A Modern Country Kitchen

This month for HOUZZ.com I’ve picked out some of my favorite things for my dream country kitchen. That would be if I had a house in the country, on the side of a mountain! I love that country has recently merged with modern – i’m really digging this new style!

1. Between Us Canvas
2. Green Polka Dots & Stripes Ceramic Bowls
3. Factory Light No. 4 Cable
4. Linen/Cotton EAT Napkins
5. Whisk Icon Apron
6. GLÄNTA Bread Bag
7. Wood Leg White Accent Chairs
8. Boerum Dining Table>
9. Blackened Stainless Steel Cutlery Set
10. Keith Brymer Jones Teapot
11. Bread Pin Basket
12. Garden Party Straws
13. LANTLIV White Plant Stand
14. Farmers Market Ceramic Quart Container
15. Classic Cocktails Tea Towel
16. SOMMARFINT Serving bowls
17. Kate Spade New York Larabee Road Black™ Tidbit Plates
18. 72″ French Library Shelving Polished Stainless Steel
19. RÅSKOG Turquoise
Kitchen Cart
20. La Cornue CornuFé Stove, Stainless-Steel

Minimal versus ‘cosy’ home interior design

With many of us facing an ongoing struggle for space, going minimalist can have its advantages in terms of keeping our homes clean, fresh and manageable. But for some, this rather brutal take on interior design can be too cold, too faceless, leaving many to stick to their more ‘cosy’ style of home décor. So is there a way to be minimalist without leaving homes devoid of all personality?
What is minimalist?
Minimalism is all about space, clean lines and removing all the clutter from sight. Creating a minimalist home gives a peaceful, more purposeful environment where each piece of furniture and décor is there for a reason. A minimalist home has the benefit of being easier to clean, to keep tidy and gives us the space we crave so much.
What is ‘cosy’?
A cosy space in the home is at the other end of the spectrum. Creating a cosy room is all about generating warmth and homely comfort with our layout, objects and furnishings, often including lots of unusual or quirky items in the design. The cosy home has lots of ‘clutter’, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but in a home where space is at a premium it can start to feel a little claustrophobic. Not to mention all the dusting there is to do!
A happy medium?
Most people will fall somewhere in between the two extremes. A desire to maximise the available space and create a home with less clutter and more purpose lends itself to some minimalist touches, but a fear of creating a space that is too cold incites us to bring in more decorations and quirky items to freshen up the face of the room.
So is there a way to create a perfectly minimal room that is still warm and comforting? Here are some ideas for doing just that:
· Colour: Minimalist homes are traditionally very white or grey with very little colour injection. But why? Add in a splash of colour with a bright rug or some statement pieces of furniture and instantly the room feels more homely.

· Materials: Use as many natural materials as you can to create a sense of warmth in an otherwise minimal environment. Think about reclaimed wood, wool rugs, linen napkins etc.

· Texture: Add visual interest to an otherwise monochromatic colour scheme by being inventive with the textures in the room. Go for things like hammered metal table tops, chunky hand knitted throws and smooth, polished metal embellishments as a funky alternative to frills.

· Decorations: Rather than trawling the home interiors shops for expensive designer pieces, try using things that have more meaning and purpose to them. Sticks you have gathered on a walk, unusual rocks found at the beach and simple plants or vases of flowers will create a lovely, organic look for your home.

· Light: Make the most of natural light by keeping window dressing to a minimum. You don’t want to have to redesign your window locations around your interior wishes, so design your room to maximise the window light. Use mirrors or polished, reflective surfaces to bounce the natural light around the space and create warm, comforting glows in every corner.

Gilt Picks!

I am obsessing over all of the fabulous home decor items for sale on GILT right now. Have you purchased anything lately?

Light & White Washed Wood Floors

I am kind of obsessed with light wood floors lately. Last year I had dark hard wood floors put on the entire main floor, but in our next house I plan to go LIGHT! Here are 5 of my favorite ideas for inspiration.

1. Looks like a bleached pine wood floor with a few knots in the wood.

2. bleached white wood floors, wider planks. These floors almost look unfinished.

3. Super white washed, narrow wood plank floors

4. white washed herringbone wood floors

5. white washed pine floors LOVE that piano!

Society 6 Throw Pillow Covers

1. Hakuna Matata Pillow
2. White Grey Deconstruction Geometric Pillow
3. Mustard/Yellow Chevron Pillow
4. Coral Modern Dahlia Flower Pillow

Did you know that Society 6 now sells pillow covers? You can order them with or without the insert in 3 different sizes. Prices start at only $20 for a 16X16 inch pillow cover! A serious bargain if you love to change up your home decor with the seasons. Here are 12 of my current favorites. There are literally thousands to browse!

5. Black Cat Pillow
6. White Cross on Black Pillow
7. White Dots on Black Pillow
8. Black Cross on White Pillow

9. Glitter Stripe Pillow
10. Stockinette Orange Pillow
11. Minimal Complexity Pillow
12. Peach Heart Pillow

Geometric Painted Wall

I fell in love with this wall over on Weekdaycarnival.blogspot.dk. She taped off patterns, then mixed really soft pastels to get the desired result. WOW, stunning!

Check out www.garaga.com

Spring Decor Picks

Here are 6 of my favorite new things for spring:

Vintage Kilim XV Rug
Coco Rose Quartz Chandelier
Corsica Beach Towel Collection in Pool
Two-Tone Bowls
Wooden Herb Garden Stakes
Bunny Tea Towel

Check out the rest of my Spring picks on Houzz.com this month.

Playroom Seating for Kids

Kids love to be adventurous, and they particularly like to have a playroom that is comfortable and fitted to their needs. The playroom is the area of your home where you can let your imagination run wild and transform the area into a fun, colorful and outrageous safe haven where kids can let loose and have fun. Kids love soft things to sit on; sofas are okay, but most playrooms aren’t big enough to accommodate them. Many parents opt for the kiddie table found in almost every playroom in America. You know the one; the tiny table with a set of wooden chairs that you would dread to sit on if they were big enough to seat you. There are many comfortable seating options for kids, so don’t be afraid to explore them. Here are a few fun alternatives kids will love:

Everyone Loves Bean Bag Chairs

Think back to your childhood and try to remember your absolute favourite thing you loved sitting on. Was it a bean bag chair? Bean bag chairs aren’t just a kid’s favorite; adults love them too. From bright colors, to denim, to leather, to camo and zebra print, bean bag chairs come in various shapes, styles and patterns for everyone to love. Bean bags can be pulled around with ease, and you don’t have to worry about it getting damaged when thrown, hit, or jumped on.

Image Source: BeanBagBoss.com

Plastic Chairs: More Comfortable than their Wooden Counterparts

Of course not every parent is a fan of using bean bags in their child’s playroom, and that’s okay. Those that really hate the idea can opt to purchase plastic chairs. More comfortable than their wooden counterparts, these chairs are used in many play areas, schools and daycares. They are easy to clean, great to move around without breaking your back, and of course it doesn’t matter how many happy accidents your kids have with their pens. In fact, a little felt-tip pen and crayon can help to add to the authenticity of your child’s den, helping to add a personal touch to the room.

Image Source: Ebay.com

Pillow-top Benches

Wooden benches are not necessarily for the garden, in fact, by adding benches inside a child’s play den you can help to create an outdoor vibe in the heart of your home. Kids love adventurous ideas and the more creative you can get, the better. In fact, you can even spray paint the plain wood and create a more personalised effect on the bench.

Image Source: HomesIHaveMade.com

Whatever you decide, the key ingredient to furnishing your playroom is thinking like a child. Be bright, be bold and most of all choose seating arrangements that will allow the kids to be able to play in comfort.