Hello.

After months of reading my favorite blogs I have decided to give this a try. I hope this will become a great way of sharing my love of decorating with others, while giving me another creative outlet. As you will see I really don't have one particular style. I LOVE a bunch of different styles and tastes and like to mix them as well. You will find that while assigning expensive taste to people God did not forget me. I am cursed with walking into to a store and being drawn immediately to the most expensive item. (I know several of you know EXACTLY what I am talking about). However, I am still waiting for that winning lottery ticket so until then, as the saying goes, it will be "champagne taste on a beer budget". Therefore, I find great pleasure in reasonably priced items and great deals.

I hope you all enjoy this blog. Please feel free to ask questions and make comments, the more feedback the better.

Marianne

PS- On my current Christmas list is a camera upgrade, until then the pictures may be less than stellar but bare with me!

...and more new room ideas (im a little distracted)

... im gonna make a headboard out of my 48 star flag. thoughts?

im moving... new bedroom ideas/inspirations

...so im moving this friday and couldnt be happier, same neighborhood and of course im the most excited about a new space to decorate... its a much smaller room, so my decisions will have to be direct and important.

Temo Callahan...

Just a few images from a spread in www.dominomag.com from Temo Callahans New York rental. Small spaces with bold patterns and a true collection of things he loves... ive never really been a fan of the whole salon style art hanging look, but when your short on space and full of great finds, you make it work.

Just a note... had a great time at the antiques fair this weekend in Portland, scored some great finds for my new place.

lamp addiction.

...someone please buy this lamp for me. seriously.
www.burnhamdesign.com

...oh and have a great weekend, im off to the antique show at rose quarter and packing for my move next week... all 6 blocks of it

Decorating books I live by...

It goes without saying that this is one of the most comprehensive books on classic interiors. A must have.

A master collection of art and antiques to school your self with.

I have a few drapery books, but this one I have come back to the most

Life and style icons. Their homes are at the utmost of my personal inspiration.

Amazing book filled with un-stuffy, well lived homes in western massachusetts, where i went to boarding school.

David Cafiero.

David Cafiero has been a big inspiration to me for quite some time now. So often design becomes very stale and without charm, history and time. No project i have ever worked on has turned out exactly the way it was intended, no project has been born overnight. In a time when it seems so easy to just go to one of these all inclusive design stores and buy the room as is... i must insist that people begin to strike out, take there time, find out what really makes them comfortable, just because its new, doesnt mean its good and the same goes for the latter. These images are of what i believe is a house Cafiero owns. The images are so beautiful... i can feel myself just stumbling upon a house like this and going inside and finding all of these rooms... peeling paint, dust everywhere, signs of the times... etc. i would want to spend the night, take it all in. There is no chintz covering the spencer sofa in the living room, there is no dupioni draperies in the salon...it just is... and i couldnt be more inspired

check out his site and store in new york if you get a chance www.cafieroselect.com

darryl carter... design inspiration

i really love high back sofa's

1) Exagerated lines and a breezy linen slipcover... 1st dibs

2) beautiful curved lines with a rustic feel... 1st dibs

3) a tufted leather classic... custom

4) a little more modern feel with what i consider to be a sort of feminine beach house feel...anthropologie
5) great complimentary lines of sofa and matching ottoman... ballard design

Meg Braff Interiors... some inspiration

The perfect bedroom...

from the custom Leron Bedding, to the gingham draperies, to the natura rug and the red ginger jar lamps, this room evokes pure style, masculinity and comfort

Oakwood Newport, Rhode Island...cont.

Oakwood Newport, Rhode Island.

Oakwood estate, Located in my home town of Newport, Rhode Island, was surprisingly my first project...ever. I will forever look back on this as the most i have learned about design, history, business and time management. Take a look!