{Thirsty Thursday: Bedroom Dilemma, Vibrant v. Serene}

I'm moving in a matter of weeks - yay! Moving gives you the perfect excuse to redecorate…new space, new look! So, I'm giving my bedroom a total revamping. 

I recently purchased this headboard and am in love BUT I am completely torn on the design of the rest of the room;

 go monochromatic and calming or colorful and energizing.

The headboard: 

Duvet // Art // Lamp // Sheets // Raspberry Pillow // Blue Pillow // Zig Zag Pillow 

I love the idea of such a bright mix for the bedroom but sometimes you want it to be a space where you feel relaxed and can recharge without all the visual stimulation. The palette below makes me feel like I would be floating on a cloud! 

Hanging Light // Ombre Duvet // Python Sheet Set // Mirror // Lumbar Pillow // Cream Pillows

Which do you prefer? Let us know in the comments!

Thirtsty Thursday: Lighting

Happy Thirsty Thursday!

 Enjoy our summer lemonade as you peruse our lighting advice!

Recipe 

I was recently enlisted to help a new homeowner pick out lighting.  Our goal was to go from "Beauty & The Beast" esq gold fixtures that were to small for the space to a clean, transitional look. The house is your typical colonial and later we'll be undertaking larger projects to bring it up to date a tad, such as installing wide plank oak floors with just the right amount of texture.

With a 90-day return policy, there's nothing not to love about Ballard Designs for lighting. Just make sure you don't install your fixture if you

are unsure about it because some companies won't take an pre-installed return, especially if you've cut the chain.

We chose this guy is for the entry. I'm seeing this style pop up a lot lately.

This was the choice for the dining room:

QUICK TRICK: To figure out the size fixture you need for your dining room add the length and width of your room together and that will give you the number for the ideal width for your room. Ideally, you want to hang the chandelier 32" above your table.  So a 12"x14" dining room calls for a 24"W chandelier.

We also used Crate & Barrel for kitchen pendents that I am obsessed with! I conceded on the two fixtures over the dining table - a great trend right now - in order for them to go with these two pendants in the kitchen. 

The kitchen has very dark espresso cabinets that are contrasted by white marble countertops and bronze hardware. 

The kitchen dining table received this drum light: 

I always say… decorating is like throwing a themed party. You wouldn't buy a sombrero when you're throwing a garden party so don't buy a modern fixture when your taste is traditional. 

Don't buy a crystal chandelier when you don't want your home to feel too formal. Vice versa, don't buy a clean-lined, iron fixture if your home is filled with gold accents and grand embellishment. What always helps me is the simple task of inputing the images for the lights I like into a word document so I can see them on one page. Then you can easily see that they all work together as a unit. I input different options and save each as a separate document. 

Happy Lighting! 

{Elle Decor: Boston Write-Up}

Elle Decor recently ran an article on my hometown, Boston! They gave an appropriate and lengthy shout out to the Greenway, which was created through the very long and arduous Big Dig contraction project and has encouraged city dwellers to spend more time near the water. The author also touched on how the epicenter of the city is moving toward the coast via Fort Point, which connects the Financial District to the waterfront and made mention of The South End which is quickly becoming the center for all things having to do with the culinary & arts scene. 

This brings us to their mention of some very major & wonderful home decor shops that Boston has to offer:

HUDSON 

A great place for vibrant, modern home accessories 

12 Union Park St.

Boston, Ma 02118

PATCH NYC

Great tableware & collectables 

46 Waltham St.

Boston, MA 02118

TWELVE CHAIRS 

Eco-friendly accessories 

581 Tremont St

Boston, MA 02118

{Fashion Friday: Hunter Green}

Fashion Friday is here! This fab clutch is the inspo for one spectacular hunter green and brass dining room. All resources below. 

Enjoy :)! 

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{Thirsty Thursday: The Grand Hotel Kennebunkport, ME}

This past weekend my boyfriend and I spent an amazing weekend in Kennebunkport, Maine, George Bush's chosen vacation spot & where he owns a (palatial) summer home. Our home base was more modest compared to the president's but just as spectacular. 

We stayed at The Grand Hotel. The Grand is new to the scene after opening in 2012 as part of the Kennebunkport Resort Collection. The hallways are clean & bright, the guest rooms a mix of energetic Ikat patterns and a soothing palette of yellow & cream. It's location right in the heart of town and a short ride to the beach via their beach cruiser bikes is perfection. 

Exterior 

Lobby 

Lusting after this headboard & clean-lined side tables 

Love the grasscloth wallpaper for a shot of texture 

We dined at David's, home of Kennebunkport's only raw bar, which is right on the water. We enjoyed David's unreal Rhubarb Lemonade, dash of Rhubarb Vodka optional but encouraged. As you watch sailboats cruise to port and fishing boats depart, you are surrounded by an exquisitely decorated restaurant complete with taupe sailor rope wrapped columns and Philip Jeffries Chain Link wallpaper. The dining room is spotted with plush, tufted deep blue banquets. The blue & cream color scheme is anything but tired thanks to modern lighting, dark wood touches and an expert layout. 

Philip Jeffries Navy Chain Link Wallpaper

Rhubarb Lemonade

{Celebrity Home: Vern Yip}

Vern Yip is sharing his new beach house, an expansive, all white West Indies influenced Dutch Colonial style Rosemary Beach, FL. As an architecture intern, and long before his HGTV days, Vern fell in love with the resort town of Rosemary Beach and dreamed of one day owning a home there. He even began collecting and storing furniture for his long-hoped for home.  He recently made this dream a reality with the purchase of his new beach home and didn't hold back one bit in choosing a vibrant color palette, modern accessories and fabrics from his very own very line for Trend.

His home is a perfect use of the theory of color flow, the act of using one or more of the same unifying colors in every room so that the rooms relate to one another and appear to "flow" into one another. I love when a designer accomplishes this while still managing to infuse a unique sense of style in each room. It's not an easy thing to accomplish but Vern achieves this sought after "flow" with style & ease. 

So often people feel their beach house must use soft, natural colors so they chose seaside color schemes that are chock full of blues, aquas, sand tones and fresh whites. Vern shows us you can create that same beachy, relaxed vibe even when using punchy colors such as the orange he chose throughout. 

{Spotlight On: The White Elephant Loft}

If you're from New England you are probably familiar with The White Elephant Hotel, Nantucket's most treasured resort. Now The White Elephant has just added to its impressive digs

The White Elephant Loft

two stand alone, three-bedroom luxury escapes. 

Easy Street Loft Floor Plan

Main Street Loft Floor Plan

Guests can enjoy the gourmet kitchen (personal chefs are on call), the cozy fireplace on cool island nights and all the amenities of the main resort including the pool & spa. 

Oh… and did we mention the Easy Street Loft comes with a 2014 BMW X5? 

Yeah, we're in. 

We love the clean, simple & neutral decor; island ease at its best.