Decorating 101: Starting From Scratch with Invaluable

Today's post was prompted by the premier online marketplace for all things art & decor, Invaluable. Through their extensive site, you can purchase furniture, decorative, fine art and more from some of the most famous names in home decor & interior architecture. If you're looking to add a great vintage or antique piece to your home, or just something you can't find at a mass-retailer, than Invaluable is the site for you!

For those without a lot of experience in decorating, it can be overwhelming to figure out where to start when approaching a space from scratch, or what to put together to make a cohesive scheme. As an interior design and architecture student, I am no stranger to pulling inspiration out of anything for project after project. I wish I could tell you there was an exact formula for becoming inspired for a new space, but there isn't. Each time I start a new project, I am inspired by something different! That's what makes it exciting. But today I'm going to give a few tips that will help you decorate any room in your house from scratch, so let's begin!

I find it's very hard to start with just a "style" when decorating a space. "Contemporary," "Traditional" or "Eclectic" are all very broad ideas, and can lead into a ton of different design schemes. AKA more overwhelming for you! My first tip when beginning to decorate a space from scratch is to make a trip to your favorite home store. For me, that's Home Goods or Marshall's, but you might find it to be a furniture store like Ethan Allen. Here, you'll get to see lots of different colors, styles, and start to think about the direction you want to go. Pinterest is another great source, as well as antique stores or sites like Invaluable. You'll know you've found a direction when you find an item that really speaks to you, and you can picture it in your space.

Once you have in hand (or plans to purchase) your starter item, then you can go forward with your design. There are a couple things to consider when taking the next step in the design:

1. Is there anything staying in your space that you need to factor in, such as existing flooring? These things can help start identifying a color scheme. For example, if you have dark wood floors that aren't changing, and your starter item has grey in it, then you can start to pick other colors around those. Tan would be a no, but a cornflower blue would be dazzling. 

2. What matters most to you in your space? This can help identify where to go next: if it's comfort, perhaps pillows and a lush couch are next. If your doing an office, maybe it's a nice desk and chair. The first things you pick for a space should be the things that matter most to you.

From there, it's all about piecing the parts together! The fun part is seeing your space come together, piece by piece. A key factor in good design is balance, so that is something that will guide your decor choices. If you've got an amazing patterned chair that you are obsessed with, coordinating patterned pillows on the adjacent couch, and an eclectic piece of art, you should probably stick with solid curtains and low-key accents. Otherwise, you'd be looking at an explosion of pattern and color and that's probably not the look you want for your space! 

I did my own version of this for fun, to give y'all an example. I started by finding an amazing bed from Invaluable's extensive site, an American Eastlake Carved Mahogany Bed circa 1900. I was immediately drawn to the beautiful variation in the wood headboard and footboard, and the solid structured nature of it. You can just feel the history exuding from it! So that was my starter item. From there, I knew the next mission would be to find side tables or nightstands. I wanted something that would reflect the same design principles (hard, linear lines) but that would be more lightweight to add contrast to the bulky bed. Enter these gold nesting tables! They mimic the rectilinear structure of the bed but the negative space adds a lightness this bedroom will need.  Up next was lighting, and these gilded lamps bring some curves into the mix, while keeping up with the gold and semi-traditional look that's going on in the space so far. After that, I went to the bedding and art. I picked this canvas because in it I saw the various tones of the aged wood, and I knew it would bring the bed, tables, lamp, and bedding all together. 

{Side note & tip here: Art is a great way to make it all go together. Whether you've got a couple different colors that you need to all look cohesive, or you're trying to match styles like I was here, art is the way to do that! One piece can usually solve all problems... A picture really does say a thousand words!}

So there you go; hopefully I made starting to decorate a place from scratch seem less intimidating. 

It really is a fun process!

Shop This Post: Bed via Invaluable / Pottery Barn Side Tables / Pier 1 Lamp / Kirkland's Art / Pottery Barn Bedding / Kirkland's "Relax" Pillow / Kirkland's Aqua Pillow

--Caroline

Milan: World Expo 2015

Through my university, we got to spend a day in Milan at the 2015 Expo. It was a truly amazing, once in a lifetime experience, and from a designer's perspective it was just the coolest thing ever! The way each respective country was able to portray, explain, and showcase their heritage was unreal. With the overarching theme of food and feeding the world through sustainable practices, it was neat to see how each countries contributions can impact the world on a global scale. I took a million pictures throughout the day, so much so to where my cameras battery died! So I'll spare you by just sharing some of the highlights, specifically from a design perspective. My favorite Pavillions were Slovenia and Austria, but Turkey, EATALY, France, Brazil, and Vietnam had some cool features as well.

Overall it was a long, fun, hot day. I was definitely happy to shower and go to sleep at the end of it, but everything I saw gave me some sort of inspiration for future projects. I cannot wait to put what I've seen, what I've learned, to work in projects to come. 

--Caroline

Big Girl Apartment

Next fall, I will be moving yet again (seriously, it's not like I enjoy moving!) so naturally I'm already thinking about decor. This next place will be all by myself, so I have full design control and I'm so excited! Today, I'm sharing some ideas that I'm already thinking of...

I love this fun and easy way to add color in the kitchen. Definitely will have to do this! (Source)

There is something very sophisticated about the look of a bar cart as a shelf, especially here as a desk addition. I'm also picturing it being a cute entry way table? We will have to see! I'm hoping I could find one at a thrift store for cheap... (Source)

The complex I'm moving to comes with all white walls (blah!) but they do allow you to paint as long as you cover it before you leave. I love this one bright accent wall here, and I will have a similar sized wall I might could recreate this with! (Source)

I already have a vintage trunk, but it's black and I'm feeling like it might be time for an upgrade, so I have plans to paint it a different color! (Source)

Speaking of color, I am of course also thinking about the color palette. I already have a yellow rug , a light tan side chair, and dark brown wood dining set. I love the idea of navy, but I also like the idea of more of a cornflower blue, cobalt, or even a periwinkle tone. But then I saw these pretty pastel colors, and I realized that I always gravitate towards the more bright, bold colors, and maybe I want to challenge myself! I'm not 100% sure yet, and I know that lot of it will be driven by what accessories speak to me when it's finally time to shop! (Source)

I'm excited for this next adventure in my personal design. Growing up I have always been excited to have a "big girl" place of my own and now it's happening for my last year of college! I will of course keep you all updated as things progress, but thinking about next years apartment has definitely been a nice creative break as the semester comes to a close. Just a few more projects and tests to complete this week, and then I will be done with my third year at FSU!

Happy Monday!

--Caroline

Retail Design & My Most Recent Project

Today, I'm sharing my latest project in my Studio 3 class, a retail design project we did for a high-end jewelry store, on par with something like Tiffany's. My inspiration and concept came from a book I read recently, Cleopatra's Daughter, as well as from the prominent role riches and jewels played in ancient Egyptian culture (and everything they represent). The first part of the project involved a lot of research, and what I found most compelling was the idea that retailers these days, in competing with online retailers, are looking to create an in-store experience that draws customers to the brick-and-mortar stores. 

In the end, I feel my design addressed everything I wanted it to, although with every project there are things you see in hindsight that you would definitely do differently. Overall though it was a fun project, definitely up my ally seeing as it was a jewelry store! :) This project certainly put some thoughts in my head about the possibility of doing retail design after graduation.

A little look at some of the end results...

I am really enjoying seeing the development of my designs in line with my education, and I'm looking forward to seeing where this next project will go! It is an office design project, and we are still in early stages of it, but I'll be interested to see where it takes me. 

--Caroline

Note: Please note that these drawings reflect my ideas, and are therefore my property. Please do not use without my permission. Thanks!

Five Friday Favorites

Today, I'm heading to South Carolina with my boyfriend and my brother, to meet up with my parents and the rest of our relatives for my grandfather's 95th birthday. Without going into much detail, he took a trip to the hospital and has not been doing well, so I'm really glad we were all planning to be there anyway. I'm so looking forward to seeing him, and my other relatives of course. But that's today, there was a whole week ahead of today, and this is what I've been up to:

1. Sunday night, post homework-free weekend, I took some time to read up on the latest fall fashions. I also watched my cat hunt and attempt to kill a small cockroach, so it ended up being a pretty eventful night!

2. While looking up something for a homework assignment, I came across this beautiful space and just about died...  SO GORGEOUS!!! (Source)

3. On Wednesday, my Constructions Systems class went on a site visit on campus to some new dorms they are building. It wasn't my first site visit, but I still love seeing the process of completion and the bones of a building. Plus I got to wear my cowboy boots, so there is always that! :)

4. Because of the site visit, I didn't actually have class on Thursday, so that was pretty cool! I ended up going to Thomasville, GA to pick up something for my sorority group's silent auction basket, which is Lilly Pulitzer themed. So I was naturally thinking about my favorite Lilly quote...

5. And finally... I get to see Kyle today, my parents today, and my relatives and grandfather all weekend! 

Have a great weekend, and please keep my grandfather and family in your prayers.

--Caroline

Seagrass

Growing up, every July we would make our way from Colorado to South Carolina for a family reunion with my mom's family. We'd rent a huge beach house in Garden City, South Carolina, right on the beach, and we'd stay for a week playing and catching up. I have so many fun memories being there as a kid. Whether we were building sand castles, racing back to the house from down the beach during a sudden wind & hail storm, or hanging out at Broadway at the Beach, it was always a fun vacation.

Slowly the tradition started to fade; people got married, children were born, my Nana passed away. But every July I am reminded of those fun times, running through the seagrass and looking for shells, making memories like there was no tomorrow. As an ode to my reminiscence, today's post is on decorating your home with seagrass!

I'd like to debunk some previous thoughts you might have about seagrass in the home...

You don't have to be near the water in order to enjoy the aesthetics of seagrass! 

Yes it might be somewhat beachy in nature, but it can give a very natural look to any space. From the coastline, to the lake, to the desert, and to the mountains, seagrass is a great choice for bringing the feel of the outdoors in.

Seagrass decor does not equal beach-themed. 

If you stay away from seagrass because you think it's too "theme-y" then shame on you! It can be very elegant and classic. It's only "theme-y" when you pair it with an overdose of shells, sand, beach prints, surfboards, and beachy fabric. (Trust me on this one. Growing up my room was beach-themed, and I spared no expense on making sure that it wasn't 110% obvious!)

Seagrass is not just something to pull out in the warmer months.

Enjoy your seagrass accessories year round to bring the outside in & warm your heart in the cold of winter. 

Some of my favorite seagrass home accents...

Headboard / Vases / Rug / Barstool / Pendent Light / Ottoman

--Caroline

DIY Coral Nightstand

The other day, I mentioned I would be sharing with you a DIY project I was working on... Painting my nightstand coral. I got this nightstand originally from Target, because the antiqued mercury glass front matched other decor pieces in my bedroom. (And it was on clearance.) Both my desk and my dresser are a darker wood, but I thought it wouldn't bother me too much for this piece to be lighter. 

But after a whole year, it does. So something had to change. 

I have touches of coral in my room, so I thought why not bring that pop of color into my nightstand!

First, I gathered my materials. I picked up semi-gloss paint from Walmart, where the clerk was very intrigued to know what I was going to paint such a bright color. My mom and I get that a lot--We aren't afraid of color at all! I already had the brushes and sandpaper on hand, and I actually ended up doing touch ups with a smaller craft brush. To prep the nightstand for paint, I went over the whole thing with a gentle layer of sanding. Even though the original finish wasn't super glossy, sanding gives the paint something to stick to. It just seemed like a good idea!  

Then, I painted! I alternated the direction of my paint layers--horizontal, then vertical, then horizontal, etc-- and to combat the sticky Florida humidity (let me just tell you, if I had done this in Colorado it would have dried so fast!), I used the following method:

* 2 layers, almost back to back, then let dry for about an hour to 1.5 hours.

*1 layer, wait for it to dry, then move it inside for afternoon rain showers & to dry in the cool inside air.

*The next morning, do 2 more layers. The last layer is where I used the smaller brush to get the legs fully covered.

*Then, bring the nightstand inside, to let dry inside for at least 48 hours.

Somewhere in there, I painted the trim around the drawer, because initially I was thinking I might keep it the wood color. I also wasn't sure if I liked the original knob or not. After checking how it looked on the morning of the second day before my last two paint coats, I decided I wanted the drawer coral too, as well as a new knob. After a trip to Hobby Lobby... Voila! 

I'm so happy with how it turned out! And because I basically immediately left town, I was able to put it in my room but not put anything on it or in it, so it has more time to fully cure. I can't wait to see how it looks in my new apartment in August... 

Stay tuned for pictures! 

--Caroline

No More Boring Staircases

Stairs. Most houses have them. In most houses, they are pretty darn boring. In most houses, they are one of the first elements seen upon entry. Ergo, in most houses, stairs give a boring first impression. But it doesn't have to be that way! There are plenty of fun things you can do to your stair risers to make them a reflection of your and your decor. 

Tile

Whether it's Mexican ceramic tile, mosaic tile, or mirrored tiles as seen here, tile is a great way to add both texture and variety to your staircase! You can achieve a variety of looks depending on what tile you choose. When using it on the risers, you are not limited to tiles that can withstand being stepped on, so splurge for something pretty and decorative.

Custom Paint

Try doing a DIY paint job on your stairs. A chevron pattern like the one here would be easy to implement by using painters tape. If chevron is too much, try simple stripes for a classic & elegant look. I also love the effect of doing every other stair!

Wallpaper

Easy to apply on such a small area, wallpaper is a great way to liven up your staircase. Try the textured wallpaper look seen here, or give each stair a different wallpaper for an eclectic look like what was done here. 

Text

Use wall decals like these over solid paint to have your stairs tell a story. If you're really crafty, I'm sure you could DIY this by hand, but I love how simple it is to just paint and slap on a decal! 

Ombre

I love the multi-color ombre effect on these stairs! If that's too much color, try picking just one color, or do an ombre with a neural like gray for a more subtle yet sophisticated touch. 

How would you liven up a boring staircase? Have you tried any of these?

--Caroline

Lamps, Chairs, & Mirrors, Oh My!

At the beginning of August, I'm moving in to a new apartment, and I'm really excited! 

No more crazy late night volleyball games at 1am outside my window! (no joke here, I'm telling you college kids are crazy. And yes, I know I'm one of them. But I like my beauty sleep!)

Also I'm excited because I'm wanting to change a couple things in my room decor. I have a very college dorm-room floor lamp and desk chair, and I'd like to trade them for something that echoes my passion for interior design more. Of course, being on a budget isn't easy for the design lover, but I'm hoping to make some of my new-apartment dreams a reality!

Here is what I'm dreaming of: architect lamps, ghost chairs, and the oh-so-chic leaner mirror!

Lamps: Target / Ikea / World Market

Chairs: Bison Office / eBay / All Modern

Target / Home Depot / Restoration Hardware

Obviously the mirror from Restoration Hardware is severely out of the realm of possibility, but I just love the tufting! The Target version is certainly in my price range, but it's a little too thin for me... I love the proportions of the Home Depot mirror! I have a feeling this item is going to be the hardest to find, just because of my pickiness & tight budget. 

Maybe I'll get lucky thrift shopping and find both a mirror and the lamp! I feel like the ghost chair will be a little too hard to find around town--it's a little too modern I think. 

What do you think? Have you ever purchased any of these items? Do you switch up what you already have when you move somewhere new?

Happy Thursday!

--Caroline

Inspired Style: Lavender Walls

Inspiration from: Pinterest

Inspired Style: This series focuses on outfits inspired by the designed world. Whether it's an interior, an exterior, art, or a color scheme, I am easily inspired to turn beautiful things or ideas into beautiful outfits. 

Lavender, the toned-down sibling of Radiant Orchid (Pantone's Color of the Year 2014) is having a moment in my creative mind these days. I keep pinning lavender tones on Pinterest, dreaming about owning lavender jeans... So when I saw this sitting area, you can imagine how giddy I got!

I love the simple yet fun elegance the lavender walls bring to this space. Not overly feminine, the wood tones in the furniture and floors ground the space with masculine tones. In outfit form, a playful lavender skirt (Topshop via Nordstrom) emulates the curved lines of the furniture. A flowy ivory blouse (Anthropologie) allows the skirt to be the focus. Mauve tones in the necklace (Sole Society), clutch (Sole Society) and wedges (Piperlime) ground the outfit while still mimicking soft lines and neutral tones. This is a space, and an outfit, I am loving right now! 

Other great lavender options:

Top / Heels / Bag / Dress / Jeans

Linking Up With: Simply Just Lovely, Perfectly Coutured, Lovely Thursdays, 

Welcome Back & Changes!

While I still have one more final to complete, I just couldn't stay away from blogging any longer. A lot has happened in the past couple weeks (final projects, fun times with friends, a visit from the boyfriend), and I love y'all but I think I will keep those memories to myself :). Plus I feel like I've been gone for so long it would be hard to catch y'all up!

What I will share are some new changes you are going to see on the blog...

* In an effort to tie in more interior design into my blog, and thanks to the brilliant mind of my dear friend Lauren, I am going to start a permanent series called Inspired Style. As a designer & overall creative person, I draw inspiration from a lot of things, but this series will focus on me crafting an outfit based on an interior, exterior, art, and more! I'm incredibly excited because I have been struggling to figure out how to bring in more interior design related notions into my blog, something that I wasn't expecting to be a struggle but that has been. 

* In keeping with my newfound drive, expect more pictures of me in real outfits from my closet, not just dream picks!

* You might have noticed I've removed the link to my Instagram feed. I made the executive decision to keep that private, but you shouldn't notice a change because I share the highlights on This Styled Life anyway! Thank you in andante for your understanding. 

* I'm toying with the idea of turning some of my "Shopping Picks" posts into "Lux Lust Lists"-- my shopping picks from more high-end home & clothing sites. Again, in an effort to bring in more interior design related material. Plus, it's fun to dream :)

* Look for a mini-portfolio tab showcasing some of my design work, hopefully coming soon!

I'm happy to be back and am excited for what is to come! Check back tomorrow for my first Inspired Style Post!

--Caroline

Reading Is Important

Last week, my furniture design class turned in our handmade cardboard chairs to a local elementary school! The school's teachers had selected books, which we were then given to draw inspiration from for our chair. My book was Wild About Books, a fun tale about animals at the zoo going "wild, simply wild, about wonderful books!" It's truly a cute read--I highly recommend it for any children in your life!

If you've been following, you might have seen the progress my giraffe chair has made...

From sketches, to a process model, to last minute design changes, I have to say it was a fun project and also a great learning experience. Overall, I'm very pleased with how it turned out, but I did see some room for design changes after meeting with the kids. In the design world, there is always room for improvement! That is why process models and tests are so important. 

My finished chair & a look into the hallway of our furniture building...

Here's a look at some of the fun with the children upon delivery...

There are 40 of us, so the elementary school now has 40 awesome cardboard chairs, some going to classrooms and some staying in the library I think! The kids had so much fun interacting with all the different designs--it was so rewarding to see our "clients" happy!

Along the reading note, I came across this info graphic the other day which startled me.

As a kid growing up, my parents read to us every single night, and my mom was always reading for her book club (still does), so my brother and I were constantly exposed to reading. I love to read! Granted in college I haven't been able to read quite as many "fun" books as I would like (although I know I could make time), I still enjoy at least 3-4 non-school related books a year. The fact that so many people my age or older haven't read since their schooling is sad. And the notion that many families are not buying or reading books... those kids aren't experiencing the fun, the knowledge growth, the excitement of a new book that others are. Reading is so important!!

So sit down in my giraffe chair, crack open a book, and get lost for 30 minutes. Have your kids do the same! Let's not let the art of reading die!

--Caroline