Oscar Inspiration

I love watching the Oscars every year. I find myself getting board with the award show itself at times, but the dresses oh my the dresses. Oscar night is seeing fashion at it's best and last night was amazing. My absolute favorite of the evening would have to be Hailee Steinfeld's ensemble. Not only is she adorable, but her dress was a perfect age appropriate fit. I loved the length, the color, the hair you name it. This dress took Hailee far away from her look in True Grit. She herself sketched the dress and had Marchesa make it for her. Wouldn't that be fun to be able to send Marchesa sketches of a dress?! That may be almost as incredible as being nominated for an Oscar. Hailee's dress inspired me to round up some playful and blush style items. Enjoy with some champagne! ~xo~ Annie


{from the top left to right butterfly cluster mobile, pink teacups, ballerina cupcake toppers, 50's pink lampshade}



{from the top left to right photo of pink blossoms, pink bike photograph, seqiun pillow, lace pottery}

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Grey The New Beige

Grey has definitely become the new beige. More and more we are seeing lovely grey painted walls, upholstery, tile and more in top design magazines. Grey is such a nice soothing color and a great way to add pops of color with home accents. With a grey scheme you can easily add color with art, pillows, rugs or throw blankets. I am in love with grey and think it's a no brainer when it comes to designing your home. Here are the Decorator in a Box grey home decor picks. ~xo~ Annie



{photos above from the top left to right colette bed, italian stitch bedding, capiz table lamp, vintage french cane chair}



{photos from the top left to right selby sofa, mirror top table, astoria chair, pebble circle rug}


{all pillows above from west elm and quilt from restoration hardware}

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Wallpaper For Renters

I've had plenty of rental places in my day and it has it's pros and cons. On one hand it keeps you somewhat commitment free. A one year lease can be easier to swallow than a mortgage payment sometimes. On the other hand owning your home gives you the freedom to paint, wallpaper, tile and the sky is the limit. Thanks to new beautiful styles of peel and stick wallpapers you too can make your rental more personal in style. Gone are the days of saying I can't wallpaper my rental. The new wallpaper options go on like a decal and peel off when your lease is up. Go for it and create that damask print or stripe bathroom you have always dreamed of. When you get tired of having striped walls simply peel it away mess and glue free! If you have ever had to remove wallpaper in your life you will know what a treasure this product is. Here are some the Decorator in a Box peel and stick picks. ~xo~ Annie


(wallpapers above from couture deco}


{wallpapers above from tempaper}

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Furniture Howard Hughs Would Love!

I took a stroll into Restoration Hardware to see what's new. I always love the industrial twist they put on old classics. I flipped when I saw their line of aviation furniture. It is brilliant and would be perfect in a gentleman's study or bachelor pad. Now I just need a MyDiab project that I can put this line to use! I could design an entire space around the glam era of Howard Hughs and Charles Lindbergh. ~xo~ Annie


{restoration hardware}

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Pillows That Cure Spring Fever

When I get a case of spring fever I always want to get new throw pillows for the sofa. Pillows are a quick and easy way to give your home a face lift. I stopped into West Elm the other day and fell in love with their new pillow collections. I am working on a MyDiab bedroom design and decided to use some of the pillows I found at West Elm for a burst of color. I have selected the Restoration Hardware Italian Stitch White Bedding paired with bold West Elm pillows. Pillows can really act as art if placed on a blank canvas like a neutral sofa or bedding. Here are the Decorator in a Box favorite West Elm pillows to give your home a quick spring refresher. ~xo~ Annie




{all pillows above available at west elm}

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Modern Twist Casual Dining

I am a little over due for some new casual dining chairs. I am embarrassed to even describe the current dining chair situation we have. Here and there I have been surfing all my favorite modern online shops. I am in search of the perfect pairing with my farm style dining table. I know I want a modern twist and have always been a sucker for a Wegner Wishbone chair or an Eames Molded Plastic Chair. Maybe I will do a mix of both. Here are the MyDiab picks for casual dining, hopefully we will be dining in a little more style soon. ~xo~ Annie


{from the top left to right tulip chair, wegner wishbone chair, eames molded plastic chair, macau side chair}


{from the top left to right vienna side chair, constance side chair, vapor chair, tolix chair}


{from the top to left tobias chair, modern windsor chair, calais chair, cacho grellow chair}

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Kate Spade Bedding Oh My!

I just caught a glimpse of the new Kate Spade bedding line to launch Spring 2011! I have always been a gal who likes yellow, so this bedding ensemble puts a smile on my face. I love the floral duvet that says "I'm so not afraid of chintz or flowers". I can hardly wait for the launch and to design a bedroom with this look. Thanks Kate you did it again and gave us a happy and fresh look. ~xo~ Annie



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Bedrooms That Inspire

I just received a Master Bedroom MyDiab project. Bedrooms are one of my favorite rooms to design. I love creating a relaxing retreat for people. Designing Bedrooms always makes me want to revamp my own, but we won't go there. Today I started looking for inspiration photos to get my creative wheels turning. I am looking at wall colors, linens, nigh stands you name it. There are so many brillant ideas out there. I usually like to take bits and pieces of each inspiration photo and then incorporate them into a cohesive design. I have found a lot of inspiration looking at past Elle Decor issues. I will be sure to let you know how this space turns out. Enjoy dreaming of places to dream! ~xo~ Annie



{all photos via elle decor}

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Sweets For Your Sweet

Pecan Linzer Cookies with Cherry Filling

I think one of my favorite things about Valentine's Day is the sweets. I usually feel like baking or skip that jut eating baked goods. Of course whatever you bake or eat needs to be in the shape of a heart or it does not count. I want to try baking something different this year, so I visited Martha Stewarts site for ideas. I thought who better than Martha to know what heart shaped treats to whip up and look adorable. I discovered Pecan Linzer Cookies with Cherry Filling and Brownie Heart Cupcakes. I am still deciding which recipe to attempt for my sweetheart. I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day. Here are the Decorator in Box Valentine's sweet treat picks! ~xo~ Annie


Brownie Heart Cupcakes

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Pretty In Pink

{photo via house beautiful}

I have never considered myself overly girly or prissy, but I am always drawn to pink. I think most girls can't help and smile when they see a pretty pink handbag, shoe or cupcake. Pink immediately takes us back to our days of playing in Barbie's dream house or putting on lipstick for the first time. Someday I dream of having one room, maybe just a powder bath to designate the color pink. Here is the Decorator in a Box pink round up. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. ~xo~ Annie

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{from the top left to right smeg fridge, lindwood hickory chair, in pinque bulb, fabricadabra pillow}


{fromt the top left to right chloe a precious bottle, sao paulo bookends, japanese peony candle, lilith lamp}

Nifty Bike Shelf

I know it is a little early to break out our bikes. Most of us are still buried in snow and in my case covered in ice. Thankfully, I heard next week is going to warm up for most of us. This soon to be warmer temp has got me thinking about bike weather. If you live in an apartment it can be tricky to store your bike. You worry about someone stealing it on the street, so most people prefer to bring it inside with them. It usually ends up being shoved in the corner awkwardly. The craftsmen at Knife and Saw have come up with a sleek and stylish way for you to hang your bike. They have designed a bike shelf that holds your bike and doubles as a stylish shelf. It's made of solid wood and available in finishes walnut($300) or ash ($270). I hope we will all be breaking out the bikes soon. ~xo~ Annie


visit www.knifeandsaw.wordpress.com to get your very own bike shelf

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Vertical Blinds That Don't Suck

The moment I see vertical blinds I want to rip them down immediately and replace with a better option. I think that is because the verticals I am usually seeing are old and have a few slats falling out. The truth is sometimes vertical blinds are the best option for a window, especially a sliding glass door. Thanks to The Shade Store gone are the days of those not so pleasant vertical blinds. They have beautiful options available in many colors and textures. They will even mail you free samples, which I love. They have changed my outlook on vertical blinds completely. So...do not fret if you have a sliding glass door that calls for vertical blinds. Instead just visit The Shade Store and have some fun playing with colors. Enjoy! ~xo~ Annie

Let me know how you feel about vertical blinds and leave a comment.


{all images above from theshadestore.com}

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Dwell Tile

I have been selecting a lot of tile lately for a few remodel projects I am currently working on. Selecting tile floors and backsplashes is one of my favorite things to do. I love playing with different layouts and applications. That's why I was immediately drawn to Dwell Patterns with Heath Ceramics. The bold colors mixed with geometric patterns are really fun and interesting. Check out Dwell x Heath Ceramics for your next tile project. Enjoy! ~xo~ Annie

What's your favorite tile or tile project you have worked on?



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SukiCheema Textiles!

I am loving a new site I just discovered Sukicheema.com! All the prints are wonderfully fun and bold. I am especially drawn to the tablecloths. What a great way to spruce up the breakfast nook with one of these prints on your table top. All the Sukicheema textiles are inspired by the designers love affair between art and travels around India. Check them out you will not be disappointed. Below are the Decorator in a Box fave tablecloths. Enjoy! ~xo~ Annie


Check these out at sukicheema.com

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Get Cozy In Cold

Alright, so we are all sick and tired of the ice, snow and cold. I really shouldn't even complain winter just arrived really this week in Dallas. It showed up just in time for the Super Bowl. I admit I am getting a little stir crazy and need to find ways to cozy up in the cold. I am grabbing a warm blanket, filling my mug with cocoa, burning a fire in the fire place and putting on my wool slippers. After all it's not everyday that life gets to slow down a bit. I am going to try and take full advantage. Then when I can't chill anymore I will probably go clean my closet and organize a drawer or two until the roads are clear. Hope you all are finding ways to stay cozy. Here are a few Decorator in a Box picks to help you warm up. Enjoy! ~xo~ Annie


{from the top left to right; elle decor fire place, hot cocoa on a stick, wool slippers, pendleton blanket}

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Flirty Finds

Here are some flirty finds to wrap up our Valentine's theme this week. I know it's tough to think about being flirty when most of us are currently dressed in large parkas and snow boots. Just remember it won't stay and we will be dressed in our spring brights before long. Here are the final Decorator in a Box Valentine picks! ~xo~ Annie


{from the top left to right chiffon pouchette, i heart charm necklace, harlequin socks, heart doilies}

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Love To Warm You

Here is round three of our Valentine's theme this week. Hopefully these loving items will warm us up, I know we need it. I am at the early stages of cabin fever from this Dallas ice storm. Here are some more Decorator in a Box made with love selections. View them with cozy socks on and a mug of hot cocoa.
~xo~ Annie


{from the top left to right ruffle lace card, vintage embroidery duo, heart tights, lovely paper garland note cards}

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Make You Blush

Today we continue our lovey dovey theme for the week. I apologize in advance for my sappiness. I always find the color blush to be so romantic and feminine. Today's color palette is all things blush and bashful. Here are some mooshy Decorator in a Box Valentine's picks to make you blush. ~xo~ Annie


{from the top left love pendant, satin flat, heart poster , minnesota note}

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