Thank you very much to Victoria and the rest of the Great Day team for making me feel welcome!

Also, thank you to Pottery Barn at Plaza Frontenac for lending me the goodies!

If the video doesn’t appear, click here.

I can give you more pointers at one of the decorating classes I teach at Pottery Barn.  Lots of great tips and hands-on advice from me and wonderful associates at the store!

Check their event calendar to get info and sign up!

I am so excited for all the amazing color coming out in fashion and furniture stores!  Yellow is such an optimistic color, you can’t help but smile when wearing it or seeing it as an accent piece in your home.  It is also a very vital reminder that warm weather is almost here!

So, use these photos and objects as inspirations for a very cheery 2011 outlook!

Click on the photos to visit the vendor’s sites…

necklace from Kate Spade that spawned this post...LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

love these Tolix chairs and in yellow, even better!

canary bird tealights from CB2 - adorable!

paint your cabinets canary yellow for a fresh look!

uh oh, my Kate Spade bag now in yellow seersucker...someone hide the plastic!

from seersucker to tent stripes, so cheery!

daffodils are my favorite flower!

Kate Spade has a flower I love, too!

flowers on a pillow from CB2

a little yellow goes a long way...

what a fun idea!

a taste of the Hamptons from Crate & Barrel

Love this chair from CB2 - too pretty to go outside!!!

another great way to use paint!

simply adorable! works indoors and out!

another beautiful space

go outside & enjoy the sunshine!!

Creating an inspiration collage is something I encourage people to do, even when not working with a designer.  It is important to gather images of rooms, furniture, colors, accessories that you love and edit to help shape your vision.  As you move forward in purchases for your home, this collage will serve as a blueprint for your style.

I have a framed corkboard that I change out periodically to reflect my focus at any given time.  I’m starting fresh in several aspects of my life and this is my inspiration at the moment.

my inspiration collage

I rearranged some accessories in my apartment as well as pulled new concept photos for my board.  This is always an easy trick to reinvent bookshelves, coffee tables, etc.  Moving things into different rooms gives your accessories and photos new perspective and saves money!

Here are my inspirations at the moment…

I love flowers: real, fake or in photos.  It is too expensive to get fresh flowers, so I settle for realistic-looking fake versions.  Love these from Pottery Barn!

I love looking at photos of my close friends & family, especially my sister Tabs.  I have lots of framed pictures of the two of us all over my apt.  She’s my best friend; can’t imagine my life without her!

I also adore my Patch NYC butterfly plate from West Elm. It is such a cute shaped platter and the free-hand feel of the butterfly sketch is simply beautiful.

Inspiring poems and quotes are included in my collage along with photos of places I would like to live someday.  Outdoor spaces are especially inspirational to me; I love watching nature.  The photo of the crystal chandeliers over the simple vases of tulips shows creative balance.  The Prada sunglasses ad in the center represents how I would like to be perceived: a juxtaposition of an intense & playful spirit.

As I pass by this space, I feel uplifted and hopeful.  I hope you enjoy making your own inspiration collage!

Here are some of my favorite spring items to add a bit of  “bonnet” to your pad!

Stella & Dot "garden party necklace"

West Elm "summer garden pillow"

Steve Madden "Fauntain"

Liberty of London for Target

Wisteria "delightful doormat - birds on a tree"

Serena & Lily "Freida Collection"

Dash & Albert "zanzibar ticking rug"

Crate & Barrel "emily pillow"

The Limited "spring ruched scarf"

Here are a few great options at very reasonable prices!  Click on each image to visit the websites!

Atom Designs - Goldfinch Pillow

West Elm - Sunshine Ikat Outdoor Pillow

Pottery Barn - Coral Pillow

West Elm - Shells Pillow