Zippy bedrooms want your attention.

In the latest House Beautiful I was completely taken by Mary McDonald's home that she designed in LA. In regard to the incredible bedroom she said, "People have rules about bedrooms, that they're always supposed to be soft and pastel. Why can't they be zippy and vibrant?" I thought to myself, "You know Mary McDonald, you really have a point there." Here are some zip-tastic bedrooms.

Vibrant yellow and busy wallpaper everywhere, I've always loved looking at this bedroom. Via Ooh La La Blog.

In this somewhat simple bedroom by Sheila Bridges, she uses a bright green to jazz up the room. The contrast of the black, white and green makes this room quite exciting.

This color blue is gorgeous! I especially like the bold color wall with the busy bedspread. I bet that allows you to use more than one duvet cover and change the room if you so desire. From Living Etc.

Leave it to Jamie Drake to deliver a bright bedroom. Pinks and purples are everywhere you look.

Sixx Design. The bare bones of this room are quite tame, but with the drapery fabric and upholstered bed and the large scale color filled painting over the bed you are not bored.

At first glance, these rooms do nothing but delight me. There is so much to look at and bright colors to distract me. Personally though, I prefer a calmer color palette in my own bedroom. I have blue/grey walls and a simple white matelasse bedspread. There is still plenty to look at: books, pretty lamps, photographs and art work on my walls. I think Mary McDonald makes a valid point. We see so many whimsical and calming bedrooms, why not have an energetic and jazzy one? It certainly stands out.


Alicia B.

Round Mirrors over the Mantel? I'm in!

Yesterday I was scanning through Elizabeth Dinkel's Portfolio, which I highly recommend, I'm going to have to add her to my inspirational designers folder, and I came across the picture above. I absolutely loved the round convex mirror over the fireplace mantel. It is over-scaled, and has amazing depth. I got curious about this idea of round mirrors over fireplaces; so many people put flat screens which makes me shudder. Take a look at all the different styles.

Todd Romano uses a round mirror in this large and elegant dining room. I like how it is a faded white color and blends into the wallpaper.

This mirror is quite traditional, as are many round mirrors. It is small but clearly the attention should be paid to the large chandelier in the room by Shiela Bridges.

Isn't the wallpaper in here stunning? The flat mirror and the flat fireplace look so pretty on the wallpaper. Just STUNNING. Designed by Nathan Egan.

That's right, there's a mirror there! Leta Austin Foster used a sunburst mirror. I love the dark reds in this room, it's actually calming feeling. And the apple green ceramic stools really balance it out.

This is from Eddie Ross's portfolio. This entire wall is basically mirrors and actually the traditional mirror breaks it up a bit.

I think I love everything about this room, from my dear Domino. This looks like an over-sized pocket mirror, and is hanging on a chain (from Ballard Designs).

Also from Domino, a pair of round mirror with a pair of scones next to it. I love the asymmetrical look to this with pairs.

What a gorgeous scene from Living etc. A pretty and neutral living room livened up with a fabulous mantle display and a Venetian mirror--leaning.

I'm a traditional kind of girl and love to have a gorgeous painting over the mantle, but I think that a round mirror or regular mirror as well is a fun alternative. A mirror adds the illusion of space to a room and a round mirror in particular can add a focal point to the room. Too bad for me I don't have a fireplace in my little apartment but I will be putting a mirror in my foyer to make it look bigger!

PS-ONE DAY LEFT to enter the floor lamp give-away contest! CLICK HERE if you can't be bothered to scroll down.

Also, thank you to My Design Secrets for the guest blog yesterday!

Alicia B.

Hello Yellow

As I was working on a blog about the color yellow, I started reading things everywhere saying that yellow is coming back in! I read up in Metropolitan Home, Southern Accents, from what I could understand in Marie Claire Maison, and Miss Raina from HERE. I, for one, could not be more excited. I love yellow (it also looks good on me) . This yellow is sunny, happy, intense. It's just what we need right now in the world of grey winter. Also, so sorry about the lapse in blogging, I've been busy with my REAL life (who am I kidding, I mean school. I have no real life anymore). Yes I do.

In this room of neutrals, the bright yellow floor length drapery really brightens up the space by Sills Huniford.

Meg Braff chose bright yellow and white Clarence House wallpaper. Look how it reflects on the opposite wall in the shell mirror!

From Marie Claire Maison (amazing mag), this yellow so citrus-y, it almost looks greenish.

I know this one isn't as intense, but I found it very soothing. I love that bookcase that goes all the way to the ceiling and the yellow tone-on-tone wallpaper. By Libby Cameron.

Karen Marcus designed this adorable space in a house in Colorado. Yellow wallpaper, painted wainscoting on the outside of the tub (amazing idea), and yellow painted walls. I super love that painting above the tub (Rothko?).

Sheila Bridges created a sweet happy little scene with a lamp, table and book with a sunny yellow backdrop.

Victoria Hagan uses yellow paint on the walls and yellow fabric for the floor length drapes. She even extends the yellow with that mirror on the back wall.

Diamond Barratta, who love bright colors, really played up the yellow in this room. So sunny and feminine.

Fashion designer Lisa Perry used a very intense bright yellow in this mod interior.

It seems as if yellow looks great with nearly everything; blue, brown, giltwood, green. And if you didn't want to be one of the cool kids and redecorate entire rooms in yellow, you can add little accents. Paint one wall, add some throw pillows, a bright yellow painting or poster. A little can go a long way, too.


Alicia B.