Who & What Inspires Me

I am often asked where I draw my inspirations from. 

What books do I love and come back to over and over again for that burst of inspiration

 when I am feeling like I can't find my decorating mojo.
Yeah, it happens to everyone.

When you just can't find that inspiration for a project
or have that vision in your mind for how you want something to turn out.
I am fairly busy-busy  for the next couple of days over here~  I won't be getting any projects done to share right away and so I thought that I would share a few things that inspire me 

and a couple designers who are my go-to inspirations

Charles Faudree.

Yes, the KING of French Country design
I never met a Charles Faudree design I didn't like.
 ;)

(all photos courtesy of House Beautiful & my own Charles Faudree books)

The red checked settee at the foot of my bed was inspired by him.

I found it in a red velvet that was dingy and dirty and faded...

 but instantly loved the carved frame and size and had re-covered
in that bold scaled buffalo check in my mind before I even bought it.

I have always loved red- it is probably my favorite color. 

Well, next to white, faded French blues, apple greens, black and yellows. 

Okay....
Red is ONE of my favorite colors.
:)

I use it everywhere in my house. 

Touches of red in the kitchen with the transferware.

Red needlepoint pillows.

A red floral rug in the office.
The red toile wallpaper in my bathroom.
Love love love romantic touches of red.

I also love florals, toiles and original painted furniture with gilded details.

along with rich dark woods with that gorgeous patina and lots of patterns playing together.

I basically love it all.

:)

Another inspiration for me~
the fantastic and always inspiring
Rachel Ashwell.

(I met Rachel at ROTP about two years ago)

Is it strange that I am also immensely inspired by Rachel Ashwell and the shabby rumpled linens, 

white and pastel palette and chipping painted furniture?
:)

I think that's where the 'Cottage' comes in. 

If I lived in a more formal house with very formal rooms- 

I think the 'cottage' elements might be limited to just a few well chosen pieces. 

But our house with it's planked wood walls, old construction and vintage living layout~
the shabby look fits perfectly.

(photo credits Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic )

I love love love shabby, comfortable, crinkly, wrinkly linens and slipcovers.

 They look like they are ready to plop down on and put your feet up.

At the same time, I love dainty delicate intricately upholstered settees and french chairs.  

I guess it depends on the whim and feeling I am looking for in my room at the time. 

I actually moved a gorgeous expensive settee out to the guest cottage in favor of  2 very affordable slipcovered shabby sofas in the house.

 For now-
 they fit the relaxed feeling and the need to wash and dry those slipcovers constantly 

because I have kids and animals and live in the country and 'live' in the 

living room in winter next to the big fireplace.

Though it's only a matter of time before that settee will come back in.

 ;)

 My dining room chairs are similar to Rachels famous and beloved Darcy chair

as are the ones in my office and bedroom.

 I love romantic decoration and lots of pretty pink flowers-
 roses, lilacs, cottage blooms of any kind.
Though I don't usually decorate with very much pink in my rooms other than
a few small elements and flowers.

It's just not me.

I do have some fabrics and pillows that have pink in their patterns to use for specific looks or styling though- and will break them out if the occasion justifies it- but truth be told-
 I am much more drawn to blues and greens than pinks
and those pink accents will stay stored away until they are needed.

So that's just a little bit about 2 of my biggest inspirations for my rooms and style. 

Who inspires you?