room design by tara bussema
ikea storsele chairs, $119 each.
May 14, 2012
spotted: ikea storsele chairs
i love it when i spot a budget-friendly find in a beautiful, well designed room, don't you?
ikea storsele chairs, $119 each.
ikea storsele chairs, $119 each.
May 11, 2012
stuff on the wall
well yay for me!
we have been in this house for just over 8 months, and i finally have a few things hung on grady's wall:
exhibit a:
the "g" from print collection that i picked up from the framers last week.
exhibit b:
the rhino head from cardboard safari, hung on top of a picture of grady's 18 month old feet
in the sand. i think every mother has a secret favorite photo of each of their kids...and this is my favorite of my little man. even though it doesn't even show his face, looking at this picture always takes me back to the exact instant that i took this picture on the shores of lake tahoe in 2005. i LOVE that you can see just a peek of his diaper in the picture. yes...he was in a diaper at the beach. totally redneck, i know, but that's the way we roll sometimes.
exhibit c:
i decided to rehang the vintage license plates i had up in his last bedroom. they represent where my husband (alabama), me (i was born in georgia, but grew up in ohio), and my son (tennessee) are from.
i love using vintage items in kids spaces. i think add a sense of history and charm. plus, vintage stuff is already all dinged up, so when the kids ding it up even more, it just adds to it's "character".
it's a win win situation.
phew.
i think i am worn out from the hanging of all that STUFF.
i may need to take a 4 or 5 month break before i attempt any other project around my house....yah. that was a joke, but it will probably become a reality.
happy weekend friends!
to see the design board for grady's room, and a few pictures of his room-in-progress click here.
we have been in this house for just over 8 months, and i finally have a few things hung on grady's wall:
exhibit a:
exhibit b:
in the sand. i think every mother has a secret favorite photo of each of their kids...and this is my favorite of my little man. even though it doesn't even show his face, looking at this picture always takes me back to the exact instant that i took this picture on the shores of lake tahoe in 2005. i LOVE that you can see just a peek of his diaper in the picture. yes...he was in a diaper at the beach. totally redneck, i know, but that's the way we roll sometimes.
exhibit c:
i love using vintage items in kids spaces. i think add a sense of history and charm. plus, vintage stuff is already all dinged up, so when the kids ding it up even more, it just adds to it's "character".
it's a win win situation.
phew.
i think i am worn out from the hanging of all that STUFF.
i may need to take a 4 or 5 month break before i attempt any other project around my house....yah. that was a joke, but it will probably become a reality.
happy weekend friends!
to see the design board for grady's room, and a few pictures of his room-in-progress click here.
May 10, 2012
affordable find: the perfect accent chair
what makes the perfect accent chair?
well, in this case, it is simple, small, affordable, armless and comes in 8 neutral fabrics
that can blend with any interior.
the deco solid accent chair is available in charcoal, grey, blue, green, brown, lavender, bark and ivory,
available here, here and here.
happy shopping!
well, in this case, it is simple, small, affordable, armless and comes in 8 neutral fabrics
that can blend with any interior.
available here, here and here.
happy shopping!
May 8, 2012
summery lamp
i am really digging this ceramic wicker lamp base.
the woven texture reminds me of summer, and i especially love the acrylic base plate.
...just look at all the great colors it is available in:
the woven texture reminds me of summer, and i especially love the acrylic base plate.
...just look at all the great colors it is available in:
the lamp shade is sold separately which allows you to get a custom look.
found exclusively at shades of light.
May 7, 2012
a peek at a master bedroom e-design "after"
a little "after" glimpse of an e-design bedroom that i worked on for my friend jen...
the katie ridder wallpaper cost a small fortune, but makes a huge impact.
(and isn't her cute little pug a great addition too?)
because the ceilings are slanted and vaulted, the room lacked a sense of coziness and warmth. we added
a strip of molding about 8 feet from the floor and painted everything above (including the ceiling) charcoal grey.
this also helped in minimize a plant shelf that jen and her husband weren't crazy about.
everything below the trim was painted a soft warm grey.
(and isn't her cute little pug a great addition too?)
because the ceilings are slanted and vaulted, the room lacked a sense of coziness and warmth. we added
a strip of molding about 8 feet from the floor and painted everything above (including the ceiling) charcoal grey.
this also helped in minimize a plant shelf that jen and her husband weren't crazy about.
everything below the trim was painted a soft warm grey.
the gallery wall commemorates some of jen and her husbands travels. as they continue to travel and collect, they can add pieces.
one of the stars of the bedroom are the linen and silk drapes that i blogged about last week.
we were also fortunate to snag one of the metal stump tables at z gallerie before they sold out.
the design plan for the room:
interested in working together to create a more functional and beautiful space?
i am currently booked through july for full room designs but am now accepting clients for august.
email me at autumnclemons@yahoo.com to get on my waiting list.
i can always fit in a phone consultation or a pinterest board + phone consultation anytime.
the design plan for the room:
interested in working together to create a more functional and beautiful space?
i am currently booked through july for full room designs but am now accepting clients for august.
email me at autumnclemons@yahoo.com to get on my waiting list.
i can always fit in a phone consultation or a pinterest board + phone consultation anytime.
May 2, 2012
a touch of metal
my oldest daughter will be a teenager next week...AND she just got braces put on yesterday.
i think she looks even cuter with a little touch of metal in her mouth.
speaking of touches of metal...i always love to add a touch or two of metal into a room. i think it
adds a balance to wood and other "soft" materials in a way that nothing else can. there is something great about the reflective "sparkle" that a touch of metal adds to a room.
and those legs on the chair are pretty incredible too!
isn't that window surround gorge-eous?
i used that window as an inspiration picture for a dining room design plan i recently completed.
the house is under construction, but when it is all finished, i will be sure and get some pictures
from my client.
i think she looks even cuter with a little touch of metal in her mouth.
speaking of touches of metal...i always love to add a touch or two of metal into a room. i think it
adds a balance to wood and other "soft" materials in a way that nothing else can. there is something great about the reflective "sparkle" that a touch of metal adds to a room.
(via here)
i really like how the shiny metal lamp and drum shade breaks up the pattern of the wallpaper
and the solid texture of the drapes. i am totally digging the two sketches on the mantle too!
(via bhg)
the sconces and two square side tables look fabulous in this eclectic space, and add just
the right amount of sparkle.
(via here)
these oversize pulls are perfection. and the patterned drapes in the background are
making my heart beat fast! i love them!
(via lgn)
i have a similar side table to this...i adore the classic shape reinterpreted in metal...and those legs on the chair are pretty incredible too!
isn't that window surround gorge-eous?
i used that window as an inspiration picture for a dining room design plan i recently completed.
the house is under construction, but when it is all finished, i will be sure and get some pictures
from my client.
Apr 30, 2012
linen + silk striped curtains
i sent this snapshot and a quick sketch and some measurements to my client when i proposed
having some panels made from stripes in a charcoal silk and an ivory linen.
when she approved the plan, i sent the specifications to the village workroom...one of my sponsors
and my favorite source for custom silk panels.
here is what they look like installed:
i am doing the happy dance after seeing this picture!
i couldn't wait to share it with you.
(i will be sharing a few more pictures of this bedroom later in the week.)
what do you think? are you getting tired of seeing striped curtains? i have to admit
that there are times when i get a little jaded at seeing the same design elements over
and over again, but there is something so classic and fresh about stripes that i NEVER
get sick of them....especially in silk + linen.
am i RIGHT or am i right or am i right?
sorry..had to sneak in a little quote from one of my favorite movies of all time.
happy monday friends.
having some panels made from stripes in a charcoal silk and an ivory linen.
when she approved the plan, i sent the specifications to the village workroom...one of my sponsors
and my favorite source for custom silk panels.
here is what they look like installed:
i couldn't wait to share it with you.
(i will be sharing a few more pictures of this bedroom later in the week.)
what do you think? are you getting tired of seeing striped curtains? i have to admit
that there are times when i get a little jaded at seeing the same design elements over
and over again, but there is something so classic and fresh about stripes that i NEVER
get sick of them....especially in silk + linen.
am i RIGHT or am i right or am i right?
sorry..had to sneak in a little quote from one of my favorite movies of all time.
happy monday friends.
Apr 27, 2012
milo baughman
have you heard of milo baughman?
i sure hope so.
if not, here is a brief introduction, taken from the thayer coggins website:
"Milo Baughman pioneer in modern design and one of the leading modern furniture designers of the second half of the 20th century. Baughman was brought east from his native California by Thayer Coggin in the 1950s to design the first lines for his collection of related upholstered groups. Baughman's uniquely American designs were forward-thinking and distinctive, yet unpretentious. The relaxed and timeless quality of his furniture created a ready and consistent response and his highly influential work continues to be collected and reinvented and revived by designers around the world. Paramount to Baughman's design philosophy was that good design is enduring design. Baughman's characteristic restraint does not permit the look of mere novelty to enter in. Rather, he achieved a look that is uncompromisingly modern, but which never violates the timeless standards of classic good taste."
i first learned about milo baughman when i was in college.
a professor of mine announced to my interior design class that milo baughman (pronounced my-low boff-man) was going to be teaching a furniture design class the following semester, and encouraged us to take it.
(a console table design by milo baughman-elle decor)
happy friday!
i sure hope so.
if not, here is a brief introduction, taken from the thayer coggins website:
"Milo Baughman pioneer in modern design and one of the leading modern furniture designers of the second half of the 20th century. Baughman was brought east from his native California by Thayer Coggin in the 1950s to design the first lines for his collection of related upholstered groups. Baughman's uniquely American designs were forward-thinking and distinctive, yet unpretentious. The relaxed and timeless quality of his furniture created a ready and consistent response and his highly influential work continues to be collected and reinvented and revived by designers around the world. Paramount to Baughman's design philosophy was that good design is enduring design. Baughman's characteristic restraint does not permit the look of mere novelty to enter in. Rather, he achieved a look that is uncompromisingly modern, but which never violates the timeless standards of classic good taste."
(lounge chair design by milo baughman-elle decor)
a professor of mine announced to my interior design class that milo baughman (pronounced my-low boff-man) was going to be teaching a furniture design class the following semester, and encouraged us to take it.
i signed up immediately, even though the only information i know about him was very limited....this was before the internet exploded (1995. yeah. that makes me feel really, really old, by the way)
not only did i take the "intro to furniture design" class with milo baughman, but i also took the "advanced furniture design" class and did an internship with milo for a few months, assisting him in a few local projects he was working on. he was a kind, and deeply thoughtful and intelligent man with a quick wit and a deep love and knowledge of interior design and modern furniture design.
(a console table design by milo baughman-elle decor)
one of the things he said to our class that has resonated with me for the last 17 years is this:
(and i am paraphrasing a bit...)
"everyone thinks they have good taste. but this cannot be. inevitably, some of the people who think
they have good taste are wrong"
whenever he said it, he would softly chuckle.
(and that would make the entire class chuckle!)
milo's work has become a lot more popular in the last few years.
you can do a quick search on ebay, and come up with dozen of items.
like this rosewood and chrome console table
(i would LOVE to own this baby!)
crate and barrel is now carrying several pieces that he designed:
including the milo classic leather lounge chair
it was a great privilege for me to get to know such a wonderful man. because of the internship i did with him, i spent more time with him than the other students, and he was always an inspiration to be around.
you can read more about him here.
you can shop on ebay for his furniture here.
see his collections for thayer coggins here.
to shop his furniture at DWR click here.
Apr 26, 2012
kelly wearstler groundworks fabrics
i've been in love with these fabrics for a long time.
on a recent visit to the showroom here in slc, i got to look at them in person.
if you have never used a high-end fabric in your home before, you should consider buying a pillow in your favorite designer pattern. i promise it is worth the cost... the fabrics are thick and have a great "hand" (or feel) to them. i think that just as a great accessory or handbag can really elevate or transform an outfit, a great pillow in a fabulous designer fabric can transform an entire room.
shown above are "ombre maze" in teal and "katana" in jade/teal.
i REALLY loved this pattern. it's called "agate".
i am already dreaming of how i can use this in my house. i think it would
look great on my ottomans.
the colors on this fabric ("oblique") were perfection. i kinda have a thing for a deep,
mustardy yellow. i love the diagonal stripes, and would love to have a very tradtitional
french chair upholstered in this quirky velvet stripe...of course, knowing me, i would
look for a striped fabric that wasn't $370 a yard and put that on a diagonal!
you can shop for kelly wearstler groundworks fabrics at inside fabric.
Apr 24, 2012
confessions of a plant killer
in rooms that i design, i always suggest my clients have at least one live plant.
orchids are some of my favorites, but i also love palms for height, ferns for fullness and succulents for sustainability...especially for plant killers like me.
about 3 months ago, after all of the christmas decorations were down, i noticed that i needed some real, live green things in my house. when i comes to plants, i am no snob. if i can't find it at ikea or home depot, it doesn't live at my house.
of course, each time i bring home a plant, i tell myself the same things...
THIS time, it will be different.
i will take the time to find out exactly how to care for the plant.
i will fertilize.
i will water regularly.
i will NOT neglect.
i will NOT throw this plant away, a dry carcass dumped unlovingly and embarrassingly into my trash.
nope.
not this time.
not THIS time.
i am so sorry plants. i tried.
ok, so maybe i didn't.
but i MEANT to.
really, i did.
so, this time i am starting a little smaller, and going for a plant killers best friend:
succulents.
i was out and about last week and stopped by ikea and grabbed some succulents, pebbles and a small pot, and then stopped at crate and barrel where i spotted a cute little chalkboard herb pot. while i was there, i also spotted an unlikely plant holder in the kitchen department
---a footed soup bowl!
i thought it would be the perfect scale for a single succulent. i put a large handful of pebbles into the bottom if each container, placed the plant on top, and covered the top of the plan with more rocks.
the chalkboard herb pot is now in grady's room,
(uh, yeah---that says "avengers assemble".... just in case you thought my 8 year old
was writing swears.)
the ikea pot is in the family room,
and the footed soup bowl is on my husbands nightstand.
i am pretty confident i can keep THESE plants alive.
THIS time, it will be different....
****
one more confession....do you have a blog?
are you NOT loving the new blogger interface? i know they "introduced it a while ago, and i chose to use the old format, but now they are FORCING me to use the new one!
i am grumpy about it.
i feel like such an OLD lady trying to figure things out. i find myself muttering things like
"well, it was perfectly fine before. why'd they have to go and move things around? harummmph!"
oh, and while i am confessing, i have to apologize for my lack of posting regularly over the last few weeks. i am still learning how to balance it all---
laundry
and blogging
and being there for my kids
and design work
and homemade dinners (sadly lacking as of late)
and keeping up with other blogs
and keeping the house clean
and answering e-mails
and taking time for myself.
there are times when i realize that something has "gotta give"...and lately, writing a post for my blog has been that thing to "give". i guess at the end of the day, i don't want to feel like i HAVE to write a post. i want to WANT to write a post. i want to be excited about what i share with you.
i hope you understand. my passion for blogging and interior design hasn't' waned...just my ability to balance LIFE.
i should be a little more productive blog-wise over the next several weeks...grady's room is almost finished, and i am going to start working on the master bedroom in my rental house. i have also been asked to create an inspiration board for a party table for a new online magazine focusing on celebrations and gift giving. i came up with the inspiration, and my sketches and ideas are going to be realized and photographed. i am pretty excited!
so, i guess what i am saying is...thanks for sticking around.
it's good to feel back in the swing of things...
about 3 months ago, after all of the christmas decorations were down, i noticed that i needed some real, live green things in my house. when i comes to plants, i am no snob. if i can't find it at ikea or home depot, it doesn't live at my house.
of course, each time i bring home a plant, i tell myself the same things...
THIS time, it will be different.
i will take the time to find out exactly how to care for the plant.
i will fertilize.
i will water regularly.
i will NOT neglect.
i will NOT throw this plant away, a dry carcass dumped unlovingly and embarrassingly into my trash.
nope.
not this time.
not THIS time.
and yet...the sad evidence to the contrary:
(this one is so dead, it is actually crispy!)
ok, so maybe i didn't.
but i MEANT to.
really, i did.
so, this time i am starting a little smaller, and going for a plant killers best friend:
succulents.
i was out and about last week and stopped by ikea and grabbed some succulents, pebbles and a small pot, and then stopped at crate and barrel where i spotted a cute little chalkboard herb pot. while i was there, i also spotted an unlikely plant holder in the kitchen department
---a footed soup bowl!
i thought it would be the perfect scale for a single succulent. i put a large handful of pebbles into the bottom if each container, placed the plant on top, and covered the top of the plan with more rocks.
the chalkboard herb pot is now in grady's room,
(uh, yeah---that says "avengers assemble".... just in case you thought my 8 year old
was writing swears.)
the ikea pot is in the family room,
and the footed soup bowl is on my husbands nightstand.
THIS time, it will be different....
****
one more confession....do you have a blog?
are you NOT loving the new blogger interface? i know they "introduced it a while ago, and i chose to use the old format, but now they are FORCING me to use the new one!
i am grumpy about it.
i feel like such an OLD lady trying to figure things out. i find myself muttering things like
"well, it was perfectly fine before. why'd they have to go and move things around? harummmph!"
oh, and while i am confessing, i have to apologize for my lack of posting regularly over the last few weeks. i am still learning how to balance it all---
laundry
and blogging
and being there for my kids
and design work
and homemade dinners (sadly lacking as of late)
and keeping up with other blogs
and keeping the house clean
and answering e-mails
and taking time for myself.
there are times when i realize that something has "gotta give"...and lately, writing a post for my blog has been that thing to "give". i guess at the end of the day, i don't want to feel like i HAVE to write a post. i want to WANT to write a post. i want to be excited about what i share with you.
i hope you understand. my passion for blogging and interior design hasn't' waned...just my ability to balance LIFE.
i should be a little more productive blog-wise over the next several weeks...grady's room is almost finished, and i am going to start working on the master bedroom in my rental house. i have also been asked to create an inspiration board for a party table for a new online magazine focusing on celebrations and gift giving. i came up with the inspiration, and my sketches and ideas are going to be realized and photographed. i am pretty excited!
so, i guess what i am saying is...thanks for sticking around.
it's good to feel back in the swing of things...
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