Are you looking to add color, warmth and energy to your home?  How about ORANGE??  Check it out in this house I just styled.  The orange accents, collected by these world travelers, are vibrant, rich, cozy and unique.

Ikats, mirror cloth and other textural items

Now, these are obviously one of a kind pieces…something many of us don’t have the time to search out and collect.

Embroidered clothing and fabrics

Hand carved screen with orange accents

Beautiful boxes and trays

And more!!

But wait….  Have you checked out your local decorating sources lately? Orange is everywhere!  Homegoods, Pier1, Target, World Market, Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel and many other stores are loaded with beautiful orange things.  You’ll see candles, rugs, pillows, silk flowers, art, lamps, towels, pottery and much much more.

Like tables and chairs:

Molly Wood Garden Design in Newport Beach

Barclay Butera, Newport Beach

And even clever wall signs that just may have inspired Princess Beatrice’s Royal Wedding hat!

From Molly Wood, NB

What did you think of that?  

Sorry… got sidetracked.

Anyway, did you know that it only takes 3 colorful items to make a HUGE difference in a room?  Why not pick up a few bright new accents to give your home a fresh and HOT summer look?!  You could even start your shopping at the grocery store with a bag of these….

Oh dear.  A panicked call from one of my favorites.  She said, “My mom is coming to visit and I’d be embarrassed to have her stay in this room!”  Can you help? NOW?

Inviting...NOT!

Help me look pretty!!

My gorgeous young client loves to live in a pretty home, but putting it all together is not her specialty. (She is very VERY smart in other subjects.)  We’ve worked on her places together for years, starting with a first condo.  It was darling!  Near the beach, it was perfect for a young single woman, all fun and sexy with reds and blacks… a little bit like this.

 A few years later, we staged and sold the condo so she and her new husband could buy a “grown-up and married’ home.  More remodeling and decorating ensued, room by room.

New house, living room...she still likes red!

Now a baby has arrived and another is on the way, so rooms and priorities have changed.  But not that desire to have a pretty house.

The guest room was the last to be done…don’t we all have a room like that in our home?  But now, with Grandma coming for Easter, it was finally time to make it warm, bright, inviting. Several requests:  blues and browns…no greens please.  No headboards or fancy custom spreads and pillows.  All must be available now…no special orders.  (Helloooooo Target, Pier One and HomeGoods!)  AND, the furniture couldn’t be moved…..there just wasn’t another arrangement that would work in the small room.

With a $500 budget and a small time frame, here is what we came up with.

After...welcoming!

Would you sleep here?

I think that Grandma will be veerry comfortable!

Have  a happy, happy, HAPPY Easter!!