PUNCHY + PAINTERLY

I love the visual texture of painterly patterns on textiles... they seem even more appropriate for the summer. Like what your clothes should do if you decided to spontaneously run through the sprinkler to beat this heat...

*resources: dress by erdem, blouse rachel rose, flamestich pillow furbish, rug at marc phillips, clutch by goodmarvin

PATTERN SPY: BIRDS ON THE BRAIN

Who doesn't like a pretty little bird motif? Sarah from Smitten Studio here to present my Pattern Spy series! Today I've pulled together some delicate winged beauties shown in fashion, an interior, and an event. These guys make me want to live in that shirt, sleep in that room, and get married all over again. Enjoy!

While they can poke fun at a bird motif, when done right I can't help but swoon.

*shirt at anthropologie (as well as my closet),  wallpaper from Hygge & West designed by Julia Rothman, and paper birds via this Once Wed tutorial and wedding inspiration post shot by Jose Villa

BLUE + WHITE FLORALS: GRANDMA OR GLAMOUR?

The combination of blue and white - especially come summer time - is nothing new. But this year it seems to be popping up even more, and in all sorts of patterns and trends. The most recent manifestation being of the granny-inspired variety...

Whenever I see blue and white florals, I instantly think of grandma's fine china. It's classic, but is it fresh? Can we make it modern and glamorous? I'm beginning to think it might be possible! With a heavy dose of white combined with clean lines to counteract the antiquated pattern, it could work. Would you try this trend?

*sources: bedroom via designspiration on pinterest, mirror and chaise at house of hackney dalton rose collection, lingere at topshop, bowl by maria kristofferson, paul & joe t-shirt, pyne hollyhock print at schumacher

ON THE HUNT: MARBLEIZED TEXTILES

I'm loving the dreamy effect these marbleized textiles have in two very different bedrooms...


With one suite composed withe elements of unabashed glamour and the other in quiet neutral modernism, the pattern works perfectly in both. Consider me sold (and hunting for resources!).

*rooms via interiors magazine and trad home

INTERIORS TO INSPIRE: SURPRISINGLY NONTRADITIONAL

Let me just start off this post by admitting that I don't speak a word of French. (I promise this will be relevant before you are finished reading!) So, when I was flipping through the Côté Maison site yesterday and stumbled across these provocative images, I assumed I was looking at one big eclectic home...

"Perfect!" I thought to myself, "I'll use this space for my coco+kelley post!" Well, since Côté Maison is in French I didn't realize I was actually reading about several homes - not just one. But I really, really wanted it to be the same home...

Because these rooms are amazing! (like Mary McDonald's dressing room, wearing a flame stitch wall covering, designed by her, for Osborne & Little).

And, it seems viable for all this color to be under one roof, based on bold pattern-play running rampant. So, indulge with me in this fantasy, won't you?

And let's pretend that our nontraditional pied-à-terre be in Paris... with a view of course.

Now some (loose) guidelines to inspire our own room...

Using a French settee as our classical proportion, we flank it with tall luxurious lamps, then add an amazing outspoken coffee table, just to mix things up. The bright rug offers a (much needed) dose of color and pattern, while a Gala chair introduces unexpected texture.

Layer on tons of throw pillows in wild prints and patterns, and, voila! Your own crazy little pied-à-terre is ready for serious lounging and champagne sipping.

xoxo

-Julie

POWER (PATTERN) PLAY

Have you ever found a pattern you loved but thought - there's no possible way I could use this. It's just way too busy to put in my home...

Well, my friends, this is how you do it and get away with it! Keep it simple. If you're going to do this on a traditional sofa, make it a very straight lined mid-century modern style. I love the idea of the bench seats though - the fabric almost appears to float, and all the white helps keep things light!

The fact that the pattern is small scale helps too - the further away you are, the more the pattern blends into a solid. And, did you notice how symmetrical each cushion is? They're exactly the same, helping give order to what could be total visual chaos. That's the work of a professional!  I'm also loving the color punches added to the rest of the room - especially the ceiling! Very well played.

*interior design by alexandra angle

THE MAR A MAR COLLECTION

I am a huge fan of the bold, worldly patterned rugs at Decorative Carpets, and am loving their latest collection - Mar a Mar...

Such a variety of influences here, I don't know which would be my first pick! Aqua zig zags? Blue deco fans? Red medallions? If you've never browsed through their site, I recommend it - if nothing else some major pattern and color inspiration awaits!