My Reality Show Addiction.....I confess.....

OK.....tell me to "get a life", but I love watching reality tv shows...mostly on Bravo.  Clearly these folks live more exciting lives than I (or I would be on TV, right?).  


Tonight Million Dollar Decorators premiers, and I can't wait !  Some of the greats from LA are on the show in all their glory (or not!), and I know they will have some great design work to showcase.


I have no inside info, but I believe Martin Lawrence Bullard will be doing over the home of Ozzy and Sharon Osborn, and I came across pics of their home in Architectural Digest.
It is clearly Sharon's tastes that predominate the home with only an homage to Ozzy's bad boy image.  Here are a few of the pics from Architectural Digest.


I was surprised.  How 'bout you?


Here's their bedroom.....yes, Ozzy sleeps here!

Their family room has a touch of Americana to it with the Ralph Lauren tripod lamp and Sharon's collection of folk art and weather vanes.

Now this is Ozzy....black venetian plaster, strange artwork and the Prince-of-darkness chair.

Check out Architectural Digest for more photos and information about this really lovely home.

Are you going to be sitting on the sofa watching Bravo with me tonight!  

Can't wait to see how this goes down!

Sally J. Designs helps you to LOVE your home! 

Contact us for in-home and on-line consultations and turnkey projects.

Take It Outdoors

I post an inspirational picture on my facebook page every morning, and I've built a loyal base of fans that always comment and let me know what they think.  


Long time friend and fan, Melissa, is an extraordinary gardener and has always taken great pride in her home and yard, so when she asked for inspiration for her front porch, I told her I'd put some images together just for her.  Then other friends chimed in agreement, so I began my search for porch inspiration.


Color is always the first element to add into any area needing curb appeal.  Pops of color, whether in fabrics, accessories, paint or flowers, make your home the standout on the street.  You know how I love color, so push the envelope and pump up the color!

 I'm thinking there is nothing more beautiful than those bold pops of coral on that porch.  The pale green of the siding is a wonderful backdrop.  It really shows that the owner put some thought into their entrance.

 Can you think of anything more inviting than a water feature at the front door!

Doesn't this make you want to get ready for the fourth of July?  Memorial Day is around the corner too.  This would be fab!


Even the smallest porches can accommodate some kind of seating.  It's such a welcoming site to see a spot to "set a spell" as my Daddy would say.

I'll meet you here for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine!  

The navy and white makes such a bold and dramatic statement.  What a welcoming front porch!

For those who have more space, adding an eating area, especially on a back porch or lanai creates a wonderful entertaining area, weather permitting!

I love the weathered look of this dining table and chairs.  It feels like a perfect gathering for friends and family.  

Not everyone has a gorgeous covered outdoor space, but the elements of this vignette fit in any space....great color, ambiance and attention to detail.

The mix of styles and textures in this sun porch give it a collected look that's been created over time.  It makes for a casual and relaxing feel.

Check out the table bases.....how creative is that!

Don't forget to add some personality to your outdoor space.  It's a great place to add some whimsy and playful accessories.

That's a lot of Reisling represented there, but don't you love that cobalt blue!  What a creative way to bring color to the garden!  You know there are no really blue flowers?...not even bluebonnets are really blue.  I guess you have to think out of the box to get that color into the garden!

I think this is just about the ultimate in coolness for a porch.  I remember my grandmother had a porch swing, and it was one of my favorite things about her house.  But a swinging bed?.....now that's even better!

Ok, Melissa!  I hope you got some good ideas to incorporate into your home.  If you have a beautiful porch, send me a pic and I'll post it on my facebook page too.  

Sally J. Designs helps you to LOVE your home!

Contact us for in-home or on-line design consultations or turn-key project management.

Making Lemonade

I've got an install tomorrow.  It's one of those where we're running up to the wire to get everything done, but all the elements have arrived and we're ready to go...


well, now we are.


I've had issues with the art work.  We found a set of two coordinating, abstract giclee prints that were the perfect colors for our projects.  We ordered them weeks ago, and waited and waited, and waited.  You know, it would be nice if you let your customers know that the items have been discontinued!!  But no....we finally called and were given the news.  So on the  hunt we go to find a substitute.  Lo and behold, we find what appears to be the same prints on line.  
Ordered and done.....or so I thought!


The came yesterday, and I hated them.  They were stretched canvas but they were unfinished on the edges and there was no texture at all.  They looked flat and had a varnished shine to them... Did I mention that I hated them.


Here they are.

They just looked a little cheap (which they weren't) and a bit tacky.

I've got an install in 48 hrs....what's a designer to do??

Here's what I did! 

I pulled out my trusty palette knife and my acrylic paints and went to work!

I just followed the basic color way of each print with layers of color  and wrapped the color on to the edges.  I wish they were on a thicker gallery wrap, but I think they're going to work.

Here's my "original" !

Better!!

Hello....It's me!

It feels like I've been gone from the blog for ages....
It has been 10 days, which is unusual for me.


I've been moving.  and moving.....and moving!  
Much more to do than I ever anticipated, but Sally J. Designs is now operational in my new home studio.  I've purged and purged and trashed and packed away so much stuff!  I knew I had a lot of fabric and wallpaper books and hundreds of fabric samples, but I so underestimated what I had to find room for.  There is still much to do, but we all have workspaces, the computers and phones are up and rolling and we're putting plans together for projects on the boards.  I'm not ready for visitors yet, but I'll welcome friends and clients really soon.  


In the meantime,  there is much inspiration out in blog land.  
Many of my readers are aware of the newest online magazine, House of Fifty, written and produced by my friend Janell Beals .  





But if Janell is new to you, I'm thrilled to introduce her to you.  Check out the premier issue of this wonderful online magazine.  


Be sure and read the opening letter from Janell to learn why she decided to create House of Fifty.  As one who changed careers  just before I turned 50, I am always jazzed by women who refuse to let age get in their way of achieving their dreams and aspirations.  


House of Fifty is not just about interior design.  It is a magazine that showcases the many facets of our lives, and there is no doubt that there is something in this issue for everyone.  


I promise you'll be a fan of Janell just like I am.  She also writes one of the best blogs out there, Isabellaandmaxsrooms.blogspot.com.   


So while I'm getting my act together, follow the links to House of Fifty and Isabelle and Max's room and be inspired.  
I'll be back soon with more Divine Distractions!

Happy Mother's Day!

This free greeting card personalized with Smilebox

What's Old is New Again!

I got married in 1974.  (Divorced in 1989, but that's another story!)


Back then, there were some unalterable traditions that any young southern woman just had to incorporate into the whole engagement scene.  The local newspaper covered the wedding showers with full descriptions of the decor, the food and the attendees.  Proud mothers set up display tables in their dining rooms to show all the pretty wedding gifts as they arrived, and it was customary for friends to come and ooh and ahh over all the pretties that the bride and groom received.  

Our bridesmaids wore big brimmed hats in those days....mine were peach...my favorite color at the time.  I guess I've always loved shades of orange!!   I even wore a hat that I designed and made instead of a veil.  

circa 1974

( Isn't this a hoot!....can't wait for my sister to see this!)

...and yes....I was a blond back then!!

We also registered for sterling silver and "everyday" china in addition to our "good" china.  And we got most of it too!  


My everyday china was "Just Flowers" by Mikasa.

Isn't it pretty?  

It was very contemporary at the time.  The shape was modern and the watercolor - look of the design was unusual.  I loved it !  And so did my mother!  She bought an entire 12 pc. placesetting for herself.  We could feed 24 people with the same dishes.  It was wonderful.

Then I went through my "red period'....somewhere in the 90's... and I put away my pretty peach and blue dishes.

They came in these beautiful boxes too.  They even looked pretty put away!

Tuscany was alive an well in my home with red plates, green and gold salad plates and cobalt blue bowls.  I also have a 12pc set of buttery gold, scalloped edge stoneware that I used for the last 5 years or so.  

This weekend, I made the switch.  I've "de-redded" my home over the last several months....Tuscany is only a place in Italy, and I've adopted a more modern and stream-lined transitional look in my home.  And guess what colors I'm using??  Orange, turquoise with the neutrals black, white and khaki.  

So my beautiful dishes from 1974 are back in my kitchen.  I can't wait to feed friends and family once again with "Just Flowers".

What dishes are gracing your kitchen?  

Sally J. Designs helps you to LOVE your home!

Contact us for in-home and on-line design services and turn-key projects.

A Departure

Divine Distractions is a design blog, and I've seldom used this forum for anything other than design related issues.  I want it to be light and inspirational.


But the events of the day compel me to make a statement in regard to the death of Osama Bin Laden.


My son was a fresh Lt. in the Marine Corp...in his first duty station...when the twin towers were attacked.  It took hours before I was able to speak to him and reassure myself that he was ok.  Of course he was, but as a mom, I needed to hear his voice.  


He was deployed to Iraq 3 days after his lovely wedding and participated in the first march to Bagdad.  I have never felt such fear as his mother as I did watching the news as the Marines moved in.  And that lump in my throat didn't leave until he returned home the following October.  


He left the corp after 8 years of duty, and I'm extremely proud of his character and his service.


And now, my sweet son in law serves as a Major in the Air Force, and will most likely make his career there.  I see first hand the sacrifices that military families make in service of our country.  He is actively fighting the good fight in defense of our freedom on a daily basis.


I am grateful that Osama is dead.  I don't know if I've ever felt gratitude for the death of another before.  But he changed the lives of so many in this country and beyond.  At least I  have my children, but there are 3,000 people who are missing someone they loved because of this man and his hatefilled intentions.


I am grateful that he is dead.  Maybe we can find some peace now.  
Let us never forget.