can’t wait to see the finished product in theaters, august 2013.

noun: a brief evocative description, account or episode.

verb: portray (someone) in the style of a vignette.

creating vignettes is an easy way to freshen up your home with each changing season while making use of what you already have.

be yourself. tell your own story of who you are, what you like, where you have been.

the best place to start is with odd numbers. groups of threes and fives in staggered heights help to avoid the cluttered look. group in similar colors, or textures and find some contrasting colors to pair them with.

here is a great example from the new york east village townhouse of pamela bell, one of the originators of the kate spade brand.  rather than filling her home with pieces that are too luxe or fussy to withstand the rough and tumble nature of her children, she has incorporated their hand prints (literally) into the decor.  she invited her children and classmates to come over and ‘decorate’ the muslin sofas with their artwork.

a great example of beautiful ‘organic’ decor. no fuss, no muss, creative and colorful living at it’s best.

i love the look of this room from the 1970s Encyclopedia of Home Improvement. the bright apple green, the zebra print, the modern chair juxtaposed with the traditional shutters – such a happy, invigorating space!

and here is a more modern take on the same color scheme:

pink and orange have always been one of my favorite color combos – and i know lots of you will agree.   the vintage, bohemian chic and gypsy vibe of this pink and orange space are bold and erotic.

check out how jonathan adler has incorporated the same colors in his ‘barbie malibu dream house’.

barbara grizzuti harrison once said, “there are no original ideas. there are only original people”.  inspiration can be found in the past, present and the future… it’s up to you to add your stamp of originality.

let’s start the new year off with some truly wonderful incarnations of re-purposed beauty, shall we?

first off, this piece from artist benjamin bullins transports me back to to the cobble stoned streets of montmartre – vive le  bohémien!

at manoteca, this marvelous pair of street doors is your desk, masquerading as your dining table. a divine blend of multi-purpose, recycled art and furniture. handmade. truly beautiful.

and, finally – this kitchen island found in the pages of country living magazine.  mixing warm with cold, soft with hard, this little gem grabbed me so much. i have had several antique steel case dressers over the years, and this could very well be in their next life! a new spring project for one of my favorite rooms in the house, the kitchen.

one of my favorite things to do is to edit a room. to take away. work with negative space. give items some breathing room. de-clutter and give your possessions and collections a new look on life. let go of things that are not useful, or beautiful. if you can take away five items from a room, you will see the change. give it a try. let go.

i came across this photo yesterday (via absolutelybeautifulthings-blog-spot.com)
- and it made me smile.

i hope never to be the woman that settles for less as i continue to age. i hope to be the kind of woman who continues to grow, who inspires others with a lifetime of experience, and the woman who still has style in spades.

this woman still has it. with abundance! her delightful sense of fashion, with the backdrop of vibrancy; and clearly a keen eye for what makes an eclectic, divinely daring living space.

let’s remember – you are never too old to make it beautiful!

you can never go wrong with green in my opinion. green for quirky accents, to breathe life into a cramped space, green to brighten your spirit. green is healing. green contains the powerful energies of nature, growth, and the desire to expand or increase.

mix with turquoise, mix with violet, mix with pink. gimme green, and make it good.

in accents, or in pure color saturation – find your inner kermit, and see yourself smile.

fabric by brick house fabrics, louis chair by paloranta, cushion by the colour union.

fall is around the corner. time to add the cozier touches to home, and prepare to hunker down and find respite from the cold. even in small spaces, darker hues combined with vibrant touches reinvent your space. don’t be afraid of the dark!

dark grey is my favorite this year. for an accent wall, or an entire room; floors and all. inviting and offbeat, perfect for my eclectic taste.