Home of the Week: A Color Crush in Purple

I keep coming back to homes filled with vibrant color layered over a neutral base. If you'd asked me ten years ago, or even five, I would have told you I prefer bright colors-saturated paint and colorful trim. As I've matured, (I like to think) my style sense has, too.

The sleek, modern neutrals used as the foundation for this home in Spain allow the wash of purple accessories & accents to stand out. Using different shades of the same color makes the home feel cohesive, down to the artwork in black & white throughout (like the little coasters with pictures of Paris-my favorite!).

Hello, pop of citrus!

Bonjour, Paris!

How gorgeous is that back wall? I love the idea of a chalkboard wall filled with big, bold words that inspire me. Simple & to the point!

*all images via

P.S...it'll slowly come to light over the next few months, but I'm planning on a complete re-do of my room this spring, possibly moving into a bigger room in my apartment! Thinking purple will be one of my accent colors...it's just too gorgeous not to include!

Decorating for the Holidays (Tree-less style!)

I have always celebrated Christmas with my family, but moving halfway across the country kind of throws a wrench in the whole decorating-holiday-spirit thing, especially when you: a. Have roommates b. Two of those roommates are Jewish c. Will actually be home for Christmas this year (unlike last year, where I DID spend it in NYC, with cousins).

I decided I had to go out and get some sort of tree this year, albeit one that is only a foot tall and is actually a potted plant. It is now wrapped in Hanukkah lights, representing the beautiful multi-cultural apartment I live in!

I haven't been home a lot this month to get much other decorating in, but I wanted to share some of the beautiful inspiration I found for decorating without a tree. These ideas are so adorable, I'm already feeling inspired for next year!

1/2/3/4/5/6/7

Completely adoring that wreath of glass ornaments! Such a fun way to add color and holiday cheer to a room.

xx

Home of the Week: Vibrant Color, Flatiron District

**I'm setting a new goal, to bring you one home, place, room, etc. that I really love, each week. What better day than Wednesday? It is the middle of the week & we could all use a boost from a gorgeous space to get us to Friday!**

This week's home comes from Drake Design Associates; a beautiful, colorful space in the Flatiron District of NYC. If I haven't made it clear yet, there is a huge chunk of my personality that adores rich, bright colors. My winter coat is vibrantly yellow, and when combined with my long and very blonde hair I may as well be wearing a strobe around my neck in the winter, especially in this city of dark clothes and dark hair. There are other parts of my personality devoted to modern lines, clean spaces and that ever-lovable French-country-chic. They'll manifest later, don't you worry. 

I've been extremely attracted to the oft-underrated color purple lately (royalty, anyone?), especially that bright jewel-tone it can take on (as spotted on this magnificent turquoise couch in SoHo last weekend). The beauty in these rooms comes from their bold use of unusual colors, graphic patterns and clean lines.

Lastly, as every good design junkie knows, it's all about the details...and does it get any better than having a Chuck Close hanging in your apartment??

The pops of teal really pull everything together for me (that, and the yellow bedroom!). Getting my head out of the clouds now, and filing this home away as inspiration for later. 

xx

Keep Climbing

I like to think I'd be much more inclined to take the stairs in my office building if they were as beautiful as some of the ones I've stumbled across in my years of web browsing. There's something about a gorgeous set of stairs that brings a sense of adventure and wonderment to your ascent.

*all images via pinterest

Get Inspired: Bathroom Decorating

Bathrooms can sometimes be an overlooked room of the house when decorating. The goal with many other rooms in the house is to make them cozy and comforting...why not look to do the same with your bathroom? Stepping into a  well-decorated bathroom is like stepping into your own spa every day, and I don't know anyone who wouldn't want that.

The best part about all of these bathrooms? They just got a little dressed up thanks to the help of wallpaper. It makes it seem like a much more doable project for someone on a budget (like myself!)

*all images via Elle Decor

Grown Up Pumpkins

Ok, I'll admit-I actually do kind of like Fall & Winter, if only for the decorating, DIY and craft possibilities! As a kid, I carved a pumpkin pretty much every October. The adult part of me still wants to roast the seeds, but I want my pumpkins to look prettier. I've rounded up some of my favorite carved & no carve pumpkin ideas.

Lattice-carved pumpkins, Flower pumpkins, Ribbon pumpkins & white pumpkins, all via Better Homes & Gardens. Other pumpkins via Pinterest.

There are so many cute, easy ways to dress up a pumpkin, from ribbons to glitter to leaves to flowers. Don't forget to make use of the pumpkin insides, either! My favorite thing to do is roast the seeds-this year I plan on roasted the insides, as well, so I have my own fresh pumpkin puree to use in all kinds of goodies.

White on White Decor

There's something about white on white in an interior that makes me feel like I'm on vacation. This Danish vacation house has all the right touches-it's a little country, a little modern, and completely cozy.

Spots  of gray and navy help ground the rooms, and I love the mix of country chic in the light wood floors & elegant furnishings, like the candles on the far wall.

A personal touch that adds color at the same time.

A colorful, long rug draws the eye down a room and gives the impression of a bigger space. 

A tall white cabinet with glass doors is a clean way to showcase your favorite items.

I could definitely spend a lot of days in a kitchen like that...

Cozy porch, fresh flowers, what more could a girl want?

White Matterhorn Vases, Lulu and Georgia | Dip-Dyed Stools Serena and Lily 

Pixelated Abstraction Runner, Anthropologie | Porter Slipcovered Dining Chairs, West Elm

Hemnes Glass-Door Cabinet, Ikea

 *all home images via Planete Deco

The Cutest Pumpkins You'll Find All Fall

Can we take a minute to talk about pumpkins?

I myself am much more of a summer girl than any other season, but I do love the balmier, still warm-but-you-need-a-light-jacket days of fall (which means within a month I'll be much less happy with the weather), and my love of baking definitely encompasses all things pumpkin and spiced. While browsing one of my favorite blogs earlier, House of Turquoise (everything turquoise, which I adore-it's one of my all-time favorite colors), I stumbled across some amazing velvet pumpkins!!

Love Feast Shop Velvet Pumpkins

They come from the Love Feast shop (link above!) and all of them have a natural, organic stem. They start around $31 for single, smaller pumpkins and run up to $150 for a set like the one pictured above, the Pumpkin Harvest Large Set. The best part? House of Turquoise has a giveaway going on right now! You can bet I've already entered, but if I don't win I think I'll be getting the set below. Too cute to pass up, right?

Velvet Plush Turquoise Trio Set

I think a set will look fantastic on our side table in my living room. How do you decorate your place for the fall?