divide and conquer

something i have been loving lately is seeing a single piece of art, split into two or more pieces, and hung together. it creates an interesting "mini gallery" wall effect, that i find really appealing.

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i really love how the blue in this butterfly print is echoed in the velvet headboard. the blue is deep and rich and yet still maintains a freshness to it that makes this room feel happy.


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the orange walls in this space are really dramatic, and are balanced so nicely with the soft and ethereal horse photograph that has been split into three.


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while these two abstracts are separate pieces, they are certainly meant to be hung together, creating a strong connection between the two that is pretty mesmerizing.



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this is a really unique treatment of the "divide and conquer" idea---the image is centered in the middle of the 4 frames, and the negative space of the mat draws your eye in and creates a very interesting effect.



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i love this detailed, vintage-style tree print, framed in these two simple black frames.



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there are so many things to love about this room, and one of the things i love most is the oversized city sketch, broken up into 6 long, narrow frames. this look can be easily replicated at home with a large plotter style print of a photo and some inexpensive poster frames!

this is one of my all-time favorite spaces. i love the zebra on the stairs, the sculptural tufted chair, and the amazing abstract black and white landscape. this space really is a simple space---there isn't a whole lot "going on", but i find it so captivating, and the main reason is because of the unorthodox art that feels  so traditional and yet, upon further inspection, is really rather abstract.

i am working on my own little "divide and conquer" project for gradys' bathroom that i hope to share soon!

before + after: formal living room dining room transformation

amidst all the chaos of moving and unpacking (update pictures coming soon, i promise!), i received a sweet email and some amazing after pictures from a client. we worked together on her formal living and dining room with full room designs for each space. my client took inspiration from the original design plans and then opted to take the transformation one step further with a complete remodel including opening up her formal dining room into the kitchen! it looks fantastic, and i was stunned by the after pictures!

here is a look at the original design board for the formal living room:

and a quick look at the rooms before we started:
before:








and....
after:

 as you can see, the grey sofa and neutral chairs are paired with freshly painted walls and new hardwood floors. we opted to paint the walls and existing chair rail the same color so that the trim becomes a textural element in the room and doesn't divide the wall in half.

the new upholstered cushion on the window seat adds seating and softness and is now a focal point in the room. we used the village workroom for the silk draperies. 

 the punches of various shades blue and green in the room add to the serene feeling.

 don't you love this gallery wall? i love that my client kept all of the frames and mats in the same tones, but they are all so different and add so much texture to the room!

the existing table and chandelier were kept, but everything else is fresh and new!

i really love how the silk drapes look with the simple white table, bone sunburst mirror and metal chairs. 

isn't the transformation incredible?

my client did a tremendous job of using the design plan that i created for her as a guide to making both spaces look and feel polished and elegant.

here is what she had to say:

"Thanks again for your expertise and your design plans that set this all in motion and has ended up with a finished product we love! Had it not been for your pulling my ideas together in a cohesive vision I would probably have just worked around "ivy curtain toppers" and mauvy/taupe paint - never knowing what truly can be and being as happy as we are now in the space.  Thanks for sharing your talent with me."


interested in working together to create a more beautiful and functional space in your home?
my schedule for the next few weeks is already filling, but i will be taking new clients after may 27th. email me at autumnclemons@yahoo.com to reserve a spot for your consultation!

house candy

i am ALL about saving money when it comes to decorating your house. i truly believe that the most beautiful interiors are a mix of high and low, old and new, and budget and splurge items.

there is NOTHING wrong with splurging every now and then! 

it is amazing what some well made, designer fabric pillows can do for a room. 

or a great lamp. 

or a stunning piece of art.

whenever i come across a deal that fits my budget criteria---(looks great, priced great)--i pin it to my affordable finds board. but i also have another board for beautiful items that solidly fall into the "splurge"category. the board is called "house candy".

here is a sampling of some of the things that you will see on my house candy board.

even if you know that you would never/could never afford to splurge on a luxury item--especially a big-ticket item like a sofa, it is great to expose yourself to beautiful, and yes--very often expensive things. you never know--one day you might be at a consignment shop or a theft store, or even shopping online and spot an item that resembles your DREAM item for a fraction of the cost! (even if the item requires a little overhauling--you will still come out ahead.)

to follow me on pinterest, click here.

to see my house candy board, click here.

coastal living idea house 2009

i just love idea houses...

this one is in north carolina, where i once lived for a year and a half,

 but would gladly return to live forever.

love the gambrel gables. and the shakes. and the wide steps.

oooo. i love me a black kitchen.

i had a black kitchen in the last house we remodeled.

i'll post pictures sometime. 

it was yummy. or at least i thought so.

i love the unusual treatment over the fireplace. 

very non-traditional in a traditional sort of way.

the giant ottoman is slick, too.

what a great and unique color scheme. 

i love it.

oooo, did somebody say stripes? (i'm such a sucker)

in a previous life, i think i was bead board...

or perhaps i was married to some bead board. 

i love it that much.

and isn't it delicious painted grey and hung horizontally? 

genius.

the is the sleeping porch of the house.

who wouldn't want to take a nap here?!

fun colors.

love the bolsters.

great dividers.