Interior Lust: Lauren Conrad's Penthouse

I'm breaking away from style again today and going back to interiors and design. I intended to keep posting about interior design on a regular basis, and just didn't keep up with it... best laid plans am I right? So as I dive back into posting about pretty spaces, I had to share one of my style crushes home.

Lauren Conrad's Beverly Hills penthouse was featured on InStyle and did not disappoint! Her home was a very surprising departure from what you would expect from LC. Lauren gives off a very classic, feminine vibe and you would think her home would reflect that too. While you can definitely see her in the design, there was awesome unexpected juxtaposition of masculine and feminine elements with bright pops of color. For every bit of tufting, nail head trim, and brass, there was a very clean line or something in a glossy black that made it feel more modern. I'm going to shut up now and let the pictures speak for themselves.

Interior Style Files: Herringbone

Today's interiors post is all about herringbone detailing, mainly floors. If you spend any time on Pinterest, then I'm sure you see flooring and tile work in herringbone patterns everywhere. Now before you go rush to call it a trend, keep in mind that some of the earliest herringbone wood floors date back to the 16th century France. Herringbone is a pattern style of parquet flooring (parquet being hardwood flooring arranged in repeating geometrical patterns). So like pretty much everything else out there, it is a style resurrection that has found an updated and modern look. Herringbone adds such a bold statement to a room, and lends itself to classic and contemporary flooring. I personally love seeing it in bathrooms and in a great room or other room with higher ceilings. Herringbone is a great way to highlight and feature natural elements in the home.

all images via Pinterest

High Style, Low Cost

pillow // coral // vase // tray table // throw // candlestick // jars

Thanks to places like H&M and Zara you can now get some very stylish home decor at budget prices. A few of my favorite pieces are pictured above. All are super versatile and could fit in with different styles and color palettes. What are some of your favorite places (besides Home Goods) to find great home pieces on a budget? I'd love to know!

Dream House

Once in a blue moon I'll come across a design project that really just knocks my socks off. Typically I will like one component of a home but not another. Loving each part that I see is a rarity for me (I'm picky and difficult just so you know). I recently started following Rach Parcell on Instagram (yes yes very very late to the game), and as I scrolled through many pretty pictures I kept stopping on the ones of her newly built and decorated home.

First, the house is grand. It has huge ceiling, tons of light, and gorgeous natural elements throughout like exposed wood beams and Calcutta gold marble. Second, the attention to detail is spectacular. I love the serene palette of whites and grays, neutrals never looked so good! The kitchen is to die for, I could literally do several posts on just that. The real stunner though, at least for me, is her closet/office space.

This is no ordinary closet. This is the stuff of dreams. Yes it is enormous and so beautifully designed, but oh my gawd Becky that leopard carpet is B-A-N-A-N-A-S! You say you like gold, white lacquer, and animal print? It's all there ladies. I too would hang out in my closet if it came close to this one. Also that puppy is gorgeous and makes me that much more jealous.

I'm assuming there is so much more fabulousness left to this home, but my stalking abilities/time I want to spend stalking only go so far. I do suggest you check out Rach's blog Pink Peonies and Instagram, and also the Alice Lane Home as they did the install. Hopefully if Rach ever saw this post she would think it was nice to have such home/style admiration and not utterly creepy. Fingers crossed!

The light in this home is unreal and the entire wall of windows is spectacular. Don't get me started on the chaise...

 Holy kitchen! Where do I even begin? Maybe the brass fixtures, marble, open shelving, island, or range. I can't. It's too much pressure!

Glorious table and chairs as if they weren't going to be on point, puhlease. The light fixtures are no joke either. Each is gorgeous and different. Also I'm really digging that beam in the bedroom. 

The powder room makes my master bathroom look like a gas station restroom. If I never have anything else in my home but a soaking tub I can die a happy woman.

I'm doing my best not to write too much but come on this the most ridiculously amazing closet I've ever seen. I'm smitten with everything in it, including that lab. Note to future husband: if you can deal with leopard carpet in the home, you may have anything you want..ANYTHING!

Loving Lately: Upholstered Headboards

Upholstered headboards are nothing new in the world of interior design, but I think the novelty behind them recently is the influx of DIY versions. Sure I have pinned tutorials on doing it, but the mechanics of actually taking on this project were always a little too much for me. I then decided I would hold out, save up and by the frame or headboard of my dreams. Enter reality. I have been looking for two years and the only one I am in love with is $2,000 from Restoration Hardware. I seriously entertained the idea for a while, but then as per usual I think of everything else I can do with 2k and am at peace with the concept of HELL NO!

I live in an apartment, albeit a nice one with lots of space, but it's not my forever home or even my starter home. I cringe at the idea of having huge furniture that fills my spacious apartment, only to move it in to my first house with small rooms that are dwarfed by immense pieces. It looks absurd, trust me. So now the idea of a DIY headboard with a price tag peaking at $150 is becoming very attractive to me. Even more attractive is that my boyfriend is now behind the idea too. He gets to work on a project and be a guy, and I get the exact headboard I want. Win win!

There are so many tutorials out there, and I haven't narrowed down the exact one we are going to use. So while I figure that part out, I pulled together some of the headboard inspiration that I really like. Obviously I want a neutral, probably nail head trim, and I haven't decided on tufting or not yet. If any of you have done a DIY headboard or have any pointers I would LOVE to hear them!

                                

all images via Pinterest

Loving Lately: Reading Nooks

There's nothing like curling up in a big comfy chair with a good book or magazine. Add a few great pillows, a cozy throw, and a place to kick up your feet and you've got your favorite little spot in your home. I adore the concept of a cozy space just for relaxation and entertainment. It can be as simple as a chair with an ottoman and floor lamp, or as intricate as a chaise with coordinating accessories. For my reading nook I would use an area rug to set apart the space, an overstuffed chaise, two throw pillows, a light but warm throw, small end table, and table lamp.

 

Can you tell I like neutrals? I find them peaceful, but pops of color would be great too.

This is the most perfect reading/nap nook I could ever dream up. I love the big windows, the fluffy chaise lounge chairs (I'm a sucker for a chaise and have been since I was little... who dreams of that kind of stuff at the age of 5?), and that it's a separate space. Can't you just imagine curling up here with a stack of magazines and a glass of wine?

Good God do I need wood floors in my life so bad. Con of rental apartments: crap rental apartment carpet EVERYWHERE!

This nook is so adorable, but not the most accessible since it's built in. I would've killed for a spot like this when I was a kid. 

all images via Pinterest

GET THE LOOK

Design Obsession: Statement Doors

A lot of people don't know this about me, but I am a closeted design freak. I could spend hours looking at pictures of gorgeous spaces, design books/catalogs, and perusing the internet just taking it all in. I definitely attribute my love of design to growing up in a DC suburb surrounded by gorgeous homes that were impeccably decorated, living in New Orleans for two years, and most recently my trips to Charleston. Personally, I think it's pretty cool to be able to appreciate a sconce or trim when for most of your life you wouldn't have given them a second look. With appreciation for design comes an awareness to detail, and man are there some gorgeous details out there.

Unless you live under a rock, you have heard the term "statement jewelry" or more commonly "statement" necklace. But what I am obsessed with lately are statement doors. While my taste is fairly traditional, I love the idea of a pop of color that makes a home stand out among the rest. As a child, I always wanted a house with a red door (no clue why) thinking that was as bold as I could go. Now, the possibilities are literally endless!

The coral door on a classic Cape Cod style home is so sweet and really brightens up the darker wood. This is probably the first time I have ever liked anything in orange. I am so in love with this bright orange door, the hardware, the central location of door knob, ugh just everything!

A turquoise door with gold hardware (a personal style favorite) pops in all the right ways against this white home. I love the matching shutters too! This home is straight up elegant, and I love the updated twist with the bright, cheerful yellow door.

Ah, there's the red door from my childhood dreams! It looks great against the gray and the white trim is perfect. I am usually not a pink fan, but this magenta door is gorgeous. The contrast and greenery are so right.

The green door may be my favorite of the roundup. It's so (sorry for doing this) chic. Kelly green is one of those colors that's timeless and works so well as an accent color. I die, I swoon, I everything for this door. Provence, well you don't have to say much about its beauty, but the cobalt door is magnificent. I love the rustic exterior and the rounded door frame. Blue and white, can you really go wrong?

How about you? What do you think of statement doors?

Gilded Glory

Target is literally killing it these days in terms of their home decor. The Threshold and Nate Berkus lines have really upped the anty in terms of style, function, and budget. Pictured above are some of my favorite items in gold tones that would jazz up any space!

Weekly Wants

cowhide // coasters // pillow // antler // french press // book ends


Happy Friday! I'm signing off for the weekend, but had to share some glitzy goodness for the home with you. Have a great weekend!

Weekly Wants

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8

White Walls

Did you ever make a promise to your self that at one point (or when you reached a certain age) you would be an adult and spend the time and money to decorate your home? Well I was supposed to do that last year, and never got around to it. I am guilty of being that person that lives in a white shoe box with next to nothing on the walls. It's not that I don't want to liven it up, but I am really picky about what I want to put up.

I've put some thought into it, and have rounded up some pieces that I would happily call my own. There really isn't too much cohesion as to why I picked what I did other than each piece speaks to me. Do you have any favorite wall decor you're willing to share with me? I would love some more ideas of how to work more personality into my apartment.

Vintage Travel Poster (I think adding two more would make a great series for over the couch)

Vintage Map of New Orleans. It's my favorite city, and I have such great memories of living there.

One of my favorite lyrics from my favorite band (I found it on Tumblr, but I WILL track it down).

Who doesn't love a little bit of gold foil? This perfectly pretty piece would be great to lean on my dresser or book case.

When in doubt... Charleston (my second favorite city)!

I've never been to Paris, but this playful print has such a great color scheme going on that I could put it anywhere.

Travel Poster/ Map/ Gold Print/ Charleston/ Paris