The Simply Luxurious Life®

Why Not . . . Become Your Own Decorator?

In yesterday’s post This & That: No. 5, I recommended Susanna Salk’s recently released decor book Be Your Own Decorator: Taking Inspiration and Cues from Today’s Top Designers. With gorgeous images of rooms designed by top interior designers such as Mary McDonald, Nate Berkus, Kelly Wearstler, Charlotte Moss just to name a few, Susanna organizes her book as a suggestion. In other words, the images she has collected essentially beg the question, Why Not . . .? – use a bit of color, be aware of how furniture is arranged, or break a few decor rules and allow your books to be chaotically organized within a perfectly organized room.

So with her suggestions to consider when it comes to decorating a home, I began to make a list of my own tips that have served me well as I have over the years painted, remodeled or rearranged my apartments, houses, and various rooms.

Salk organizes her book into seven different chapters which focus on inspiring images in the following areas: color, mixing up styles, arrangement, balance, whimsy, accessorizing and rule-breaking. With these chapters as the foundation for becoming your own decorator, below are a few more specific suggestions that I have found great success with as I continue to create my very own simply luxurious sanctuary:

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Labels: Be Your Own Decorator, book, chairs, chandeliers, decor, molding, neutrals, sanctuary

Four Seats Please

Recently, I had the opportunity, unexpectedly, to do a little wine tasting in the Walla Walla Valley wine region and while I’ve never had the luxury of being able to stop in during the middle of the week before, I found it to be, while quite different from my other experiences, more enjoyable than I could have ever imagined.

The winery was calm, only a few potential buyers were tasting, and the staff was able to pay closer attention. The hustle and bustle was absent which allowed for us to find an entire space arranged with plush armchairs, couches and side tables to rest our stems.

I quickly recognized one of the reasons why this arrangement of furniture was so welcoming to inducing conversation: one, we all had a extremely comfortable place to relax; two, we were close enough for an intimate conversation, but we weren’t on top of each other; and three, we had a little nudge by the handful of tastes of wine we had already enjoyed.

The gathering of four different pieces of furniture whether they be couches or chairs is such a conducive way of promoting exactly what one hopes for at a small dinner party at the house – lively conversation. Whether it be before dinner is served and you are waiting for everyone to arrive over a glass of champagne or after dinner, with cups of coffee.

I’ve gathered a collection of rooms for you this week to take a look at, and I’m curious what you think of this idea. Have wonderful Tuesday.

Images: (1) House Beautiful (2) Decor Pad (3) Elle Decor (4) Decor Pad (5) Material Girls (6) House Beautiful (7) Decor Pad (8)Decor Pad (9) Decor Pad (10) Things That Inspire (11) Source

Labels: chairs, couches, living room, sofa

Tufted Yet Inviting

The ideal work space for writing – a bird’s eye view of Paris, natural light, fresh flowers, a laptop ready to work, and a comfortable tufted chair. Ahh . . . can’t help but want to just savor the view for a moment.

A rich elegance is something I equate to pieces of tufted upholstered furniture whether it be found on chairs, ottomans, benches, or headboards. There is something so grand that for some reason it immediately reminds me of royalty. If only for a night, when I sleep in a bed with a tufted wingback headboard, I feel like I might just be a queen, and then the morning comes with reality as its companion. Oh well. I’ve collected for this week’s Rooms of Inspiration groupings of furniture that all display luxuriously a tufted design. Have a look and do share your favorites. Have a lovely Tuesday!

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A Place to Sit