Get to know Ms. Hajj

Baltimore designer Mona Hajj was born in Africa, educated in Europe, Lebanon and the United States. She brings a unique style of her own wherever she lands . . .

A master at artful expression and time honored traditional interiors, there is a delight and discovery in her spaces.

I love the serene and style she has given even to this small room.

Grandeur may lead effortlessly to rustic charm and traditional richness may give way to com temporary simplicity, but you can bet every space she touches will bring a smile. I would love for Mona to visit my castle, how about you?

The Mix

I love the unexpected, fine things with not so fine things, rough with smooth, texture with gloss.

Clean lines, fewer things, better things . . .

Perfection is in the mix. Do you need to mix things up a bit in your castle?

Red

Red is a "drama queen ," it is hard to compete with and impossible to upstage.

And yet, it can be used as a neutral color . . . working well with most other hues that are paired with it.

As an accent it commands attention . . . providing the punctuation in a well-edited space.

Could you use just a touch, in your own castle?

The Dining Room

More than any other room in the house , the dining room has fallen victim to lifestyle changes.

Few have space to spare, what was once reserved for formal dinners now doubles as a homework station, sewing table, project head quarters ect. For some families , just clearing the table is a project in itself.

My own "glorified" dining/ laundry space . . .

No matter where you gather to eat, make it a special place. Some of lives most important conversations take place at this most important space. When was the last time you had dinner with your family in your dining room?

Architectural Elements

There are certain features of a room that deserve to be played up, they are often sources of pride . . . " great architecture" is at the top of that list for most spaces.
These elements can be inherited or added to a plain space. Items such as fireplaces, columns, windows and beautiful moldings are all great "Architectural Elements" and in most cases will automatically become the rooms focal.
Often thought of as the "bones of a home"and same as with a beautiful woman . . . if the bones are good, they will always be beautiful!

Something to Talk About

Happy Birthday Carol

If you don't know Carol, aka Cedwards55 , you need to get yourself acquainted. Carol first caught my attention after reading her comments on Rate My Space. She was always so nice and she was also very knowledgeable when it came to design.

What I did not know was that she is also a incredible seamstress as well as a talented designer. Look at the beautiful pillow she made for me !

I had some old drapes that I just could not let go of because I loved the fabric . . . Carol used the fabric and created a work of art. Thanks Carol !!!! Have a wonderful Birthday my friend.

Pet Peeve ~ Too Much

When you " over load " a space, you can not see anything and nothing is highlighted.

I would be willing to bet that there are some wonderful things here . . . but you can not tell for sure.

Yes, it is true, there can be " too much of a good thing."

Need I say more ?

Get to know Ms. Richardson

Sarah Richardson is Canada's version of " Candice Olson" here in the U.S. Her work is featured frequently in design publications in Canada, the U.S. and the United Kingdom.

She has three hit t.v. shows , Room Service, Sarah's House, and Sarah's Cottage.

But she is not your average t.v. designer. She has a keen understanding of the fundamentals of design, and razor sharp instincts in all matters of taste and style.

Known for her clean , elegant approach to modern . . .she is one of Canada's foremost "style makers". Do you see a bit of "Candice" in her work too ?

Rooms That Inspire

Memorable spaces, like memorable people, have distinct personalities.

"Personality" means the overall statement or the feelings it evokes when you enter, what is being said about the people who live there.

Not a specific style, but highly individual . . .

One can just hear the heart beat of rooms such as these . . . Do you feel inspired yet?

Happy Birthday Linda/Mom

Go have yourself a wonderful day ! xoxoxox

Opt for Scale

I love grand gestures when it comes to scale.

Large things give a room a less predictable look . . .

But you will need to vary the scale too, if everything is large , you lose the impact you were trying to achieve.

In order to enhance something , it has to be surrounded by open space. Do you need to think a bit larger in your own castle?

Romantic Spaces

Romantic rooms challenge your imagination, turning day dreams into reality. There is just something spell binding about these " girlie rooms" that beckon to me . . .

Maybe it is the free-spirited mix and the sentimental details, the mood they evoke. Setting is the key in these fairly tale spaces.

They just put me into a pampering mood . . . you just know a beautiful woman will soon float by with a cup of hot tea. I can hear "Enya" singing in the background . . . Can you?

Gray, Versatile Gray

Gray, like a tailored flannel suit, takes away all sharp edges, all harsh glares and is so wonderfully livable.

Reminiscent of waves on a overcast day, it's hard to "overdo it" with this flexible hue.

Gray works beautifully in formal or casual settings. It can also be either a cool or a warm color, depending on the tone used.

Joni, from COTE DE TEXAS http://cotedetexas.blogspot.com/ shared this beauty with us a few months back . . . and because of this one photo, my daughter decided to do a gray kitchen in her newly built home. Thanks Joni ! So tell, me . . . What's your take on Gray ?