Inspired Room: Designing with Mustard and Chartreuse

I love the combination of everything here. It seems like too much mustard, but the soft floral pillows in the pinks, the roses, the pale blue throw and those industrial light fixtures make it all work. Not to mention the lovely rug, wow. The picture frames matching the legs on the sofa and the dark wood floors add balance through color. Artful Arranging

I may not have revealed this before, but mustard and chartreuse are two of my favorite decorating colors. Decor8 had blogger and Color Consultant Rachel Perls write a little about decorating with these colors here.

Create your own diy silhouette portraits tutorial here

I believe this room is simply perfection.  Mustard looks great with so many colors, but if you want it to pop, keeping it in clean lines and paired with black and white geometric prints seems to be a crisp, and popular choice. One thing I love about decorating in neutrals, is adding and removing colors on a whim is so easy. Living etc.

 "Designers Jean Norman and Meredith Ladik love peeks of art or photography on bookshelves, atop mantels, inside display armoires, or in unexpected spots, such as leaning against a chair back."Artful Arranging 

Even adding these colors to an outdoor space can really brighten up a dreary patio that doesn't boast much color or have a lot of flower garden elements.

A mustard chair, white plank floors and gray polka dot walls with a wallpaper flanking a white mantle, industrial pendant lamps, and aqua vintage duck caddy and a lovely table filled with books. A bear statue with a horse and cowboy photo on the mantle... every element is gorgeous. House to Home via decor8

The chartreuse pillows mixed with aqua and a touch of pink is an interesting mix, but it works. I love the polka dots mixed in here with the geometric pattern on the rug. House Beautiful via Home Designing.

Same with chartreuse and the geometric prints. I love how they went with linen and chocolate instead of black and white to keep the crispness, without being too harsh. ~ Taylor Howes

I never would have thought I would have like the red comforter just laying on top of the blue blanket before... but I love it! And that bedside table, beautiful. The mustard comes in the form of design in the headboard, the upholstered chair and golden tones on the frames. Living etc.

"Very small pieces of art can sometimes drown in big expanses of bare walls. Instead, seek out cozy spots to tuck these tiny treasures. Try the back of a bookshelf, an oddly shaped corner, or minuscule stretch of wall in a small bathroom or kitchen" ~ Artful Arranging

For those who love color, adding small doses in a variety keeps a comfortable feeling without being married to a specific color and  design concept. This is a good way to add in new colors, that one would typically find too bold or shy away from.

I love the simplicity here. Usually the small photo over the bed would annoy me, but because the room is s basic, but with a clear design and minimal color concept, I am quite fond of that little sock monkey.  the 10 cent designer via sfgirlbybay.

I can imagine, that this wall color changes throughout the course of the day when the sun shines through the home, then again when it withdraws. I love the natural wood and white with the mustard walls. Aren't those pendant lights amazing? Joe Nahem via Elle Decor.

Gray, now I'm in heaven. A blast of mustard yellow in the art and the flowers are gorgeous. But the pairing with the gray sofa is my favorite. Elle Decor design by Nate Berkus

This is the same sofa design as the first photo, but without the industrial lights and new pictures, and the chartreuse and mustard remain on the lower half of the room only. Creating a little gallery wall like this is easy... directions here and the peonie download here. Artful Arranging

If you are still not sold on these colors, and you don't want to go out a buy a new knick-knack, pillow or can of paint to introduce it to your room... then settle with a bouquet of flowers to see how it brightens your area.

Homefront: A Horse's Tale {and Vintage Globe Bookends}

I finally had to chance to scour the neighborhood antique mall last week and oh, what a joy it was! I am itching to go back already. And the wonderful thing, is that my two young sons love going and seeing the treasures as well (strapped safely in the confines of our bulky double stroller, that is).

I came home with a few vintage bottles, an amazing metal enamel daisy chandelier that I got for a song, some prisms and this lovely book and globe bookends.

Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry and illustrated by Wesley Dennis is a tale of a horse brought overseas, survived a shipwreck and brought joy to a little family. Apparently, there is an actual foundation for this book to preserve it and the history, as well as a fanbase since it was based on a true story! If you are interested in taxidermy, this is Misty and her daughter in the flesh.

  

  

I was wanting a lovely old story to read to my children, and I'm so happy to have found this little treasure. There is something wonderful about seeing the names and dates of the library card (last checked out in 1976 by a little James Harris), and the smell and feel of old, worn, yet treasured pages.

I also have a love of horses, as evident in this post here. This painting of the horses swimming reminds me of the rescue of the Netherlands horses. (If you watch the heartwarming video) it may be wise to have  a box of tissues near by).

For those wondering about the music in the video, it is *believed* to be Vangelis' main theme from the film 1492 — Conquest of Paradise.

These wonderful vintage globe bookends I found are amazing as well. The globes have such detail and they actually spin! My boys, as well as myself and enamored of them. Don't you love them? If so, I found some that are very similar on Etsy HERE, and some on Ebay HERE.

Do you collect old books? Are they more for stacking together and as design elements to you, or do you also read them? 

*ps for moms... that blue spined book you see on the left, Busy Book by Trish Kaufner... excellent activity book for kids! Tons of crafts and recipes for playdough, paints, edible crafts and more fun learning ideas.... this one I have is for toddler age, but there are other age groups available as well.

Those Lovely Horses

bohemian girl

I have always loved horses. Their smell, their wild spirits and mild yet fiesty hearts, their strength and power. Their grace and beauty and stubborn love. Even as a girl, some of my favorite films have always been Tonka and Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken. Pegasus, unicorns, My Little Ponies, Arabians, Pintos, Mustangs... doesn't matter, I love them all.

fairy tale meadow ~ create love laugh

Once, while horse back riding with friends on a narrow canyon trail, I thought of their powerful bodies trotting over those little rocks and how vulnerable we were to a tiny little slip of a twisted ankle...

alicia bock

michelle k. a.

lori andrews

Another time, a wild horse named "A Horse With No Name" (a stubborn old lady), she took me for a wild ride through brush, down a hill side and off to chase some old cows. I definatly held on for the ride and sheilded my face from low thorny branches. I came out of the forest, clothing in shreds, hair a mess, a bloody lip, black eyes, scratches covering my face and arms and sticks in my hair, but boy... did I love that horse!

arthur sakhkalyan

traci (mrs. french)

if i could pick just one ~ blissful images

bradfordcg

I believe that was the last time I went horse back riding, yet how I have yearned to go again. Every time I see THIS VIDEO of the 100 horses being rescued from the flooding island in the Netherlands, I cry. The score (Vangelis- Conquest of Paradise) has something to do with, I'm sure. I also have a hard time with the forced spectator horse fighting and treatment and conditions of city carraige horses as well.

the gentleman- tracey capone

the whispering horse- irene suchocki

I truly had a hard time picking which horse images to choose for this post. Knowing that this magnificant creature is still out there, working, grazing, running in the sun, nuzzling up to a mate or a wee one, I feel as if a part of their spirit is captured in the photo and I wouldn't want to hurt their feelings by not including it. Truly, I want to gently rub down their noses and softly sing them a song. But that is crazy talk, isn't it.

chris friel

josh murfitt

margo love

Then, I heard about Molly, an abandoned victim of Huricane Katrina. She was alone for weeks, and when finally rescued and taken to a shelter for the animals, she was viciously attacked by a pitt bull and lost a leg and her jaw. She was to be euthanized, but her protective and caring demeanor won the caretakers over. Through love and support, she was able to get a prosthetic and now serves as an inspiration and bringerof hope to those in nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, shelters and hospitals with her sweet spirit and loving personality.

nika f

alfheiour eria

Thanks to mrs. french's post on sfgirlbybay for reawakening my horse love.

Feed Your Soul [through free art]

Indie Fixx has a new little feed your soul art collective. She explains it all HERE and you can download your free (personal use only) art HERE. If you are an artist, you can contribute and if not, you can spread the word! Here's a sampling:







There are some seriously gorgeous works here from some of my favorite artists... I intend to get a whole slew of them and hang them on my new "art gallery wall". Don't worry, my little folks, I will update with pics soon enough. I gotta get some frames and such first!

For all of you that like vintage epherma, labels, gypsies, cards, children, babies, angels, mermaids, beauties, holidays, Marie, cherubs, horses, Strawberry Shortcake and more... then check out Suzee Que's free to use (personal) flickr stream!! Here's a sampling:







At Vintage Printable, you will find hundreds of vintage prints, namely from vintage books of science, medical, animals, nature, mustaches, wigs, fantasy and mythological, poster art, political, gnomes, steampunk... Here's a sampling:


The Virgins Whistler



humor, high society, poking your nose into others business
i love this one



For lovers of antique maps and sea charts, you MUST visit Helminks. They are dealers of the real genuine article not reproductions or scans, but the high quality images of them are breathtaking! Here is a sampling:


Antique map of Holland


Antique Anemographica map by Lotter


Antique Map of West Africa by Linschoten