It’s been raining for what seems like forever. I realize the earth and flowers really need it, but come ON! Perhaps I’m just operating on a bit of short fuse from an intense week. Gotta love growth.

To lighten the mood, here are some cute, happy, fun things from Pinterest-land. Happy weekend!

Source: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Believe it or not, I’ve just discovered Etsy. (I know! What is wrong with me?!) Granted I heard about it ages ago, but I never slowed down long enough to peek for myself. Amazing! This is an excellent resource for vintage finds and handcrafted wares. Take a look…

Sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

I LOVE Suzani’s. Native to several central Asian countries, these textiles are colorfully embroidered works of art. Generally made of cotton or silk, their patterns feature rosettes, floral motifs, birds, or ancient magical symbols. Simply gorgeous!

Sources: The Decorista, Pottery Barn, Joy Plotnik, Etsy, l’aviva, Once Upon a Tea Time, decorpad

A common design challenge homeowners seem to run into is knowing how to arrange or display framed artwork or photos. While there is no perfect recipe for every home, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Frame style, size, and matting: Using the same configuration on every piece will create a more formal look. For a more casual display, play around with 2 or 3 combinations of frame style, size, color, and matting.
• Subject matter: How do the images relate to one another? Photos and artwork can definitely be combined, but grouping certain colors or frames will help to harmonize the collection.
• Mix it up: Throw in something unexpected. This may be something more three dimensional like a wooden box, scuplture, or letter to represent the family name.
• Hanging: (I love this trick!) Cut a piece of paper to the same dimensions of each item to be hung. From there, tape the paper to the wall in the configuration you desire. This technique allows you to rearrange the items until it’s just right. Once every item is placed, you can measure/mark the “nail spot” on each piece of paper, and hammer right through. Ta da!

Remember, there is no perfect solution - do what works best for your home. Here are few images to help inspire you.

Sources: desire to inspire, Cynthia Benson, design is mine, design is mine, elle decor, Sally Daffodil

Chevron. Honestly, it is everywhere! Chevron must seriously be on trend right now because I am bumping into it left and right. Just see for yourself.

Hellllooooo 2012! What better way to kick off the new year than to post about… (pause for dramatic effect) … animal print! I am an absolute sucker when it comes to animal print - zebra especially. Animal print seems to add just the right touch of Bohemian spice to any space. Tread lightly though, a little goes a long way.

Moving right along… Art Nouveau. Considered avant garde for it’s time, this style is an exaggerated expression of lines in nature. Nothing slow, straight, or simple here! Art Nouveau is intricately detailed with curling tendrils, stylized flowers, dragonflies, butterflies, peacocks, and women with flowing hair. The whiplash lines common to this style remind me of wildflowers dancing in the wind. Art Nouveau became especially popular in decorative arts such as metalwork, glass, jewelry, etc.

I love the complexity of this style, in moderation. Creating an entire room or house might feel too much like living in Rivendell (Lord of the Rings). What do you think?

Hello again! I’m having such a great time with these colorful posts - hopefully you are enjoying them as well. Next in our series is what I would refer to as Blue-Green or Turquoise.

Although Pantone may have coined their “Turquoise” as Color of the Year for 2010, I wouldn’t consider Blue-Green to be out of fashion. After all Blue-Green encompasses a wide range of colors. For example, ”Quarry” is a hot color trend for Fall 2011.

Maybe it’s the soul of summer, but Blue-Green (or Turquoise) is really speaking to me.

Next to be featured in our series is a color that has grown in popularity in recent years. Is it a fad or could it just be timeless? Decide for yourself. Please welcome, Gray.

Before you jump to conclusions about Gray as simply a color for industrial, modern, or masculine spaces, hear me out. Gray can be a flexible neutral such as with stone or with furniture. Gray can also be warm, as represented with taupe. But the thing about Gray that has made it so popular in recent years is that it is stable. When life is uncertain, unnerving, or tumultuous, our homes have to work harder than ever to be our refuge. Simply put, Gray is safe.

Here are some images to demonstrate the subtle strength of Gray.

Next in our oh-so exciting series dedicated to color… Honeysuckle! Perplexed? So wasn’t I. Although Honeysuckle is quite the juicy hue, I wasn’t quite sure what it looked like until I saw an example.

Named as the Pantone 2011 Color of the Year, Honeysuckle “emboldens us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. A dynamic reddish pink, Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting. It elevates our psyche beyond escape, instilling the confidence, courage and spirit to meet the exhaustive challenges that have become part of everyday life.”

Still not quite sure what Honeysuckle looks like? Check these out