If I have a spare moment, you can most likely find me leafing through magazines or design books in search of inspiration or furthering my professional education.  Often I can get through things pretty quickly but every once in a while I find a picture that stops me in my tracks.  Sometimes, I stop because there are key elements I'm drawn to, sometimes it's because there is nothing appealing and I stop to improve it in my head.  Rarely though, do I find pictures that inspire me in total...not so with the shot above.  I was immediately hooked.

What do I love about his room, you ask?  Here we go:

• Blue velvet tufted sofa...I imagine the sofa has been in the family forever and was recovered in this sumptuous color a few years back.
• The combo of the window pane fabric on the chairs with the floral accent pillows reminds me of a sports coat and tie...I'm a sucker for menswear.
• Two rugs...traditional wool knotted rug over the textural sisal creates a beautiful high-low moment.
• Accent fabrics are colorful and unrelated...I often wish I had to courage to do this in my own home but I have a hard time relinquishing control.
• The architecture of this room is shown off proudly...only one window is adorned with drapery.
• And how about that wall sconce?  The room is more traditional and then we get this rustic fixture on the wall, yet another high-low moment.

I'm going to continue to study this room and believe me, one day I will adopt a devil-may-care attitude toward throw pillows.  I promise I'll share when I do.

I believe the key to beautiful design is combining the components of a room to create a cohesive whole.  That whole is part cooperation, part tension, part fun, and part drama.  The process can sometimes be bumpy, but with patience and communication, you can achieve a perfect union.  Sounds just like marriage, doesn't it.

I came across the picture above while browsing Facebook (although I can't remember who posted it) and I think it epitomizes that perfect union.  Notice the crustiness of the cast iron fireplace surround sitting directly across from the sleek acrylic cocktail table.  Look to at all the fresh live greenery in contrast to the wicker chairs and native stone walls.  The complimentary blue and green absolutely sing. There is texture upon texture, like the brick floor, sisal rug and patterned rug and rough hewn side table.

Take a lesson from this picture.  I think you can learn a lot about creating the perfect combo in your home.