Featured Designer: Martha O'Hara

If you live in the midwest, there's a good chance you've heard of Martha O'Hara Interiors, a Minnesota based design firm that has been featured on Elle Decor's website along with other press and news media sites.

Of course Martha, like every noted interior designer, has a knack for turning the basic principles of design into her own signature style by putting her personal spin on each space she designs. What I most enjoy about Martha's designs though is her delicious use of textures and colors that create a natural and casual design with an elegant twist.

For more of Martha's designs check out the rest of her portfolio at http://www.oharainteriors.com/.

Featured Designer: Tobi Fairley

Tobi Fairley is probably one of the most noted designers in the design industry today. If you skim through the pages of House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Southern Living, or At Home you have more than likely seen her great work.

Below are a few of my favs from her portfolio.

If you dig her style, you can check out more of her work on her site at http://www.tobifairley.com/.

Bright and Bouncy Bedroom

Curbly

bedroom, lime green bedroom, blue bedroom, aqua bedroom, turquoise bedroom, slanted ceilings

House Tweaking Home Tour

Okay...so I was just surfing the net, minding my own business and low and behold I stumble upon Dana's blog House Tweaking. So, I click on the "See My House" link and to my surprise I see pictures that absolutely make me swoon...almost even salivate. Even my husband said WOW when he saw some of her pictures...and he's not nearly into interior design as much as I am. So...I hope you love this home tour as much as I did. Enjoy! :-)

These chairs are soooo cool and airy! I wonder where she got them.

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The textures and patterns make this room look so interesting; it actually took me a few minutes to move on to look at another picture. Dana's design asthetic is so similar to mine I felt right at home even though I don't live anywhere near her. :-)

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Traditional + Contemporary

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It's amazing what the little wall circles do to cozify this powder room. ...and really easy to duplicate on a very small budget.

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Okay so this is Dana's guest room / craft room / play room. This room looks so pleasant and relaxing, the only problem she's going to have is getting her guests to GO HOME! :-)

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Beautiful!

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Although Dana says her Master bedroom is a work in progress, it's definitely off to a gorgeous start. The distressed wood adds instant cozy-factor and the "love" script gives it a unique personal touch. Great job Dana! I can't wait to see the final product.

Dana has a ton more pictures so feel free to head on over to House Tweaking for the latest and greatest.

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Double Designer - Cynthia Rowley

OMG ... now I know Cythnia Rowley is a world reknown fashion designer but I really didn't realize how much of an interior designer she is as well. Check out her fabulous NYC Townhouse.

If you absolutely anything about NY, you know that space is only available at a premium. This yard is absolutely HUGE and the kitchen below is quit large as well...at least for NYC it is! :-)

...had to include this - oooooh so cute!!

These bunk beds are every little girl's dream.

To take a look at a few more pictures of her home tour and the first hand interview head on over to Elle Decor.

Dissected Design



Design Star

The Bottom Line

# Neutrals: 4

# Patterns: 5

# Colors: 2

Styles: Contemporary / Traditional

Star of the Show: The swing

Supporting Star: Mix of patterns

What I would you add/change: I'd add a flower / plant and a slightly larger chandelier



Eileen Boyd



The Bottom Line

# Neutrals: 10

# Patterns: 1

# Colors: 3

Styles: Traditional

Star of the Show: Untraditional Color Palette

Supporting Star: Bed

What I would you add/change: Asymmetrical elements on the fireplace and an additional pattern



Eileen Boyd

The Bottom Line

# Neutrals: 4

# Patterns: 2

# Colors: 2

Styles: Traditional

Star of the Show: Poppy Colors

Supporting Star: Mix of textures and patterns

What I would you add/change: Uh...I"m really scrambling here...I really like Eileen's work so much it's hard to find anything I'd change...maybe I'd experiment with moving the flower a few inches. THERE...I found something. :-)

Daily Dose of Design - Hyphen Interiors


Today's daily dose of design is the work of Kristy Swain of Hyphen Interiors. Kristy is a Texan youth minister turned inspiring interior design maven. When I saw her work for the first time I just had to feature it on Swooning Spaces, and from the pictures below I'm sure you can see why. The vibrant colors, use of space, and personal creativity evident in her work makes her space transformation shine. I really appreciated her work as soon as I saw her pictures on Pinterest but when I saw the before pictures on her website I must say I was able to truly grasp the vision it took to make these rooms what they are. I hope they inspire you as much as they inspired me!

Hyphen Interiors

White Wall Wow!

You know…I must admit…I don’t really dig white walls too much. I guess I always considered myself to be too much of a “color lover” to "waste" tons of wall space with the sterility of a few coats of colorless liquid. Well certainly Tara Seawright has proven me wrong with her most recent white walled room designs.

by Tara Seawright

by Tara Seawright

These rooms prove that even a color fan like me can be at peace with color-less walls.

I think the secret of this top designer's success with white is her use of varying textures and patterns as well as the playful pops of color that free the room to express itself. It's almost like the white walls act as a blank canvas for her sophisticated but unstuffy interior transformations.

by Tara Seawright

Tara has so much eye candy in each of her rooms that your attention is occupied and senses stimulated enough to completely eliminate the "need" for wall color...turning these rooms into a complete "White Wall Wow" moment! :-)

by Tara Seawright

So, what do you think of Tara's work?

by Tara Seawright

If you are/were like me (a wall color preferer), have you changed your mind? Do you think you could live in a home with white walls and be completely happy and at peace with your surroundings?

The Power Of A Little Wallpaper - Part II

Okay...so...I guess I inspired myself with my last post and got really excited about wallpaper, so I had to do a part two to The Power of a Little Wallpaper. I know you believe me (...that wallpaper can really transform a space), but I just wanted to show you a few more great photos that illustrate the point.

If you want to truly get what I mean, take a look at these beautiful rooms. Then just imagine the walls painted with a triple coat (…well...in some cases...maybe a quadruple coat…) of white paint. Most of them would be pretty lack luster in comparison.

From House Interior Decor

From NSK Wood

(Above) I was really attracted to the gray and white wallpaper but the accessorizing and romantic touches really made this room sing for me...so I had to include all three photos. :-)

From Desire to Inspire

From Zimbio

It's amazing how much wallpaper can breath new life into a space!

From Kord Online

This pic almost looks like someone did a little grade school penmanship practice on the walls. Despite what it looks like though, this really is wallpaper. ...gives me some ideas...hmmmm...

From Home Design and Room



From Home for Future



I really like the shabby chic appeal of this photo. While almost everyone would enjoy a fireplace like this, I must admit the wallpaper kicks it up a knotch.


From Inspiration for Decoration

As you're planning your next decorating project, I hope this post inspires you to inject The Power of a Little Wallpaper into your next Swooning Space!

Happy Saturday! :-)