Spring is in the Air With Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic and the Beautiful Dancing Dahlia Sunshine Collection

Introducing the Dancing Dahlia Sunshine and Pink Collection: A Fresh Spin on Shabby Chic by Rachel Ashwell. Each photo is clickable and will take you to the Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Website

Brighten Your Home with Timeless Elegance and a Splash of Color

As we bid farewell to winter and welcome the rejuvenating spirit of spring, it's time to refresh our homes with a burst of color and charm. Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic has always been synonymous with timeless elegance, and this season, we're thrilled to introduce the Dancing Dahlia Sunshine and Pink Collection. This delightful new range features beautifully designed tablecloths, table runners, pillows, and aprons, each adorned with the vibrant colors and enchanting florals that capture the essence of spring.

Unveiling the Dancing Dahlia Sunshine Collection

Inspired by the natural beauty of dahlia flowers in full bloom, the Dancing Dahlia Sunshine and Pink Collection brings a fresh, lively feel to your home décor. The vivid colors and intricate patterns in this collection pay homage to the classic Shabby Chic style while adding a modern twist.

Tablecloths, Table Runners and Napkins

Transform your dining experience with our exquisite tablecloths and table runners. The Dancing Dahlia Sunshine and Pink Collection offers a variety of sizes and designs to suit any table setting. Made from high-quality, 100% linen, these table linens are both durable and easy to care for, making them perfect for everyday use or special occasions.

The whimsical dahlia prints are showcased in a gorgeous palette of sunshine yellow, soft blush, and calming blue hues. These colors are skillfully blended to create a warm, inviting atmosphere in your dining area.

Pillows

Add a touch of coziness and style to your living spaces with our Dancing Dahlia Sunshine pillows. These decorative pillows feature the same charming dahlia prints as the table linens, providing a delightful accent for your sofa, armchair, or bed. These pillows are the perfect finishing touch to create a harmonious and inviting ambiance in your home.

Aprons

Who says you can't be stylish while cooking or baking? Our Dancing Dahlia Sunshine aprons combine fashion and function, ensuring you look fabulous while protecting your clothes from spills and stains. Made from the same durable, 100% linen as our table linens, these aprons are designed to withstand the demands of your busy kitchen.

Embrace the joy of spring with the Dancing Dahlia Sunshine Collection from Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic. This enchanting collection is a delightful addition to any home, offering a blend of classic elegance and modern vibrancy. Explore the full range of tablecloths, table runners, pillows, and aprons today, and brighten your home with the timeless charm of Shabby Chic.

WHAT EXACTLY IS SHIPLAP? CURIOUS MINDS WANT TO KNOW!!!

Everywhere you turn these days shiplap is a hot topic and everyone wants the look!  Shiplap walls here, Shiplap walls there, Shiplap Walls Everywhere!  We all love it, so pretty no matter where you put it.  It carries that rustic farmhouse look we all love.  What REALLY is Shiplap?  What was the ORIGINAL use of Shiplap?  

1.  Shiplap was originally used as EXTERIOR SIDING on barns, sheds, outbuildings and even homes. 

2.  Shiplap is 3/4" or 1" pine or any other inexpensive wood. 

3.  Shiplap is anywhere from 3"-10" wide, depending on style. 

4.  Shiplap has a 3/8" to 1" Rabbet on the opposite ends of each piece of wood as well as the top and bottom. 

5.  A Rabbet is a grove that allows the boards to overlap each other and create a tight seal. 

6. Shiplap can either be painted, stained, or left natural.  

7. Interior design projects usually use horizontal boards on the walls that do not have the rabbet grooves

With this being said, here are some examples of SHIPLAP and how it can be used in various areas of your home.  If you like any decor in each photo, just click on it to "Shop The Look" through my affiliate partner, Wayfair. 

VINTAGE BATHROOM WITH PAINTED SHIPLAP

FEMININE BEDROOM WITH WHITE PAINTED SHIPLAP

HOME OFFICE WITH WHITE SHIPLAP WALLS

DINING ROOM WITH WHITE PAINTED SHIPLAP WALLS

LIVING ROOM WITH SNOW WHITE SHIPLAP WALLS

Merry Christmas! These TEN Stunning Rustic, Cottage Farmhouse Christmas Decorated Living Rooms Will Put You in the Holiday Spirit!

I just love decorating for the holidays and have found my favorite top TEN living rooms that are decorated with charm to put you in the holiday spirit.  You can "SHOP THE LOOK" through Wayfair by selecting each photo.  May you have a Merry Christmas and enjoy all the memories you create with family members and loved ones! 

Five Picture Perfect Rustic Farmhouse Living Rooms, Each With ONE Element Inspired by Joanna Gaines

Happy Friday Everyone! Today I am sharing FIVE beautiful living rooms with elegant and rustic elements that bring coziness to my heart when I see them. Each room also has at least ONE design element inspired by Joanna Gaines style.  Each photo is clickable and will take you to my advertising partner Wayfair. Each photo has several items you can view and see if they will work in your space!

I love this photo for the amazing wall composition and my favorite part of this space is the chalkboard calendar. So many farmhouse elements are used here and just looking at the photo makes me want to visit the country and raise chickens, lol! I love the use of the cotton branches in the pitcher.  I have a pitcher of cotton branches on a dresser in my living room and receive so many compliments.  Unique items in your home is what makes it special. 

These chandeliers make a bold statement even though they are simple and have so many bright shiny lights. They can be purchased from Wayfair and I really wished I had a tall space to put one! My second favorite part about this living room is the vaulted shiplap ceilings with the rustic wood beams.  The architecture of this space is amazing with the wide doors and arched windows. Look closely at the herringbone tile pattern inside the fireplace. There are little amazing surprises everywhere in this space. 

This is the first time I have seen rustic wood being used as a valance and it is absolutely a genius idea. I  love how the dark wood floors stand out against the light walls and furniture. The blue barn door adds a slight bit of color and interest. Couldn't you just see yourself snuggling on the couch with that super cute blanket. The gold quatrafoil side table blends in perfectly with the rustic decor. 

This living room is cozy and elegant but the two rectangular door panels on the walls add a small touch of rustic to the space. They are the perfect size for the wall space and blend in nicely wit the furniture.  I wish I could have light furniture like this in my home but with kids and dogs, its not happening right now.  Take a peek in the bottom left hand corner. Do you see the old books tied up and placed on the sofa table as a decoration. Old books are amazing and can be used in so many ways. 

This room blends the old and new perfectly. The furniture is clean and new while the sofa table,  chair and cabinet add the rustic aged element. Little pops of coral can be seen throughout this space and the blue can be seen in the chair, the flower pot on the table and the background behind the print. The bold wooden chandelier works well with the color of the floor and the room looks so bright.  

My three favorite design elements in this living room are the guitar, the M on the wall and the lamp. A guitar can be used as a design element as well as entertainment for family and friends. The M on the wall reminds me of "Magnolia" and the shape and finish of the table lamp remind me of a bankers lamp. I just noticed the herringbone pattern on the pillows, just like the tile pattern inside the fireplace on the first living room photo. I can imagine how soft the rug would be between my toes.  

Start Small- Great Design Takes Time- ENJOY!

Decorating like Disney- Grand Floridian- Victorian Style Living Room

DOES YOUR HEART GO PITTER PATTER WHEN YOU THINK OF DISNEY LIKE MINE? THIS SERIES TAKES YOU BEHIND THE MAGIC OF THE GRAND FLORIDIAN'S VICTORIAN STYLE AND SHOWS YOU HOW YOU CAN ADD A LITTLE PIXIE DUST IN YOUR SPACE. 

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa in Orlando, Florida is the exquisite Victorian themed hotel on Disney property. It opened its doors in the fall of 1997. The Grand Floridian is designed after the Victorian Era beach resorts that were built along the Florida coast in the late 19th century and early 20th century. The exterior is designed after Hotel del Coronado in California, Mount Washington Resort in New Hampshire and the Belleview-Biltmore Hotel in Florida. Victorian interiors include multiple pieces of furniture, almost excessive, as well as warm and subdued colors. Multiple types of fabric and patterns are used on furniture, rugs and other textiles. Although multiple colors and patterns are used in one room but the space still has a feeling of unity and softness.  

Let's look at this room which is the main living area in the one bedroom villa. 

  

Seating: - At First glance, this room flows together in unity. All interior design has one basic common denominator... A comfortable seating grouping. This space has plenty of creative seating for vacationers. A pull out sofa, a chair with an ottoman and two small ottomans to the right. This small room can easily seat 8 people comfortably. The sofa and chair are set up just like any other living room adding the two end tables, lamps and coffee table. The sofa is a tan corduroy and I love how they placed the pillows in the middle. 
  

Fabrics: Another trick in the design world is MIX YOUR FABRICS AND PATTERNS.  Not everything should be matchy matchy.  The same exact shade of colors, That is a No No! Again, you will create more visual interest to the eye if you use different hues of a color.  Look above, you have two pieces of green furniture on OPPOSITE sides of the room.  Your chair and ottoman are soft tufted velvet and your storage seating ottomans are a shiny green polyester with a white pattern, yet they blend beautifully. 

Floor:  Typical Victorian Era is wood floors.  These wood floors are tile and look and feel wonderful and clean up like a charm.  The patterned, octagonal rug is yet another pattern and shape! 

Hardscape Pieces: These include the end tables and the coffee table. Look closely.  This is a small trick you can do at home to create more of a designer look.  Many times designers use different shapes of hard pieces because it allows more visual interest.  The coffee table is oval, one end table is round and the other end table is square.   Very subtle but doing this creates a custom designed look. All of the furniture pieces are brown, that is what makes them unified and match.  The square one on the right is likely a bedroom nightstand because it has storage drawers. 

Lamps: The lamps are green like the chair and ottomans.  Notice that they are green but notice the small difference?  The lamps are different shapes!  They are also placed on the outside of the room so the green pieces anchor the room like a square.  You can literally draw a square from chair to lamp to lamp to ottoman, just like dot to dots.  This anchors the space.  

Carpentry: Don't forget the crown molding!Look at the drawers to the right by the ottomans as well as the detail work dividing the kitchen. 

Round frames were all the rage in Victorian Times. To find out who I think this little girl is in the photo, look up "The Teddy Bear Lady".  In Victorian times, most photo frames were oval.  They are always brown and have a small ornate carving.  These photos are mostly painted pictures and the photo is shaped like a half of an egg.  

This is the same type frame but we know who these silhouettes are! What I like is all they did was attach them to a piece of wide fabric and hand them from a knob.  You can find knobs like these at Hobby Lobby and other stores on line. If you visit the Grand Floridian, they have someone that draws your silhouette in the lobby and you can purchase one of these frames!  They also have this same service in Paris in Epcot but the frames are black. 

                  

When looking at this photo, let's first look at the wall composition. Notice something???  It is a TRIO.  The rectangle mirror adorned with the oval pictures on the side.  Did you know adding three things in a wall or table composition adds more interest?  I love odd numbers! Let's also look at the six patterns in the room. The rug, the ottomans, the border on the curtains and the pillows....  Can you find the other one??  It's small but it's everywhere!!  You got it, the wallpaper.  Also, there are no more than two colors in each pattern.  The large yellow and cream pillows have smaller other colors but the dominant ones are yellow and cream!

These ottomans are great for sitting and storage, GENIUS!

I have created a similar room for you! If you love this look, check out the items I have picked out.  Click on the picture to be taken directly to the manufacturer!  Hope you enjoyed the article.  The next one will be the Kitchen.  Can't wait for you to see it.   

Engeham Convertable SLEEPER SOFA!  

Safavieh Table Lamp

Mercury Row Table Lamp

Ave Six Hour Glass Storage Ottoman

Winslet Velvet Arm Chair

Carolina End Table

Rosiland Wheeler Melchior Oval End Table

 

Ashley Two Drawer Night Stand

Valencierre Camel Area Rug

Buckeye Lake Bass Outdoor Throw Pillow

Vivi Pillow Cover

Crackled Brushed Framed Mirror

I couldn't find any old oval framed portraits for either side of the mirror so I found these cool art pieces could go.  The mirror is 24 x 36 so its pretty large.  For the art on the sides, do not go over the height.  You want to stay a third in between. 

Botanic Wall art- Place 2 Vertical on each side

Kravet Silvan 116 Wallpaper

You can also purchase old oval wall frames on ebay.  Another idea is to add some oval and round plain empty frames on either side.  You can either put a nice patterned wallpaper in them or have a photo of a relative enlarged to fill the frame. 

For accessories, head to the thrift store and pick up an old silver tray, some mis matched china to hold candles and some of your favorite decorating books or magazines.  Milk glass vases are everywhere as well as glass candle holders.  You don't want to add too much to the end tables just an item or so.  Place the silver tray on the coffee table with a few old vintage books and a few simple candles.  

I truly hope you enjoyed and learned something about Victorian Design and maybe add a few of these ideas into your own space.  I enjoyed photographing and reviewing the room and would love to meet the design team who created this amazing space! Next time.. The Kitchen at the Grand Floridan Resort and Spa Villas.  

Start Small, Great Design Takes Time- Enjoy! 

Model Home Interior Design Tour

What makes us all love model homes so much?  

Well, here are my top 5 reasons!

- Designers in model homes have UNIQUE ideas that stay 

  in your head.  

- A common THEME and COLORS are used throughout the home. 

- When you tour model homes, all the LIGHTS are on and 

  there are no BLINDS.

- Model homes are PERFECT and neat with no signs of personal items,   like a museum.

- Homes have ALL the UPGRADES available from the builder. 

CAN YOU GUESS THE THEME IN THIS MODEL HOME?  I WILL REVEAL IT AT THE END OF THIS POST!

Not one but TWO lights in the dining room and a wood focal point wall.  This would be super easy to reproduce.  

Just two simple upholstered chairs add a softness to this dining room.  Don't forget to look up and see how the crown molding is also stained the same color as the wood on the wall.  

Reclaimed wood on top of reclaimed wood!  Love It

Grab some books from Goodwill and tear off the covers.  Wrap with twine- GENIUS.

A neutral sofa with a geometric rug adds focus, pattern and dimension. 

Notice more wood used throughout.

LOVE a farmhouse sink!

Look how the backsplash tile runs VERTICAL!  Neat idea. 

Built in bench in the dining room serves the purpose of sitting and storage!

Not quite sure how I feel about the tile in the powder room.

This master has neutral blending colors and notice how high the curtains are placed to make the bedroom appear larger! 

The stairs have a different wood and direction of the main floor!

My favorite room in this home.  I am going to start picking up frames at the Goodwill to copy this look.  You can even get frames with no glass at craft stores. 

The painted recessed ceiling and faux wood beams add DRAMATIC touches to the loft. 

Another unique piece to grab the buyers attention. 

Another neutral color sofa but BAM look at the mural in this media room!

Subtle wall stripes in the guest room. 

Loving the hunting/camo theme in this room. 

Another boy room with a sports theme and an amazing mural. 

Baseballs in a mason jar- Genius

Sports balls in a crate- Genius again.

CAN YOU GUESS THE THEME OF THIS MODEL HOME?

MORE CLUES FOR THE THEME?

HAVE YOU FIGURED OUT THE THEME????

The THEME in this model home is NATURE!  Every single room has a hint of nature in it from the wall art to the accessories.  Various types of wood mixed with greens, and brown create a neutral calming space.  

Taylor Morrison- Southern Oaks-Oviedo, FL. I did not design any room in this home, just photographed each room for the article. :-)