Design Dreamin'

I'm feeling a little unlove for my house right now. It's not the house itself. It's the design inside...or rather, the total lack of design. So, this afternoon, while I was enjoying my "day of rest," I was looking at pictures from House Beautiful online and thought I'd share some I liked.

I found it interesting how just looking at pictures made me realize that my idea of good design has changed in the last few years. Maybe it is living in a small house, too. I love color, always have. But I find myself more drawn to a dominant background of white, with large punches of color to break up the white. What gets my attention the most is a combination of bright, crisp whites, warm wood tones, and plenty of color to complete the look. The following pictures are all from the House Beautiful website and while none of them are my ideal spaces, they all have elements that I would love to use in my own home.

Love the yellow chair and all the natural light!

I'm a sucker for classic farmhouse.

Those bar chairs are so inviting, and I like the yellow-green

wall color against the white cabinetry and tile.

Modern, but fun! Love the green fabric on the drum shade

and chairs. I wish my island did double-duty with storage shelves.

This is just fresh, with the farmhouse sink, green canister, pops of blue and yellow and grass growing inside. The green glass subway tiles are so nice against the white cabinets.

I want to grow a patch of perfect grass inside!

These living rooms all have a common design theme. 
White or neutral background,

neutral furnishings, colorful accessories (or colorful accent furniture).

The effect is light, spacious, calm.

Did you enjoy this little tour of homes? Did it make you think about your own design style? Even if your own home is already decorated "just as you like it" it's always fun to take a peek into someone else's home...you never know what might catch your eye!