Munich exudes Bavarian charm.  Certainly known for their Beer and all the festivities that surround it Munich has more to offer than just what it reputation precedes.The residents are proud of their city, Bavarians are known throughout Germany as an opinionated folk. But as proud of their roots the citizens have retained that distinctive Bavarian character, which gives this vibrant city its authentic character. When visiting or stopping through the promenade of Marienplatz is perfect for people watching and gawking at the Glockenspiele of City Hall.With the usual bustle of Munichs beer-gardens below, cool brew is served in the signature "Masskrug", the typical one-liter steins and the oompah band or "Blasmusik" is entertaining the crowd with jovial tunes. Beer fanatics should head immediately to the Hofbräuhaus though, as a hops heaven that’s been brewing since 1589. The drinking is downright legendary during Oktoberfest, a celebration of local beers and German specialty foods.  Munich is known for its pride in local customs and traditions as well as its distinctive Bavarian zest for life. It is a city where life is preferably enjoyed outdoors. The center of Munich offers pedestrians a network of car-free streets which are lined with interesting shops, restaurants, cafes, fountains, and historical buildings  In honor of the city Loose Petals is offering $5.00 off any non-sale city organic print size 8 x 10 or larger for the month of November 2016! Use code 5OFF at check out.

Source

http://www.gls-german-courses.de/uploads/tx_brgallery/08_Muenchen_Panorama.jpg

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g187309-Munich_Upper_Bavaria_Bavaria-Vacations.html

When trying to achieve a special mood in your interior spaces, the Pantone colors of the season are a great resource to enhance your space. Pantone colors offer a rainbow of colors you can mix and match.  Make your own picture perfect setting with the latest colors of the season.  As the seasons change, you can adjust your interiors by adding some touches such as artwork as plants.  This friendly chart made by FTD, offers simple splashes of bouquet colors that brighten rustic interiors effortlessly.  Many of our city prints have these deep rich colors that compliment and match the colors of the season.

For those of you who have friends and colleges that have more of a design sense of style can be hard to buy gifts for. With the gift giving season to coming close here are some of our ideas behind what they might like:

1. Macaire Mini Bottles with Tray Set ($59)

(http://www.homedecorators.com/p/macaire-mini-bottles-with-tray-set/00/250/)

2. Four Piece 12 Gauge Shotgun Shell Coaster Set W/ Base ($13)

(http://www.amazon.com/Piece-Gauge-Shotgun-Shell-Coaster/dp/B00FQLOE82)

3. Collector's Editions Plates ($6- $29)

(http://www.westelm.com/products/collectors-edition-dinnerware-wall-art-e1192/?pkey=cgifts-25-under&&cgifts-25-under)

4. Monochromatic Matte Clocks ($149)

(http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/leff-amsterdam)

5. Now Designs Printed Floursack Towels, Heritage Grains Print, Set of ( $18)

(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004T18Q48/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004T18Q48&linkCode=as2&tag=xogr-tn-hub-diy-20)

One of Chicago's biggest city attraction is all the shops along Michigan Ave. Over 400 stores pack the concrete along Michigan Avenue, the eight-block stretch known as Magnificent Mile. This area between Oak Avenue and the Chicago River is more a shopping paradise than a full-out neighborhood. The northern end of the street is at Lake Shore Drive on the shore of Lake Michigan the Gold Coast Historic District. For prime upscale shopping, this is the place to go. It’s busy, energetic, and packed with shoppers. You'll also find hundreds of restaurants and dozens of hotels, all on the mid- to high-end scale. Some of the city’s most iconic buildings like the Wrigley Building, John Hancock Center and other architectural marvels define the magnificence of this neighborhood.  In honor of the city Loose Petals is offering $5.00 off any non-sale city organic print size 8 x 10 or larger for the month of October 2016! Use code 5OFF at check out.

Source: 

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/MichiganAveFromMilleniumPark_ChicagoIL.jpg

http://www.themagnificentmile.com/

As the crisp warm leaves fall from the trees and the kids begin to grow with excitement you start to feel the crisp autumn air set in. Bring the fresh, fun, autumn atmosphere in to your home with the following tips!

1.     Dress up your front porch with corn stalks or straw to wrap around anything. Using thick colored ribbon in deep oranges to tie everything together. Carry these same materials into lanyards or garlands around your front door and entry.

2.     Use your fireplace to showcase seasonal décor: Your fireplace mantel has been waiting for this season! Whether you look in your yard, or you travel to an arts and crafts store, dried leaves and pinecones make great décor. Small pumpkins, gourds or dried leaf vines, and colorful candles will brighten your mantle and spirits.

3.    Include Autumnal Colors Combine autumn red or orange splashes with a neutral or contrasting base such as taupe, olive, or blue. Muted greens are fresh alternatives to bold warm colors. Throw Pillows, table accessories, and accent rugs are high-impact, low-investment places to start.

4.    Find woodsy elements at your local farmers' market or your own backyard. Look for moss, grasses, and small branches. Fill interesting pots with any combination of them, or turn a bundle of twigs into a natural photo holder.

5.     Depending on if you want to go formal or casual for your table, choose colors that reflect your home decor AND the season.  Using red and yellow apples for an informal organic and edible centerpiece is pleasing to the eye. For more formal centerpiece design try adding a tablecloth that has hints of fall colors and themes. Small but unexpected details go a long way at the dinner table.

6.    Fall decor can be visual but it also involves your other senses like smell.  Pumpkin pies, cinnamon apple cider and fire wood scents are all warm and cozy smells. Try using candles, incensing, or boiling a pot of spices.

Durham is a creative, innovative community that is always doing something new. It occupies a prime location in the heart of North Carolina and is a nexus for learning, creativity, research, and industry. In addition to Duke and NCCU, Durham is home to North Carolina School of Science & Math, Durham Technical Community College, and many other private schools. Whether you're a resident, visitor, group planner, newcomer, journalist, or consultant, you will find something to love about the Bull City. To the U.S. Durham is known as the City of Medicine. Having healthcare as a major industry for the city they boasts one of the largest payroll brackets with a combined payroll that exceeds $1.2 billion annually, including more than 300 medical and health-related companies and medical practices .  In honor of the city Loose Petals is offering $5.00 off any non-sale city organic print size 8 x 10 or larger for the month of September 2016! Use code 5OFF at check out.

Source: 

http://vacationidea.com/pix/img25Hy8R/destinations/best-things-to-do-in-durham-nc_t5.jpg

http://www.durham-nc.com/

Shadow Box - Piece together a shadow box with mementos you scored on your trip. Cut letters of the city out of postcards or photos and added in little touches like sand from the area. Add other small little trinkets that add to the design and feel of your trip

Bottles of Sand - Collect sand from your travels and create a display of them contained in bottles and jars of different shapes and sizes to add a shabby chic touch. Label them with the names of the places you took them from, and you'll have a display that's guaranteed to transport you to a different city. Or grab one big jar for your local store and put the sand in drawing a line at the top of each layer with where the sand is from.

Frame Up Paper Mementos - Take all the paper mementos you collected on your trip — be it photos, tickets, brochures, wrappers, maps, menus, currency, and more — and place them in a frame to create these collages. Play with the idea of using one large frame or using multiple smaller frames to create a large feature gallery wall.

Cubby Organizer - You can always organize your souvenirs in a cute cubby organizer. Try picking up some vintage printers trays to store your knickknack souvenirs in.

Memory Box - Use wooden boxes and stencil in the names of the cities, then paint them in different colors that would display well in your bookcase. This is great if you want to you’re your souvenirs on hand and (somewhat) on display but not having to put a lot of work into the actual display. Not only are these boxes pretty, but they'll also keep your souvenirs organized, which means you'll be able to relive a particular trip's memories with ease when you take out a box to explore its contents.

Source:
http://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/How-Display-Travel-Souvenirs-30410433#photo-30411110

http://hellolittlehome.com/decorating-with-travel-souvenirs/

With winter just around the corner here are some good examples of tropical interior designs and key elements within each design to keep you thinking of summer.

Textural weaves

Tropical woods with an exotic flavor

Sheer, floaty window treatments

Plenty of plants 

Luxurious like a tropical resort vacation home

Accents from the beach

Blur the line between indoors and outdoors

Source:

homeportfolio.com

myinteriordesign.com

From the Magic Kingdom to magical spa treatments, Orlando sparkles with the promise of adventure.Orlando is know for their copious amounts of theme parks and tourist attractions. You can spend a day exploring the world-famous Disney theme parks, giggling with the dolphins at Sea World, or screaming your head off on a Universal Studios roller coaster. Or for a less adrenaline-pumping afternoon, enjoy the quiet natural beauty of the Harry P. Leu Gardens, or enjoy a seaweed scrub at a luxury day spa. Savor fresh and local ingredients at one of Orlando’s James Beard-nominated restaurants. Orlando has always hosted a variety of things to do in its city center and shows the culture of that! The City of is nicknamed "The City Beautiful" and its symbol is the fountain at lake Eola. There are 115 neighborhoods within the city limits of Orlando. The city limits resemble a checkerboard, with pockets of unincorporated Orange County surrounded by city limits.  The Metro Orlando has a total of 19 completed skyscrapers with a majority that are located in the downtown area the rest are located in the tourist district southwest of downtown. In honor of the city Loose Petals is offering $5.00 off any non-sale city organic print size 8 x 10 or larger for the month of August 2016! Use code 5OFF at check out.

Source: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlando,_Florida#Tourism_in_history

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g34515-Orlando_Florida-Vacations.html

If there’s one style that never goes out of style, it’s the nautical, beach-inspired look. This style will function well in any area of your home, the bathroom, your kitchen, or even your kids room. The characteristic features of nautical interior design are the presence of textile, inexpensive wooden furniture and an abundance of white color. Nautical interior design is the perfect way to make us feel like the ocean is always near. With elements such as ships, anchors, sea creatures, and the nautical colors of navy and white, you can relax in the comfort of your own home. Below are a few elements you will find in any of these spaces. 

1. White Walls – Use white walls to give your space a blank slate and to create a open and fresh feeling in the rooms.

2. Light floors - There are many ways you can go about doing this, if you are willing to splurge on some new flooring simply pick a whitewashed wood panel, or go for a fun soft cream carpet.  If new flooring simply isn't an option start with painting your old floors with the proper kind of floor paint. In this kind of space, the more damaged and scraped up your floors are, the better.  

3. Wood paneling - Whether it be in a bathroom or bedrooms on walls or on ceilings, wood paneling creates visual interest in a white on white color schemed room. The shadows in the joints of the paneling create texture and warmth. Play with the idea of using this to cover your ceiling surface as well.  This could help make a room feel longer or wider depending on which direction the panels go and I actually think it might make the room feel taller too.

4. Beams – faux wood beams are fairly easy to make or find and they also are a quick and simple way to hide any loose wires or ventilation on your ceiling. It also helps with the feeling of getting away, like you have escaped to a cottage after all.

5. Striped Textiles –  An introduction of striped patterns in furniture, area rugs, linens, drapes etc. create a more relaxing feel with the repetitive and calming aspects of the pattern. 

6. Blue! (and grey too) – A MUST! Dark blue with a light grey are great colors to introduce to your space without screaming your nautical theme and they also complement the white surrounding the space, counterbalancing all of the bright white.

Sources: 
http://www.2015interiordesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/nautical-interior-grid.jpg

http://samuelandpandora.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Nautical1.jpg

http://samuelandpandora.com/nautical-inspired-white-interiors/

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/05/21/article-1186074-04D836AA000005DC-26_634x462.jpg

http://www.stylemotivation.com/19-fantastic-nautical-interior-design-ideas-home/