Look for Less

The thing I love about creating a 'Look for Less' is that you can see what it looks like before you put all the time and money into creating the space in your own home. {Also a great reason why E-Design services are becoming so popular and I will be offering those soon! Stay tuned!} What would we even do without Pinterest these days?? Today's look for less from The Glitter Guide is so simple and neutral as a whole, but when you focus on the key pieces within the space, it's made up of bold statement pieces that are all very useful and reusable {great for those indecisive decor lovers!} Let's go over these great statement pieces, shall we?

1. Simple, Modern Bookshelf - Investing in a bookshelf that has simple, clean lines will be a piece that you will never want to throw away. Whether it's simple in price, design, materials or all of the above it's a must have for bringing some height to the space and showcasing those decorative items.

2. Neutral Mid Century Sofa - This space only has room for a small love seat but it doesn't even matter. It's still beautiful. Following along with the clean lines, mid century style upholstery is great for just that. I'm loving this love seat from One Kings Lane. Also, check out this great guide to the perfect {inexpensive} sofa.

3. Small Scale Gallery Wall - You can proabably figure out by now that I love a good gallery wall. Most people find them very overwhelming not only to layer and piece together but also once they're up due to there always being so many items hanging in one spot. This take on a simplified gallery wall blends similar tones with gold/ brass accents. I love mixing shapes and items such as this mirror, this decorative hanging, and this piece of abstract art.

4. End Table - Finding an side table that works as a unique piece is very key in such a neutral space like this. I love this brass side table from Urban Outfitters but this would be the perfect opportunity to test out your thrifting, DIY skills.

5. Industrial Accent Chair - Mixing decorative styles and elements is a very hard thing to do. But it's definitely possible... especially if you're seeing how great this space works. Here's the perfect example where mid century meets industrial and I love every part of it. These chairs from Dot & Bo are a steal compared to some similar chairs in this wire style.

6. Statement Lighting - As much as I love the brass pendant lighting in this space from The Glitter Guide, I know that hanging a pendant light or chandelier wouldn't be too practical for anyone in an apartment like myself. Take the light to the floor but don't to loose the statement by keeping it bold and tall like this one from One Kings Lane. This also brings in the industrial style like those chairs above... {see how I tied it together there?}

7. Mixing Throw Pillows - Another difficult thing to do is pattern mixing. It seems scary at first but this is a great example of how to make it work with no stress. Mix a colored geometric pillow like this one with a metallic pillow like this one. TA-DA!

8. Statement rug - Here is where you can get creative and add your own touch to this space! Most likely, you already have a rug you own.. or you have a rug in mind you want to purchase. The good news about this look for less is that it's so neutral that you can put just about any rug in this space and it will work. Suggestions? Go colorful but subtle in pattern. I'm loving this one, and this one from Target.

{via The Glitter Guide}

FURNITURE:

DECOR:

Look For Less

I've been swooning over this bedroom revamp from The Hunted Interior since Kristen posted the reveal a few months ago. I pinned this image immediately and I just can't get enough of it. I love the wall detail with the fawn wallpaper and the crisp whites with brass accents and pops of color. The entire space has been pulled together so beautifully, I've recreated the look so you {and me!!} can get this look in your home too!

There are a few key pieces you'll need to pull this look off. Once you have these items you can add in other items and finishing touches to make this your own. Throw in a small vase with flowers, your favorite, neutral area rug and you're good to go!

1. Upholstered Headboard - I love this one from target, but you can always check out flash sale sites like Joss & Main or One Kings Lane.
2. Desk - Instead of a nightstand, Kristen from The Hunted Interior used this desk {custom made, read her post here} I love this simple writing desk from target. It's the perfect size & you can spray paint the handle to add more brass accents to the space.
3. Ghost Chair - The ghost chair is a very trendy piece of furniture right now. With some of them reaching as much as $400-$800, this one is a steal at $100!
4. Multicolored Pillow - You can find a multicolored throw pillow pretty much anywhere these days. Geometric, tribal, anything you would like. I'm loving this one from CB2!
5. Oversized Mirror - I'm loving the contrast of the wood framed mirror in this space. There are tons of great mirrors out there, this one is very similar. I also love this one and this one.

{via The Hunted Interior}

Mix and Match

Today I'm sharing a little peek into one of my new favorite spaces in my house. Simplifying the gallery wall and isolating it to a singular photo ledge gives you the ability to change out picture frames and artwork with minimal effort. And if you're anything like me and are completely indecisive then this is the perfect concept. I can tell you for a fact though... the one item that is not changing from my photo wall is this beautiful custom painting. Let me introduce you to the The Painted Elephant. The creative mastermind behind The Painted Elephant and a local to Charlotte, Alysa Wayland is truly an amazing artist. My ginger jar painting should say it all {similar painting here}

I finally took my love of ginger jars to my bedroom, bringing in the whites and blues found in the  timeless chinoiserie jars with an Anthropologie twist. I've paired this beautiful painting with a variety of frames in different sizes and materials. Combining wood, ceramic, and painted frames {and a touch of gold} create the mix & match/ anthro feel that we all know and love. I also mixed both photos and artwork with the painting to continue the look I was going for.

Alysa could not have done a better job with this painting - the use of bright colors and the depth and light perceived with brushstrokes just blows my mind. I can't help but think of it as a combination of Lilly Pulitzer meets Andy Warhol... and I LOVEE both, especially Andy Warhol. {there's the art student in me coming out} Below are the images that I shared with Alysa when we were discussing what kind of painting I was thinking of for this space. I'm sure by now we all know my love for ginger jars, and some of my favorite paintings of Alysa's are of her beautiful hand painted blooms. I sent her these images thinking that I could combine the two and she did not disappoint.

Alysa's artwork is available on her etsy shop, she also offers custom signs and artwork perfect for baby showers, wedding gifts, or personal gifts if you want one for yourself! 

Follow along with The Painted Elephant

website // instagram // facebook // blog

Shop & Contact The Painted Elephant

etsy // email

Creating a Reading Nook

Nina Chair

The other day a few of my close girlfriends and I were talking about starting a book club. Nothing special or too much of a commitment, but it sounds like something fun and hey, it's a great excuse to get together and drink wine right?

Well even though I'm the last person you'd catch leisurely reading a book on a given night, I've always loved the idea of having a little reading nook. And when I saw this beautiful fuchsia chair at World Market the other day, I just couldn't stop staring.  So, I've decided.. this chair will be mine someday.  Doesn't it create the perfect pop of color? This chair would make that space complete - Somewhere you can go to just sit there and enjoy a cup of coffee and a good book. {maybe i'd actually get to put a dent into my never ending reading list...} Here's what I'd put into my reading nook to make it my cozy little getaway:

1. Bright, comfy chair
2. Small side table
3. Table lamp
4. Small bench
5. Coffee mug
6. Decorative pillow
7. Cozy throw
8. Candles
9. Basket for extra throws or books

Styling a Tray with Mintwood Home {Giveaway}

Orange & Green // Blue & Yellow // Pink & Green

I'm so excited to be partnering with Mintwood Home this week to bring you ideas for using trays within your home. If you haven't heard of Mintwood Home before, I'll forgive you... They're kind of the new kids on the block. So I'm here to introduce you - and you can thank me later when you realize that you've been browsing through their website for hours and haven't actually gotten anything productive done... Been there, done that.

If you haven't noticed by now, I absolutely love trays. They're so versatile, come in every size and shape you can imagine and they can be used many {i mean many} ways. Most commonly known for their use on bar carts and coffee tables; they're great for holding books, remotes, and decorative objects as well as organizing your favorite liquors. The one thing most people don't think about are the other fun uses for trays.

So, You've got guests coming over for the holidays and you want to welcome them into your home in a creative way... Set a tray by the window in the guest room and display shampoo, conditioner, a candle and any other bath & beauty accessories they could use while they're there! I know my cousins and college girlfriends would love to have access to the latest Essie nail colors.

This tray would be the perfect pairing for your coffee mug on a sunday morning when you just don't want to get out of bed yet. Set it by the window with style and not just on the window sill like you would have in college... {just me?} 

With a larger tray, you've got more room to play and get creative. Set your guests up with the book you just finished, a candle, and don't forget that wifi password! How many times have you gone to someones house and asked for their password? We are in a world now where internet and social media are must haves and sometimes, you just have to embrace it. Sharing your wifi password with your guests this way adds some creativity to their stay and makes them feel right at home!

Make yourself feel like a guest in your own home and enjoy a good book, with a cup of coffee and a nice candle. All those things that might be cluttering your nightstand can make you feel pampered for an afternoon when you set them up on a tray and enjoy some time relaxing! 

Shop this Post:

Orange & Green Tray // Blue & Yellow Tray // Pink & Green Tray

Blue & White Candle // Gray Candle{similar} // Gray Matches // Pink Matches

Coffee Mug // Gold Sea Urchins // Coffee Table Books

A huge thanks to Mintwood Home for sponsoring this post. Enter Below for a chance to win the Canary Yellow & Cobalt Blue Ikat Tray photographed above! Giveaway ends Tuesday 11/4 and the winner will be announced on Wednesday 11/5!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

6 Steps to Staging a Coffee Table

Photos: Andi Perullo

I'm so excited to finally be sharing this with you all! Last week, I had the chance to hang out at the West Elm here in Charlotte and play around in the showroom styling things. To say I was like a kid in a candy shop is an understatement. Now, This {I think} is one of the easiest and most fool proof ways to decorate a coffee table to ensure it looks nicely put together. Good thing is... most of these items you may already have - but if not, they are very easy to find!

First things first, You're going to need about 7 items. Why am I calling it the 6 Steps to styling a coffee table?? Well, that's simply because I'm going to assume most of you already have #1 covered. Whether it's grandmas old wooden coffee table, or it's this storage friendly coffee table from West Elm {pictured} Any coffee table will do!

1. Coffee Table: West Elm {similar}

2. Tray: West Elm {similar, similar, similar}

3. Stack of Books: {see here}

4. Candle: West Elm {love these}

5. Vase or Candle Hurricane: West Elm {love these}

6. Decorative Item: West Elm {love these}

7. Decorative Item: West Elm {Rhino, Reindeer}

Start with the tray, place it smack dab in the center of the coffee table.

Add your stack of coffee table books or magazines to one side of the tray.

Top your stack of books with your favorite candle. Feel free to take the top off for added flair.

Place your hurricane or vase in the back corner of the open side of the tray. Making sure your vase is just a little bit taller than where the candle sits is key to create a landscape within your tray.

Huge thanks to West Elm Charlotte for having me!

Add your smallest decorative object in front of the hurricane. Add an extra decorative object on the edge of your coffee table to give the eyes a path on and off the coffee table. This armadillo was my favorite little object in the store, I just had to include it! Brass animals are so popular and trendy right now, check out this rhino or these reindeer.


What's the verdict? Seems easy enough, right?? Do you think you can pull something like this off?

Comfy Cozy

via Sally Rhys-Jones

Back in June, this beautifully soothing bedroom was featured in Adore Magazine. I remember flipping through the pages of their online e-magazine and seeing this beautiful space but moved on thinking, I'll come back to it. Well, a few weeks back I pinned the same exact image to my bedrooms board on pinterest and I immediately saved the image to my desktop. I mean, how could you resist? Look at it! It's perfection!

What's even better? There's a ton of items and ways in this one singular image to help transition your bedroom to the fall//winter months.  Start with your basic white bedding, keeping the furniture you have, and adding some candles, a faux fur throw, a few snazzy pillow covers or some decorative pillows, and a new basket and there you go. Comfy, Cozy and ready for fall! Your sunday mornings spent in bed reading a book will thank you later.

Nightstand // Table Lamp // Blue Pillow // Brown Pillow
Faux Fur Throw // Basket // Tray // Candle // Candle

Pendant Lighting

You'll never realize what a difference lighting will make to a space until you see it. You may be thinking yeah, yeah, lighting is boring..and unless you are a complete and utter nerd like me, the last thing you would want to do when you move, or buy a home is shop for lighting. Well, let me change your mind a little today. A few weeks ago, a new restaurant opened up in Charlotte called Bakersfield. If you're in the area you might have heard of it or even visited for a margarita and some tacos. But if you haven't been by - You must stop in and try it. Not only for the amazing tacos and pitchers of margs in mason jars, but the lighting is simply captivating. Endless amounts of strategically placed pendant bulbs hanging from the ceiling created such a warm and edgy atmosphere all at the same time.. and did I mention the Margs? YUM.

Check out some of my favorites:

via Remodelista

via House of Turquoise

via Lonny

via Purodeco

via my paradissi

9 Fall Must Haves

Instead of providing you with a wish list for all those fall items I'm loving right now... and yes, there's a lot of them! I figured why not prep you with a few items I'm pretty sure will be heavily trending this fall. Trending to the point where you should put them on your wish list ASAP. I mean that.. Most of these items are already on mine. {don't tell my bank account cause it won't know what hit it in a few weeks}

1. Gold Starburst Mirrors - These bad boys are not going anywhere out of trend anytime soon! If you don't have one yet.. go get one! This one is on sale right now!

2. Cozy Textiles - Faux furs are a great item not only to cozy up to on the couch on a chilly night but they look great draped over a side chair or sofa as well!

3. Skull Decor - Remember this post from last season? Time to take out those decorative skulls because they'll be coming back without a doubt.

4. Coffee Table Trays - The little things are always better in groups! I love seeing a nicely staged tray on a coffee table. No matter the material, it always makes your remotes, books, and candles look very well put together.

5. White Bedding - Ahhh, white bedding.. My one true love! You can never go wrong with stark white bedding on a sunday morning when you open up your windows and grab a cup of coffee and a book. That is all.

6. Magazines/ Coffee Table Books - Any kind of mindless reading material is great and easy decor to pile up in a side basket, on a bookshelf, or on a coffee table neatly stacked.

7. Smaller Coffee Tray - Great way to drink a cup of joe in bed on a chilly fall morning, or to use in staging a guest room for when you have company.

8. Candles - No need to explain this one. A grouping of candles is such a joy to see in someones home, makes it feel so cozy and welcoming!

9. Bar Carts - If you've been wanting to invest in a bar cart and just haven't had the chance to... now is definitely the time! Stock the top of your bar cart with a few bottles of wine and your favorite liquor to warm your insides during the fall season! Don't forget the festive cocktail napkins and agate coasters!

Which of these items are going on your wish list for this fall season?

Inside my Home

I love when my favorite bloggers share a little insight on their personal life. Nothing too personal, just little things. For me in particular I always get a little giddy when I see Instagrams that showcase little pieces of their home.... a new rug, their favorite little decor piece, a properly arranged tray, or even a great angle of their custom kitchen. Call me a nerd? Sure. But I just love seeing those little insights.

Today, unfortunately my home is not photo ready... but why not share some insight into a few shiny and sparkly things that have made their way into my home recently? 

1. Alarm Clock - I've been wanting to paint this little pint sized clock gold since I brought it home.. but the more I look at it the more I like it how it is! Decisions, Decisions..

2. Candlesticks - These white candlesticks are so perfect I bought two pairs - Yes, two pairs! One for my living room and one for my bedroom!

3. Vase - Here's another great white piece that has made it's way into my home. It looks so pretty with bright colored blooms in it too!

4. Sea Urchins - These. Let me tell you, I went through hell to get my hands on a set of these. I searched about 5 or 6 targets to try and get these and I'm so happy I didn't give up! I didn't hand them though... They're topping my books on my nightstands, and coffee table!

5. Task Lamp - This lamp is perfection. It's the best addition to my desk/vanity for when I am working late at night or putting my makeup on for the day.

6. Pear Salt & Pepper Shakers - How adorable are these!? They've been sitting on my dining table for over a month now and I just got around to filling them up. Too pretty to eat? Try too pretty to use!

7. Candles - These candles are the perfect size to fit on top of the candlesticks. They look great and the glass keeps the wax from melting all over the place as bare candles would.

8. Gold Pineapple - I've been swooning over the pineapple trend for a while now and I just knew that I had to have one. When I saw that Mintwood Home was running this giveaway I didn't even think twice before entering! It's pure perfection!

Trending: Cheetah Print

image via Lonny

I know at first glance you might be thinking that cheetah print is so 90's style.. well, think again. I personally love the neutral yet fierce pattern that cheetah print brings to the table. But, it must be mixed together correctly and doing so might be a little tricky without making it seem too.... well, tacky. {we were all thinking it right?}

Here are a few trendy ideas on how to incorporate that glamorous dose of animal print into your home this Fall & Winter season. Tip: Find an accent or focal piece and mix it with blacks, browns, white and gold and you are guaranteed to achieve a chic look!

accent chair & a pop of color | via issuu

neutral living space with a neutral print pillow | via Domaine Home

throw pillow for the bedroom | via The Hunted Interior

another neutral accent chair | via Julia Ryan

cheetah accent ottomans | via Lonny

last but not least, the amazing office/closet space of Rach Parcell of Pink Peonies

Can we just take a minute and talk about how amazing Rach Parcell's dream closet/office is? I've been following her blog for a while now and I just about die every time she posts little sneak peaks into her new home, or the decor at her house. Her closet is nothing less than perfect, I highly recommend checking the entire post out here.

Savoring Summer

Shop these Looks from CB2:

Shop the Extras:

Don't go putting away those bright colors just yet! I know fall is right around the corner but let's talk about how to get the most out of those spring/ summer brights & bolds.

A great way to get the most of that bright decor is by changing up the placement of it all. Take some time this weekend and stage up your coffee table with all those pieces. The great thing about spring and summer is that you can get away with mixing bright colors and bold accents - a little thing we like to call color blocking.  Come fall and winter, you don't need to put all those decor items you love so much away for the season per say... You could very easily separate all of the colors and add neutrals and mixed metals to bring the  feel of the decor right into the next season. More details on how to transition to come! As for now, what's your take on squeezing the most out of the last few days of summer?