OFFICE REDO

We're about to start working on updating my husband's dental website. Therefore, we knew the dental office needed some modern updates in the furnishings since the office photos would be on the new site. We made a few changes to the interior recently and would love to do more soon. The talented Katie Clementson of Clementson Photography will take the "pro" pics of the office for the revised website later this month. I'll share his new site when her photos are finished & the website is revamped. Until then, just wanted to show you a small niche of how we made simple changes to the interior & how they can change a space.
New modern lighting, eliminating clutter & taking out alot of old silk greenery was a big start. Yes , it's time to ditch all those dust lovin' ivy and faux plants on top of your cabinets & everywhere else!
You know the ones... the type that REALLY look fake! Simple, uncluttered open spaces are in and space absorbing fake greenery out! Ok, I did replace with some greenery ....just in small amounts & new updated versions such as boxwoods ,natural dried greenery & a fake succulents from Crate & Barrel, like this:

and this:

I just mean it's time to ditch some of those ivy types from Michaels & Hobby Lobby. The old versions of fake plants just don't work with new " modern urban", ya know?
The tassled deep red "Tuscany" shades & silk protea floral arrangement were also great a few years ago, but needed a new modern change. Not to mention all that clutter needed to be off the table & the wall you see to the right:

By simply updating with modern lighting, new real plant & eliminating clutter, we made the space more current:

Love the green lamps.....and guess what the secret most wonderful resource is? Marshall's! Sweet price and amazing look. (I think the price per lamp was a mere $ 34.99... gotta love it!)
The boxwood plant is great because it's a real plant that is preserved but you spray it with water once a month ,to maintain the fresh green color. By eliminating clutter & taking down the right side wall art , we made the niche more "spa like".
We'd still love to update this table or at least the base of the table. The iron and "bird cage" detail on the legs need to be updated with the new urban chic look, don't you agree? I still like the top of the table because it's a great neutral stone top, just not the legs. Anyone know an inexpensive fabricator in Austin, to make a new modern base? (one that doesn't cost an arm & a "leg"!) (or one that will barter for dental work?!)

Love this new modern urban style from Loft in Austin:

We're also waiting on a backordered tray for the table, from Crate and Barrel, and it might give the table just a tad more color & width to the middle space of the table (the photo looks large, but the tray measures 22"w x 11"d x 3.5"h):

The unique "Butari Tray" is organic & handcrafted in terra cotta , laminated with striking variegated banana bark veneer & is beautiful in person. The Butari Tray also has a coordinating vase, "Butari Vase", that we used in another part of the office :

...each one is different because of the variegations. We're thinking of having just the Butari tray in the middle of the console table with some modern green arrangement within the tray. Mario and Keith at Westbank Flowers are our floral design gurus and I'm sure they can think of something great. Succulents in a modern grouping or a green mossy arrangement? More boxwoods?
Again, check out those sweet lamps!!

Speaking of "re-dos", I'm working with Natalie of Modern Sugar, to revamp my own website and blog. Once we get everything done, we'll work on the revised dental site. I'll keep you posted when all is complete!

Is your website a good representation of your style? All design, whether in the form of interiors, a website or fashion needs an update from time to time.

Tomorrow we're heading out to Fredericksburg on a road trip.

While there we hope to stop in the RED store. Check out their website HERE cuz it looks like a great home furnishings store with a modern urban twist.

All the best ,Happy Halloween & Hook Em Horns!

Betsey , our "cat on a hot tin roof"

xoxox,










(images via jvw, Crate & Barrel, Cosmopolitan & Loft)

Hotel Inspiration - Banyan Tree Samui

I love a well designed hotel and The Banyan Tree Samui delivers high design in spades.  It's truly eye candy.

OMG, wouldn't you love to wake up to this everyday?

This room is has minimum color but the use of texture gives it amazing impact on the senses.

Another shot of this beautiful room.  Isn't it fabulous?

My Mom Cave

Kate at Centsational Girl is having a link party for Mom Caves.

My mom cave is definitely my living room.  Every time I pass by it I smile and more importantly it holds my romance novels.  Yup I love a good romance novel, after reading serious stuff all day and helping with high school, a romance novel is best thing for me.  There is nothing better then snuggling in my chair with a blanket reading a book and watching rain fall outside.  

I love my mom cave, hope you do too.

I'm linking this to Centsational Girl, please hop over to see all the caves.

 This makes me smile.

See all my lovely novels.

That's the chair I love to snuggle in.

Living Room Mood Board

Well, purple is all the rage again.  I'm sure the color is probably called wine or something else but it will always be purple to me.  I've created a room using purple as an accent color, I think it would fabulous with a citrine colored wallpaper.

Would you use a deep wine color on your walls?

Living Room Mood Board

Here's a mood board I did for a friend of mine, she wanted a room with blue accents.
I've combined blue, gray, cream, browns and some black. The sofa in the mood board is her own.

What you do think?

Luxe for Less - Mirror

So, if you don't know it yet, I love a good mirror, here's a couple of mirrors that would look good in any room.

Mirror above is sold at Williams - Sonoma Home for $195 on Sale.

But wait, here's the same mirror for $62.40 at QVC.

Isn't it the sunburst mirror behind the sofa fabulous, and at $199 from Crate and Barrel the price isn't bad at all.

But why spend $199 when you can buy a comparable one for $69.99 from good old Target.

Happy shopping.

Good Finds

I was in my local Target shopping and noticed that they're putting all their college stuff on clearance at 75% off.  Where can you get a comforter for $5?  So if you have children or a college student these are great buys especially since XL Twin sheets can be difficult to find.   The sizes range from twin to queen.
So run over to your local Target to see if they are on sale there too. Happy Shopping!

A Bump in the Road

I know this blog is mainly dedicated to home decor and design and I try to keep my ramblings to myself but I felt compelled to share.

Three years ago my son had a health scare, one of those scary health issues that makes your heart pound, cause you sleepless nights and have you crying in shower.  It started out innocent enough, with a throat ache which I thought was strep but after we went to the pediatrician's office, right away I knew something was up when three doctors converged on the room.  You know something is wrong with a doctors are readily available because they love to make you wait.  The thing that bothers me to this day that they didn't mention anything they just made me an appointment with a specialist saying they just wanted a throat specialist to take a look at it.

I can't tell you how my heart sunk when a drove to the specialist and pulled in the parking lot and saw a HUGE sign on the building indicating it was a Cancer Center. It still gives me the willies just thinking about how I felt walking into that building and I know my little man was scared as heck too when he saw the sign on the building.  After numerous blood tests and MRIs we found out that it was mono.  We still don't know where the heck he picked mono from but we were so happy to have skirted the big C we didn't care.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, my son woke up at 4 am to massive headache. Normally a headache wouldn't bother me but he said that he couldn't see out of one eye.  That scared the crap out of me.  Of course my mind went back the Cancer scare we had three years and started it racing to crazy scenarios like what if it wasn't mono and something serious and the doctors missed something three years ago?  After numerous tests in the past couple of weeks he was diagnosed with severe migraine headaches. Phew, Thank God.

So I'm thankful of my blessings but my heart goes out to all the moms and dads who are dealing with seriously sick children.  While I only had a tiny bump in the road and a month of sleepless nights, there are many folks out there who will lose their precious babies to illness.  Please keep all these families in your prayers, you can also make a donation to St. Judes here.

We're now back to homework and hair issues.

My little man started the summer like this:

And ended the summer like this:

BRITISH LOVE

My husband's roots go back to England and therefore we love anything British.
(especially a great cup of tea)
I know the ole Union Jack is one of the latest ubiquitous fashion statements, but I will always love the look, even when it becomes passe on the design blogs.
For all you Anglophiles, I've gathered a British assortment for the day:

Precious vintage serving spoons from Wooden Hive.

Limited edition giclee print of an original illustration, from Orange Studio.

I love a great china tea cup, but sometimes you need a mug for that tea!
Brookish designs this cute mug.

Charming tea cozy from a fellow Austinite Diane Tubb Designs.

Handsome Union Jack cuff links for the stylish lad in your life, from Blink Photo.

Andrew Martin from the UK, has recently launched a new line of fabrics with a British theme. The fabrics are a beautiful upholstery weight with brilliant graphics.

A large vintage Union Jack flag from Pin Tuck Vintage would look smashing mounted in a black frame:
I LOVE this funky take on the Union Jack pillow, in grey and kiwi green,from Pop Britannia by Karen Hilton Designs:

Dress your sofa or wingback with some fab canine friends from Designer Cushions.

Dress your rocker dog with this cool collar from Nola & Spencer:Now, if you're really lucky, dress your house with this cool Brit!

Eric Clapton, the legendary guitarist (image from Spinner)

All the best,
xoxo,