soothing symmetry

There is something soothing about the order that comes from symmetrical rooms. It is a very appealing and chaos free look. I especially love the cozy feeling that comes from just a few items (a piece of artwork, shelf styling of chair style) are not the exactly mirror images of each other.
(via david tsay and carrier and company)

6:18 AM by beemagnet · 0

flowers + graphic patterns

I was just walking out the door for the day and was delayed when I saw these clutches from emersonmade pop up on my computer screen. I just had to share. Combine her adorable flowers with fabulous graphic patterns and my attention is piqued.

Ok, guess I better be on my way now! Happy Wednesday.

7:05 AM by beemagnet · 0

the end of the formal dinner?

Interior design trends constantly adapt to suit social trends and I think the appearance of sofas at dining room tables is an example of that. More and more when I have dinner with friends we wind up sitting on the sofa around the coffee table to eat dinner.

(images via eric piasecki, atlanta homes and gardens and tom scheerer)

Am I alone in experiencing this trend not only socially but in interior design?

5:20 PM by beemagnet · 0

kate spade {photo wall}

One of the many reasons that I love blogging is that I am able to find such satisfaction in strolling through stores simply to find inspiration. One of my first stops after to coming home to Chicago was Oak Street-- I was on complete visual overload and found many things to covet but one of the things I loved the most (just after a stunning ruby red zac posen dress at Barneys) was the beautiful wall in the Kate Spade store.

So I of course decided to document it with my i phone. Such a well arranged collection of items and unique styles.

I especially love the pink ampersand, adorable necklace decked owl and the beautiful peony photo. Click here for picture hanging hardware.

5:00 PM by beemagnet · 0

goodbye met home

My taste in interiors is constantly evolving, which is why one of my favorite pastimes is flipping though old issues of my overwhelmingly large (I can't stand throwing the away!) shelter magazine collection. I am always shocked to see which pages I dog eared and equally so by the ones I didn't. I was doing just this a couple weeks ago and found a renewed love for Metropolitan Home. So I thought I would share the pages that I tore out in my recent peruse through the met home archives.
I was amazed by how many designers that I was introduced to though those pages, the lust worthy furnishings and the diversity of the styles that were showcased.

Which is why was deeply saddened when this publication announced yesterday that it was closing its doors.

(all scanned via various issues of Metropolitan Home)
Goodbye Metropolitan Home and thank you for the glossy pages of inspiration!

5:45 PM by beemagnet · 0

styling [floor to ceiling shelves]

Styling just a couple of floating shelves in the living room is hard enough, let alone styling floor to ceiling shelves. There are so many routes to go, but these are my favorite. First you can use the shelved wall as though it was an other wall in the room by placing a sofa against it or even hanging a mirror or on the shelf frame--all while still utilizing the shelves for storage.

Or you could add sliding glass doors over the shelves in order to add some framing and protection for the items inside.

I also love the look of books when they are stacked in piles versus upright. It also allows the placement of breakable items next the books without the worry of the books falling over on to them.

And they do look lovely when they contain no books at all and are just touched with a few lovely vases, pieces of china or leaning photos.


Although difficult there is something so clean about ones with a monochromatic color scheme .


And lastly, the style this is most like mine--a little bit of of all these styles all in mixed in to one bookshelf.


(images via i suwannee, melanie acevedo, hus and hem via made by girl, via velvet and linen, paul costello, aaron hom, michael del piero, steven gambrel, canadian house and home and furbish studio)
OK, that turned into a much longer post than I planned--but there are just so many options! So, what is your shelf styling style?

11:15 AM by beemagnet · 0

dash of [framed] glamour

Looking around my living room I would say that it is welcoming and has a classic clean look. Even though I have a few glamorous accessories I really want to add one key piece that exudes glamour without going overboard. So, I have a mirror that I am going to redo the frame of in soft gold and I hoping it will turn out looking just like these...



(veere grenney associates, house beautiful and darryl carter)
Or maybe I will switch out the track lights in my kitchen for a simple crystal chandelier...but I will save inspiration on that idea for another post! What do you have in your home to add a subtle splash of glamour?

7:35 PM by beemagnet · 0

m.i.a

Sorry to have been so absent from blog land the past few days but I have been spending every minute preparing for a large event that took place last night. The event went wonderfully but I am now completely drained. I promise to be back to normal posting tomorrow.

(via clive tompsett)
In the meantime, I hope you all had a great weekend!

3:51 PM by beemagnet · 0

serene palette {soft gray + taupe}

The soft gray and taupe palettes of these rooms are definitley soothing to my eyes after a hectic day of work. The perfect transition to a quiet and relaxing evening...


(via apartment 34 and tony hutchinson)
Oh, and a bath in that lovely claw footed tub would be quite lovely too! Hope you all have a lovely evening.

4:44 PM by beemagnet · 0

{triple threat} black+white+barn door

I love when my favorite design elements can all be found seamlessly working together in one space. And in these rooms that is just the case--they combine my love for a black and white palette, barn doors (sliding in one and art in the other), unpretentious design and all while exuding casual elegance.


(via darryl carter and unknown)
What would your triple threat in a room be? OK my oven timer is telling me it is time to make dinner. Hope you all have a great night. Sorry posting has been on the lighter side lately--work is just insanely busy!

5:30 PM by beemagnet · 0

loft living

The first time I set foot in a loft was when I was living in Chicago and working in advertising--I was stopping by a co-workers place and was both amazed and baffled by the open space. I remember not quite knowing if I loved or hated them. However, I have to say that the high ceilings and abundant natural light have definitely won me over!

(via living etc, loftlite, sfgirlbybay, vogue living, canadian house and home, design*sponge )
What is your take on the loft?

6:45 AM by beemagnet · 0

olive touches

Ok, so I not quite sure this color is actually olive- maybe more of electric mustard and lime mixture but that is quite a mouthful! Whatever the proper name--I love the dashes of it in these rooms.



(via nuevo estilo, jay jeffers and canadian house and home)
What would you call this in between hue? Hope you are all having a lovely Sunday.

11:10 AM by beemagnet · 0

high contrast stripes

I have been thinking about area rugs a lot lately--mainly because I have been considering a new one for my home and have realized that I am quite picky. So often when I am flipping through my favorite shelter magazines the rug truly is a deal breaker between loving or liking a room. I am thankful to have finally found a a rug style that I truly love in pretty much any room and with any style-- high contrast striped (especially wide) rugs...





(sources: scanned from July/August elle decor, cottage living via simply natural, oprah home, living etc, mortem holten)
Do you have a rug style? Or a component of a room that really makes or breaks it for you? If you are looking for more striped rug inspiration Anne did a wonderful post on some this week as well!

5:35 PM by beemagnet · 0

not your typical trellis

I have long loved Kelly Wreastler's imperial trellis wallpaper and still do but it was also quite nice to see a twist on the trellis inspired wallpaper, especially in a bathroom!

(via nuevo estilo)
Could you handle such a bold geometric pattern in your bathroom?

5:23 PM by beemagnet · 0

finally giving in {open kitchen shelving}

I have to admit that I am not the most organized person and for that reason I have long resisted the trend of open shelving in kitchens but lately I have seen too many lovely examples of it to hold off any longer.







(via living etc, skona hem, unknown, living etc, flickr, domino, marie claire maison, domino)
Do you think you can be tidy enough to have open kitchen shelving? Be back in a bit with a french inspired garden wedding inspiration board.

3:30 AM by beemagnet · 0