2013 = Emerald Green

Wow! This short month calls for a short blog! It has gone way too fast, but here we are... this month I want to talk about color. Specifically, the color of 2013; emerald green.

I've always been a little biased toward this color since I was born in May, but I was most definitely pumped to hear the color forecast. This rich colored green is gorgeous!

Green is easily a go-to color, it can range in the warm tones to the cooler tones. Green naturally has a tendency to make people think of freshness, youth and the deeper tones let us escape to a luscious rainforest. Growth, nature, environmental, a soothing and calming sensation, all are thoughts associated with the color. You can't go wrong.  Lets not forget green's association with good luck! So for 2013, keep emerald green in your living spaces and keep the luck coming!

Photo credits: Pinterest

Favorites Friday: January

Allison and Ann here! We're so, so excited about this first monthly blog post.  YAY!  We've decided to do something a little different this time and once a month, we'll post our top ten favorite things from the previous month.  Our favorites are whatever we choose, so topics include pieces we got in store, rooms we fell in love with, fashion, beauty, decorating, music, you get the point...basically whatever we wish.  So, for our first, here are both of our favorites from January!  We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed putting it together!

Ann's Top Ten

1. The most amazing furniture item we got in was this bright green, tufted and studded chair. I may or may not own it.

 

2. My favorite accessory item that came through the store was this large, red charger. It's a great piece but I don't have red anywhere in my home or a place to put it. :(

Modern Dining Room design by Boston Interior Designer Rachel Reider Interiors

3. My favorite room I found on Houzz.com this month is this dining room from Rachel Reider Interiors. I love the variety of color, the texture of the chandelier shade, the artwork, centerpiece, and the aysymmetry of the banquette and chairs. 

4. January's best piece of jewelry is this necklace. It is great, adding a little bling to your outfit and can be worn casual or formal.

 

5.  I will more than likely ALWAYS have a pair of shoes on my top ten.  I have always been a shoe girl and this month, these cobalt blue peep toes take the cake!

6.  This outfit I found on Pinterest is my favorite for January, very classy and no one would be surprised to find it in my closet.

7.  My favorite quote for the month is, "The creative adult is the child that survived".

8.  I was stuck on a color combination of purple and grey.  Here are some great examples:

9.  January's best event I attended was the Ice Festival in the Delmar Loop.  The weather was gorgeous and warm, although not good for the ice.  A great day to walk the Loop with family and friends, see the ice sculpures and live demos.

10. My best recipe that, yes, I did successfully make was this creamy tortellini soup. I pinned it on Pinterest and only omitted the mushrooms. :) Still yummy!


Allison's Top Ten

1. My favorite piece(s) of furniture that came in this January. Alright, so I loved the green chair Ann posted equally as much, but I can't get over these amazing detailed chairs. The curved/scroll back, the tufted arm, chenille fabric, vintage feel, just love, love, love.

2. My favorite home accessory that I came across this month is this handpainted Mexican tequila box. The details and colors are awesome and it is definitely a piece you don't come across every day.

 

 

3. Sequin wall wallpaper from Tracy Kendall. Enough said.

4. Alright, so they had my attention at "cake batter". If anything contains those two sweet words together, I'm more than likely going to attempt creating it. I made these Cake Batter Chocolate Chip Cookies, and I must say they were deeee-lish. Nomz. Want now.

5. I am a bit of an OPI enthusiast and probably have more polishes than one should ever admit to owning...Throughout January, Russian Navy was my go-to color. This deep blue shimmery color makes a dark, bold statement without appearing too goth. Also, navy pairs well with just about any color so it makes for the perfect staple polish.

 

6. Sephora's Long-Lasting 12HR Wear Eye Liner in black. Honestly, this has been one of my makeup staples for years. In January, I made an attempt at being adventerous and tried out a few different eyeliners.  Bottom line, I ended up coming back to this one. It stays put ALL day, the shorter stick makes the application much easier than others and it is highly pigminted. I love trying new things, but some things are better left alone.
(A bit of advice for liquid newbies: Use a dampened q-tip to clean up the messy parts so that it creates a more precise, consistant line, and makes those pretty peepers pop)

 7.  Outfit Picks.  I'm loving the military-inspired look right now and this green is awesome.  It's looks stunning with the whites and metallics.  I can't wait for our chilly STL weather to go away so I can wear the casual-chic outfit on the right...perfection. 

Then this photo above...the girly white dress paired with the bow belt and oversized sunnies just makes me happy :)

8.  So if you know anything about Midwest weather, it's what most of us like to refer to as "bi-polar".  One January day may be 65 degrees and sunny then 2 days later, there's 4 inches of snow on the ground.  During those freezing, possibly snowy days, I would dream and wish for a tropical Mexican-inspired lounge pictured above.  Add in chips and salsa, delicious spicy chiptole fish tacos, and some margaritas and we'll be set.  Dream escape right there.

9.  One of my New Year's resolutions was to attempt at least one of my Pinterest pins per week.  A few weeks ago, the Victoria's Secret Model Ab Workout seemed like a great choice.  Boy, oh boy...Although it was a struggle to get through the entire workout (not to mention it hurt to laugh for a few days), it was well worth it...in the good kind of pain way.

10.  Music.  It was really difficult for limit it down to just 3 songs that I could listen to on repeat all day, every day, so picking choosing just one would have been impossible.  That being said, here are my top 3 music picks from January:

Be Bold

A look this self-proclaimed accessory junkie is loving right now: MAJOR statement necklaces…seriously. Whether it’s shopping with the girlfriends, weekend brunch, typical work day, or a date night out, you can’t go wrong by simply adding oomph to that outfit with a bold neckpiece. It is possible to make these pieces work for casual-chic every day wear or glitzy-glammed up nights and I’m about to show you how.

Adorn a chunky sweater, tee, faux fur, or button down, leggings and your favorite boots with a chunky piece of your choice. Perfect for cold day errand running or cozying up by the fire.

If layering is your thing, choose the peek-a-boo style with your button down and sweatshirt...

or simply throw on a pretty necklace with a fitted tee for a "I want to be comfy but still look glamorous or adorable" style status. This emerald/white combo is to die for (not to mention emerald is Pantone's 2013 color of the year...YAY!)

 

Boho Chic by allisonryoung featuring statement necklaces

 

Sweet and Sassy by allisonryoung featuring statement necklaces
 

Just because the piece is bold doesn't mean your top needs to be. If you're a skeptic about mixing too much, aim for one color in each piece to be the same or similar...or just go with leopard print, you can seriously pair any color with it and look great!

 

Pearl Statement by allisonryoung featuring cotton sweaters

Statement Necklace by allisonryoung featuring a gold cocktail dress

Refresh, Restyle, Redo

Now that the holidays are over and the decorations are down, the house looks a hmmm... bare. I do this every year as many people do, it's a big month in the furniture and decorating world. Everyone has visited a lot of family and friends over the holidays and gets to check out their lovely homes and then it gets you thinking, hmm, I've been meaning to replace the _______(insert furniture item here). Then BAM! It happens, you've been inspired to tackle the task. First things first, twist the husband's arm into agreement until he moans and groans through the entire process. It then naturally turns from one furniture item to the entire room. (We knew that all along though, right)? Good thing after all the holiday spending it seems you have extra money for the moment! The point being, here are some things to keep in mind as you go about your "refreshing".

I like to suggest in the ways of paint always get a sample size first and put it on the wall, picking paint samples from an inch and a half square is completely unrealistic. Secondly, it will always look different on the wall and in the various lighting you receive in your room. Don't forget the ceiling too, it is the fifth wall after all!

Lighting, a very important aspect in any space, (maybe my favorite) is fun to work with as well. It is more complicated than paint so I'll touch on the basics. Lighting can dramatically change the mood of the room, so beware. Incandescent bulbs will be warm and inviting and the fluorescents and some of the efficient ones are much cooler, again effecting the paint color and the mood of the space. The shades on lamps will determine how much light is emitted, so keep in mind if the lighting will be functional or ambient.

Rugs are not limited to just hardwood floors, carpeted floors can be layered with a rug too. Both rugs and window treatments are a great and easy way to add more color and pattern. A general rule of thumb when mixing patterns, be sure that they are different sizes and they will be compatible.

Accessories are scattered throughout, maybe an accent piece or two but these items can really tie a room together. You can get creative and add your color in these items: pillows, artwork, items on bookcases or tables.

Furniture, ah, the best for last. Furniture can be tricky, it can be hard to find the best compromise of comfort and style. It IS possible, I assure you. I do caution you that you can be picky or cheap, usually not both. :) Keep in mind also, you may have to order things in order to find the best option. It is worth the wait to do it right and be happy with it for years to come. Of course, resale shops will have things in stock at incredible prices without necessarily compromising quality. (Nice plug, huh?!)

Many people find this whole process overwhelming and understandable so. There are many aspects to juggle and it can be a challenge to foresee how they will all come together. That being said, as usual, I can be the one to step in and help you pull it all together if need be. You know where to find me!


Photo Credits: Pinterest, Houzz

Sprucing up for the Holidays

If you've been into a retail store lately, I am sure you've been bombarded with all the holiday decor and gift giving ideas. We admit, our holiday decor is in full swing around here and now that we are done with Thanksgiving, we should be! (Just no music yet). Not to be all "ba humbug" but if you listen to it for months it would turn anyone into a Scrooge! This is also the time of the year that everyone, or at least those who entertain for the any one of the holidays are looking to spruce up the house for those guests. Only with the hope that those very changes don't go unnoticed. With all the present purchasing and entertaining to do, what is actually left for the "sprucing up budget?" Maybe it's what you can get away without the hubby (or roommate) complaining too much, or as long as HE doesn't have to physically do it or get involved. So now we are down to YOU, something YOU can do successfully all by your lonesome. Well, here are a few suggestions that presumably one person could do and do somewhat inexpensively.

Paint, one of the all time least expensive components that go into any room. A fresh coat of paint goes a LONG way. You can easily open up a space or make it more cozy just depending on the color. Simply changing up the color will give a lift to the space, maybe even play with the thought of an accent wall, whether its a completely different color or just a shade or two darker than the main color.

Accessorize. Another easy and inexpensive way to update is to switch out your accessories. If not all of them even just a few, to add a different color or a new style. Better yet, bring the old ones into our store and make a few extra bucks for the holiday!

These ideas are great refreshers to jazz up a tired room. And won't break the bank. Should the wallet allow, both of these combined would make a huge difference. If these suggestions just don't do it for you or you still need some help applying it to your space, let me know and I would love to do a consultation for you! Photo Credits: Pinterest.