Thursday, March 31, 2011

Keep It Clean

Bathrooms galore! I think a bathroom should feel like your own personal spa. Keep clean, simple, and relaxing. Like the gorgeous images below! I love the hand painted zig-zag floors. It is a new twist on a classic herringbone. The seersucker bench is too cute for words. I am a sucker for seersucker!
Phoebe Howard can do no wrong in my book! This is her personal bathroom in her Atlanta condo. I love the sweet Louis XV stool. It adds a nice contrast against the polished nickel vanity.
Subway tile, how do I love thee...I think crisp white towels are a must in any bathroom! It is like staying at a four star hotel! And crisp white sheets to go with them! The higher the thread count the better.
More delicious white. It never goes out of style.
The ruffle at the edge of this roman shades adds a pretty feminine touch. The polka dot towel is too cute. I like it when designers make things a little whimsical. Design should be fun, and not soooo serious!

images courtesy of House Beautiful and domino magazine

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Add a Little Life to Your Room

If you are looking at a room in your house, and it seems like something is missing, ask yourself does it have a little life? Plants are a great way to add color and life to a room. Below are my two favorite ferns. I do not have a green thumb, and these seem to do well indoors. With the exception of my cat eating the leaves off.
Fluffy Ruffle Fern
Maidenhair Fern
Napa Home and Garden Roman Urn
Both ferns would look great in one of these Roman Urns. Add a little sheet moss around the edge to hide any unsightly pots or empty space. Happy indoor gardening.

Amanda

Needs Some Major Work!

Ok, I am having a hard time writing this post. Since my new sofa is on the way, and I promised pictures when it arrives, this is the before. I am very critical of my own "design work" at my house. I wish I had an unlimited budget and all the free time to make it exactly what I envision. Having said that, I do love our home. It has character and a warmth about it. So be patient and I will post the progress of our sweet house.


Since this photo a lot has changed. First and foremost I added some greenery. It makes a HUGE difference. I am thinking about doing a post on interior plants. What do you guys think? I need something that is hard to kill. I did not get my mother's green thumb!




Drapes are a must. They are next on my wish list. Luckily my husband agrees, so we will see how that conversation goes...advice is always welcome. Until next time.

Amanda

Monday, March 28, 2011

A few of my favorite things...

This week I am highlighting a few of my favorite things from my closet. Ask any of my friends and they can tell you these items are part of my daily uniform.
Michael Kors Giant Gold Watch



Hudson Boot Cut Jeans




Black/Navy Blue Blazer



V-Neck White T-Shirt



Love Quotes Scarf

I could literally wear this outfit everyday, and I basically do!! I am going to have to tweak it a little, due to the heat we are about to have to suffer through this summer. Any suggestions are welcome. I absolutely hate sweating more than anything in the world!! Amanda

Splurge vs. Steal: Gourd Lamps

Okay, I know I am way too obsessed with gourd lamps. Here is splurge vs. steal featuring my favorite lamp.
Christopher Spitzmiller Large Three Ball Lamp, $1,990.00 ea.
Robert Abbey Triple Gourd Lamp, $265.00 ea.

I think that is the biggest splurge vs. steal of all time. I do not think I will be purchasing any Spitzmiller lamps anytime soon...or ever. Until next time.


Amanda

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Picture This

Art can be a big investment. An easy and less expensive way to get a big impact is using a series of framed prints. Below are some great examples of how a few framed prints can look expensive and impressive, but will not break your bank account.
Prints work great in multiples of three.
The more you use the more dramatic the effect. It is like a collection. If you can only afford to make three at first, no problem. You can add more later.

Try to keep the framing simple. I like using champagne colored frames. It goes great with gold and silver. I also really like to stay with neutral colored mats. No matter how cute it seems, lime green mats are rarely a good idea. I like to do a big mat, even if the print or picture is small, it gives a gallery quality to the piece.




I found all of these prints on Etsy! The seller is High Street Market and they run about $14.00 bucks each. They have a huge selection and it is so fun to hunt for a little treasure. So be creative and let the following tips act a helpful guide to creating a fabulous wall of prints in your own home.

1. Stick with simple framing. It is less expensive and more classic.
2. Stay away from colored mats, they can look dated.
3. Scour flea markets, Etsy, Ebay, and old books for potential prints.
4. You don't have to use prints. Photographs, remnant pieces of wallpaper, and even fabric could create a beautiful grouping.
5. Try to get multiply quotes on framing. It doesn't have to break the bank. Sometimes the smaller mom and pop shops are much cheaper than the big craft stores. It is important to shop around.
I hope this helps with the daunting task of custom framing. It can be so much fun, and will definitely look beautiful!!

Love,
Amanda

images courtesy of Phoebe Howard and restoration hardware

Saturday, March 26, 2011

a glimpse of our wedding...

I have to say my wedding day was truly the best day of my life. I married the sweetest guy a girl could ask for, and got to share it with my very closest friends. The weather was unbelievable, and not a cloud in sight. I was relaxed, because I was surrounded by all of my very best friends. I am sorry for the mushy post, but Paul and I are coming up on our 1st anniversary and I am feeling nostalgic. Here are a few pictures that only represent a percentage of the best day of my life!!
I have to thank the sweet Kathy Azzarello for this fabulous robe. I know that I am now Mrs. Reynolds, but I can't let go of this robe!
Isn't he handsome? I love him...

The most beautiful bridesmaids ever!! I mean come on!! Sweet Addie looks like I just ran over her puppy.


It was a full length Catholic mass and wedding. I seriously almost passed out, right around the time this picture was taken.


The reception was fun!!! I think this picture sums it up.
Yes, biegnets were served towards the end of the wedding. I did not get any...sad face.
He is going to kill me for this picture. He doesn't like to show off his bald head. It is growing on me.
The End. We were heading to Bermuda. It is amazing!! Go!! I might have to post some of those pictures too. Hope you enjoyed a glimpse into our wedding!

Love,
Mrs. Reynolds

Friday, March 25, 2011

Things are going to be changing...

Just a quick note to let you know Interior Philosophy is going to be making some cosmetic changes. I am working with my sweet friend Sarah Virginia Green to make my blog more like its title!! Hold tight, I have lots of ideas. Poor Sarah!

A few of my favorite things...

I always see other bloggers doing a favorite things posts. I am going to make it a reoccurring item on Interior Philosophy. The first one is going to be a list of some of my favorite beauty products. Let me know what you think, and I will post anything from food to fabric!!
I love this blush so much. As my friends can attest(I made all of them try it on), it looks great on literally everyone. Bobbi Brown Antigua
I do not use many hair products. Shampoo and conditioner is about as fancy as I get, except for this miracle hairspray, Aveda's Air Control. It holds and doesn't make your head feel like a helmet. It also smells fantastic.
Essie is by far my favorite line of nail polish. I am loving this color right now..."Cute as a Button", and it is!!

Hands down best lotion. Makes my skin so soft, and is uber inexpensive.
This is a great lip gloss. It is not too sticky, and is a very pretty peachy-pink. I know my friend Sarah loves it.
Last and definitely not least, the Wonderbar. It totally lives up to its name. My skin is softer, pores smaller, and blemishes slowly fading to nothing. I love this product. Please try it!! I hope this isn't mind-numbingly boring. If it is, tell me and I won't make this a weekly feature. Ta-ta.

Love,
Amanda

Thursday, March 24, 2011

It is on the way...Finally!!


After many, way too many months, my sofa will be here in a week!! It is The Sagging Ridge sofa from the Bobby McAlpine collection for Lee Industries. I ordered it in January, but my beautiful chocolate-gray velvet fabric has been backordered! I guess if you love something it is worth the wait. As soon as I get it in place I will post some new pictures of our house.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Feminine and Fun Home Office

I think it so important to have a space that makes you feel creative, serves a desired purpose, and looks beautiful. If I could design my own home office, I think it would look something like this...


Beautiful faux antique writing desk from Noir Furniture LA. It is feminine and timeless. It is a great start to base the design.
I have wanted a ghost chair for years. It will juxtapose the old world feel of the desk perfectly!
What can I say? Every woman needs a little pink in her life. Christopher Spitzmiller makes the most divine gourd lamps ever!! They of course cost more than most sofas, but this is my dream office, money is no object.
This is another item that has been on my wish list for years. Stark's Antelope rug is just too good. I would even use this in my future nursery, or living room.
I would love a pair of these for a cozy reading area adjacent from my desk area. I would cover them in a creamy velvet.
If I didn't use this for drapes, I would cover the above chairs in this China Seas fabric. Pink, pink, and more pink.
I threw this in because it is like an unexpected, fabulous accessory. I mean does it get much cooler than a crocodile stapler? I think not. That is all for today.

Love,
Amanda