Statement Pieces

One piece of design advice that has really stayed with me (this one from the inimitable Erin Gates) is this - pick one item you absolutely, die-hard LOVE, something that makes a statement or has an interesting shape or color, and build the rest of the room around it. It's really good advice.  

Right now there's 2 things I'm in love with that I feel make for great design elements in a room.
 

1. The bold & beautiful federal eagle mirror.  It's definitely statement-making and so so versatile. 

You can put it above the fireplace, in an entryway....

Up the stairs... literally place in anywhere, and it works. It just takes the space up a notch.

2. X benches! They're such an EASY way to bring some style into a space. Especially smaller spaces like an entryway (and they serve a purpose - sit down and wear your shoes people :P)  They're great in the living room too for some extra seating, apart from being so visually interesting.

I love, love these malachite pattern X-benches designed by Erin Gates (from her book Elements of Style). Never get old to look at. Aren't they stunning?

And here's one that has both my favorites in one place! 

What do you think? Any of these call out to you? :)

Image Credits: Desert Domicile,  Haus And Home, Cup Half Full,  The Gathered Home, Element of Style,  Laurel Home,  Bright on the day, No 29 Design

Happy Mother's Day, Mom

I'm sure those of you with little ones got some sweet handmade cards today (the best!). Or if you're living in the same city as your mom, maybe you're spending the day with her. Maybe you've sent her some flowers today. Or like me, you're wishing her over a Skype call (because we're separated by 8000 miles!!) 

If you're lucky enough that you're in the same city, state or even country as your mom, I hope you're making her feel extra special today. 

I usually write about design, but given it's mother's day, I want to keep this post about thanks and love. And I want to say thank you to my Mom for so many, many things she's done for my sisters & me.  So here goes...
 

Thanks mom for bringing me into this world. I mean 8 lbs is no joke!

Thanks for story time in the kitchen every evening, while you cooked dinner, cleaned up, and did God knows what else, while at the same time telling me an incredibly captivating tale about the crow and the water jug!  Multi-taking is a mom superpower.

Thanks for giving in to the mushroom cut swag of the 80s... some of our best childhood pictures :)

Thanks for making elaborate themed birthday cakes for us every year (Hansel & Gretel's candy house, the train, Mickey Mouse are just a few I can remember). But most of all, thanks for your CLASSIC chocolate hazelnut cake. I still dream of it. An unhealthy amount actually.

Thanks for not laughing out loud when I'd regale you with one of my "performances".

Thanks for designing beautiful dresses for all 3 of us for ALL of our special occasions. I mean, were we lucky or what! Thanks for introducing me to the wonders of Can Can.

Thanks for being someone who loves to explore and learn & for taking us along to the classes you went to.  Whether it was flower making, ceramics or glass painting - they were SUCH FUN.

Thanks for driving us around for an indecent number of extra curricular activities. Sometimes I wonder how you did it. Really, how did you?

Thanks for your resourcefulness, without which I'm pretty sure I would not have made it to college. (My mom is an incredibly resourceful woman.  I mean, you could give her ANY topic under the sun, in a field she knows nothing about, and she'll magically find answers to it. It's a TOTAL skill.) Thanks for researching colleges, organizing our college apps and making sure we got them in by the deadline. Thanks for being just as meticulous with plenty of other things in our lives!

Thanks for your love for reading which you've passed on to me in spades. Reading in bed is part of my DNA now.

Speaking of which, thanks for passing on those fantastic genes! People say I have one of your best traits - the ability to always smile. And I can't count the number of times I've been told "you look just like your mom". A total compliment.

Thanks for keeping a spotless clean home. And for passing on this trait (some might say, obsession ;)) to all 3 of your kids, even if it's to the woe of others sometimes!

Thanks for helping me pick out my wedding dress (even though there was drama and tears, it was all worth it because the end result was phenomenal, thanks to YOU).

Thanks for being so close to your siblings and family, and passing on a love for family to us. It is a TRUE blessing.

Thanks for always, always keeping us in mind, and to this day picking things out for me, my home, sending me a helpful link to an article, a recipe or something specific that I need. Another mom superpower -  knowing exactly what you need and sending it to your inbox.

Thanks for being a big part of my life even though we're 8000 miles away.

I love you mom, happy Mother's Day!

And because a wonderful day such as this calls for some humor, I hope you get a laugh out of these!

Images:  Peonyandlaces,  Kavitsartsdesign, Woma
nsDay, Someecards, Quotable Cards,  StudioInBudapest, YourMumRang

MET Gala Inspiration

The MET Gala happened last week and of course it was a fashion blitz and a media extravaganza. Everyone who's anyone pontificated on all that went down on the red carpet! What caught my attention though was the interior decor and the TABLESCAPES :)

This year's gala celebrated the work of designer Rei Kawakubo. I liked that the decor was graphic yet very elegant. That gorgeous blue & white china was THE perfect complement to the popping pinks & reds. Also, the sake cups were a nice touch.

I thought it' be fun to pull together a tablescape inspired by the gala, but one that's easier on the purse strings. Have a look at the pictures and then check out my take on it below!

My take on it - a little classic, a little modern & a lotta fun:

1  The china at the gala instantly reminded me of these blue & white appetizer plates. 

2,3  Pair them with gold & white chargers & dinner plates and you have a winner. Can't go wrong with the classic blue, white & gold! 

4,11  A red table runner  & fuchsia pink napkins ($10 for 6!) bring in that pop of color. You could pair the runner with these placemats which make for a nice neutral base for the setting. Or you could totally just go with a red tablecloth if you REALLY want to bold it up!

5,8  These gold hammered napkin rings (love these from Target) & sparkly confetti flutes, are perfect for bringing in hints of gold.

6,9  Fresh flowers would obviously be amazing, but these faux roses  and candle ring centerpieces get the job done :)

7  And my absolute favorite - marbled candles!  I also found these tapered candles on Etsy which actually work better as a centerpiece, but I prefer the color of the former. 

10  And finally this navy blue planter, taking inspiration from the black sake cups & gorgeous navy blue & gold flatware at the gala. (love this Cutipol Goa flatware. the price tag is a bit insane but they are real cool).

Image Credits: Vogue
 

Color of the Year

"It's not easy being green...."  Well it is this year!  Green is the color of the year, and I'm loving some of the green accents I've been seeing in the design world lately.  Thought I'd do a roundup of my favorites & maybe there's something in here that inspires you too!

I discovered  de Gournay's hand painted wallpapers just the other day and now I'm obsessed. My love affair with botanicals continues.  On a visit to their showroom last week, I saw their various collections & the different materials they paint on, from tea paper to silk & their exquisite catalog of paintings. In love with their mural wallpapers, particularly the chinoiserie.

Fiddle leaf fig trees create such a spot of joy in any room. I've seen people pot them in wicker baskets or seagrass baskets like these at Target, and it looks pretty great. You could get the nearly natural version too if you're not the best plant mom! :P 

here, here,  here & here

Banana leaf / tropical leaf pillows give a room that relaxed, breezy vibe. And they're very on trend.  Love the pairing with beige, black & white.

here, here, here & here 

Agate coasters...I've only recently become aware of how fantastic of a design element agate can be. I saw these coasters at a friend's place in a tray & loved them touch! I tried to look up if there were any sellers on Etsy who'd make these at a budget-friendly price, and lo & behold, I found one -   309DesignCo . They'd make for GREAT hostess gifts for someone who's into modern/eclectic.

here and here

Green & gold seems to be a hot trend right now with furniture, and I gotta say, I'm kind of in love with it. I saw this gorgeous green & gold color palette in the Wayfair catalog. Very modern luxe. A bold move to go with a non-neutral sofa, but it could pay off.

More green & gold -  this dresser spotted at High Point Market last week. I love the details - the gilded bamboo and the pinwheel knobs.

I also found this DIY green & gold nightstand by Maggie Overby Studios. Using a slide under sofa table as a metal base to give it height is GENIUS!  And the end result looks great.

I saw pictures of this Alabama cottage in House Beautiful that has beautiful interiors and exteriors with different shades of green throughout. The lamp in the indoor dining makes a statement, and that outdoor dining terrace submerged in nature, is something else! THE perfect setting for a meal.

Painting kitchen walls & cabinets is one of my favorite decor ideas right now. It's cool to see before & after pictures of remodeled kitchens, and it's craaaaazy how paint can transform it, bringing in a sense of space and light. Here's a few paint colors I thought were impactful but not overwhelming.
 

Modern rustic... 

Elegant.

Industrial chic.

Image Credits: de Gournay, Greenery NYC, Houzz, Etsy, Wayfair, classicremixchicago, Maggie Overby Studios , House Beautiful

An Amazing Saturday: Estate sale finds!

I was alerted to an estate sale happening in Orinda the past weekend and I decided to just take off and go.  It was such a beautiful Saturday, I didn't think I'd mind the drive. And I gotta say, it was totally worth it!  Orinda is insanely beautiful. I'd never been to this part of town, and the natural greenery, landscaped gardens and flowers blew me away. The road was slightly hilly, with trees leaning in, creating this beautiful natural archway...I LOVED it.

The sale in itself was great. Even though I caught the tail end of it (it started on Friday), there were still a lot of fun things!

Beautiful Orinda, the drive...

... at the sale, a pair of boat paintings that I LOVED

... chinoiserie & a styling plaque. 

...this bold statement mirror. How fantastic would this look in an entryway!

... some pretty fabrics for upholstering (there were a couple of nice wood chairs too but I wasn't a fan of that style of chair)

... and I managed to snag some pretty candle jars

... someone was hauling away a pair of elegant Ralph Lauren lamps as I was walking in. A TOTAL STEAL. I was so envious!

... and of course, never miss an opportunity to shoot some beautiful flowers, especially when they're just lying there, asking for no one's attention :P

Some more nature spotting on the drive back. I liked that the gardens in this neighborhood were more "natural wonderland" and less manicured perfection. Landscaping GOALS, I tell you!