Halloween Festivities

Between our ward's Trunk or Treat, Grandma Kathy's annual Halloween party and the actual Trick or Treating... we were all pretty exhausted after the holiday was over.  I don't want to look at another piece of candy or see that red wig one more time. Why is it that she only wore it a handful of times and it looks totally trashed?  They just don't make things like they used to.

Here are a few pictures from our Halloween festivities with our Little Mermaid.  (ps I will never buy a toddler costume without an accompanying wig ever again, it's just TOO good.)

 

the above pictures are about as Halloween-ie as it gets at our house

 

 we were having fun with the camera after taking off her wig... her hair is one of a kind!

  trick or treating with her buddies Sienna and Jett

Studio 5 : West Elm SLC Sneak Peek

I was thrilled to get out of the studio today to go to the new West Elm at City Creek. Brooke and I were there bright and early (7 AM!!) to get a sneak peek and share our favorite finds with S5 viewers. What a treat for me. You can watch our segment here or redirect to S5's page by clicking here.



Tonight I was invited back to attend their 'invitation only' pre-opening event for designers and bloggers. It was a madhouse and a really fun event. I grabbed some girlfriends and we enjoyed 'mocktails', a photo booth (via smilebooth.com), some loud music and rubbing shoulders with some pretty fashionable people... we fit right in, right gals? Oh, and we did a little shopping too.  Here is our photo booth fun... the cameraguy wouldn't say "1, 2, 3...cheese." He was taking candid photography to the extreme.

Studio 5 : Online Design Tools

What a fun opportunity to step outside the studio to help Halli and show her some of my favorite online resources.  We had a lot of fun together and I'll be excited to see what Halli does with her space going forward!  Click here to redirect to the Studio 5 website or you can read my article below and watch the clip here.




Once you start having fun with these online tools... here are my suggestions as you get started. These tools are to have fun with, but if you want to get anywhere in terms of really helping your spaces, keep these things in mind.

Online design tools can only take you so far.  For a kickstart.. here are the five things I think every room needs :

1. Good lighting 
Lamps are a MUST on every room I design. A combination of table and floor lamps and hard-wired lights with dimming capabilities are the only way to go. No one wants to rely only on overhead lights.  The only way to achieve that moody feeling is with incandescent lights.

2. Area rugs
Area rugs are a great way to finish off a space.  If you are dealing with old, boring carpet or tile flooring that you aren't going to replace, use an area rug to add a layer and great pattern or color to a space. MAKE sure you don't under scale the rug.  It will look like a postage stamp and be more distracting than helpful.

3. Art
Art is a great way to personalize and ground your space. Remember, most people err on the side of hanging art and pictures too high! Bring them down into the space where they can relate to your other pieces (sofa, console table, etc).

4. Greenery
These pieces add life! Every room needs fresh plants or something green. They can also add a great sculptural quality to your space as well which appeals to me.

5. Drapery
This is the ultimate finishing touch! Drapes are often the last-thought-of element and one that can't be substituted in any other way.  Vertical panels add a sense of luxury and texture that beautifies a space.

Studio 5 : Global Chic

This is a very fun topic and very fashion forward! Click here to redirect to the Studio 5 website, or you can watch the segment and read my article right here.

One of the most successful ways to make our homes look more lived-in and less like a model home is by layering our most loved objects, treasured collections, and pieces with a little age.  A total departure from the clean-lined, colorless rooms featured in some magazines, designer Lauren Oviatt highlights a trend she calls “Global Chic”and says it’s as easy as looking at four key ideas.

Mixed Metals
Many of the treasures we bring back with us from our travels are jewelry or fine crafted metalware... think bowls, sculptures, objets d’ art.  Updating your spaces from 'global' to 'global chic' means bringing out more bling. Don't be afraid to combine silver tones with gold and brass tones.

Eclectic Displays
Most people who have traveled globally have the most wonderful collections... most don't have room to store it nor do they want it hidden in cupboards and closets.  Attaining the 'global chic' look means taking the time to create vignettes or conversation pieces that make our gathered treasures look beautiful instead of looking like we belong on a hoarding reality show.

Modern Art
One of the quickest ways to bring a global look to your home is by exchanging your traditional landscapes and heavily-framed giclees to more open, modern art.  It doesn't have to be an expensive oil painting, it can be a wide-scale abstract piece that looks like brush strokes on canvas. It can be a black and white photo of a far off place.   In my opinion the bigger the scale, the more successful the piece comes off. 

Time-worn Textures
Who isn't intrigued by the textiles and fabrics that come from other countries?  Hair on hide rugs, chunky knit throw blankets, crewel embroidered wall hangings and punchy tribal patterns instantly infuse the global look into any space.  This is a place where layering is key.  Don't be afraid to combine textures and patterns... this is one of the only design areas where you can get away with being 'funky' and it won't come off looking like you’re color-blind.