Photo of the Day: Green and White and Gold All Over

I've been a fan of Arkansas based deigner Tobi Fairleys for a while now. I learned about her work through social media sites like Twitter and Pinterest and I have to admit, I'm smitten. She has a fresh, traditional style that speaks volumes to me and I love her inspired use of colour and pattern. Take this living room for example: different shades of green combine effortlessly with white, silver and gold. She's also mixed a modern graphic print with a more traditional chinoiserie and classic stripes. Simple, brilliant.

 

Photo © Tobi Fairley Interior Design

High/Low: Square Coffee Table

High: West Elm Parsons Coffee Table in White Lacquer $313.57

Low: Ikea Lack Coffee Table, White $29.99

 

Lessons in Staging via Style at Home

It's that time again - Style at Home magazine has published another great "100+ Best Designer Secrets" issue, and once again I've been fortunate enough to be included in it. You can find the story I wrote, Lessons in Staging on page 72. It's all about how to apply home staging techniques to your everyday decor, with tips from stylist and stager extraordinaire, Tine Jensen. Check it out - it's available on newsstands until September 30, 2012.

A Garden Full of Succulents

I adore succulents. They're uniquely sculptural, they come in a beautiful variety of colours and tones, and they're easy to care for. If only I could find some. I've been on the hunt for months, scouring florists and garden centres and I have yet to find any. Perhaps I should move to Pasadena where the annual Showhouse for the Arts has a garden full of them. I opened up my email this morning to find these stunning pictures of the Showhouse gardens and I had to post them immediately. Is it any wonder why I love them? 

Photos © Pasadena Showhouse for the Arts

Coolest Thing in the House

I have a bad habit. It involves taking my dog for walks at dusk – that brief time after people turn on the lights in their homes but before they've closed their drapes. It sounds a bit creepy I know, but I've always liked to sneak a peek inside people's houses to see what kind of stuff they've got.  Sure, decorating mags fill the need a little, but magazine spreads are always staged and styled and they're often just a little too perfect. I want to see what people's homes really look like and what kind of odd or unusual things they have.

The web show Coolest Thing in the House is like the Internet equivalent of my creepy dusk stalking. It goes into people's houses and looks at the wacky, weird and wonderful pieces that people have collected.  Some are stylish, some are…not. But they're always interesting and offer a unique perspective on how people live and decorate.

Here are a few of my favorite episodes:

Check out the rest of the episodes here.