The weather has been dreadfully rainy here lately & yesterday was finally sun shiny beautiful. {I’m not complaining about the rain btw….in August when everything is shriveled & burned I’ll be dreaming of it!} I just love spring in Houston & can’t wait to start working in the yard again. I have big plans this year. I’m going to make some flower beds & hopefully a stone patio for a fire pit….also a table. We currently have 2 exterior dining chairs & no table. & 2 more chairs would be nice. I mean what sort of designer doesn’t design her own home?? One that pits everything into the client’s homes, that’s what sort. Click the images for the sources. What do you have planned for your garden this spring?

Closet design is so personal & fun. I dabble in it when necessary. I have a dear friend that designs the most amazing closets, check her out here (if you’re in Austin hire her!). I work with closet designers quite often as there are so many details to work out in a custom closet. Always try to organize your clothes to make it easy for you to get dressed. For me that means that I have to see everything. Slim line hangers are a lifesaver!  If you’re lucky enough to have shelves for your shoes consider using glass shelves, it makes it easier to see what you have. Keep your scarves hanging so you wear them. Lucifer Lighting offers lit closet rods, the most brilliant idea I’ve seen. Sometimes in a corner it’s hard to see what you have (I won’t even tell you my solution to this, embarrassing), but with these rods everything is perfectly lit. Brilliant. Check out The Glamourai’s closet tour for tips on maximizing space in a tiny closet. I’m working on mine & will share that as soon as it’s finished. As always click the image for the source.

I’ve been working with this client for a few years now in collaboration with Sharon Staley Interiors. She’s a great client. So wonderful to work with & be around. Her house is a work in progress. Mostly now we’re needing accessories….some lived in look. I won’t point out the To Do’s in the shots as I’m sure it’s obvious. Check out the view of the their “backyard”! Spectacular. I love this project.

I’m addicted to Pinterest just like everyone else. I know. I know. These are some of my interior favvvvorites I’ve found on the site. Click on the image to go to either the original posting or the Pinterest page. Oh & follow me on Pinterest! Comment your Pinterest page so I can follow you back!

 I posted a sneak peak on Twitter as I was putting together the Christmas tree. Here’s the final product. We used entirely what the client already owned as we are designing a new construction home for her right now. Next year Christmas in her new house will be spectacular. I can’t wait to hit market this Spring to shop for it! I’m going to have to work on my photography skills & perhaps bring more than my point & shoot to client’s homes. I love decorating for Christmas, parties & other holidays!

This AMAZING treehouse grows in Brooklyn. Alexandra Meyn built the treehouse using all reclaimed & found materials. This is amazing. I want it in my backyard. Check out the original article in the New York Times.

Tony Duquette. My obsession. His style is over the top. Wild. His attention to detail is brilliant. I study study study his rooms. I had the incredible pleasure of meeting and hearing Hutton Wilkinson (Tony’s former design assistant & curator of his work) speak about Tony Duquette’s life and design process. Brilliant. These are some of the rooms that I’m fascinated with. There are a few great books about Tony…Tony Duquette, More is More & a book of his jewelry designs.

I’m still alive! I took a large end of year blogging break to focus on my business, my personal life & redoing this place! It needs a bit more sprucing up. That’s coming early 2012, it’s great, you’ll love it.

2011 was great. So hard & so great. I grew & grew. I traveled more than I ever planned or expected. LOVE that. I learned important lessons. I had so much fun. I can’t wait to get into 2012. This time of year is so exciting! I’m starting January by going VEGAN for the month….Kris Carr’s 30 day cleanse. There may be some crankiness, I’ll keep it to a minimum. Do you have any big plans for 2012?? I have SO many but I’m trying to be realistic. Be in the moment. Put myself first. Those are the 2 biggies. Have a fun & safe night!