what's your style? -hgtv

So I was curious and took a What's Your Style quiz on http://www.hgtv.com/ and this is what the response was.

Your style is Classic Casual
AKA Transitional. A mix of contemporary and traditional. Usually updated, graceful, enduring.

I was surprised how pretty spot on they were. They say my style in such fewer words!

The End.

perhaps I will settle with not having a wedding.

So we have to do this project for my Textile Science class. It is a product comparison report. Mine is about rugs.

RUGS.

When I first got this (not gonna lie, I was a little bummed) because I really wanted to have down comforters or pillows or sheets. Something soft and appetizing. I felt extremely sorry for myself...I mean come on, rugs are pretty, but you just walk on them and then they die. Turns out, I got the best one and I feel sorry for their poor poor souls.

We had to go to three "brick and mortar" stores (in person) and one online source. So my three were The Rug Company, Pottery Barn, Lowes, and then my online source was Ikea.

The Rug Company is a high end fine rug store. Their price range anywhere from $750 to over $16,000. I think I just dies a little inside. Yes. I stood on the $16,000 one, and I felt like I should be condemned for touching my toe to its beautifully hand knotted, wool surface. I mean come on, this thing had to take at least nine months to make...and I was standing on it (it kinda makes me think about the show Cake Boss and how he spends all this time on intricate details and proportions--I mean it is his art--and then he has to watch people consume it!).

I picked a traditional and contemporary one from each of the four stores, and the one I that really did me in was...(drumroll please)...

this one!

Now mind you that it is way bigger than this, but my lame excuse of a camera didn't do it justice from far away.

My mom told me I could either have a wedding or this rug...hmmm tough call! I will let her know in 10 years.

Overall this is what I found out:

Always lay a rug on the ground before purchasing, because just like suede, rugs have a light and dark side causing it to look different when it is hanging up compared to when it is on the floor.

Pottery Barn has good rugs, but the quality isn't as good as they would like for you to believe.

Lowes is a better place to go for wall-to-wall carpet (or for a dorm rug).

Ikea is just plain awesome and you should go! And they have good quality rugs for super cheap...I am talking under $200 here.

Always ask--sometimes stores will let you rent out rugs before purchasing...AWESOME!

Hand knotted rugs are the most expensive of any other make, and they are usually named after where they come from.

The End.

Questions?

mid-century mod..

Lets have a little heart to heart.

I HATE THEMED ROOMS.

Let me clarify...I like rooms with a theme, but not a themed room.

Let me clarify again.

Mid-century modern design. The key word is modern. It is an expansion off of the original mid-century design, not the actual thing. If I wanted my house to look like it came straight out of the 1950s, I would hop in my handy dandy time machine and take a joy ride into the past, but you don't see me doing that so instead of this...

or this...

I would prefer something like...

this

or...

{emily henderson}

this.

SO. Mid-century design was highly influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright's principles and the Scandanavian's architecture. This design is most commonly seen in the 1950s, but ranges from the mid 30s to mid 60s. It was creating a sense of open space in post war homes, and bringing the outdoors in. The lines and simplicity seen in nature were very influential on the architecture and furniture design at this time.

One of my favorite pieces of furniture out of this era is a chair.

Here is a pic...hopefully I can invest in one soon enough and reupholster it in some sick timless linen perhaps.

Would you like your eggs sunny side up? (I am makin fun of the pillow just in case you didn't follow my funniness.)

Also I like this pendant lighting from this period...don't know if it's 50s or not, but it's mid century none the less.

{emily henderson}

I challenge ya'll to find an era that inspires you. The 50s is mine I s'pose. Knowing this will help you in the personalization of your style.

Peace out!

Audrey Hepburn

I am back!

No, I did not die. I just decided I would take a fall off the planet for a little bit. It was fun. I had a few naps, had some coffee, an air head or two, and some other sick stuff like homework and doing cartwheels (and ultimately failing at said cartwheels).

Inspiration. It can be anything...anything.

Just in case you don't know her (which you should, and I would be a little disappointed if you didn't), this is Audrey Hepburn. Can you say classy, sophisticated, simple, dainty, or glamorous?

Let me just point something out. Now just because the picture or movie is black and white, does not mean the entire world is also black and white. The only reason I find it necessary to point this out is because for a period of time, I believed this to be true. (This is just a tinsy bit embarassing, and I think I may be regretting mentioning it already).

This completely encompasses Audrey. It is dainty, pretty, small, elegant, classy, and must I go on.

Sometimes it can be difficult to create and entire look/ room based off of one single picture, so something I like to do is find a picture of my original inspiration, and then find other pictures that compliment my inspiration and open up more options to explore. The picture of Audrey is an obvious portrayal of what the inspiration is, and this image adds on another layer or dimension. It shows what direction I want to go with it.

So..

Here are a few options that would all work really well. They are all different, but I will explain why I chose them.

Also, none of these are mine. They are from the World Wide Web.

Well this is pretty much a literal translation of the tea cup! BUT the fireplace is what sold me. Wanna know why??

Three words. Little. Black. Dress.

It stands out and it draws in the eye and adds visual interest to the room. The wallpaper is very girly and dainty. The pictures are arranged symmetrically and come off structured. The vases that are just in front of the opening are modern and tailored. Perf!

Not much to say here. It is high end and glamorous and girly. Also, I adore the blush color of the flowers.

{designed by Steven Gumbrel}

This is the final option (that I have provided), and it is oh so very different. It is more old fashioned than the others. It has a vintage bohemian edge to it that the others don't. The headboards give it the timeless feel and the pillows and accessories give it the frill that it needs. The side table and light fixture are modern and tailored. Also notice the texture and pattern applied to the ceiling. Overall a very dainty bedroom that is accompanied by simplicity.

That's all I got for now.

Have a good day/ night!

Use your imagination!

No pictures this time, you must instead be amazed and entertained by my awesome blogging skills.

Instead I want to share something with you that I love.

I love when people get creative. When they use things for something that it wasn't originally made to do.

Old doors used as a headboard.

Vintage screen used as a place to display your favorite jewelry.

One of those old school desks that opens and/or folds out as a vanity (just hang a mirror over it)

An old table as a desk.

Empty picture frames arranged as art.

Putting old crystal door knobs on the wall to hang your favorite necklaces or scarves from.

There are so many other options, but these are just a select few that I have seen and fallen for. This also lends to the look of effortless and vintage design.

Oh! I have no problem with going to a thrift store or antique store or flea market to discover some awesome finds, but if you use pieces that have been passed through the family, it is always that more personal and perfecto!

would you like pillows with that?

Hey ya'll!

SO. One of my friends also has a blog and she has been making jewelry based off an expensive original, but I can't make jewelry.

Ya well I kinda want to go out for an Anthropologie internship in the not-so-instant-future and you have to be able to sew...stuff. Well I can't do that too much, so now would be a good time to learn considering my major.

Well I like pillows. Here is the problem - I can't afford pillows.

So this is me officially telling someone other than myself that I may want to think about maybe kind of learning how to sew. hahaha...no, but really.

I am going to make pillows...some that are copied-ish, and some that are invented with my own intense sense of creativity.

Well these pillows look pretty simple, I know...but I got to start somewhere right. So at some point I will post my first real pillow!

Bye ya'll!

These are a few of my favorite things...

Alright. Well, this isn't one of the "things" that I was..am going to talk about, BUT I have this in my "favorites" binder and it is pretty much my dream living room (except with a cowhide rug and ix-nay on the coffee table, kinda weirding me out).

The sofa has the lived in and comfy look which is totally necessary if it wants to be my couch...wouldn't that be awesome if couches picked out their owners?!

To inform you lovelies who are hopefully reading my blog...otherwise it would be like I am talking to myself and have the "Gollum and Smeagol" effect...about a few of my favorite things and the impact they can have on a space, I have prepared a top 3 list (minus VINTAGE). deep breath...

1. fabric wallpaper

2. fresh flowers

3. pretty things (accessories)

these are a few examples of fabric wallpaper!

The first two were done by Sarah Richardson on her FLN show Sarah's House.

The thing I love best about this idea is, and I don't know about you, but I always feel restricted by the wallpaper selection  (that or I just don't know the right places to go). This is an option that allows you to use your favorite patterns and more fun and unique patterns at that to personalize a room. All you have to do is use fabric adhesive to make it stick. Easy peasy lemon squeasy..

check it, son!

Fresh flowers.

1. they smell pretty

2. they bring the "fresh air" inside

3. they are soft and pleasing to the eye

4. art

Must I keep going?

If you can find practically identical faux flowers that don't scream "I am made of that funky fabric" or "I am plastic and that is why the cat chews on me" then go for it. Cheaper.

Pretty things are, well, pretty!

Especially pretty VINTAGE things.

Pretty things let the oppurtunity for the naked effect to be left in the dust.

All three of these pictures are off of Sarah's House again, and may I just say...she is genius.

The last picture with the crest is my favorite. They found this buried in an antique store out in Canada. Rustic, vintage, and pure character.

The second is just a full view of the room with the crest and the majority of the pieces are vintage which makes me love it even more.

And the first is just very girly and dainty and awesome.

ANN!

do you recognize it?

This room is done by Domino, and there are loads of pretty things, fresh flowers, and guess what...it's blue.