Lolalina — Inspiration, interiors, decorating, craft + diy, and thoughts on creativity and the sweet life

10 Decorating Ideas for Your Weekend

February 22, 2013

Happy Friday, my dears! I’ve been collecting some random but lovely decorating ideas on my desktop throughout the week, and now I have 10 to share with you. Have a lovely weekend, and happy decorating!

1. Spruce up wicker and faux bamboo porch furniture with mint and black paint; then add a fun floral cushion. (Image: Lonny Magazine)

2. Go for black and white chic in the dining room with a set of matching Chippendale style chairs, a graphic rug, and dramatic pendant light. (Image: Haddon Interiors via Houzz)

3. Set a lush table with a fresh pink tablecloth, tons of bud vases, and a cheeky little dog sculpture. (image: Lonny)

4. Update a vintage shelf with pale blue paint and artfully styled objets. (image: Laura Collins Design via Houzz)

5. Mixing your prints is easy when it’s John Robshaw bedding + a Madeline Weinrib rug! (image: Country Living)

6. Go ahead and scoop up that one random gorgeous chair you spot at the flea market or vintage shop – a single chair is perfect for your dressing area or desk. (image: TerraCotta Properties via Houzz)

7. Bored with your bathroom? Use the space above the tile or wainscoting to add bold stripes of red and pink. (image: Lonny)

8. Add a touch of Chinoiserie – a cabinet, a mirror, a chair; a little or a lot, you can’t go wrong! (image: Caitlin Wilson via Houzz)

9. Spice up your breakfast nook with bench seats topped with thick cushions with contrasting piping. (image: Haddon Interiors via Houzz)

10. Go shopping at Target! I went yesterday and scooped up this adorable bird lamp + striped shade, and they had so many other chic and affordable things right now it was seriously hard to resist getting more. (image: my Instagram)

I swear, I did try to make up for my creative afternoon that I missed out on being sick last weekend, but lots of minor disasters got in the way and it just couldn’t happen. But, I am all set to get to work on my painting tomorrow, and I will be back on Monday to share my progress + host another fun link party…so get creative and get ready to share! xoxo Laura

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Julia Child’s Childhood Kitchen

February 20, 2013

in Design & Decor

I recently covered the remodel of Julia Child’s childhood kitchen for Houzz, and I just realized that some of you may have missed it! This was a really fun project for me, because I am a huge fan of Julia Child. I’ve read her memoirs, two biographies of her, and pored over her cookbooks. And of course I enjoyed Julie and Julia as much as the next girl. So I really was thrilled when I was asked to interview designer Charmean Neithart, who worked on the remodel of this historic home.

I’ve shared a few of my favorite photos above, but you’ll have to click over to Houzz to read the full scoop on Julia Child’s childhood kitchen! Charmean was such a joy to interview, and I really love how the kitchen turned out – very vintage-meets-modern, don’t you think? My favorite part of the story was learning that the shade of blue they chose for the ceiling (and had almost used on the cabinets instead) was almost identical to the blue-green that Paul Child used on the cabinets in Julia Child’s Massachusetts kitchen.

If you haven’t seen it yet, I hope you’ll go have a peek at the story! xo Laura

(images: Erika Bierman Photography)

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Cassandra Ellis: Quilt Love & Home Comforts

February 19, 2013

in Craft & DIY

When you want to be completely comforted, nothing compares to the feel of a soft handmade quilt wrapped around your shoulders, am I right? I admit I once thought of quilts as a bit boring, but that’s hard to fathom now. Of course, that was before I became aware of the vast array of quilting styles, and especially, the many innovative quilters working today developing their own creative patterns with luscious fabrics and colorways. Add to that the rich history of quilting throughout the world as a way for women to make use of fabric scraps that would otherwise be wasted, while at the same time providing an outlet for creativity, and I was completely hooked.

Perhaps one day I will attempt to create my own quilt, but for now I am perfectly content to admire the work of others. And one such talented quilters is Cassandra Ellis, whose work I recently came across in (my new favorite…blog review coming soon!) The Simple Things magazine. I want to share Cassandra’s work with you today because it warmed my heart to see her work, and I hope it will do the same for you. Cassandra Ellis runs her design studio in London, though originally she is from New Zealand. She creates custom quilts, teaches quilting workshops, and has a delightful new book out, Quilt Love. I love the idea of commissioning her to create an original quilt using your own fabric that has meaning to you – wouldn’t that be an amazing way to use all of all of those special children’s clothes you can’t bear to let go of?

For those of you who are quilters, Cassandra has created a free pattern meant to be used to create a gift quilt for someone needing extra comfort. What a lovely idea! Not only am I in love with Cassandra’s quilts, but her home is absolutely gorgeous, to boot. I think there was a peek into her home in Mollie Makes, so if you crave more, keep an eye out for the issue.

I do hope you will take a moment over your tea break today to pop over to her website and blog and soak in all of the lovely handmade inspiration for yourself. xoxo Laura

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Color Palette

February 18, 2013

in Color, Design & Decor

Good morning my dears! I’d like to introduce a new occasional column called Color Palette, where I will be matching up paint colors with lovely interiors and other inspiring images. Sounds fun, right?

For our first color palette post, I chose this dreamy home from Light Locations, spied over on Mrs. French’s blissful blog. Silvery grays and pale creams give the impression you are floating in a cloud, while the worn woods and those gorgeous herringbone floors keep things rooted. All paint colors shown above are Farrow & Ball: I would use Skylight on the walls, Cornforth White on the ceiling, and Strong White on the trim; Skimming Stone or Elephant’s Breath would be lovely on painted furniture.

Again, lots of white and pale, cloud-like colors here, but my eye was drawn to the chippy painted stools in greenish blues pulled up to the farmhouse table – lovely! All paint colors from Farrow & Ball.

In the children’s room we have a more spirited palette of pale pink, crisp white, bold raspberry, and green apple. Fun and fresh. Paint colors are all from Farrow & Ball, except Blushing Red from Benjamin Moore.

1. Love Print | 2. Cameroon Juju Hat | 3. Pine Pedestal Table | 4. Linen Wrapped Pots | 5. Farmhouse Dining Table

I couldn’t help but also round up a few of my favorite things from this space, from that popular Love print and Juju hat wall hanging to English country classics like nice pots and sturdy tables. I hope your week is off to a fabulous start! xo Laura

p.s. – Were you expecting a Saturday Crafternoon post today? Sadly, I had a stomach bug all weekend and was unable to work on my painting, but I’m hoping to spend some time on it today. Stay tuned, I will still be posting + hosting a link party this week!

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Happy Weekend {& A Mother-Daughter Redesign}

February 15, 2013

in Design & Decor

Happy Friday, my dears! I hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s day. Tomorrow I will hopefully be finishing my first Saturday Crafternoon project, and I hope you will take the time to do something for yourself this weekend and devote an hour or two to creativity. If you do, don’t forget to come back and link up to your project on Monday! But before I go, I spied this lovely project from Caitlin Flemming of Sacramento Street and was completely charmed.

I love the serene color palette and antique-meets-modern look. When I see a soft, neutral space done as well as this I am reminded how great it can be. That giant mirror in the living room is killing me – so gorgeous! What do you think?

Have a happy, fabulous weekend, friends, and I will meet you back here on Monday! xo Laura

(images: photographed by Emily Johnston Anderson for Rue Magazine; styling & interiors by Caitlin Flemming)