Puppy Love

See these guys? I told you I'm obsessed with them right? Yesterday Harvey got to swim at my parents house yesterday and he's been tired ever since. And cash is pretty much always tired. Cash is me in dog form- occasionally hyper, loves to cuddle, always sleepy, and super angry when you wake him up for a nap. Seriously- don't wake him up! Speaking of naps.... I think I'm going to join these crazy pups and go to sleep.

oh hi there

Hi readers (...anyone?)

Well it looks like I'm alone in here, but that's ok! it's been about a year since I've blogged anything at all, and there really wasn't much of "me" in there. I have decided that this blog is all about me, so now I will be very present in all my posts! Since these posts are all about me- let me tell you a little about myself. 

I married the love of my life2 years ago and we live a blissful life here in Mesa AZ where we will be forever and ever. 

When i married my last name changed from Pratt, to Stinocher (pronounced Sty-knock-er). It overwhelms people to read my name, but once you know how to pronounce it, it's very easy!

Scott (oh that's my husband) and I have 2 dogs, Harvey (Rhodesian ridge back/German shepherd mix), and Cash (Corgi/everything else you can imagine mix). Both are crazy, but Harvey is craziest. I'm sure you will hear PLENTY about these little guys in the future.

I work in a call center (that you know) and I teach piano lessons. Well I WANT to teach piano lessons, finding students has proven to be more difficult that originally planned. BUT recently I have started decorating cookies.

I am going to start selling them for $15/dozen. actually i made my first sell at work on Thursday. I have been commissioned to make spongebob cookies. Pictures will follow. 

We just bought a new home, and i will be posting pictures in the future as i decorate each room. well that's a basic summary of me! hope you enjoy my blog as i truly work harder to make posts :-)

Day Dreams

I spend eight hours a day in a gray 6'x6' cubicle staring at a computer screen and listening to the phone ring. Sometimes (okay.... almost all the time) there isn't much to do at work besides count rings and dance to ring tones. Today, as I was cleaning the dust out of my telephone cord with a thumb-tac, my mind started to wander...

I began thinking about strong lines and bold colors. I thought about Utah and lovely chats with Mrs. Katie Macdonald about modern design. I miss the cozy brick living room where my husband and I would sleep and the custom, modern artwork that filled the apartment. 

There is something so inviting about modernism. Clean lines, smooth surfaces, and open spaces. So clean and organized- no clutter from life. Although I love the modern look, I have never lived the kind of clutter-free lifestyle that compliments such design. The Corbu Lounge by LeCorbusier epitomizes the lifestyle I wish I could accommodate.

Although my life is too cluttered to enjoy a strictly modern space, I don't feel that I cannot have modern pieces adorning my home. By mixing modern style with a more quixotic influence, a fabulously eclectic space is born.

My absolute favorite style is this combination. Romantic tufted furniture and soft window treatments coupled with dark, angular accents and colorfully funky accessories creates a glamorous and sophisticated space.

Color Basics

What is color?

In 1666, English scientist Sir Isaac Newton discovered that when pure white light passes through a prism, it separates into all of the visible colors. Newton also found that each color is made up of a single wavelength and cannot be separated any further into other colors.

Perhaps this scientific finding is why people are so stressed when it comes to choosing colors for their space. I often have family members and friends (even strangers in stores sometimes) ask me for advice when it comes to choosing colors for their home. This task always brings me joy as I love color; especially when I see the dramatic effect it has in a room.

Color is to design as the ABC’s are to reading. It is essential to understand in order to move ahead. The only difference between the two is that the rules for choosing color are much more relaxed.

But as color can be very scientific, I would like to make color a little more accessible to my anxiety ridden friends. Let’s begin with PRIMARY colors. As you probably know, the primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. As these colors are combined they create more colors.

When you mix a primary color with another primary color it creates a SECONDARY color. And when you mix a primary color with that secondary color it will yield a TERTIARY color. Mixing can continue from there into infinite combinations, but Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary are the most basic combinations; and are the essentials in choosing any color scheme.

Warm Colors (Red, Yellow, and Orange) invoke a feeling of energy and are known to be mentally stimulating. These colors can be used easily in an office, kitchen, or playroom.

Cool Colors (Green, Blue, and Violet) are known to enhance relaxation and can physically make a space feel cooler.

The phenomenon of color can have a major impact on a space and over my next few posts I will be discussing some standard color combinations and their impact on the way we live.