I took a recent trip to Florida to celebrate a dear friend and her now husband for a fun and relaxing wedding weekend. Coming back to the snowy Midwest made me long for the sunny colors of Florida to appear again both outside and in my wardrobe. Which colors better represent such a colorful state than a dreamy orange and a bright, sunny yellow? I can't wait to add these small pops of color in my wardrobe this spring. Till Spring arrives, I'll keep seeking out this bright and fun colors!
MoodBoard: March Projects
With Spring (hopefully) around the corner, I'm looking into more projects with fun motifs and colors. Here are little glimpses through moodboard's I have put together of somethings I have been working on!
Artisit Admiration: Paola Navone
Plates | Chair | Table Cloth | Fish Bowl | Lounge
I have had a fond love for Paola Navone's collections at Crate & Barrel since they started collaborating. Her gorgeous patterns, whimsical shapes, and Mediterranean influence place a joyful and easy air to each piece that would enhance any space. Her three new collections exclusively through Crate & Barrel are: Pic-nic Collection, Party Collection, and Fish Collection. Being a sucker for the black and white combo lately - it was love at first sight for me. With the strong accent colors varying between deep blues and vibrant teal, with watermelon patterns thrown in- I'm head over heels for all three collections!
Check out more about the collection and her process with the video on Crate & Barrels page.
Color Companions: Red and White
Moodboard: Valentines Day
I’m nuts about flowers, and with Valentines Day tomorrow I thought I put together a little collection of some of my latest Pinterest finds for you about the days most poplar gifts. I can't get over the paint shaped chocolates by Nendo or those red poppies! Which is your favorite? I know, it's hard to choose...
Romantic Flowers & Chocolates | Playful Flowers & Chocolates | Whimsical Flowers & Chocolates | Bohemian Flowers & Chocolates | Traditional Flowers & Chocolates
Color Companions: Pink and White
The color combination of white and pink have long been the more youthful pair associated with Valentines Day. Typically associated with loud, overly feminine brands and barbie dolls, I viewed pink as a color for little girls. Lately, with the recent surge of softer pinks - such as rose, blush, and even coral - I have found the color hard to stay away from.
When paired with a soft white or a sultry creme, pink instantly becomes more mature and relatable in the grown-up world while still retaining its whimsical, girlish self.
Living in the Midwest my entire life you would think that when winter came I would be well equipped to face the cold. Thankfully, lots of hot tea and cocoa have kept me sane and warm through this unusually cold season. It doesn't hurt either when they are served in a pretty or eye catching mug! Do you have a go-to mug or desiring to find a new favorite?
Here are a few I would love to ad to my ever growing collection:
1. Fox 2.Handwritten 3. Monogram 4. Tree 5. Owl 6. Orange 7. Heart 8. Geometric
Color Companions: Spring Colors 2014
Looking for inspiration, I strolled into West Elm this weekend. Now, I have received catalogs for West Elm for a few years, but a catalog can not do these beautiful pieces justice like the real life store can! The open show room displayed the modern lines of the furniture and accessories perfectly. I could see each space being in my future home! The store also boasted West Elm's signature "living" wall display (Top right picture). I just swooned over the lush green back drop.
I was most impressed by the cheerful and sensational color pallet displayed for the 2014 Spring season. ( Is it too soon to be thinking about spring admits these chilly winter days? I don't think so) Among the popular choices: Raindrop Blue, Tanager Red, Proper Grey, Parakeet Green, and Lemon Twist Yellow. These cheery color combinations popped against the lovely patterns scattered on kitchen goods and home linens alike. Instant inspiration! Among my favorites on display were the mid-century printed bowls, Hive vases, and basically all their lovely pillows. I snagged my own piece of inspirations with this adorable ceramic plant holder and succulent.
Check out more upcoming color inspiration for Spring & Summer 2014 by Sherwin Williams for West Elm here.
Color Companion: Mint and White
I came across these beautiful packaging designs for honey. I love the unexpected aspects of each design and package. It makes me want to collect them for my own cabinets.
1. Klein Constantia Farm by Terence Kitching
2. Cosmopollen by Louise Twizell
Need a quick and inexpensive change to your room? Pillows can change any room in an instanceinstant! With a variety of shapes, patterns, colors, and textures - there is a pillow for every occasion and every person. I love the way the colors and patterns you choose for your pillows can change the whole mood of the room. Mix and match solids, and patterns, and colors, and textures to create a fun conversation piece. I'm just gushing over that fox pillow!
Check out some of these fun pillows for your own home:
Top Row: Red Flowers, Flock of Birds, Black Flowers, Red Berries, Whale, Dipped-Dye
Bottom Row: Tassel, Geometric, Yellow, Tree House, Fox, Ampersand
Life Lately in Pictures
I haven't had my iPhone long, but it has become a necessary tool in my daily design work. It is fun to to go back through and see the small fragments of memories captured in everyday pictures
With Christmas and the New Year approaching quickly, there has been a lot of gift wrapping, snow shoveling, and ever increasing more work on projects for my Etsy shop (coming 2014!) I'm thankful for these small blinks of life captured, and they make me excited to share with you what is to come
A different Kinda' Christmas Tree
The thought came across my mind that maybe this year we wouldn't have get a tree - and then it immediately vanished out of my mind. Christmas just doesn't feel like Christmas without the glow of the lights between the branches of the evergreen ( real or fake) and the nostalgia of hanging up ornaments collected from years gone by. Though I'm a traditionalist (this year), I love the idea of the unconventional Christmas tree and the fun way it could add to the decor of the Christmas season. Check out some of these unconventional trees:
- A lovely gathering of flora and fauna, this tree would be a fun Saturday morning craft
- I love the vintage tinsel, white Christmas trees - and how this one is decorated in golden hues, so fun!
- If you don't have room for a real Christmas tree, this fun string alternative tree would be great for any office cubicle or dorm room
- I've never seen a better looking brown tree; how great is this wooden beauty! The gorgeous white ornaments really makes it pop!
- If you seem to not have space for a tree - this flat, wooden tree allows you to still have the warm glow of the tree in a space saving way.
Interesting Pinteresting : Office Space
I currently have two (small) office spaces - one at my full-time job and a personal one at home - that I recently started to decorate. I love the shape and size of each - but when it comes to decorations, it's a mess of odds and ends, pictures, and electrical cords. Naturally, I took to Pinterest to see the options and creativity of other offices out there. I love the pops of colors in the unexpected places like lamps and flower pots against the clean environments of neutral wall colors. It's given me a lot of inspiration for my own spaces! Check out more office space on my Office Pinterest board.
Color Companions: Radiant Orchid
Pantone announced their color of the year 2014 this last week, and it is the beautiful Radiant Orchid. In honor of this fabulous color, I have found some beautiful examples used in a range of everyday life. Here is to a beautiful "year of confidence and magical warmth that intrigues the eye and sparks the imagination.(Pantone Website) "
Left to Right: Letter A, Dress, Paint Colors, Drink Glasses
Moodboard: Christmas Wish List
This year I found myself not exactly knowing what to answer when family and friends asked "What do you want for Christmas?" I tried to prepare a list through out the year of things that I truly wanted - now out of school and grown, I feel the same anticipation for the Christmas season, but not as much for the Christmas presents. Nonetheless, these beautiful treasures caught my eye in traveling. Isn't that coat the loveliest? SO here are seven things I wouldn't mind finding under the tree this year:
1. Ampersand Necklace - so delicate and understated, who can resist a great ampersand?
2. Socialite Bow Detail Coat - the buttons and the cute collar detail would make this coat a perfect compliment to any date night or a holiday outfit.
3. Victorian Whale Bookends - the perfect whimsical addition to any bookcase, or office cubicle!
4. Oblique Calligraphy Starter Kit - With a growing love for calligraphy, this starter kit is a great way to continue to grow and learn in the beautiful art!
5. Pillows - these fun throw pillows would add a great touch of color to any room!
6. Darling Magazine - This unique quarterly magazine continues to produce amazing articles and beautiful imagery - a must read, and not a bad coffee table display!
7. Back Up iPhone 5 charger - Any girl on the go would love this handy back up if her battery were low, I know I would love one!
Color Companion: Black and Gold
Now that the Turkey has been served, and the glow of Thanksgiving has settled into ushering in the warmth of winter, the Christmas season has begun! I have had a fond love for gold for quite sometime, and with all the twinkling lights around this time of year, the gold always seems more magical. Two classy colors themselves, black and gold make a beautiful, unconventional pairing for the holidays - even if it just a is a small splash of the two in your ensemble or on your table.
Clockwise: Mirabelle Top, Beeswax Candles, Geometric Coasters, Table Decor
Moodboard: Christmas Season
Top: 1 / 2 / 3 Middle: 4 / 5 / 6 Bottom: 7 / 8 / 9
Though the snow today was not a totally unwelcomed (cold) surprise in Chicago, it feels as if it is officially been proclaimed winter! With later months come Thanksgiving, and of course the season of Christmas. I know it is somewhat scandalous to think about Christmas before the Thanksgiving turkey is even plucked for the table, but it is with snow that the warm feelings of Christmas and winter come sweeping in to my mind – and of course designing our Christmas/Holiday card! I pulled some photos I have seen that remind me of how Christmas season past have felt and looked like for me, and what I want to convey in our card this year. (Plus, how cute is that snow covered fox!) The large snowflakes, the cozy lights and coco, and the steady stream of red from decorations to car lights on their way to and fro. And how about that great typeface, Frosted by Molly Jaques. It felt like a perfect cherry on top to start thinking about this years holiday season.
Portfolio: Aagaard Wedding | Moodboard
I wanted to share a little on a fun project I did a few months ago. The first part to any project is capturing the clients look and feel, i.e. mood, for what they have in mind for the end result. Some clients will have their entire vision already set and just need a designer to put together the details. For Carly, she had a great aesthetic eye, but needed a designer to create that finished product. She was fun to work with as she wanted a traditional invite, but with a unique twist. This allowed me to think outside the standard box, but keeping a classic touch.
Other details she sought out were looking for a muted palette featuring jewel tones, and a vintage but classic feel to the suit to match the rustic wedding she was planning. The moodboard above was just a small collection to help set the tone of the suite, and I can't wait to share what we ended up creating!