Sarah and Target: Good News and Bad News

facebook.com

I was super excited the other day when I saw that Sarah Richardson had posted to facebook that she will be collaborating with Target on a collection Fall 2015.  I did a major happy dance!  I am chomping at the bit to get my hands on Sarah's new book, Sarah Style, so when I heard this news I was over the moon.  Problem is...it will be a collaboration with Target CA not U.S.A.  Say what!!!  I am so very sad.  Come on U.S!  Get with it.  We want Sarah!

You lucky Canadians, you.

I am holding out hope that some miracle will happen and they will finally bring Sarah back to the U.S.  

I am so excited for the weekend!  It was a very busy week and I'm ready to relax with my family.

Hears hoping you all have a relaxing weekend too!

Love to you friends,

Creative Holiday Wreath Display

r_iver32 via instagram

Don't you just love instagram?!  It is so much fun to follow favorite blogger friends and designers and see their everyday inspirations.  One such designer I follow is Sarah Richardson.  Recently, she asked her instagram followers to snap a shot of how they style a wreath and hash tag it #showsharesarah.  Above is my offering:  A simple pinecone wreath in the center of my mantel mirror.  She is going to choose her favorite pics to share on her website sarahrichardsondesign.com.  There are quite a few lovely pictures that her followers have submitted and I have been enjoying browsing.  I hope mine makes that cut...how fun that would be!

I decided that I would do a little post on fresh ideas for holiday wreaths today, since wreaths have been on my mind of late.

designsponge.com

evelynandrose.blogspot.com

mybestfriendcraig.blogspot.com

elementsofstyleblog.com

inspired-design.tumblr.com

countryliving.com

desiretoinspire.net

camillestylesinc.com

pinimg.com

weewestchester.com

myhomeideas.com

Some interesting ideas, right?  There are so many creative people out there.  

Any ideas you are loving right now for wreaths?

What's Sarah Richardson Up To These Days?

Since I follow Sarah Richardson on Instagram and Facebook I have been seeing a lot of snippets from what America has been missing out on, namely Sarah Richardson's new show, Real Potential.  I am so sad that we only ever get old re-runs of Sarah's shows and never the latest--not to say that I don't watch the re-runs religiously--and it would be wonderful to see what's new.  Well, at least we can stare at the gorgeous images of her latest rooms!  Not only does Sarah have a new show, but she also has a new fabric line by Kravet available here.  She is one busy girl!  I am loving everything.  See if you don't...

sarahrichardsondesign.com
Here is a gorgeous dining room project from Real Potential.  I love the color palette; it is classic Sarah.  How about those chairs and the chandelier!

designmaze-tim.blogspot.com

via design maze
Here is another space from Real Potential.  The bold mix of blues make it a wow space but it isn't over-the-top.  

via design maze

via Rambling Renovators
If you can believe it, these images are of Sarah's office.  That's right, office.  She uses a section of her office to display her new fabrics and furniture line.  Pretty spectacular.

via Rambling Renovators
I am really hoping that whatever problem has been going on to prevent Sarah's newest show from being aired here in the US is being ironed out, because there is an impatient audience waiting for a little Sarah and Tommy magic on our sets!  Also, I hope you check out Sarah's fabric line.  I'm heading over there right now.
I hope the rest of your week is fantastic!

Sarah Richardson: Grey and Blue Bedroom

Just yesterday I was at Lori's house and I was describing this bedroom Sarah Richardson and Tommy Smythe designed to her.  I thought that I might as well post pictures of it since it is one of my favorites.  I love the mix of grey and blues as well as the combination of black painted furniture and wood tones.  It is a very elegant bedroom.

myprojectcalledlife

michaelpennystyle

sarahrichardson.com

sarahrichardsondesigns.com

Isn't it beautiful?  Happy Friday everyone!

Inspiration: Sarah Richardson's Master Ensuite

Last weekend, Rebecca invited me over to watch a film classic (Cover Girl), to enjoy some drinks and snacks (Framboise and caramel marshmallow popcorn), and to catch up.  I got to her house after her kiddos had gone to bed and I had dropped the Cat off at my parents' house, and she started the movie, and we got to talking.  Among various other subjects, we started talking about my bedroom lamps, and what we were going to do for shades.  This discussion led to Rebecca switching the movie over to her cache of Sarah Richardson shows that she has saved on her dvr.  There was one master bathroom in particular that Rebecca wanted to share with me because it is so. damn. AMAZING. 

image via decor pad

First, let me tell you that this picture, while gorgeous, does not do the room justice. 

image via Parkdale Avenue

This master ensuite was done during season 4 of Sarah's House.  The room is almost 200 square feet, and there are custom upgrades throughout.  Did you know that if you  buy a track home during its construction phase, you can make minor changes to the floorplan and the built ins?  Sure, you can do upgrades, but you can also modify some pieces, like Sarah and her partner Tommy did to the vanity.

image via Design Maze

To cut costs, they kept the basic vanity that came with the house, but made some minor modifications.  The middle became recessed, and the doors and drawers have recessed panels, which Sarah fitted with custom cut antiqued mirrors.  The result is stunning.

image via Design Maze

image via Design Maze

What a relatively easy upgrade!  Not the recessing-the-middle-bit, but you could change out your preexisting cabinet doors with recessed panels and have mirror cut to fit.

image via Design Maze
(This site is a treasure trove of great house pictures!)

That picture does a little more justice to the ming green natural stone- the color is so beautiful!

If you get a chance, be sure to catch this episode of Sarah's House, season 4.  It is unbelievable!

~Lori

Favorite Thing: Antique Crock

via apartment therapy

Sarah Richardson's fantastic farmhouse is not without genius storage.  One of the things that caught my eye (and many other peoples') was this crock that she uses as a dish towel hamper.  I said to myself, "Self, you need one of those."  

And now I have one!  Only $20.  I used to toss dirty dishtowels just behind this pocket door that is the entry to the laundry room.  Not anymore.

There is a huge one of these at a local antique store and Lori had an amazing idea for how to use it: how about a planter for the back patio?  Brilliant, I say.

Inspiration, Continued: Sarah Richardson's Crest

I posted the other day about a crest that I found at the antique store that Rebecca refinished for me.  Here is another great thing about Rebecca's work ethic: it wasn't enough that she actually did the project (admittedly, had I been in charge, that crest would still be in my garage.  Actually, it would probably still be in the trunk of my car!);  she and her fantastic husband came over and put it up for me too!  Start to finish, she does the whole thing!  I am one lucky gal to have her as a friend.

I love it!  Thank you again, Rebecca and Ty!

~Lori

Inspiration: Sarah Richardson's Crest

Rebecca did a piece on summer mantles, and posted this picture from Sarah Richardson's farmhouse.  I fell in love with the crest above the fireplace as soon as I saw this room.

Rebecca's post
image via

Below is a close-up of the shield.  Isn't it gorgeous?!

Sarah Richardson crest; image via Hello Lovely

When I was at one of our local antique stores, I spied this old wooden shield hidden behind objects and leaning up against a wall.  I thought it was kitschy, but cool, despite the rather horrible crushed gold velvet lining.

A Hidden Gem?

I snapped a picture and emailed it to Rebecca to get her opinion.  Too much?  She was encouraging.  We went back a couple of days later, and I picked it up for a song.  Here's what's great about Rebecca- we finished our errands (new curtain rings for my bedroom redo, a look at some shelves, a good lunch), and then, after picking up the Cat, we IMMEDIATELY got to work on making this sucker more presentable.  By we, I really mean Rebecca.  I helped where I could, but she really did all the work.

Here it is, in all of its crushed velvet glory.

After we ripped off all the velvet that we could, we noticed that we could remove the screws and take the metal pieces off.  Much easier!

Here I am, kind of helping!

Here we are, with no more velvet.  This made it so much easier to clean it up!

Looking better already!  Rebecca used a white washing technique that she learned from Sarah Richardson.  The key, it seems, is to wipe a lot of the paint off the brush and then lightly apply it to the piece.

Here it is, all painted and done.  It is vastly different from the inspiration piece, but it is in the same vein, and it is going to look awesome above my fireplace!  Thanks, Rebecca!

~Lori