Animal Instinct

I placed this leopard statue under my personal coffee table. Decorating with animal accents allows creativity to go wild!!!! (Pun Intended!!!)

These hand drawn animal prints are a personal private collection given to me by two of my favorite and very creative friends. They know I love accenting with animal pictures, statues, etc.

My friend drew this picture which was featured on the back cover of a national geographic photograph.

One of my favorites!!!!

I am always in search of accents with animals and this was a gift by another friend who knew my style of decorating with black, animals and oriental touches.

.

Now that you know my love for designing around animal accents. I was so excited to find another designer that shares that love and I am making his home the "Featured Home of the Month"!!!!!!

I found his photographs at HG and emailed him asking permission to publish his room. WOW, guess I can spot them, it turns out he is a creative designer living in Atlanta and also working on his own reinvented vintage style clothing line for ladies, a high end suits line fashioned after the late great Coco Chanel. His website is under construction and I will publish that information when he has completed it. Lon has used the basic black theme, which I love and created lovely rooms with his animal accents and fabric selections.( Chanel created the classic design of the little black dress) as we realize clothing fashion will flow into home interior fashion.
In this photograph Lon has a great accent chair and has covered the cushion in yet a different print pulling it all together as a focal point into the room.

I love the total look here, clean, stylish and comfortable!!!


Accenting the photo, Lon selected this leopard frame , a simple yet perfect touch.



How chic!!! BRAVO!!! to you Lon, can't wait to see all of the clothing line. It is a privilege to showcase such a multi-talented designer.


This is one sample of Lon's clothing line!!! Talk about animal instinct...we will keep you posted when his website is up and running and provide a link.

Just the name, Coco Chanel, was enough to define a pair of shoes, a hat, a purse, a suit, perfume, jewelry-an entire look. It conveyed prestige, quality, impeccable taste and unmistakable style.
Since Coco Chanel introduced it in 1926, the little black dress, has become the epitome of timeless fashion. It is the answer to every "What should I wear to..." question from cocktail parties to casinos to class reunions. Just add pearls or completely change the look by adding color accessories or a patterned scarf . It is the same concept many designers use in homes or offices , simply changing the accessories changes the total look for a timeless design.
As a concept, the little black dress has even moved on to represent an ideal of a perfectly simple, yet sexy object. Even the computer industry recognizes the need to inject a bit of "little black dress" into its design and marketing.
A fashion anomaly, the concept of the little black dress never changes, much unlike the trend-crazed home interior and fashion industry.

. http://womenshistory.about.com/od/chanelcoco/a/coco_chanel.htm

Patio Styles

Ahhhh, the poolside retreat!!!!!!!! This is an important factor about using lighting on your patio, once the sun goes down, light it up, to reflect shadows and create a romantic relaxed mood.

Ahhhh, I want to go here on vacation!!!!!!!!!

Lovely extended room patio with fireplace!!!!!!!!!!

Love this style for a patio home!!!!!!!!!!

This outdoor kitchen patio is great for the large estate surrounded by the woods and it is completed with a fireplace!!!!!!!

This design is perfect for high rise living, condos or second level decks.



The total jungle feel....I could do that!!!!

A contemporary style and the water does all the rest!!!!!!!!!!

This patio has an old world feel, adding the bright pastels gives it a contemporary feel. Love it!!!!

This patio is gorgeous serene and fits my style of relaxing with nature.


This beautiful eight-sided pavilion, designed by landscape architect Keith Anderson, is the focal point of a European-style garden. I found this elegant design at HGTV. You can just hear the sounds of the water fountain behind the pavilion.

Sunbrella Fabrics/Custom Pillows

Outdoor Pillows are a great way to add comfort and style to your outdoor living spaces! The hottest trend in decorating is taking indoor design to the outdoors, and using decorative pillows outdoors is possible when you buy outdoor pillows covered with Sunbrella fabrics.
When choosing outdoor pillows for your patio, poolside, or garden, it is important to choose decorative pillows that can withstand the elements outdoors. What's even better is that Sunbrella Pillows come in over 200 fabric choices, so you can make your outdoor living area unique and completely custom. My particular favorite is the zebra print which comes in red and an assortment of other colors.
Don't forget the fringe, there is also an assortment of outdoor trims to add to your pillows for the fun and or elegant look of complete design.

I recommend Crate and Barrel for the texture pillows (bottom picture) and I recommend Calico Corner for the custom coverings...you will find a varied assortment of trims and Sunbrella patterns in their showrooms.

Pool Houses

Pool House

The concept was the idea of creating a walled garden; a container for a building that could create a special place within what is an exposed garden at the top of a ridge in Surrey. A dark yew tree offered an immediate presence of nature and the idea of counter-pointing this with a man-made garden took root. The walled garden became a courtyard, a spiritually rich, calm place that abstracts nature- stone, water, sun, shadows and sky in the tradition of the Zen garden. The building is enclosed by a zinc clad, folded plane, cedar lined internally that wraps over limestone walls – the floor in English limestone and the pool in Bisazza mosaics. An oak clad ‘box’ containing a study projects through the frame less glass wall.

Serenity In Design "No Doubt"!!!!!

No more grass mowing, just the serene sounds of flowing water???

House On The River - wow, it's actually in the river ...

The modern Hind House design by UK’s award-winning John Pardy Architects is one of the firm’s unique “one-off” residential designs that truly is one of a kind. Located near Wargrave on the banks of the River Loddon, the house is based on three parts: public living spaces, private sleeping spaces, and guest accommodations (because a contemporary house like this was meant to entertain in!). Each function occupies a wing of the house, radiating outward in what the architects have described as a “pinwheel form.” Stilts support the house, while allowing the river waters to freely flow underneath when running high. A set of industrial-style stairs leads up to a zinc-clad entrance at the front of the house. Beyond, the unusual house of glass, timber and steel unfolds. A main living space boasts large windows and a wonderful view of nature – trees, water and wildlife – and opens onto a timber outdoor deck for enjoyment of the surroundings, first-hand. John Pardy Architects

Save the Trees In Design

When building your new home or adding a deck to your existing home, a solution to saving some trees around the house and also enjoying the conveniences of modern outdoor decking is this wood deck design idea from Anderson and Anderson architects. An interesting idea for all nature lovers who like having trees around. If you choose to go with the outdoor wood deck then it can be carefully cut out to follow the shape of a tree trunk. Surely, multiple cut-outs can be made to embrace several trees. Afterwords, why not try decorating with river stones and allowing grass to grow up in that place? A great variety of other plants can be planted around the wood deck designed this way. You will get a modern look for your backyard, and also choose a environment-friendly solution. Who would have thought keeping trees safe through simple deck designs can be so easy? Anderson and Anderson.

Black/White and Color

"The little Black dress", it always works for simple elegance, the beauty is that you can add any color of your choice shoes, handbag, earrings, necklace, etc. that will fit your own style.



The same applies to the rooms in your own home. The basics work and never go out of style, the plus in designing this way; you can always change the colors which helps on any budget.....this allows new art, new floral arrangements, new rugs, new accessories to be added to break the boredom of a room.