What is Luxe?

I've been seeing the term luxe tossed around the interior design world a lot lately.  I wasn't sure exactly what it meant, but thanks to Google, my initial thought was right.  Luxe means luxury, elegance and sumptuousness.  We can all use a little more of that in our lives, right?  

A little too much luxe for me, but it sure is beautiful!

Just enough bling and would great in lots of different rooms.

Lots of sofa pillows create a wonderful feeling of luxe.

A curved chest, with a gold finish is perfect for an entry foyer or by the bed.

Everything about this headboard is luxe...the shape, the nailheads, the fabric.

There's nothing more luxurious than a beautiful set of sheets.

You can even add a little luxe on your table with these napkin rings.

Embroidered pillows are an easy way to add a little luxe to a bed or sofa.

Nothing says luxury more than a gold lamp.

A Venetian style mirror...my favorite!

If you are ready to add a little luxe in your house, give me a call!

Thanks for reading,
Jennifer

{Planning} Wes' New Bedroom

I'm now in the {planning} stage of Wes' new bedroom.  If you missed my {inspiration} post last month, then please take a look as there are some great ideas I'm planning to try.  I first measured the space and laid out all the furniture pieces I wanted to use.  This is a very important first step as furniture can feel like it will fit, but taking a few minutes to measure will prevent costly mistakes.  I promise!  Here is what I've put together for Wes' bedroom.

I'm a total procrastinator, but when I saw this desk on Craigslist over the weekend, I knew it was time to get going on a furniture plan.  The design was spot-on for this "modern vintage" look I'm going for and the size was really good.  I'll either stain or paint it.  I even thought about trying to give it a metallic, silver look, but we'll see how adventurous I want to be.  This is my first real find on Craigslist and I'm excited to see what I can do with it.

Scored this baby for just $35!

The fabrics have been a little more challenging for me, but I'm pretty happy with what I've put together so far.  Each time a sample comes, I show it to Wes and I get a less than stellar response from him.  He does have a little say in what we use, but he needs to be like all my clients and TRUST me...I know what I'm doing!  

The original idea of using my grandfather's quilt quickly faded as it didn't have the right colors and I honestly don't trust Wes (or the dog) to treat it with respect.  So, the quilt will stay folded up in the closet and will only come out on special occasions.  I'm a big fan of an orange and brown color scheme with pops of blue.  I especially love the circle fabric I found from Robert Allen.  

Because we live in a rental house, I need to keep the walls neutral or I will be painting again when I move. I do want to paint the whole house, so I'll probably go with a darker shade of what I put in the hallway.  The color and personality will come in with the fabrics, wall decor and all the toys that will be on the floor.  

Still no decision on what fabrics will be used where, but I do like what I'm seeing so far.

It's time to start looking on Pinterest for tips on refinishing the desk.  A DIY girl I am not, so this should be very interesting.  The weather window is quickly closing on being able to do a project in the garage without dying of a heat stroke, so I definitely won't be procrastinating on this part of the project.

Thanks for Reading,
Jennifer 

Patio Dream

My back patio is a hole, literally.  It's just a concrete pad, surrounded by my house on three sides.  It's nice because you have privacy from your neighbors, but it gets very little light and all the leaves/dirt collect in the corners.  We never use it, but our life has changed with our new pup and I would really like to spend more time in our backyard this summer.  So, I've decided to put the patio on the top of my decorating list.  I promise to write about my journey and share my fabulous finds, as this space will definitely have to be done on a TIGHT budget!

This is my how my poor patio looks now - bad right?!

My list is pretty simple, but the one thing I know I want is a place to recline.  I may keep those two iron chairs if I can find the right cushions.  We don't have room for a sofa, so I'm thinking of some sort of daybed or chaise. 

This is what I would love to have!

This is what I have in my budget...

Here are some of my inspiration photos that I'll carry around on my phone as I begin my quest.  I would really like to find at least one piece of wicker with tons of colorful pillows.

I'm going to start by looking at Craigslist and my local thrift shop to see if I can find something that just needs some TLC.  Fingers crossed!

Thanks for Reading,
Jennifer
 

Honor Thy Mother

Today is the day we honor our mothers.  Even though I'm a mother myself, I still feel like the day should be all about my mom, Gail.  I'm so lucky to be spending time with her today, along with my son, grandmother and aunt.  It will be a day full of great food, lots of hugs and even more laughs!  Each holiday I spend with my mom is precious and I know it's a blessing God has given me.  In September of 2011, my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer.  She faced this news with amazing strength and continues to fight, each and every day!  My mom has always been someone I could count on and I'm so happy to share this very special day with her.  I love you mom!

My gorgeous mom with me (I'm the fat baby).

I love this picture of us at my friend's wedding.  That was a fun night!

My wedding day with my still gorgeous mother!

Mom with my son, Wes, to celebrate his 1st birthday.

From our trip to Washington DC in 2010.  We had such a great time.

My mom celebrating her 60th birthday in January.

Happy Mother's Day to my mom and all the moms out there!

Thanks for reading,
Jennifer

This Isn't Your Grandma's Embroidery!

Embroidered fabrics are really hot right now.  With that said, you should never add something to your home because it's trendy.  You choose it because you like it and it reflects your taste.  I love embroidered fabrics.  Not only the unique designs they have, but the texture they can bring in.  They are perfect for pillows, accent bands on drapery panels or a bench at the foot of your bed.

These types of embroidered fabrics have been around a long time.  The Mexican Otomi fabric is gorgeous with bright colors and usually feature animals or people.  You can also find beautiful examples of embroidered fabrics from India.  What I like best about both of these fabrics are their wonderful use of color. 

Fun Upholstery with Otomi Fabric

Traditional Indian Fabric

You can find embroidered fabrics in all colorways, patterns and price points.  Here are some amazing examples of embroidered fabrics I have in my studio and are available through Jennifer Taylor Design.  Email me for details or if you would like to bring some embroidered fabrics into your space, I can make that happen for you!

This is a detail of a linen/silk fabric in lilac and green.

I'm using this fabric for some bed pillows.

This fabric is right on trend with the embroidery, colors and Southwest pattern.

This is an upholstery grade linen fabric from Beacon Hill.

The colors in this linen are to die for. 

Love the darker thread on the white linen fabric.