a life's design

Posh Farm Barn...

2012-01-30T06:53:00.002-04:00

courtesy: southern living

Malibu Home...

2012-01-27T09:36:00.000-04:00

courtesy: house beautiful

Kitchen Renovation...

2012-01-26T09:18:00.000-04:00

courtesy: house & home

Image of the Day...

2012-01-25T10:52:00.000-04:00

Masterful.

Country Chic...

2012-01-24T06:37:00.001-04:00

courtesy: atlanta homes & lifestyles

Just Pretties...

2012-01-23T06:04:00.000-04:00

courtesy: coastal living

Chic Living...

2012-01-19T07:27:00.001-04:00

courtesy: style @ home

Image of the Day...

2012-01-18T10:52:00.000-04:00

Comfy.

Casa Kulanu {Napa Valley}...

2012-01-17T11:04:00.000-04:00

courtesy: architectural digest

Sleep Sweetly...

2012-01-16T22:03:00.000-04:00

courtesy: atlanta homes & lifestyles

Rustic White...

2012-01-12T06:31:00.000-04:00

See the rest of the restful home from the Image of the Day.

courtesy: country living

Image of the Day...

2012-01-11T11:30:00.000-04:00

Restful.

1,200 SqFt.

2012-01-09T13:48:00.000-04:00

courtesy: sunset

Modern & Bright...

2012-01-05T15:02:00.000-04:00

courtesy: house&home

Image of the Day...

2012-01-04T15:54:00.000-04:00

Blended.

2011 Favorites...

2012-01-03T13:09:00.000-04:00

Happy New Year and thank you all for your enjoyment and support to a life's design. Here are your top favorites from 2011. I look forward to spending 2012 with you.

January: The Monkey Cottage

February: Kitchen Face-Lift

March: Byron Bay

April: Natural Beauty

{along with our engagement video}

May: Southern Classic

June: Boathouse Retreat

July: Mix Art & Interiors

August: Renovated Farmhouse

September: Princess Margaret Showhouse

{along with our Hawaii trip}

October: Lonny Love, Kitchens

November: Muted Palatte

December: Farmhouse Christmas

Celebrate...

2011-12-31T00:11:00.003-04:00

However and wherever you celebrate, I hope you had a wonderful 2011 and a blessed 2012.

Happy New Year!

courtesy: pinterest

Fired Up...

2011-12-30T08:31:00.001-04:00

I thoroughly enjoy a good fire in the winter.

courtesy: lonny mag

Beyond the Beach...

2011-12-29T08:53:00.000-04:00

courtesy: elle decor

Image of the Day...

2011-12-28T07:58:00.000-04:00

Tuned.

Elegant Country...

2011-12-26T22:49:00.000-04:00

courtesy: style at home

Merry Merry!

2011-12-24T08:11:00.002-04:00

courtesy: house&home

Warm wishes to you and your family this Christmas!
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given...And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

Wintery Wonderland...

2011-12-22T08:38:00.001-04:00

Happy first day of Winter!

courtesy: atlanta homes & lifestyles

Image of the Day...

2011-12-21T07:57:00.001-04:00

Artistic.

Farmhouse Christmas...

2011-12-20T07:42:00.000-04:00

courtesy: country living

Designed Outside the Lines...

2011-12-18T12:53:00.000-04:00

courtesy: birmingham home & garden

Dreamy Holiday...

2011-12-15T08:26:00.000-04:00

courtesy: country living

Image of the Day...

2011-12-14T09:08:00.003-04:00

Fancy.

Classic Bath...

2011-12-13T09:45:00.000-04:00

courtesy: house beautiful

High & Mighty...

2011-12-12T07:00:00.001-04:00

courtesy: elle decor

Cool Yule...

2011-12-08T08:24:00.000-04:00

courtesy: atlanta homes & lifestyles

Image of the Day...

2011-12-07T06:03:00.001-04:00

Spirited.

Harlem Renaissance...

2011-12-05T08:26:00.000-04:00

courtesy: elle decor

Winner...

2011-12-05T07:22:00.001-04:00

Thank you all for participating in the MyPix2Canvas giveaway. The winner selected through random.org is...#13 Megs. Congratulations! Please email me at alifesdesign@gmail.com. Happy Monday!

The Most Wonderful Time of The Year...

2011-12-01T13:10:00.000-04:00

Wishing you a CHEERFUL & MERRY month!

courtesy: southern living

Giveaway...

2011-12-01T07:52:00.006-04:00

This weeks giveaway is hosted by MyPix2Canvas. MyPix2Canvas prints your digital photo on museum-grade canvas and seal it with a protective coating. The print will be wrapped on high-quality, kiln-dried fir stretcher bars following the best practices for gallery-wrapped canvas prints. MyPix2Canvas contacted me to review their product and host a giveaway for you. I selected a photo from our Hawaii trip to be printed on canvas {11x14 x 1.5"}, and I selected the mirror wrap edge {see below}.

Here is the photo printed on canvas. I know that every screen displays photos differently, but on my screen the photo appeared lighter than it printed. My recommendation when ordering is to be aware it may print a bit darker.

To Enter to win a 11x14x1.5" print, valued at $56.22:

{open to U.S. residents}

~ Leave a comment on this post

~ One entry per person {leave contact email}

~ Giveaway ends Sunday, December 4th @ 9pm CST

~Winner selected through random.org and announced Monday

Enjoy!

Image of the Day...

2011-11-30T07:06:00.000-04:00

Streamlined.

L.A. Home...

2011-11-28T07:29:00.000-04:00

Home of Michael Buble.

courtesy: house and home

Muted Palatte...

2011-11-25T08:51:00.001-04:00

courtesy: country living

Thankfulness...

2011-11-24T10:32:00.003-04:00

I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness,

and will sing praise to the name of the Lord, Most High. Psalm 7:17

courtesy: pinterest

Image of the Day...

2011-11-23T07:47:00.002-04:00

Cozy

Country Strong...

2011-11-21T08:18:00.001-04:00

courtesy: atlanta homes & lifestyles

Winner...

2011-11-21T07:37:00.001-04:00

Thank you all for participating in the Kirkland's gift certificate giveaway. The winner selected through random.org is...#17, Regena. Congrats Regena! Please contact me at alifesdesign@gmail.com. Check back in a week for another giveaway coming soon.

D*S at Home

2011-11-18T09:03:00.000-04:00

The Design*Sponge at Home book is on my Christmas list this year!

courtesy: house and home

Giveaway...

2011-11-17T12:50:00.000-04:00

This weeks giveaway comes from Kirkland's. Kirkland's has a new collection of lamps and wants to give you a chance to have one of your own by offering a $50 gift certificate to use in store or online. Kirkland's sent me a sample of their Beehive lamp to review for the giveaway. The beehive lamp is a glass base with nice, symmetric lines, a champagne silk round shade, and when on it looks like the color of honey. I would say it could warm up any room and is a light amber color, instead of yellow {as it may appear in the images}. Above is an image of the Beehive lamp and below is it in my guest room.

To enter:

{open to U.S. residents}

~ Leave a comment on this post how you would spend the $50 gift certificate

~ One entry per person {leave contact email}

~ Giveaway ends Sunday, November 20th@ 9pm CST

~Winner selected through random.org and announced Monday

Enjoy!

Image of the Day...

2011-11-16T09:09:00.002-04:00

Contrast.

Going Steady...

2011-11-14T09:13:00.000-04:00

courtesy: style at home

Winner...

2011-11-14T08:25:00.000-04:00

Thank you all for participating in the giveaway. The winner selected through random.org is #1...Leslie, who loves to use blue as her accent color. Congrats Leslie! Please email me at alifesdesign@gmail.com. Check back soon for another giveaway.

Giveaway...

2011-11-10T08:40:00.005-04:00

* This giveaway is now closed *

This weeks giveaway is the new book...Katie Ridder Rooms by Heather Smith MacIsaac, from The Vendome Press. Katie Ridder has been named one of the top 100 designers for both Elle Décor and is known for her exquisite use of color and the artisanal, hand-crafted quality of her style. Signature themes include custom upholstered headboards; textiles and embroidery; and mixing antiques and modern pieces. Serving as both a showcase of Katie's work and an inspirational font of ideas, Katie Ridder Rooms is organized as a room-by-room guide.

To Enter:

{open to U.S. residents}

~ Leave a comment on this post on what is your favorite accent color

~ One entry per person {leave contact email}

~ Giveaway ends Sunday, November 13th@ 9pm CST

~Winner selected through random.org and announced Monday

Enjoy!

Image of the Day...

2011-11-09T07:28:00.001-04:00

Symmetry.

Causal & Comfortable in Cali...

2011-11-07T08:21:00.001-04:00

courtesy: house beautiful

Pops of Pink...

2011-11-04T10:03:00.000-04:00

Garage Transformation

the before

courtesy: style at home

Cottage Contemporary...

2011-11-03T09:35:00.000-04:00

courtesy: birmingham home & garden

Image of the Day...

2011-11-02T08:25:00.000-04:00

Gathered.

New York Apartment...

2011-11-01T06:12:00.000-04:00

Home of Brad Ford

courtesy: house and home

Boo...

2011-10-31T09:18:00.001-04:00

I really do not enjoy Halloween or anything scary. But I am looking forward to some trick or treaters tonight, now that we live in a neighbor. For our pumpkin craving, we went simple with this design...drilling holes in the pumpkin.

courtesy: pinterest holiday board

Fall Farmhouse...

2011-10-27T08:04:00.000-04:00

courtesy: house and home

Image of the Day...

2011-10-26T07:23:00.001-04:00

Dining.

Vermont Cottage...

2011-10-24T06:54:00.000-04:00

courtesy: house beautiful

Rustique Chic...

2011-10-17T07:31:00.000-04:00

courtesy: Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles

design: Beth Webb

Weathered Seaside Retreat...

2011-10-14T07:00:00.002-04:00

courtesy: coastal living

Image of the Day...

2011-10-12T14:22:00.002-04:00

Create.

Lonny Love...

2011-10-10T08:38:00.001-04:00

In the Kitchen...

courtesy: lonny

Chic Courtyard...

2011-10-07T08:38:00.000-04:00

courtesy: style at home

Kitchen Love...

2011-10-06T07:15:00.000-04:00

courtesy: bhg

Image of the Day...

2011-10-05T07:51:00.001-04:00

Crisp.

Fit for a Crowd...

2011-10-03T07:31:00.001-04:00

courtesy: southern living

Styled Elegance...

2011-09-29T07:20:00.000-04:00

courtesy: style at home

Image of the Day...

2011-09-28T09:10:00.001-04:00

Outdoors.

Lonny Love...

2011-09-27T07:50:00.001-04:00

In the Bedroom...

courtesy: lonny mag

2010 Princess Margaret Showhouse...

2011-09-26T07:37:00.002-04:00

courtesy: house and home

Aloha...

2011-09-23T08:44:00.000-04:00

We recently returned from our trip to Hawaii to celebrate our 5 year anniversary. We visited The Big Island and had the BEST trip ever! There is too much to tell, so I will highlight a few of our favorite moments and locations on the island.

We stayed on the Kailua-Kona side of the island.

The water is beautiful with multiple shades of greens and blues.

Pololu Valley

The Southernmost point in the USA

Black sand beaches and Sea turtles

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

~ Holei Sea Arch
~ The newest earth formed...2003 lava flow
~ Jagger Museum Crater and seeing the lava glow

Rainbow Falls

Akaka Falls

Mauna Kea Summit
~watching the sunset above the clouds = amazing!

Hawaii Farm Lands

Waipio Valley

Snorkeling with wild Spinner Dolphins

Relaxing and watching the sunsets

We cannot wait to go back!

Ultimate Beach House...

2011-09-22T07:47:00.001-04:00

courtesy: coastal living

Image of the Day...

2011-09-21T08:18:00.000-04:00

Simple.

Eclectic Farmhouse...

2011-09-20T08:16:00.000-04:00

courtesy: country living

Swedish Inspiration...

2011-09-19T07:05:00.001-04:00

courtesy: house beautiful

Image of the Day...

2011-09-14T08:54:00.000-04:00

Bold.

Kitchen Love...

2011-09-13T10:31:00.001-04:00

courtesy: bhg

Bel-Aire Home...

2011-09-12T07:01:00.000-04:00

courtesy: architectural digest

Naturally Inspired...

2011-09-09T09:42:00.001-04:00

courtesy: southern living

Refined City Style...

2011-09-08T08:31:00.000-04:00

courtesy: elle decor

Image of the Day...

2011-09-07T09:28:00.003-04:00

Studied.

Stylists' Homes...

2011-09-05T08:05:00.000-04:00

courtesy: house & home

Concord Green Healthy Home...

2011-09-02T10:31:00.002-04:00

Have you seen the Concord Green Healthy Home?! Swoon!

I first saw the bathroom on Two Ellie and fell in love with the whole house after seeing it on Houzz.

design {and images} by: lisa kauffman tharp

courtesy: zero energy

Nook Look...

2011-09-01T09:05:00.001-04:00

We have a place in our kitchen that I am considering adding a nook with a bench.
These images my help prove my point. : )
courtesy: bhg

Image of the Day...

2011-08-31T07:52:00.001-04:00

Open

Project Rooms...

2011-08-30T15:20:00.000-04:00

We all have our ever growing 'to do' list. Any of these project rooms would help the process.

courtesy: house & home

Urban Luxe...

2011-08-29T07:46:00.001-04:00

courtesy: style at home

5 Years...

2011-08-26T14:36:00.000-04:00

Celebrating 5 years of wedded bliss! I never thought I would marry the boy I meet in sixth grade English class. :)

Happy Weekend!

Lonny Love...

2011-08-25T07:50:00.000-04:00

In the Living Room...

courtesy: lonny mag

Image of the Day...

2011-08-24T08:17:00.002-04:00

Clean.

Renovated Farmhouse...

2011-08-23T14:18:00.000-04:00

courtesy: traditional home

Southern Living Texas Idea House...

2011-08-22T07:55:00.000-04:00

courtesy: southern living

Victorian Row House...

2011-08-18T19:42:00.000-04:00

courtesy: house beautiful

Image of the Day...

2011-08-17T13:05:00.000-04:00

Relaxed.

DIY: Sunburst Mirror...

2011-08-16T07:13:00.002-04:00

This past weekend we tackled one of our DIY projects on the list, a sunburst mirror! We have a large open wall in the guest room and I wanted something that would fill the space, and be artful and interesting. I love how it turned out. Here's how it was made.

~ We started with spare strips of oak we had.

~ Selected a spare piece of wood for a sturdy base and large enough for the mirror.

~ Start cutting the strips of oak.

We measured the space beforehand and knew we wanted the mirror at 36",

so we cut strips between 15" -18" for variation.

- Start laying out your base and nailing it down.

~ After we nailed down the first base layer, TJ measured and cut the tips of the strips at an angle to fit in between the nailed down strips.

~ Start nailing down the second layer. On the second layer we flipped the oak strips over to add variation in the color.

~ Cut and add additional small strips to the tips of the strips. The small pieces were glued down.

~ Once the glue is dry, carefully flip over the mirror and add the picture hanger. This also depends on the size of your mirror. Ours was 36". {You could add this before attaching all the strips, but it will make your base uneven}.

Then we added a piece of a 2x4 to the center so the mirror would be raised. Then we glued the mirror down (using this glue) to the 2x4 piece {which I forgot to get a picture of because I was excited that it was almost complete.}

~ Then we hung and admired.

Our total cost:

wood, nails, glue = free

mirror = $.45 {from thrift store}

picture framing kit = $5.00

total: $5.45