COTE DE TEXAS: One To Watch: Ashley Goforth Designs

One To Watch: Ashley Goforth Designs


A few weeks ago, I wrote a story called Three Beauties in West University:  Large, Medium, Small HERE – about three houses with very different price points and sizes.  The smallest was an original bungalow and according to the comments, a lot of you really loved its interiors.   At the time I imagined the homeowner was an interior decorator, but actually Ashley Goforth was the one who designed its fresh interiors.    Ashley is from Houston and after graduating from the University of Texas, she started working for Renea Abbott who owns Shabby Slips HERE.   Renea is one of the better designers in Houston and I would imagine working for her is worth 100 times more than a college degree in design.  It was at Shabby Slips where I first met Ashley – going in and out the store.   She stayed there for six years and in 2005 branched out on her own with Ashley Goforth Design.     Sine then she has really been busy designing houses in and out of Houston.   Looking over her portfolio, I was amazed at how much work she has done – and all of it is so great looking!     She has a very distinct and elegant look, working mostly in soothing colors without much pattern except in curtains or pillows.    It’s a streamlined, eclectic and timeless look with contemporary pieces mixed in with antiques.   Ashley was kind enough to share some beautiful photographs of her latest work.   So, enjoy – I know I did!!!

 
 image The original bungalow shown a few weeks ago, designed by Ashley Goforth.  The owner emailed me to say that Ashley is working with her on her new house in West U.  Hopefully, we’ll get to see the finished project!

RICE BOULEVARD:image These high res professional pictures look so much better than the small pictures on the real estate site.  Stephen Gutierrez took these photographs and can be contacted at:   sg@stephengutierrez.com.   Ashley’s work is often very symmetrical.  Often there is a linear component:   Here, notice how the coffee table’s cross bar is repeated in the end tables.   As usual, the only pattern comes from the pillows, which are always perfectly plump and properly sized.  



image Ashley likes to mix the contemporary with the old:  new end and coffee table sit next to antique chairs and chest. 


image I love the surprise of the contemporary stainless lamp mixed with the antique gilt mirror.   

image She uses a lot of textured blinds and rugs, along with very tailored slipcovers. 



image All of Ashley’s bedrooms are beautiful.  Here, I love the dark walls mixed with the white bedding and white lamps.  The dark velvet pillows are perfect against all the white. 




 SOUTH BOULEVARD:image This next project is located on South Blvd. in a much larger house.   Here, Ashley uses mostly antiques for an entry way vignette.


image All white upholstery is used in the living room, along with a classic coffee table.   When not using seagrass,  Ashley uses muted area rugs instead.   Usually she mixes curtains with textured shades as seen here. 


image Another view of the living room on South Blvd. 


image I absolutely LOVE this dining room!  The chairs are so  beautiful and I really like the art work, the chandelier and the curtains with their subtle damask pattern.   So pretty!!!


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The study is wonderful with a Belgian styled table, cow skin rug, and trendy patterned curtains.    The choice of colors is wonderful – the dark black/brown on the walls with the touch of blue against the black and white.  




image  More up to date choices:  again, the table has the light washed look, the antique buffet is painted a color that picks up the floor tiles, but the curtain fabric makes the room.   The dark linen is so unexpected but that is exactly why it works.    Love how it all ties together with the dark chandelier and chairs.  


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The kitchen is black granite and white subway tiles, while the pendant lights and stove hood set it apart. 



image The sitting room is all taupes and aquas.   Again, the upholstery is solid, with pattern found just on the pillows and ottoman – allowing for easy design changes years down the road.    Ashley choices of graphic pattern fabrics add youthfulness and freshness.  


image The master bedroom:  Ashley’s bedrooms are always just the prettiest.  She typically employs the unmade duvet look with no patterned fabrics except for a few pillows.  Here, the lamps and nightstands are contemporary.  The chandelier is gorgeous.   So beautiful. 


NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS
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This house in New Braunfels, Texas is on the river and the interiors are more casual.   There are slipcovers in linen, pine furniture, and warmer colors, along with a subtle area rug.     Rose Tarlow prints on the sofa pillows.  


image Close up of the fireplace and shelves.   Ashley’s pillows are always so perfect, the size and the down stuffing.  I assume she learned that at Shabby Slips.   Their pillows are also exquisite! 



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It’s hard to see in the pictures, but the curtain headers and trim are darker which gives it just a hint of definition.  I like how she mixed two fabrics on the chair slips here.   Notice the blue pillows in the host chairs.   The light fixture is fabulous.  I really love this room too!


image The book filled library.  Love the pillows.   Again, Ashley usually layers two patterned with two velvet pillows. 


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Master bedroom:   love the patterned rug, the curtains, and the bedding.   Does she ever make a mistake????  I haven’t found one yet!  Seriously, she really is a great interior decorator. 

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Guest room balances masculine and feminine sides.   The zebra adds the perfect touch. 


REBA ST:
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At this house on Reba St. in River Oaks, the family room was designed by Ashley.   Details  are:  tailored slipcover, graphic patterned pillows, zebra, and the one lone horn on the mantel that becomes sculpture. 

image Vignette from the living room on Reba.  


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Perfection:   breakfast room with built in booth.  The graphic gray and white fabric picks up the color in the slate floor.   The wood table adds another color matched by the shades.   The framed art work is by the owner’s children.    The round pendant is the perfect shape to counteract all the squares.     



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Another beautiful master bedroom.  Here she added an oriental bench to the end of the bed.  Luscious curtains, as always.   Two patterned pillows.  


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This sitting area is right across from the master bed.   The slipcovers are always tailored to perfection, something she probably learned from Renea Abbott.   Notice her pillows – how plump they are!  How great their size is!!  Just wonderful.   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
image  A vignette from the master bedroom.   Mixing the classic with the contemporary. 



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The master bathroom has white marble and wonderful sconces inset into the mirror.     


SAN ANTONIO:
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These interiors are located in a high rise in San Antonia, Texas.   The large living room is divided into two seating arrangements.   Here, dressy gilt antique chairs are juxtaposed next to a contemporary sofa.   The pillows, damask and velvet, bring the color gray into the room.   According to Ashley, the client asked for a gray and white palette and didn’t want anything brown, including wood furniture.  She also didn’t want anything to wrinkle, so there were no slipcovers (though Ashley’s slips really are not the wrinkled type!)  

 

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The other side of the living room – Ashley’s interiors are often very symmetrical and balanced.   Here, the TV is balanced by large gilt framed prints and a mirror console.   The gray is continued in the sofa’s fabric.   The contemporary coffee table is balanced by the antique chairs.  



image Close up showing the wonderful downed filled cushion on the chair.  I love how the graphic patterned pillow plays off the shutters.  



image The dining room is an elegant space, with French chairs and silk skirted table.   The gold chandelier picks up the gilt in the chairs and art work in the adjacent living room.    I still love a skirted table, especially in a dining room.  It softens a room where there are so many hard edged chairs around. 


image The breakfast room.   Grays in the KWID pillows and paint play off all the whites.    Wonderful chairs.  


image The guest room.  LOVE the touch of Yves Klein blue here!!!!  Perfect against the dark brown walls.    And I love the touches of leopard.   Notice how she brings in the classic, soft lined, French chair mixed with all the contemporary furniture with hard edges.  The deer head add just the right touch.  Beautifully executed room, IMHO.    


SUNSET BOULEVARD:

image The family room is dominated by the armoire balanced by a large contemporary coffee table.     Large antique chairs are covered in a muted Rose Tarlow fabric.   The cinnamon colored pillows pick up the colors of the rug.   As usual, wonderful curtains.    Beautiful room. 


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Large contemporary art work dominates the room.   The glass chandelier is just perfect against the dark wood table.  


image A vignette, balancing the antique with the contemporary.  Ashley’s lamps are always either simple glass cylinders or colorful ceramic vases.   This chest is gorgeous. 


image A pair of gilded antique chairs play against the contemporary sofa and coffee table.  Subtle patterned area rug.  Again, pillows bring in the pattern.  


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Closeup of Ashley’s accessorizing – always elegant and sparse, never cluttered. 





image In the adjacent closed in porch area, a large oriental screen covers the back walls.  Beautifully styled desk. 



 image OK.   Absolutely gorgeous powder room.  White marble against black damask wallpaper.  Stunning.   Just stunning. 

image Beautifully designed kitchen with large island, black and white countertops, and wonderful wall of windows.   The textured shades warm up the decor as do the counter stools.  Love the symmetrically placed topiaries. 

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I LOVE the headboard – it’s so thin, not tufted, no nailheads, just elegant.  Notice the feet on the bed, so gracefully carved.   Beautiful.   Love the blue blush color.   The rug is so gorgeous too.   Love the pillows, the lamps, everything!

 image Close up of the beautiful table and headboard.


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Master bathroom is to die for:  the shower!!!!!!!   Whoa.  That tub.   Love the dark cabinets with white marble countertops.   Love the French doors opening to the bathroom.  I would want to look into the bathroom from the bedroom too!!  And notice the Fortuny light fixture.   Renea Abbott’s husband sells those fixtures at his store Creative Flooring. 


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And finally, the guest room.  Grays and whites with hints of browns.   Again, so pretty.   I have yet to find anything that Ashley designed that wasn’t pretty!!!    She is truly talented, she is young and has a long and successful future ahead of her.   

 ag
Mrs. Goforth, hard at work!

I hope you’ve enjoyed looking at these elegant designs by Ashley Goforth.  There are a lot more pictures on her web site, so be sure to visit it HERE.    The pictures were taken by Stephen Gutierrez – email him here:  sg@stephengutierrez.com
A huge, special thank you to Ashley for sharing all these photographs.  Thank you a million times!!!!




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Bobby McAlpine’s house, design inspired by Edwin Lutyens.  


AND  just a reminder,   Bobby McAlpine is on this week’s Skirted Roundtable, HERE.   Listen.      He’s fabulous.                                                               

56 comments :

  1. Her portfolio is wonderful. Very inspiring! My question is, How DOES she get those pillows to look so plump and perfect? The inserts I've purchased just aren't doing it – where can you get them to be this full? Thanks for an always great blog, love the large photos!

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  2. What an extensive portfolio. I don't think there's a room I don't like. I love her last name too!

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  3. Really really pretty rooms, and yes she is amazingly talented!

    ~kelley

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  4. You're right...she is one to watch. She creates timeless, classic rooms a la Phoebe Howard or Suzanne Kasler. They are all beautiful...I am sure she has happy clients!

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  5. Hi Joni! How are you? Oh, what pretty work. I love the interiors of the New Braunfels home the best. This lady does such beautiful work.
    I'm amazed at all the beauty you find to show us.
    Have a wonderful weekend and be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  6. Joni!! This is great! I agree with Milk and Honey - these are very Phoebe Howard "esque". GORGEOUS!

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  7. Joni!! This is great! I agree with Milk and Honey - these are very Phoebe Howard "esque". GORGEOUS!

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  8. Use of terra cotta pots inside? She's wicked good.

    Garden & Be Well, XO Tara

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  9. WOW - that was 20 minutes worth of eye candy! Beautiful interiors. The powder room w/the marble sink and black damask wallpaper is stunning. Thanks for sharing all this.

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  10. She's as adorable as she is skilled - wow! There is a signature sparseness to her work that is so refreshing! Lovely rooms, and a visual tutorial for those (of us) who are designing their own spaces - when in doubt (please) leave it out! She speaks volumes with very few but skillfully selected elements. IMHO, that is what makes for a beautiful, livable space for "real" people. Thanks for sharing.

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  11. Beautiful Pictures Joni! I rember her first article in Paper City when she started with SS. Looks like this talented designer has evoloed nicely! Maryanne

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  12. Ah...she was two grades above me in high school...wow..her work is beautiful! Go Houston girls!

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  13. incredible work here...truly talented!

    -Jenny

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  14. Very, very impressive for such a young designer. I would not have expected it from House No. 3, but I love so many of these rooms and find them all very soothing and relaxing to view. It would be interesting to know how many of the antiques were already owned by her clients and which ones she chose. If she chose them, she has a wonderful eye for quality. Do you have any idea the source for the white slipped chair seen in several of the pictures? It reminds me of the John Saladino chairs. Could you perhaps inquire about the source. Great post.

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  15. Thank you for posting her work. Truly inspiring...I LOVE her aesthetic.

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  16. Spectacular! I started out trying to decide what I loved most, but I soon afterwards gave up. It is all beautiful! Especially love her arm chairs and the pillows, chests, and the silver leaf. I have silver leafed several pieces lately. Just all beautiful. Have a fun weekend.
    Teresa (Splendid Sass)

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  17. The bedroom with the deerhead is perfection! Very talented young designer. Her future is going to be bright for sure!
    Thank you Joni for another wonderful post! You're the best.

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  18. Wow, to be so young, beautiful and talented, amazing! Love Ashley's clean look to her designs. Thank you so much for sharing this talented woman!

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  19. It takes confidence and a keen eye to know when a room is finished. Very few decorators know when it's time to stop, take a step back and evaluate the entire focalscape. Ashley somehow understands this very early in her career and it makes her rooms so appealing. Every element stands on its own and yet all together work in harmony. She has a very well honed eye for such a young age. If I lived in Houston, she would be on my to call list for Monday morning.

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  20. There are so many things to admire about Ashley's work, but I particularly like her ability to mix materials, like in the San Antonio high rise living room. The lucite table, the clean, modern couches, the metal and glass coffee table, the mirrored console, the chairs - oh. my. stars!

    When you did the post about the three West U houses, the bungalow was instantly my favorite. I hope we will get to see pictures of the owner's new house!

    Kelly@40isthenew30

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  21. Just gorgeous, all of it. I love how her rooms look peaceful yet still cozy. There's not a sign of chilly sparseness anywhere but no cluttery fussiness either. There aren't many designers who can so consistently straddle that line. The leopard print upholstery and pillows are exactly right. Bravo. If anyone knows who makes that fabric could you please post the info or let me know by email. Thank you!!

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  22. There's a lot to study here. Even it her style is not yours, her use of the principles and elements of good design are so evident. Her esthetic is clear in every space, and yet I don't feel like I'm looking at the same thing over and over. Her use of symmetry creates a formal, yet still relaxed feel in each of these spaces. Yes, she's one to watch, and one to learn from. Classic just never goes out of style. I'm going back to study some more.

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  23. There's a lot to study here. Even it her style is not yours, her use of the principles and elements of good design are so evident. Her esthetic is clear in every space, and yet I don't feel like I'm looking at the same thing over and over. Her use of symmetry creates a formal, yet still relaxed feel in each of these spaces. Yes, she's one to watch, and one to learn from. Classic just never goes out of style. I'm going back to study some more.

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  24. Loved every room she created. Thank you for sharing these Joni. laurie

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  25. Wow - a lot of lovely things to look at - thanks for sharing. I especially love the dark powder room - really striking. I have a powder room to redo and was considering going dark - this may have sealed the deal!

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  26. Thank you for the heads up and sharing all these great rooms. I like many of them and always LOVE the white kitchens.

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  27. ok that was just the best eye candy I've seen in a long time. She IS A-MAZING!!! I love that every room has a pop of greenery in it- it brings life to the room. ok-im gonna go back and look at these again while sipping my tea latte!

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  28. Is it terribly sad and pathetic to get tears in your eyes when you see beautiful interior design? Ashley's work really speaks to me. Beautiful!

    I would love to know some of the names of the artists that she uses - this one in particular:
    http://lh6.ggpht.com/_t8-Y4w1UKrc/TGbRSj2lSUI/AAAAAAAA2iY/oLe_sJEBJww/image_thumb67.png?imgmax=800

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  29. I particularly love the fact that (at least in these photos) Ashley does not use the "flea market look" and pass it off as "antiques". She knows the real deal when she sees it. Just how many railroad clocks can there be in existence before we finally come to the conclusion that they are being manufactured off shore. Cream rises to the top and at least in this photos, Ashley Goforth has used the real deal effectively instead of filling a room with wannabees. You go girl!
    This is one lesson the student seems to be teaching the professor.

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  30. Beautiful! I do know her well, so I am biased. She is as beautiful on the inside as her rooms are to look at! I can't wait to see where her talent will take her. She's one to watch.

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  31. i remember when her home was featured in a magazine (BHG?) several years ago... maybe 2005? i still have a page from that article in my 'inspire file!' thanks for this feature- so fun to read & drool over!

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  32. She has a fabulous look. Will have to look at these several times. You did a wonderful job capturing all the images clearly and perfectly as always. Thanks for your kind comments this weekend.

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  33. Beautiful, beautiful....every single room! The clean lines and uncluttered look is so appealing! Loved it all! Thanks for sharing, great post, Joni! XO, Pinky

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  34. So very Lovely!
    Miss Ashley has a beautiful aesthetic.

    joan

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  35. Joni,
    Every image was eye-popping delicious! And, just when I didn't think I could pick a favorite....a stumbled upon THAT powder bath. Stopped me in my keyboard tracks. LOVE! If only I lived in Houston!!!

    Good luck with your college farewell this week - thank goodness Parents' Weekend will be here before you know it!!!
    xo Elizabeth

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  36. Hi Joni,

    Small world isn't it!!! I remember this picture of Ashley from 'the country home' magazine. They did a small feature on her after she and her husband married and moved into her apartment. It was gorgeous. I remember staring at her bedroom for months, the bedhead was HUGE and the colours very muted and it all looked big and cosy...LOVE that look. Thanks so much for showing her work. I thought it all looked stunning.
    Hope you and your family are well.
    Take care
    Janine
    XXOO
    Tasmania, Australia

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  37. What beautiful work! I kept thinking I'd found the room I was going to comment upon and declare my "favorite" out of this post, but they're all so good! Thanks for introducing--

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  38. Well, that was a nice little getaway, the time it took to read and luxuriate in your post. Thanks, Joni. Now, back to the "real" world.
    priscilla

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  39. I captured just about every single photo for my inspiration file. Her designs make me rethink my rooms and I realize how much more dramatic and interesting they would be with just a few changes, based on her aesthetic. Thanks for a really wonderful post.

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  40. Exquisite Joni. Her work is that of a much more experienced designer. I would think she has been exposed to some amazing mentoring together with her natural talent and incredible eye. Her work reminds me so much of Phoebe and Jim Howard's with the white/cream palette together the the soft blues and browns and that classic clean look. But it is distinctively and perfectly her own.

    I am so proud of myself for putting my cocoa brown curtains in my living room last year against my white walls. It is such a perfect contrast and one which she uses to beautiful effect. Love her rooms - GREAT JOB Ashley!!! Wish I could hire her here in Canada!

    Thank YOU for sharing Joni.
    xo Terri

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  41. They're lovely settings, one and all. I absolutely agree that the designer has a wonderful eye. But they're catalog pages. Or at most "model" homes. Not one of these spaces looks like anyone ever lived in them, or ever will. Not unique to this designer, of course. Most design blog photos (not to mention shelter mag. images) have the same salesfloor character. Is it possible to create spaces that are both beautiful, and actively habitable? Combine THAT with this kind of aesthetic sense, and choirs of angels couldn't sing sweetly enough!

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  42. These Texas homes ring with French inspiration! They bring in such tranquility with simple and sophisticated elegance. I came across your post this afternoon while browsing interior design blogs and the topic of window treatment selection was very interesting to me. It is true that you must dress your windows appropriately to bring out their true beauty. Thank you for writing and as a special thanks to you and your readers, I would like to offer a 20% off coupon using this code upon checkout: BLG20.

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  43. This blog entry just got better and better. I love her work - the mix of old and new with nothing fussy going on. I'm going to read this post again and again.

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  44. I ADORE her work. I decorate my own home in a similar way. Lots of symmetry, clean lines, not a lot of pattern. Her work is stunning!!!

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  45. All of RH is being painted gray...so the trend is there for sure.

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  46. Mixing contemporary and antique is so great to look at. Love this house already. Wow!

    Cheers,
    Cathy@nursing scrubs

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  47. I wish I’d read it before doing my site – but am going back to make some changes. Thanks very much. I was truly reluctant to check out your posts the first time I saw the page layout of your blog.

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  48. She has a fabulous look. Will have to look at these several times. You did a wonderful job capturing all the images clearly and perfectly as always. Thanks for your kind comments this weekend.

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  49. Fabulous, blow me away gorgeous bathroom in the Sunset Blvd. house! The white, the gray, the glass, the lamp - WOW!!!

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