Apartment Revamp 3.0

Happy weekend everyone! I am still on the hunt for new pieces for our space without breaking the bank. I definitely am on a budget but willing to spend a little more if we really find something that works best for us (now I know how most of my own client's feel). Function for us is key - it has to be 60-80" max length, around 25" high and have some type of open storage or option for it for sensors (like sliding doors that expose shelving, etc). I've put together a handful of options in the running one of them (#6) not having an option for open storage however it does have doors and pull down drawers on the side. It's also important that it's mostly wood (I'm open to reclaimed or a smooth mid-century style wood). Since our coffee table is marble top with a bronze metal frame, this helps to balance the finishes in our space. Which piece is your favorite??

1 / how-down media console / one kings lane

2 / staggered wood media console / west elm

3 / russian reclaimed oak media console / rh

4 / angelo media console / lulu & georgia

5 / lewis media console / gingko furniture

6 / reclaimed wood + lacquer media console / west elm

xo,

Lauren

In Love with Lacquer

It's easy to fall in love with the look of lacquer (try saying that ten times fast). This high gloss finish can be put on a wide array of home items - cabinets, dressers, tables, trays, jewelry boxes, lamps, etc. Lacquer originates from East Asia where tinted resin was used by artisans to decorate different objects.

It is a tough, durable and water-resistant finish. The best part is that it crosses between traditional and modern so lacquer usually looks great no matter what style you're looking for and can make an otherwise boring item look fierce and chic. It also looks amazing paired with textural items - For example, a lacquered coffee table next to a tufted sofa. Here are some of my favorite lacquer pieces - Enjoy!!

White lacquer parsons desk - A classic, chic piece from West Elm. I can picture this desk paired with a tufted linen or leather chair in a bold color.

One of my favorite pieces from Bunalow5 - the Jacqui Coffee Table. They have quite a collection of lacquer items from coffee tables to dressers to accent tables - if you want it lacquered, Bungalow5 will have it.

Like I mentioned, lacquer can cross between different design styles like with the Mid-Century 3-Drawer Dresser from West Elm.

This traditional dresser from Chelsea Textiles has an antiqued lacquer finish but still has a high gloss look.

This stylish drum shade chandelier comes in a funky design and black lacquer finish. Found at ShopCandelabra.com.

Lacquer can look fabulous paired with wood, texture and in these particular nesting tables from Jonathan Adler, with brass. 

This geometric mirror from the Redford Collection has a distressed, multi-layered lacquer finish and a hand finished look. I absolutely love the color as well. Found at LaylaGrace.com.

Also part of the Redford House Collection on LaylaGrace.com, this cottage chic chair also has a hand finished look created from a unique multi-layered, high-quality lacquer process. A bunch of these chairs would look amazing paired with a white lacquer parsons dining table - don't you think? Love it!

There you have it - some of my favorite lacquered pieces from traditional to modern to mid-century. I hope you love them as much as I do. Do you have any lacquer in your home or an item that you would like to have lacquered?

(Sources: ElleDecor.com, About.com, DIYNetwork.com)

Xo,

Pantone Color of the Year 2014: Radiant Orchid

Looking back on 2013, one color that truly stood out to me was Emerald Green which is why that was selected as Pantone color of the year 2013. As for 2014, Radiant Orchid is the newly selected color of the year and after looking at a few of the pictures in this post you will know exactly why. It's a color that is fun, chic and sophisticated all in one. I find that gold, red and turquoise go really well with this color which you will see in some of these photos. Used the right way either as the dominant color in a space or as an accent color - Radiant Orchid looks beautiful as the color of the year for 2014.

This space has a lot going on - grasscloth wallpaper, ikat, greek key, stripes and quatrefoil - yet seems to all come together very simply and cohesively. I love the mix of trendy patterns and adding the red sofa is a great way to switch up the colors.

A great way to make a bookshelf feel custom is to paint it with a splash of color - this shade of radiant orchid is painted in what looks like a high gloss paint which makes it stand out that much more (in a good way of course).

I love the way gold and radiant orchid look paired together - and specifically in this space I am loving the gold and white chevron pillows against that headboard.

Here the quiet patterns of radiant orchid and white look great paired with metallic features as well. With the sophisticated patterns, tufted headboard, metallic accents and transparent nightstands, this bedroom looks nothing short of elegant.

This space uses radiant orchid as the dominant color with accents of both red and gold to create a fun and inviting bedroom perfect for teens or guests.

In this neutral space, radiant orchid is used as a soft accent color by adding a throw blanket to the space. A plus in this living area is that it looks just as good with or without the throw and the homeowners can change the accent color simply by changing the color of the throw and/or accent pillows.

I love this foyer space - it looks amazing just the way it is but yet again you can change the accent color in this space simply by interchanging those items with another color (such as the Pantone color of the year 2015 when the time comes!)

Last but not least, you can't go wrong with ikat print and this deeper hue of radiant orchid looks amazing against the black chair frame, black and white rug and black border mirror.

Those were just a few of my favorite spaces with the color of the year 2014. I never was into much purple in a space but the different hues of this color paired with gold, red, turquoise or black and white looks too good to pass up. If you didn't know about this years color of the year - now you know! & I hope that this inspires you to add a little radiant orchid into your life.

Xo,