Dueling Designers...Part Douze..

 

Image by Caroline Tran

I know it's been awhile, but the Dueling Designers are finally back!!

Over the past few weeks, I have been watching a parade of boats drive by my house ready to be put into the water for the summer season. I know the Tall One has been itching as I just so happened to have married a sailor.

So this time, I couldn't resist choosing Nautical as a theme and good ole Pantone #534C as our primary color. To mix things up a bit, I changed the rules so that we each could choose our own secondary colors.

The Lovely Miss Amy Graver choose a delicious collection of stripes (how could anyone resist James Dean?)and added a pop of cherry red which just so happens to be her signature color.

For me..it was simple...I choose the two colors that I have been completely obsessing over lately...orange and turquoise. 

So close your eyes, hear the gentle lapping of the waves against the hull, smell and taste the salt air on your lips feel a touch of sun on your back..

Elements Design

Row one: Navy and yellow fashion: Anchor brew: Striped sail ::

Row two: Anchor stationery: Poster

 White canvas chair with nautical striped throw ::

Row three: Anchor mug: Anchor tee:

 Row Four: Navy or red canvas wedge : Sailor dress : James Dean ::

Chocolate Creative Design

Top: Poster by Little Types, Rope Earrings by Michelle Lane, 

Boat Image by Kyraart

Middle: Jacket by Debenhams, Poster by Little Minch Art, 

Shoes by Tabitha Simmons

Bottom: Wallpaper by Mini Moderns, Dress by Topshop, 

Pillows by West Elm

Dueling Designers...Part Onze..

Image by Laura Moss for Country Living

Spring is in the air, Easter is around the corner, so you know what that means....another installment of Dueling Designers... The loveliest of lovelies, Miss Amy Graver of Elements Design, and I BOTH decided that a soft yellow, such as Pantone #100c or 607c, would be the perfect fit for this particular duel..

How could it not be...with downy chicks and daffodils..

Mellow yellow is where it's at!

Elements Design

Row one :: Bunnies :: Paper bag bouquet  

Row two :: Happy place poster :: Bows on bags :: 

Easter cookie cuteness 

Row three ::Jellybean flowers :: Make Way for Ducklings :: Pears

Chocolate Creative Design

Duck Image: Pinterest  Macaroon image: Pinterest 

Door Image: vi.sualize.us  Dresser Image: Martha Stewart, 

Shoe Image: Aubrey Short  Table Image: Country Living

Dress Image: Anthropologie  Painting:Dalan Wells

Chair Image: Anthropologie

Dueling Designers...Part Dix..

Image: Anna Sawin Photography

Aha..after a long hiatus, the Dueling Designers are back!!!

The lovely and super talented Miss Amy Graver of Elements Design and I decided to band together this time to pick the Pantone color and theme of Board Number Dix..

What we came up with was a fabulous little green, Pantone 359 to be exact, and a Cocktail Garden themed Party!!

I myself, was inspired by those lovely and colorful ladies, 

The Housewives of Stonington. Bright coloful prints, fushia colored cocktails, Striped tents (just like my Parent's wedding tent) and ginormous cocktail rings!!

Miss Graver, of course rocked it out of the park, designed

a party that is the epitome of elegance..

Watercolor invitations, glass cloches filled with ferns, herb infused cocktails and seating under trees filled with lanterns...

Elements Design

Row one :: AppleTini :: Cake :: Garden setting :: 

Botanical runner
 Row two :: Poster:: Garden favor :: Lemon Chicken sandwiches
 Row three: Lemonade :: Watercolor invite :: Hydrangea 

Chocolate Creative Design

Top: Woman: Mad Men,Patio:House Beautiful,
Zebra Coaster: Anthropologie, Couple: Mad Men

Middle: Grass Image: Oh Joy, Ring: Anthropologie, 

Floral Plates: Anthropologie, 

Pink Cocktail:SeattleMet, Pigs in a Blanket: Callahan Catering

Bottom: Print Dress: Trina Turk, Flower Ring: Anthropologie, 

Green Plate: Target

Dueling Designers...Part Neuf...

Image found via Martha Stewart

With Presidents Day rapidly approaching on Monday, I thought the Dueling Designers should give nod to our first President, Mr. George Washington, with a Cherry Blossom inspired party. What better way to do this than with Pantone's color of the year, Honeysuckle! Once again, the fabulous Miss Amy Graver of Elements Design rocked it out of the park. 

We in the Northeast, were granted a gift of a 50 degree weather day today so I couldn't help but imagine sitting on an old quilt, under a cherry tree full of pink blossoms, in a sweet as pie sundress, eating delicate desserts. Thankfully for us, that time is not too far away as the National Cherry Blossom Festival begins March 26th in Washington, DC.

On the offical Cherry Blossom Festival store site, I was pleased to see that they offer a Give-A-Tree Card. For a mere $5.95, The National Arbor Day Foundation will plant a tree in a National Forest!

What's not to love..a beautiful card and a new tree?!

Elements Design

Row one :: pom poms :: cherry trees ::  dining room 
 Row two :: cherry ice-cream :: Coco Chanel :: “you’re gonna make it” poster ::  centerpiece bouquet  
 Row three :: cake :: honeysuckle shoes :: pinwheel family :: cherries in teacup 

Chocolate Creative Design

1. Cherry Blossom Cake via Martha Stewart, Bubbles Image via Mary Ruffle, 

Dress via Modcloth

2. Cherry Tree Painting-unknown, Filled with Joy via Mary Ruffle, 

Place setting via The Wedding Chicks

3. Sconce via Anthropologie, Umbrella Image via Mixed Plate, 

Cherry Blossom image via A Beach Cottage

Dueling Designers...Part Huit...

Image found via Flickr

The Dueling Designers are back once again and this time, the Lovely Miss Amy Graver of Elements Design, chose Pantone 196c in honor of a Valentines Day Party.

Miss Graver knocked it out of the park this time by creating a board filled with mood and emotion that evokes all that is romantic.

I can't believe that I am going to admit this but I really am not a huge fan of Valentine's Day. Maybe it's the pain of hearkening back to a day when you hoped and wished and prayed for a Valentine. It was like getting picked for kickball all over again..."please god, don't let me get picked last!!" 

I am very lucky now..I have a wonderful husband and three sons to be my permanent valentines...But it wasn't always like that..

In High School, my roommate ALWAYS received dozens upon dozens of roses EVERY Valentine's Day. Coming back to our room after class was like walking into a flower shop. It was unreal...

But one year, there were roses waiting for me...Really?!

Always a mystery, never a name but they always came....Even when I left for college..they followed me..

It took me a while to figure it out..It wasn't Prince Charming but rather an amazing friend..

So..Even though Valentine's Day isn't my favorite Holiday...It does make me think of one of my best friends...who never allowed me to give up hope...

 Happy Valentine's Day Colie!

This board's for you!!

Elements Design

row one :: sweet pink bouquet ; blackboard proclamations ; pink ruffle cake 

row two :: paris ; xo bowl ; sweet surrender 

row three :: lace and pearls ; white cupcakes 

row four :: chalkboard art ; beautifully wrapped soap ; “bright star” movie poster 

row five :: dee dee bridgewater “J’ai Deux Amours” ; hazelnut chocolate brownie; chanel no. 5 

Chocolate Creative Design

Craft Image found via paper pastries, Pink Door Image found via, Ruffle Dress image found via vi.sualize.us, Swirled lollipops image found via stylempretty

Suitcase and perfume image found via weheartit, Painted stair image found via weheartit. Heart pins image found via Flickr, Powder Puff image found via MargaretandJoy, Kiss Image found via weheartit, Mailbox image found via weheartit

Roses image found via decor 8, Cupcake images found via weheartit, Tulle image found via this is glamorous, Champagne image found via pinterest

Dueling Designers...Part Six...

Images: Chocolate Creative Design, Anna Sawin Photography

Here we go!!! It's time for yet another rendition of Dueling Designers!! 

The fabulously talented Miss Amy Graver of Elements Design has chosen the color.. Drumroll please...Pantone #290C. 

Her inspiration...The Elements Design Studio front door....Hmmm...How did she know that it was also the color of my door?? Strange...Anyhoo...You must go check out her blog as you will be seriously inspired by her ideas on how to create THE most amazing Skating Party.

Elements Design

one :: sign, snowflake cupcakes, cup of joe, cup and cane 

two :: bell jars, ice-skate invite, snack table in snow

three :: blue nectar, snow angel, swan lake

four :: skating tunes “dreamland”, favor tins, winter tape

five :: hockey skates tub, winter boutonnière, snowflake cookies

Now you know that there is no way in heck that I couldn't possibly throw in a little laugh or two...My name is Lucinda Wesson and I was a skater..There I said it...From the time I could walk till about 11 years old, myself and Maggie Squyres woke up at the crack of dawn to shove our feet into very very small boots and skate for hours in a giant freezer. Ok..I had dreams of becoming a hockey player but back then girls "just didn't do that". I know that Maggie would agree with me.. our Moms were amazing..I can barely get my child to Little League practice...and skating is certainly not an inexpensive sport...So I dedicate this board to My Mom and Mrs. Squyres for being the most utterly supportive and fabulous Moms. I will always carry in my heart the memories of driving in the red cushy Lincoln with the BeeGees and Dolly Parton playing in the 8 track, my mom rubbing my feet in between skate changes (little did she know I had Raynauds) and watching them use humor in order to deal with the "Skating Moms" and their horrible offspring.

Chocolate Creative Design

1. Skating Skirt Image found via Alabama Whirly

2. The Silver Skates Book found via Finness on Etsy

3. Skate Pom Poms found via Destiny Phoebe on Etsy

4. Skating on a Full Moon by Imagine Studio on Etsy

5. Vintage Hoky Poster found via All Posters

6. Plaid Cashmere Scarf found via Country Store

7. Vintage Ice Capades Poster found via Vi.sualize.us

8. Ice Skater image by Lara Rossignol on Piewacket

9. Snowflake Pops found via Party Wishes

10. Snowflakes image found via Pinterest