I love that there are so many shade variations within each color .



   













The other thing I love-- it takes 4 pairs of these to make each one:



Goodwill is the foundation of Glassbaby. To honor those who have walked her same path, founder Lee
Rhodes established the Glassbaby Goodwill Program, which has brought light and hope to thousands
of people who are facing their own battles. During her cancer treatment, Lee met other patients who
could not afford even daily needs such as bus fare, childcare, or groceries. Today, much of the money
donated goes directly toward meeting those basic needs. And to date, Glassbaby has donated more
than half a million dollars from sales to charities dedicated to health, healing and quality of life.*  

Check out their website to see more great photos of their votives being used at weddings, restaurants
 and parties.  

{all images via Glassbaby}

 I received this question on my FB page {thanks Donna!}. I get asked this question a lot and 
know it is a decision many struggle with. Almost every home has a small powder room. And
for the most part, everyone attempts to make the room feel larger. Tile can certainly fool the
eye into thinking a space is larger or smaller than it actually is.
 
I don't know the exact layout of Donna's bathroom so I sketched out a typical 5'x8' bathroom.

Here is the room with a 12" tile:



The idea is that laying the straight pattern {left} creates a definite edge or outline to the
 space. While laying the tile on the diagonal allows the eye to continue beyond the actual
 borders of the room creating an illusion of a larger space. 

Below are examples of an 18" tile. 
























This size has become increasingly more popular. Using a larger tile also means less
 grout lines to 'busy' the eye.

Here is a 6" tile:
                                                                                                                                                                             


























This smaller size does have a much busier appearance. But, if your grout is done in a very 
similar color to your tiles then it is not as distracting.    
....................

  Here are some other things to consider:

*An unlevel subfloor floor makes it extremely hard to use a large tile. They can crack. 

       *Obviously, the point is not to simply create the illusion of space. Your tile choice needs to
have a connection to the style and age of your home.

     *You are not limited to the above sizes and patterns. There are others to consider. I have 
used large rectangular tiles in a subway pattern which is a great look.

 *A floor is only one part of an overall design. Don't get too overly caught up with it. Great
 lighting, glass shower doors, pedestal sinks and paint color can all work with a floor to
 open up a bathroom.
 
 *Bigger isn't always better. Small jewel box bathrooms can be just as beautiful as 
expansive 'non-tastefully' designed bathrooms. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


P.S. Super excited to be featured over at Ohdeedoh yesterday! If you came over as a result--Welcome!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And please feel free to become a 'liker' of SB Design over on my Facebook page! 
 

Beamed ceilings are certainly one of the most sought after design elements when building/buying
 a rustic home. It is not an inexpensive option, but, what it offers a space is such architectural grandness.
They seem to allow a space to breathe while at the same time adding such a sense of history. 

 One of the more popular ways to use this detail is in its natural state.


{houzz}
They lend themselves to every style of decorating. Above, they work beautifully
 with a little more formal, traditional furnishings.

This palette is simple: neutral and white, a mix of rustic antiques, and unfussy contemporary pieces.


{housebeautiful}

The beams in this farmhouse kitchen really draw the eye all the way up. And I love that they
painted the log walls the same color as the cabinets.  


{HouseandHome}



{marthastewart}

The furnishings in this space are a bit more industrial--concrete edged cabinetry and floors, 
chrome pendant, and leather and steel barstools.




I love the balance these rich beams and ceilings give to the white and citrus colors of the upholstery.
  

{Heidi Claire}

Clean, simple contemporary pieces live happily in this beamed, rocked, {gorgeous} restored,
barn turned home.


{1kinddesign}

Now hold on a stinking minute...


{nate berkus}

Isn't Nates chandelier the same one as in the previous picture??
AND both rooms have stripes on the floors... and they both have a chaise... and see the brass
 wood holder in the Nate's pic, well, it's very similar to the brass side table above, right ??? 
hhhmmmm...OK, sorry---back to our beams....
 
I can't imagine this kitchen without the beams...everything about this kitchen is fab. u. lous. 





{Southern Accents}



{Jean Allsop Photography via houzz}

Another way to approach beamed ceilings is with paint. You still appreciate the beautiful
architecture, but what a difference this soothing palate creates when it allows the beams to
 take a back seat. Your focus is really kept towards the floor and on the furnishings.

  
{dwellerswithoutdecorators}



{housebeautiful}

{houzz}

Do you have beams in your home? How do you showcase them--are they natural, stained, painted?
If you don't have them, are you a fan?

Hope you had a great weekend! We sure did!

We spent a great Saturday at the 14th annual 'Greening up the Mountains' festival in our downtown. 
It got its name by the way spring seems to creep up the mountain side and as a celebration of Earth Day.



I got to spend some time in the yard after the festival. This is one of my favorite places to be in April.
It seems like overnight my peonies just popped open. They are so pretty.



My azaleas are just starting to bloom and the hostas seem to grow a foot each day.
   

 


I planted my flower boxes which I patiently waited until this weekend to plant {our florists
always say to wait until Mothers Day, but.. I. just. can't. do. it. } 



Our house sits just feet from a great creek that Jack and his friends had fun crossing to play baseball 
in the meadow on the other side. 
 
 

I had a lot of help in the yard.



But, it was short lived.



Then it was inside so Maris and I could bake our traditional Easter cake.  My mom and I made this
 cake every year during my childhood. The recipe is the actual page from a 1970's newspaper that
mom saved. Considering how old it is and how many times it has been used, it's in great shape!



 





After creek-jumping, baseball games and a movie, it took the boys about a minute to leave
our bunny earless.


{can't you just see the mischief oozing from these 3??!} 
 
Easter morning was just as beautiful as Saturday and after the kids opened their baskets full of peeps,
 chocolate bunnies and jellybeans, it was off to church. {I love that even teenagers expect 'the goods'} 

It was one of the loveliest weekends I can remember spending with my family in a long time. I hope
yours was just as wonderful!