There are many reasons for Pinterest’s success – our love of beautiful imagery, our desire to capture, save, and move on, its powerful ability to communicate to others what we are hoping to achieve, whether the interior designer you just hired to decorate your living room, or you best friend who has offered to help with your new apartment, and a strict budget – Pinterest offers a visual wish list – all in one place.

Tiny and tucked away to the right.  So ingenious.

What I adore…small spaces, great storage, unquestionably great view.

I don’t use it as much as I should, but I went in search of a concept for build-in bunk beds. This is a huge trend now, and as we prepare to say good-bye to Eastward – who has done an amazing job – we need to think about what additional retrofits we’ll do.  One thing I’ve learned about the Cape House is that you need to be able to pack people in during the holidays – both summer and winter.  The Manse – is relatively modest in size, so I thought it might be best to have one of the upstairs bedrooms be more of a bunk room, or because of the ceiling heights, a dormitory set up.  Elegant of course, but maximizing the sleeping quarters.

Parisian AND Gray …. need I say more?

Toward that end I started to hunt for ideas in my No. 4 Pinterest Board.  Four was for my current project, but it acts as a dropbox for the year’s activities.  What I noted as I looked through the images was an emerging series of patterns.  Pinks, golds, flooring treatments – I have a propensity to gravitate toward herring bone or painted floors, painted ceilings, or accent paints of any kind.  I like it, both for its unexpectedness, and for the relatively inexpensive nature of its impact.  Every room needs a wow.  My Dad asked me why I would paint a walk-in closet in a dark color.  “The room is so small – you’ll only make it feel even smaller.”  This argument falls on deaf ears. A – small spaces are made to feel cozy when painted in a darker hue.  B – it’s a closet, no one is going to spend hours entertaining themselves in a closet.  You go in, pick out your clothes, and move along to start your day.  With the rest of the entire bedroom painted in white – it deserves to have a moment.  We all deserve to have a moment. But I digress.

Pink, Herringbone, and a bold painted door – J’amie bien!

What I discovered is that I have a distinct style.  It’s revealed in all the similar color palettes I post, the clean nature of the furnishings and decor.  That is one of the distinct benefits of starting and maintaining a Pinterest board, you begin to see your personal style emerge, and can feel confident that when you go to make a big purchase or small, that if it is in alignment with that style, you are going to love it.

Pink, Gold, and swivel chairs – the best!

Happy Pinning.

Stripes and in graphic and black and white.  Gorgeous.

If you’re like half of America, you’re a fan of Fixer Upper.  Chip and Joanna Gaines are a whole lot of fun to watch, and while their style doesn’t exactly align with mine, they have an undeniable chemistry, seem to love what they do, and it’s contagious.

Stikwood Samples.

They are fans of Ship Lap, which I would argue has made a major comeback because of them.  I wanted the bath in The Manse to be paneled in it, but didn’t announce my intention until the shower was already tiled.  Oy vey.  That means the transition between materials was going to be a problem – different thicknesses requires an artful solution.  A bevel perhaps, but the reality of that requires additional labor.  Additional labor means a change order.  Jo-Jo said NO MORE CO’s!  I don’t blame her.

Stikwood in weathered gray.

The solution- This ingenious product called:  Stikwood.  It’s peel and stick, reclaimed, sustainable wood.  That’s right – peel and stick.  European Oil Finishes and VOC Free Paints make it environmentally friendly too.

As easy as peel and stick!

Just 3/16″ thick, it’s perfect for my wall and will require no transition detail – better yet I can do it myself.  The on-line tutorials are great, and they tell you everything from how to measure to get the right quantity – it comes in 1 – 4′ lengths and is 5″ wide, and how to peel and ensure it sticks.  At just $14. SF – I might just be finding other places in the house to put it.

This really is a DIY Product.

Happy Sunday.

The Manse . Nantucket Red Door

Gray has come into its own.  I’ve long been a lover – and not a closet one at that – of gray.  It strikes me as being Parisian and sophisticated.  Since I want to be both of these things it’s only natural that I gravitate toward it.  Jo-Jo gets upset with me when I remind her that she called me a “One Trick Pony”.  My pony has way more tricks than one, but it’s favorite trick has depth and complexity, it’s pale and peaceful, daring and dark, shy and innocent, dirty and needy.  Gray will take you places and influence your mood.  I will not apologize for using it, in all it’s iterations.  Every magician has a show-stopper.  Gray is mine.

Tuxedo Kitchen Cabinets await.

And now it will be The Manses too.  The exterior clap board siding is a soft dove gray, the doors a perfect Nantucket Red.  The interior will follow suit.  While it’s a bit risky to go with a trend in a home that our family will continue to enjoy for generations beyond my own, I am going to do a Tuxedo Cabinet.  The bottom will be painted in Metallic Silver, the top in Chantilly Lace.  This is one of the two white that Decorator’s use consistently in their design, and which I have used for my trim, base, casings, and wood work over the years.  To me, it’s the purest white.  a cool, crisp, Mary Poppins style proper white.  All the wood work will be done in Chantilly – it will give the space the “pretty face”  it deserves.

Fifty Shades with a bit of modesty thrown in.

The walls will be painted in Mineral Ice – this is another color which I have used again and again, and recommended to others over the years.  Be warned, while it reads gray in The Manse, it sometimes reads pale blue.  It depends on it’s mood.  I tested it in several rooms, because in this instance I want it to be a true gray – a pale, and lovely Dior Gray.  It is.  In fact, all the main living, dining, and common spaces will be painted in this pale shade, as will the bedroom on the first floor.

Benjamin Moore . Mineral Ice

The Bath on the main floor will be Ben Moore’s Chalk White – wall that is.   The base and door will be in Chantilly Lace, as I previously stated, and the ceiling will be in Nickel – yet another shade of gray.  I am all about the minimalist look, but I need moments of surprise in every room.  The ceiling, and Ship Lap-esque wall (read tomorrow’s post for what will really be used here), will have passers by giving it a double take.  If you’ve been following along, you know what it’s always Ben.  He was my boyfriend before P.R. came along, and while Ben was perfect for color at the right price, P.R. returns my adoration.  I hope we can all live in perfect harmony.

Ben Moore . Nickel

Dive into your adventurous side…50 shades is where it’s at.

Benjamin Moore . Metallic Silver