Courtney Michaels - 4/5 - The Inspired Room

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Hello there, it’s Courtney! So, I have a thing for funny animals. I love them in real life (except for sloths, never sloths), but I also love them in patterns and decor for the home. I also love them when they wear sweaters. Am I weird? Yes. But do I feel a little better about my weirdness when I see that Anthropologie, West Elm, Rifle Paper Co, and World Market understand me and incorporate animals into their products? Yes I do.

I love that my mom always has always decorated with a few quirky animals in her home. It makes everything a little less serious. My mom and I are similar. We laugh a lot and see the humor in life whenever possible. We’ve been known to text each other funny looking animals or post random animal videos on our Facebook on occasion. We know it will make us laugh so hard that the only appropriate response will be the cry laughing emoji. So, it makes sense that we would reflect that humor a bit in our decorating style. You just can’t take everything so seriously.

Like that weird little deer head you’ve probably seen on the wall in my mom’s office. I sit in that corner all the time to work, and it just wouldn’t be the same without that guy above my chair. Like my mom said when we decided to buy him one day, “if it’s wrong, I don’t want to be right”. :)

In what ways do you add lighthearted fun or humor to your decor?

Gather is a round-up of design inspiration and gift ideas by Courtney Michaels, creative coordinator and contributor for The Inspired Room.

Related Posts:

Inspired Rooms: Add Some Fun and Whimsy

Gather: Foxes

Gather: Whales {Decor and Gifts}

Charming Cottage Tour {5 Takeaway Tips}

Hello and happy Friday! It’s Courtney here today. I found this sweet cottage in House and Garden designed by Caroline Holdaway, and there was so much I loved about it that I had to share it with you! First of all, it’s in England. I mean…would anyone be upset about having a vacation cottage in England?

Even though I don’t have an English cottage of my own (darnit), there are so many lovely details in this home and inspiring elements that I can learn from its design.

Here are five takeaway tips I’ve gathered from observing this charming cottage:

1) A Soft Color Palette

I love this home’s fresh white backdrops with little touches of pastel. The simple color palette just feels calm to me, while still being interesting to look at.

2) Quirks and Charming Surprises

I’m inspired by all of the quirky details including mismatched dining chairs, imperfect wood benches with chipped paint and uneven legs, little teacups on ledges, and a wooden chair as a nightstand.

3) Balanced Simplicity

While these spaces are designed simply, they still include eye-catching elements like art, unique accessories, and plenty of texture. I like that balance! Not too overwhelming, but not too boring either.

4) Romantic Details

There is something pretty and romantic in every room, whether it’s a collection of floral plates, a stack of old books, a sweet grouping of roses in a vase, or taper candles ready to be lit.