Take A Dip

This weekend the fiance and I are having some guests in from Florida, usually people seek northern states for cooler weather, unfortunately, that is not the case this weekend here in Chicago. This heat wave is taking it's toll on many people, but we won't let it get the best of us! As we are walking around the city with our guests, maybe we should just have visions of these stunning pools, if I can't find a pool I might just take a dip into Lake Michigan...

I am usually not a fan of black bottom pools, they just don't seem as refreshing as others to me, but I do love this one and and the contrast it creates with the beautiful white house:

Image via Elle Decor

This seems like a hidden oasis...

Image via Elle Decor

I love this inviting and casual pool house...

Image via Elle Decor

This is my ultimate favorite! Oh I just want to escape right into the picture...

Image via Coastal Living

Wouldn't you love to take a vaca here?

Image via Coastal Living

Or perhaps some Moroccan flair fancies your swimming taste...

Image via Architectural Digest

Or maybe your prefer to relax poolside in Ralph Lauren style, take a look at his personal pool...

Image via Architectural Digest

Attention: This is NOT your Grandma's Wallpaper...

So many times in the design industry have I suggested a wallpaper (verbally, no visual yet) to a client, and countless times, I have received the same ill faced cringe... "Ohhh, umm, no, wallpaper is just not for me." I always dispute this comment with a smile, and push through with fantastic wallpaper samples that they had no idea existed and eventually, usually can't resist.

The truth is, when wallpaper is brought up, they usually have a flashback of their grandmother's home and it's a very dated wallpaper with a small scale lattice work, flowers or some goofy design that is 9 out of 10 times curling in the corners of the wall... those days are long gone my friend. If you have nightmares of horrible wallpapers from the past, let me take you through a land of hand painted luxury, modern twists on the classics, graphic prints, bold statements and colors that extend beyond the rainbow... brace yourself, get ready to be wowed, chances are, you will be wanting some fun patterns on your walls!



Today, I had a trip to the Merchandise Mart and saw some pretty beautiful things....

The following graphic wallpapers are from Dessin Fournir, 

I kept turning my head just to get one last look, they are fantastic! 

You can't go wrong with a classic black and white design:

Or you could punch it up with red and white:

This next wallpaper is a beauty, hand drawn design by Chicago gal Casey Gunschel of Palace Papers. 

This design simply stunned me, from afar it looks like a timeless damask design...

Step a little closer... SURPRISE! It's actually Coy Fish! 

Some of the most beautiful wallpapers I have ever seen come from Cole & Son they have a wide variety of modern, traditional, hand painted, the list goes on and on. The following pattern is one of my ultimate favorites...

In fact, I love it so much I actually re-created this design onto one of my mid century pieces (from the best store ever, Chic Antique Chicago). I hand painted the design in orange and gold, take a looksee...

This wallpaper by Aimee Wilder was recently discovered by my co-worker while sourcing for a child's playroom, so many fun designs... Robots & Sumo Wrestlers. Enough said. 

Yes, the following image is wallpaper covered in Sumo Wrestlers...

Wouldn't this be so fun in a nursery...

Pink?

Pink. Pink is a color that quite honestly, I have never been really fond of. You wont find it in my closet. You wont find it really in anything I purchase or like. But lately... I have to admit, I have been a little smitten with pink. But in only one application... interior design. For some reason, you still wont find me wearing it. Well, unless it's the palest of blush pink, maybe.

So what's up with this new little crush on pink that I have? For some reason, I just really love the idea of waking up in a pale pink room. To me, a pale pink room filled with sunlight is just such a happy welcome to the morning. Just like the sunshine that I hope to flood into my room, other shades of pink are starting to flood into my interior design inspiration.

Plus this lovely little handbook "500 Favorite Paint Colors" from House Beautiful helped me realize that after all  I just might like pink! If you haven't checked this issue from House Beautiful, I highly suggest you do!

When people think of pink, they tend to think of a girls room and that's it. I challenge you to go outside the girly pink box and be daring with pink. Pink can be masculine too. Pair it with grays, navys, yellows and creams and you've got a new look on this old fashioned girly color.
Take a peek at these ever inspiring pink rooms. You might end up like me, and actually really love them!

This is one of my favorite pink installations, from a London Designer who used

 Farrow & Balls "Pink Ground"on the walls, nothing says too girly about this room...

(Image via Elle Decor)

Notice the great contrast between the drapery and the chair...

(Image via Traditional Home)

Okay, I don't know about you guys... but I LOVE Betsey Johnson, she rocks my fashion socks off, and her home is just as vibrant fun and energetic. I adore the citrus yellow against this bubblegum pink, and the graphic rug takes it to a whole new level! Check out this fashionista's abode...

An eclectic mix that makes me want a pink living room...

Image via House Beautiful

The following are a few of those images that fall in my sun-filled morning category, completely serene...

Image via Veranda

Image via House Beautiful

Image via Elle Decor

Just what would a pink post be without Kelly Wearstler? Well, like a fish with no water! Her home office is floor to ceiling pink, and let's talk about these amazing golden hand chairs, how fun are they? 

Image via Elle Decor

I am chomping at the bit to install this wallpaper (designed by Kelly herself) somewhere, any takers? 

Image via Kelly Wearstler

Image via Elle Decor

A fun flirty dining room...

And of course, I can't leave out this darling little girls room...

Image via Elle Decor