floral accents

 A fantastic selection of unique modern vessels from Chive to display in your home, office, or at a party.

whimsy & contemporary

Another beautiful wedding styled photo shoot featured on Style Me Pretty, inspired to combine whimsy with contemporary. I love this color combo!!

Styled and Designed by Soiree / Photographed by Tana Photography

White w/ Color

My sister and I created these floral arrangements for Chair Affair this weekend. This year I decided to use glass jars with a silver spray-paint design. I also created some simple colorful arrangements as gifts for the volunteers. The event was filled with innovative design, friends, and fun! Can't wait for next year, and I hope to share pictures soon!

Welcome Desire to Inspire visitors!! I feel so lucky to be included in midcenturyjo' s Easter Reading Guide. I hope you enjoy my design inspiration!

Inspired by Chanel

I am so proud of my friend Brandi...her Event Planning and Design Company, Soiree is featured today on Style Me Pretty (via Little Black Book). The picture above is taken from their Chanel inspired photo shoot. Such lovely colors, flowers, and styling!

Photo: Tana Photography

Thanksgiving Table Ideas

Here are some ideas and themes to use for your Thanksgiving Table this year.

Top down: Rustic Thanksgiving Table via Southern Living, Give Thanks via Readers Digest, Fun Pumpkins via Happy Mundane, Old Photos via Sweeter Living, Thankful Table Cards via ishootnouns, Bean Centerpiece via Rachael Ray.

The Flowers

Wanted to share some photos of the flower arrangements I did this past weekend for the Interior Designer's of Idaho Chair Affair event. The event itself was a lot of fun, and I hope to share more pictures in the coming weeks.

We had a total of 42 entries, and 90 cup chairs for the event... and it was well attended. There was also this great article written by the Boise Weekly the week of the event.

Time for Flowers

I was so excited last weekend to finally start my cutting garden of flowers. I planted various seeds in locations where the sun would be sure to help them grow. Here is a list for the types of flowers I planted, some are perennials and some annuals.

Teddy Bear Sunflower, Dahlia (Kelvin Floodlight), Shasta Daisy, Painted Daisy, Powder Puff Aster, California Orange Poppy

Colorful Centerpieces

Since I'm starting to collect ideas for a great floral centerpiece designs for Chair Affair this year... I wanted to post some of the ideas of colorful and modern centerpiece designs. I love the square glass vases! The images I have posted below... show texture, shape, and a blend of exotic and traditional flowers.

Images via Oshi Flowers, Balconi Scene, Celadon & Celery, Wedding Aces, L'Art du Bouquet

Soiree Blog | Our Wedding

So excited that my friend Brandi of Soiree (Wedding and Event Planning) posted images from our wedding of the centerpieces and our cake. Of course I spent months and months collecting and creating new ideas to make the details perfect. Check out the Soiree blog for great event planning ideas and advice.

Christmas Decor...I Love

Its that time of year to bring out the decorations and create a holiday themed space. I wanted to share some of my favorite styles of Christmas Decor...

A simple centerpiece in a modern dining room (Inside Out) or a Traditional mantel with handmade stockings (Country Living)

Bright colored decor that is hand made or graphic. Left: Stockings and Wreaths via BHG, Middle: Modern paper ornaments via Design Sponge Top Right: Printed Stockings via tinydecorblog, Bottom Right: Handmade Gingerbread Looking Ornaments via Dollar Store Crafts.

White Christmas Trees with Brightly colored or Dual-toned Ornaments. via Apartment Therapy and House and Home

vino&pizza

We had an excellent evening with friends this past weekend for a "vino&pizza" party. Together we came up with recipes for 5 different kinds of pizzas, and each couple had to bring two bottles of wine to pair with a chosen pizza. The pizza's turned out yummy, and the wine paired well.

Pizza's in the pictures above include the "Meatless Mediterranean" and the "Broccoli & Cheese Baked Potato". All of these pizzas would make an excellent meal any time of the year. Check out the menu below for the list of toppings and the wine pairings and also see my post from last year to compare what was on the menu... Enjoy!

Thanksgiving Centerpieces

Wanted to post some centerpiece ideas... because I have to come up with something very soon. I have included some ideas differing from modern to traditional.

Pumpkins, Fruit, Leaves, and an accent of ribbon.
via Better Homes and Gardens



Various types of nuts in a glass jar with candle.
via goodhousekeeping.com



Painted pumpkins, golden utensils, and b&w place mat / napkins.
via Christine Lemieux's of Dwell Studio



Fall foliage, colors, and candlelight.
via myhomeideas

art+room | victorian

I wanted to find a great art pieces to fit a specific era, I chose some fantastic Cameo style silhouettes which are reminiscent of the Victorian Era. The images above show a modern made items can fit with vintage style furniture and decor.

1| ALBERO (CUCURUKU) 2| Paint by Number Dinner Plate 3| Niagara 4 Light Chandelier 4| Portrait of a Boy/Girl 5| CAMEO retro silhouette 6| Sea Grass Oval, U 7| Milo Sofa, Linen Flax (English Victorian Style)

Etsy Love | Terrariums

Terrariums are becoming a very popular to buy or create your own, and there are some beautiful examples out there. Below are some examples of artists on etsy.com where you can purchase ready-made terrariums or do-it-yourself kits.

1| weegreenspot 2| doodlebirdie 3| doodlebirdie 4| blithegardens 5| doodlebirdie

Wedding Flowers | Roses

This past weekend I created wedding bouquets and boutonnieres for my friends wedding. She wanted to use hot pink roses with a mix of white and black ribbons tied around the stems. I would not have been able to complete them without the help of my wonderful mother and sister. See pictures below for the finished product.

the modern centerpiece

I wanted to show off some lovely modern centerpieces, including fall colors. For centerpieces I have been noticing a trend of using very textural flowers and greenery along with simple roses or mums. I like seeing two colors of flowers, but I also like the look of a single shade bouquet. They can be simple and loosely arranged or in a very compact ball of blooms. Below are some fantastic examples.

Images via...
Top: The Knot, Better Homes and Gardens, Brides, Martha Stewart Weddings
Bottom: Seattle Flowers, Martha Stewart Weddings, Santa Barbara Chic

Lovely Ribbons

I love searching for ribbon online and at local stores. They are great to use for gift wrapping, craft projects, and floral arrangements and can help you achieve a color scheme. Below are some fantastic examples of great patterns and colors.

1: Pink/Black Damask 2: LaBelle Fleur 3: Orange Stitched 4: Green Paisley 5: Polka Dot Multi 6: Pink/Brown Stripe 7: Pink/Green Circles 8: Pink/Brown Woven

The Modern Boutonniere

Boutonniere's are traditionally made with flowers, ribbon, and greenery. But what if you took a more artistic approach and used exotic flowers, greenery only, or something which isn't a flower at all? You can come up with some amazing ideas. Below are images that inspire me.

Top: Feathers and Cattails, Buttons via Intimate Weddings, All Feathers via Etsy.com

Middle: Feathers and Pearls, Pine Cone with Greenery via In Style Weddings, Simple Flower and Buds wrapped in Wire via The Knot

Bottom: Playing Card Flower via Brides Magazine , Beaded Flower via Blue Bouquet, Hydrangea & Orchid with Sea Glass Beads

Party Style | Flamingos

I've always thought a perfect party theme would be a lawn party with flamingos. With a color scheme of pink, orange, and green you can create a summer-time feel. Below are some products and images to illustrate this idea.



1) Flamingo Napkins, 2) Grass Skirt Umbrella, 3) Oranges with Raniculus (via Loop Flowers), 4) Flamingo Toothpicks, 5) Striped Napkins, 6) Palm Tree Napkins, 7) Colorful Bouquet (via Boston Blooms), 8) Flamingo Picks.

Flowers of Inspiration

I have been very fascinated lately by floral design. I have even made some bouquets and boutonnieres for a friends wedding and centerpieces for a few events. I am very inspired by modern styled arrangements, though I do love things to have a vintage flare to them. I like using common flowers such as roses, carnations, mums... and mix them with more exotic and fun-shaped blooms. I have included some pictures showing what great combination's you can make with scale/style of the flower and color.


Left to right: Fleurish (Seattle) | Bloomsday Flowers (Cork, Ireland)


Left to right: via Amber in Norfolk | Flower Design (Lancashire, England)