Foyer Restyle With Dressing Room Interiors + Permission And Perspective

Often times in my work I meet new clients who already have a clear sense of their own personal style.  Or perhaps they think something but simply struggle in closing their deal.  They WANT to wear this skirt with this top, but they just are not completely confident it would look right.  So here lies within the reason for my almost forty year old selfies Outfit Of The Day posts.  I feel quite silly at times, but then someone from the street or grocery aisle stops to say I inspired them to go for it... Be confident in themselves, put it together, and do it!  And my Wimmicks dots of insecurity gently fall to the ground or turn to stars.  

Sometimes all we need is permission.  And sometimes we need perspective that is not our own.  Isn't this the only way we learn more and grow and get better?  I am constantly looking to others' talent and inspiration when it comes to interior design, and whenever I get stuck, I want to know how someone else would do it.  I was forever calling my talented friend Katherine to come over and style my bookshelves and table tops before she moved to sunny Charleston. 

I went straight to BlackHawk Hardware for a can of paint after falling in love with Charlotte Lucas' choice of Lichen Green for the mill work in client's library.

My always #1 choice for vignette styling and accessories is Jamie Meares and Furbish Studio (see below Elephant figurine in images). I also nabbed a paper mache crane for my loo.

Lately I have been slightly obsessed with all the girls and their fab finds over at Deep Branch/K. Interiors and Dressing Room Interiors.  I mean I basically mashed together this image I saw on the K. Interiors inspiration board with THIS room at their studio to arrive at my own family room (Stay Tuned).  

I am a bargain gal, but who doesn't love high impact at an accessible cost?  Upon a recent Dressing Room Interiors Instagram stalk, I saw THIS sideboard and made a mad dash straight for their front door.  

I got the piece home and made a good start at it in my foyer but fell into one of those design ruts. That is when I reached out to Ariene for some help getting me back on my feet.  Ariene knows I love color, and she's got a killer eye not only for great pieces but for styling them.  Here is the piece in my foyer now...

And here is how Ariene helped me (over text!) get it to a place that I love...

And this is foyer now.  I walk in the door to this pretty space at the end of every day, and I walk down the steps every morning to see it!  Thanks to Ariene's beezneez eye, I am so happy with it!  

I'll be back soon with a resource guide of you like this look.  In the meantime, here's a look at some of the details up close, complete with a photo from a best friends wedding 10 years ago.  These girls have been my closest for over 30 years.  I was postpartum four weeks... the picture says it all!  Now, I recommend you run, not walk, and check out the Deep Branch and Dressing Room Interiors studio on 8th Street in Elizabeth.  It is filled with some of the most amazing consigned, refurbished and vintage pieces imaginable!

Senior Style Muses

You may recall reading about Ari Seth Cohen's Advanced Style about a year ago.  His documentary style blog showcases the street style of mature women and men live from the sidewalks of Manhattan.  What I would give to see such artful sophistication donning streets of the QC!  These ladies and gentlemen are so inspiring!  Last week Vogue.com featured 8 Senior Style Muses You Need To Follow Now.  Everyone who truly loves fashion knows the Queen Bee of 'More Is More, Less Is A Bore', Iris Apfel.

Also included on that list were a few of Cohen's muses.  I truly don't think there could be anything more stylish at ANY age than Valerie von Sobel in the below outfit.  I mean just wow. Check out Vogue's full list HERE.

In other style and design news, I'm excited to have found what I think will be the most perfect simple bed skirt I've never been able find find before now... thanks to one of my biggie design crushes, Jamie Meares.  You better believe I was all kinds of excited when Jamie's Biz, Furbish, regramed one of my photos of a friend's living room I did a quick refresher on using a few awesome goodies from Furbish.  This python tray, pair of Chiang Mai Dragon pillows and Herringbone Pom Pom throw were all it took to elevate Caroline's room from pretty darn cute to really pretty darn cute. Go crazy shopping Furbish!

Pom Pom Puff Ball Overload

If I see one more of those fuzzy little pom pom puff balls hanging from some girls purse, I think I am going to snag them from her bag and force them down my throat until I choke and can no longer breathe!  So, that's how I really feel about overly popularized puff ball pom pom charm. Trends typically annoy me.  Not in the artistic creative, see how this designer articulates the trend compared to that one, but the way that I really simply cannot stand to do whatever it is that others are doing, or in this case, wearing.  Some of the more original fashion mavens....Bianca Jagger, Johnny Depp, Diana Vreeland, Diane Keaton, Iris Apfel, Jennifer Lopez and Michelle Obama.  The thing I love about each of these ladies (and gent!) is that while I may or may not identify with their personal style, I admire that they HAVE their own personal, consistent sense of style going on.  Jennifer Aniston and Kate Middleton too.  They do THEM.  Jen A, always so simple, monochromatic and fit, and Kate; always put together, hair combed, lip gloss and more often than not a nude pump....

Of course I say that, and then my style is ALL. OVER. THE. PLACE.  I tend to dress for the occasion and/or the people I will be seeing, and I tend to do that in a very maximalist way... whatever the style or occasion is.  One day it's bohemian, the next day classic, the next colorful and the next sophisticated.  

My (quite winded) point of this all is to do YOU, and every time I see this stupid little puff balls my face looks like an emoji I don't think is yet represented.  I'd be happy seeing one or two, but they are literally EVERYWHERE made my EVERY retailer.  That said, what do I know?!  I will brag on two of my favorite gal pal fashion bloggers, Blair Eadie and Bethany Diffey.  They both have their own thing going on and make that silly little puffball look so good everybody (except me) wants in on it.  Oh, and Jamie Meares over at i suwanee sells them at her store, Furbish and on line, I bet like nobody's business.

If you are diggin' the little pom pom puffballs, I've put together a list of the cutest I could find. Can't see those little fuzzy fellas down there?  Click HERE. 

Let The Shopping Begin!

This holiday season, I'm gonna hit you with the coolest stuff on the market.  I love, LOVE gift giving.  I love giving things I'd like to receive and things I think remind me of the recipient.  And when in doubt, giving dope gifts is always a winner.  How can you say no to any of those funsies up there?  Happy Shopping!  Gobble. Gobble.  Furbish Studio rocks!

House Reveal: Hall/Boys' Bathroom

Last month I shared my inspiration board for a new hall bath design.  Because this bathroom is shared by our two boys, ages six and three, as well as any guests, I wanted to come up with a design that would be fun for the boys but still chic for everyone else. After a trip to my favorite interior design store in the entire U S of A, Furbish Studio, in Raleigh, NC, I was able to add some whimsical pops of color to the room which was originally planned to be Kelly green, white and navy, designed around the Serena & Lilly alligator shower curtain.  

The bathmat was a gift my mom graciously picked up in Georgetown, SC, and my talented, sweet mother-in-law painted the watercolor.  Reminiscent of our family sailing trip around the BVI, the picture depicts your back toward the Soggy Dollar Bar, birthplace of the deliciously refreshing Painkiller, looking out onto White Bay, Jost Van Dyke.  It's safe to say I'm happiest near blue green waters.

The capiz shell sconces I eagerly snagged from West Elm right after we moved into to the house. These are the closest I'm able to find, and I'm very excited to have just purchased the pendant shade version recently for our foyer.

The orange bikini girl is a print made by a long time family friend.  I wish she still produced them!

My girl, Jessica, painted the Beverly palm print, and the Turkish towels and cute little donkey are from Furbish Studio.  Those are my two friends (one real life friend anyway) in the picture taken at a very long ago Carolina Cup!  Good memories, they never fade, but I'm so glad we have this one documented on paper...

And last but certainly not least, those crazy fantastic crazy snake prints, also from Furbish Studio.  My new favorite is this donkey.

And there you have it, viola!  Until the next itch to change comes a creepin'...

Boys' Bathroom Project Update

Last week I shared the start of my boys' bathroom redesign project.  I wanted something young and fun, relevant for two little boys but also hip enough for any guests, since this is our hall bath. The little marching alligators shower curtain from Serena & Lily was my starting point.  I finally got to experience in the flesh my interior design retail obsession du jour, Furbish Studio, when I visited their Raleigh store last weekend.  I've been eyeing these colorful snake prints for some time now via their website, and seeing them in person, well... had to have 'em!  I think they are quite genius for bridging the gap between relevant and cool for little boys and totally hip for guests.  Here's a layout of the current bathroom.  Just click on the plus signs to shop any item straight from this post!  Happy Weekend!