Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Look What I Got !! The Beautiful Blogger Award


People have asked me why I'm blogging.  After all, I'm not in my twenties....I'm not really "techno-savvy". It's not like I don't have anything else to do!


The reasons I started to blog are not necessarily the reasons I continue to blog.  In the beginning, it was all about the marketing of Sally J. Designs.  It was a piece in the marketing plan. 



But it didn't take long for me to realize that I had other reasons to write Divine Distractions.  I connected with people in a very new way.  I've had to discover for myself what makes design good for me, and I've enjoyed this writing process.  I've made great friends from all over the world who have been encouraging and insightful.  I have been inspired by so many other designers and decorators, professional and self-taught, who daily help to make me a better designer.  I didn't expect that.



My new blogging friend, Anne-Marie Ezeard of 10 Rooms , has nominated me for a "Beautiful Blogger Award" .  She has been so faithful to comment on my posts and email me with helpful information and new ideas.  Her blog is creatively written and full of wonderful inspiration.  I know my readers will enjoy 10 rooms like I do.


The Beautiful Blogger Award is passed on to quiet little blogs, like mine, who are just starting out.  It is an award that acknowledges and validates the new blogger who's trying to find her audience in the vast sea of design blogs.   My job is to pass it on to other fabulous blogs that I delight in as well as to share 10 things you might not know about me. 

Isn't that a grand idea?

So now it's my turn to share 10 things that might help you to know and understand me better.  As always, I hope you enjoy the journey, and that you'll pass this on if you find it a happy place to be.

Here goes!

1. Maybe I'm a slow learner, but it took me 47 years to find my passion and become a designer!  I tried out multiple careers first…art, English and music teacher, special education diagnostician, mural artist and faux finisher and finally,  interior designer. I went to school for all of them as well as almost becoming a psychologist! I’m not EVER going back to school again, except maybe to learn cake decorating.




2. I am unabashedly, a proud Texan. I’m a city girl with country roots, and I can’t imagine living anywhere better.
(Except when its a gazillion degrees hot in the summer, then I think I like Colorado!)


3. I took piano lessons for 12 years and play really well when no one is listening!



4. I used to own a needlework shop where I learned to knit, crochet, needlepoint and cross stitch. I still knit and needlepoint fairly regularly. I never learned to tat….I’m sorry about that!

Yarn Tattoo of The Lone Knitta

OK...I don't love it that much!

 5 I used to asked God to send me a rich, sterile, orphan to marry, but He seems to think it's better for me to live with Henry and Miss Kitty. (That's probably much easier!)  I’ve relaxed my requirements as I’ve gotten older (grown kids ok, and parents that have passed on...but I think I'd still enjoy the rich part), so if you know anybody, I’m taking applications.  But after 20 years of being single, "It's all good!"












6. I’m more of a mountain girl than a beach girl. I love cold weather better than hot weather, and the fall is my favorite time of year.  My dream vacation is road trip up the east coast in the fall.....one day...




7. I’m a Libra on the very, very cusp of Scorpio, and I can be one or the other on any given day. I don’t classify very well.


8. I love color, reality tv shows, tearing up houses and putting them back together, popcorn for dinner, listening to books on my ipod, playing the penny slots (when I’m winning!) and margaritas on the patio with new and old friends. The simple pleasures are appreciated more and more, and my life’s mantra is “It’s all good!”.


9. I’ve always made things. I had a craft line in the 90’s that I sold in craft fairs and home shows. I had a line of nursery accessories that I sold at market, and I still make these killer stuffed pumpkins that I sell each fall. I love mosaics and jewelry making, and I can do amazing things with paint. I guess if I didn’t have to work, I’d be making something all the time.



10. I raised a son and a daughter to be kind, independent and self-reliant. They are amazing people, married to other amazing people and each has blessed me with a grandson, whom I’m sure will be amazing as well. It would be my dream to have them all back here in Texas where we could spend more time together.


Now comes my favorite part!  I get to nominate some of my favorite blogs for the Beautiful Blogger Award.  What fun!

Kathy Perdue who writes Good Life of Design was my first blog friend.  We've decided that we were separated at birth.  Our design styles, while different from one another, each reflect our love for beautiful things.  You will love the warmth with which  she communicates her aesthetic, and she'll make you laugh as well.  So congrats, friend.  I think you're a BEAUTIFUL BLOGGER!

It is said that there is a lot of competition amounst designers around here, but Dallas blogger, Kellie Cashon, who writes Cashon and Co blog, has become a good blogging friend, and I love her blog!  She does fabulous projects, has a great eye, and is just a lovely person.  I hope you'll visit and see for yourself.

Privet and Holly, written by Suzanne Walcher, truly is a beautiful blog.  Suzanne writes so creatively, and her love of life and design are so evident in all her posts.  She is one of the most generous bloggers out there, and I'm really enjoying getting to know her.    I know you will too.

So thanks for stopping by today.  Your comments really are appreciated. It really is the communication that makes this blog stuff work.

Check back tomorrow for some more design inspiration, and remember...."It's all good!"

Saturday, August 7, 2010

....and the day came......

It seems like things have to get really ugly before they can become  beautiful sometimes.

That's the state of my home right now.  Ug!
(in case you want to know what I'm talking about, check out this post)

So today, the bookcases go back together.  I've spent some time this week culling through my massive library of books...mostly on art and decorating...trying to reduce the many down to the few.

Luckily the blogs are full of beautiful inspiration pictures for decorating bookcases.

There's the "Messy-thrown-together-and-totally-interestesting " ones.

Been there...done that!

Then there's "Don't-touch-me! I-must-stay-perfectly-in-place" bookshelves.


Nope...that's not me.

There's the "Anal-retentive-color-coded-rainbow-arranged" bookcase.



and the "I-don't-like-any-color-in-my-bookcases-so-I'll-turm-the-spines-to-the-front" bookcase.
What??? Who does that?

Really????

These just aren't me.

I think I like a combination of books and other things.


(I love that these are painted behind like mine are.)

I like a more "lived-in" bookcase. 

...a bookcase with a personality (preferably like mine!)

Maybe  more like this


It's always an adventure.  Who knows at this point where I'll be this evening when I'm done....if I'm done!....Do you ever get done?

I guess I can always put the left overs here...


That might just solve my fireplace dilemma!




Thursday, August 5, 2010

The Amazing Ellen Holt


The Dallas Design District is a place full of world class showrooms, amazing fabrics and furnishings to delight designers and decorators from all over the world.

Tucked away in a vintage building across the street is a magical place where handmade passematerie are lovingly created one at a time, yard by yard.

The amazing Ellen Holt, master weaver and maker of amazing tassels, trims, braids and fringes is featured in my blog post today in http://www.loweroaklawn.com/

You'll be amazed and delighted with her story and her creations.   I hope you'll pop over and enjoy my post today.

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Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Cooling Down

Summers are always hot in Texas, but we've had a streak of days well over 100 with no relief in sight. 

My thoughts go to anything cool, so here's a lovely photo that lowers the temp a little bit and provides some great inspiration at the same time.

Sandra Morgan Interiors

Yall stay out of the heat, you hear?

Monday, August 2, 2010

What did you do this weekend, Sally?

I painted these bookshelves from Country French nightmare....


....to this.

Yes, I know they're not dressed, but I wanted to see my orange shelves before they got covered up with books and things.

There's major editing about to happen followed by a trip to Half-Priced Books to sell my rejects.

I've lived in my house for almost 33 years.  Eee Gad!....
with this fireplace.


These are my children who are now 32 and 30 !!
I have almost no pictures of this fireplace because I have hated it that long.

And this weekend, I painted it!!!



OK..I know I need a screen.... and ignore the dog toys and paint cans, and this horrible chair and ottoman that have to go.... but look at what I transformed!!

It took me 33 years to do this!  Why??? 

I really still hate this asymmetrical fireplace from the 60's (who builds these?), but what's a girl to do? 
I'd love some suggestions for decorating this weird space,so help me out here.

Maybe a piece of furniture on the hearth, or large vases or a different painting?   I'm sick of all my stuff, so you won't hurt my feelings.

Did I mention that I've lived with this fireplace for 33 years!!!

Talk about making a silk purse from a sow's ear..........!!

Friday, July 30, 2010

That juxtaposition thing.

Sometimes you run across a photo of a room where one thing jumps out and pulls you in...like it or no...and then when you stay with it a minute, you see all kinds of other things to like...or no..

Yep....This is one of those rooms for me.


This isn't a new pic to the blogesphere, but I just really started studying it the other day, and began to see some of Jenna Lyon's design brilliance shining through.

If you were to only see the top half of this room



....you might see it as soft French country...gray walls, antique chandelier, beautiful high ceilings and dentil moldings.  You might even notice the iron balconies outside the full length French doors. 

But if you were to see only the bottom half of the room,


...you might have a different impression...lots of color and graphics, a mix of modern and traditional furniture pieces...a bit of fun and whimsy thrown in for good measure...(I mean, who puts flokati rugs over their chairs?)

This rooms demonstrates to me why good eclectic design takes some skill, some bravery and a good bit of talent to acheive.

I think I'm jealous!

What do you think? 


Wednesday, July 28, 2010

My Orange Crush



I'm not sure when my crush for all things orange began.


It wasn't my favorite color growing up.
That was pink!


But I love it now! 

I love it's warmth.

House and Home Magazine

I love it's energy.

roxnn blog


I love it's playfulness.


Sara Bengur Interiors


I like that it can be sophisticated too.

Palmer Weiss Interior Designer,  Matthew Millman, Photographer


I love the way it complements other colors.


Elle Decor


Stephen Gambrill, Interior Designer

I love how it can range from hot, hot, hot.... to not.


Donna Rosen Interiors


roxnn blog

I love how crisp and clean it looks when paired with white.


And when it's mixed with pumpkins and gold and takes on a burnt look.......? 
Yeah I love that!

PCB Interiors

(Yes, Texans love burnt orange!)

I know there are people on both sides of the orange fencing...


So which side are you on????
(Don't answer that Kathysue!)


Monday, July 26, 2010

Barn love

How do you put some life into a converted barn?

Blackburn Architects, Leesville Va.

A raspberry sectional, of course!
(and certainly this gi-nourmous dog.....but I kind of love gi-nourmous dogs!)

Much, much, much to love here.
Do you have a fav?


Friday, July 23, 2010

Going to the chapel......

I'm off to the beautiful Texas Hill Country,

to celebrate the marriage of two great young people.


Congrats! Whitney and Mason!


See Yall next week!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

What a Difference a Drape Makes

Here's a little fabric inspiration today from the wonderful designer, Phoebe Howard.


Want to see some more fabric inspiration? 
My first bi-monthly post for LowerOakLawn blog runs today (posts at 11amCST).  I'll be covering the fabric houses of the Dallas Design District for this wonderful blog, and today's post is all about Updated Classics.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

....And the Domino falls.

If you keep up with Divine Distractions, you know that the team at Sally J Designs have been up to our elbows in kitchen design over the last couple of weeks. 

It's hard to do kitchens for other people and not reflect upon your own.

This is my kitchen....Country French mode....time warp!






I've enjoyed my kitchen for the last 8 years.  I've loved Country French most of my life....so did my mom.
I love color....always will.

But....
That's just not me anymore.

Designers, probably more than anyone else, fall in and out of love with design styles, and while I'm not "out of love" with Country French, I'm more "in love" with a clean and modern aesthetic.

It's not an easy leap from one design style to another....sigh....

I spent last weekend painting my open plan living area in this

Sherwin Williams "Macadamia"

And the trim in this...

Sherwin Williams "Dover White"
This looks really yellow here....think white!

Do you see my problem?

The paint colors throughout my house all had a warm golden base to them (think SW "Blonde"), and now I've changed the game.  While "Macadamia" is a warm beige, it has alot of brown and gray in it. 

Macadamia, cool and modern, and buttery yellow, distressed cabinets just can't live together any more.

And to complicate matters even further,all reds and golds are going by-by throughout the house, and I'm using these fabrics in orange and deep turquoise along with a good bit of black,white and some navy.


Duralee - Thomas Paul collection, Kravet velvet

Can you say TOTAL REDO!!!!
AHHHHHH!!!

All I really wanted to do was paint my bathroom,

my sink cabinet...way too much junk on the countertop...please forgive! 

(Can you tell this was my "Artist's Boho Period"???)

...which led to changing out the wall color...then the trim had to be changed.....
Are you following me here?

I need your help.
I would never go about designing a client's home the way I've done mine.
Working off of a "whim" is not generally the progression I follow.  And to complicate matters, I have no budget!!

I HAVE to paint my kitchen, cabinets and all.
I'm open for suggestions.
I like the dark base cabinets, and I like the light uppers'
But I'm not married to anything ( or anyone, for that matter!  LOL)

Other than keeping my copper ceiling....which I love....
I'm open to change....guess you could tell that!
Colors are fair game.

I want suggestions.  What would you do with the cabinets? 
(Burning down is not an option.)

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Can you Think Pink?


I'm meeting with one of my sweet clients today to talk about her new townhome. 
We're going classically feminine. 

Could this space be inspiration?  

Oh, yeah.....




Photos are of the home of Jackie Alberga shown in House and Home magazine.

Contact the team at Sally J. Designs for all your design and decorating needs.
We make your dreams a reality!