A little collection of homes and interiors that have caught my eye recently...
This perfect townhouse.
This sunny breakfast nook.
This hallway library.
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...
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
(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!
And the winner is...
Entry #10, Maggie of Cheap & Chic! Maggie will choose $200 worth of wallpaper from Kimberly Lewis Home. I'll be emailing you today! Thank you to everyone who entered and to Kimberly for hosting such a generous giveaway!
P.S. Kimberly has extended 10% off to all readers with the code "darling" at checkout through December 11!
P.S. Kimberly has extended 10% off to all readers with the code "darling" at checkout through December 11!
Desk Du Jour {Poppin!}
You already know I'm in love with Poppin, so please imagine my utter delight when they reached out about collaborating on a desk du jour feature here on Design Darling! These pictures of Public Relations Director Meredith Zenkel's desk had me beaming from ear to ear...
Ta da — instant inspiration for the cubicle-bound! A colorful inspiration board, fresh flowers, and a lime green file cabinet make Meredith's workspace creative and functional.
A close-up of Meredith's current inspirations! I spy Andy Warhol and Hermès — how's that for a little mid-day creative boost?
This wouldn't be Poppin if it weren't stocked with colorful and contemporary office supplies! I'm dying to make this calculator ($7) and these scissors ($8) to my collection.
You know I love a monogram — and what better way to personalize your workspace than with your very own initials? Switch that "Z" to an "H" and I'd gladly trade desks ;)
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Thanks Poppin for the fun sneak peek into this fabulous desk du jour! What do you think and how does your workspace stack up?
The Design Dialogues {Amber Lewis}
She has a thriving design business, a so-good-you'll-laugh-out-loud blog, the cutest little girl you've ever seen, and, oh yeah, a rockstar husband (no, seriously). Is there anything Amber Lewis can't do? I'm so excited to have her as our latest guest for the Design Dialogues!
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I mean, seriously. Don't you already want to be her best friend?
Who you are:
Hi there! I'm Amber of Amber Interiors, the design firm and the blog.
What you do:
First and foremost, I am a mommy! I am also an interior designer and now I guess I am a blogger.
Where you do it:
I have the fortune of working from an office located in my house! Most days you can find me there or in the car... I spend a lot of time in the car.
Five words to describe yourself.
Driven, like a mo'fo. Passionate. Funny. Sarcastic. Misunderstood. Fortunate.
Her insanely gorgeous kitchen. How good is that light fixture?
How do you define your aesthetic?
I am a lover of layers and colors. I don't consider myself a one-trick pony — however I do favor a little bohemian and eclectic flair. So if you had to define my aesthetic, I would say boho glam?
Who are your style icons?
For interior design, I'd have to say good ole Kelly Wearstler. She has yet to let me down. I don't always love some of her furniture choices or color palettes but I always love her way of thinking. She's attracted to shapes and colors and that's where I find inspiration for my own work. In terms of fashion icons, I'd go with Anita Pallenberg. She had that whole 6os rocker thing which I obsess over. Plus I wish I had her hair...
How did you decide you wanted to be an interior designer?
I had always wanted to do something with houses — since I was like 6 or 7. My dad is a builder so he was always taking my brother and I to his job sites and it fascinated me. As I got older, I knew I wanted to do something creative, I just didn't know what. I got a job at this very high-end retail store renowned for its displays. I kind of adopted "displays" as my job there and would run around making beds and setting tables. It was so much fun! One thing led to another and I started going to people's homes and helping them decorate their own beds and tables. I got a side job designing and I guess the rest is history!
Amber's dining room. Would you not kill for that fluffy chair and tribal rug?
What advice would you offer aspiring creatives?
Immerse yourself in whatever it is that you're doing. When I was working for interior designer Kirsten Marie, I became a sponge; I listened to everything she said taking mental notes and applying them. I started reading blogs and reading books. I would collect images on my computer (before Pinterest) and study them, paying attention to every detail... literally. It really pays to dive head first into what you love, because if you love what you're doing you'll never think of it as work.
Recycled lampshades breathe new life into this dreamy vignette in Amber's home.
Three items on your to do list.
Work. Spend time with my wee one. Work!
Where would you like your business to be in five years?
I dream big so I will project big. Gracing the covers of some of my favorite design mags is where my head and heart goes. Hey, House Beautiful, let's talk, shall we? No, but seriously, I feel so lucky to do what I love so I hope in five years I'm still able to make a living doing this fabulous job!
Amber and baby G in her home office. Fabric sample heaven!
Three items on your wishlist.
A vacation with my fam. A new coffee table. A new car!
Three tasks on your bucket list.
Do a 60 day juice fast. Haha! Live in another country for a while so my little monkey gets some culture. Retire at 40 and travel the rest of my days!
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Thank you so much for joining us, Amber! I love this quote in particular: "It really pays to dive head first into what you love, because if you love what you're doing you'll never think of it as work." Solid inspiration for my recent announcement, don't you think? Now go peep Amber's blog and tell her you love her as much as I do.
{all photos are Jessie Webster for Glitter Guide}
$200 Kimberly Lewis Home Giveaway!
First of all, you are amazing. There are no words to describe how grateful I am for the outpouring of support for the decision I announced yesterday! Your advice, your comments, your emails mean more to me than you know. Thank you!
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Today I'm excited to be supporting a fellow entrepreneurial spirit, my friend Kimberly Lewis. Kimberly is a talented designer whose gorgeous wallpaper is environmentally friendly and hand-printed in Brooklyn. Her site Kimberly Lewis Home is truly a feast for the eyes!
Kimberly Lewis Home is generously giving away $200 worth of wallpaper to one lucky Design Darling reader! To enter, leave a comment with your favorite design below. For an extra entry (be sure to leave a second comment!), like Kimberly Lewis Home on Facebook. The winner will be announced on Friday morning. Good luck!
Change of plans!
Happy Monday, everyone! You might have noticed that I've been blogging, pinning, posting, tumbling, and tweeting quite a bit more this past week so let's cut to the chase: I quit my job and I'm moving on to greener pastures! Sometimes you just know when something isn't a good fit and have to acknowledge that your head and your heart are pulling you in a different direction. I'm grateful for the learning experience and excited to reconnect with the things I love: blogging, writing, and a few other fun projects that I have up my sleeve!
Because I'll be spending some time on these projects before thinking about looking for a full-time job, I'd love to hear from any of you who are or have been self-employed. What is the most rewarding aspect and what is your biggest challenge? I would be so happy to hear from you!
{image via Note to Self}
{image via Note to Self}
Happy Weekend!
Good morning! What do you have planned for the weekend? Last night I had dinner with a few of my blogger faves: Ashlina, Cassie, Crissie, Morgan, and Tyler. Then this morning my boyfriend and I took my puppies for a coffee run and a walk in the park. Of course my phone was dead or I would have been Instagram-ing left and right! Tomorrow I'll be back in the city as my darling cousin is running the New York marathon for charity! I'm so excited to cheer her on and congratulate her when she crosses the finish line in Central Park. What are you up to?
{Gwyneth Paltrow shot by Mario Testino for Vanity Fair}
Merci, Misikko!
I was so flattered when the hair care site Misikko reached out and asked if I'd be willing to review one of their hair dryers on Design Darling. I've vented several times before that my hair is the bane of my existence so I was extremely excited to try to turn that around! Misikko generously gifted me their best-selling HANAair Professional Hair Dryer and surprised me with a host of other goodies including Bobbi Brown make-up brushes, an eyelash curler, and Paul Mitchell shampoo and leave-in conditioner. Christmas came early!
I'm no pro at blow drying (no seriously, I'm the girl who went to class with wet hair) but I loved the way this made my hair feel! They say it's something about ionic technology that conditions your hair and reduces static electricity (the enemy of anyone with frizzy hair), but all I know is my hair felt shiny and soft — a look I've never achieved without a hairdresser on hand. I've also always associated blow drying with an hour long commitment for my unruly mane but I seriously sailed through it in twenty minutes on the high setting. Finally the encouragement I needed to stop leaving the house with wet hair in the dead of winter refine my technique! ;) Thank you, Misikko!
Get The Look {Elizabeth Bauer}
I know I'm not the only one who adored this Elizabeth Bauer interior featured in the pages of Lonny. The zebra wallpaper, pink lampshades, and lucite coffee table? Preppy perfection. Here's how to get the look chez vous:
The key to this look is mixing patterns like fretwork, stripes, and zebra in a range of blues and pinks. I do my best to source items as inexpensively as possible but keep in mind that the bigger and more pricey pieces could be found on your local Craigslist. What do you think of this space? Is this a feature you'd like to see more often on Design Darling?
Instagram Inspiration
I'm sure many of you are iPhone aficionados and Instagram users (and if you aren't, you should be!). Instead of sharing my own Instagram pictures today, I thought I'd share with you a few of my favorite Instagram-ers so you can follow them as well! Kind of like a blog roll but for one of my new favorite platforms ;)
Do you use Instagram? Who are your favorite folks to follow?
How could you not?
Depending on how long you've been reading Design Darling, you likely know by now that I instantly adore anything with a bow on it. Naturally when I spotted these ASOS flats on DomestiKated Life, my heart skipped a beat! The best part is they're only $45, which of course has me tempted to buy all three! Which color would you choose?
Gilded Glam
Last week I was talking to Ashlina of The Decorista about her favorite interiors and one of the words that kept coming up was "sparkle." We agreed that we both love rooms with lots of texture and visual interest — and that the best way to accomplish the look is to bring in lots of metallic and reflective surfaces. Here's a little interior inspiration to get your creative juices flowing...
Framed gold art echoes the clean lines of a brass coffee table. But it's the bedroom on the right that steals my heart! Gold campaign hardware on a gray nightstand and a chic gold mirror above the bed — what's not to love?
More gold and gray in the beautiful kitchen on the left! And if you're committed to going all out, might I recommend the kitchen on the right? I shared one view of this space last week and I believe we all agreed that the ceiling is to die for. But the gold accents on the black stove? Nothing short of heavenly.
{images on my interiors board}
Today on HauteLook
I don't know about you but I check sample sale sites like Joss & Main and Rue La La every day! One of my new favorites is HauteLook. If you follow me on Twitter, you know that last week I scored a pair of yellow silk BB Dakota pants for just $21! Here are a few of my picks from today's HauteLook sales:
{Rebecca Minkoff — $495 $247 and $350 $175}
A classic black bag and playful leopard pouch from one of my favorite designers for 50% off!
{12th Street by Cynthia Vincent — both $295 $79}
Every girl needs a handful of easy silk shirt dresses and these are 75% off!
{Dolce Vita — $170 $59 and $89 $47}
I love both of these so much I might have paid full price for them — but tassels and bows for less than $60?! There's no excuse not to.
P.S. You'll find all my shopping destinations under "shop 'til you drop" on the left!
Rabbit, rabbit!
Does anyone else try to start each month with this good luck phrase? I tell myself I'm going to remember and inevitably forget every time. Anyway, the start of November means the holiday season is fast approaching, like it or not! But before we fast forward to Christmas, let's talk about party attire — for Thanksgiving or any other festivities you have coming up!
I have a hard time splurging on party dresses I'm only going to wear once or twice before retiring to the back of my closet. This season for me is all about reworking the classics I already own: a cozy sweater, a sequin skirt, and a classic pair of pumps (seriously I wear these to work at least twice a week!). Top it off with a statement necklace, inexpensive bracelet, and a chic envelope clutch and you'll have a party-ready look that you can reinvent all winter long!
Currently Coveting
Who else had snow this weekend? While I'll admit it came a bit early for my liking, it did send my mind drifting toward the holiday season and a time for gift-giving and wishlist-making...
I just bought the gingham shirt and I swear I haven't take it off since it arrived! And I tried on these sunglasses in Anthropologie a couple weeks ago and haven't gotten them out of my head since! Now I'm just waiting for the tortoiseshell to come back in stock online. I bought the desert boots in San Francisco over the summer and wear them almost daily. Sometimes I swap in hot pink shoelaces when I'm feeling spunky. What are you currently coveting?
P.S. Happy Halloween!
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