Fresh Ideas: Patterned Upholstery

When designing a space, I enjoy incorporating at least one special piece (usually a chair or ottoman) that's upholstered in a large-scale patterned fabric. I have yet to do an entire sofa in anything but a solid, but would love to one day! Introducing a patterned upholstered piece into a space is a great way to add color, texture and interest. I think the key to picking out the fabric is to keep the scale large...anything too small will get lost and lose impact. Do you have any fun upholstered pieces in your home? *** I'm off to pack and ship the rest of the orders sold in my One King's Lane sale - it was a huge success (there's still one day left to shop)! Have a fantastic weekend! xoxo - Julie

{ALL IMAGE CREDITS CAN BE FOUND VIA MY "LIVING ROOMS" PINTEREST BOARD}

{SOME OF MY FAVORITE UPHOLSTERED CHAIRS: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5}

In the Kitchen: Open Shelving vs. Cabinets

I've been noticing more and more lately the trend of open shelving in the kitchen. While I love the way it looks to have stacked dishes and glasses neatly displayed, I'm not sure it it's something I could commit to (it would bring out my OCD tendencies for sure!). I do enjoy having everything neatly tucked away behind closed doors, but, I also have lots of fun vintage dishes and vessels that I would love to have on display. I guess I could compromise with cabinets and a few open shelves, right? How do you feel about this look? Do you have open shelving in your kitchen or is it something you would try? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

{ALL IMAGE CREDITS CAN BE FOUND ON MY "KITCHENS" PINTEREST BOARD}

Quick Style Update: Decorative Hardware

One simple and effective way to update the look of a piece of furniture, kitchen or bathroom cabinetry is by switching out the hardware. This little trick is often times overlooked, but can have significant impact! Think of hardware as "jewelery" for furniture and cabinets - it can take anything from ordinary to super chic, and requires little time or effort. I've rounded up some of my favorite decorative knobs, in addition to a few snapshots of spaces with "upgraded" hardware that really makes a difference. I'm planning on getting this dresser for the baby's nursery and want to change out the knobs to something a little more interesting and youthful! Have you swapped out your old hardware for something shiny and new?

{FIND ALL OF THE RESOURSES & LINKS TO EACH OF THESE KNOBS ON MY PINTEREST BOARD "DECORATIVE HARDWARE"}

{IMAGE CREDITS: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7}

Great Design Ideas for Your Home Office

My sister-in-law has enlisted me to help design the home office in her new home. I'm excited to take on the challenge, as I love designing home office/craft rooms! To get the ideas flowing, I've searched around online for some inspiring spaces that are both functional and chic, which I'm posting today. I have a home office that I'm 85% happy with, however, I think it's time for a little pick-me-up. I'll be re-styling my office space later this week as part of a mini-challenge sponsored by Bravo TV, to help promote their upcoming show, Interior Therapy with Jeff Lewis. Be sure to come back on Friday for details! In the meantime, do you have a home office that you'd like to spruce up? Or do you dream of creating your very own personal workspace at home?

 {ALL IMAGE CREDITS ON MY "LIBRARIES & HOME OFFICES" PINTEREST BOARD}

Styling 101: Accessorizing Console Tables

Accessories are one of the most important parts of a well designed space. They are what completes the overall look and feel of room. This is an area where many people get stuck and find themselves at a loss for how to successfully combine different objects into something looks great and makes sense. Today we're going to look at console tables. If you have a console table or chest in your hallway, foyer, or living room, I've rounded up several great examples of how you can mix together different accents, artwork, lamps, etc. As you'll see, layering is key, along with combining objects in different shapes and heights. A few ideas you may want to try include leaning / layering art against the wall, stacking thick coffee table books to prop up / display objects, adding a lamp or two to create balance, using a large tray to display interesting accessories, hanging a unique mirror...the possibilities are endless! You just have to open up and be creative! Do you see any ideas below that you'd like to try? Do you find it easy or challenging to style / accessorize a space? I love hearing your thoughts and ideas!

{IMAGE CREDITS: 1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11}