Have you ever decorated an entire room only to be left thinking that something was… missing? I know that beautiful homes take time to curate but I’m guilty of lacking patience in this arena. Is it really so much to ask to have my home look like I’ve lived a full life in it for years, within months […]
2015 was definitely the year of streamlining our wardrobes. It was near impossible to avoid articles about the capsule wardrobe, minimal styling and everything Konmari – we couldn’t get enough of getting rid of our clothes! But I predict 2016 will be the year we move from our wardrobes and focus on decluttering the home. And I […]
What do you find more rewarding: splurging on a luxury piece that you find really beautiful and worthwhile? Or finding a thrifty bargain and making it look luxe? I think both can feel sweetly satisfying, but I’ve always admired people who can achieve the latter. Whether it’s the perfect thrifted leather jacket or flea market rug, […]
If you’re decorating a nursery for the first time, it can be easy to be overwhelmed by all of the new decisions to be made. Serena Dugan, a mother of two and the chief creative officer of Serena and Lily, says “the hardest thing is that new parents feel restricted by what’s ‘functional’ because it’s all […]
It may have been 87 degrees in Austin this week, but that’s not holding me back from wanting to surround myself with all things comforting and cozy. I’m ready to roast vegetables and don a cape, but since our weather hasn’t quite caught up I’ve been finding ways to make my home look and feel the part. Whether you live […]
If I had the storage, I’d be swapping out my decor with every season and holiday. But even if you’re tight on space (or budget), you can still embrace the year’s most supernatural holiday – you just have to get a little creative. As tempting as it can be to deck the house out in skulls […]
My best friend is a countertop minimalist, while her boyfriend is a countertop maximalist. As you can imagine we’ve discussed at length the pros and cons of each, and I’ve landed squarely in her court (no surprise). I don’t have miles of countertop space to work with in my kitchen, so I like to keep […]
We spend so much time designing our living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms, but when it comes to the bathroom we usually pick a shower curtain, a bathmat, and call it a day. It doesn’t help that the bathroom decor section of most stores consists of unattractive matching sets of soap dishes and toothbrush holders […]
Gallery walls can be an intimidating project to start because as we all know, the best collections are acquired over time. And finding the art is just the first step. You still have to frame it all in a coordinated fashion and arrange and hang them in a formation that’s pleasing to the eye. So if, like […]
Whether you work at home or in an office building, it is so important to create a workspace that will keep you inspired and energized week after week. Even if you’re not heading back to school this month, now is the perfect time to take a look around your work area and do some fine tuning. Have […]
The only thing more satisfying than finding photos of a jaw dropping home? Seeing the before photos. This home’s before photos weren’t particularly offensive, it looked quite nice actually, but Amber Lewis’s design touch made for a stunning after. Homeowner Susan Anderson said she wanted “a casual California aesthetic with rock ’n’ roll undertones,” and now I’m totally convinced […]
I recently took the doors off of my kitchen cabinets. After years of fantasizing about what it would be like to have open shelving in my kitchen, I grabbed a screw driver and removed a couple of screws on each hinge – voila! Open shelving. They’re not true open shelves, and you can still see the […]
A common phrase I hear when people talk about decorating their homes is “I want it to look like a hotel.” I can relate, I’ve spent years making my bed as big, white and fluffy as I can; one that I can collapse into at the end of a long day. Hotels can feel so luxurious […]
Lately I’ve been on a mission to find inspiring rooms free of the ubiquitous tulip tables, matchtstick legs, fiberglass chairs. And can I tell you, it’s been very difficult! So seeing this French inspired rustic kitchen felt like a breath of fresh air for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love a leather Eames Lounge just […]
Lately I’ve been overscheduling myself on weekends, leaving me with low energy levels as I head into the workweek. As satisfying and productive as it feels to add tick marks to my project and to-do lists, I’m focusing on ways to unwind at home for a classic staycation. Right now I’m inspired by the opulence of the El Fenn luxury hotel […]
Growing up all of my design inspiration came from just two or three sources – the glossy magazines that arrived in the mailbox each month. Today, we have new and diverse images available to us daily from so many sources it can be overwhelming, yet it is still so easy to fall into the same habits. Subway […]
You may have seen this kitchen and immediately started thinking of reasons you need a butcher’s block table. I know I did. For example, the wood is better for your knives as it won’t dull their edges. If you have a small kitchen, then the additional work space can be a welcome solution to limited […]
You’d never believe it by looking at this photo, but this patio used to be “a dumping ground for old plants and old furniture” before Sarah Sherman Samuel and her husband gave it a makeover. They built the wooden benches themselves using wood scraps, gave the corner a fresh coat of paint, covered up the rough […]
“Rental kitchen.” Those two words can strike fear into the hearts of many renters. The kitchen can be one of the more restricting rooms in the house to decorate, depending on how obliging your landlord is, so it takes a special kind of ingenuity to show your personal style in a rental. Believe it or not […]
Here in Texas there is a small window between sweater weather and too-hot-to-breathe. And that window is here! It’s time to head out to the patio, balcony, or garden with friends for a pitcher of margaritas and make-your-own nachos. If your outdoor space was a bit neglected during the winter months and could use some TLC, now’s the perfect […]
One swipe through my Instagram feed and it’s immediately clear that spring is here. Pastels and florals have officially taken over, but I must confess – that’s not my thing. You won’t find many pastels and floral prints in my neutral wardrobe or my home, but I still like to find ways to express my […]
SXSW is one of the busiest times of the year here in Austin, so it’s no wonder the serene, pared down feel of this room is resonating with me right now. I find that the busier life gets with work and social events, the more I appreciate and value having a streamlined home. I’ve had […]
Last year my New Year’s resolution was to try my hand at the 5 Piece French Wardrobe, and it truly worked to focus my shopping habits. But now our resident style guru Jen has me totally intrigued by the Capsule Wardrobe. I like to set my alarm a bit earlier so I can indulge in the act of […]
I’ll come out and say it, I’m not crazy about my kitchen. There’s nothing wrong with it per se, the cabinets aren’t dated and the countertops aren’t offensive. It’s not quite worth the time and resources to renovate, but it’s just not what I would have chosen. So what do you do when you don’t […]
The challenge of living in a loft is that you can see everything from every vantage point. And the beauty of living in a loft is that you can see every piece of art, every vignette, and every piece of carefully chosen furniture from every vantage point! Despite the potential for design challenges, I prefer the […]
