Out with the Old

Today is such an exciting day! If you're checking in today, you might be noticing that things are in rare form around here... It's all because Defined Designs is getting a new blog design!

Here are some color palettes that inspired me with my blog design & colors:

via Design Seeds 

via Pinterest

via Dieter Vander Velpen

Be sure to check back in for the new design soon! And of course, new posts to come as well!

Favorite Finds

You most likely have browsed or even bought from H&M a time or two.  Clothes that is. Right? Did you know that they have a home section on their website? This is like urban outfitters style meets ikea pricing...and now you're kicking yourself if you didn't already know that. It's okay. Today's Wish List Wednesday is all about H&M's home items.

For a little preview of what to expect before you start clicking away and filling your shopping cart.. The home section of the H&M website looks a little like this: [All images are from H&M]

[Spring Essentials]

[Spring Essentials]

If it's your first time browsing the H&M Home section or if you just want a little bit of design style inspiration, here are just a handful of my favorites. I could do some serious damage on this website.. How about you? Are you an H&M fan?

Shop These Finds:

Open Concept

As a post grad living and working in a city, the apartment hunt is a big ordeal. Every year you have to decide where you will live - will you stay in your current apartment, move to a new one, rent a house? Maybe even buy one when you're at that point in your life.  There's so many options and I don't know about you [maybe it's the designer in me] but I have such a hard time with deciding where to live.  All of the apartments in Charlotte are so nice and each one of them have their own pros and cons.

The one thing I've noticed a lot of is the open concept shelving in kitchens.  For me, the jury is still out on whether I'm a fan or not but of course I did my research and there's definitely some technique that comes with styling them.

Here are some of my favorite open shelving looks:

[via frolic]

[via Pinterest]

[via houzz]

[via Singapore Home & Decor]

[via Pinterest]

[via decor pad]

What are your thoughts on open shelving? Do you have them in your home or apartment? Would you mind them, or run away at the thought?

Dining like a Pro

via Style Me Pretty

I can't help but fall in love with this dining room!  When I saw this home tour from Amber of Amber Interiors on Style Me Pretty I knew I was going to have to feature it somehow on my blog. I love it that much [and I know you will too!] What a better way to feature this beautiful space I've been swooning over than to show you guys that you can have this look too?!

My favorite part about Amber's home is her casual dining area.  It's so well put together and has such simple elements that create it's chic girly look. This space just screams dinner party to me.  Here's a closer look.

via Style Me Pretty

How can you pull this off? Well, with a quick trip to Target and Ikea [bring a big truck and a man with muscles] you'll have a space similar to this in no time!

Here's my Look for Less:

Table: Ikea | $100

Bench: Ikea | $100

Chair: Ikea | $39 each ($80 FOR 2)

Light: Ikea | $25

Rug: Target | $280

Embroidered Pillows (2): Target | $29 set

Applique Pillow: Target | $17

Knotted Pillow: Target | $25

Curtains: Target | $15

Total: $671

Shop the Look: