Lovely Finds: Olivia Palermo {shutterfly by design}

June 30, 2014

Creative Director Olivia Palermo in her living room.

Shutterfly invited me to sample customized
lovelies from the shop in exchange for
an honest review I happily here of
a few of their resident designers.

If you are like me, you probably call upon Shutterfly
around the holidays for cards and gifts...but were you aware
our favorite web-based photo superstore has an alter-ego?

Oui.

s h u t t e r f l y b y d e s i g n
makes custom and stylish home decor a SNAP!

Last week at Shutterfly by Design,
Olivia Palermo, Brit Morin, and Michelle Workman
designed an inspiring home décor experience.

How cool are those prints above which are one
simple shutterfly click away?

The trio transformed rooms with personalized touches,
and...oh snap, Martha Stewart even stopped by.

Isn't Olivia's space romantically feminine and chic?

Can you spy all the clever ways Shutterfly magic was employed?
See, friends? Shutterfly offers a whole world beyond
just those groovy personalized photo books!

Here are a couple of awesome decor tips from Palermo:

Bring your personality into the home with coffee table booksChoose books that represent your interests, travels and passions. You can even create your own photo books on Shutterfly that incorporate photos from your special events or trips for an added personal touch.

Ummmm, how cool are these curvy glass art pieces you can create at shutterfly?

Make your home more inviting with floralsAlways try to have a floral arrangement in every space of the home. Use different shape vases to incorporate a variety of flowers with the same color value for added interest and depth.

See, learn, and dream even more right here:

Can't wait to share more Shutterfly by Design goodness
from these elite designers so stay tuned!

p.s.
Have a favorite way to display personal photos?

p.s.s.
Congratulations to Olivia and her groom!

Peace to you right where you are.

Hello Lovely at times partners
with companies I love and think may interest you.

lovely finds

Lovely Finds: Milieu Magazine {summer 2014}

June 24, 2014

farmhouse style

My Home: My Tranquil Kitchen

June 20, 2014

Frank Lloyd Wright

The Laurent House {hometown hero}

June 16, 2014

The home Frank Lloyd Wright designed for owner Kenneth Laurent is seen Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009. The home on Spring Brook Road in Rockford was designed to be wheelchair-accessible.

It has been many months since I last blogged about
Frank Lloyd Wright's "little gem" right here in my
neighborhood of Rockford: THE LAURENT HOUSE.

The Laurent House, a midcentury masterpiece
built for Ken and Phyllis Laurent is now open to the public!

It was with joy I joined the ribbon cutting celebration
to officially open the architectural delight (the only property
designed by Mr. Wright to be accessible for its owner,
a wounded WWII veteran).

So many design details I could wax on about
after listening to members of the Laurent Foundation,
yet I'm most thrilled to hear the stories,
the human stories that surround the architect,
the Laurent family, and this restoration project.

Yours truly in Mrs. Laurent's vanity mirror.

For example, the project came to be from a simple
letter Mr. Laurent wrote to Frank Lloyd Wright in 1948
requesting a sensible construction plan after seeing a picture
of a home by Wright in House Beautiful.

Mrs. Laurent's vanity area in the master bedroom

How magical that the unique needs
(Ken had paraplegia) of an ordinary Rockford family
met the genius of Mr. Wright in a home which has
stood the test of time in terms of function and aesthetics!

The Laurent House is small yet lived beautifully large.

A bedroom in the Laurent House

The painted screens throughout the home are exquisite

As you may have surmised, the furniture is all original
and part of the overall design.

You'll find tidewater cypress cabinetry
and radiant floor heating throughout the home.

Efficient and sensible furniture design.

A modest kitchen to be sure, with many subtle
understated details which keep it timeless.

Origami-shaped tables, hassocks, recessed lighting,
and a koi pond (flush with the back window wall)
which helps to cool the house in summer are
features which add to the quality and
longevity of the home.

So many accessible details inside, yet
the home's brilliant construction
leaves no telltale signs the owner used
a wheelchair: lower light switches,
threshold-free doorways,
pull-down cupboard doors...
and this brings me to my favorite part
of the Laurent House:

b e a u t y f u n c t i o n s i n h a r m o n y
within the setting and within the needs of its occupants.

There is no photography allowed in the museum,
so it is an honor to share these images
and a part of the Laurent story to encourage you
to make a trail to Rockford for this
fabulous project and museum.

I will share more about this Rockford gem shortly,
and if you are planning a trip to the Chicago area
by all means, plan to rendezvous here too.

Peace to you right where you are.