New York City living is practically synonymous with small space living, so whenever I tell people that we used to live in a NYC studio apartment, in the heart of Manhattan no less, the expressions on their faces tend to alternate between amazement, confusion, and pity. But for 16 months, my husband, daughter, and I all comfortable fit in our c. 500 sq. ft. studio.
🍁 Welcome to November! 🍂
I feel like I JUST did my September favorites and yet here I am already doing October. It's as though God sat on the remote, and is speed channel surfing. Not that I'm complaining, but I don't know that I've ever seen a year fly by the way 2017 has.
No matter how fast it goes by though, I still found some time to stop and think about the things -- great or small -- that made me happy.
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So last month, one of the things that made me happy & made my favorites list was H&M's new fall kitchenware collection, Food & Friends. Even the dangone name sounds awesome, so in hidnsight, I shouldn't have expected anything less than epic happiness delivered to my door when I ordered some of the collection items.
When I first saw the launch email, the first thing that excited me about the collection was the palette -- woon tones, rich navy blues, and lots of gold ✨ it was like someone from H&M snuck into my home & decided to create a collection curated around my actual palette...
This half bath was a renovation of a closet -- yes, closet! This really excited me because this closet was flanked by her daughters' bedrooms, and so the new bathroom would be for them to use.
Talk about making use of the space you have to create the space you need!
Although I'm not against mixing metals, as they've grown in popularity, I've noticed people using them haphazardly without any regard for how they'll play off of one another. This has been especially the case when it comes to rose gold, copper, and gold. Albeit similar, these are all very distinct metals, and when used in decor, these distinctions can make or break a design. Use correctly, they can absolutely elevate a design to something elegant and timeless; however, done incorrectly, and it'll be a piping hot mess!
For a lot of people, the school of thought is that designing your kitchen means doing a full remodel and renovation and all the hoopla you see on HGTV.
Not.
True.
Not only are renovations costly, not everyone has that luxury -- for example, in a rental. I doubt your landlord would take to kindly to you deciding to knock down a wall. But whether you own or rent, there are a number of things you can do to turn up your kitchen. Some can be small purchases that you make and others can be larger cosmetic upgrades. Check out 3 of my favorite easy peasy kitchen upgrades.
I love working on projects where the client knows early on what they want for the simple fact that it feels more like a collaboration than a job; and this remodel was, from start to finish, an awesome collaboration! She had a great vision in mind for updated their kitchen. We weren't making any changes to the actual foot print -- this was all cosmetic, and all fun.
The initial mood board was inspired by their style, as well as the style of the house, since th the kitchen is part of an open concept floor plan.
This fall, Target decided to take a new approach to their home assortment -- being more intentional & curated -- and so when I saw the announcement of this new collection, my curiouslty was peaked. I like to shop Target for my own home & also for design projects because of the affordability & accessability, and over time I did start to notice a shift in the way they were showing up in the interior design space -- more designer collaborations, wider style assortments, and just a slew of new offerings constantly being churned out.
September was definitely filled with a lot of shifts in my professional, personal, and academic life -- I find myself really trying to focus on very intentional & specific launches; both my husband & I were now both in school again (I had the summer off, he didn't), so managing our time was a lot of trial & error; and just being back in school, although taking 1 less class than I usually do, really forced me to adjust the rest of my life to make sure nothing fell to the side of the road.
Maybe you're completely brand new to who I am so you have no idea what this is all about.
On April 1st of this year, I decided to start a one year challenge & go social media free. I got tired of mindlessly scrolling through feeds, judging, comparing, and just wasting time, and craved a way to feel more present in my biz, family, and overall life.
I needed to quiet all the noise.
Today is all about celebrating all the wonderfulness that is coffee -- from the taste to the aroma -- and I will be the first to raise my hand & join in the jubilee. I don't pretend to be a coffee connoisseur, especially since my preferred java of choice is Bustelo, through & through; BUT now that I live in Seattle [adjacent], I know that there is something to be said for just an amazing brew. Here are some of my fav swoon worthy coffee finds to help you elevate your next coffee experience.
We’ve all heard the adage, “home is where the heart is”, and I don’t know anyone who’s ever disputed that to be true.
So besides “the heart” what makes a home, a home?
What does that even mean? Okay let’s think about it this way…
Have you ever gone to someone’s house and it’s simply beautiful? It’s so beautiful, it’s breathtaking? Yet it didn’t feel “homey”? Well that’s the difference right there — a house is a structure; walls, beams, paint, fixtures, etc; a home, however, is much more than that…
Home isn't a place; it's a feeling.
It's where we love, create memories, laugh endlessly, and build relationships.
The foundation was already laid with a new sofa & rug, however, we needed to break up all that gray; so I created a design, anchored by those gray tones & featuring organic fibers & metallic accents for a cozy & eclectic setting. By introducing woods, leathers, and other natural materials, we would make the space feel pulled together & inviting, while still maintaining a modern appeal with clean silhouettes. As we worked through this design & brought this mood board to life, we were ultimately able to create the perfect setting for relaxing, working, and entertaining.
Most people have no problem celebrating love and milestones in their relationships... Valentine's Day and anniversaries get recognized, yet most of us don't give a first, second, or third thought to loving up our homes. Now, yes, we may decorate, but what are we really doing to show the place we live, rest, and spend our lives that same love we show to the people in our lives. Here are my 5 ways you can love your space every day.
Another month gone! It's funny how, as I evolve as a person, it manifests in all the different areas of my life. For example, I resolved not too long ago to go through life with a more grateful spirit, really taking stock of my blessings & victories, big & small. At the top of the year I'd even started a gratitude & happiness board (although I haven't kept up as I should) where at the end of each day, I'd write down on a post thought 1 thing that happened that day that made me happy or that I was thankful for -- everything from a new amazon package to a new client. I've decided to take it a step further, and now, at the end of every month, I'm going to share with you a round up of things that brought me happiness, clarity, and peace -- one for each day of the month -- in hopes that they'll do the same for you.
By definition, when you really think about it, even the idea of hauling for the home can be dangerous! A bit dramatic but still true. Hauling almost instinctively triggers impulse buying which can result in buyers remorse. No one wants to bring home a crap-ton of stuff, only to feel like crap about it later. I don't know about you, but I don't like returning ANYTHING much less an online and/or large purchase.
Everyone has their own of executing (and showing off) a haul but there are a few things that all hauls will (or should) have in common. For me, these end up being reasons that hauls and I just aren't a right fit.
The client was looking for help with layout and furniture selection for the outdoor patio; and hoping to incorporate an eating area, with some casual seating if possible.
Whenever the debate of renting versus owning comes up, one of the biggest points of differentiation is how much you can do with your home -- home owners LOVE to remind renters of what they can't do to elevate the design in their rental. As a lifelong renter, I promise you there are so many options available to you, if you know where to look. Good interior design isn't limited to home renovations, so let's talk about 5 quick and easy ways you can step it up in your rental.
Read MoreOne of the biggest reasons I began to really started doing online design was the fact that I'd be able to reach people I'd otherwise never have access to and in the past year, I've worked on so many projects throughout the country. When I initially got the brief for this project, I read their location -- NYC -- and said, "Oh cool, someone from back home" (because I'm geeky & weird like that); silly me for thinking that's where the design was actually located...