Entryway Inspiration...

I can't believe it's Wednesday already! Today I am in search of entryway inspiration. After painting our house over the summer we now need to: paint the door, add a kick plate and knocker, find unique house numbers and a new nickle doorbell.

After months of planning, the house color still turned out a deep navy blue rather than the charcoal gray that I had in mind (I will be posting ideas and tips on choosing paint colors later in the week). When searching for design inspiration I like to walk through beautiful neighborhoods to get ideas for my design. I take bits and pieces from many sources and mold them into my own creative design. Here are some of my inspiration photos, mostly found on Pinterest for my front entry and door. I love feedback and suggestions so please comment on any of the posts or email me at Blaiseadkisondesign@gmail.com anytime!

This house has beautiful symmetry, I really like the color choice for this cottage style architecture.
Great landscape architecture with the rock pathway and wood trellis on either sides.
I love the lantern style entry lights!

Entry 1

This front entry is very well composed. Cool vintage mailbox and a very unique light.
I love the painted wood decking and those cool rocking chairs.

Entry 2

Yellow Door...

Check out these huge house numbers, interesting and modern choice for this cute bungalow cottage. 

The color is nearly the same as mine. Maybe I should paint our door yellow!?!

Entry 3

I love everything about this entry: the light fixture, the knocker and the numbers work so well together.
Design tip: Potted plants always look best in groupings of three!

Entry 4

Turquoise Door...

The chevron pattern and color of the door are so refreshing. Great knocker, latch and house numbers!
The lights need to be different style and definitely a larger scale with a dark bronze finish.

Entry 5

Black Door...

This entry is amazing! The lights are perfect. They are simple and remind me of yacht club / dock light fixtures.

The lanterns on the stairs are so cool...

 

Entry 6

Red Door...

I have always loved the idea of a red front door. It seems so welcoming.

Entry 7

How about this red door? The color of this home is similar to ours.

 I think this is beautiful and it really makes me want some snow!!!

Entry 8

What do you think? I promise to post my photos as soon as I make some design updates. I will also post some before photos so you can see where we started.

Have a happy Wednesday!

 

Dream Home

 I hope you all had a great weekend. I was busy joining Pinterest  (finally, it is an online pin board) and landscaping our front garden beds. I planted hydrangeas, Winter green shrubs and a few different types of grasses and nearly 100 tulip, iris and narcissus bulbs. I will be photographing the progress through the seasons to see how they all work together.

Today I wanted to share a home designed by Tiek Built Homes. They specialize in restoring traditional style homes that are absolutely amazing. Their passion for design, architecture and quality craftsmanship is evident and I am absolutely obsessed with the design of this home. The interior design was done by Caitlin Creer and suits the Cape Cod style architecture of the home very nicely. Enjoy the photos and be sure to check out Tiek Built Homes Blog or their Pinterest for more information and inspirational photos.

I grew up vising my family in Connecticut and have always loved the Cape Cod Style homes that line the shore. This cottage style greatly influences my personal designs and I am inspired by life near the sea. In this home the lantern lights hint to a nautical theme without being overly "themey" and the yellow door is perfectly charming! This is my Dream Home...

 Tiek Built Homes

 I love the gray paint color with the bright white trim. The roof line is detailed and compliments the Cape Cod style architecture very well.

Tiek Built Homes

Check out all of the windows and natural light. They really succeeded in bringing the outdoors in! That is a great ceiling fan, very simple and understated and the paint color is soft and serene.

Tiek Built Homes

The architectural details are classic traditional design. The detailed chevron brick pattern inside the fireplace is so creative and the small glass tiles add a bit of sparkle.

Tiek Built Homes

This window seat is genius, I am a huge fan of natural light and who doesn't enjoy an afternoon nap in the sun? These pillows are so cute too...

Tiek Built Homes
 On to the Kitchen...and it just gets better...I am in love with the high ceilings, the light fixtures and the farm house sink. These are all perfect components for a cottage style home.

Tiek Built Homes
I love using free standing furniture in unexpected ways, a vanity made from an antique dresser or cabinet or an armoire used as a shoe closet. In this home the kitchen island has been designed to be free floating, giving an airy and open feel. I think it is a perfect choice!

Tiek Built Homes
Master Bedroom - The Paneling behind the headboard is so dramatic and the gable roof gives the ceiling an organic "curved" shape, I love how the scroll bed mirrors the line of the ceiling.

Caitlin Creer Interiors

Tiek Built Homes

Seating nook in the master bedroom. The furniture was custom made and gives a dramatic and cozy feel to the master bedroom.

 

Caitlin Creer Interiors

I hope this cape cod style dream home inspires you as much as it does me! Remember to check back to see photos of the landscaping I did over the weekend! Also find me on Pinterest, where I will be posting even more inspiring designs as well as recipes and travel photos...

House of Fifty - Guest Suite Design

For all of you Domino readers and design lovers alike I am so excited to share with you my favorite new "e-zine" (online magazine) House Of Fifty. I couldn't resist to share this because the Holiday issue was just released this week and it is amazing! I give major props to founding editor Janell Beals from Isabella & Max Rooms for coming up with this concept for an online magazine with tons of great design and lifestyle inspiration. I love everything about it, the layout as well as the content. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do!

My favorite design tips from the Holiday issue were about creating a luxurious guest suite. During the Holidays you may find yourself hosting guests for longer periods of time. Here are my top 3 favorite ideas for making their stay even more amazing:

 “Guests rooms should be comfortably chic with equal parts swanky boutique hotel and the creature comforts of home.” - Lori Graham (Interior Designer and Contributor to House of Fifty E-Zine)

1. Provide a luxurious robe & slippers!
2. Layer drapery to create a soothing and dark atmosphere where guests can rest and relax.
3. Provide baskets of tasty snacks & a tray with seasonal teas.

You will have to subscribe (for free!) to House Of Fifty to see the remaining tips to create a luxe guest suite!

A beautiful & bold guestroom. I love the glossy black floors paired with the distressed antique armoire.
Designed by Lori Graham from House of Fifty E-Zine.

A serene guestroom with a pop of brightly colored artwork. I love the unique black & white bed frame.
Designed by interior designer Lori Graham from House of Fifty E-Zine.

I love the idea of making your home feel like a boutique hotel, giving your guests a fab space to vacation.

I am officially joining Pinterest this weekend so be sure to stay tuned!
Thanks for stopping by,

Tourist In Seattle...

I am still unwinding from a long weekend in Seattle. We went to the Seahawks game and enjoyed some fine dining with friends at re:public bar & restaurant in the South Lake Union district as well as a delicious Italian birthday dinner for Bryan at The Pink Door , there is no sign just a lightly colored pink door on Post Alley near the Pike Place Market. I highly recommend both of these to anyone planning a trip to the Seattle area.

Aside from the amazing food and wonderful time with friends I was thinking alot about the architecture in Seattle. Our hotel was across the street from the amazing Public Library, designed by Rem Koolhaas! After watching the sunset over the peninsula from the top floor of the hotel I am even more convinced that the best place to build a house is directly on a body of water. I have always been in love with the idea of living on a house boat. Since I was little I always admired the cozy rustic houseboats on Lake Union and was surprised and excited to find a very modern approach to lakeside living. Check out this Dream Home!

The raw materials (glass, aluminum and wood) not only give this houseboat a sleek and modern look, they are easy to maintain and hold up against any harsh weather conditions from the lake.

I love how the light filters in through the translucent floor to ceiling glass windows.

A view of sail boats from the kitchen? Yes please...

This design flips a traditional home design, putting private spaces on the ground level and the public spaces are on the upper levels allowing the best views for entertaining.

A dock off the master bedroom? Why not...

A very modern approach to living on the water. For more information on this amazing and chic house boat go here:  Lake Union Floating Home, designed by Vandeventer + Carlander Architects, LLC.

 I remember when I was little we were able to walk out and see the house boats up close and personal. Most of these neighborhoods are now private, requiring professional tours to view them. However you can still get down by the water and appreciate them from afar!

Happy November!

I can't believe it is November! The fall is really here, the air is crisp, the leaves are changing and the sun is shining low in the sky. It is time to indulge in some Muller Apple Cider and Apple Cider Doughnuts (I have always wanted to make these!!!) and pull out the recipe books in preparation for Thanksgiving!

 

I hope you all had a lovely Halloween and filled up on your share of candy! I just returned from a long weekend in Seattle and will be posting tomorrow about some cool architecture from this hip Northwest City, thanks for dropping by and don't forget to stop and enjoy the brightly colored leaves!

Cheers,

School House Charm

Recently my mom and I saw a set of antique metal lockers used at a pool to store towels. I love the idea of re purposing school lockers in a kitchen to store napkins and utensils, in a pantry to store food or in a bathroom for toiletries, it is an industrial look with some great school house charm. I think they would look great painted a high gloss red or black! Here are a few examples of some inspiring re purposed industrial metal lockers...

 Lockers used for storage in the kitchen...

 Country Living

Country Living

Country Living

Lockers can also be used as a nightstand or dresser... 

Source

Source

Or in an entry as a coat closet...

Unknown Source

With a fresh coat of paint and some interior shelves these would be my dream lockers...

Unknown Source

If you have a piece of furniture that is made with high quality materials [solid metal or wood] by adding a fresh coat of paint you can end up with a brilliant re-purposed piece of furniture. One of the blogs I love to follow is Natty by Design, where Natalie posts daily about her furniture re-finishing business. It is inspiring to see the many ways in which she brings life to the antique pieces she finds, the outcome is always extremely beautiful!  She even sells some of her furniture on her online shop. Be sure to check it out!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Boston - Bringing Back The Classics

I just returned from a weekend in Boston and was in awe at the architecture of this beautiful city. I love that new buildings are being designed to blend in with the classical architecture that has existed here for so long. The Pavilion in the Park is a private residence in Boston designed by Ivan Bereznicki Associates and is the winner of the 2010 Bulfinch Awards in New Construction, Classical Design Under 5,000 SF. The ivory limestone and precisely symmetrical proportions makes this residence resemble a classical European estate. I love the Doric columns, porthole windows and fantastic lighting! I just wish I had photos of the interior design, I am sure it is beautiful.

The Bulfinch Awards recognize contemporary excellence in New England Classical and Traditional Design, named after Charles Bulfinch, the first American born architect responsible for introducing Neoclassicism to the United States in the late 18th Century.

You can find information on this residence at: Pavilion in the park,

Designed by Ivan Bereznicki Associates

Boston is also known for its Greek Revival Architecture...

Winner of the Bulfinch Awards in New Construction, Classical design over 5,000 SF is this Greek Revival Residence in Deadham, Mass. Designed by Dell Mitchell Architects.

These classical elements of design make for truly unforgettable architecture! I will be posting some of my own photos from Boston next week,