diy: pom-pom-perfection.

with all this wintery weather nothing sounds better than cozying up in a warm blanky. and while nothing is quite as comforting as that wool throw your granny knitted you back in the day, my guess is that is isn't totally beautiful to look at. solution: pom-poms. i stumbled across this how-to and let me assure you, it is as easy as it looks-not usually the case with diy's. and perhaps the best part, it's a semi-permanent solution. 

specifically, they are super inexpensive to make, easy to affix and even easier to snip off and revert the piece to it's original glory. or, when you need to clean the item/spice it up with different color combos. 

you'll need: yarn // embroidery hoop // thread // scissors (total cost >$15)

how to: 1. wrap yarn around an embroidery hoop 2. firmly tie clear/matching/neutral thread around middle (ensure it's a tight knot and trim edges of wire so you can't see it) 3. cut yarn on the hoop and remove 4. trim, puff-up, and sit back with awe and wonder. [PS-the larger your hoop, the larger your pom]

and for those visual learners out there:

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3.

4.

for a more extensive tutorial-head to this fabulous site. beware: you will not be able to leave the site without at least five diy projects on your to-do list. trust.

look at all these fabulous pom pieces.

HAPPY SUNDAY! 

loves!

layers make it better.

LOVE LAYERS?

so do i.

a look at some bright ways to layer at home. 

rug on rug. yes, please. 

at the table? ok.

and in the boudoir. sign me up. 

on the wrist? mcYes.

in the urban garden? do it. 

altogether now. 

HAPPY HUMP DAY.

Loves. 

// i.   //   ii.   //  iii.  //  iv.  //  v.  //  vi. //  vii. //  viii.  //  ix.  //

antlers have been popping up everywhere lately, prompting some to deride the trend as a hipster fad. but wall-mounted antlers have been around since the days of victorian parlors. as inspired by lonny.

AS A LAMP:

AS A TOWEL ROD:

AS ART:

AS A FIXTURE:

AS... A WHATEVER YOU WANT.

REMEMBER, DO SOMETHING CREATIVE EVERYDAY.

LOVES.

all hung up.

i have a mild obsession with baubles and jewels and am always looking for interesting ways to organize them. if i don't display them i often forget about all of the fun accessories i have and go out bare. i've taken to hanging hooks on my bedroom wall next to my vanity-the strung necklaces double as art too-a nice little pop of color in what is otherwise a bleak corner.

some other ideas on how to organize/highlight all of your fabulous strands:

while it might be a bit of a fire hazard, i am loving how these strands look draped over the lampshade. making multiuse of an intimate space. and acrylic shelving-yes, please!

and yet again, homage to furbish studio. the lovely ladies ingeniously display their jewels in trays filled with hot pink pebbles. in-person, the little rocks make the jewels pop and it keeps pieces from getting lost in the bottom of a bowl (i've lost many earrings that way-liken it to socks in the dryer-where do those go?)...

  

i adore the way this vintage serving tray is used to house bits. perfect way to make better use of an antique piece or family heirloom. you're able to show it off without taking the chance that someone knocks it over, or it gets hurts while in it's original role as a dinner party dish. genius.

lacquer trays. sign me up.

and not quite as pretty...my take...

i used a discarded coat hook to keep all my jewels in order.

and a similar installation in our new place:

HAPPY HUMP DAY!

LOVES.

papier-mache.

so many fabulous options. soo many beautiful options. sooo many hard options--WHICH ONE? they are all so lust-worthy. stationary is on our to-do-lists and our amazing stationer, lori, is redic. she's uber talented, uber patient and uber perfect for us. she gets what we're going for, she connects the dots and she's making our lives so much lovelier these days. 

some saturday inspiration. yes, please.

i just can't wait to share our final paper projects with you. until then, LOVES. 

dark&stormy.

trend alert: black walls. not just for trims, or as an accent color anymore-painting walls black is a fabulous way to make decor pop and add coziness to bright and white spaces. if it weren't for our textured walls (which make clean edges virtually impossible) you know i'd be slopping some dark hues all over this place. take a look at how beautiful this look is:

look lower for some tips on working with these dark foundations:

I. in a tight bathroom, contiguous ceiling and wall hues dissolve boundaries and make a room feel bigger-example:

II. gilded mirror and brass bed frame gleam against a black backdrop-example:

III. cream-colored curtains look regal draped against dark walls, creating a sophisticated, soothing palette-example:

IV. there is little truth to the rule that you shouldn't use dark colors in a room without natural light-on the contrary, dark walls in dimly lit rooms can add instant coziness-example:

want more? head here to get more tips on black walls via lonny mag (aka the designer's bible...)

ENJOY TODAY.

LOVES!

it's no secret.

anyone who knows me know i LOVE a little shop named furbish studio housed in raleigh, nc. owned and operated by two lady phonemes, their esthetic is everything i dream of brought to life. in need of inspiration? head over to jamie meares (owner) pinterest and swoon as i do. 

i just love to mix and match. i liken the theory to how i feel about my favorite cole hahn bag-it's orange and sadly, it was stolen...i digress. anyway, the theory goes, it matches nothing and goes with everything. this is how i feel about home design-if nothing 'goes together' then it all 'goes together'. just look at some of jamie's designs-one would never think to put these bold and daring textiles together, yet she does, and it works. it. werks. 

and now, some practical advice: how to style a sofa-compliments of miss meares.

1. start with a classic, tailored shape sofa.

2. add a textile to change the look of your couch. simply drape your textile over the back of the couch or tuck it in to the cushions. jamie suggests trying suzanis, rugs, embroidered textiles, quilts, tapestries, throws, scarves, or fabric scraps.

3. add your pillows. most 3 seater sofas can handle 6 pillows, but more than that isn’t really practical. jamie recommends using down or down/blend inserts. this way you can lean back against the pillows and sink in without bothering to remove them every time you sit. if you do need to take pillows off, keep a basket nearby to hold overflow.

4. jamie suggests starting with a pair of 22″ or 20″ square pillows on the outside, and adding a different-shaped single pillow in the middle. some of her favorites are: a lumbar, a neckroll or bolster pillow, a round pillow, or a boxed rectangle.

5. now it’s time to add a second set of square pillows, slightly smaller in size (18″ or 20″). you can use two matching pillows, or choose two different ones. jamie suggests finding one multi-color print that anchors your design, and then pulling in colors from the anchor fabric to accent (in this case, the throw blanket is the anchor).

jamie is a master at mixing prints and has a few simple rules that she follows:when combining prints, use a floral, geometric, and striped pattern. also, be sure to mix scales — including one large scale print and one of a smaller scale.

she recommends that at least one pair of pillows match exactly. another pair can be different, as long as the scale of their pattern is the same. for example, if you have a large geometric print on one side, balance it out with another geometric that is similar in size (seen here with the ikat and chevron patterns). jamie encourages adding in one global textile to your look, like a suzani, an ikat pillow, or a navajo/tribal inspired pillow. this makes the design feel authentic and more collected.

i'll take three...

HAPPY TUESDAY!

and head here to pick-up all your fabulous furbish goods. 

on the hunt.

happy monday, loves! we've been stuck inside while mother nature laid a lovey white layer on the city. and i wish i could say i've made good use of the time, but to be honest, we really just lounged. it was nice to watch the snow fall, sip on wine and snuggle up with my two fave boys. but of course, my mind was constantly racing around thinking about all the projects i still want to tackle. amoung those are...

we had to leave our potted plants back in dc. and while i know they are getting plenty of tlc from our dear friends who agreed to adopt them, i am wistfully pining over (pun, sorry) these fig trees. especially potted in a rustic braided basket these beauties are as good as any piece of art could ever be.

as you know, we have limited space these days. and yet, i cannot live without a beautiful bar. we just don't have the room for another console table simply to highlight our booze-very very sad. solution: using shelving/bookshelves for a perfect little barscape. i tried to makeshift one of these this weekend in our kitchen--it didn't go as planned--learned just how important stud finders are...

pendants. pendants. pendants. i feel like if i wish for fancy lighting enough times it'll just magically appear...

for some reason i have really been wanting some clear acrylic seating. they just seem so clean, so tidy, and so easily broken the first time my loves tries to sit down. maybe just one for my vanity?!?! i think that's okay. right?

anyways, off to do more day dreaming. i hope you have a fabulous week. 

LOVES!

ship-shape.

feeling nautical these days. perhaps it's due to the snowfall we've been getting the past few days, or maybe it's because these patterns are the perfect balance between feminine and manly-a delicate balance, indeed. whatever the case may be, i am ready to depart on this trend [too much???? maybe]. 

anthro shower curtain or window coverings. here. 

set of four lovely little dessert plates. similar here. 

love the way this design incorporates the nautical look without being too obvi. 

because every boyscout should know how to tie a knot, and have something purple. here. 

door stopper. ahmaze. diy instructions here. 

chic. simple. clean. loveit.

not just for the home. take this nautical theme outdoors with this adjustable cuff. i own one. it's a fave. here.

UNTIL NEXT TIME. LOVES.