{Trend Watch: Gold Fixtures}

There are many tried and true traditions when it comes to kitchens: granite, stainless steel and white are all mainstays. 

But there has been a bold trend emerging lately that is worth noting. Traditionally white cabinets are now being substituted with light grays and historic blues, recessed lighting has been swapped out in favor of statement fixtures. 

My ultimate favorite...silver fixtures are being replaced with GOLD.  This trend is a wonderful invitation to step outside of the box and have fun with decorating. Yes, a kitchen remodel is a huge investment and that causes most to play it safe, however if you choose designs that truly delight your senses I can assure you that you will be genuinely happy and inspired by the finished product for years to come… 

Here are a few examples we just love:

{Gold Bar Stools}

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{Marble Over Granite}
*the correct sealant protects you from stains

{Gold Drawer Pulls}

{stament fixtures}

{Fashion Friday: The World Cup}

This week's post is dedicated to the WORLD CUP and we're using the vibrant yellow of Brazil's jerseys as inspiration for a chic living room. With a Portuguese boyfriend, my summer will be FULL of soccer so naturally I'm relating it to what I love, home decor, in order to get a little more into the spirit of things.

As I have mentioned before, yellow is my current obsession. When used with deeper accent colors and sophisticated furniture it quickly goes from juvenile to chic. This living room is a prime example of this. Enjoy!

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[Thirsty Thursday: Father's Day Edition}

Happy Thirsty Thursday & Cheers To All The Great Dads Out There! 

Drum roll please… my dad's favorite cocktail: 

Dry Grey Goose Martini:
.5oz Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth

           2oz Grey Goose Vodka

In honor of the fast approaching Father's Day, here are some of our fave masculine items for the home. 

Lets be honest, when it comes to decorating, dudes are usually left in the dust but its nice to incorporate some manly items to make them feel at home too. 

1. Louis Armless Chair // 2. Propeller // 3. Task Lamp // 4. Airplanes // 5. Poof // 6. Desk Furniture 

{The Signature Look of The Millennials}

Every generation has a "signature look" when it comes to interior design. I like to define a "signature look" as an aesthetic that was so prevalent throughout a certain generation and showed up so often in home decor that it became the recognizable and defining design of that generation. 

Baby boomers -- well, lets say my mom's floor length floral curtains with the salmon curtain rod are seared in my mind. When it comes to the BBs, I think of their signature look as anything floral, paisley or using tassels or fringe. There was a bit of a frenzy to use all these new accents at one time. It seemed very detail coordinated and was from the same time period. It was intellectual decorating at its best.

When I think of what the signature look of my generation, the millennials, is and will evolve into in the coming years as we purchase new homes and begin to infuse them with personal style, the words that come to mind are
 modern & eclectic.

Millennials aren't afraid to break the rules. We mix and match styles, pillows and furniture without a second thought. We use bold pattern and color and combine stripes with florals in the same room expertly. The three letters "D-I-Y" don't strike fear in our hearts. We're not afraid to push the limits and add an unexpected accessory. And the end result is an eclectic scheme where every unique element relates to create a stunning look. 

Below are my top picks for creating a signature and distinctly, "Millennial" living room.
(And yes the numbers below are very out of order. As a technology challenged person, I'm just excited I got these items in a collage at all!)

1. Sofa // 2. Rug // 3. Pillow // 4. Pillow // 5. Pillow // 6. Armchair // 7. Lamp // 8. Side Table // 

9. Rolling Coffee Table //10. Vases // 11. Frames // 12. Tray // 13. Gray Owl

{Fashion Friday: Bold Hues}

Happy Fashion Friday! We're feeling sunny so it's time to get inspired by bold green & yellows… 

Outfit

A Sweet Girl's Bedroom

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1. Headboard // 2. Side Table Lamp // 3. Pillow // 4. Letter

{Thirsty Thursday: Best Upholstered Headboards}

Happy Thirsty Thursday! 

We are snuggling in with some tea (my favorite is Yogi's Calming Tea for the inspirational quotes with each teabag) for this one and perusing upholstered headboards. There is just something about them that adds such luxury to a bedroom. So here are some of our faves:

Textured, Upscale & Clean-Lined

Whimsical Fabric

A Classic 

Love the wrap around sides. Sooo many great fabric options for this one!

The wood element of this headboard gives it a more casual feel.

A modern headboard

Velvet & Turquoise 

A touch of patterned fabric

Sweet & Stylish

{Trend Watch: Corporate Office Decor}

Recently, a job opportunity to design a corporate office for an engineering firm in a converted factory space (think exposed brick) came to my attention. It really got me thinking about corporate design, a once neglected sector of interior design that is now gaining more attention than ever and becoming a highly valued part of business.

With many employees putting in 60plus hour work weeks, the space they spend almost half of their 168 hour week calls for some aesthetics. I am a firm believer that surrounding yourself with visually appealing, clean, organized home decor lifts your spirit, improves your attitude and in turn your daily actions; ultimately elevating your quality of life. 

The rules are no different for the workplace. Going to work in an well-designed office that fosters community, collaboration and innovation improves one's attitude.  The New York Times recently ran an article on "Why You Hate Work." I imagine you can come up with a few of your own reasons and their list is long but the antidote remains the same for everyone: 90 minute breaks in the workday will improve your attitude about work. So, having a place that supports those breaks within work becomes crucial. You will see below that Facebook mastered creating this space with the area they set aside for games and a DJ booth.

What's driving corporate interior design is the demand for a space that supports the corporate culture of each unique business. In companies where collaboration is highly valued, an open design becomes an asset on a day to day basis. When the design of the workspace is in line with the company values employees are more 

productive & effective.

Instead of dark offices with wall to wall cubicles, emerging companies want a more open and vibrant design. 

Thoughtful, inspiring and functional decor is now the name of the game in corporate design.

Facebook has long been a leader in the creative design of the corporate office. 

Here are some examples: 

Facebook's New York HQ features at "Proceed And Be Bold" sign at the entrance. The letters are painted inside the elevators in case they are open so the message is always readable. An inspiring start!

Guest are encouraged to sign the giant wall. A design element that reflects and plays on the company's function such as this transforms the office from sterile to personal. 

 A game corner acknowledges the need for recreational breaks during the workday.

Fully stocked!

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No longer all work and no play - a DJ booth adds a touch of whimsy. 

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Natural light improves one's attitude.

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An open design fosters collaboration. 

Have a favorite element of the FB offices? Love something about your own office? Share in the comments below!