Eleven for Eleven Part III

#10
Let's get Trendy

Ethnic, Preppy & Bohemian

Wow...I need to check the calendar...what year is this again?

If you are going to use color...and I totally think we should...
I like Old School Ralph Lauren
and Ralph Lauren in 2011

think:

Madras

Grey Menswear

&

Paisley

Americana

Camp

Denim

&

Linen

Barnwood

Metal

&

Vintage Floral

Restaurant inspired

&

Hotel Chic

mixed with:

modern

Ethic

black and white

turquoise

clear

metal, iron and leather

open, woven

&

natural

#11

Do the gut check...

Before you buy...

If you are

  NOT 100% percent in the boat...don't take the trip!

If there is anything I plan on doing this year it is this...follow to my true style,  stop the impulse purchase and trust my instincts!

More people say

 this...

"if I only listened to my heart and waited for the

 perfect....whatever"

I would be so much happier!

Are you glad we contacted Madame Mertzola?
Check her out here:

Eleven for Eleven Part II

Part 2
continued

#6
The "Home Office"
becomes 
"The Office"

Working from home...

At least part of the time...

Home is where we all want to be!

If not here...then where?

I really wish I had been able to do this early on, when I first started working...

Traffic is ugly...check

Gas is expensive...check

Anxiety is high...check

HELP ME !!!!


Do I need a power suit?

Well... yes I do...
But I'm only going to wear it a few times a week..if I'm lucky
and the rest of the time I will work from home...with my running shoes still on
 and save my sanity!

I want an office within my home that really functions like an office,
but is an equally nice space to be in at any time.
 Not just a spare bedroom or a carved out little spot in the laundry room.

Well OK.... I actually like the laundry room idea...

But a great home office is almost as important as a great kitchen!

Don't you think?


Now for the Fluff...

#7
Collecting becomes personal


Let's hope we quit relying on Pottery Barn

and Restoration Hardware

 and the very few (decent) Magazines
 left out there to be the compass for what is
"collectable" 


And I really do love magazines and catalogs...don't get me wrong
but...

please...not these

or these

Hit the swap meet...
and find the next great collection....
it is the so much fun!

WE ALL KNOW THIS....
which is why....


I still collect these

 & these

or this

Or maybe none of this junk...
but I really think about collections and try to get out and explore...
and I hate it when I see a "SOLD" tag on a really cool collectable
and think "who was that person who beat me to it?"

crazy I know!



#8
White and Neutral
Don't give up on color...
as you know I am a color geek
 but...

I think white and neutrals are wonderful...

especially in smaller spaces...but with a splash of color

...or the richness if a dark floor of or a bold piece of furniture

hey there..you look familiar

Cool and calm...I like that

And sometimes it is hard, if not impossible,
 to compete with a beautiful view...

 or a terrace full of flowers...
so don't even try


#9
Kitchen/Bathroom Furniture
Say goodbye to the cabinet...

or the built in anything

don't you love that blue on the back of the cabinet?

Think free standing...open...furniture-ish

OK?

so any thoughts?

Part III
coming up
next

Eleven for Eleven Part I

I had a seance last night

with

Madame 

Ethel Mertzola...

 We looked into her crystal ball

for design and lifestyle trends

 for 2011

Here's what we saw:

#1 

Urban Farming

 I think even more so this year we will think about where the food we eat comes from....

More farm to table or garden to table etc...

Health & Longevity

 are on the top of everyone's list for 2011

Which brings us to the urban garden...

the family garden will be a key concept in landscaping and in home design, 

even in the smallest of spaces 

#2

Technology

This will have a huge impact on how we design homes,

remodel or even rethink the use of old products we currently are using...
in addition to looking good

Do they help me save time in my day to day routine?

&

Are the things I use saving money and energy?

 Will they work for me into the next five or ten years?

&

Will my children benefit from this purchase?

#3

Living off the grid

Light with out electricity

Warmth without fuel

Independence...

 and the ability to control our consumption...

on our own terms

All of us think more often about what we are consuming.....

and how much we pay for it every time we get a utility or water bill

or fill up the tank

Getting the most out of energy is pretty important and I believe it will continue to be on the top of our list for many years....nice car!

#4

Size/Downsizing Matters

Do I need 5000 square feet of "Home Builder" fluff?

That is currently the question many of us are asking ourselves...

 and...

If I can afford to live anywhere...

Where will it be...

 And what will my home look like?

More importantly... is my house a place I can call "home"

Or has my house become my check book/equity line on which to borrow?

Ouch...

#5

Re-use & Re-Purpose

Think about all of the great design we have seen lately using reclaimed wood

 or a repurposed industrial item...

Can I get it used? 

Maybe on Ebay or Craigs list...

Will it be cheeper?

Or will it be a big pain to re-finish and maybe it's not all that efficient anyway?

And what can I do with my old Volkswagen tires?

 who knows...

The answer really lies with using our imagination...
Manhole covers anyone?

 I think we all will look at some of the items we purchased years ago...in a new light

Is it still relevant today?

I loved it then

But now...?

yea

I still love a bug

Will I still love it in ten years?

  If I don't...

Can it be used by someone else for something other that it was actually intended?

So...
What are your eleven for eleven?


Part II  coming right up