I loved reading all of your comments on the cobalt blue post from yesterday and thought I would take the color to a whole new level. Well, I’m actually taking it back…to the 80′s!  My mother owned a tile distributorship in Arkansas at one point in her career and pretty much every surface in our house was covered in tile!  She loved cobalt blue so much that it was on our countertops in the kitchen…looking back I’m actually shocked at how awful it looked.  And those balloon shades are just…wow..and the lace trim…sorry mom but it was just….too much.  All I can say is WOWZA that was some kitchen!

Mom also had a room that sat in between the main living room and the master bedroom that she called “the Florida room”. Not sure  why she called it that but I do have to say that there are quite a few pieces in here that I would love to snag from her. She still has the cobalt blue lacquered dining chairs but not that fabulous white lacquered table.  The cornice boards around the windows are a nice touch considering that we had balloon shades throughout the house (notice them hanging on the doors to the master).  I’m wondering what happened to that stunning mirrored room screen in the corner though because it was fabulous!

The art was hung a bit high and I think that its odd considering my mom is about 5’4″ tall.  I think this room would have been killer with the right rug  or a fabulous wallpaper to tie it all together.  I was never a fan of the pink walls and seafoam green trim throughout the house at the time. But looking back, I’m fortunate to have had a mother that pushed the boundaries of design. I know her love of style and all of the effort she put into making our home fabulous is part of why I love being a designer today.

Sometimes knowing where something came from changes the way you perceive it.  I’m in love with cobalt blue right now and when I began to dig around for a bit of history I was instantly smitten with all things cobalt. Here is what I found…..

It’s a cobalt oxide-aluminum oxide. Very costly and extraordinary stable pigment of pure blue colour discovered by Thénard in 1802. It is now the most important of the cobalt pigments. Although smalt, a pigment made from cobalt blue glass has been known at least since the Middle Ages, the cobalt blue established in the nineteenth century was a greatly improved one.

The isolation of the blue color of smalt was discovered in the first half of the eighteenth century by the Swedish chemist Brandt. In 1777, Gahn and Wenzel found cobalt aluminate during research on cobalt compounds. Their discovery was made during experimentation with a soldering blowpipe. The color was not manufactured commercially until late in 1803 or 1804.

Vincent van Gogh declared to his brother Teo, ‘Cobalt [blue] is a divine colour and there is nothing so beautiful for putting atmosphere around things…”



Image Via: The Lennoxx

Image Via: Interiorly

I have two master bathrooms on the design calendar and I am dying to get a chandelier up in both of them!  I love the idea so much that I even used a chandelier in our own master bedroom. You can see the BEFORE & AFTER of our master bathroom on the blog {here} as well as a peek at a few of the pics….

Take a look at a few of my favorite bathroom chandelier images. I’m swooning over the vessel tubs too…maybe in our next house.

Image Via: Decor Pad

Image Via: Studio Ten 25

Image Via: Alexandra Rae Interiors

Image Via: Decor Pad

Image Via: Christina Murphy Interiors

Image Via: Skye Kirby

Image Via: Gast Architects

Today is the BIG DAY!  We are bringing two awesome deals to  you all thanks to Groupon!   When I was first contacted by Alyssa, my account manager earlier this year I had no idea that this was something I could handle.  But, we came up with the perfect solution and the best way to give you all access to Studio Ten 25′s design service here in Dallas as well as product discounts to our online boutique, Shop Ten 25.

Take a look at the 50% off design services as well as the $50 of Shop Ten 25 goodies for $25 HERE!   I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the Groupon is successful and that it introduces many more people to great design and great furniture & accessories!

Even if you not in the Dallas area to take advantage of our design services, we offer an online option called Home Away From Home.  But having access to our online Shop is easy for everyone and I hope you all take advantage of the great Groupon deals! Pass it along and thank you all for being such wonderful supporters of the Studio Ten 25 Blog and Shop Ten 25!  Take a look around and sign up for the daily deal in your city. I have snagged quite a few great deal at places I love to eat and shop and have even discovered many new places that I have now become a huge fan of.

Nothing makes my day more than being able to inspire someone else.  Yesterday, I delivered a set of accent chairs that we custom designed for one of my clients.  I received a text from her telling me how happy she was and that she didn’t want to leave the living room! Wow, what a wonderful end to my day!

Just when I though I couldn’t smile anymore, I received an email from Jenny at DIY Newlyweds! Jenny selected one of my bedrooms as one of her favorite projects in May!!!   If you haven’t seen Jenny’s blog, it’s fabulous so please visit!!

And last but not least. If you haven’t stopped by the Shop lately you must check out the fabulous new pieces that we recently added.  Happy Friday and I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Accessorizing with layers is nothing new to fashion but I find that most of us are not sure that layering rugs can work.  Here are a few reasons why layering a rug can work and pull a space together.

-When you love a rug but it’s not available in the size you need or the price point that fits your budget. Layer that fabulous favorite with a simple rug underneath in a natural material (jute, rattan or seagrass can work too) to cover the difference.

-Replacing wall-to-wall carpet may not be an option, especially if you are a renter. Layering a rug over that standard carpet will keep you from feeling limited when pulling your space together.

- For rooms that are more prone to stains or wear and tear, an extra rug can prevent stains from damaging the carpet or can hide a spot or damage that is already on the carpet.

-Hides are great for layering for because they are very thin and the  the shape is always unique so it can define the  area and bring in a bit of pattern too.

Image Via: Charm Home

Image Via: Decor Pad

Image Via: Elle Decor

Image Via: Domino

Image Via: Room Remix

Image Via: Elle Decor