Guest Room Blues

 Lately I've been thinking alot about our guest room.

Which, like alot of guest rooms has been largely neglected over the last couple years.

It's basically a display case for the the stuff I'm not using.

It's especially frustrating that my bedroom style has gone from

Super Shabby Chic a la this:

 

To Hollywood Regency/1960's traditional with a twist a la this:

I'm fighting between my ADD side and my frugalista side.

 So I want to make my old things work for my new style.

Here's a little inspiration

 

 The bed frame I currently have is almost identical to the one below, except currently it's that antiqued off-white.

I think it might be pretty in a similar blue shade to this.

Maybe in a high gloss finish.

My current bedding is the thing that makes me want to cry the most because 

it was REALLY expensive and it's relatively new. It came into my life right before my decor 

tastes really started to change.

And it saddens me.

It's still so pretty and reminds me of something you might find in a quaint French hotel.

It just needs a little pop of color.

Enter these darling Serena & Lily Sheets

 

And these too cute linen pillows with a touch of sparkle.

 

I found a desk last year that looks EXACTLY like this one in Mary McDonald's office.

And I'm in the process of lacquering it white.

images via pinterest.com

It will replace the distressed farm-house table currently being used as a desk in our guest room.

I like the idea of making this room light blue, grey and black with pops of gold.

It's sophisticated, but still manly enough for Brian to get some work done in there, 

since our guest room doubles as his office.

For a touch of black, I'm thinking about moving this chair from our bedroom to the guest room

 

I think it marries French (Shabby) Chic with Hollywood Regency (Trad with a Twist)

My one question mark is what to do with these x-benches.

I'd like to keep them at the end of my guest bed.

But do I keep them the same in their original fabric?

It's in mint condition and I love it's likeness to the Hot House flowers fabric, designed by Celerie Kemble for Schumacher.

Or should I pick something more subdued?

I could even picture the benches in black patent. Or a soft blue velvet.

Thoughts?

Wedding Wednesday-----Teeny Tiny Wedding

 One wedding related thing that Brian and I have joked/talked/thought about a lot is the prospect of eloping.

Well, maybe not "eloping" in the totally technical sense, 

but basically getting married in front of just our families, 

with like two other witnesses.

Having an easy relaxed ceremony & dinner with under 10 people

and then having a big party upon our return from a honeymoon.

Sure, it's unconventional, but the more I think about it,

the benefits start to outweigh the cons.

It's virtually stress-free and you can use the funds normally reserved to feed/entertain 100 plus people

towards something more long-lasting, like a new home, or improvements to your existing home.

I'm loving this sweet Palm Springs elopement at the Parker Hotel----One of my very favorite venues.

 

images via here

I also ventured over to Style Me Pretty and found more beauties in the elopement department.

When you're only hosting 6 people, you can let your table decor creativity run wild!

images via Style Me Pretty

I love how this couple makes even the courthouse look chic.

 Another benefit to an elopment/small wedding----you can wear whatever you want.

Like a less conventional wedding dress. 

I'm SUPER obsessed with this one from BHLDN

 I love these accessories to go with.

The feather shoes are to die.

And the veil,

oh so flirty and fun!

What's your take on the elopement/teeny tiny wedding?

Love it or leave it?

NICE to meet you!

A BIG thank you to Kerry, Isabel and Maigen of LCDF (la conception des femmes) blog for nominating me for a Liebster Award!!

In their words: "The Liebster Blog Award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. The Meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcoming."

Here are the rules for receiving this award:
1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves
2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you plus create 11 questions for the people you’ve tagged to answer.
3. Choose 11 people and link them in your post.
4. Go to their page and tell them.
5. Remember, no tag backs!


I have to say that this couldn't have come at a better time, because I've been feeling like we should be formally "introduced". You know, because you're reading about the intimate details of my decorating and we should probably be a little more acquainted!


11 Things about ME:

1. I grew up in a humid Bayou called Houston, TX and I have so much Houston pride. I get personally offended when people in my new home (Dallas/Fort Worth) make fun of Houston.

2. Before I worked in the wonderful world of interior design, I sold Commercial Real Estate. Not homes, like big ol' warehouses.

3. As a result of my former career choice, my two Welsh Corgis are named Donald "Trump" and "Trammell" Crow. Hm, wonder what they would have been had I started out in design? Probably Wearstler and Celerie.

4. New Year's is my favorite holiday. Halloween is my least favorite.

5. I'm the last to find out about/get every new technology. When someone sent me a link to Twitter a few years ago, I thought it was a shopping website. It took me about 30 minutes on the site to give up hope of purchasing clothes on there.

6. That being said, I'm not sure what I did before Etsy. And Pinterest.

7. If I could be transported to another decade, it would be the 1960's. I was made for that generation.

8. I would be perfectly fine with it if all I ever ate again was sushi and ice cream.

9. My Aunt gave me my first Diet Coke at age 2. I've been addicted since.

10. The most attractive thing about my boyfriend Brian is his entrepreneurial spirit. He's the only 30 year old I know that owns two businesses.

11. In my opinion, that great vintage find could be anywhere. And I mean ANYWHERE. Including, but not limited to, the side of the road, in someone's trash pile, at Salvation Army. You name it, I've found a diamond or two in the rough there.

LCDF's Querries

1. Name 3-4 pieces of your wardrobe that best define your personal style. -from Kerry: The vintage (c. 1960's) Rolex my mom gave me for my 21st birthday, An ivory vintage wool coat with a giant white fur collar, black leggings that I wear everywhere, tons of cardigans.

2. What are your go-to beauty products? -from Kerry: Clean & Clear lotion with Salycillic Acid, Paul Mitchell Volumizing Spray, Bobbi Brown Bronzer

3. What is a typical day like for you? -from Kerry: I spend all day, every day immersed in Interior Design. At work, while I'm blogging, and in my spare time. It's truly my passion. Sometimes I need a break from it, but I never tire of surrounding myself with beautiful things.

4. How did you decide to start your blog? -from Kerry: My very last course in college was a class on Websites and they made us start a blog. I did a few posts and then stopped and then one day I just picked it up again and started writing.

5. From which store would you most like to win a shopping spree? -from Maigen: In the Home Department, Probably F. Schumacher fabrics. There's nothing better than quality textiles in my opinion. In the clothing department: Trina Turk.

 6. Is there a celebrity whose closet you would love to raid?  Who? -from Maigen: Oh yeah. I'd like to go back in time and raid Elizabeth Taylor's closet. Now, I'd raid Olivia Palermo's closet. And who wouldn't want to get into the Sex and the City closet archives?

7. What is your signature color {or colors}? -from Maigen : Turquoise and coral.

8. Aside from blogging, what are a couple of your other favorite hobbies? -from Maigen: Antiquing, Taking long walks with Brian, Trump and Trammell, Cooking and drinking craft beers from different breweries. Brooklyn Brewery is one of my newest favorites.

9.  When you feel a lack of creativity, where do you go to recharge?  Or what sites/people do you draw inspiration from? -from Isabel: I draw so much inspiration from other bloggers. There are some great minds out there! I draw inspiration from so many outside factors: Fashion, Travel, Art, Food, Vintage Finds.

10. What does your man/kids/important people think about you blogging? -from Isabel: Everyone just keeps saying how proud they are of me.

images via Pinterest.com

11. How do you blog more efficiently and what are your tips for steam lining your workflow? - from Isabel: I blog much more efficiently if I jot down ideas ahead of time. It's easier to churn out posts that way. I also try to Pin images ahead of time.

My Questions:

1. Three of the best places you've traveled to.
2. Three places you're dying to see.
3. Your go-to meal (that you can cook).
4. Favorite movie interior (set design) or fashion (costume design)?
5. How would you describe your decor style?
6. If someone gave you $1 million and you could only spend it on your wardrobe or interiors, which would you choose?
7. What do you hope to achieve from blogging?
8. If Annie Leibovitz (or another famous photographer of your choice) was going to spend all day taking pictures of you and someone in your life, who would you choose?
9. What era/decade most represents your style?
10. What's your most prized possesion?
11. Who is your style doppleganger (real or fiction)?


The Nominees:

The Semi-Designed Life
Climbing Magnolias
Such Good Style
Tea Gee Bee
Tiny Bits from Boo
Princess Martha
Fashionable Footprints
Belles & Bows
Probably Polka Dots
Tiffany Leigh Interior Design
Laura Dro Designs



So readers----Nice to meet you!

Wedding Wednesday---The Anti-Flowers

I need to make an absolutist statement right now.

ALL MY FRIENDS ARE GETTING MARRIED.

And don't worry, this Wedding Wednesday isn't about to turn to a dark version of an "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride" mope.

What I do mean by this is that I'm constantly going to weddings, seeing things that are old, thing that are new, and things that make me feel blue.

Isn't rhyming fun?

Anyway, my friends all have very different budgets. And some of them can really afford truckloads of flowers.

And some can't. But, don't despair, because this Frugalista is about to hand you some wisdom.

You can have fabulous wedding decor, without flowers.

GASP.

It's true, I tell you.

You can use things like moss in vintage milk glass containers.

Or succulents in simple containers.

Which can double as placecards and table decor.

Or a mix of the former.

And if you really can't live without some floral details, you can do mostly greenery with just one or two pretties.

 You can decorate with beautiful appetizers.

Like some cheesy goodness.

And vintage plates.

Which I swear are inhabiting every flea market on earth for under $1.

You can use feathers. Which are not unlike flowers for their whimsy and color.

You can use decorative objects like faux-etched mirrors.

And balloons! Oh, balloons.

Don't they just scream magic?

images via Pinterest

My point is.....There are lots of cheap alternatives to flowers.

You just have to find your fancy.