I could have been a contender {RUGS: kilim me softly with this rug}

I've been lining up a selection of rugs for a client project and just keep falling head over heels for these kilims, most of them Turkish. So, I thought I'd share some of the contenders...

Which one is your favorite?

Turkish Kilim
Oldvinshop - Etsy

Turkish Kilim
Boho Colors - ETSY

Kaysairi Turkish Kilim
Furbish Studio

Antique Kilim
Bohem

League Runner, Antique Anatolia Turkish Kilim
Amber Interiors

For a more monochromatic look, I've been into this Dash & Albert Kilim since last October, when I took over the Layla Grayce Instagram account for a day. I love this one so much, I may have to have it in my new living room.

Nordic Kilim
Dash & Albert

NURSERY DESIGN {HRH Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, PRINCESS BUTTERCUP NURSERY}

I was totally in Royal Watching Heaven when little Princess Charlotte joined the Royal Family last week. To celebrate, I wanted to create a Nursery Design to commemorate the occasion. I was so inspired by the Traditional and clean, sort of Laura Ashley feel of the The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in their Hospital exit appearance.

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In 2013, before the birth of Prince George of Cambridge, The London Hotel, The Grosvenor House, created a Royal Nursery Suite. No detail was spared. It was simple, elegant and it was YELLOW. {Yellow, Gray and Ivory}.

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So, without further ado, here is my "HRH Princess Buttercup Nursery", inspired by Duchess Kate's Bespoke Jenny Packham Buttercup Dress and The Grosvenor House Nursery from 2013.  I had Buttercup sheets and a yellow room when I was a little girl...so this was really quite a sentimental design for me. Traditional, but with some more simple, modern updates for anyone's little Buttercup.

 

Behr "Lemon Souffle" | AKA French Flower Basket Layla Grayce Crib |  Floor Lamp |

Stark Tara Gray Diamond Rug | Schumacher Chenonceau
Buttercup Yellow Pillow | Gray Linen Chaise  | Handknit Alpaca Diamond Blankie | Garnet Hill Yellow Bud Flat Sheet |
The Velveteen Rabbit Page Art | Children's Gold Gilded Crown Rocking Chair

and Great Grandma will maybe send over her Royal Albert Yellow Rose Tea Set for when you take Tea in the Nursery.

Long Live Princess Buttercup!

XO,

Wordless Wednesday Inspiration {Benjamin Moore "First Light"}

Malachite Monday {Malachite Plates SPLURGE OR STEAL}

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Coco Kelly

The Splurge

{If you can really go for it as far as price point!}

Malachite Dessert Plates
Set of 4
$250

The Steal

{If you want just one for a decorative plate...can you see this in a hanging plate wall?!}

Malachite Small Dish
$35

Wordless Wednesday Inspiration {Sherwin Williams "Liveable Green"}

L-R: Softened Green, Quietude, Sea Salt, Liveable Green (above), Comfort Gray, Rainwashed.

All Sherwin Williams.

Entry Design {Trad with a Twist}

Trad with a Twist

I've been playing around with a few Entry designs for a client.

I'm not sure if we'll end up using more contemporary options with a few traditional accessories or more traditional furnishings with a few contemporary touches...

BUT while sourcing and playing today I fell for this Traditional Combination that seems fresh because of the simplicity of the finishes and the more contemporary colors.

Mirror. I am a huge fan of this large, gold finished, simple mirror. Understated Elegance.

Gilt Minimalist Mirror

Wisteria

$254.97

Lamp. The Traditional profile of this Tole Lamp is livened up with a handpainted Ikat pattern in a vibrant aqua.

Tole Ikat Lamp

Wisteria

$219

Console. This Traditional Demi-Lune in Antique Walnut is perfect for small spaces that need a bit of added storage. I love this dark wood finish but an antique white or distressed gray would be lighter, and brighter choices, and gorgeous as well, depending on your wall color, of course. 

Verese Demilune

Ballard Designs

$1299

Rug. This rug is from Caitlin Wilson's new rug line. It has the look of a Traditional Persian Rug but in a fresh and fun color way.

Kismet Rug in Navy

Caitlin Wilson Textiles

$174-$2052

Wordless Wednesday Inspiration {"Woodlawn Blue", Benjamin Moore}

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Year of Change Challenge AUGUST REVEAL {Styling Bookshelves}

This month the decorating gets going with the usual suspects (Life on Virginia Street, Suburban Bitches, and Rosa Beltran Design) and our uber talented guest designer Jade O’Connor! Her Southern style showcases her eye for mixing traditional with eclectic. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT SHE DOES WITH HER SHELVES! 

So, here we are! Hello, last weekend of August!

And as I mentioned, this month's challenge was to style a bookshelf. 

Styling Bookshelves?!!!

 This is one of my most favorite things to do in the decorating realm. 

I love books and I love stuff. 

What people have on their shelves and how those objects are displayed says a lot about you. (For instance, my dusty shelves may indicate that I don't clean often enough, jk). Sometimes the organizing and styling task can be overwhelming when you think about attaining a look that is clean, uncluttered and balanced. Especially if you are working with collections.

 I have several bookcases in my home (because I'm a book nerd), so the biggest part of the challenge for me was to decide which shelves I wanted to tackle. 

I decided to give my living room book shelf (an old, ugly, battered bookshelf that has been through 5 moves with us) the heave-ho and tackle a bit of a DIY IKEA HACK.

For details on my IKEA Bookshelf Hack head over here.

The room that I've been working in may look familiar to you. Back in February I shared my Idea Board for this teeny, tiny Living Room to be transformed into a LIBRARY READING ROOM.

Yup, that would be a Brass Etagere in the picture above.

So, now that you know the look I'm after...here is my 
HACKED AND STYLED 
Bookshelf! 

Trust me, I have enough STUFF to fill up every inch of this shelving unit. But this is more a display etagere, so keeping things light, balanced and colorful was my goal. 

Be sure to check out Erin & Tricia's, Rosa's, Sarah's and our guest designer,  Jade's Shelf Styling magic!!!
This month's was a super fun challenge....but I seriously can't wait to share what we'll be working on and with whom we'll be collaborating with in Sept...
Monday I'll be announcing the Year of Change Challenge for September!