by Diana @ The Devine Home on February 19, 2010
How happy does it make me that the sun is shining today and that I can take a few moments to get away from it all with the March issue of Country Living Magazine?
I have subscriptions to alot of shelter magazines but without a doubt Country Living is my favorite and this month’s issue is no exception – sooooooooooooo much good stuff!
Some of the photography just transported me away . . . I mean, take a look at this goregous barn-style house.
The story is about the twist on “country tradition” that the home owners used in their decorating – lots of bold colors. The home is decorated in everything from pieces of old gates, barn doors, items from IKEA &Pottery Barn, hand-painted signs and items won on Ebay!
Then there’s the fabulous & fun transformation of a closet into an office. Maybe not a new idea but it’s a timely makeover for reclaiming space. Many of us are trying to use what we have. People are staying put instead of buying a bigger house. This closet makeover is a perfect example of making every inch of square footage count . . . makes me wish I had a spare closet!
I am not a big fan of wall paper in general however, I do like using it in places like this! Wall paper in a” throw away” space like a closet or powder room can make a big impact since it’s unlikely you have a lot of wonderful architectural details.
They give a step-by-step on how they transformed the closet as well as a shopping guide. Love it!!
My favorite article is called “Natural Instinct”. It’s about the transformation of a Connecticut home. The home is done in a fresh palette of colors and painted furniture {which is my personal weakness!} plus, her lilacs are AMAZING! I even got an idea to tuck away in my personal style file. 
Look at the amazing detail around this bathtub! I’m hoping in the next year or two that we will be able to remodel our master bathroom – it sooooooooo needs it! I have extra vertical space above the bathtub area and I’d love to do a similar treatment with the arch and built-ins. A little detail like this can turn a boring boxof a space into something really special. {*sigh*}
Make sure to pick up the March issue of Country Living magazine to read all these articles plus more! Now to get ready for a client meeting . . . back to reality.
Have a super weekend!
by Diana @ The Devine Home on February 16, 2010
True Confession: The month of February is the reason I left Ohio 20 years ago. As I sit here looking out at the gray and snowy skies, I find it hard to believe I “got tired” of the warm and balmy San Diego winters. But, love brought me back to my snowy roots and since I’m here by choice, I try to make the best of it.
Now that Valentine’s Day is over, I’m slogging it out on a day-to-day basis with gray skies, tons of snow, and temperatures hovering in the mid to high 20s. I just pray for strength to hold on until spring!
While I’d love to be able to fly away to some place warm and exotic today, that’s not in the budget or vacation plans any time soon. So my little winter pick me ups are flowers! I love fresh cut flowers – whether from the back yard or local market. They. Make. Me. Happy.
When I was at the super market the other day I picked up a bouquet of white tulips. I love their simple graceful stems. So effortless but gorgeous. At home, I searched for a container and had to get creative with this pot since it has a drainage hole in the bottom.
I put the tulips into a canning jar and then popped them into this chalkboard pot. Voila! Flowers: My perfect winter pick me up.
So, my question for you is: What gets you thru these nasty winter duldrums? Share your little pick me ups with us and together we can make it thru these last six weeks of winter.
by Diana @ The Devine Home on February 11, 2010
Valentine’s Day saves the month of February in my book. Here on the North Coast February is oppressively depressing: six more weeks of winter {can someone please have a talk with that little rodent?}, tons of snow, and not enough sunshine to fill a cup. So you can understand why Valentine’s Day saves the month – it’s something good to look forward to!
I don’t really decorate much for Valentines but I do put a few love-ly touches here and there. They are simple, nothing fancy, but the holiday is a nice excuse for me to change my decor a bit. ;o)
This fun polka dot heart {above} is from one of the towels hanging from the dishwaser handle.
In the window I have my giant green paper clip with this small touch of love – vintage flash cards that I got on My Sweet Savannah’s Etsy store.
I also tucked a few into this faux fruit basket.
Isn’t it fun to find touches of whimsy in unexpected places?
by Diana @ The Devine Home on February 8, 2010
Today I was interviewed by a reporter from our local newspaper for a feature article about design and decorating trends – where we’ve been and where we are going. Jean was such a sweetheart and we had so much fun talking – she’s one of us!
The interview got me to thinking. I go into many homes where people are just struggling to get out of a rut - they want to get their home into this century when it comes to the way they should decorate.
Well, recently I came across a post that beautifully showcases ”where we have been” and shows how simple it can be to get to ”where we are going” when it comes the current trend in design and decorating.
How better to show the difference between the two than with pictures? Here are two from her post that really say it all.
Where We’ve Been
Where We Are Going
Amazing yet so simple. Today’s design trend is to the fresh, clean line tempered with a touch of vintage which adds character and history to a space. For the not-so-sure-do-it-yourselfer, a bathroom is the perfect place to try your hand at making a change. It’s easily done in a weekend and for not a lot of money. How “devine!”
Pop over to Susie Harris’ blog to see more of her fabulous bathroom makeover!
by Diana @ The Devine Home on February 7, 2010
These happy daisies are for everyone who finds themselves buried in snow this fine February morning.
{Photo: I snapped this last summer in the outdoor dining area at Gamekeepers Taverne in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.}
The story is about the twist on “country tradition” that the home owners used in their decorating – lots of bold colors. The home is decorated in everything from pieces of old gates, barn doors, items from IKEA &Pottery Barn, hand-painted signs and items won on Ebay!
