Brandon Barre Photography

So glad the weekend is here! I'm heading down to San Diego for my best friend's bachelorette party and am looking forward to a night of drinks, dancing and girl time. Sunday is her bridal shower so I'll definitely be posting pictures of how it turns out! Before I sign off, I wanted to share with you Brandon Barre, a photographer whose work is amazing. You may recognize some of the images featured in this post, which have been featured in Elle Decor, Canadian House & Home, Style at Home, and Elle Decoration(Fr), among many others. Check out his website to see his complete portfolio and notable client list. Lots of inspiration here! Any plans for the weekend? Enjoy! xoxo - Julie

ALL IMAGES VIA BRANDON BARRE PHOTOGRAPHY

The Art of Interior Styling

There's definitely an art to arranging accessories and objects into a well styled vignette. Too much of "this and that" equals clutter..."not enough"equals boring and bland, and so on. Holly over at decor8 has an Interior Styling group via Flickr with 4,000 + images uploaded from all kinds of talented people showing off their personal styling projects.  This gallery is bursting with inspiration...so much that I've managed to lose an hour  in what I call the Internet vortex...where you aimlessly wander through cyberspace with no concept of time - it can be dangerous!

From my experience with styling client's homes, model homes and my own place, there are a few rules of thumb that work just about every time:
1) group objects together in odd numbers - even numbers makes things look awkward
2) fresh flowers make any grouping of accessories pop  (as you'll see in just about every image in this post)
3) stagger similar sized objects at different heights - objects placed on stacked books is a good way to do so
4) group together several of the same accessories together for a dramatic effect (ex: the coke bottles below and the purple bottles toward the bottom of this post)
5) when accessorizing bookshelves or a mantle, mix it up with objects and accessories in all different shapes and sizes - this will make the overall look feel balanced when completed
6) don't group together lots of little accessories (unless you're going for the "tchotchke central" look)
7) mix different textures and materials together, such as raw natural wood with colorful porcelain, or metal and glass...makes things much more interesting! 
8) Edit, edit, edit! Know when to add or subtract pieces to get it just right :)

What are some of your personal styling tips? I'd love to know! 

IMAGE CREDITS: ALL IMAGES VIA INTERIOR STYLING GROUP ON FLICKR

Chic Chandeliers & Another Giveaway

I know I've been hosting a lot of giveaways lately, something I normally do just a few times a year. I don't want my blog to become all about giveaways, but I've had some really great offers come my way and I figure since it's the holiday season, why not give my lovely readers a few extra chances to win something fabulous?! This brings me to today's exciting giveaway from Crystorama Lighting! They're offering one lucky winner a  beautiful chandelier from an exclusive collection created by jewelry designer Dorian Webb! Known for their unparalleled craftsmanship and design, Crystorama chandeliers are the perfect accent in any home - traditional and contemporary. This fall the top lighting trends range from clean and simple designs to natural and white colored chandeliers. For inspiration, I've included several different spaces accented with a sparkly chandelier. Whether it's a dining room, bathroom or closet, chandeliers add instant glamour and sophistication! Details on how to enter to win are below.

Size: 9"w x 13"h. Click here for more info on this sweet little fixture.

Antique White Chandelier from the Paris Flea Market Collection

Chandelier from the Bohemian Crystal Collection 

Ceiling mount light fixture via Crystorama

How to Enter: Just leave a comment on where you'd hang this lovely little fixture! Winner will be announced next Tuesday, November 23rd! A big thanks Crystorama Lighting :) P.S. I've just been informed by Crystorama that this is only open to US Residents...I'm sorry to all of my lovely international readers :(

Quote of the Week

"Reuse. Repair, repaint, reinterpret, revive, redeploy, or simply relish the things you have. The idea that we can dispose of things easily weakens our links with the stuff we own...Revamp, reupholster and rearrange. If you do offload, find a way to recycle or redistribute. Someone will love what you have grown tired of."

- Ilse Crawford, Home is Where the Heart is

IMAGE CREDITS: ALL IMAGES ARE FROM MY IMAGE LIBRARY, WHERE I'VE COLLECTED PHOTOS OF VARIOUS PROJECTS FOUND ONLINE OF DIY / RE-PURPOSED FURNITURE, SPACES, ETC.

What makes a space extraordinary?

This is one of the questions I was asked yesterday during a casting call I attended for a new show on HGTV! I was contacted by a casting director last week who stumbled across my blog and thought I might fit the part for a new design show they have in the works. I've never auditioned for anything and was pretty darn nervous...but I did my best to answer the questions they asked and one of them was "what makes a space extraordinary?" My answer was along the lines of: scale, balance, texture, color...all of these elements play an important part in creating a space that looks and feels amazing. Every space should have a touch of the unexpected or a "wow" factor - something that catches your eye and is memorable. It can be bold such as a graphic wallpaper that pops or something more subtle, like an accessory that makes for a great conversation piece or a really amazing light fixture...I pulled together some spaces that I consider to be "extraordinary" for a various reasons. What do you think makes a space extraordinary? I always love reading your comments and input!
***Have a fabulous weekend! I'll keep you posted on what happens next with my little audition! I'm keeping my fingers crossed...xoxo - Julie 

 IMAGE CREDITS: DECORPAD; HOUSE TO HOME; HOUSE BEAUTIFUL