Dark & Moody

It’s finally raining here in California, of course all I want to do is snuggle up in a fuzzy blanket on the sofa. I’ve pulled together my favorite dark and moody interiors to share and match this cloudy weather.

Photo Cred: Villa Betula

The mustard yellow upholstery and plum throw pillows matches perfectly with the indoor foliage. A room for my own heart!

Photo Cred: Puerto Rico: The Gallery Inn

I am loving this medieval charm and beautiful staircase banister that nearly touches the ceiling, wrapping the entire room in wood and colorful textiles.

Photo Cred: The Future Kept

I am always a go for anything houseplant related, this eclectic space holds plants, pottery and gold accents warming up the cool space.

Photo Cred: Abigail Ahern via Culture Trip

You can find me here in this plaid chair covered in faux fur pillows, all the colors and textures in this living room work cohesively together. Of course one can’t miss the fern and flowers at top this mantel!

Are you a fan of the rain? Or would you love to hangout in one of these cool spaces above?

XOXO | Stephanie

Story of Autumn

The crisp autumn air, the leaves starting to change and the days begin to feel much shorter. Now that October is over, we find ourselves almost a week away from Thanksgiving. I wanted to share our living room mantel, in which I’ve decorated with fall fiery leaves and pumpkins. I like to decorate with an autumnal theme, allowing us to enjoy for a longer period of time, as early as September all the way through November. Although I am itching to begin decorating for Christmas, but I will resist the urge.

I love opening the seasonal decor boxes every time the holidays come around. This year I found these paper leaves above, that I had purchased from Micheals the year before. I thought it would be a great idea to string them together, creating a very colorful and festive garland for our mantel.

This year I am dressing up our front door with colorful foliage with an earthy edge. This simple grapevine wreath from Micheals has seen many events and gatherings throughout different seasons. All the added berries, leaves and flora aren’t glued to the piece, quite simply woven and braided into the vines. This allows for easy removal and quick change for a different season. I like to keep the foliage in our fall box in a zip lock for save keeping for next years events.

I would love to hear all the creative ways you blend holiday decor into your home? I am always up for new ways of decorating the home.

Photography credits: S. Pellegrini Living

Summer is here

Summertime to me is all about bright colors and the warm sunshine. The interiors switch from heavy textiles to light throws for the furniture. It’s all about bringing the indoors out and enjoying the time in the sun. Of course it doesn’t hurt to get a little tan during all these either. I hope you enjoy my collection of summer fun below.

Photography credits in order of appearance: The Beverly Hills Hotel, Amanda Mercado A Glam Lifestyle, Jacquetta Wheeler Moroccan Villa on AD, Monika Hibbs, Jennifer from FleamarketFab on Glitter Guide, Glitter Guide showcases Simona Wohlner's home that La designer Layne Kula designed.

Anika Spruce

Textiles are a big passion of mine, I love finding new materials that inspire me. The rug above is from Stark, from their new spectrum collection, called Anika spruce. I walked across this beauty when I was sourcing at the San Francisco Design Center, a beautiful transitional piece.

Summer Round Up: Favorite Trends

The next few months are going to be full of all things fall and pumpkins, so I wanted to pay a homage to summertime. I am going to cover a few of my favorite trends from the season and how you can incorporate them into your home.

  Bright hues of decorative pom-poms & tassels were all the craze this summer. The neutrals of the straw bags are perfect against the colorful yarns. Poms have also made their way into home decor seen on throw blankets and playful accessories. Please check out this fun article from Apartment Therapy on "Trend Report: The "It" Decor Item We're Seeing Everywhere" showcasing all the ways you can incorporate pom-poms in your daily life.

I've noticed wooden beaded necklaces have become more popular as decoration around the home than a piece of jewelry. I absolutely love these and I want to make some for myself after reading the article linked below written by Melissa from Brown Dog Vintage.

Check out this great how to $8 DIY Wooden Bead Garland 

Wicker furniture is making a come back! My bohemian vibes are in full force when I come across beautiful pieces like this. As a young girl, I can remember my bubble gum pink wicker-rattan headboard, much like the pieces World Market offers on there website. 

Apartment Therapy wrote an informative article on The History of Wicker Furniture. 

"Wicker is the term for the product of weaving any number of natural materials, including rattan, cane, willow and raffia, among other plant fibers." - by Anna Hoffman via Apartment Therapy. 

Share below your top Summer Trends from the past few months!

Bye Bye Summer Hello Fall! Xo Stephanie

Castle on Craven

Known as "The Castle" in Beaufort, South Carolina.

Photographed shot by Stephanie (author) on vacation in Beaufort.

During our vacation in the low country one of our stops was in Beaufort, South Carolina. One day we decided to take the car for a drive and see what we could find. We discovered many beautiful 19th century homes but one in particular stood out from all the others. This house has earned the nickname "The Castle" due to the nearby river flowing alongside the property resembling a moat. One can only gawk and imagine what the interiors must look like in this twenty-three room mansion and the amazing views held from each of the seventy-nine windows. 

Well, we are in luck. Veranada Magazine got the story and captured an array of beautiful shots inside the getaway home of jewelry designer Elizabeth Locke.

Main entry & staircase

Photo captured by Veranda Magazine

Antique Cane Sofa & Chandelier.

Photo captured by Veranda Magazine

Elizabeth Locke, on the porch of her vacation home

Photo captured by Veranda Magazine

Large window opens out onto the front porch

Photo captured by Veranda Magazine

Lotus Garden - 5 Flatlay Techniques

I am constantly inspired by vibrant prints and textiles. This lovely Shumacher wallcovering from a 1920s archive document shows imagery of the Japanese culture. This application will bring life and energy to any room.  Flat lays are my go to when creating content for the blog. Below are my 5 helpful tips to get started. 

5 Flatlay Techniques

1. I begin with a main piece of inspiration and pull colors from the scene. Choose an item you can build from & that speaks to you.

2. I always try to incorporate a living quality, usually this comes from a bouquet I have around the house or a stem from garden. 

3. The third item is a textile this will add texture and interest. I like to use a piece of fabric, small throw, scarf or a cloth napkin.

4. I like to mix in an item that is currently in season, in this case the lemon. I was lucky enough to get a bunch from my grandmothers garden.

5. The last item is always a fun creative addition and usually a hobby or interest of mine in this case the ball of yarn, as I like to crochet from time to time.

Please share below some creative tips you have when creating your very own flat lays or how these tips helped you.

Tranquility & Creativity

I've discovered my deepest passions when my mind is most clear. By minimizing all distractions and removing unnecessary items, allows me to have a clear vision. These are the recurring thoughts as I style for specific themes and moments in my life.

One evening, it dawned on me that it had been a while since my last bubble bath. As I lit my Jo Malone candle, I realized how lovely the trio was arranged within the marble tray. The soft pinks & creamy white flowers softened the vanity top, layered with a wood detail for added texture. Between the wood and glow of the fire with the detail of the necklace provides a delicate warmth throughout.

My passion for interiors and love for styling allows me to create and capture these brief moments in time.

“The things you are passionate about are not random, they are your calling.”

— Fabienne Fredrickson