Top 10 Favorite Spaces of 2012

End of 2012. Seems like everyone creates list to sum up 2012. My list, of course, has to do with the things that I loved the most from the year.

Here are my personal top 10 favorite spaces of 2012. Maybe they'll become my actual personal spaces of 2013. You never know...

1. Home Office - My home office is a bit of an obsession and has been for some time. Mostly because I don't really have one which makes my work situation a bit more challenging. This year I hope to turn a spare bedroom in the basement into a great office space. This particular office has some of the elements that I want in an office - space to work, shelving for storage, style in spades and a bit of glamour. The color won't work or I'll feel like I'm in a cave, but the rest I love.

From La Dolce Vita

2. Kitchen - I redid my kitchen about five years ago now. And I love my kitchen. However, if I could choose any kitchen in the world and magical put it in my house this is the one that I would choose. Ceiling heights aside, there is something warm and delicious about this kitchen. I love it!

Eclectic Kitchen design by Charleston Interior Designer Linda McDougald Design | Postcard from Paris Home

3. Home - I have always had a dream that I would purchase an older home and modernize it, but still maintain as much of the original integrity of the home as possible. My husband would never go for that, and frankly my next home will likely be a condo in Miami. But if I could dream just for a minute, this might be the home I choose. It's so elegant and regal. Not too grand or ostentatious. It looks like it has a history and it looks like something that I could make beautiful inside. 

The original photo of this home is attributed to Black*Eiffel.

4. Master Bedroom - My husband built the home that we live in now 12 years ago. It's a nice home in many ways though he made many design choices, as a bachelor, that I can only shake my head at. At some point, perhaps this year, hopefully by no later than next, we will redo our Master bedroom and bath. This particular bedroom looks so luxurious and soft. It also brings to mind the padded cells of looney bins - which I will admit at the end of the day holds its own appeal.

Designer - Noel Jeffrey. Image from Things That Inspire.

5. Dining Room - This dining room is so elegant and beautiful. A perfect mix of traditional and modern. It looks like something that would belong in my Dream House (above). I love almost everything about it, though I would want a more spectacular chandelier.

From Decorology

6. Library - I LOVE books. I love reading them. I love their beautiful covers. I love their smooth pages. I love the smell of musty book shops and libraries. I want this in my house. My only problem is I would have to repurchase all the books I have on my Kindle...

Website is Architonic and architect is Kraus Schonberg

7. Closet - A place for everything and everything in it's place. Plus, I'm a girl. Need I say more?

From Adore Your Place

8. Master Bath - As I said earlier, I would like to redo the our Master Bath. Part of it is to have a more luxurious shower. I love the back wall on this and multiple shower heads are on the wish list as well.

Modern Bathroom design by Denver Lighting Designer 186 Lighting Design Group - Gregg Mackell

9. Tween Girl Room - My daughter will be so happy to see this because she has been wanting a newly redone bedroom all year. This year will be her year. She is turning nine and it is time to get her room ready for the next phase of her young life - her tween years. She wants something colorful, bright and happy. I'm thinking something like this - with a nice space for homework too.

Contemporary Bedroom design by New York Interior Designer Nicole Freezer Rubens

10. Outdoor Living - We were fortunate to have put in a pool this past year. We enjoyed it tremendously all summer, but it really needs something more to make it complete. I don't have a ton of space to work with so what space I have is in need of an umbrella and some lounge chairs. And I don't mind some of this beautiful lavender either.

Modern Pool design by Toronto Photographer Peter A. Sellar - Architectural Photographer

Do you have favorite spaces? If you want to share them, I would love to see them!

Have fun and stay safe. Happy New Year. See you in 2013!

If you would like to see more of my design stuff, you can follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.

Thank you for visiting My Head Space!

Copyright 2012, Cristina Mullins Interiors. 

The Lazy Girls Guide to Hosting a NYE Party

New Year's Eve is right around the corner. Planning on hosting a small gathering? I am. I am having a few of my special girlfriends - with their husbands and kids - over for some fun. 

If you are like me and all the holiday cheer has you exhausted, I tried to plan a night that was more about fun and less about work. So take some tips from me. I'm like the lazy-girls Martha Stewart. Everything I came up with is about keeping it easy and fun! Let's count down some of my fave tips to simple NYE party planning so you can enjoy the night too!

10. Food & DRINKS! Keep it simple and limited. For those that like to drink, choose a red and a white wine and load up on just those two bottles. You could also stick with beer - one fuller and one light. Wine and beer not your thing? Create a cocktail that you can make a lot of ahead of time - you can find loads of recipes online/Pinterest - and make them your go-to signature for the night. Some sodas and water and you're ready! I'm going to have my friends bring their own preferred drink cause I'm not a bring drinker.

As for munchies, make sure you have plenty of small items on hand. Anything that you can make ahead is ideal here - as are chips and dips, cheese and crackers, veggies, nuts, sweets. All easy to refill so you do not have to miss a moment of the party.

9. Tunes. Best thing to do is to make a playlist before the party. A good mix of old standard fun party songs such as Prince's "1999" or Cyndy Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" and new hits by current groups like LMFAO "Party Rock" and KE$HA "Tic Toc", and anything in between. Since we are having kids, I downloaded the Kidz Bop version so the kids don't start out the year with a new vocabulary. :)

8. Themes. Having a theme immediately adds an element of fun to the occasion. You can make it Hollywood Glam, 80s Prom or Baby New Year. Personally, I love the idea of an Ugly Pajama Party (and so that's the theme for mine) and the new standard Ugly Holiday Sweater party. A theme will get the party started - as soon as people walk in the door they have something to talk about. And it's just fun!

You know you want these. You can get them here.

7. Balloons. Order dozens of balloons. One or two colors keep it prettier and from looking too much like a kids birthday party. Make sure they have long strings. And just let them float up. Don't tie them together just let them hang and float to the ceiling. It gives the space a completely festive feeling without too much decorating effort. I would love to say that this is my idea, but actually if you look at movies with a New Years Eve scene, you will likely see balloons just floating around the room with their long strings hanging down everywhere. It's just pretty. This doesn't work for rooms with really high ceilings - in those spaces, weigh the balloons down on the floor.

6. Party Favors as Decor. Hopefully, you'll have some sort of holiday decoration up already. If you don't, it's easy enough to get some inexpensive white lights and tinsel garland (can you say after-Christmas sale?), streamers, confetti, and then add party hats and blowers and anything else you'll enjoy at midnight.

5. Speaking of midnight... Let's talk about that kiss. Do your guests a favor and make sure you stock up on lots of mints. You want to make sure everyone is minty fresh at midnight.

4. And another thing about that kiss... One fun parting gift for your guests - Chapsticks. Anything to make that pucker softer and ready for some action.

3. For the countdown... Cute idea for the night - help your guests keep track of their champagne glasses by putting number/countdown stickers on them. OK, ok. Full disclosure - this is a total Martha Stewart idea. So I'm making you do something "crafty". But come on - it's just stickers!

Why it's Martha Stewart of course. For more info go here.

2. 2013 Resolutions/Goals - Have a chalk board or other writing space where everyone can write down their main resolutions or goals for the year. It's fun to look at what everyone comes up with. It might also help you keep it longer if you tell everyone what it is.

1. After the party - Stock up on coffee, water and frozen pizzas (or have a delivery number ready). Making sure your guests make it home safe and sound is a part of your hosting duties. So cutting off the drinking and having everyone stay for the "after" party is a good idea. You can plan some games, munch on pizza and laugh about the highlights of the evening. Or get out extra blankets and pillows and let them sleep it off. You can always take silly pictures of them...

I don't know where the original of this picture came from, but I got it here.

How are you celebrating your New Years Eve? I would love to hear about what you like to do. And if you have any party tips, send them my way!

I hope you and yours have a safe and Happy New Year. See you in 2013!


If you would like to see more of my design stuff, you can follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.

Thank you for visiting My Head Space!

Copyright 2012, Cristina Mullins Interiors. 

Hot! Pink

Eclectic Living Room design by Denver Media And Blogs Vintage Renewal

Back in 2011, I wrote about the Pantone Color of the Year which was Honeysuckle - a sort of darker, not so bright pink. I loved the beautiful soft touches of pinks in the room designs that I featured in that story. They were soft and sophisticated - as were most color trends.

As we approach 2013, bold color is definitely back in a big way. All over the fashion magazines you see bold color combinations, jewel tones and even slightly more "sophisticated" neons. Can neon be sophisticated? I mean totally. Gag me! (Sorry. Small 80s flashback.)  But it's not just fashion that is going brighter.

Last night I was looking through some of my favorite blogs and magazines. And I was noticing lots of hot pink/magenta tones. One particular blogger, http://atlantic-pacific.blogspot.com, posted pictures of her latest outfit creation. She wore bright red heels, with her bright red skirt, and a bright, hot pink sweater topped off with a leopard print coat. It was a fabulous combination and she looked fierce.

The red and the leopard print I get. Actually, I have gotten - I literally wore red pants and leopard print shoes over the weekend. And as far as decorating is concerned, that combination first made it's appearance - well forever ago. But what about the hot pink?! I must admit, it's not typically one of my go-to colors, but it's definitely growing on me. Plus, we're always talking about bringing the outside in. Guess what, there are hundreds of hot pink blooms!

I found room examples for most areas of your home, including the kitchen! Some I love, I can appreciate because it was done well even though I might not opt for hot pink cabinets. Regardless, I wanted to showcase this very pretty color!

This kitchen uses hot pink only as a bright accent color to offset the neutrals.

Contemporary Kitchen design by Minneapolis Interior Designer Martha O'Hara Interiors

Hot pink cabinets? No punches were pulled when creating this kitchen.

Modern Kitchen design by Los Angeles Design-build Alon Toker

The sofa is hot pink AND velvet and it looks fantastic and completely non-girlie (though some men might disagree) in this fun, boho-chic living room.

Eclectic Living Room design by Denver Media And Blogs Vintage Renewal

In this space they also used the hot pink sofa, but with all of the other brights it doesn't really have the impact and presence it should. I will, however, point out the black trim work because it is really beautiful.

Contemporary Living Room design by Other Metro Interior Designer John David Edison Interior Design Inc.

As an accent wall in an otherwise neutral playroom, the magenta is fun and unexpected.

Contemporary Family Room design by Santa Barbara Interior Designer Lori Smyth Design

There are two styles going on in this room and I'm having a hard time reconciling them both in this particular space, but kudos to the homeowner/designer for being so courageous in their wall color choice.

Traditional Living Room design by St Louis Interior Designer Joni Spear Interior Design

Hot pink and dark brown. Are you noticing the trend? Love it here, but I'm not sure why they chose to put the pink fabric over only one window. I feel like this room could use just a bit more of the accent color. I would still be happy to work in this space.

Traditional Home Office design by Minneapolis Interior Designer Martha O'Hara Interiors

This office is using two very bold colors. The pink and yellow work well, especially because of the wood and brick elements that keep it from being too much. It is not for the faint of heart.

Contemporary Home Office design by San Francisco Interior Designer Artistic Designs for Living, Tineke Triggs

This combination dining/living room is made all the more lovely with the use of the bright pink - lots of it in the dining room and a little less in the living room. Very pretty.

Contemporary Living Room design by Los Angeles Interior Designer Emily Ruddo

Working off the entry rug, this dining room combines multiple chair colors to bring fun and whimsy to the formal dining space.

Mediterranean Entry design by Portland Interior Designer Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

This powder room is so pretty - and you would look so "pretty in pink" in it. The light reflecting off the walls will create a lovely light in the room giving everyone a beautiful pink glow. The walls are so bold that the all white mirror and vanity are perfect partners.

Eclectic Bathroom design by San Francisco Interior Designer Artistic Designs for Living, Tineke Triggs

Like the office above, I wish they had used a bit more of the bold pink. I feel like something is missing. It would really offset the neutrals so well to add a bold runner or some more accent in fabric shades or art? It needs just a bit more to liven up the otherwise very pretty room.

Contemporary Bathroom design by New York Architect Clean Design

Too much hot pink in the bedroom and it starts to look like a little girls Barbie dream room. This one has the perfect touch of strongly, masculine furnishings with pretty pink touches. Very nice balance.

Contemporary Bedroom design by Charlotte Interior Designer Laura Hardin/Intrigue Interiors

This bedroom also uses just a touch of the pink. Very pretty and tranquil space.

Eclectic Kids design by Los Angeles Interior Designer Courtney Blanton Interiors

When I was 15, my parents built their dream house. A gorgeous tudor-style home in a bucolic area of Maryland. It was their dream home and my dream bedroom as I got the bedroom suite any girl would love - huge bedroom, walk-in closet and my very own bathroom en suite. Loved it! The colors in my bathroom? Pink and gray. Granted the pinks and grays were more in tune with the palette of the day - pastels. But still - pretty. I have always loved that color combination though it's been out of style for some time. As an homage to my parents dream house, here are some gorgeous updated examples of that color combo.

Traditional Bedroom design by Minneapolis Interior Designer Martha O'Hara Interiors

Eclectic Living Room design by Dc Metro Photographer Maxine Schnitzer Photography

Contemporary Living Room design by Hong Kong Interior Designer Alexandra Lauren Designs

What do you think of the pink? If you have any pink in your home, please share.

If you would like to see more of my design stuff, you can follow me on Facebook or Pinterest. 

Thank you for visiting My Head Space!

Copyright 2012, Cristina Mullins Interiors. 

Pet Beds for Every Style

I was on Pinterest today, as I often am when I need some inspiration. I was looking at another decorator's Boards. She had lots of great Boards with Pins about rooms, furniture, and generally what you would expect to find on a decorator's Boards. The one that caught my eye, however, was her Board of adorable cat and dog pictures - some of them where almost too cute to bare. Looking at all of this cuteness got me thinking about I don't often see many good style options for pet beds. So I got to wondering - what else is out there?

Anytime I'm looking for something unique that I haven't seen before, I head to Etsy.com. If you haven't been on this site yet, well you better hold on to your credit card. They have vintage and handmade everything and anything. So I searched Etsy and Etsy did not let me down.

Here are my favorite pet beds that I found on Etsy:

Love contemporary furniture with chrome and nickel accents? This is for the very clean and modern home. I love the personalization. There are other upholstery options, too.

First of all let me say that this bed did not only make it on here because of it's cute "found" style that can work in a cottage/country-style home, but also because I happen to be a lover of Pekingese pups!

This is a rustic, manly bed perfect for a rustic-style home. I'm thinking Rottweiler mix? Sweet.

If you have a style that runs towards shabby-chic/French country, this bed will definitely suit. I mean toile, chintz and a crown pillow? Very charming.

Modern glamour and sophistication. I could see this in a beautiful, modern NYC apartment overlooking Central Park.

Cozy and organic, with stylish fabric - perfect for any decorating style.

This is a beautiful piece of furniture, but alas it's for your pet. Would work perfectly in any formal home where traditional and/or antique furniture abound.

I could see it in a bohemian space belonging to a world traveller that has many treasures from all over the world. Or in a cozy library surrounded by books. Truly, however, this could work in most homes.

If you're a fan of Charles & Ray Eames and all things mid-century modern, this is the pet bed for you.
It's beautifully made.

See something that would be suitable for your home and your pet? If you find anything else, please let me know. I would love to see other examples of what's out there. 

If you would like to see more of my design stuff, you can follow me on Facebook or Pinterest. 

Thank you for visiting My Head Space!

Copyright 2012, Cristina Mullins Interiors.