vision comes to life

when i graduated college, i started an interior design company, cailen ascher design.  since its inception my focus has migrated more towards living fabulously in every aspect of one's life, rather than just creating fabulous interiors.  that said, it's so much fun to see your vision come to life!  jillian from cornflake dreams is having a "decorate this space" blog crawl, so i thought it would be fun to share one of my decorated spaces : )

this is a bedroom i created for a designer show house.  each year the show house committee selects a handful of designers to overhaul spaces, and then they open the house to the public to raise money for a local hospital.  for this room i went for a 1940s hollywood glam look.

the rough space.  yikes!

my vision for the bedroom

and the room after the makeover. much better, right?

can you sense the grace kelly-esque nature of the space?  it's feminine and glamorous and a lovely place to repose.  it wasn't easy but with the help of my family (and especially my mom), we pulled it off, and i must say, i was really pleased with the final result. 

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nooks & books

i love nooks & books.  whenever i see a cozy space to curl up and indulge in my favorite read, i can't help but wish it were mine : )  below are just a few of the nooks with books that i love.

picture credit {here}



picture credit {here}



cozy bedroom

picture credit {here}

so cozy.  so charming.  so homey.  i would just love to settle in with a cup of tea and a great novel.  peyton place, anyone?  the only thing that would make these nooks even better (in my opinion) would be if they each had a blazing fire and it was snowing outside : )

so, what would be your read of choice, if you had a lovely nook to enjoy?



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perks of the job

back of lodge

today i went with one of my writing clients, denise from nelson bridge, to view a house that she and her design partner have been working on.  i ghostwrite their blog and do some email marketing for them, so they wanted me to see the house, so i can brainstorm some ideas about how to publicize the project.

front door - welcome to the lodge!

the place was unreal. it sits on the top of a hill in the middle of 1000 acres of land. yes, that's right...i said 1000. there are amazing views in every direction. it's done in the style of a rustic hunting lodge, but believe me, there are very, very few "rustic" qualities about the place. everything is so lavish and impressive - i felt like i was on a movie set!

great room

view down the stairs

the floor plan radiates out from the central great room.  this massive space has two huge fireplaces, four seating areas, a gigantic bar with seating for 8 people and a floor-to-ceiling window (or rather window wall) with gorgeous views.  flanking the great room are the billiard room and master bedroom on one side and the dining room and kitchen on the other.  upstairs there are four more bedrooms, all with private baths (and amazing views, of course), and the basement contains two "media zones" - one for tv viewing and the other for gaming.  like i said before...unreal.


view of great room from upstairs

notice the bar to the left???



view from widow's walk



another view of back



another great vista

 

what a fun day at work! 

oh, and if you're interested in checking out the blog i ghostwrite for them click {here}.





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Inexpensive Decorating Ideas!!!

1. Lighten up! Remove "heavy" pieces such as blankets, dark wool rugs and wintery drapes. Use a light sisal rug to lighten up the space and if you need some window adornment look for simple shades to block light or panel sheers to add visual interest.

2. Add color! If you're feeling adventurous, consider painting an accent wall a bright or vibrant color. For color inspiration look to your favorite accessory pieces - a lamp, beautiful bowl or painting. If you're not ready to commit to a new wall color, bring in fresh colors throughout the space in small doses - switch out a lamp shade or add a few new throw pillows.

3. Bring the outdoors in! When the weather begins to warm up, it's a great time to think about bringing new life into your home. Fresh flowers and beautiful potted plants are a wonderful way to add a spring touch to your home. Also, plants can be functional - think about a small pot of your favorite herbs in the kitchen to inspire healthy recipes!

4. New bedding! Switching out your winter quilt for a light, comfy bedspread is an easy (and affordable) way to transform your bedroom instantly. Be sure to choose a bedspread that still compliments the colors and furniture in your room but brings in a fun new color or pattern. Want an easy solution - go for a white down comforter - you can't go wrong with white!

Hope these tips inspire beautiful living!

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