So, as you may know, I'm having a baby girl in about 2 months. I am so excited to meet Aria Faith Stewart I cant stand it!! We have waited for quite a while and have been down a hard road for this blessing.

All sentiment aside, I have a lot of work to still do for this little one!! Her bedroom looks like a consignment shop blew up with all the little clothes, toys, and wonderful stuff I have been given by family and friends so far. I have had to learn what half of it is, being as this is my only child, much less figuring out where to put it all.

My drapery lady came by yesterday to get my fabric I am using to do a valance. By the way, if you are local to my area and need a good seamstress, please call me. I have another great upholsterer as well. Anyway, I have been getting lots of inspiration for the room along the way. There are a lot of creative people out there! I can not wait to show you the room as it is complete. I am really excited about it. Almost as much as what will be living in it!

Like the graphic appeal of this. My husband is a graphic designer and it just looks like us.. But, we are having a girl so..

I like these colors!

Great job with a smaller room!

Good wall graphic.

This is so great!! Love it all!

Love this tree idea!

The light mobile is very clever, and this crib... Aww..

Fun, fun, fun!!

Great color combo.

All these are gonna house some really cool babies!

All Images via http://pinterest.com/jenylynnstewart/kids-rooms/

Romance. Today is the day. I am an uncurable romantic and I am not afraid to admit it.  The following images inspire my heart to skip a beat....

Nothing says romance to me more than Paris. It is the city of love after all. Old achitecture in general makes me heart felt.

Any view of water is great but this overview of a small Italian town is amazing.

Something about balconies with tables...

All this view needs is a hot tub and a bottle of champagne!

This seclusion yet open air is wonderful!

Candle lit dinner with wine.....

And then, of course, back to the room....

Happy Valentine's Day everyone. Hope you have a romantic view.

The Chill is in the air! My air anyway. One of the first things I think of when the winter starts to creep in is turning my fireplace on. Nothing like real logs but yes, I now have to turn mine on. They say it is better for the environment to have a gas fireplace, but none the less, I'm happy I have one.

Take a look at some of these inspirations. Stay warm my friends!

I am not usually a big fan of all white interiors however, could you imagine just the colors of the food, people and fireplace dancing to bring the room to life?

Something about this room with the combo of cool neutrals and warm light make it so comfy.

This room by Frank Roop is so casual. I like it for its color and ability to be any room you want. Read, eat, nap, and most importantly, stay warm.

The Giai Fireplace is a more interesting one for more contemporary rooms. Usually not a fan of ultra modern, this room just works.

This room is so glamorous. I'd never really care to leave.

For those where it is a little too warm for a true fire I hope you can still enjoy the ambiance!

So as of late, I have been so busy I can't think straight, much less, have blog time. I love what I do, and am very happy to have such great clients that keep me busy, however, we all need to just sit back and relax and allow our brains to stop running on overdrive for a little while. Well, this Labor Day is my due! I'm forbidding myself to work tomorrow and I hope to be outside maybe hanging out on our boat while having a magazine or book in hand (most likely on Interior Design because inspiration is not work, it is fuel for the next round!). In lue of work, I will be sitting back and hope you will too!

The air is getting crisper. The heat is not as humid. And fall is on its way. I love this time of year! What a better way to relax than enjoying the great outdoors, even if your surrounded by chaos, like a big city, you can still enjoy some relaxation time.

Here are some relaxing photos I found of beautiful exteriors that seem like wonderful spaces to take it easy. Check these out. Inviting, invigorating, and calming...

Enjoy your relaxing day wherever you are!!

I recently had the chance to visit the beautiful city of Savannah. As a former flight attendant I have had the pleasure of visiting many cities, especially on the east coast, working out of Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport hub. Unfortunately I never had the pleasure of seeing such a magnificent little gem, and it is was right in my own back yard, so to speak.

In Savannah the beautiful old architecture mesh brilliantly with the quaint boutiques and inviting eateries. So, while there, I took a trolley tour and learned a lot. Some good movies were filmed there, such as Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil; which I have yet to see but is now on my list. The art vibe is right up my ally. They have tons of squares with the most beautiful trees I have ever seen. The history is deep and rich. The weather, um, very hot (so I'll go back in fall)...but I almost can't wait to return and really explore deeper.

Check out these corbel columns!

St. Johns Church. I hear it is as pretty on the inside too.

They don't make them like this lamp post anymore.

Quaint train car we had lunch at.

Paula Dean and Sons cooking up something good, I'm sure..

Gold Dome Capital Building

Broken glass bottles to keep the ghosts away!

Love this ivy!

Use to be Arabian horse stables!

Love this bee hive door

All the gorgeous trees with Spanish moss!! Everywhere.

I hope to visit again soon. It is like traveling back in time. Next time I may take one of their many ghost tours. Apparently ghosts have good taste and know where to hang out!

Savannah is truly unique. It has the party atmosphere of New Orleans, the historic value of Boston,

and the charm of the Old South. -- J. Bennett, New York, NY

Texture is sensual. Pattern adds activity. Both are added elements that are an absolute in my designs. One of the best ways to bring texture and pattern into a room is with fabric. Here are a few fun finds for you that will add texture and/or pattern to a space....

Robert Allen Festive

Kravet 30868-23

Kravet CO 30053-8

Kravet CO 30091-6

Kravet CO HECTOR-1

Nomi Mobia Jamal

Clarence House Etro

I like juxtaposed things. Always have. Just that bit of the unexpected. Somethings are just meant to add interest. One of the best ways to save the life of an old piece of furniture and add interest is with fabric. Don't be old and boring. Have FUN!!

Grey, my favorite new neutral. Without neutrals, lets face it. Colors would not be as interesting. They are the back drop of our beloved color. Sometimes, they are played up, such as in these wonderful interiors... Don't be afraid of grey. It is the mood I'm in at the moment and the trend color of the year. It is subtle yet sophisticated. Go grey, it is okay. Grey and Yellow. Grey and Pink. Grey and Teal. Grey and Red. Grey and Copper.... What is your favorite compliement to grey?

Life is so rapid sometimes that we never really take the chance to stop and look at ourselves, nor our life, to reflect. Taking a good look really lets you view a new perspective and see what is obvious to others yet may be oblivious to you. It can help you to compare the past, see into the future and most importantly, view the present. Without mirrors and reflections, we would never have that vantage point of ourselves. They are the icon of reflections and weather you are just quickly glancing at yourself or taking a good hard look, mirrors are usually not gonna lie.

What's better than a view of great stone? A second view!

My client and I love this mirror in her Living Room and how the down light plays it up so well.

I am fond of wall mirrors especially when they hold art work or sconces..

This is a bad picture of a FABULOUS mirror I have in my Foyer. I LOVE it!

This ceiling would seem so much lower with out the mirror to heighten it.

Those who know me, know I love to entertain! I totally enjoy having to plan a guest list, menu and entertainment. My friends and family mean the world to me, and having them all around, no matter how crazy it gets in one place, is a great party for me! Entertaining to me means having to clean (ugh) but also, having to cook! I have a passion for it. Only having 2 humans in the home right now (2 furry ones as well) offers little opportunity to really get down and dirty in the kitchen. I get excited when the planning begins!

As a designer, I went into Kitchen Design around 2002. What an overhaul this did for my career! I learned kitchen design, and it brought me knowledge like no other. To truly know how a cabinet is built, and those who build them well is so beneficial. I also know you can put $5,000 in a kitchen or $250,000. You will get your money back!

I had, maybe, one class that I had to draw a cabinet cross section in college, which, in retrospect was quite surprising! I was clueless then, and surprised I passed the class.  But learning cabinetry and becoming a kitchen designer really helped me to learn how everything from 5 star kitchens and luxury baths are put together to the understanding of almost all furniture and its insides. It was like a light bulb went on. What a difference!

Not only that, but it taught me so much about how a space functions. I came up with my own morals in planning kitchens... Store, Prepare, Cook, and Serve. In that order. If you set your kitchen up in this "Flow" it is so  kind to the user! That along with great appliances and the infamous NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) triangle planning- refrigerator, sink and cook top are the key elements to a great kitchen work space.

I'm sharing some of my favorite with you. These are kitchens you will want to stay in, even with all the hotness!

So, you think you can't make your kitchen look like these? Take a look at a before and after I did for a client. I was a little taken back when I saw the before. Amazing what a little planning can do!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Now that is hot!