Art Inspired Palette: Islays Terrace-Circle Crochet Hoop
08 Thursday May 2014
Posted in Art Inspired Palette, Color Inspiration
08 Thursday May 2014
Posted in Art Inspired Palette, Color Inspiration
29 Wednesday Jan 2014
Posted in Everyday Design, The Home
Tags
animals, art, baby, carnival, children, childrens room, classic, color, crafts, decor, design, Industrial, interior design, kids, kids room, sports, themes, toys, vintage
I have always loved the idea of designing a children’s room. There is something special about creating a space for a little one to grow, develop, and draw inspiration from. Besides these few must have ingredients, I feel the child should feel warm, cozy, comfortable, and free as well. This is the space they will call their own and most likely be the place they will spend most of their time as they get older.
My husband and I are planning to start trying for our first child and you can bet I have already thought of how to design the baby’s room. I have to admit, I have been thinking about it for years now so it’s no surprise I am super excited to actually make it happen. I think being prepared and always being ahead of the game is the best policy. Plus, with something so important as this task, you should take all the time you need. Hence, starting early!
Personally, I love an androgynous space for a child. One that is not too girly or boyish, a nice mix of feminine and masculine. And anything that looks “baby” is pretty much out. I prefer a space a child can grow up in, not one that has to be redesigned every few years because they grow out of the decor. So a sense of maturity is essential. And adding small touches of childlike features here and there are easy to do. I plan to showcase vintage elements, art & handmade items, and books – three things that will truly feature the style of the space and bring a cohesive look to the room.
I also do not like themed rooms. When I mean theme, I am talking about sports, animals, carnival, zoo, stuff like this that can really go overboard, which I see all the time. Instead of making the whole room look like a football field, placing a few quality inspired pieces throughout the space. The same thing with an animal theme. A child shouldn’t feel like they are in a zoo. It can get a little hectic with wall decals, lamps that matchy-matchy with bedding, and accessories that take over the space. And most of the time all these designs/items are created for baby, so the overall look is a bit dated and overdone. Here are few examples of how to successfully incorporate a theme:

Photo Credit: The Boo and the Boy

Photo Credit: Kids Decorating Ideas

Photo Credit: Cozy Cottage Cute
Color is an important element to think about. How do you want your child to feel in the space. I am a big believer in neutrals, they are used throughout our whole house. These hues allow for relaxation, inspiration, calm, and stability in the space and are the perfect fit for a baby and young child. Sorry, but a bright red and blue room just isn’t a great choice. You want your kids to feel grounded, especially babies. Too much stimulation can really affect their overall being.
So, here are more spaces designed for children that work. They may clearly show a theme, but that theme isn’t kitschy, its a style. And that is what you want to go for. Creating a specialized look and feel should be the priority, while considering your little one’s needs and wants. It is their space after all. Enjoy!

Photo Credit: The Boo and the Boy

Photo Credit: The Boo and the Boy

Photo Credit: The Boo and the Boy

Photo Credit: The Boo and the Boy

Photo Credit: Orsa Maggiore Vintage

Photo Credit: nietylkodzieciaki

Photo Credit: Blessed Wild Apple Girl
20 Monday May 2013
Posted in News, Shop Gray Star Design
Tags
animals, art, charity, crafts, design, fair, farm, garden of eve organic farm, long island, music, new york, riverhead, the forgotten friends of long island, vendor
This past Saturday I was a vendor at The Forgotten Friends of Long Island Spring Fair held at the Garden of Eve Organic Farm in Riverhead, NY. It was a beautiful day for sure. The sun was shining, there was a cool breeze, and the farm was filled with happy animals and lots of plants. My husband and I were there a little before 9 am to set up my table and tent, and then the event started an hour later. For my first event, I have to say I enjoyed it a lot.
There were many vendors there, both artists and food crafters, as well as live music acts. I met some people and passed along my card which is always a good thing. Although I didn’t expect to sell a lot of items, I did make some money. My intent was to support a great cause and get my work out there to more local people. I feel that was very successful.
It also made me smile that some of my family made it out to say hello and take a look around. Big thanks to my cousin Diana, aunt Deb, Grandmother, and in laws for visiting my first fair! It was really cool to have them all there. I feel I am now more prepared for the next event I am part of, as I thought of lots of ideas of how to present my items and attract more people to my table. It’s all about the presentation. And even though I felt my table was super cute, it will be much improved next time around.
Here are some photos I took of the day. Enjoy.

17 Thursday Jan 2013
Posted in Everyday Design, The Home
Tags
crafts, Inspiration, interior design, office, organization, work
Whether you work in an office or out of your home, you should be in a space that is inspiring, organized and beautiful. Even cubicles don’t have to be stuffy and boring. Dress them up with things you love like photos of loved ones and trinkets that make you smile and bring in plants to enhance the air. Remember, this is where you are most of your day so why not create a space you love?
Since I work from home, my office is shared with my husband. Even though I take up most of the room, he does have a small space for his desk. My two dogs also have access during the day so you can imagine how hectic it can get with them running around, playing and barking most of the time. It makes me nuts! But I make sure the space itself is organized and designed to help me get stuff done. This is what truly makes a difference.
I created 3 essential zones; my computer desk area where all paperwork and graphics are done, my printing station where I keep all orders as well as files and my craft area where I cut all paper and keep most supplies.

The closet holds all inventory, magazines and other storage we have. Everything is organized into labeled boxes and kept in groups that make sense.

I also developed a system that would make fulfilling orders easy so I can keep track of my progress. I have a board above my desk that lists all current orders with lists of what to do. After each task is done, I check them off the list until the order is finalized. I also have a weekly to do list I update which enables me to see my projects in advance.
As far as design, both my husband and I wanted the office to feel a bit more masculine and by incorporating a darker color palette in the space I think we accomplished that nicely. I wanted it to have a more study feel as apposed to a business feel. So with the navy hue on the walls and darker toned wood pieces, its warm and cozy. We also surrounded ourselves with artwork we love, books and lots of vintage finds that make us happy. I have to say my office is one of my favorite places to be.

Here are some other really great examples of office spaces that are beautiful and organized. They are sure to inspire you to create a room you love too.

Photo Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

Photo Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

Photo Credit: Creative Stream Blog

Photo Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

Photo Credit: Creative Stream Blog

Photo Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

Photo Credit: The Inspired Room