This dream of mine, that I call Fieldstone Hill Design, is as much about this blog as it is about my Design Boards. I delight in sharing inspiration, and, although it is slow going, I love sharing design progress from Fieldstone Hill. And since a picture says 1,000 words, it would be silly for me not to improve the photos on my blog.

That is why I am excited about tomorrow! I have an appointment with my blog sponsor, Amy from Allenaim Photography. {stop by her professional website. you may just see the two cutest boys that ever did live, featured on her home page scroll of pictures 🙂 }

That sweet girl is going to teach me, slowly but surely, how to take better interior photographs. And that is a huge help when trying to show you, my readers, photos of my “designs come to life.”

For example, I am itching to show you the progress on some beautiful sconces we just hung in a bare stairwell. But my pictures, well, leave much to be desired!:

Oh dear.

Maybe Amy will be willing to do a guest post with some tips for you too?!! I will work on that!

See you tomorrow, with a picture “from my Files.” OH! And don’t forget to enter my giveaway. All it takes is one tiny comment {but if you follow me and subscribe, it will surely make me giddy.}
– {darlene}

This may come as a surprise to you, but I am NOT a Do It Yourself-er.
I know.
I know.

This is shocking and heart-breaking news in the Design Blogosphere, but I must speak only the truth.

And the truth is, that while I can dream up every project in the book, I don’t really “Do It Myself” all that often. Only, when absolutely necessary. I don’t currently know where my glue gun is, and I don’t have a craft room. Or even, a craft closet. There is no bottle of Mod Podge in my home. Shocking!

I tell myself: I have other loves and priorities. I love being a wife and a mother, and all the joys and jobs that come with it. I homeschool. I love working with my clients. I have a fashion obsession. I have a burgeoning dream business that is so fun. I have church and bible study and girl time. I teach voice lessons. I have friends that I try to keep up with now that I am a momma. And I am a habitual makeup wearer and style junkie {and now, Pinterest junkie}. I have a first-year organic garden. I cook nightly family dinners. And, I have this here blog!

Still, I have furniture I want to paint!! Alas, each day comes and goes. And the truth is:
I CAN do it. I am actually pretty handy with a brush, but,
I guess I choose not to do it. DIY is just not my love, people.

I prefer to work with my gifts: decorating, taking beautiful things and putting them together, dreaming big, teaching others, thinking outside the box, staying with a vision….

So, I am here to boldly confess: I am not much of a Do-It-Yourselfer.

ooh, this is a good one, people! There is too much about this gorgeous living room by Nate Berkus that I want to ditto. I had better get started!

ditto :: {what I would steal from this space}:

1. gold and navy. A stunning combination that deserves much consideration!
2. symmetrical furnishings that are “facing off.” I love when furnishings have a symmetrical pair, and when a designer is brave enough to have them face each other head on, as the large beige chairs do next to the sofa. Or the ottomans across from the sofa. Gutsy and crisp!
3. multiple conversation areas. It is always wise to break up a room into smaller “rooms,” as Nate does here. While this is a particularly large room, this can be done in many average size spaces. Most people tend to put too much floating space between their conversation furnishings. Check out this floor plan to see how I moved the sofa closer to the fireplace to allow for an entirely new table area.
4. deep blue walls balanced with a lot of white. Crisp contrast. Simply beautiful.
5. a stunning day bed, draped in fur. backed by a mirror fit for a queen. before you dismiss this idea for your own home, ask yourself, why not have a daybed draped in fur??
6. differing heights of furniture. This is done so well in this space. Take the huge, tall mirror, then the low, long daybed. How about the tall, gold shelving in the back of the room that ties into the low gold rimmed coffee table and side table? Did I mention that I love the decorating power of contrasts?
7. plenty of breathing room, flow, and order. all contribute to the feeling of peace in this space.
8. dark navy lampshades, that happen to match the pillows on the couch. They are so stunning. Never underestimate the impact of good lampshades.
9. a grand, grand, gold rug. How I love thee.
10. two bench ottomans as part of the main seating area. It is a great, flexible way to add seating to a living room, without it feeling crowded. The eye just sails right over the ottomans to see the sofa, which grounds the room. I did this in edie’s living room design.
11. circles and squares and rectangles. See how many you can count. Classic form is everywhere.
12. pure white drapes that are not sheers. hmmm. haven’t thought of that in a while. 
13. ground the room with neutrals. This room is filled with neutral pieces, and it makes the grand pieces have that much more impact. For example, there are plenty of beige chairs. But that is what allows the yellow couch with the navy pillows to capture the attention of the eye. 
14. Drama.  Grand scale is everywhere, but so is flow of space, and the restraint to add only beautiful objects. That is what adds the drama.