Mother’s Day Tablescape & One More Announcement…..

So the big news……. I’m Pregnant!

NOT!

And should you ever hear someone say that  I was, you should seriously question their sanity or their grasp of basic biology and reproduction.

Actually the news is sorta like giving birth but in a creative sense.  A few months ago the kind people at SheKnows.com got this crazy idea that I have a point of view and offered me a monthly column.  Yup folks, I am a columnist now joining the ranks of Dear Abby, Ask Heloise and Jackie Stallone (you didn’t know she had her own astrology column?).

So every month I will be dispensing lifestyle, entertaining and design advice all packaged in the “Courtney Out Loud” way – minus the dirty words and sexual innuendos.  This month I tackled creating a Mother’s Day Tablescape that is young, colorful, bright and full of easy DIY projects along with a few designer secrets…….

I love how the table turned out and think it’s one of the best designs I have done to date.  It’s hip and approachable but still looks like you went broke creating it.  I break everything down from the place settings to the flower arrangements so you can create your own version at home.

Swing by the site and take a look and stay tuned for my June column – it will knock your socks off — metaphorically as I don’t condone violence even if it is to socks….

Have a great weekend and take a little time to enjoy the day!

ps:  Have you entered the Joy and Revelry Pin It To Win It Contest?  Don’t miss your chance to win $500 worth of home decor personally selected by me!

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Round Brass Pulls….

I have received ALOT of emails and tweets asking where I found the brass pulls I used for my side table makeover…..

I tend to collect this kind of stuff especially when I see it at a good price.  It’s no secret that hardware can totally transform a piece of furniture but I have always had a difficult time finding simple hardware that doesn’t break the bank.  So when I stumbled upon these brass ring pulls, I totally turned into Gollum from Lord of the Rings (dork alert!) and became possessed with making them “my precious…”

Fortunately, you don’t need to turn into a 4 ft scary hairless creature because you can find the pulls here……

The pull is the Hickory Hardware P3190 Transitional Camarilla Ring Pull (that is a mouthful) and it comes in three different finishes.  FYI, I opted to spray mine rings to make them more of a gold tone so you won’t find the exact finish I used on the site.

So stock up!  And let’s just keep this our little secret……

Have a great weekend!

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Pen to Paper: Display Wall…..

I have been helping a great client slowly add a final layer of “finish” to his downtown San Francisco condo.  You may remember the Jill Malek wallpaper I put up in his office a few months ago.  He is a young professional who wants to balance his clean aesthetic with some more fun pieces, so the wallpaper was the perfect jumping off spot for his space.  He recently asked me to think of some ideas for his living room, in particular, he wanted a way to have storage and display space.

I saw this as a great opportunity to forgo the traditional floating shelf or gallery wall of art for something a bit more fun and sculptural, so I proposed this….

With some many straight lines in  his space, I thought it would be fun to play with an irregular shape that could double as an art installation.  I was inspired by some pieces West Elm had a few years ago but I wanted them on a larger scale and with more irregularity.  I envision oversized trapezoids, lop-sided squares and a bunch of other shapes that would make a geometry teacher cringe arranged in a perfectly haphazard way on the wall.  It may not be earthquake friendly, but it is oh so design awesome…..

The client loved the idea and we are now working with the carpenter to figure out the details and shapes.  Will keep you updated but for now, it is back to lounging by the pool in hot and balmy Palm Springs…..

Have a great weekend!

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