Living Room Update

May 6, 2017

Hey all! Hope you're enjoying your weekend wherever you may be :) Today I enjoyed doing next to nothing other than much needed errands, and may or may not have included Artichoke Basille's Pizza (if you don't know this place you need to check it out...best artichoke pizza ever!!). Other than that, I have been continuously on the hunt for a new media console. My problem is I sort of browse the same sites over again thinking something will change, or maybe a good sale will come up and I'll get a piece that is okay but totally worth the price....but nothing has stuck out to me...until today! Let's face it, Anthropologie's furniture isn't necessarily wallet friendly as it is window-shop friendly, but I came across a media console that I had seen before..loved the look but not willing to spend the money (it is solid wood and a really unique piece though). Today I was on their site and saw that the media was on sale (still not cheap but doable), but of course NOT IN THE RIGHT FINISH. Thank you Anthro for the "you may also be interested in..." tab because lucky for me it also came in a buffet version that actually worked even better, size wise, AND in the right finish. It also had the sliding door detail with shelving and cable hole which we definitely need. Long story, well, still long...I pulled the plug! My boyfriend was really not that fond over the detail on the piece (he is much more minimal/modern) but I just had to at least try it. I looked at the reviews and a few mentioned that the detailing is not as contrast in person, so I am actually thinking that may be better for us because my boyfriend didn't love that pattern anyway. I'm sure it will still be beautiful. Not sure if I like this media with the planter we already got, but I will move the planter to another side of the room so it doesn't clash next to it like I think it will. Here's a round up of the old and new items that have made and are making its way into our apartment. To the left of the media I plan to put the lucite console with two stools underneath and some art. Finally, it's starting to come together :) 



media console / sura buffet / anthropologie
rug / prisha rug 8x10 / lulu + georgia
chair / cantor lounge chair / rh teen
planter / mid-century turned wood planter / west elm
console / peek-a-boo console / cb2
stools / woven accent stool / target
art /  minted for west elm - escape route II / west elm
coffee table / box frame marble coffee table / west elm 



ps -- I may or may not paint a canvas for above the console but I chose this print by Max Borelli of a close up Italian spiral staircase. I am part Italian and love design so I thought this would be a nice personal touch. All the art in our living room is also black and white so I want to stick with that theme. Stay tuned to see how this media works out in our space!




xo,
Lauren

Rug Love

April 24, 2017

Happy Monday guys! It's been a little while since I've been busy with work and family things (haven't we all) but I am back! I wanted to share a few of my favorite moments in my home currently including our new Lulu & Georgia rug that I LOVE every time I walk into our apartment. I kept telling myself I only wanted wool, handmade, etc but I couldn't resist the style, color and price point - it was part of L&G annual 25% off sale so I had to. I am still on the search for a perfect media console but I have been scoping out Stor New York on Etsy and although the price point is higher, each media is handmade in Brooklyn and I even have the option to customize it a bit so that is all in the works :) 










By the way if you are ever in Astoria and looking for a great brunch spot, check out Mom's and/or Halsey's Tavern! We originally went to Mom's but they had such a wait, but told us Halsey's Tavern next door has the same exact kitchen and brunch menu (minus iced coffee and milkshakes). So we lucked out with no wait and delicious food :) Stay tuned for more design updates and a new post on what to look for when styling your shelving!



coffee table / west elm
shelving / west elm
decor / west elm, anthropologie, lulu & georgia, etsy, target
sofa / raymour and flanigan
chair / wayfair
side table / homegoods
planter / west elm


xo,
Lauren

Ready for Spring

April 3, 2017

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