Design Camp recap - spilling some of the tips and tricks I learned

I had the exceptional privilege of being a guest at Design Camp in Austin TX from Oct 24th - 26th.  Design Camp was created by celebrity interior designers Lori Dennis and Kelli Ellis.  Aside from two days of on-trend interior design education, the people - speakers and guests - were all awesome!!!  Lori and Kelli were so sweet and made the conference feel more like a party where people discuss great ideas to expand and grow your design business.

I felt the most useful and inspiring speakers were those that covered information of social media and using it to get your designs and creativity out there!  Leslie Carothers, CEO of The Kaleidoscope Partnership, shared with everyone the amazing "Olioboard," a site that allows you to create 2 and 3D rooms that you can share with others, shop from, and save.  Most design campers agreed this was one of their favorite presentations.

A sample Olioboard

All The Best's Ronda Rice Carman spoke about the necessity of defining your brand, which includes having a website that reflects your philosophy and services.  ( I don't usually like to push my other business, web design, but I can definitely hook you guys up with a gorgeous website!)  She also recommends staying focused on what you want to accomplish - avoid having too many branches of your blog/business.  Find your niche and stick to it!

Design expert Susanna Salk spoke about getting published and her experiences creating beautiful design books.

Susanna's tips include not being afraid to get out there and introduce yourself and your work through various social networking platforms (twitter, facebook, olioboard, pinterest, etc.), and to editors and bloggers.

Lori Dennis (far left) and Kelli Ellis (far right) are the lovely ladies who make Design Camp so informational and fun.  I also got to meet fellow design blogger Julie Thigpen (to the left of Kelli), of Belle Maison.  (Thanks to Julie for the pic)

Maureen Stevens of  The Inglenook Decor (left) and I enjoying a Design Camp cocktail party.

Sounds like you would like to go to Design Camp?!?  You have many more opportunities in Atlanta, Seattle, Denver, Philadelphia, and Orange County.  Learn more and register at Design Camp.

A real home makeover by Thom Filicia!

Real Simple and Chase Blueprint awarded one very lucky winner a $20,000 home makeover by the wonderful Thom Filicia!  That lucky winner of the contest, "Blueprint to a Beautiful Home" was Stephanie Gayol Phillipou of Mountainside, NJ.

The Philipou's moved into their home December 2011 and had to start preparing for new baby, leaving no time to add their personal style to the home.

Check out her home's amazing transformation!

Before:

What's amazing to me is how their home looks barely lived in, it was in major need of some character!

After:

The blue paint is so refreshing.

Before:

After:

I'm really loving upholstered dining chairs these days, it makes the space elegant and comfortable.

The bedroom and living room are a great study in how to mix patterns. The rug and comforter are in a neutral gray, which makes it easy to add pattern and color without worrying about clashing. The smoky lavender walls are restful, and the global accents remind the Phillipou's of their safari honeymoon in South Africa.

As always, Filicia did an amazing job.  What do you think of this transformation?

You can see and read more about the transformation in the December 2012 issue of Real Simple.

Blissful bedrooms: Inspiration for a restful space

I am tired today. Like, super uncharacteristically tired.  Maybe because wedding planning is a full time job in itself and I drove a combined 4 hours yesterday to look at two different wedding venues, or because ever since Sandy blew through the east coast hasn't been seeing much sun.

Either way, I slept through my alarm, getting up an hour and a half late, and somehow slept-walked over to my dresser and hit snooze on my alarm NINE times and don't remember any of it.  Luckily I work for myself and from home, but I still feel like a bum when I don't get up at a reasonable hour.

Anyway, plentiful sleep aside, all I want do to is crawl under my down comforter and dream the afternoon away.  I guess this bedroom eye candy will have to do, since deadlines never care how tired you are.

Love the dark wall, the headboard, the quilt, the floors...

Okay, so this is an add for linens, but how gorgeous is that bed?

pastels always look nice in the bedroom

How cute is this?  Especially for a teenager.  And the palette bedframe adds extra storage for magazines, shoes, etc....

What do you think of the draped wall behind the bed?  It definitely adds romance and softness to the space, but I want to see it in person.

1. via Pinterest via My Favorite and My Best  2. - 3. 91 Mag 4. -6 Adore Home

Some of my favorite Thanksgiving decorating ideas

I can't believe how quickly the holidays come and go. I feel like Thanksgiving comes before I even have time to think about decorating, so I made it a point to get on the ball early this year. Here are some decorating ideas and Thanksgiving decor I'm liking:

Greenery as centerpieces.  Sage in Ball jars make the tablescape look fresh.

I tend to like seasonal decor in unorthodox colors, and the amount of white in this Thanksgiving set up rally caught my eye.  I especially like the way they've set up the sideboard with yummy deserts on display.

Check out the pretty felt leaves as a table runner in light blue.

Stamped napkins are a nice and personal little touch.

How do you plan on decorating this Thanksgiving?

1. BHG, 2.-3. Daily Grommet, 4.-5. BHG, 6.-7. Country Living

A beautiful and romantic loft in white

I had gotten off white for a while, but this gorgeous NYC loft reminds me why interiors in white will always be a favorite.

The bookcase is the first thing you see when walking in to the loft. It's 12 ft. long and constructed of solid reclaimed wood.

Adore that large table.

What great windows! I'm so jealous!

dreamy. That rug must feel so good under foot when you wake up int the morning.

Could you live here?

All images via Rue Mag. Read and see more in the Oct. Rue Issue

An East Village apartment by the Novogratz - A home with a vintage and scholarly air...

I'm sure most of you by now have heard of the designer husband and wife duo the Novogratz after the widespread popularity of their Rizzoli book, "Downtown Chic". Well, Rue Mag was awesome enough to feature one of their latest projects, a friend's small three bedroom, 1 bath apartment in the East Village. It has a sort of vintage, masculine vibe, and I also feel like the space has an academic feel to it.

Not only did they find the perfect rug, they found the perfect *rugs!  Layered vintage oriental rugs give the entire space an "old study" feel.

I'm seriously crushing over those gilt bamboo chairs

The Novogratz used paint to accent certain architectural details

Wall mounted, open shelves like these are a great way to make the most of limited space.

Gotta love french doors for the bedroom

What do you think of this East Village apartment?

All images via Rue Magazine

*disclosure: this post is in partnership with theperfectrug.com

Autumn Inspiration Boards! Fashion and Decor

I think fall is undoubtedly the best season for fashion. And where there is fabulous fashion, fabulous decor is not far behind. Here are some looks that I am crushing on

Sources, clockwise from top left: Bebe Button Front Coat,  Lamp: Ikea, Valerie Chair – Samantha Drew via Rue Mag,  Floating Feather Ornaments – Dwell Studio ,  Thro Mongolian Lamb Pillow, A&B Home Branches Mirror

Clockwise from top left: Vintage Oushak Rug - Jayson Home & Garden, Ali Kahn Autumn Mix Fringe Earrings , Metal and Glass Cabinet - Haute Look, Crosshatch Decanters - Dwell Studio, Elan Turtleneck Sweater - Ideeli

Loft Coffee Table - One Kings Lane, Invicta Rose Gold Ladies Angel Chronograph Watch - Ideeli, Bellora Round Rug, Chloe