Spring is just around the corner and with the sun shining a little more, all I can think about is getting outdoors.  I love making my home as cozy as can be during the colder months, adding warmth and texture with pillows, blankets, and a crackling fire, but when the temperatures warm up I’m ready to come out of my cocoon and do some outdoor living.  Are you with me?

My design dreaming takes a bit of a shift too.  I’m no longer stuck, only, on things like paint colors and placing pictures here and there.  I’m now contemplating ways to adorn the exterior side of things, as well.  Currently, I have no plans to make major changes to the exterior of our home, however I still love to look and be inspired by other people’s homes.  This is one of my favorite things about taking walks – – looking at houses.  The love continues, as I have an entire pin board dedicated to exteriors.  I love to look at homes that are extremely different than mine – different styles, different eras, different materials, different parts of the world.  I look for littles bits of same, and I look for details that differ, that I might be able to somehow emulate.  Interiors can often be replicated, but exteriors, many times, can only be imitated by way of the finest of details.

In the front of a home, my eye is always drawn to color, windows, doors and flowers, and in the back, if we are so lucky to get a peek, I love looking at the decorated details around the patio or pool that make outdoor living inviting.

Here are a few outdoor details to steal this spring, no matter what style of home you live in:

Shutters / I love shutters.  Maybe because my house doesn’t have them.  Or, maybe because I’ve daydreamed of looking out of a two story window and then closing my shutters when ready to retire for the day.  I love the look these pretty storm shutters.  They have me dreaming of living near the sea.

And, what about shutters with a sweet inset design?  Character added in an instant.

Window Boxes / Who doesn’t love a good window box?  I’m partial to the flowing floral kind, but I’m just as much loving the idea of simple greens for a more modern look.  Pretty, right?

An Interesting Door / I’m a huge fan of painted doors.  For awhile, I was painting my front door a different color every year.  Right now it is yellow, and again, I’m itching for an update.

I’m also crazy for Dutch doors.  I mean who wouldn’t love to just leave half the door open to let in the beautiful breeze?  And, they look amazing no matter what side of the door you are on.  I’m definitely going to go Dutch when it comes to doors in my one day some day house.

Tell me, if you could add any look or detail (big or small) to your exteiror what would it be?  

Images:  Style Me Pretty / Tapco / Cult of Tomorrow / Jelanie Blog / Domino

This post is in collaboration with The Tapco Group.  All ideas and opinions are my own.

By Trina

i’m so happy to have kelly, of design crush, share her monday mess.  i’ve long been a fan of design crush.  when it comes to all things design, kelly knows whats going on.  i’m so glad i’ve had a chance to chat with kelly at ALT, in years past,…she is as nice as can be!  keep reading…i think you’ll really enjoy her mess . . .

My kitchen table is a catchall for every single thing that comes in the front door, at least that’s how it feels! I try to clean it off at least once a week but it’s like a magnet for things that need mailed, DIY projects, etc. I’m happy to report the box at the top left has been successfully mailed and that the box on the far right is full of successfully written out holiday cards, however the rest needs cleaned off badly.

My two pups, Piper and Bebe, have a serious rawhide and tug of war addiction. Their collection of both (along with a few chew toys thrown in for good measure) sits in the corner of my living room. When I pick everything up at the end of each day the cute canvas basket does its job, but a few hours into the morning it looks like this. Girls will be girls and I’m okay with that.

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i’m smitten that kelly shared her pile of her pups bones and toys!  these are the things that make a house a home, yes?  do your pets have piles in your home too?

By Trina

LONDON!  i didn’t want to make it so obvious with an obvious landmark, that is.  and, really, because my eyes are going to be looking here and there and everywhere to seek out this type of inspiration.  the last time i was in england i was totally mesmerized by all of the colored doors and went home and painted my front door a bright color.

anyhow, i’m here attending a conference and then taking a few days to visit my english bestie on the south coast.  i’ve left my computer at home and plan to have a personal retreat of sorts.  i can’t wait to fill you in when i return.

you can follow along on instagram and i also have some really great posts lined up right here!

cheerio, loves!

image / Neals Yard

By Trina

this post was really unplanned.  i was going to share a few items that i’m really loving these days (some new, some old)….but last night i participated in pin party where the subject was pops of color.  i quickly started seeing a color trend in my own pins, as well others and that color was . . . yellow.  i think it is the new neutreual.  i say that because, although, yellow is a bright color, it is being used in very white, simple modern / vintage modern settings.  now maybe, i am late to the party?  i know pops of yellow have been around for awhile (my front door has been yellow for a few years now, after all) but i think now, it is worked in anywhere and everywhere making it the new neutral, if you will.

i also saw a lot of pink (which you all know i love) and pink paired with yellow, to be specific.  i mean, really, i should say that the new color neautrals are a recipe consisting of one white and airy space, add a dash of yellow or pink or equal parts of the two combined, used sparingly and with a pinch of whimsy. voîla + enjoy!

what do you think?  are you noticing this color trend too?  would you use pink or yellow (or both) in your home?  what color trends are you noticing?

ps- i painted a pink square on my fireplace and… it gets a lot of compliments.  i think this idea for your fireplace is really rad if you dare :

and if you are more subdued than this one will do :

you can see more from the pops of color pinboard here.

it was fun pinning with you Land of Nod, The Honest Company, CupcakeMag, Coconut Robot,  Casey Wiegand,  Ruffled Snob,  and The Inspired Room,

images / plantefur / yatzer / dwell / sweet lemon mag / moody’s home / cheap + chic nursery / pink fridge  / oy oy

By Trina

Aren’t these pictures super cute?  I’m hoping some of you can relate in that it has taken me almost a year to get my photos framed (just keeping it real).  I had these special photos printed and framed by Pinhole Press.

It’s no secret that I love Pinhole.  Many of you know what great paper products they have and you’ve seen what fun things I’ve ordered before but did you ever think about printing and framing your most precisous photos with them?  I wish I wouldn’t have waited so long because this was the easiest framing process ever and the finished product is so gorgeous.  Just a couple of clicks online and a few days later they arrived at my front door ready to cheer up my walls.

And speaking of Pinhole, have you seen their new Holiday line? Are you even thinking about the holiday cards yet?  Here a few of my favorites to get you in the mood (in fact, I already have mine picked out – just need the photo) . . .

 XOXO / PEACE /MERRY MERRY /Frameable Holiday Wishes / NOEL

And as for gift giving I think this Memory Game is so darling.  Don’t you?

This post was sponsored by Pinhole Press, however, all opinions are my own.

By Trina