Inspiring Words

This photo is an oldie but goodie from Domino magazine. Sorry the photo quality isn't great, but it's one of my favorite quotes so I had to share.

Chihuly Exhibit

How about we indulge in a little culture today, shall we? Last week I finally had the opportunity to check out the Chihuly exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden here in Phoenix. In case you're not familiar, Dale Chihuly is known for revolutionizing the art of handblown glass and his work is astonishing, organic, and simply beautiful. His art has been shown all over the world, but people are probably most familiar with his impressive ceiling sculpture at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. If you live anywhere in the area, I urge you to visit although you only have until May 31st and reservations are required.

Blue & Purple Boat- My favorite

The Sun

Blue Reeds

Float Boat

The Moon

The pictures really don't do it justice...

Modern Beach Style

As I was flipping throught the May issue of Sunset Magazine, I stopped dead in my tracks as I came upon the home of Russell and Susan Ortiz, owners of Shine Home, a company known for their beach bohemian style. Lately I can't get enough of this look...a white base with pops of color throughout just makes me happy and gives off the laid back yet put together vibe I crave. Since the end of my beloved Domino mag, Sunset has been one of the few reasons I bother to check the mailbox anymore. In case you're not familiar with Sunset, it focuses on life in the West, with everything from home & garden, travel, food & wine, and community. Even if you don't live in the West, it's worth checking out for a little inspiration. Here are some of my favorite shots from the Ortiz home...

This space is light and bright and works because they stuck to a pretty basic saturated color scheme of white, blue, green, yellow, and a touch of orange. I'm diggin' it, and their little dog, too.

Some of my favorite pieces from Shine Home:

HGTV Green Home Giveaway

Have you checked out this year's HGTV Green Home Giveaway? Located in Port Lucie, Florida this house has some serious style and it's green to boot. Wouldn't it be nice to move into a brand new house that's already decorated and you had nothing to do except live happily ever after in it? My husband would love it, but the designer in me would get bored and want to start changing things about a month in. I think houses are always sort of a work in progress, because as we grow and change, our homes should reflect that. I suppose I could live in this space for a while before I started "fixing" it up (mostly because I'd be broke after paying the taxes for the $750,000 prize package). Here's a peek at what could be yours:

I'm loving this entryway

Love the chaises & the pillows, the painting not so much

The living room could use a little sprucing

A relaxing master bedroom

A bright and sunny master bath

Very sleek kitchen

A cozy patio

(photos via HGTV)

You can enter daily until June 5th to win, but I've got a pretty good feeling that I've got it in the bag already. Good luck!

Allow Me to Introduce Myself...

My name is Lisa and I am an Interior Designer living in the Phoenix area. I have been working in the design industry for the last six years, with the last three years designing for model homes. I am now taking on residential clients to assist them in any scope of project, whether it is a whole house revamp or someone who just needs help choosing the right paint colors. I’m writing this blog to catalog the interesting things I find as I’m searching for new products, and also to share some of my inspirations and work. I love to pull together different styles, mixing the old with the new to create something unique and livable. I believe that your home should make you happy, along with being beautiful and affordable. I am excited to begin this new venture and it is my hope that I can help and inspire others through this blog. If anyone needs help with any interior design project, please don’t hesitate to contact me at Lstudio@live.com . Your comments are welcome and appreciated, so please stop by and say hello!