Schedules…

Well hello there,

I know it’s been a while. Between my school internship, midterms, finals, and end of the semester shenanigans I couldn’t find a minute to sit down, and write. Anyways, I’m here now, so lets get to it!

I started this summer of 2016 in a determined mood. Elizabusiness is ready to take on the world!!! As you all know I’m a hopeful twenty-something with a business background eager to become an interior designer. I had reached out to a designer in my town, and thankfully, she offered to let me help her out this summer with her business. Though I won’t be getting paid, I am gaining experience, and truly indulging in my passions.

My tasks do vary, but one this is constant; online shopping… let that sink in. Online shopping is a wonderful thing, but online shopping with someone else’s money is certainly a treat. I mean I couldn’t afford a $1,000 side table, but a client can! A girl can dream right? Anyways, I do a lot of shopping and idea hunting, then discuss with her and see her ideas and then ultimately we bring them to the client to see their opinions. I am lucky that her clients don’t mind me tagging a long to the home visits and consultations.

What I hope to get out of this experience is learning about the entire process of being a designer. From getting the client, seeing the space, understanding their style, staying within a budget, creating space plans, purchasing furniture, placing the pieces, and styling it! I know this is what I love, and working these past few weeks with her has only further proved that.

I hope it only gets better from here…

 

xo,

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Sister Room

So after knocking down a wall, rewiring electrical wires, repainting, and furniture purchases the project is finally starting to come to a close. I posted a photo of the design board I created for her, and I’m happy to say that most of those elements have been incorporated in this bedroom so far.

Here’s a photo of her closet hallway, and her bed that was delivered a couple of hours ago. We still have to finish constructing her closet built ins, and refinish side tables, but it’s getting there!

 

Wall colors are Benjamin Moore’s Coral Gables and Little Falls.

More postings to come!

 

XO,

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For The Love of Coral

My sweet sister is halfway through her freshman year of high school, and I can’t believe how much she has matured over this past year. She’s going to be 16 in July, and with all this maturation she has totally outgrown her room. Right now it’s decorated in a rich purple, with a velvet & faux purple animal skin comforter and throw pillows with teen heart throbs taped all over the walls…and yes, that includes Justin Bieber, even from his earliest days…she’s totally a belieber (but who isn’t?!?). So, while I’m away at school, she’s getting her closet bumped out and doing a complete reno of her bedroom; and lucky for her, she has my retreat to sleep in while I’m slumming in my dorm room!

We had gone through different color options while I was home on break, and while perusing the shelves of our Home Goods store, we saw a pattern which had coral and navy coloring, and we fell in love. It was decided, that the theme of the room would be coral, grey, and navy. I personally think the color coral is SO underrated. It can be young and fun, while it can be mature and sophisticated depending on how you dress it.

So, leave it to me, once her room renovation started yesterday, I hopped on the internet, and sent her about five different bedding options. After much consideration she chose one, and I think it’s a good choice for her. Naturally, I surfed the internet more, and decided I’m going to make a design board for her while I’m at it, because theres no half-assing as a designer!!!

Abby's Bedroom Vision Board

The color of the walls we like is Coral Gables from Benjamin Moore. We haven’t seen it on walls yet, but hey, in pictures it looks fabulous!

The bedding believe it or not, is from target, and is a steal!

Some of the items on here are just inspiration pieces, and help give my sister an idea of what’s possible for her space. I’m excited to get home for spring break and take on this decorating project…and yes, while doing so I’ll pretend I’m in cancun with all the other spring breakers this year!!

Hope you enjoyed! I’ll be posting updates on the progress!

Love Always,

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Make Your Walls Talk

Alright people, let’s discuss my latest design obsession….coffered walls and ceilings. For those who don’t know what a coffered ceiling looks like, you totally will after reading this post. I’m absolutely loving this look right now, and whether its on an accent wall, or a ceiling in your living space I love it just the same. Some choose to make the wood a different color, while others keep it all white for a classy clean look. Below I have a few photos to show you what I mean…

coffered ceiling 3
The blue color in the ceiling adds color to this otherwise neutral bedroom. I think by adding the accents on the headboard in a similar blue, it makes your eyes drawn to the gorgeous bed, but also to the ceiling!

 

coffered ceiling 2
This space has coffered everything; ceilings and walls. I personally love how the beam color on the ceiling matches the paint on the walls. It makes the room look complete, if you know what I mean.

 

coffered ceiling 1
Ahhhhh timeless, classy, white. I imagine this room to be a formal dining room. In my head I’m space planning and furniture placing as I type. The look of white on white is so clean and fresh, and this will definitely never go out of style!

 

coffered wall
If this is what my office looked like I wouldn’t mind going to work! I’m not a fan of black, but I think this designer used the color beautifully, by adding white and pops of green and grey. Most of the time you’ll find white on coffered walls, but surprisingly I’m digging this black design!

I love the idea of having a coffered wall in a dining room, or home office. To me it can be made “formal” in that it can add personality, and maturity to a space, if that’t the look you’re going for.

I recently toured the Toll Brothers, Regency at Emerald Pines Community with some family members, and they featured coffered ceilings and walls in each of the models we toured. Check out their website by clicking on their name above. You won’t be disappointed by these homes…I’ll have to blog about my experience there some other time, because boy, do they know how to please!!!!!

Hope you enjoyed this quick little post, comment and let me know your thoughts on the coffered walls and ceilings.

 

XO,

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Throw Some Shade

While pinning my life away on Pinterest, I stumbled upon these lampshades and I’m obsessed and haven’t even seen them in person. Theres SO many different fabrics, patterns, and sizes, and you can’t beat the price. The site is called Minted and there are four main categories; stationary, art, home, and weddings. While all categories are very cool, I am obviously attracted to the home category, because it features all things home.

There is a whole category for lampshades which features hundreds of styles with varying patterns and color options. This site is totally a game changer for me, because sometimes lighting can be boring. When rooms are simple, I like to jazz it up with a fun light fixture to add some personality to the space. See my living room blog post to take a peek at my light fixture from Wayfair. Anyways…This site has so many fun prints that these shades can add life to a dull lamp you purchase for little cash at your local home goods…which is always a plus (pinching pennies is a must for a college gal like myself)! These shades can look great in any room whether it be a chic home office, your breakfast nook, a nursery, master bedroom or children’s playroom! With so many different fabrics and patterns, throw some shade, and add one of these to your homes today!

Take a peek at some of my favorite styles below…

 

Let me know what you think!

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Grey, Blue, and Pretty All Over

So, this past summer my parents gave me free reign over the decor in our “formal living room”. We wanted to jazz it up a bit, make it modern, cozy, and colorful. My parents picked out the couches, and I went running from there, from fabric choices, decor, and accent pieces. It’s not fully complete, but here are the pictures so far!

 

Grey’s are SO in right now, and I found that blue rug here and that was my inspiration piece! I chose the white side table and tv stand to go with the white of the fireplace, and to bring some brightness to the grey and blue palette.

Here are the links to the other pieces in this room:

Lamp: Wayfair

Throw: Wayfair

S: Wayfair

Side Table: Pier1

Curtains were from Home Goods, as well as the TV Table.

Let me know what you think! Hope you enjoy!

XO,

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Snowy Saturdays

Hello pretties, today in Massachusetts was a snowy, windy, Saturday. I was planning on going shopping for finishing touches for my newly done bedroom, but the snow tampered with my plans. Home goods, is my go to; cheap, fun, and always new pieces to find.

With the holiday season being over my house feels bare. I miss seeing the garland, the glittery faux present boxes, and shimmering lights on every mantle, and I miss looking at our christmas tree, and coming home to the candles in the windows. But, with the loss of the holiday themed memorabilia comes room to purchase new mantle decor. Yay! Even though Christmas is over, it doesn’t mean you can toss any winter themed decor in the bin till next year. Winter is still upon us, people! So, in order to save some cash if you’re on a tight budget, rework your snow themed decorations and implement them into your mantle, so your fireplace gets the extra lovin’ it deserves.

I’m a sucker for candles, real, fake, tapers, tea lights…basically anything with a wick! So, I try to always incorporate candles to my mantle, because at night you can light that fire, or in my case flick a switch on my gas fireplace, turn the lights down low, and be cozy in this relaxing ambiance. Check out these birch faux candles, I’m so obsessed!

birch candles

You can find similar candles here, or you can check out your local TJ’s, Marshalls, or Home Goods, and find some cheaper ones, if you’re working on a budget!  What I love about these is that they can be your go-to winter decor item. You can put these babies out in December, and keep them till February, because they can be styled to be wintery, but also Christmassy!

I’m also loving indoor lanterns this year. They’re a great addition to a styled mantle, and whether you fill them with a real or faux pillar candle, surrounded by cranberries in the winter, leaves in the fall, or florals in the summer, they’re a piece you can utilize all year round. There’s  a bunch at Pier 1, ranging from $14-$50. What’s great about these is if you purchase the birch candles I suggested, you can place them in these lanterns and create a great look!

 

Hope you enjoyed this quick post, I’m brainstorming more ideas for my mantle, once completed you’ll see it up here!

 

XO,

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Day 1

Today, I met with an Interior Designer in my area who has established her own business over the last few years. I explained my dreams, and how I am trying to become one, and she was more than willing to help me out. So, I am happy to announce that I will be working alongside this woman this summer to learn the ins and outs of design. I’m planning on taking design courses over the summer to pair the academics with the hands on experience. I can’t wait to see what comes of this. For now, I’ll be planning a redesign of my bedroom! I’ll post updates here.

With Love,

Elizabeth