We've Moved!!!

Although it is sad to be leaving the place where we started.. this is an exciting time for Macanoon Designs. We have officially moved to our new and improved website. 

Please check us out there at www.macanoondesigns.com !!

Monday's Trend Report: Effortless Beauty

The trend of effortless beauty has and (I think) always will be prevalent within both the fashion and design realm. In the fashion world there has been a huge uprise of the "natural"look, both in the way were wearing make- up and the way we are dressing.This overly simplistic yet sophisticated look has only gotten more popular with age.There is something so appealing when things look beautiful all on their own,  without falling into the rhythm of constantly editing and styling. I am always a sucker for a simple outfit that looks 
polished but that's also functional; same thing goes for interior spaces. I think that in our society it is easy to over decorate rooms and over accessories outfits. But if we take a step back and recognize what the overall function of the room is, then you will have an easier time choosing pieces that are effortlessly beautiful all on their own. 

Cafe Style

One of my dreams is to open up a cafe one day, one that bakes its muffins and bagels fresh the day of and serves the most delicious lattes. One of those cute ones that all the locals love and all the tourists migrate to. A social space, a place to work & a place to indulge. Some of my favorite interior design inspiration is found from various cafes that I have visited in the past. Starbucks always has a great look to it.. but my favorites are the small cafes in little towns that I pass through. I love the industrial rustic look. I want my future cafe to look like these! I love the mix of classic design with some organic touches. Taking some inspiration from your favorite places and translating it into the spaces in your home can help you create a home you absolutely love. 

Here are some of my favorite cafes...

Emmas

Dust Jacket Attic

Friday's Favorites: Outdoor Spaces

When thinking about what to blog about for today, couldn't help but think about how excited I am that the sun if finally out! So what better topic to talk about other than, Outdoor spaces?!? I personally love outdoor spaces. One of the biggest things that I try to incorporate in much of my design, is breaking the boundary between indoors and outdoors and one of the easiest ways to do this is creating an outdoor space. The pictures below show some interesting ways to bring the indoors out...

How to Make Your Bedroom an Oasis

Every since I was a little girl, my bedroom acted as my sanctuary. I would always go there for time away, whenever I needed space. Im not sure if it was due to habit but i'm still the same way today. I love my bedroom! Something about the art of crafting a perfect bedroom is always so much fun for me. I love being able to create a place that speaks to the inhibitor but also acts as their haven. When creating a bedroom there are a couple of important aspects to keep in check to make sure you are achieving the most relaxing experience for your self. 

Bringing out your Creative Side: Kid's Rooms

Eat Sleep Cuddle

Kid's rooms have to be some of the most magical places in order to express their imaginative minds. Kid's rooms are a place where designing can be the most fun. Who said it was against the rules to but a ship in your room?! Also, everyone knows that a children's artwork is so much more colorful and abstract than anything you could buy for your home, so their room is the place to showcase their talent! Creating a fun and eclectic nursery is the perfect way to bring back your childish side when you're getting ready to welcome a new little one into the family. So my best advice for you is have fun. This room allows for the most freedom and disorder in your house. Think of all the things you loved as a kid, colors, patterns, toys, and characters and incorporate them into the design of the perfect kids oasis!

Warning: Plan in advance for the thousands of toys that will constantly be spread across the floor.

Some of my favorite big name places to look for kids stuff are Land of Nod, Ikea, RH Baby & Child, and PB Kids, but I love these designs so much... 

Found: Sally Lee By the Sea

Stationary Supply

Brown Parcel Press

So, it's safe to say there are some amazing & talented people out there. And in my very biased opinion, many of them reside in the design industry. As I've gone through exploring and learning all I can about interior design, event design, graphic design, art, visual merchandising & all other forms of design work.. I have come across some extremely awesome people and businesses. It's been quite the journey thus far, and soon my real 'big girl' design schooling will begin this fall when I start Grad School for interior architecture. But for now, I've found most of my inspiration and knowledge exploring Pinterest on a non-stop basis, ordering every possible book on Amazon, and working with, talking to, and interning with some amazing people. 

There are some simple things that overlap in all design fields. A few really important things are pattern and color. So I thought it'd be fun to look at some of my favorite kinds of art... STATIONARY! I came across some awesome businesses and people that create stationary that are works of art themselves, so I wanted to share them! It's hard to avoid pressing the add to cart button on all of these!

Emily McCarthy

Monday's Trend Report: The Best Fashion Advice For Your Home

The art of dressing and decorating are the biggest non-verbal ways of communication; they both tell a story of your life, communicate your personal opinions, and are used as a self reflection. So that is why I thought what better way to decorate your home then to use common fashion advice?! 

Washroom Wonders: 6 Key features to include in your next design

Lavatory, bathroom, water closet, powder room...whatever you might call it there's only 6 things you need to know when it comes to designing it. 

Black, White, Gold, Subway tile, rustic touches, & clean lines. Utilize these 6 essential features and you can't go wrong in creating the most beautiful bathroom on the block. 

Point proven... 

The Zhush Blog

Friday's Favorites: Words of Wisdom

Sometimes it's easy to get a little down on yourself or find yourself struggling to find inspiration. Whenever this happens to me, I like reading quotes. I'm not sure why, and Morgan almost kills me every time I get in these moods, but it really works! So, I suggest you try it. Which is why today, my Friday's favorites are my 10 favorite interior design- related quotes. With our time at UMass Amherst coming quickly to an end, Morgan and I find ourselves stressed out all too often trying to find a job, or figure out what the heck we are going to do after we graduate. But, we've always known one thing, that interior design and Macanoon is where we will end up someday, so I chose these quotes because they keep me focused on this goal and my desired career path! I challenge you to read these ones and love them, or to seek out your own quotes that keep you motivated if these aren't the right fit for you! Share your favorites with us in the comments section below...

Friday's Favorites: Mint Body Products

Recently, I've been obsessing over mint body products. Especially with all this snow and cold weather, nothing is better than a nice, refreshing at-home spa to get your skin & mind re-energized. So, for this week's Friday's Favorites, here are some of the best minty products to get you feeling fresh in the heist of all this awful weather. Take the next snow day (since I'm sure there will be more of them at this rate) to make yourself the most rejuvenating at home spa. Grab the bath salts and a cup of tea and get relaxing!

Rejuvenate- make someone or something look or feel younger, fresher, or more lively
Re-energize- give fresh vitality, enthusiasm, or impetus to