Happy Spring!

It's finally here!! Tulips are sprouting, birds are chirping, and the sunshine is warm! 

We're so happy we could jump for joy.. much like these adorable Holsteins. 

I'm  taking a break from Ashley's teenage time travel to bring to you a few fun ideas for spring.

Just a little something to make you smile :-)

Nothing says spring to me more than the Forsythia bushes in bloom. Try filling your vases with wine corks, sliced lemons, or colored glass beads for a fresh effect. 

Speaking of lemons...

I love how this brings the sunshine in!

Nothing to fill those jars & vases? Lemons. 

They'll brighten up your kitchen and last a bit longer than flowers. 

Oranges and limes are also wonderful for adding bursts of color! 

These lidded hurricane jars are a staple for me in my sesonal decorating. 

Mason jars are one of my little design secrets. They're incredibly versitile!! 

I love the blue glass ones, but if non are to be found, they're also incredibly easy to paint with some fresh pastels. (Also very easy to paint old pasta sauce jars!)

I love this adorable moss terrarium idea. Perfect for a kitchen table or mantel top.  

Instead of tossing your bygone blooms in the compost heap because you think they won't flower again, wait for the leaves to die back naturally. Then, plant them in garden and feed them an organic fertilizer. (Narcissus and daffodil bulbs are more likely to respond, and bloom again)

Check back next week as Ashley continues our wild ride through the ages! 

(You won't want to miss our 80's decor!)

Swing Life Away

Blogging this week in my absence is my beautiful, creative and whitty daughter Ashely ... I hope you find the apple didn't fall far from the tree!  Enjoy the post, and I'll be back next week when I return from my annual missions trip!

The front porch is my sanctuary. It's where I catch my breath, catch up with friends, and catch some Z's on my porch swing.  I truly believe that your outdoor seating spaces should be treated as an extension of your home. 

Outdoor fabric and furniture has come an incredibly long way since the plastic furniture and vinyl cushions of our childhoods.... You can be so creative with colors, textures, and even different finishes.

Fabrics are now not only durable, but also pleasing to the eye and touch. 

Check out these wild patterns!!! 

What's even better, is what you can put the fabrics on!

Cute Swivel Rocking chair from Pavilion Furniture's Eos Collection. 

An adorable rustic Bar stool from Pavilion's Portico Safari Collection

This overstuffed Lounge Chair is to die for. From Pavilion's Horizon's Collection.

And last but not least, this breathtaking lounger with a traversing canopy!! 

Mad about Mad Men

So, I've been down for the count this past week with the flu. Laying on the sofa bored out of my skull, I opened up Netflix for some mindless entertainment. Having caught a few episodes of Mad Men in the past, I decided to start from the beginning.




Being a designer, I instantly fell in love with the authentic set design. The way that Don Draper lounged across a mid-century modern sofa, swirling his scotch, set my heart aflutter. Of course, I was more focused on the sofa.

These sofas, chairs, coffee tables, and lamps gave me flashbacks to my childhood, making me almost as giddy as a child riding on daddy's lap "driving" the car.

Here are some of my top picks from furniture designer Dorothy Knoll.

As much as I love Man Men and the enviroment that the designers created, I wouldn't want to be subjected to those gender roles!

The Ultimate TV

Let's face it, I may be a woman but even I think this is epic!

C SEED TV by Porsche Design Studio

201" LED Screen

Waterproof 

15 integrated speakers including 

Daylight Compatible 

Ground Retractable with underground storage 

Rotatable 270 degrees

Height adjustable to 15'

Fully expanded, unfolded and ready to roar in 25 seconds.

Wowza! 
This can be all yours for a mere ... $700,000*!!

I don't mean to take the wind out of your sails but that is one very pricey television!!

Happy Friday Guys.... Until Next Week 

*Porsche, Smokin' Hot Babe and Cold Champagne not included .......

Hope

It's Hump Day again, and here in Connecticut, its a balmy 9 degrees this morning. 
Baby it's cold out there! 
Today's blog post is sure to warm your heart......

Hope.

I can't quite put into words exactly the feeling I have when I hear the word.  I know the core of my being is warmed, I can feel a smile wriggling it's way to my lips and in even the most dire situations, I find a glimmer of peace. 

Hope....
When I saw the word Jewels combined with Hope
..... I knew I had found a treasure.

A mother-daughter team, Sandy and Stevie of Jewels for Hope create affordable, fashionable and classy works of art all in the name of charity.  What started out as a small way for Sandy to give back to Hospice after her Mom's passing, has exploded into jewelry gracing the average Joe to Hollywood's Red Carpets.  These dynamic, self taught artists are not only full talent but personality too, which clearly shines through in their 'Statement Necklaces'.  Sandy and Stevie have committed a portion of every sale to charity, which includes close to 25 organizations.  Interesting the more they give, the more success they seem to enjoy.....talk about paying it forward!

Grey & Fuchsia Pearl Necklace 
This gorgeous twisted necklace is one of a kind!

Made with a mixture of Swarovski Pearls, Freshwater Pearls, and Crystal Pearls. The Fuchsia pearls thrown in for a pop of color! Portions of Profits donated to American Cancer Society 

Not Your Grandmother's Pearls

This gorgeous twisted necklace is one of a kind! Not Your Grandmother's Pearls!Made with different cream/white shades of Swarovski Pearls and Swarovski Crystals thrown in for some sparkle. A vintage pendant is worked into the front of the necklace. Portions of Profits donated to Caregiver Fund.

It's so much fun talk shop as one designer to another.  Stevie and I chatted like old friends, I had to know what she thought of the 2013 Color of the Year, Emerald.  A color I'm honestly having some difficultly warming up to!  My feeling is small doses of this color are fine in interior design.....

 I guess great minds think alike! Stevie felt the same. 

She is predicting layering and stacking of bracelets will remain hot and big chunky necklaces are winners.  It's no secret I love upcycling, and Stevie and Sandy are doing their share of it too.  Many of the Statement Necklaces are old costume jewelry spun into beautiful works of art! 

Pink Wire Necklace with Vintage Pendant
Portions of this beauty are donated to Paint the Town Pink 

Saturday I need to dig through some costume jewelery..... 

Stay tuned and see what Sandy & Stevie create for me! 

Rockin' Down The Highway.....

It's here Friday!.........

 I'm packin' it in for the weekend! 

So as I check the heat, hit the lights and skip out of my office dancin' to the

 Doobie Brothers 

"Rockin Down the Highwy" 

I leave you with this...

whimsical 

unique 

wild 

and a bit...

racy.... 

By LA Design Studio
http://www.la-ds.com

Got those highway blues, can't you hear my motor runnin' 

Flyin' down the road with my foot on the floor 

All the way in town they can hear me comin' 

Have a great weekend Folks! 

Bed Head

It's Hump Day, which means we're at the crest of the work week. I'll admit, I had a heck of a time getting out of bed this morning! It was just so darn warm and cozy under those blankets.  As I hit the snooze alarm for the second time, I contemplated today's blog, the heck with writing about 2013 color of the year, or the amazing fabrics I reviewed yesterday. Lets talk beds!  After all, it certainly was on my mind this morning!

With 20 years of designing interiors under my belt, I have stumbled upon some amazing beds. I'll bet waking up on Hump Day in one of these beauties would make it impossible to get out of bed!

The New Traditionalist Bed No. Twenty One 

The New Traditionalist ........

A Connecticut Company!

This amazing handmade bed  is constructed with North American Black Walnut and Maple. 

Shown here with Bleached Walnut frame and a Dusty Beige Shearling upholstered headboard,

the turned posts feature plum leather detailing. 

Can I just say O.M.G.!

Somerset Bay Frenchtown Bed

Somerset Bay...
Can't you just see yourself curled up in this beauty?
Of course, my linens would be sprayed with Lavender Linen Water from In O'Scents of Madison!  
I just love Somerset Bay, their pieces have classic lines with modern hues.  All their pieces are available in an array of unique finishes.  Here's the best part, all the finishes are 'flavors'!  This amazing bed's finish is Key Lime Pie. 
Yum!

Theodore Alexander Kalahari Panelled Bed 

 Theodore Alexander 

This ebonised and Kalahari panelled, with its the curved head and footboard, surely could have been piece found in the Belvedere in NYC.  

A master piece with its inlaid with faux crocodile skin panels, stainless steel mouldings, mounted on stainless steel feet, is simply a work of art. 

Perfect for an Art Deco inspired Design. 

Visit my Pinterest Page for more fun beds!

Here's to Hump Day!

Success in the New Year.....

I kicked off the new year with my dear friend Mary Jones, as a guest on the Mary Jones Show.  Mary, along with her guest co-host and life coach Marge Piccini, devoted the entire show to Success.

Mary started the show with the burning question how do you define success .... Marge responded in her usual fashion, with an eloquent, poignant and insightful answer.  I sat back in my seat, sighed a little and thought...."oh boy, Mary, hope you're not looking for a great life lesson from me?!"


Mary then turned to me and asked "how about you Lisa .... define success" I smiled and said the first thing that came to mind.......

"well I guess it depends on the day. Today, success was that I folded a load of laundry and all the socks matched!" 

Honest to Pete I did! Yes, it got a few laughs, but sometimes success is just the simple things in life! I did follow up with my true successes in life, my marriage and my two beautiful kids.  Its amazing that it all falls into place when your priorities are in check. 

Yet even on those successful days when the socks are paired, I get out of the house on time, and I somehow make it through an entire day in white pants without spilling coffee on them ... its not such a bad idea to reconnect with our life goals.  

So as we venture into 2013, lets share our successes and goals! Curious what some of mine are? 

Here's a taste........

Hike the  Presidentials

Blog more Often

(finalize a name for my blog!)

Shop Local & Promote Local Businesses

Network More

Ask my Kids every day to share one thing they're Thankful for 

Eat more Salads

I'd love to hear from you share your success & goals on my Facebook Page or comment below. 

Lets Rock 2013!