Unexpected ways to make your dining room chic and gorgeous

My dining room is one of those rooms that is visible from most other rooms in my home, so it's really important to me that it's easy on the eyes.  Here are some fabulous dining rooms, big and small that I would be more than happy to have as my own...

via homeremodelnote

Loving this clean and chic dining room.  It is small, just like mine, so how genius is the floor length mirror at one end of the dining table.  I will definitely be trying that trick.

via homedesignlove

I'm a big fan of bench or settee seating at the dining table. You can put a bench on just one side or on both.

via Lonny Mag

Feeling risky? Go all out and get full bench seating! I would still have two simple mix matching chairs to put on each end to maximize the seating in this space but I love the idea.

How cool is this bench?  And those blue velvet chairs?  The chandelier is often the conversation piece in a dining room, making the chairs the focal point is a nice change of pace.

via Pinterest via La Dolce Vita

I LOVE the idea of combining a library and a dining room.  I grew up in a family that often reads and eats at the same time ( I know, I know...not always a healthy environment for books)

via Pinterest via feedly

Timeless Inspiration

Finding that perfect piece of furniture to fit your space isn't always as easy as it seems. Luckily there are plenty of timeless iconic pieces that have been making statements and creating inspiration over the years.

This chic colorful armchair adds a little hint of playful to a room but keeps the glamour alive! Perfect for small spaces where you are looking for a little more seating but you don't want it to just blend into the wall!

Looking for something a little more rustic and original? This coffee table would definitely be the talk of the room and pull together your room for a finished touch. The gorgeous wood taps into the traditional design but the wheels keep it modern and almost give it an industrial feel!

Going for a rich luxurious look? A desk like this would make anyone feel like a professional! I love the sleek look of the drawers and the rounded edges of the legs. It screams elegance!

If comfort is more you style then sit back and relax in this gorgeous simple armchair. This seat may not steal the scene in your room but it will definitely be a favorite among many! 

All of these pieces have been acclaimed iconic design and will be timeless additions to your home. You  might even consider them a piece of art! Each of these pieces have been found via Infurn who is known for providing great classic pieces of furniture at affordable prices.

A fool proof way to mix and match styles, and a tiny peak into my home

During the warmer months I don't spend a whole lot of time indoors, so once it gets chilly, my mind - an body, turn to my home and it's decor. It's the time of year when I swap out cushions, rugs, and throws, and give everything that's being packed away a good cleaning. Objects that stay out or don't get rotated - like furniture, get wiped down and I revaluate the room it's in or it's placement in a room. It's times like these that I'm always thankful that for bigger price tag items - I stick to the time-tested classics!

 For those who know me you know that my tastes change and vary. I don't necessarily like to stick to one particular style, but I like a transitional and eclectic look. One such classic in my home is my mid-century rocking chair. It gets compliments from almost everyone who walks in the door, and I got it in white so it can fit in anywhere I put it. Since I don't like all of my furniture and decor to be from one era alone, it's important to know your classics and basics from the various eras. There's a lot of great books and online resources that cover the classic furniture for each era - I like to refer to the One King's Lane resource page.

Above: My rocking chair, the side table I made, the bookcase from Ikea, rug by Surya.

If you want to add some classics to your furniture collection, but not be a slave to a certain era or style, make sure you mix and match a bit.  I think rooms done all in mid-century modern can be a bit heavy on dark woods, drab fabrics, and primary colors. Here are some items I would mix in with my rocking chair to mix the look up a bit:

via One Kings Lane

This sofa ever so slightly adds a little glam to the mid-century modern style with it's feminine color and minimal tufting.  The clean lines tie it in to the chair.

via One Kings Lane

I would push the mix little farther then by adding this Asian inspired table.  It nods to Chinoiserie but the primary lines are clean and keep the look cohesive.

via One Kings Lane

Accessories and small goods, like these vintage Swedish candlesticks, really allow you to play and have fun mixing and matching.

via One Kings Lane

A wooden tray adds a touch of the industrial and natural.

via One Kings Lane

This gorgeous rug in a silky turquoise throws traditional in to the mix. It adds enough pattern and depth for visual interest without screaming for attention.

via One Kings Lane

I'd make sure that at some point I'd circle back around and add another mid-century elements, like a lamp.


What are some guidelines or tips you have for mixing and matching styles?

Vanity Eye Candy!

Every Monday could use some eye candy to start us off, right?! Lately I've been scoping out ideas for bathroom vanities.  Ours is soooorrrryyyy. It's chipping and cheap looking and I hate. Vanities are one of those things that should look great, because they are such a focal point of a bathroom, but also be functional because most of us need all the storage we can get in our bathrooms.

HELLO beautiful backsplash!

2 above via BHG

Finding the perfect vanity for your space is more than just picking out the style. Measure out how much space you have and find something that looks amazing but also fits in well with the rest of the room.  Consider what you will need to store in the vanity, and what you will be using it for.  Modern Bathroom is a great resource for finding a vanity that suits your needs.

via houzz.com
Love the dark walls contrasting with the white and seriously considering this for our master or guest bath.

A little character in your choice is good! Even though most vanities come in white, brown, or black, mixing it up with a nice color can make any bathroom have a little more personality. A toned down color like the one below really makes this bathroom clean and crisp but also adds a little something extra to the space.

This gorgeous weathered piece adds character and beauty.
via BHG

via houzz.com

Carrying a material throughout, like on the vanity top and floor as seen below, always adds a luxe and elegant look in my opinion.

via Elle Decor

via House Beautiful
LOVE that mirror!

this post is in partnership with modernbathroom.com

My new house - living room inspiration!

We've been in our home for over a month now and things are still looking sparse and unfinished. Part of the reason is that I have just been so busy with my freelance web design business, and also because I want to take my time and really get it right. Since we probably spend the most time in the living room, that's the room I've really been thinking about. Here are a few items I have on my wish list.

Cleaner, sleeker lighting.  The lighting in the home is good quality, but it's too Italian country for my tastes.  I've had my eye out for cleaner, more modern options, like this resin and nickel pendant light.

available at  One Kings Lane

We actually never had a coffee table in our apartment, but we have the space and need for one now.  I think wood and iron is a nice combination, though ideally something even simpler than this is what I'd like.

Okay, maybe accessories are at the bottom of my priority list, but these leaf trays are so beautiful. available at Joss & Main

I'm trying to decide if I want a sectional, or a gorgeous leather armchair and ottoman.  This chair looks heavenly!

All items above available at Joss & Main

None of these rooms exactly embody the look I'm going for, but they are close:

via BHG

via House Beautiful

via Pinterest via Crush Cul de sac

via TradHome

The glamorous interiors of Schuyler Samperton

It is always such a treat when I'm introduced to an interior designer whose work I haven't seen before. It doesn't happen very often, which is why I'm really excited to share with you Schuyler Samperton. She's an LA based designer with a cool modern twist on traditional decorating. I'm sure some of you do know her work - and even if you've seen it before, I imagine it's just as beautiful to look at the second..., third..., fourth time around...

Pops of pink and turquoise balance out the visual heaviness of the dark wood beams

I would never think to put together that rug that table, with those curtains and that striped chair.  It's a very unexpected blend, and I like that it looks like the furnishings and decor was collected over time as opposed to items purchased just to match.

The two below images are from the home of model Carolyn Murphy, which was featured in March's vogue!

Those wood floors are heaven!

Do you like Schuyler's style? Go to Schuyler Samperton's site to see more.

Interiors that embody today's "traditional"

I think the below interiors really capture what I might consider today's "traditional" home. These are all real homes, so they aren't the staged, sometimes unlivable, concepts we see in magazines.

What do you think? How would you describe today's "traditional" home?

That little guy is the cutest!

oh how I wish I had time these days to relax on a lounge with my fav magazines

a very zen knitter's nook

gorgeous room, especially love the fireplace surround

via Nesting Newbies

Take your pick: Living rooms for every taste and style

Along with your bedroom and the kitchen, I think the living room is one place in the house that should be a reflection of you - and be comfortable and beautiful. Hopefully one of the images below will provide some inspiration:

A simple and cozy country living room
via Ideal Home

A family friendly, flea market style living room
BHG

Elegant and feminine
House to Home

Traditional with a little twist of rustic
House to Home

Eclectic
via House to Home

Modern
via Home Sweet Home

New traditional
via Canadian House & Home

Which is your fav? What style is your living room?