Ready for Spring

Happy Monday (or we can at least pretend)! I'm actually pretty happy today because it's warming up in NYC and all the little spring touches around my apartment actually are starting to feel like spring :) I want to share my top tips with you that I like to do to start to get ready for spring. I'm still working on the rest of our apartment but I am loving how our bedroom is coming together! So here we go...

1) Switch up your textiles - I think it's important to keep your main furniture somewhat neutral so you are able to switch up the feel of your space with decor and textiles. The throw on my bed from Anthropologie has a darker blue stripe on one side, so to make it feel brighter I now fold it with the lighter stripe showing. I also recently purchased lighter gray pillow covers from Motif Pillows on Etsy that I am loving and work perfect with my more colorful handmade kilim pillow from Blue Salvage. 

2) Flip your mattress - It's not all about the way your room looks. Just like you may flip your sofa cushions for even wear, you can do the same with your mattress (if not a pillow top) to improve comfort and longevity. We've been thinking about getting a new mattress and have had our eye's on the Leesa Mattress - we've heard great things about the comfort of the memory foam which is what our current mattress is lacking. The perfect time to do this is the start of a new season!

3) Add fresh greenery - I love shopping for new succulents and plants at the farmers market in NYC, usually in Union Square. I recently just purchased this planter from West Elm for our living room and trying to figure out what type of larger plant would work best. For our bedroom, an assortment of smaller succulents is the perfect touch to make it feel more like spring. I like to place them on different areas on my desk shelving like below.  More to come! 

Those are my top 3 tips to make your bedroom get ready for the warmer spring weather. I'd love to hear what you do to get your home ready! Stay tuned for my next post on how to style your shelving....here's a peek :)

xo,

Lauren

Welcome Spring!

Spring is here! Well, sort of.  As some of you may have heard or experienced, NYC and surrounding areas got hit with blizzard Stella today (snow day!) but that didn't stop me from looking into what new spring lines are out for some of my favorite stores! I'm thinking we will see even more mix of materials, texture and soft geometric patterns this spring. There's a lot more to come but here are a bunch of my favorite new spring items... I am seriously loving the Anthropologie Live-Edge Oakwood Bed with visible butterfly joinery...which one is your favorite?? 

bed / prana live-edge bed / anthropologie

dresser / odetta 9-drawer dresser / anthropologie

baskets / cheyenne baskets set of 2 / lulu & georgia

rug / stone tile rug / west elm

media / pictograph media console / west elm

pillows / jo and ramona pillow / mc gee & co

dining table / circuit dining table / cb2

chair / antonio acrylic chair with pillow / cb2

xo, 

Lauren

Dream Outdoor Oasis

Okay -- summer is right around the corner people! I mean, for me it's pretty much been summer since February living in SoCal (sorry my east coast loves). If you don't know already, I currently reside in 800 square feet of space in our 1 bedroom apartment in Orange County and that's including our patio. So, you can't blame me for coming up with my dream outdoor oasis, right? Plus, working at west elm and being around all the summer floorset has me dreaming every day at work. Now about this post -- I've chose some great finds from some of my favorite stores >> Anthropologie, west elm, cb2, One Kings Lane & more. See below for links to each item! 

1 // iris chevron planter and stand / $129 for medium size / west elm 
2 //markua outdoor sectional and table set / $1,299 / one kings lane
3 // outdoor idriss print lumbar pillow / $59.50 / pottery barn
4 // portland lanterns / $49 each / z gallerie
woven round rattan tray / $59 / west elm
5 // ja dora maar planter / $795 / jonathan adler
6 // huron lounge chair / $594 sale / west elm
huron ottoman / $195 sale / west elm
banana leaf outdoor lumbar pillow / $43 / home decorators
7 // magical thinking hand-knotted hanging planter / $29 / urban outfitters
8 // tam tam side table / $98 / urban outfitters
9 // saddlestitch all weather area rug 53x76" / $89 / home decorators
10 // sophia silver dining chair / $85 / cb2
11 // fuze gray bistro table / $599 / cb2
12 // john vogel teak lounger / $1,299 / west elm
13 // remy ceramic side table - white / $119.99 sale / west elm
14 // faceted lanterns / $39-49 / west elm

I'm seriously in love with it all. I know I chose many neutrals and not a lot of bold colors but that's nothing you couldn't switch up with some decor. I just love the relaxed vibe that these pieces have when put together.  The John Vogel teak loungers are probably my must have piece of them all! Which part is your favorite??





Xo,

Spring is Here!: West Elm Spring Mood Board

Happy Spring! Even though in SoCal the weather 90% of the time feels like spring or summer, I know my fellow NYer's back at home are enjoying the fact that winter is officially over! As some of you may know I work at west elm and as a home stylist there I have my own clients and in some cases I get to create really fun mood boards for them featuring our product whether it's all west elm or incorporating west elm with their existing furniture/decor. There are SO many new items coming in for summer so I thought of creating a mood board that featured some of these items. I'm just loving all the coral hues mixed with neutrals and brass -- it reminded me of a spring/summer color palette so I thought it was a perfect day to share :) I'm especially in love with the new Steven Alan summer line at west elm. The pillows in his collection that I incorporated into this design also come in a Blue Lagoon color palette that is equally worth drooling over. Not to mention this chenille/wool blend rug is amazing -- it's a certified fair trade rug which means not only is it handcrafted but it was also made in a safe working environment for the artisans AND gives back to the community where it was made with each fair trade purchase. Such a worth while purchase, don't ya think? I hope you all enjoy this design as much as I did putting it together. I already love it and it doesn't even have the finishing touches OR an owner -- anyone want to volunteer? ;)

1 / ice cube interior-exterior paint / sherwin-williams / west elm summer collection
2 / whitewashed wood wall art 
3 / peggy sectional 
4 / steven alan centered and colorblock ribbon pillow covers
jay street ashti pom pom pillow cover
woven metallic pillow cover
silk loomed pillow cover in rose bisque 
5 / oversized metal rod in antiqued brass
6 / sheer chevron curtains in stone white
7 / palmette chenille wool kilim rug
8 / marble pillar table lamp
9 / terrace side table in antiqued brass
10 / grid frame coffee table
11 / cube sculpture
12 / mid-century media console large - white  





Which piece is your favorite? 

PS. I have some really fun DIY abstract art tutorials in the works. I recently hurt my dominant thumb (stitches--ouch!) so when I'm all healed up that's one of the first things I will be finishing. Stay tuned!




Xo,

Outdoor Pillows: Fun, Stylish & Reasonable

You may have already purchased your outdoor pillows for this spring and summer season but if not here are a variety of fun, weather resistant pillows that would work in a bunch of different style outdoor spaces. What's great about pillows is that that you can buy new ones at any time and change the whole mood of your space. What's not to like about that?? 

1. Happy Chic by Jonathan Adler Outdoor Square Decorative Pillow / $12.49 / JC Penny

2. Outdoor Ogee Pillow / $39 / West Elm

3. Hello Yellow Pillow / $34.95 / CB2

4. Threshold Navy Chevron Pillow / $12.95 / Target

5. Pisa Square Outdoor Pillow / $18 / Home Decorators

6. Coral Outdoor Pillow / $35 / Grand In Road

7. Outdoor Stripe Tile Pillow / $12.95 / West Elm

8. Green and Aqua Dotted Ikat Outdoor Pillow / $24.99 / World Market

9. Calliope Jute Trim Pillow in Spice / $25 / Pier 1

10. Weverly Awning Stripe in Turquoise & Cream / $22 / Outdoor Pillows on Etsy  

There you have it - a bunch of my favorite outdoor pillows & they all come at a reasonable price. The list could of definitely went on but I think I gave you a good start :) Each site has tons more options you can check out also!

Xo,

Decorating with Succulents

I remember when I first heard the term succulent years ago watching an episode of HGTV's Design Star where a contestant planted succulents on top of a tree stump which also was used as an accent table. The judges loved it and so did I. Since then, and especially now, I see succulents used in design that provides a rustic feel & I can't get enough - I just love the way they look. You can either buy any succulents you'd like & any terrarium or pot to plant them in or you can buy them already planted. If you have children, creating your own succulent terrarium would be a fun project to do together! 

Now you may be wondering what exactly is a succulent & why use them in design? Succulents are plants, sometimes called fat plants, that have parts that are thicker than normal usually to retain water in arid climates and soil conditions. Because of their low maintenance and how they retain water, they are perfect to use in interior design - they provide a lush and beautiful look year round. Here are some of my favorite places to buy them & how to use them in design. Enjoy!

1. Placing succulents in planters on the wall creates an 

eye-catching piece with a rustic look.

 

 Shane Powers Ceramic Wall Planters / $19 - $69 / West Elm

2. Hanging a glass terrarium with hemp rope and

adding sand creates a fun, beachy look.

 

YYCustomizedGlass Succulent Terrarium Kit / $12.99 / Etsy

3. You can order pre-arranged succulents just

like this one as a gift for friends, family or for your own home.

Succulent Garden / $24.99 / 1800Flowers

4. These faceted terrariums have such a fun look,

perfect to place atop a coffee table, console or on a shelf as decor.

 

Faceted Terrariums / $29 - $39 / West Elm

5. This set of 3 geometric planters are cute & fun - 

I picture them scattered around a coffee table or atop a desk.

 

ShadeonShape Geometric Mini Planters Set of 3 / $45 / Etsy

I know you can order a variety of succulents from West Elm or from a bunch of 

Etsy shop owners here - I hope I gave you some good ideas for planting just in time 
for spring!

Xo,