{I just realized. It is not Monday. But it IS ditto day. Hope everyone enjoyed their Labor Day}

This picture has made its way around the web. But I really want to dissect it, and take a look at what makes this little vignette so appealing and gorgeous.

One thing that I noticed, as I began to break this space apart, is that it appears to be a segue way between two differently functioning spaces. For example, this could be shared wall space between a living room and dining room combination.

For clients {and even for myself, in my former home}, this type of a joint area can prove to be a design challenge. But this gorgeous space offers many thoughtful solutions, that are both beautiful and useful. {via Decor Pad}

DITTO :: {WHAT I WOULD STEAL FROM THIS SPACE}:

1. a secretary in a segue way. A secretary is the perfect piece of furniture for a transitional area. First of all, it can work in nearly any kind of room, from a foyer to a bedroom to a dining room. Secondly, it is a very practical piece of furniture. Who could not use another writing surface in their home that also serves as a way to hide papers?? And lastly, the form of secretaries are stunning, and come in many different heights. All of these attributes make them the perfect choice for a blank strip of wall that is floating between two otherwise-defined spaces.
2. two chairs flanking a secretary. Flanking the secretary with chairs brings a perfect touch of symmetry. And, a perfect place to sit.
3. stunning symmetry. This space is so pleasing to the eye mostly due to the classic symmetry that brings shape and form to every angle. All of the symmetry focuses around the central, grand work of art. And from there, all you can see is symmetry, as though the space could be folded in half and line up perfectly.
4.  symmetrical pieces of varying heights. This “perfect” symmetry could be boring, but I adore all of the varying heights that are brought in. The persistent symmetry is made interesting with contrasting height pieces, such as the chairs against the secretary, the lanterns against the treasure box, and even the small drawers of the secretary verses the big drawers.
5. deep, navy, lacquer walls. This navy wall is simply stunning. It definitely warrants a ditto to anyone with some guts for glamour.
6. gutsy mixed with classic. You know how I feel about contrasts! And this space perfectly summarizes my own balancing act between farmhouse simplicity and high-gloss glamour. How beautifully these two ideas work together!!
7. an uncommon piece of art that takes center stage. A grand octopus takes center stage, and this animal, typically not known for her beauty, becomes a work of art. Creation still remains the best subject for art, and easily steals the show. This octopus reminds me of the lovely bird from this ditto post.
8. matching lanterns. These are particularly stunning due to their height. Flanking a piece of furniture with lamps is a more obvious choice, but I love the idea of using candle lanterns instead if extra lighting is not needed.
9. gorgeous woodwork on the walls. This custom woodwork is stunning. And painted a crisp white, it provides the most amazing contrast which sets off the navy lacquer walls stunningly.
10. navy pillows that tie into the wall color. A perfect, simple touch that adds just another classic touch of navy.
11. bringing light into a segue way. I love that there is a grand chandelier in this small space. In my opinion, most homes don’t have enough light fixtures, and it is almost always a good choice to add more lighting. Why not add a stunning light fixture to a transition place such as this one?

This spot is so pleasing to the eyes, and there is so much to learn from and ditto! What would you ditto??

Happy Labor Day!

Like most Americans, I am taking the day off today, and I will publish my regular ditto post tomorrow, so be sure to stop by again.

But in the meantime, I thought you might enjoy taking a tour of Fieldstone Hill, with some newly updated photos.

Click on the link below to take the tour, or you can tour at any time by clicking on the photo in the right sidebar that reads: “take a tour of fieldstone hill.”

Welcome to our home

Enjoy a safe and blessed Holiday, dear friends!

{linking to Serenity Now}

Sometimes, don’t you look at a gorgeous room, and think that your home could never look that way?

The truth is:  It is so fun to realize that gorgeous spaces are simply made up of a bunch of smaller gorgeous ideas, all working together under one larger vision. So, why not find the smaller, gorgeous ideas… and “ditto d.i.y.” them??

Today I am starting a new series called “ditto d.i.y.!”

First things first! I am not a self-professed D.I.Y. girl. Yes, I can rock a D.I.Y. from time to time, but it is definitely not a passion of mine. {You can read all about my sad confession here, at this post.}  But what I do know how to do is dream up projects and dissect a room, making it do-able. And that includes D.I.Y. {Do It Yourself} projects. And I can tell you, you are not likely to find me recommending a complicated D.I.Y. … because I always look at those and say, “NEVER going to happen.” I don’t believe in complicated D.I.Y’s for myself, so I won’t share any with you!

What I DO believe in, when it comes to projects for decorating your home, is:

1. beautiful simplicity,
2. the power of quality over quantity,
3. and ease.

And that will continue to be the philosophy for the “ditto d.i.y.” projects that I share!

What is ditto d.i.y. ??

Learn how to bring gorgeousness into your home, one simple project at a time.

“ditto d.i.y.” is a simple project that will echo part of my ditto series, in that we will work from a photo of a gorgeous space for inspiration. But we will zero in on one specific design idea that we can  “steal,” and then chit-chat about how we can incorporate the same idea into our own homes. Are you in?

Today’s ditto d.i.y::

grand apothecary kitchen storage

See those amazing apothecary jars on the countertop? They are a little hard to see in this picture, but they are SO worth duplicating! And we can do just that.

SO lets dive into the How-To concepts. “Observing” comes first, and is the most important part of a “ditto d.i.y.”! Careful observation of a design idea is what breaks the gorgeous down into the do-able.

1. First, carefully observe {ditto!} what makes this display of apothecary storage jars so amazing:

• The jars are grand in scale
• The jars are all the same size. The power of “en masse.”
• They are lined up, all in a row, for ease on the eyes.
• There are 6 of them. Keep in mind that if you only use 3, you will not get the same dramatic effect. Take into account the amount of space you have, and purchase as many as you think will fit and look gorgeous.
• They are clear glass, which keeps an airy feeling, and does not inhibit light {therefore this display could work regardless of your kitchen size}
• They contain beautiful and useful objects, again, “en masse.”  For example: All lemons in one jar. All pasta in another. All flour in another. This keeps the visual display clean, crisp, and useful.
• They are practical. With lids and wide openings, you could store almost anything useful in these jars, and then, actually get into them to use what is in there! If the jar does not have an accessible opening, don’t waste your money on a pretty jar that is not useful!

2. Clear a spot.

• There is no use purchasing the apothecary jars if you don’t have anywhere you put them. So, clear your space first. Be sure that you can create a clutter free environment. If you don’t have enough kitchen storage to create a clutter free area, then you may have to accept that 1. this display is not for you or 2. you need to get creative about moving things around and getting rid of some things in your kitchen {there are MANY resources out there on simplifying/decluttering your life. I really encourage you that this is one bandwagon that you, indeed, would love to jump on!}.

3. Purchase your apothecary jars.

• Again: Take into account the amount of space you have, and purchase as many jars as you think will fit into your space, and look gorgeous. There are six jars in the photo above.
• If you are shopping on-line, be sure to check the measurements. You could order a jar that says “large,” but it may still be only 7 inches tall! The jars that I recommend below are all between 12″ – 25.”
• For online shopping: Search for the perfect jar using these key words: “Apothecary jar,” “Terrarium jar,” “Candy storage.”

Here are some of the apothecary jars that I found:

{click below for purchasing resource}:

Jar one

Jar two

Jar three

Jar four

Jar five

Jar six

4. Fill your jars. Here are some suggested items:

• fruit, I recommend selecting one per jar: lemons, limes, grapefruit, oranges or clementines, or apples would look beautiful.
• pasta, I recommend selecting one type per jar: spaghetti, lasagna, spinach rotini, farfalle, etc. All types would look beautiful.
• tea bags.
• coffee and a stainless scoop
• flours of different types, one per jar, with a large stainless scoop.

Voila! Gorgeous and Grand apothecary goodness can be yours!!!

It is super simple to add this “ditto d.i.y.” to your kitchen.

With some observing, planning, restraint, and vision, this display could {easily} look gorgeous in your home!!

It’s “A Room I Love”….just a simple hello, from me to you, featuring a Room that I Love, and a quick list of why I love it:

With Autumn on the horizon, I tend to lean a bit toward high-gloss glamour in my personal style wrestling match: You know. The one where I hang in the balance between farmhouse simplicity and high-gloss glamour?  In the Spring and Summer, it seems I am ready to simplify and get rid of the curtains and peel back the layers for some classic farmhouse simplicity.  …..But in Autumn, I get inspired by richness, drama, and depth of color, and layers, and velvet!!

Well, you can’t get any more high-gloss glamour, richness, drama and depth of color than in this stunning space below:  an office that was featured in Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles magazine.

What I love:

1. The cognacs and pumpkins, contrasting with the turquoise and teal {for a lesson in design on contrasts, click here. for a post on my love for oranges and blues, click here.}
2. Sea urchin love! That chandelier and all of the spiky guys on the bookshelves.
3. Antique brass bookshelves in a stunning, out of the box shape.
4. Brasses and golds and antique metals.
5. The faded turquoise rug in a traditional pattern.
6. The stunning, gutsy, deep dark walls.
7. Nail heads, nail heads, here and there.
8. Careful attention to art.
9. Lovely books everywhere, inviting you be inspired.
10. The chartreuse silk taffeta curtains. Simply stunning against the black-teal walls.
11. The bookstand on the desk. An amazing way to keep current inspiration in focus.
12. The lucite desk, in simple form. Does it get any more “farmhouse simplicity and high-gloss glamour” than that? I think I am in love.

Do you love it?? What do you love?