You know how much I love my typography so when I receive a gift with type, I literally flip out! If you have a few typography obsessed people on your list here are a few affordable options.

This Pottery Barn monogrammed cozy throw is on sale right now for $39!

 

For the baseball lover in your life, check out these monogrammed glasses. I think a certain Orioles loving fan (...my fiance) might be "crying in his beer glass" this summer!

Coulson Macleods "Love Home Life" is a thoughtful gift for so many people!

Of course I am tempted to do a little shopping for myself and I think these West Elm plates will be just perfect for Christmas Morning treats!

A favorite item to give year round are these super affordable tote bags from Ballard Designs. They are only $20 and are so versatile! I use mine to schlep around all my paint decks!

Happy Shopping!!

Lighting up the Buffet

At this time of year many of us turn our attention to the dining room since that is where most of the family dinners will be! I will be the first to say I LOVE decorating dining rooms, it's a room I usually encourage the homeowner to stretch themselves in. For instance if they are nervous about using a dark paint color in other rooms suggest we take the leap in the Dining Room. Today I want to focus on the fabulous addition of buffet lamps.

With endless lighting options you now see many people stray from the norm of "candlestick" buffet lamps for something much more dramatic as in these oversized lamps! Don't you just love the way they steal the spotlight?

  

What type of lighting do you have on your sideboard or buffet?

(image from Desire to Inspire Jessica Kelly, Southern Living photographer Erica George Dines, HGTV Pure Design via Samantha Pynn)

Home Typography Tuesday

What better way to celebrate a bit of holiday decorating than by adding typography to your rooms! Below are a few of my favorites and the best part of all most are affordable do it yourself options which means more money to spend on gifts!

 

Which one would you use in your home this holiday season?

(Images 1.& 3. from Mustard Seed Interiors via HGTV 2. It's the little things that make a house a home  Woman's Day)

Monday Morning Happy

Morning! How was your weekend? It seems Christmas is upon us since we went to get the tree this weekend but to be honest, with all this warm weather in the Northeast (it has been 60 all month) it feels more like September than December! It makes it difficult for me to get in the mood, does anyone else feel this way?

On Friday I drove out to Concord to visit my friends Rachel and Katie who were knee deep in holiday decorating. They volunteered their time and design skills to decorate a house for the holidays to support the Concord Museum! They did an incredible job in such a short time! My photos are not fabulous but you get the idea.

 

 

 How adorable are these cubbies, a perfect place to hang your coat!

Pop on over here to see photographer, Michael J Lee's images of this gorgeously decorated house!