Love the kitchen pictured above…with cement tile floors, the crystal chandelier, subway tile wall and the reclaimed wood built-in banquette.  The mixture of textures works for me.  I also like the way the reclaimed wood was inserted into this elegantly feminine breakfast nook.  Lately, I’ve been talking a lot about trends that are not going anywhere…reclaimed wood is one of those home decor trends.  A few years back it started.  Industrial, modern, hipster spaces with reclaimed wood feature walls or coffee tables.  Now, not sure if the wood is even actually reclaimed (my contractor once told me that reclaimed wood sometimes just comes from the back of a lumber yard and is sold as reclaimed!), but it is the aged worn and weathered look that everyone likes. Today, I celebrate bringing in some reclaimed wood into your life…some inspiration and some shopped goodies…take a look…

The other day, AM and I were picking up friend A.Ro. at the Jitney stop in the Hamptons.  A.Ro., always super stylish, was waiting for us (we were late) with her dog.  As we pulled up I noticed she had the cutest “jean suit” on…basically a fully denim outfit with a white lace cut out top…ripped jeans, a cute jean jack with embroidery on the back and front and some studded slip on sandals.  Awesome look. I was already working on this denim post and that moment further confirmed how AMAZING denim can look.  Also, coupled with the fact AM has a new sofa in her family room in the Hamptons that is a wonderful deep blue indigo denim color.  Denim for home decor and fashion.

In the picture above, I am wearing this affordable cute split back denim top I bought in honor of my visual ode to denim…take a look at some denim interior design inspiration and some fashion finds too…

Love a bold red door. Can create great drama on arriving into a home. Whether it be a front door, a garden gate or even an interior door, I think maybe if you want to go bold go with a red front door.

Here are a few ideas for you to ponder…

I want a house with a white brick exterior. Period. I would take a house with a white brick fireplace. Period again. Give me a white brick wall and that will do too. Another period. I say “period” for emphasis here. I am overdoing it for a reason. Any brick, painted white, anywhere in a home…that says perfection. Period. Period. Period. A classic architectural detail that can play either traditional or modern. Today, on this Tuesday in May, it is my day to pay homage to all things white brick.

I love a good arch.  As mentioned many a time, my best of friend AM loathes arches.  We have been best of friends for years and have rarely had major differences.  The arch thing is a major difference.  Yes, best of friend AM, I am drawing a line in the sand about arches. I love love love love them.  So… AM and I love talking about home decor.  We both get really excited when chatting about all things design.  We are aligned.  She likes a little more bold color and pattern than I do, but generally we are in sync…on the same page…see eye to eye…like minded…kindred design spirits…except when it comes to arches.  I don’t know why she doesn’t like arched things. I really don’t.  I know, after all these years, I cannot sway her.  It is fine.  I am resolved.  One less arch lover means more arched things for me.  I love arches in home decor.    I do.  I think a good arched built in book shelf, window or doorway can all of the character you need into a space.  Take a look and then please weigh in on this great debate…do you like arches? Or don’t you?

I am always fascinated about how trends in home and fashion come about. How do all of the manufacturers all know to create a certain look all at the same time? This year, one summer trend blowing up the fashion and home pages is the pom pom craze. Not tassels or fringe or trim but rows of round balls adorning clothing, home textiles and furnishings. Why is it the year of the pom pom? I have no idea. All I know is that I was working at the COCOCOZY offices with my assistant one Saturday a few weeks ago and I had the bright idea that we should work on a pom pom post. I felt like I was having a pom pom epiphany of sorts. I was thinking about how great it would be if we could figure out some photography of me wearing pom pom. Problem was, I looked like a wreck and that would mean we would have to break our focus on the work at hand, go buy/find something pom pom embellished and cute and then put on a mini photo shoot. A lot a lot a lot for one photo. So we put the pom pom post to the side, when about 3 hours later, I realized…

I have said it once and I will say it again, I am a proponent of indoor plants!  So many people I know do not like plants inside the house for some reason.  Well I do.  I am not necessarily advocating a million plants all over the house, but I think one large statement palm or fiddle leaf fig can transform a room.  When I lived in my tiny little cottage in the Hollywood Hills, for many years, I had a huge palm tree in a ceramic pot set near french doors.  The plant made the room cheerful and brought a tropical element of design the room.  Today, if I had a living room (which I do not because I still do not have a house), I would not put a palm in a pot, I would use decorative baskets.  I love this look.  Small plants, large plants, tiny plants…in interesting shaped baskets.  Here are some ideas and shopping inspiration…

I love a wonderful range hood mounted on a wall above a cooktop.  Most people go for the generic store-bought version that matches their stove.  Typically now-a-days that has been a standard stainless steel or white.  I like the idea of going for a hood with a little trim on it.  If you have contractor creating a frame for your vent and sleeve – make a custom version range hood…trim it with a little wood or some metal.  There are companies that will customize a hood for you online at a bit of a cost.  I love this as an option.  Modern or classic…it can be done.  Just an idea!

My favorite is this first photo designed by E Interiors…simple, elegant, modern and rustic with the wood trim around the bottom. The rest are just some ideas for more traditional kitchen designs but good-looking too!  Take a look.