Inspired by Mindy Kaling's LA Home

Who else is excited about Ocean's Eight?!

I saw the trailer last week and flipped out.  It's got 2 of my favorite people - Mindy Kaling & Helena Bonham Carter. And it features that annual event that launched a thousand best-and-worst dressed lists - the MET Gala.  I can't wait to see this 8-women action / adventure / comedy play out. Also, Mindy Kaling who's a thorough entertainer on every level and whose book  "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?" I read in a single sitting on a plane ride, always, always makes me laugh. 

Architectural Digest featured Mindy's bright and cheerful LA home earlier in the year. Like Mindy, it's vibrant and full of personality. What caught my eye though, was this fun tropical wallpaper in one of the powder rooms.  

How fun & funky is that! 

For some reason it made me think of all the fabulous tropical islands I need to go to, like Turks & Caicos and the Maldives. Aaaaah, I'm dreaming of sea breeze and ocean spray.

Well, if you can't go to the tropics, you can always bring the tropics home!  

So here's what I came up with.  A tropical, paradise bedroom. Gorgeous Seychelles wallpaper complemented with soft, serene greens. Clean lines, gold accents & a hint of leopard keep it modern. Natural fiber and seagrass bring in texture and a relaxed feel.

Seychelles wallpaper / headboard / bordered duvet set / accent pillow / curtain rod / curtains / nightstand / natural fiber rug / mirror / dresser / leopard tray / hydrangeas & roses / art / seagrass tray

Alright folks, and on that note, we're going to close out 2017 and welcome 2018!

If you're looking to refresh & rejuvenate your living space in the new year,  I'd love to help you do that. A few days ago, I told you about  "Step into Style",  a decorating & styling package I'm offering.  Be it your home, a condo, a rental apartment or a room,  we will get creative and crafty and imbue it with personality.

I don't believe decorating should mean getting rid of everything you already own and buying a whole bunch of new stuff!!   Nor should it mean buying every single piece from a catalog. Na-hah.  Instead, I believe it's about mixing,  newer purchases with treasured antiques, enhancing what you already own, and doing it in a way that makes sense for your life and family.  There's nothing more appealing than a home with a distinct personality.

And there's ways to achieve that without breaking the bank.  

For instance, giving store-bought curtains a lift with a custom trim, like this...

JCPenney silk curtains ,  Samuel & Sons coral interlock trim

or reupholstering an antique chair you own, and modernizing it with a pretty fabric, like this...

Premier Prints zebra pink, P Kauffman buffalo check

...or renewing your bookcase with a splash of paint! Like this deep Hermes orange or geometric paper,  a lively backdrop for all your favorite reads.

Everyone deserves to feel in harmony with & proud of their living space! Give me a call if you think I can steer you in the right direction & freshen things up for you as we step into 2018.

I am very grateful for every one of you who reads, comments, shares, talks back, and is part of my life through this blog.  I appreciate you so much, and I value your interest in what I do. 

Sending a lot of good juju & positivity your way!  May you have a healthy, happy New Year & I'm thinking of you today. I hope you're up to something fun tonight. As for us, we're still "making plans"!  Welcome 2018.

Image Credits: Architectural Digest,  Real Simple, Pinterest

Gift Wrapping Mix and Match

With the rush of all that last minute gift shopping (who else is waiting in long lines practically everywhere?), I thought I'd share some easy gift wrapping combos - paper, ribbon, tags and embellishments - from our usual spots. Target, World Market, The Container Store, JoAnn, Walmart & 1-2 choice finds on Etsy.  Maybe it'll inspire you into getting creative with your wrapping this weekend! :) 

I recently discovered the double wrapping paper technique (via the fabulous Elements of Style), and I love it. You basically use a combo of two papers and run a strip down the center,  placing one above the other. The layering looks suuuuper cute!  I've included a few examples below.

1. pine grove wrapping / striped navy ribbon / snowflake tags

2. barcelona tile paper / red ribbon / prancing reindeer, 

3. gold tree paper /  green paper /  black ribbon / gold glam tassels / tag

4. nutcracker paper / striped ribbon / sprig tie on / tag

5. butterfly paper / brown paper / greek key ribbon /  gold swirl pom

6. leopard print paper / plaid ribbon  / naughty & nice gift tag / black bow

7. plaid paper / thick glitter ribbon / gold bordered labels

8. blue striped paper / solid red paper / white satin bow

9. peacock paper / dotted gold ribbon /  gold curly bow

10. antler paper / christmas tree paper / metallic gold ribbon / vintage deer tag

Even the simplest of gifts, wrapped beautifully, makes an impact.  

And how fun would it be to carry a bevy of  beautifully wrapped presents (that look like they belong together!) to your holiday party?

My Holiday Wreath

A little late to the wreath game but it's finally UP!   Made with a  mix of vintage ornaments (and a trusted hot glue gun & some ribbon of course! ). Hat tip to the inimitable Eddie Ross for inspiring this!!!   Worth every last wire twist and glue shot.

If you're feeling crafty this week, you could totally attempt one!   I've shared a quick how-to below.

Going from this 

...to that!

There's about 60 ornaments in there  (and SHOCKINGLY I had only 1 breakage over the course of doing the whole thing - yay me!) 

It adds a nice holiday-y glow to our home.

Here's how to make one:
1. You'll need about 60-80 ornaments.
2. Bend a wire hanger into the shape of a circle.
3. Stick the ornament caps to the top of the ornaments with a dab of hot glue (the caps tend to slip out quite easily especially when jostling them around as you arrange  'em. You don't want to skip this step!!)
4. String one ornament at a time through the wire hanger, in the color and order that you want.

A quick tip - I actually arranged the ornaments on the floor first, before stringing them through the wire hanger. It just makes it easier to visualize, and then place them as you go.

And a few more colorful wreaths to spark your imagination!

I love this gold & silver  - maybe next year!

Whaddya think??? :)   

Rugs to Knock Their Socks Off!

Lately, I've gotten so many questions on this one topic (the most asked / requested topic), I thought I'd dedicate a post to it!  Rugs and where to find some good ones, and how to select one for your space.

Someone I recently met lamented "We've tried out a few different rugs in our living room & haven't liked a thing!" This young couple has a toddler so not only did it need to look good and be durable, but soft too. Not an easy task!
A few other things I heard, "We found a rug we love, but it's too small for our room!" 
And, "We have a bright, coral couch with floral pillows, and it's been hard finding a rug that will complement it."   
One busy dentist told me, "I get quite a bit of foot traffic in my office and want a rug that can handle it,  is not too pricey, and I want it to look good!"

I couldn't wait to get back home (we were in Austin for the weekend attending a friend's baby shower!) and write this post up for ya'll.  Rugs on rugs on rugs! :) My favorites. A variety of styles, price points & ideas on how to use them in your space.

Natural Fiber Rugs
If you want to ground a room that already has a lot of color and pattern, say with a statement sofa and cushions? Go with a simple jute or sisal rug.

There's lotsa options out there in all price ranges. These rugs are durable, and a chunky sisal or a jute basketweave feels soft on the feet too. A nice complement to hardwood floors!   And they're great for layering. Say you have a favorite patterned rug (geometric/floral/stripes etc) but it's too small for the room, or the large version of it is pricey - just layer it with one of these & you're golden! 

Layering

1. Basketweave jute - World Market  / 2. Jute -  RugsUSA  / 3. Bordered sisal -  Pottery Barn   and there's a host more!
Use the words "jute" "sisal" "chunky basketweave" when you search.

Zebra / Hide rugs -  
I can't think of anything more effortlessly stylish than the zebra pattern. I LOVE it as an element in a room. It looks amazing in the living room, at the foot of the bed or even in an eclectic entry.   Accent a room with a faux hide rug - zebra pattern, cowhide or sheepskin (faux fur feels good too). So chic!  

1.  RugsUSA , World Market / 2.  Houzz, Overstock  / 3.  Overstock  / sheepskin - Pottery Barn, IKEA

Stripes - are a GREAT way to break up the space & easy on the eye.  I'm a fan of the broken stripe rug & they are hugely popular right now and have been for a while.  here ,  here, here & here (at IKEA for $99!!)

Mix florals with stripes! It's a great way to combine patterns. And it can bring that modern touch to a room that's heavy on florals (that could otherwise look a little stuffy or old-fashioned!) 

West Elm / Annie Selke / JCPenney

Gorgeous medallion rugs - 
I'm head over heels in LOVE with this collection at West Elm!  Reminiscent of Weinreib's mandala rugs. These could easily be THE BEST thing in your room. Stronger colors like the macaroon pink or the horizon yellow (amazing names btw!) would look great in a room with an otherwise neutral palette. 

Then there's these lighter ones by Safavieh -. they'd look amazing in an ultra-glam room, with a starburst chandelier and some gorgeous coral/gold cushions. 

Chevron Pattern
Playful, modern & eye-catching

RugsDirect / Overstock

Traditional Rugs
Pretty traditional rugs in muted colors (below)   Houzz, Overstock & RugsUSA  

Don't be afraid to roll out a traditional rug in a modern room!  In fact, it can really make a room go from looking too sterile,  to warm & welcoming! 

Florals & Botanicals -   I feel that botanicals are best left for your fabrics - curtains, cushions, accent chairs - there's so many great fabrics on the market to play with (here's my post on that).  But if it's something you're keen on, think of going with one that is limited in it's palette, 1-3 colors.  Here's a few I can get behind  :) All of these on  RugsDirect, Houzz

Distressed rugs

Flatweave runners
Great for the kitchen and narrow spaces like a hallway or the bedroom. I've been seeing so many kitchen photos with these colorful tribal / kilim runners featured in magazines,  and they look amazing! 

I found a stockpile of unique ones on Ebay and Overstock

Image credits : House Beautiful, Elements of Style, Pottery Barn, Madeline Weinreib

Fabric Fantastic

All of these fabrics at under $15 a yard!

Ever want to spice up your cushions or give new life to an old chair with fresh upholstery - why not do it with these fabrics and customize the look, for nearly the same price as store-bought ones. 

There's lots of great options at  buyfabrics.com, fabric.com &  fabricguru.com.

Worth exploring! :)

As always, I love hearing from you, so don't be shy to share your comments with me below.  I've had a few requests  (rug suggestions,  decorating styles, paint color suggestions and more) & I'm going cover all these topics over the next couple weeks! If  you have any specific topic requests, comment below.

On a separate note, who has started decorating for the holidays?!  About time to deck those halls (staircases, doors and mantels! :))