2011: New Year, New Life (?)

2011 will mark some major milestones in my life:

March 2011: David and I will welcome our first child -- a boy.

May 2011: David will turn 30.

June 2011: I will turn 30.

September 2011: David and I will celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary.

November 2011: Marks my 5th year as a licensed attorney (unfortunately, I'll be missing my 5th year reunion in April due to above mentioned baby). Of course, that still makes me the baby of our legal department, but there is something to be said for getting past the first few, really tough years of being a young attorney.

In many ways, the dawn of the second decade of the now not-so-new millennium marks Dave's and my entrance into actual adulthood. Sure, we've technically been adults for over a decade, but I'll admit that we both indulged in the extended adolescence that our society has long allowed twenty-somethings. And we've very much enjoyed all the traveling, eating out, etc. that our disposable income and lack of kids has allowed us. Am I a bit scared at the prospect of this transition? Absolutely, but I think I'm finally ready to embrace adulthood, motherhood and this new year.

But enough of the serious stuff; have a wonderful New Year's Eve and a very Happy New Year! See y'all back next week for some updates on the nursery (I swear my absence in blogland this week is due primarily to being productive!) and more design inspiration.

Photograph courtesy of Elle Canada.

"One More Night . . . "

Greetings,

One last post.  One more night.  By the time you awake in the morning it will be a new year.  So why don't we take this one last chance to get dressed up for New Year's Eve.  Dig in the back of those closets - or maybe, if you've been especially good this year - have a look through those Christmas presents from last weekend (yes, there's a wonderful red & black buffalo plaid dinner jacket in my formal wardrobe now!)

Or if you need a little inspiration, peruse these fine examples . . . .

Have a festive and safe New Year's Eve - and grand wishes for an amazing 2011.  

See you next year,

Scot

Best of the Goods - Knit Me

For my final post of Best of the Goods - my two week long series featuring my favorite previous posts - I'm posting on the same subject as my very first post - knitting! I've been a knitting and crocheting fan for a LONG time and while I don't talk much about my craftiness on this blog, I find knitting such a wonderful way to meditate and relax. And it's a perfect subject to read about on a cold winter day (depending on where you live).

Here are some of my favorite knitting goodies: A knit clock from the Conran Shop





"Knit" candles from Anthropologie




A gorgeous knit shop, Lion Brand Yarn Studio in NYC (sorry I missed it on my last visit!)


Love these crocheted flowers, featured on Apartment Therapy.



And the very first goodie I ever posted, a knit vase from Etsy.

A Big Kiss for the New Year

photo courtesy of www.mimifroufrou.com

 

 

 

 

The ladies from Inhabit want to wish all of our friends, family, clients and loyal followers a peaceful and prosperous new year.  We are nothing without you and wish you all of the champagne bubbles you can handle.  Stay tuned in 2011 for exciting design project photos, projects, offerings and a brand spankin' new look to our blog.
Cheers!
Heather & Michelle

Inhabit Design is a Las Vegas Interior Design firm specializing in high end residential and commercial interiors. Contact us for your own spine tingling interior.

My Favorite Design Blog Posts of 2010

It’s hard to believe 2010 is coming to an end soon. Seems like just yesterday I wrote a post about my favorite blog posts of 2009. With more and more beautiful design blogs, it was very difficult to narrow down my favorites for 2010, but here goes {in no particular order}…

Holding Court’s How to Find Inspiration Shopping.  The design blogging community continues to morn the loss of Marija who was killed in a car accident returning from an antiquing trip to Atlanta on July 10, 2010. My heart goes out to her family and friends this holiday season.

Pure Style Home’s Our Thanksgiving Table. This fun post by Lauren represents her wonderful whimsical, eclectic style to a T.

Isabella & Max Rooms’ Kitchen Island Pendant Project. In this post, the multi-talented Janell shows us how to make a custom drum shade for a pendant fixture. Aren’t this beautiful?

Cote de Texas’ The Hottest Photographer Going. Joni’s posts are always informative and beautiful. This is no exception. She walks through who Candida Hofer {the hottest photographer} and why she has attracted the attention of so many of the finest interior designers and art collectors. {image above from Town & Country via Cote de Texas}

Emily A. Clark’s Where to Start. This is a great article where Emily gives her design advice on where to start first when decorating your home. {image from House Beautiful via Emily A. Clark}

Centsational Girl’s Laundry Room Project Breakdown. Well, it was hard to pick just one post of Kate’s. She has some many great ones this year. However, her laundry room face-lift is a favorite of mine.

Bright.Bazaar’s Rue Magazine: My Holiday Column. Will’s column for Rue Magazine is always a treat. I especially like his holiday where he captured three different Christmas looks in the same room … all in one day!

6th Street Design School’s Office Details. Kirsten’s pretty and functional home office was designed with items from all different sources – many at deep discounts. Love that!

A Brooklyn Limestone in Progress’ Mail Call! DIY Mail Center. Stephani has tons of inspirational DIY projects on her blog, but the organizer side of me loved this incoming mail sorting center she made using picture frames and radiator grill. Brilliant!

Things That Inspire's Kitchen Sinks and Sink Tips from Readers. Holly is in the midst of building her dream home in Atlanta. She blogs about all the big and little decisions that she is making throughout the process. In these posts she walks through images of kitchen sinks and highlights readers’ advice regarding a variety of sink designs. Great ones to bookmark!

Velvet & Linen’s Leila’s Room. Brooke’s daughter, Leila’s new “big” girl room is eclectic, colorful and inviting. Starting with an floral rug from Anthropologie, Brooke & Leila created a beautiful bedroom retreat.

There are so many other posts I enjoyed reading in 2010. The lovely blogs listed under "buzzing blogs" are my daily reads. Please check them out when you have the time!

If you have areas of design or organization you'd like me to cover in 2011, just drop me an email - simplifiedbee {@} yahoo {dot} com.

Thank you for reading Simplified Bee and wishing you a joyous 2011!

Best of the Goods - Pillows

If you read this blog regularly, you know I have a minor obsession with pillows... So it's a miracle I was able to pick 3 pillows for my top 3 favorites I have blogged about...

#3 - Mongolian lambs wool from West Elm. I recently put on in a client's master bedroom, and if not for my crazy puppy, I'd definitely have one in my home.



#2 - I LOVE the ikat pillows from Fabricadabra.


#1 - This marbled pillow from GG Interiors will never go out of style!My birthday is coming up, if anyone needed some hints... Though my house is perfectly pillowed, so maybe I need to buy a second house to decorate with more pillows?

"A Tale of Two Seasons . . . "

Greetings,

A Tale of Two Seasons

Picture it.  Late Fall 1988.  San Jose, California.  A young man from Mississippi is enjoying his first few months of working for Ralph Lauren.  Learning more every day.  

Spending day upon day learning about fabrics.  And design inspirations.  And advertising.  And fashion.

Each afternoon, the UPS driver would deliver boxes and boxes of new merchandise.  And he would almost giggle with delight upon opening each and every one.

It was Fall, so the boxes would be filled with his favourite things.  Heavy hand-knit ski sweaters.  Thick wool tweed trousers.   And beautiful plaid sport coats.

 But, one day he noticed that the boxes contained men's cream linen shorts.  And silk sport shirts.  And ties with pictures of palm trees on them.  He was very confused.  

"Why would we sell these clothes in November?"

The store manager took him aside and tried to explain the reasoning behind such odd things.  He said, "Many people go to warm climates to celebrate the holidays.  And we must have clothing to them as well."   "Cruise" and "Holiday" are the same season.

The young man from Mississippi had never HEARD of such things.  The holidays are about snow and cold weather.   

So for the next few weeks, the young man from Mississippi sold many ski sweaters.  But, also linen pants - for the mysterious people who spent their holidays in warm climates.

And by the way, this entire missive has been written whilst in the mid-west.  In 20 degree temperatures.  And wearing heavy ski sweaters and warm wool pants.  

Cheers,
Scot

images of Ralph Lauren's home in Jamaica.  From Architectural Digest.

Best of the Goods - GOLD!

From now through the end of the year (I can't believe 2010 is almost over!) I will be posting some of my favorite goodies from the past 2 1/2 years of blogging. I went through all 720 of my previous posts to bring you the Best of the Goods!

Today's recap is all things GOLD. It seems we've all been on a gold kick for a few years now, and I don't see it fading anytime soon (and now you can mix in bronze and other warm metals.) Here are some of my favorite gold goodies to warm up your home.


I've been lusting after metallic cowhides for years. Maybe in 2011 I will finally pull the trigger.
Vivre


These shimmery bean bags are the perfect way to dress up a bookcase.

Sophie Nova

A gold piggy bank would be a good omen for lots of $$$ in the year to come. Or at least that's how I would rationalize buying it.
Calypso Home


You have to have a BIG personality to pull off a BIG gold room, like this one from Dolce & Gabbana.
InStyle


Gold is the perfect way to dress up a dinner party, like these teacups or flatware.
Vivre



Conran Shop

Best of the Goods - In the Closet

I love my house. The floor plan, the style, the size, the decor, the people who live in it... But if I could change one thing, I'd have a killer walk in closet. Here are some of my favorite closets of all time from the blog...

Of course Kelly Wearstler, queen of style and design, has a closet to-die-for.

Canadian House and Home


The closet (dressing room!) of Jenna Lyons, style director of J.Crew.


Closet in the Showtime Showcase house - I would love a closet that feels like a beautifully curated shop.


These images are from Domino way back in the day, but they are classic.

LOVE that mirrored armoire.
I have closet envy for sure.