Personal Style

{Dexter Hodges}

Style is a tricky thing, isn't it? It is so easy to pinpoint things I like and to reject those I do not — and yet it is so hard for me to define my style in terms of what's left. I thought I could start off the new year with a toast to personal style and a request from me to you, my darling readers, to help me define my style based on a few of my all-time favorite interiors.

{source unknown}

This architecture...

{Hus & Hem}

Those windows...

{Lonny}

These walls...

{Miles Redd}

Those shelves...

{Elle Decor}

And this, well, everything.

It's a hefty favor to ask of you, no doubt, and personal style is, er, personal. But you see, I can come up with a handful of buzz words... and would love your help in figuring out the rest. What do you think? Is my aesthetic maximalist or minimalist? Colorful or neutral? Classic or modern? Traditional or trendy? Over-the-top or understated? Lived-in or luxurious? I so appreciate your help and look forward to sharing all the style that 2011 will surely bring!

{Dexter Hodges}

Style is a tricky thing, isn't it? It is so easy to pinpoint things I like and to reject those I do not — and yet it is so hard for me to define my style in terms of what's left. I thought I could start off the new year with a toast to personal style and a request from me to you, my darling readers, to help me define my style based on a few of my all-time favorite interiors.

{source unknown}

This architecture...

{Hus & Hem}

Those windows...

{Lonny}

These walls...

{Miles Redd}

Those shelves...

{Elle Decor}

And this, well, everything.

It's a hefty favor to ask of you, no doubt, and personal style is, er, personal. But you see, I can come up with a handful of buzz words... and would love your help in figuring out the rest. What do you think? Is my aesthetic maximalist or minimalist? Colorful or neutral? Classic or modern? Traditional or trendy? Over-the-top or understated? Lived-in or luxurious? I so appreciate your help and look forward to sharing all the style that 2011 will surely bring!

101 in 1001

{source}

In lieu of making traditional resolutions this year, I'm writing a list of 101 things I'd like to accomplish in the next 1,001 days. That's approximately 2.75 years and, for me, a happy medium between short term and long term goals. As you may know, I'll be graduating from college this May and so consider this to be a very exciting time in my life! I won't overwhelm you with the entire list all at once but I do want to share a few at a time and update you as I'm able to cross things off the list.

1. Come up with 101 things. It's harder than you'd think!

2. Inspire someone else to write a list of his or her own. Any takers?

9. Launch an inspiring interview series on my blog.

16. Take a ballroom dance class.

43. Buy my first piece of original art.

60. Read every Jane Austen novel.

75. Throw a surprise party for a friend.

My goals range from the serious to the fanciful and I'm delighted with the tasks I've outlined thus far (currently 86!). This is where I'll need your help, dear readers, in the form of a little inspiration for rounding out my list. What would make your list of 101 things to accomplish in the next 2.75 years?

{source}

In lieu of making traditional resolutions this year, I'm writing a list of 101 things I'd like to accomplish in the next 1,001 days. That's approximately 2.75 years and, for me, a happy medium between short term and long term goals. As you may know, I'll be graduating from college this May and so consider this to be a very exciting time in my life! I won't overwhelm you with the entire list all at once but I do want to share a few at a time and update you as I'm able to cross things off the list.

1. Come up with 101 things. It's harder than you'd think!

2. Inspire someone else to write a list of his or her own. Any takers?

9. Launch an inspiring interview series on my blog.

16. Take a ballroom dance class.

43. Buy my first piece of original art.

60. Read every Jane Austen novel.

75. Throw a surprise party for a friend.

My goals range from the serious to the fanciful and I'm delighted with the tasks I've outlined thus far (currently 86!). This is where I'll need your help, dear readers, in the form of a little inspiration for rounding out my list. What would make your list of 101 things to accomplish in the next 2.75 years?

Moodboards By Martha

I will forever come back to these beautifully styled vignettes from Martha Stewart Living. Ribbon, shoes, snail mail — everything I love! I would love to frame the top picture for my future dream closet...

I will forever come back to these beautifully styled vignettes from Martha Stewart Living. Ribbon, shoes, snail mail — everything I love! I would love to frame the top picture for my future dream closet...

Chez Jenna Lyons

I was scanning the online Domino galleries when I stumbled upon the tried-and-true blogger favorite home of Jenna Lyons and her family. The J.Crew creative director's Brooklyn brownstone is an updated classic — a beauty with Victorian bones but updated with unexpected touches like charcoal walls in the bedroom. And how luxurious is Lyons's closet — a full room with a fireplace to boot? What a dream come true!

I was scanning the online Domino galleries when I stumbled upon the tried-and-true blogger favorite home of Jenna Lyons and her family. The J.Crew creative director's Brooklyn brownstone is an updated classic — a beauty with Victorian bones but updated with unexpected touches like charcoal walls in the bedroom. And how luxurious is Lyons's closet — a full room with a fireplace to boot? What a dream come true!

Springtime Strapless

One of my morning rituals is to click through Shopbop's new arrivals. It seems I'm dreaming of warmer weather as yesterday I fell madly in love with Parker's Solid Strapless Top ($187). The sweetheart neckline and flouncy peplum are delightfully feminine, while the piped boning and exposed zipper give it structure. It would be a brilliant basic for covering up with a navy blazer now and pairing with white jeans come summer!

One of my morning rituals is to click through Shopbop's new arrivals. It seems I'm dreaming of warmer weather as yesterday I fell madly in love with Parker's Solid Strapless Top ($187). The sweetheart neckline and flouncy peplum are delightfully feminine, while the piped boning and exposed zipper give it structure. It would be a brilliant basic for covering up with a navy blazer now and pairing with white jeans come summer!

Matte Black

I adore these three spaces and their matte black walls. Tempered with white and paired with natural elements like tan leather, tortoise lamps, and deer antlers, black can be unbelievably chic. It makes sense that I would love black interiors since I wear so much black clothing, right?

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I adore these three spaces and their matte black walls. Tempered with white and paired with natural elements like tan leather, tortoise lamps, and deer antlers, black can be unbelievably chic. It makes sense that I would love black interiors since I wear so much black clothing, right?

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Chic Shelving

I love the combination of pale blue-green bookcases and brassy collectibles in supermodel Coco Rocha's apartment, published in Vogue. Toss in white book covers and green glass bottles and you have a look that exudes easy glamour. What are some of your styling secrets?

I love the combination of pale blue-green bookcases and brassy collectibles in supermodel Coco Rocha's apartment, published in Vogue. Toss in white book covers and green glass bottles and you have a look that exudes easy glamour. What are some of your styling secrets?

Happy Menocal

I fortuitously stumbled upon the artwork of Happy Menocal yesterday on my friend Lindsay's gorgeous new blog The Pursuit of Style. She has collaborated with Jonathan Adler and Stubbs & Wootton while her paintings have graced the pages of House Beautiful and Town & Country. A small selection of prints is available on her website and she welcomes custom commissions (like the gorgeous crests above!) via email. How I would love to hang one of her colorful creations above my desk to keep me inspired while I work!

I fortuitously stumbled upon the artwork of Happy Menocal yesterday on my friend Lindsay's gorgeous new blog The Pursuit of Style. She has collaborated with Jonathan Adler and Stubbs & Wootton while her paintings have graced the pages of House Beautiful and Town & Country. A small selection of prints is available on her website and she welcomes custom commissions (like the gorgeous crests above!) via email. How I would love to hang one of her colorful creations above my desk to keep me inspired while I work!

Midnight Sparkle

What are your fabulous plans for ringing in the New Year?

{one | two | three}

What are your fabulous plans for ringing in the New Year?

{one | two | three}

Oldie But Goodie

This immaculately organized bathroom and dressing room featured in Canadian House & Home made the rounds long ago, but there's good reason for its popularity! I adore its built-in shelving and hexagonal floor tiles but it's the ladder that won me over. It's equal parts decorative and practical — what's not to love about that?

This immaculately organized bathroom and dressing room featured in Canadian House & Home made the rounds long ago, but there's good reason for its popularity! I adore its built-in shelving and hexagonal floor tiles but it's the ladder that won me over. It's equal parts decorative and practical — what's not to love about that?