House of Hydrangeas

There were lots of goodies in the latest rue mag, but here are a few of my favorites. I'm actually going to start out with one of the ads featured in the issue.  This is from an ad for The Foundary.  I love the white platters contrasted against the charcoal walls.  The shelves (I need some of these) house several collections that look effortlessly stunning.  And can we just talk about the warm and weathered dining table juxtaposed against the sleek white upholstered chairs?  Talk about a beautiful symphony. Next up is a design by Monika Claasen.  The neutral color scheme, simple and mix of materials had me from the start.  And again, I'm totally digging the baskets bringing interest, height and texture to an otherwise bland wall. If you've read my blog for awhile, you may have noticed there's one thing you never see on here.  Red.  I'm not normally drawn toward the color red in any decorating instances (well okay, maybe at Christmas), but...

If you're looking for great, FREE sources for design, fashion and entertaining inspiration, you're in luck. In the past year, online magazines (web-zines or e-zines) has grown tremendously.  I, for one, am a huge fan.  These magazines are economical (most of them require no monetary subscription), convenient (items showcased often have a direct link to locate them online), and easy (no more clipping out ideas from magazines and filing them in my binders--now I just save an electronic file). In case you're unfamiliar with the e-zine world, I'll share with you a few that you should check out.  Rue Magazine -Full of fashion, finds and design this is "your pathway to stylish living," as they so elegantly describe themselves.  They just launched their fourth issue yesterday.  And just like the initial three, it did not disappoint.   High Gloss Magazine -A lifestyle magazine featuring interior design, fashion, entertaining and travel ideas.  This is a ...

I recently had one of my readers contact me and ask me what my favorite free magazines were for design inspiration. However, aside from Pottery Barn, Ballard Designs and West Elm, all of the magazines I get are through paid subscriptions. But I must say they are a much better deal than buying them off the shelf. Usually around $15 for a year. That's only a little over a dollar a month. And many magazines run great promotional deals on their sites. For instance, right now Better Homes and Gardens is running a deal for $5.99 for a one year subscription. However, if subscriptions aren't your thing, there are still many available resources online. Here are a few I use: 1. BHG.com- Better Homes and Gardens has a great website with a variety of topics they cover. From crafts, to food, to decorating, to gardening...they have it all. If you go to their website, you can sign up for their weekly newsletter to be emailed to you. I receive this and find inspiration all of th...