'Five Things' Friday

Happy Friday! I'm in another wedding this weekend and am taking the day off to indulge in some pampering at the spa with my sister-in-law (the bride) and the other bridesmaids. Looking forward to some relaxation! Today's 'Five Things' round up is all about Fall and some of my latest Pins that have me inspired and excited to bake and decorate. What are you up to this weekend?

one. I'm a big fan of simple and elegant seasonal decor and the styling of this hutch pulls that off effortlessly! [image source]

two. I can't wait to whip up one of these on a cold night! Low Calorie Pumpkin Chai recipe found on the blog Elle Claire.

three. Everything about this bedroom vignette shouts luxury, glamour and comfort! The warm colors and soft gold metallic wallpaper make a beautiful Fall palette. [image source]

four. A simple and elegant centerpiece idea. [image source]

five. Anything in a mason jar is adorable, but how cute are these mini apple pies in a jar?!

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Glam Lighting for the Fall Season

Fall has arrived and it's time to embrace the new season and cozy up your decor!  One easy yet impactful way to do this is with a new table lamp or two. Soft metallics, shimmery mercury glass and matte brass and gold continue to be popular finishes, which are great for adding a touch of glamour and sophistication to a space! Here's a round-up of table lamps that caught my eye (especially the teal & gold lamp - I need this!). What other ways are you introducing fall in to your home?

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  GO GLAM! GET THE LOOK

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Glass & Gold Cylinder Lamp // Moorish Pattern Ceramic Table Lamp // Zasio Mercury Glass Jug Lamp // Linque Table Lamp // Lubna Chowdhary Tiled Table Lamp // Monaco Table Lamp // Gold Rings Table Lamp

Five Ways to Style Your Coffee Table

I'm working on accessories for a model home project and am in need of some coffee table styling inspiration. I myself don't have a table in my living room...the leg broke on our previous one and we never replaced it because of our (then) baby, now toddler. I look forward to the day we can have one again that I can actually accessorize without everything being pulled off and thrown around the room! Until then, I'll have to get my fix through design projects. If you're looking to change things up a bit for the fall season on your coffee table, here are five ideas on how to arrange and style different accessories and objects. What do you prefer to have on your table?

 Small stacks of pretty books, each topped with a shell or small object, accented with a vase of flowers or live plant. [image source]

 A long narrow tray holds decorative objects and stacks of magazines placed behind the tray give balance. [image source]

 I love the idea of placing a large tray underneath the coffee table to hold extra books! [image via west elm]

 Classic and simple - an oversized tray holds stacked books, glass hurricanes and interesting objects. The key to a set-up like this is to stagger the heights of each object.  [image source]

 Another oversized tray with simple candles, a vase of flowers and stacked books. I like the little glass jar holding matches - functional and chic! [image source]

 

Quote of the Week

"The desire for symmetry, for balance, for rhythm

is one of the most inveterate of human instincts."

- Edith Wharton
 

[PHOTO CREDITS: OLY & JOSEPH DE LEO PHOTOGRAPHY / QUOTE FROM HERE] 

Inspiration Snapshot :: Cheerful & Eclectic Girl's Room

How amazing is this wall? Designed by Mandi of the fabulous blog Vintage Revivals, she created this incredible hexagonal wall detail for her daughter's room and I think it's genius! Don't know if I'd ever have the patience to build all of those hexagons, but that's a job I could leave to the hubby (he loves projects like this one!). The color palette is fun and fresh youthful, and I adore the furniture and art as well. Click here to see the rest of the space. Enjoy and see you back here tomorrow for another round of 'Five Things' Friday!

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Eight Reasons to Get Excited for Fall

Well, it's time for me to accept that summer is officially over and Fall has arrived, something that's always a little tough for me since Summer is my favorite season! Although the weather here in southern California feels like the middle of July, that "fall feeling" is in the air and I'm looking forward to cooler weather arriving soon. To fully embrace the season changing, here are some of the things I look forward to most during fall. What are you looking forward to most this season?

 No.1 - Decorating your front porch with pumpkins and and maybe a wreath for your door

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 No.2 - A great excuse to purchase some new pillows and a cozy throw for your living room sofa

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 No.3 - Homemade stews and soups - the season for comfort food!

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 No.4 - Cozy nights curled up by the fire

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 No.5 - Creating festive centerpieces and arrangements for the dining room and kitchen 

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 No.6 - Catching up on reading a good book on a cold and rainy night

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 No.7 - Lighting tealights all around the house for a cozy ambiance 

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 No.8 - Hosting an intimate Fall dinner party with your closest friends

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Quote of the Week

"The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time." 

 - Abraham Lincoln 

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Re-post :: Decorating with Busts

Happy Friday! As my life gets busier with work and a toddler, I'm finding less and less time to write blog posts, which bums me out :( So today, I'm re-posting a post I wrote a while back that was quite popular with you all! Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend! 

Bust sculptures have been around for centuries, often placed in traditional and classic settings. I've never considered using a bust as an accessory in any of my design projects, I guess maybe because I've associated them with "stuffy and formal"...until now. After searching several of my favorite design sites, I began noticing decorative busts used as accessories everywhere. Where have I been?! Living room, foyer, bedroom, bathroom...a bust can be used as a focal point / statement piece, or it can be mixed in subtly with other accessories. Either way, I'm loving busts and plan on incorporating them into future projects one way or another! What do you think about accessorizing with busts? Have you tried this in your own home? You know I always love your comments and appreciate you taking the time to put in your two cents :) Wishing you a fabulous weekend. xoxo - Julie

IMAGE CREDITS: 1,5,6,11,12. KWID; 2,10. LONNY MAG; 3. PIECES; 4. COUNTRY LIVING; 7,8. HATCH; 9. ELLE DECOR; 13,14. POTTERY BARN; 15. DOMINO

 

Current Project :: Office Concept for Clothing Company

I'm working on a design for my fabulous and very successful client Kim, who owns Kiyonna, a plus size women's clothing company. You can see a few snapshots of the company lobby I designed here. Here's a quick design concept I came up with to see if I'm headed in the right direction. I'm pretty happy with it...I'd actually like to use the same concept for my own office! What color scheme would you like to see in your office? Happy Wednesday :)

[DESIGN CONCEPT BOARD CREATED BY JULIE THIGPEN VIA PHOTOSHOP // IMAGE CREDITS VIA PINTEREST]