Guest Posting at Hampton Hostess!

Good morning! I am so excited to be over at another Barbara's blog today (what can I say all the "Barbara's" in my life are super chic and talented)....yes that Barbara, the super chic and stylish Barbara from Hampton Hostess. Barbara as you may know has a fabulous series entitled Closet Confidential in which she probes into your closet a little and gets your take on what makes up a fabulous and efficient closet. I love this series and eagerly await her next guest every time a new post goes up! I am so honored that she asked me to be there today!! A visit to her blog is a visit to someplace wonderful, glamorous and always beautiful.......So please do come on over and visit me and say hello and if you don't know of the Hampton Hostess you will be mighty glad you do now! Here's a sneak peek at some of the beauty that abounds on her blog..... Click here!

                                                           Click on header to visit us.....

Pretty spectacular.....huh? Thought you might agree! Come on over....click here to visit! And a special thank you to Barbara of The Treasured Home for my wonderful guest post yesterday..it was great fun to participate!!  Wishing you a fabulous day.

Guest posting at Pink Pagoda!

Hi there, hope you had a restful and happy weekend. Ours was pretty relaxing I must say.....and yesterday I got to spend the day doing very little which was a mega treat. I actually made spaghetti carbonara, a decadent 'once in a while" treat and pistachio ice cream sandwiches which my family DEVOURS. So it was a good day...and when you have great food in the mix, that's kind of the perfect finishing touch! I also want to say how very much I enjoyed reading over all your answers yesterday......fascinating!! I made a short list of movies that I haven't seen that rank high on the list for you.....love those kinds of exercises! Thank you for participating.

 This morning I am so excited to be over at Jennifer's super chic blog, The Pink Pagoda. If you love chinoiserie, all things blue and white and fabulous design then you are going to just loooooove The Pink Pagoda. She asked me to guest post for her popular "Blue and white Mondays" post and the subject had me tickled pink to step aboard. Here is just a sampling of her "beautiful with a capital B" work that is all available for sale...you go girl! Please do stop over to visit my post and say hello and discover a blog that you won't be able to stay away from! See you over there and thanks Jennifer!


I mean can we just talk about fabulous this blog header is! Think that sets the tone.....(click on the header to head on over)

And some of her amazing prints, stationary and of course those totally fabulous iPhone cases.....talk about making a beautiful statement!

Lest regular stamps just not cut it....here you go!

All of her things are available through her Etsy shop and the iPhone cases and stamps are for sale over at Zazzle. You know you want something.....I mean her things are so much fun, elegant, stylish and best of all affordable! See you over there! Click here to visit. Have a fabulous day.

Sensational Segreto and a wonderful giveaway!!

Good morning! Hope everyone is well. Before you read this post, a warning..... you might never look at white walls the same!! Segreto is the name to know when it comes to beautiful finishes for walls, cabinets, ceilings and such. Leslie Sinclair and her staff of 25 artisans bring life and beauty to bare walls and cabinets like no one else! When I was asked to review the brand new book, "Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors",  I was so incredibly excited. Why? Well, because I knew of Segreto's work and was a definite admirer. I just knew this was going to be good!  I recently found out that they had a book but hadn't gotten around to getting it yet, so I was thrilled when they sent me one! I have been asked about reviewing other books and don't always connect with them as much as I would like to,  and cannot in good faith go out and gush about it if I don't really really love it. Well, suffice to say this book is very deserving of the gushing and warrants its very own post on their exquisite body of work. Segreto, a full service company who does the most beautiful finishing of all kinds including faux painting and murals, is  based in Texas but they travel across the U.S.

Their visions are truly spectacular. I had a ball pouring through every luscious page, something for everyone. You know those books that feature a few amazing pictures then the rest is a let down? Well this just keeps on giving with every turn of the page. Its that good. So today, I am doing two things. Introducing you to their work, and some of these pictures are brand new so even for those of you who are already fans, you possibly haven't seen them. Leslie was generous enough to answer some of my questions about their work and share her insight which is information worth remembering!  And second, Leslie Sinclair who owns Segreto has  generously offered a signed book as a giveaway!! How fun is that!!!! This is a book every single design enthusiast should have gracing their bookshelves.  All details on bottom of this post. Here is a sampling of their uber gorgeous work as well as Leslie's answers to my questions for inquiring minds that want to know......

The beautiful coffee table book chock full of beautiful inspiration.....

 What is the most requested finish that you are asked to do? Why do you think this is so popular?  Plaster finishes and cabinet finishes are the current most popular techniques. I think the trend in home interiors are to soften the spaces so your eye goes seamlessly between the different elements in a home.  Plaster achieves a warmth and depth while still maintaining a softness which complements the surrounding rather than overpowering them.  Sometimes the starkness of plain paint on cabinetry can detract from a home’s overall look.  By putting a series of soft glazes on them you can bring out the details in the pieces and create a furniture feel as if the piece had been acquired and built in to the space.

What trends have you seen in the last few years with finishing? A softening of techniques.  The 80’s and 90’s had heavy faux finishes which were drastic and dramatic—I love the turn of events where the current finishes enhance rather than overpower a space.

For someone on a strict budget, what can you suggest to enhance blank walls? I think to pick and choose.  Every surface in your home does not need to be treated with a finish!!  Stay soft between your basecoat and your top coat. Tone on tone always looks great and pick finishes with little variation.  A beautiful color wash can give your walls depth and is applied in a one-step application keeping the cost down.

Which finish is the most timeless? Will stand the test of time? Plaster has been around since 9000 B.C. and has definitely withstood trends and time.  In the faux world if the finishes are soft with subtle movement they also stay strong.  Allover stencil designs done in a soft hand also hold up while giving one a wallpaper seamless look. 

Do you have a favorite or a few favorite paint colors? For the French blue grays I love SW’s new deck—Some of my favorites are Silverpointe and Mineral Deposit. In their old deck Silver Strand For an all-around trim color I love BM Creamy white and many of the selections in the front of their newest deck—It has the best choices of white!! For wall colors I like their historical colors and the colors from the classic color deck better. For gray greens try SW Jogging path,  Techno Gray, and Svelte Sage. For kakis SW Canvas tan and BM Manchester Tan.   Goodness I love color and have so many!!

Do you work just in Texas or throughout the country? Most of our work is in Texas but we have done work in Sarasota, San Francisco, Charleston and are going to Los Angeles for a big job in the fall!!

Tell me about a dream job either that you have had or would like to have!  I really love all my jobs big or small!!  To change an environment in a good way in something so personal as someone’s home is my favorite thing I do.  Would be so cool, however to be able to do a job on the other side of the globe!!

Thank you Leslie! Information that we can all benefit from and its always interesting for us design obsessed mavens out there, as we are a unique breed to know whats new and exciting in the world of paint and finishing. Pretty spectacular, don't you think? I think after seeing their work and book, you may never look at white walls the same! 

And finally the wonderful signed book giveaway details. All you need to do is leave a comment here. In addition, if you would like extra chances, you can "like" Segetro on Facebook by clicking here.  I will announce the winner on Friday morning!  Trust me its a book that you will enjoy for many years to come! Thank you for stopping by and thank you Segreto for this wonderful post, your always sensational work and inspiring interiors! Click here to visit their beautiful website. Wishing you an enchanted day!

To purchase “Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors” from the website click here or to purchase through Amazon click here

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One word with Debby of Inspired Design

Good morning, hope everyone had a happy Valentines day, whatever you did (if you did anything) I know for many I know, its just an ordinary day. We had a lovely and relaxing dinner with great friends.  In continuing on with my new series "One word" I am so happy to have Debby of Inspired Design with me today. Sometimes, its more than "one word" and that makes it even more interesting!  Inspired Design is such a beautiful blog, a sure thing and  one of my  first stops every morning as I make my rounds throughout blogland. For those of you who are already a fan of Inspired Design, I know you agree and for those not yet familiar, I cannot stress enough how wonderful it is!

Debby has a unique knack of beautifully mixing the worlds of decor, fashion and travel sprinkled with an inspirational message of some sort. She always leaves me thinking and gives me a reason to ponder whatever she might be posting about that day. Debby also has a very successful graphics design business under her belt, so if you are need of a blog makeover or just starting out, doesn't get better than Debby. I loved hearing more about the world through Debby's eyes and so enjoyed getting to know her more. So without further adieu, here's Debby...

       Debby from Inspired Design

One quality I love in people is..

Realness. I can't stand pretentious people. I think we all crave authenticity. The people who are the most charismatic are those who are comfortable in their own skin and don't try to be anyone else.

If my house could only be furnished in one color it would definitely have to be...

One color? This is tough. I'm a girl who loves color. I'm honestly stumped. I think I may be incapable of living in a colorless world.

One luxury I cannot live without..

Anyone who knows me knows that I live for my hair appointments. I'm gonna go with multi-dimensional highlights.

If I had to have one designer decorate my entire house with zero input from me it would have to be...

Jamie Herzlinger. I've actually gotten to know her a bit via blogging and she is as sweet as she is talented. There isn't a room she touches that isn't fabulous in my opinion.

If I had to choose coffee or tea it would be...

Coffee! I don't drink, I don't smoke, but give me my coffee! It's a vice. My Keurig and I are the best of friends.

One place I have been that I would love to go back to....

I know it's cliche but most definitely Paris. I'm trying to figure out how to live there for a year. Kind of a problem seeing as I don't speak the language, don't have the funds and don't have a job lined up. Sigh.

One place I am longing to visit it....

Oh, only one? There are so many! I would say Tuscany and Florence are top of the list.

One talent I wish I had was...

I would love to be able to sing. Oh, I sing... but it's not pretty... china breaking bad.

I think most people would agree that I am very....

Down to earth. I have an aversion to snobbishness.

If I could change one quality about myself it would be...I would forgive easier. I'm working on it.

One career I could see myself having is.....Interior Stylist. Having the ability to combine my visual merchandising background with my love of interiors would make me one happy camper.

If food is therapy, when stressed I indulge in....I hang with Ben & Jerry when I'm stressed. Those boys never let me down.

One of my favorite brands for clothing is....

Anthropologie and  J. Crew are my go-to stores.

If my life were a book, the title would be.....

Girl Reinvented. I chose this for a title because that is exactly where I'm at. Calling it quits after 19 years of marriage certainly makes you view life in an entirely different way. All of your plans and security go out the window. What's a girl left to do? Reinvent herself! Who knows, I may just really write it one day.

My favorite flower is....It's a tie between a peony and a hydrangea.

I would love to have coffee and a chat session with this famous person...

Barbara Walters. How fun would it be to interview the one who has interviewed so many? Maybe she'd cry. 

A favorite t.v. show....

I haven't been watching very much t.v. these days but I always laugh my head off over Modern Family.

Hollywood is...

Overrated. I'm unimpressed.

Tuscany or Provence?

Oh, I want to go to both. Seriously. I'd say Tuscany with Provence a close second.

The next presidential election will be....All over the media too much.

The one best thing about blogging is:

Without a doubt... the great friendships you form with other bloggers. Who knew?

A guilty pleasure for me is...

Catching an episode of The Bachelor, (hanging head in shame). It's entertaining to say the least.

A clothing designer I think has great style is...

Kate Spade. She knows who she is and she's not afraid to show it. Love her use of color and her uncanny ability to make fashion whimsical and fun.

My strongest quality would have to be....I'm sensitive. Some people might view it as a weakness but I think it's a gift. It allows you to love deeper,  feel things fully and sympathize with others.

The best restaurant I have ever been to was..

I'm gonna go with Ladurée in Paris. I was just so thrilled to be eating breakfast there that they could have served me dirt on a plate and I would have been smiling from ear to ear.

The most overrated actor/actress is..

Jim Carrey. I can take him is small doses.

If my life were a documentary, I could see this actress playing me...

Katherine Heigl only because 2 or 3 people said that she resembles me. I don't see it.

One thing I like about my appearance is....

My smile. Thanks for the braces, Mom. Guess the headgear was worth it.

One thing I can honestly say I love about myself is....

My sense of humor. It has gotten me through a lot. The skill to laugh at yourself or find humor in an unbearable situation will carry you through.

Town or Country?

Probably town but it would be great to have a weekend place in the country.

One person I admire...

My Uncle. Hands down. He's brilliant, cultured, well-traveled and has been there for me my entire life. I respect his opinion and always go to him for advice because I know he has my best interests at heart and anything I tell him in confidence will never escape his lips.

Pick a decade to live in, any decade.

The 80's was just crazy fun. I could do it again. Not too sure about reliving some of the fashion but I did like the fact that all the style rules were broken and freedom of expression ruled.

My favorite room in my house is....

My kitchen. It's true... the kitchen is the heart of the home. People migrate there during parties. I love my oversized island, double ovens and glass cabinetry.

If I were an animal I would be a...

Since I'm a dog lover, I would have to say dog. Can I be one of my two? They've got the life. They have me trained well.

A book I would recommend to everyone would be..

God Never Blinks, by Regina Brett. I'm currently reading this. Regina is a journalist who wrote 50 life lessons she had learned upon the arrival of her fiftieth birthday. Each lesson is based on her personal experience and she makes you want to be friends with her. She's very wise.

If I were planning a huge family reunion, this is where I would like to have it....Nantucket. I would rent a house right on the ocean and have clambakes, volleyball, barbecues, music and big brunches.

One thing I wish everyone could be more of...Compassionate. Everyone has something they are going through. We never truly know what struggles they are facing.

In one word life is....

Enchanting.

Debby, no wonder I like you the way I do! I found myself agreeing with so much of what you said. Paris, Florence, Tuscany (even though, sniff sniff, I have never been to Tuscany), three of my most favorite places on earth! Ben and Jerrys- hola! Need to forgive easier, guilty as charged (but working on it), so agree about Kate Spades personal great style and yes, the world needs A LOT more compassion. And thanks for giving a shout out to Modern Family and peonies and hydrangeas! Love how you think, Debby!! Hope you enjoyed this, and hope you will take a minute to head over to Debby's beautiful blog and say hello and introduce yourself. Click  here to visit Debby. It always means the world to us bloggers, to hear from the readers. Debby, thanks again and to everyone for stopping in. Wishing everyone a fabulous and enchanting day!

One more tidbit.....my kitchen has been featured in not one but two blogs today (just found out) I am soooo honored!! Thank you Lucianne and Veronica!!! I am humbled, truly!

Please if you have a minute, visit them and check it out......

http://tasselsandtwigs.blogspot.com/2012/02/tour-de-kitchen.html

http://www.homebunch.com/white-kitchens/

Thanks girls!!!!