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

Fall Gathering Inspiration

The best part of hosting Thanksgiving for myself and my decorating enthusiasts alike, is deciding how you will set the table. What color scheme should you choose, and which pieces will accent everything beautifully. I’ve gathered my top inspirational finds below, I hope you find this helpful and inspires you to create something magical of your own!

Photo Cred: Cooking Light

I am loving the warm tones by using fruit as decor from the oranges, persimmon, pomegranates and apples each color reminds me of a floral bouquet. What a fun bountiful arrangement this could be to your thanksgiving table, to make it feel more elegant add candlesticks for ambiance.

Photo Cred: Martha Stewart

Harvest colors in full effect, with pale-pink and white dahlias with accents of golden hues. This bright and colorful arrangement works well with any traditional thanksgiving place setting.

Photo Cred: Martha Stewart

What is a thanksgiving table without pumpkins? Find apples and pears at your local grocery store to blend and mix throughout your home. The simplicity of the white anemone windflowers makes this scene feel light and airy.

Photo Cred: Randi Garrett Design

Gold is center stage in this formal setting mixed perfectly with colored mossy pale-green pumpkins. The hydrangeas of multiple colors compliment the china quite beautifully. The muted neutrals in this dining room allows the flowers and accessories to be the bold element.

Photo Cred: Julie Blazer

If you’re anything like me by this time of year you’re trying to push the boundaries of mixing Thanksgiving and Christmas into one, without it being too noticeable. This earthy option has the colors of fall mixed with the edgy pine-cones and gold accents to warm up the arrangement. This un-traditional option will definitely get noticed by your family and friends.

Photo Cred: Martha Stewart

A contemporary take on florals, this arrangement reminds me of an overgrown garden in the backyard of a beautiful cottage. The centerpiece speaks for itself without any pumpkins or fruits necessary!

If you’re one of the lucky ones and can pick flowers from your garden, do so! Why not? In order to make a beautiful centerpiece you don’t have to spend a lot of money find what you already have in your home and make it your own!

How do you decorate your table this time of year? I would love to hear your thoughts and any fun ideas below!

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.

Design in Charleston

Who doesn't love coffee table books?! Said Nobody EVER!

My passion for design never stops even on vacation. To my surprise along our journey down king street in Charleston, SC we noticed Mitchell Hill it looked like a store we couldn't pass up.

Abstract & Geometric forms are all the craze right now.

Patterns & Colors around every corner.

Transforming traditional chair forms & re-upholstering the piece with high contrast textiles. The pillows are also beautifully showcased with one larger square pillow and a small lumbar support. When deciding on throw pillows for your space, one must first know there color scheme. Pillows are always best when the scale of the pattern is different than the one next to it. Mixing with colors & texture brings an added interest to the seating arrangement. 

Remember those tips next time you find yourself staring down the pillow wall. Questioning yourself on if you need another pillow or not?! We all do it!

What is your craziest must have when you find yourself in a home store? I have to pull myself away from the coffee table books & throws. I believe you need a different throw for every season! It's almost time to get the fluffy fur blankets out, yay to Autumn near.

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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

Aiken-Rhett House

Once operating as the main entrance of the home now resides two symmetrical parlors divided between two pocket doors. The character and details of the house are popularly known as Greek Revival.

The Aiken-Rhett House is a beautiful time capsule built in 1820. The tour takes you back into time seeing what it was like living in Charleston, South Carolina during the era. The home was passed down through several individuals who created what we see today.  The wealthy merchant,  John Robinson, purchased the land and built the original house. Governor William Aiken purchased the house; therefore, passing it down to his son William Aiken Jr.  After William Jr.'s death the house went to his daughter Harriet Lowndes Aiken and his son-in-law Major A.B. Rhett. They went on to raise their children in the house and made renovations to the property that are visible today.

The house is now owned by the Historical Charleston Foundation and located at 48 Elizabeth Street. They’ve adopted a conservation approach holding true to the style and original state of the house. They seek to preserve and protect the building and artifacts of historical significance. 

Circular plaster centerpiece located in the two symmetrical drawing rooms. From the center moving outwards with 12 radiating acanthus leaves enclosed within a plain band centered by a beaded trim. The ornate outer trim with rosettes encloses the medallion from which is suspended a glass French chandelier.

Stair Hall

Main central stair hall leading to all three floors. This room is rectangular with a wooden staircase and two octagonal-and-turned balusters to each tread.

The furniture and decor in the house are original to the families who lived there. It is clear that time has left its mark. There is still something so beautiful about the scroll work and "C" - curves that go into this floor mirror spanning the second floor hallway as shown above.

View looking up to the third story ceiling, a plaster cornice, and centerpiece consisting of 12 radiating acanthus leaves surrounded by a greek key fret band.

Verandah's of the Aiken-Rhett

Buildings in the south have two and three story porches, known as piazzas, that are strategically designed to take full advantage of the local winds. The porches also come in handy as a covering when the afternoon rain showers begin.

The columns of the porch are doric in character with turned baluster railings. The single hung windows transform into doorways that allow you to walk onto the verandahs. These windows are advantageously placed to allow for a cross breeze through the house and are extremely common in the South.

Historic Details

All of the colored photographs pictured above were taken by me on our tour of the Aiken Rhett. The information I gathered was from an audio tour and, much to my surprise, the amazing documents compiled after 1933 by the Historic American Buildings Survey. I found the information through the Library of Congress. 

The black & white photographs appear to be taken between 1977 - 79. 

I cannot pinpoint the era in which the drawings were created but to my understanding it appears to be after William Aiken junior died and passed the home down to his daughter & son-in-law. The drawings show changes to the structure by transforming the size of the two drawing rooms and moving the main entrance to the side of Elizabeth street. 

Front elevation, drawing

Front elevation

Main entrance after the renovations

West elevation, drawing

First floor southwest room, also known as the two symmetrical drawing rooms.

Check out my other post about The Charleston Foundations additional property, The Nathaniel Russell House. 

Please let me know what you thought about this post? All feedback is always welcome & helpful.