interior design

mid century minimalist meets boho chic

Welcome to the home of Rachel Bilson and lovie Hayden Christensen. Rachel is best known for her roles in The OC, Jumper, and now Hart of Dixie…but since I don’t watch too much TV, she is possibly best known to me for her amazing relaxed, boho style.

Her new pad is the feature on this month’s Lonny, I suggest you check it out. Designed by the super talented Kishani Perera, this home is an intermingled yet completely balanced reflection of Bilson and Christensen’s personal styles. It’s beautifully blended with cultured prints, vintage pieces, and simple lines.

Paging Dr. Hart: I may need life support because your home is drop dead gorgeous!

(Corny? Ehh. Okay whatever I’ll take my jokes elsewhere.)

Happy Friday!! xo

(all images link back to their original source)

please don’t take my sunshine away

I want to know – does anyone actually like when the clocks move back? I most certainly loved the “extra” hour of sleep the other night, but now that the sun sets at 5pm I just want to throw on some pj’s and go comatose after dinner. In memory of Daylight Savings Time, here’s my tribute to the sun – well, in the form of sun rooms.

My dream home would most definitely have a sun room in it. Let’s think about this…It’s a room completely devoted to the big, bright ball of light in the sky. You can soak up that Vitamin D without even going outdoors. Perfection. If you’re lucky enough to have one, here’s some really cool designs I’ve come across.

I know Emily just posted this like a day ago but I saw this and instantly felt myself 8th grade style crushing this room. I’m just so in love I can’t look away. Every single room in that Curbly house is pure gold. I love that the wall color (Sherwin Williams Sea Salt) enhances the room so much, and makes it feel so light and airy.

This next one is more neutral, but the warm tones, rich natural textures, and fireplace make it feel so cozy, even though the furniture is very streamlined.

Caption this one? Okay. Cozy, yet stylish and chic. I’m digging the “lived in” feel to it. I really like how they made a somewhat small space seem larger and more interesting.

Retro approach to the modern sun room. I’m loving that white wall and all those windows!

Classic and sophisticated all in one pretty package.

This last one shows that these rooms can function for more than just a lounge area or reading nook. This little dining area would be great for a candlelit dinner for 2 or a small get together with friends.

Which one is your dream sun room?

(all photos link back to their source, if known)

home renovation: living room

Now that the Texas summer heat is gone, it’s time to start thinking about the home renovations once again. As you remember, our home that we bought earlier this year is a 50’s Ranch style with a Mid Century feel that needs (many!) updates. We ripped up the floors and installed beautiful walnut hardwood throughout and painted, but now its time to furnish this B.

No better place to start than the Living Room, which I hope to have complete just in time for the Holidays.

This was our last setup at our previous home. I splurged on my Lee Industries Chairs & Verellen Sofa from Pizitz when I was still living in Florida….so when we moved from the beach to the 1920’s Bungalow Cottage near the river, these lovely pieces worked perfectly.

Of course I’m keeping the sofa and chairs, but I wanted to bring some other pieces in to tie what I have together and make the home feel more modern. We painted the walls in the Living Room Worldly Gray by Sherwin Williams, so I’m going to bring in more of the charcoals and grays into the room.

If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, then you remember when I came home with this little treasure. This Zinc top Chest for $75 is now our Coffee Table.

So taking that into consideration, here is my inspiration board of what I want the new and improved Living Room to look like:

Can’t wait to see how it all comes together!

this is my life. i get 1. i’m not settling for less.

Why hello there, my dearest readers!

I realized I’ve fallen off the map in recent months. Life came at me in full force. I’m talking decisions, changes, and new beginnings.

I’m so excited to say that I started a new position as a designer for the very talented Michelle Tumlin in Austin! Since I have the hardest time with change, it’s been an adjustment, but also such a giant step in the right direction for my career.

I try to keep the blog a venue for positivity and inspiration, so really only close friends and family know the struggles that were going on with my previous job. What started out as small frustrations festered into resentment I was carrying around into my life outside of work. Each day I was coming home from my job extremely frustrated and exhausted, feeling directionless and somewhat used. I find this so ironic. Because in a creative field of work, getting burned out totally robs you of your gift to provide unique and interesting solutions…. and well, without those, what can you offer?

If you know me at all, you know I’ve always been a firm believer in setting your standards high and going for your dreams. I felt it came to a point that I was still preaching this to others, but then wasn’t living it myself. I had been continuing to get up and go to my job, but I wasn’t even sure why. The problem is when you put up with crap everyday, you get comfortable with it. It lowers your self-esteem and your expectations. You start to believe that you will not find better and/or don’t deserve better. And let me tell you friends, this is TOXIC. Not only to your career, but it starts to effect the rest of your life too. Deep down, you know what’s right for you. If it’s not right – it’s not right. Never just settle. In a relationship. In a job. In life. If someone does not support you, like you for who you are, or appreciate your talents, then LEAVE. It took me a long time to realize this in this situation. I realized I wasn’t being true to myself. I was shutting out my inner voice. Don’t shut out yours.

Today begins my 4th week at the new job, and I’m so pleased to say I feel like I have my life back. I have more energy, can think and formulate thoughts better (on most occasions!!), and wake up each day with things to look forward to. I can’t wait to make this blog as great as I always knew it could be! I’m going to be bringing back segments on the regular (Color Story, Design Obsession, Thursday Thoughts, etc) and also throwing a couple new ones in there as well! This isn’t just my creative outlet, it’s yours too.

I’m glad to be back. If you’re reading this right now then you haven’t given up on me yet!!! Hahaha. Thanks for being a loyal supporter of the blog! Now we have a lot to catch up on….. 😉

Freedom Tower design: the World Trade Center lives on

As we reflect on the events that occurred on this day 12 years ago, there is hope being built where the original World Trade Center once stood. Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill have designed what is the tallest building in the country: the Freedom Tower. Soaring at 1,776 feet, One World Trade Center will not only be a symbolic structure, but also the first of its kind. We’re talking 3 MILLION square feet of office space (71 floors!). New technology and sustainable features will pave the way for the future of urban design. Achieving the LEED Gold Certification level, 1 WTC will use rainwater to power its cooling systems, and exceed code requirements for energy performance by 20%.

Scroll down to see what the 1 WTC is projected to look like!

“The tower is an open, welcoming building that both radiates light and is filled with light. Our design team has achieved our goal of creating a great urban place — a building that serves the people who work in it, welcomes those who visit it, and plays an integral and vibrant role in the city that surrounds it.”

– David Childs, Freedom Tower Architect

For more info, visit the World Trade Center’s website.

(all images are courtesy of www.onewtc.com, except the last info graphic, found on Pinterest)

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