Inspiration Photo Friday: Nautical Days

04 Friday Jan 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday, The Great Outdoors

Tags

antique, boat, connecticut, fall, house, mystic, nature, nautical, new england, ocean, sea, shore, spring, stars, tree, white, winter

Boy, do I hate the cold. These past few days have been bitter for sure. Winter is never as fun and inspiring to me as spring and fall but it does have it’s beautiful moments.

Below is a photo I took in Connecticut during the end of the fall season. You can feel the cold air hitting your face and the crisp salty breeze from the ocean. I imagine myself living in this white house by the sea. Watching and waiting as the seasons pass me by. Looking out the window at night and seeing the stars twinkle. I have a sense of peace as the calming water by the shore creates a multitude of serenades, just for me.

Oh, do I miss nautical days. Being by the water always makes me feel at home. There is something about the New England area that calls out to me as I have always been drawn to its historic feel. I hear you loud and clear. Maybe one day I will not only stand on your shores but have a little white house of my own. Until then…

{You can purchase this photo in my Etsy shop for $6 + shipping}

Tis’ the Season for Autumn Decorating

13 Saturday Oct 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Home

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autumn, Autumn Decorating, brown, corn stalks, crates, decor, decorating, fall, festive, front porch, gourds, halloween, hay, holidays, leaves, nature, orange, pumpkins, red, seasons, thanksgiving, trees, wreaths, yellow

Autumn is officially here and I must say it is the best season for decorating. With holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving and the beautiful fall weather, there are more than enough reasons to get creative and play dress up with your home.

In my opinion, using the harvest theme is always your safest bet. Plus, you can start decorating in September and change it all up in December when Christmas starts to roll in. That’s 3 months of super fun and also a good time span to not have to do anything else! Easy peasy, I say. From pumpkins and gourds to corn stalks and hay bales, there is so much to work with as well. Playing of autumn’s finest colors of oranges, reds, yellows and browns set the tone for endless possibilities.

For our front porch, we combined some of the season’s finest elements; corn stalks, leaves, pumpkins and mums. I used a few vintage crates for height and variety but kept within the fall color palette. I’m also considering adding a hay bale or two and I am waiting for a wreath I ordered for the front door to arrive. When Dan and I go pumpkin picking we will showcase our carved art pieces on the stairs as well. Just in time for the holiday.

I understand Halloween is a fun holiday, especially if you have kids. Incorporating themed decor is fine during the end of the October. Just be cautious to not go overboard, unless you’re creating a haunted house. I notice a lot of people can get a little cheesy with their seasonal decorations and most of the time its what they chose to use, not how they put it together. As long as you go with nicely styled pieces, you should be fine.

Bringing the outside in, isn’t so hard either. Just shower some fall goodness around your home, a little here and a little there, and fall will bring warmth and cozy to your space. From the front door to inside the comfiest of rooms in your home, autumn can come alive. This is one of the most colorful seasons and there are many reasons to celebrate it.

For my dining room table, I just wanted to bring a touch of the season so I dressed it with tiny pumpkins and gourds. I also showcased a vintage crate I had in my office that was sort of hidden so it felt new. Nothing crazy, just a little bit of earthy goodness.

Here are a few inspirations for autumn decorating that I felt were beautiful, fun and most of all, realistic. We can all make a nice statement at our home’s entrance and we can all surely give the inside a seasonal makeover. With the right decor and placement, fall can be celebrated in your one and only home sweet home.

Photo Credit: Pottery Barn

Photo Credit: (left) Fancy House Road (right) Farmhouse Country Style

Photo Credit: Pottery Barn

Photo Credit: (left) Blissfully Domestic (right) Front Porch Ideas & More

Photo Credit: Fresh Home Design & Architecture

Photo Credit: Front Porch Ideas & More

Photo Credit: (left) Creating a Family Home (right) Revedecor

Photo Credit: Revedecor

Photo Credit: (left) Heather Ballard Lifestyle (right) Shelterness

Photo Credit: Cupcakes and Crinoline

Photo Credit: (left) Brown Eyed Gal (right) HGTV

Photo Credit: Decoist

Photo Credit: The Glitter Guide

Fall Harvest Flavor at Terrain

04 Thursday Oct 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Advice & Inspiration, Everyday Design

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

decor, earth, fall, harvest, interior design, natural, nature, seasons, terrain, weddings

Terrain is one of my favorite shops, even if its to browse around their website and look at the all the goodies they sell. Being a designer and a photographer, I truly appreciate the gorgeous images they showcase and the beautifully styled still life’s. I wanted to share some images I felt were perfect for fall and true representation of autumn harvest style.

These can inspire tons of decor ideas for weddings, parties and even holiday dinners. I included some color palettes as well. Enjoy!

Fall Colors in the Home

12 Wednesday Sep 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Home

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autumn, brown, color, cream, fall, home, house, interior design, nature, neutrals, purple, red

Well it feels like fall is officially here. It’s a season with tons of inspiration, especially its colors. How can you not love the many hues that are showcased by nature? It truly is a beautiful time. It’s also a great time change it up a bit in your home. Besides having fun decorating for Halloween and Thanksgiving, try sprucing up your interior space with fall colors and inspiration.

Here are some great examples I found on Better Homes and Gardens’ website of how to use this season’s colors to create warmth and coziness in your home while still having a designed feel.

Using the neutral tones of nature such as browns and creams with a pop of color like red, gives a sophisticated but fun look to a space. Bring in high contrast elements such as the mirrors and lamp and you add more dimension and a way for light to reflect its shine. This helps make the room lighter and airy.

This nature inspired space showcases all the neutral tones of the season with a few brighter colors for interest. You can see there is a nice even feel to the room. This is due to the different browns and yellows that are used. Everything flows nicely and the space is cozy despite the high ceiling. All the wood textures help as well.

I love the texture in this room. The linen wallpaper adds so much warmth and interest and plays as a nice backdrop to the deeper colors in the space. From the dark brown wicker chair to the taupe couch, the amount of different tones allow the eye to be carried around with ease. The pops of red and orange are nice, especially since they aren’t bright. Everything has the same tone which gives the space a sense of cohesion.

This next room proves you can use an array of shades of one color and still have an interesting space. Doing this allows a feeling of warmth and relaxation. The creams help break up the darker browns in a subtle way.

Creams and browns will always give a space a sophisticated look while creating a cozy feel. I love how this space is airy and open but warm as well. The rustic elements such as the chandelier, beams and textured wood chosen for the door, truly add a woodsy yet elegant style.

When pairing dark colors together such as this eggplant purple and brick red, its important to remember to include brighter hues and reflective elements to help break up the space.