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Places & Spaces

A little collection of homes and interiors that have caught my eye recently... 
This perfect townhouse.
This sunny breakfast nook.
This hallway library.
These leather benches. (Same shape for less here.)
And this dreamy escape. What's stopping you in your tracks lately?

Must. Have.

What to get for the girl who has everything? I don't know a single girl who doesn't need one of these gorgeous K. Slademade tassel clutches in her closet. 

Both colors are totally versatile but the oversized tassel makes them party-appropriate as well. In fact I think the black one will be my go-to this holiday season!

Reading List

One of the goals on my 101 in 1001 list is to begin my book collection with ten coffee table books. As my darling friend and fellow collector Christine would agree, this is one of those instances where it is absolutely okay to judge a book by its cover! Here are a few of the titles that are tickling my fancy...



I already own Details, Domino, and Style A to Zoe and look forward to expanding my collection over time! These books are all from Barnes & Noble but I suggest keeping an eye on Joss & Main's frequent book sales as well! I scored Details for half price ;) What are your favorite coffee table books?

Little Luxury

In case you're beginning your holiday shopping early this year, I had to share these faux fur trimmed mittens from Topshop. Aren't they the cutest things you've ever seen? I'd be hard-pressed to choose a favorite color!



Wouldn't you be delighted if a pair of these turned up in your stocking?

Shoes, shoes, shoes!

Bows and leopard and sparkles, oh my! A round-up of standout shoes that have caught my eye recently...



Any shoes you've been eyeing lately?


P.S. I'm sharing my dream home on Apartment 34 today!

Cheap Thrills

I love to shop and I like to think I'm pretty good at it. I love the feeling of scoring a great deal or finding an inexpensive product that works just as well as a pricier alternative. When it comes to my beauty regimen (which I've far from perfected), I'm all about a good drugstore find. Here are a few of my favorite inexpensive basics:


Origin biotin pills, $2.49 (A recent hair growth recommendation from Ashlina!)
Neutrogena ultra sheer sunblock, $8.99 (Dries fast and leaves skin super soft!)
Aquaphor healing ointment, $6.99 (Perfect for chapped lips come winter!)

What are your favorite drugstore buys?

DIY {Campaign Table}

I'm a little bit obsessed with campaign furniture. You may recall my dad and I painted this Union Jack campaign dresser for my boyfriend. Then I purchased a second dresser off of Craigslist and gave it new life with glossy white paint for my own bedroom. Then last week I decided it would be pretty cool get the look of campaign furniture without having to stalk my local Craigslist or spending hundreds of dollars. Without further ado, my DIY campaign table!

I started with two of these Ikea Lack tables ($10 each) and gave each two coats of Benjamin Moore's semi-gloss Admiral Blue. 
Then I bought brass corner braces like these ($1.50 for four). You'll need three braces per corner so three packs per table. (Math isn't my strong suit so I thought I'd spell that out for you.)
My intention was to screw three to each corner but after learning that I'm not so handy with heavy machinery my dad stepped in to show me the ropes.
Work in progress (sleeping companion strongly recommended)...
And the end result looks something like this.
One day I'll show you pretty pictures of them all styled up in my first apartment but until then you get iPhone pictures of me tackling DIY projects on my kitchen floor. The project cost boils down like this:

- $10 x 2 for two Ikea Lack tables = $20
- Leftover paint = free
- $1.50 x 6 for twenty-four brass corner braces = $9

$29 for two DIY campaign tables! What do you think?

Playing Dress-Up!

Who else is counting down to the holidays? I know, I know, it's not even Thanksgiving, but I already have my sights set on Christmas and New Year's Eve! With party invitations trickling in for the holiday season, I thought you all could do me a little favor...


My friends are planning a New Year's Eve bash in New York City and I'm excited to go all out for the occasion! I've decided to use Rent The Runway (which I've used before and highly recommend!) but I'd love your help selecting the perfect ensemble. Won't you head over to the Design Darling Facebook page and vote for your favorite look? The outfit with the most likes is what I'll be wearing come December 31!

Currently Coveting {Costume Jewelry}

I'm in the midst of reading Rachel Zoe's fashion bible Style A to Zoe and, while my personal style is far more casual and less glamorous than the celebrity stylist's, I find myself nodding in agreement with her love of costume jewelry. I've collected a few statement pieces in recent years but I either forget to wear them on my way out the door or sport them one at a time, so unlike Rachel's "more is more" philosophy. I think I'll give her maximalist ways a try in the spirit of the sparkly holiday season. Won't you join me?




(1) Michael Kors link necklace, $175 (2) ASOS tassel necklace, $27
(3) ASOS box knot drop earrings, $14 (4) Loren Hope Farrah necklace, $185
(5) Catbird ring, $88 (6) House of Harlow antler cabochon ring, $95

Which is your favorite piece and what's your jewelry philosophy?

Introducing See Design!

Happy Monday, everyone! This morning I'm excited to introduce you to my newest sponsor here on Design Darling. See Design is the brainchild of designer Donna Gorman, who hand paints and custom prints her colorful textiles. The end result is this playful collection of cosmetic cases, tote bags, and tunics:
Aren't they fun? I love the polka dot prints in particular. But the best part is that everything on the site costs less than $100! Go check out See Design and let me know what you think!