MISS MOOX: Ruthie Sommers

My friend/client/marketing expert (who is super talented if you need someone call her Eskimo Advertising) asked me for a picture of me in a room I have designed. I don't have one. But I use to work for this designer who I think has a photo of her in every room she has ever been in. (You know the type.) Well, I saw this photo in House Beautiful last night and just loved it. You go Thomas! Way to be cute, charming AND natural.

[Love the non-fussy, perfectly put together room!]

So what type of "poser" are you?
Here are some photos I have collected over the years of my design role models to help you decide.

Are you a diva who matches your outfit to the room?
[I kinda want to be this person. Is that wrong?]

Or are you classic and timeless?
This photo could have been taken 50 years ago and will probably look current in another 50 years.
[Love that!]

Or are you relaxed and casual?
[Love animals in the photos! Shows a lived in home.]

Or are you a little bit witty?
[Eddie cracks me up...I am dying to know what is going through his head!]

I think Celerie does an excellent job of achieving all three: she is classic, she shows her personality, she is relaxed and she matches her interiors!
[Well played Celerie, well played.]

Admittedly (see, I got it now!), I am not the biggest fan of the holidays. I mean of course I love Christmas and all the parties and spending time with family-laughing, sharing fond memories, partaking in some spirits, eating good food, watching my nephews ruthlessly tear open gift after gift-but it is also super stressful! I mean this is the busiest time of year for my business then you add decorating clients homes for Christmas (which I love because I rarely get to do my own!) and then there is shopping for presents and traveling and making everyone happy and blah, blah, blah. But I am really trying this year. Really! I hope to be more like this...

Thanks for letting me vent :)

Now I am going to talk about some of the things I really dig as far as Christmas decorating goes. I was at a friend's house the other night and she had those lights on her tree that alternate between clear lights and colored lights. How have I never heard about these before? Brilliant. Totally solves one of life's many debates. [For the record, I am pro clear.] I am also loving anything natural and earthy-driftwood, paper whites, birch, seashells, garland, burlap, moss, boxwood...oh my.

Love.

Not the biggest fan of things that scream Christmas.

Unless you are going to an ugly Christmas sweater party.
Who came up with this idea? I want to be your best friend. If you are a guy, I might want to be more than friends.

And red is my least favorite color (except when it comes to the GA Bulldogs) so I tend to go for the creams, golds, silvers, greens and even, perhaps, a Tiffany blue. Typically, I love when you can incorporate holiday decor into your normal, everyday decor. Like this...

The brilliance that is Suzanne Kasler. You go Atlanta.

Here are some other images that inspire me...

Let's face it, pretty much everything she does kicks ass.

Ditto for Ruthie. Love the atypical color scheme!

Eddie Ross you are a rock star.
This makes me want to take back my red comment.

~Images: 1-2) Google ? 3) via MFaMB 4) ? 5) via Toby Fairley's blog 6 and 7) Cottage Living 8) eddieross.com

I am a huge fan of big, fat coffee table books. I have a ton of them, most on interior design, that are scattered throughout my house: on tabletops, under benches, in baskets tucked into nooks and of course, on bookcases. I recently told a client that she needed to buy some coffee table books and she looked at me with a puzzled expression. I defended my statement by saying that I think books are a great way to express your personality. Walking into my house, you can tell instantly that I am into interior design, architecture, Charleston history, art, photography, fashion and cooking (although those books are rather dusty these days). I suggested she spend an hour or so on Amazon researching her favorite subjects. You can oftentimes find slightly used issues at a discounted rate. The bargain table at Barnes & Nobleis another great spot to pick up some good quality books for a steal. Artbook.com is also a great resource for all things design related.

I especially love them stacked on coffee tables like this...

Or use them AS your coffee/end table/nightstand!

Or try one of these creative book displays...

You can get a spine bookcase similar to this from WestElm.

I love the idea of covering them in craft paper or wallpaper for a more unified look.
[I know I have seen them also with the titles handwritten in caligraphy on the spines. Can't for the life of me remember the magazine. Anyone? Anyone?]

Or arrange them by color...

Need some more inspiration? Check out this book by House Beautiful.

~Images: 1) Ruthis Sommers home in Domino Spring/Summer 2005 2) Domino Nov 2005 3) Domino May 2007 4) Courtesy of Apartment Therapy 5) Domino Nov 2006 6) KWID 7) Unknown 8) Ad for Briger & Briger 9) Domino April 2007 10) Domino April 2006