With the idea of open concept still a very hot trend in our homes, it is important to have the open spaces relate to each other to create a connectivity. Normally, standing in one room allows you to see into all, or part of, another room or rooms. One of the ways to unite all of the spaces is through color. Obviously, you could paint all your walls in an open concept home the same color and call it 'connected', but let's look instead at the technique of subtly weaving color throughout. 

Bonesteel Trout Hall is a California design firm that consistently excels in their restrained interiors and the relationship of colors throughout the space. They are so good that sometimes you have to walk through the spaces several times to figure out why the house is so wonderfully appealing.

   

 

In this living room, the pillows and the striped rug have accents of blue. There is also a beautiful smoky chocolate that is used on the leather of the sofa and velvet sofa pillows.   

 

 

When you move into the adjoining kitchen, the cabinets are stained in almost the exact shade of the living rooms chocolaty brown accents and the blue gray is repeated on this oversized custom island. The heavy doses of white used on the walls, trim, wainscotting, and kitchen countertops is a unifying color that allows these deep rich colors to remain fresh and unmuddled.

 

 

Moving through to the dining room, the dark wood tones of the table, chairs and countertop are again repeated and the blue shows itself as gorgeous grasscloth wallpaper. And remember the stripe detail on the pillows in the living room?? Check out the detail on the curtains about 2/3 of the way down, peeking through the chairs. I know!!

 

 

 

I wonder where their beautiful color palette came from???

 

{all images via Bonesteel Trout Hall}

 

 

 We enjoyed a beautiful sunny day yesterday. The morning was so cool and crisp that the dogs only wanted to stay outside for a minute because they wanted back under those warm blankets on the bed! Now that fall is in the air, it's a bit of a strange time to be sharing a beach house with you, but, stick with me, it's all relevant!

 I am working on a home where every square inch counts. When square footage is on the small side, a home can still live large. I never downsize the scale of furniture for a small room, as a matter of fact, doing so can really make a room appear even smaller. And every piece needs to have a purpose--maybe even 2! That's why I think this 2000 sq ft beach home is a great example of using every bit of what you have.     

 

 

 

The family approached the design as if they were designing a yacht, utilizing every nook and all vertical spaces. The walls of the master bedroom serve many purpose--storage for their entertainment center as well as a loft for sleeping.

 

 

 

Deep breath....

I can't thank everyone enough for your sweet comments and emails. This week has been hard. Many of us have suffered loss. Thank-you for allowing me to share mine with you and thank-you for sharing your hurts with me. 

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Everyones doing it....so I am jumping on the recap blogwagon. Let's take a walk down memory lane, shall we...  

In January, I showed you how I turned a dated apartment complex into an updated townhome with the tiniest of budgets and some house staging:

February, I gave you a tour of a clients mountain home that I was lucky enough to be involved with from the ground up : 

And, if you want to see some more, here is the post of the kitchen:

In March, I gave you a sneak peek into my own guest bathroom that I was finally redecorating. I was inspired by {out-of-my-price-range} Schumacher wallpaper:

In April, I brought you along on a day in my life: {well...sort of...}

In May, We took of a tour of a Paint-by-Numbers room I finished. I must say, I sort of love this room!

June brought us the completion of a fresh renovated kitchen in a clients mid-century modern home:

In July, I thought I might need to hospitalized due to this:

But, I got it together in time to take you into the clubhouse I completed at Bear Lake Reserve: 

In August, I shared pictures of the Medwest Gala, "Here's to Hollywood" at Harrah's Casino. Every year our fundraiser has a new theme:

I also invited you in to my completed Sharpie-drawn-wallpaper bathroom that was finally finished!

August was busy...I can't leave out my visit to the Cashiers Showhouse:

I was lucky enough to find myself vacationing in California in September. We hit up a lot of the beautiful coast and stayed in various places. Here you can see our visit to the chic Hotel Monaco.

In October, I got busy decorating for fall with some funkins:

As well as party rocking some Halloween costumes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November brought me to one of my favorite events--The Gingerbread Houses at the Grove Park Inn!

And a reveal of a clients newly renovated Guest room:

In December, I shared a way to jazz up your art work with ribbons:

 

Dang, that took a long time to put together--but, you're worth it *silly rainbow smiles*.

Woa!!! What a year! It's kind of fun to look back and remind myself of 2011's accomplishments. I look forward to all that 2012 has in store for all of us and I also look forward to having you here with me. Your encouragement means the world to me. You're the best.

  

When I first walked in to Artefact, an architectural salvage store in Cornerstone on the edge

 of Sonoma wine country, I wasn’t prepared. You know when you enter a store, or a house or

maybe just a fabulous space and you are instantly consumed with endorphins?? You want to

immediately come face-to-face with the owner because you know that you have a common bond

 and you are destined to become friends...

Well, that’s how smitten this blogger was when she regained her composure upon walking in. 

  

 This gigantic hand greets you upon entering. And see the peek of chalky blue off to the right?

 It's a 20' wall of stacked vintage chairs *awesome*

This art installation is backdropped with loads of ropes. Look closely and you can make out

 the wooden legs of the gal carrying 75 tons of wooden…{?} stuff all while still checking

 herself in  her hand mirror. 

 

 

 

These silver skulls almost changed my mind about Halloween decor! 

If you are really lucky, you'll get to meet the shop dog, Axel. 

 

Artefacts is right outside the fantastic store, Zipper, that I wrote about here and next to Keating Winery. 

 

 

This little gem is located at the southern gateway to Napa & Sonoma wine country. CornerStone

 Sonoma is an eclectic collection of shops, wineries and a gourmet cafe set amidst nine acres

 of garden installations created by the world's leading landscape architects. If you are lucky

enough to be in the area, I strongly recommend visiting.