Dreamy Outdoor Escapes

Today I am so excited that my first guest post on the fabulous blog Belle Maison is live! Find out what has been inspiring me in the land of interior design lately.

Before you find out what is inspiring me in interior design I have also become very inspired by these beautiful exteriors. With summer right around the corner all I want to do is be outside at all times! I dream of one day having a large yard to have a beautiful oasis. But until then I will keep dreaming and show you some dreamy outdoor escapes. Are any of you like me and love being outside relaxing in the sunshine?

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Aren’t these outdoor spaces positively dreamy?? I want to lay on one of those chaises drink in hand and enjoy some sunshine! Summer cannot arrive soon enough! Which is your favorite outdoor space?

Don’t forget to hop on over to Belle Maison to check out my guest post! Have a great day!!

Home Tour: Lauren Weisbarth’s LA Home

Today I have a beautiful LA home belonging to Lauren Weisbarth and her family of four. When their family moved into this home they wanted a young, bright, energetic home with a beachy vibe. Lauren enlisted the help of her sister Alison Pincus, co-founder of One Kings Lane and designer Hillary Thomas to transform her home into a sophisticated and family friendly haven. Take a look!

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I love this stunning home. That beautiful bamboo trelis wallpaper is so eye catching! This home definitely feels beachy, comfortable, chic, and family friendly. What is your favorite space in this home?

Designer Spotlight: Suzanne Eason Interiors

Happy Tuesday everyone! I hope you had a great weekend. I spent the last few days down in Southern California visiting my family and had a great time!

Today I am introducing you to interior designer Suzanne Eason. Suzanne founded her residential interior design firm in 2006 after eighteen years as a Creative Director for various luxury and prestige brands in New York City and Santiago, Chile. Her interiors fuse classical and contemporary design. Her interiors are elegant and timeless. I think you will all enjoy her work. Her designs have been published in Traditional Home. Take a look!

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Aren’t her designs beautiful? I particularly like the first image. The brass and the printed pillows are so great. Which is your favorite space? To see more of Suzanne’s designs check out her website.

Guest Post: Reap the Rewards of Saving Money: Tips for Affordable Living

I am still out of town so, I have another guest post today for Fashion Friday courtesy of Morgan of the new blog Gray & Gabbana. Enjoy!

Saving money can provide many rewards. The less money you spend on the things you need, the more money you will have to buy things you want. I’ve been putting some saving habits into practice that I hope can help you too.

Saving on Fashion

When I need a fresh look, I love to start with a new pair of eyeglasses or some hot shades. Fortunately, at Warby Parker, I can get great eye wear at a great price. I also know that each time I make a purchase, someone else is getting the help they need! For each pair of glasses sold, Warby Parker donates a pair.

I love sporting fresh looks by incorporating hot jewelry trends into my outfits. With vintage looks in vogue, my new favorite place to shop is actually my grandmother’s jewelry box. The two of us have fun looking for great old pieces to match with some of my favorite new outfits. Other days, I enjoy shopping for handcrafted jewelry on sites like Etsy! Definitely worth browsing through!

Saving on Beauty

Beauty products account for much of the money I spend each month, but I take care to conserve product as much as possible.

First, I avoid using cotton balls as applicators. While they feel great against my skin, they soak up product and result in heavy waste. Instead, I use flat applicator pads or product-specific applicators that minimize waste and maximize results.

I also take advantage of recycling programs through my favorite cosmetic companies. MAC Cosmetics will sent customers a free lipstick of their choice for returning used cosmetic containers to the company.

While life can be expensive, remember that almost anywhere you spend money, you can also find ways to save it. Many resources exist to help individuals save on the things they want and need.

I love taking advantage of coupon codes. One of my favorite places to get discounts is RetailMeNot where I can get coupon codes to use for discounts online and in stores.

To hear more from Morgan visit her blog Gray & Gabbana. Have a great weekend!

Guest Post: A SEVERE CASE OF THE BLUES: Decorating a room around royal blue

I am heading home to Southern California today for the weekend so I have a great guest post for you today courtesy of Ariel at MyCustomRug.com. Enjoy!
Royal blue was hot on the fashion runways for the 2013 spring season.   So it is no surprise you are seeing this beautiful bold color crossover into the interior design world.  Its strong personality goes a long way, but using this strength in your home decor can really make an energetic statement.
Here are three tips for using royal blue in your space:

1.    Mix and match to break up the color

If you’re using royal blue on the walls, aim for light toned accessories and room décor to break up this strong color.  Patterns are a wonderful way to offset the lively presence of royal blue.  Patterned accessories such as tapestries, pillows, and throws can all help create a balance while also creating a striking room.

2.    Lighting is critical to using this color correctly

Royal blue has a tendency to absorb light, so you want a room with a natural light presence to prevent the room from looking too dark.  If you are using the color on your walls, try hanging sheer ivory curtains to allow natural light to shine through.  To maintain a light and airy look, use royal blue as an accent color in a room filled with natural colors.

3.    When in doubt try creating a mood board

A mood board (also known as an inspiration board) is a collage that consists of paint samples, magazine cutouts, fabric swatches and anything else that might catch your eye.  Center your mood board around royal blue and see how it begins to come together with different pieces.  You will be surprised at the color and pattern combinations that emerge.

This article was written by Ariel Dagan of MyCustomRug.com. Ariel is a design enthusiast who builds custom rugs for homes and small business.  See his blog for interior design principles and the different tools and ‘ingredients’ that are used to create rugs of all types.

Beautiful Arches

I am totally inspired by arches lately. I love the added architectural element they add to the space whether they are used on windows, doors, or hallways. Arches take the space to the next level. Here are some of my favorite spaces incorporating the beautiful arch.

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I mean how beautiful are these images right?? What do you think?

In other news I was lucky enough to judge a fun design competition through Dreamhouse Designer which is a fun design game through Facebook. If you haven’t played or checked it out you should! Here is the link. You can view the winners of the competition as well as join in next time!

I am heading down to Southern California for the next few days to visit my family, but I have a couple of great guest posts for you to enjoy! Have a great day!

Design Styles

How do you define your design style? It is hard for me to define mine because I feel like I like bits and pieces of different styles. I like all different styles of decor even if it is something I couldn’t see myself living in it I can still appreciate good design.

My design style is a modern take on classic elements. My style can be pretty eclectic. I love color, but it has to be balanced with neutrals. Every space, I think, should have a touch of glam or sparkle. Being form Southern California has definitely influenced my design style. I gravitate towards comfortable effortless spaces. See how hard that was for me to narrow down my design style? Geez. Is it hard for you to define your style? Here are examples of my perfect spaces.

Modern

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Modern isn’t necessarily all minimalistic and about abstract art. I think making a space modern is all about the way you use unexpected elements or even classic items in a new way.

Classic

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Classic designs like these are soft colors, traditional upholstered headboards, and timeless elements.

Glamorous

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Every space should have a little glamour and that doesn’t mean it has to be over the top. The use of metals such as the gold used in these spaces add a glam touch.

Comfortable/ Coastal Inspired

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I have always been drawn to comfortable/ coastal inspired design. Growing up near the beach definitely influenced that. These casual yet still sophisticated spaces really inspire me.

So I guess my style is a modern take on classic elements with a few glam and coastal touches thrown in. Kinda a long description!  I love an eclectic mix. What is your design style?