Friday Happies

TGIF!

Fun weekend plans?

This week has seemed extra long and I think it's because we have a special weekend ahead- look for a post on that next week!

I don't have any deep thoughts for you today, just some pretties that are making me happy...enjoy!

All can be found and sourced on my Pinterest HAPPINESS! board!

Have a great weekend!

My Design Style

Hey chickadees!

Happy Friday!

How are things going?

I'm doing well and am happy to report that today will wrap up PALS, our formal reading testing!  Things at school will settle down a bit, for a week, before picking back up again!  5 weeks to go!

I received a bit of a nasty comment on my post yesterday, suggesting I take a break from blogging.  I erased it and debated whether or not to address it on the blog.  My pride has gotten the best of me, so I'm going to respond, in a quick way and move on.  Anonymous, if you are reading--this is MY blog and I will decide when and if I want to take a break from it.  I've had quite a bit going on in my personal life lately (none of which I have felt the need to share on the blog) and I'm sorry if my lack of original, creative posts two weeks in a row upset you.  I will never put this blog before my actual life, so if you want to read my blog, you will have to understand that sometimes life gets in the way of blogging.  I've had a lot of creativity going through my mind, but for multiple reasons, I just haven't had the time to sit down and share them.  If you don't find my blog interesting anymore, don't read it!  And if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it!  So there...that's that!  Moving on to today's post...one I'm very excited about!

One of the things that has been taking up a lot of space in my mind lately is the fact that my parents are moving next month.  Moving from the house they have lived in for 26 years and the place I have always called home.  It's quite emotional for me, however, I am also really excited for my parents.

They close on my last day of school, so my mom is excited that I will have the summer to help her get settled and decorate.

If you haven't figured it out yet, decorating is one of my very favorite things to do.  My Home Inspiration Board on Pinterest is my largest board and I adore looking at pictures of lovely interiors and daydreaming about design.  Sometimes at night, I won't even be able to sleep because I'm imagining how I would decorate or redesign a room.

My mom is really excited to have a place all her own (our previous home had been in the family for quite some time and I don't think she ever really made it her own).  That being said, I've given her an "assignment"--  Figure out your design style!

I've told her to spend some time on Pinterest, perusing pictures of interiors.  Once she's pinned many photos she likes, I told her to start looking for commonality amongst the pictures.  What trends do you see?  What is your style?  My guess is that her style will fall somewhere around French Country...but we'll see what happens!

Giving her that assignment, made me think a bit about my style.  What is it?  As I thought about my style, I noticed lots of opposing trends.  I like spaces that are...

traditional, yet modern and fresh

elegant, yet comfortable and liveable

neutral, but bright and bold

feminine, but not overly frou-frou

I'll give you a few examples now, by sharing some of my favorite pins as of late (all can be found and sourced via my Home Inspiration Board)!  This is my idea of eye candy!

This photo of a foyer really sums up my design style:  

A very traditional chair and dresser are paired with abstract art and modern lamps.

I love this space!

I adore this bedroom!

It is feminine, elegant, and beautiful while still looking relaxed!

I've posted this photo before-- I am smitten!

I love the idea of making a small space like this bar bright and bold!

In this room, traditional pieces are used in a modern way!  For example, the urn is a classic piece, but its orange color makes it pop on the brown wood!  I also love the mix of prints!

This picture is already a bit of an inspiration for Bryce's and my bedroom down the road.

He has a beautiful four poster bed that was a gift from his mother, and I have a very similar white cover and shams.  I love that this room has a fun touch with the throw pillow and bedskirt, but is still masculine and dark.

This room is just about perfect if you ask me.

It has a very traditional feel for a formal living room, but is still fun with printed pillows, a gold mirrored coffee table, and hot pink flowers!

I can't pick a favorite thing about this foyer...it all just works SO perfectly together!

I love that the black console grounds the otherwise bright space and that the ginger jars are juxtaposed with the aqua lamps!

Did I mention gold accents as a part of my design style?..because they are!

I want an exact replica of this nightstand bad! 

And now for the finale!

I don't know if I'd ever have the guts to design a room this bold, bright, and funky...BUT, isn't it simply fab?!?

Can you pick a favorite?

How would you describe your design style?

Don't forget to comment with questions and reader requests on my "Ask Allie, Part Deux" post from yesterday!

Have a great weekend!!!

Zany for Zebra

Happy Wednesday chickies!

I am sad to report that I wasn't able to make it to Northern Virginia this past weekend.  By the time I left school at 2:30, the snow had already begun to accumulate, roads were slick, and I even saw a car in the ditch.  I didn't think it was worth the risk to drive on 95 (I hate 95 even in good weather), so AMF and I have rescheduled for a weekend in February.

I was really bummed not to get to go, but at the same time, I was really worn out and a laid-back weekend at home did me a lot of good!

Today, I'd like to share one of my passions with you:  ZEBRA.

I have ALWAYS loved zebra print.  In fact, I remember begging my parents for a hideous zebra coat when I was in third grade.  Picture cheap zebra fur complete with a hood and fake satin liner.  It was bad.  My parents resisted, but finally gave in.  I thought I was HAWT!  Looking back, I realize what a trashy fashion choice it was at a young age.

Nowadays I'd like to think my taste in zebra has matured a bit.  I especially enjoy it in home decor.  I am amazed at how a pop of zebra can transform an ordinary, traditional room to one with pizzazz!

So without further adieu, get a little wild and enjoy some of my favorite zebra rooms.  All can be found and sourced on my Pinterest Home Inspiration board!

This is currently the cover for my Home Inspiration Board and I could not be more smitten with this little bar!  Funky meets traditional in a big way here and I find it to be absolutely perfect!

My favorite touch of zebra in a room is most definitely through a zebra skin rug.

This basic foyer goes from boring to bold with the addition of the rug.

Though traditional black&white zebra is my favorite, I'm not picky!

I LOVE this blue wallpaper as a way to make laundry more bearable.

THAT CHAIR!

A combination of my bamboo obsession and zebra obsession...can it be mine?

This chair too!  Love the feminine skirt!

Looks like blue zebra might be my second favorite...

Zebra gives this romantic, frilly room a bit of edge!

What a warm, inviting office!

Though not my personal style, I love this black and white room with pops of zebra, pink, and blue!

And for the finale!

How awesome is this wall?

I love the mix of prints, color, and textures!

So far, I've only added a little bit of zebra around the apartment.  I received this adorable Nico and Lala stationery for Christmas and framed one of the cards for the gallery wall:

Isn't the zebra, mint, and red a great combination?

I wasn't thrilled with what was in that frame before and think the zebra is the perfect change!

I also ordered this wrapping paper and am saving it for a project-- I'm thinking of making it wall art or using it to decoupage something down the road...

Are you a fan of zebra?

Have you used it in your home?

What are your favorite ways to add pizzazz to a room?

Have a great day!

Scenes from the Apartment

Happy Friday chickadees!

Wow, what a week it has been!  I'm officially moved into the new apartment with ALG!  I still have some lingering projects and some things to move in, but it's definitely starting to feel like home!

Today I thought I'd share some scenes from the apartment with you and also let you know my next plans for making the place my own!

We'll start with my room!

I love the neutral palette with pops of color!

Nightstand

The previous photo in this frame was of The Cuties--Bryce was a bit offended saying "I'm not even going to make the nightstand?!?"  I explained to him that I planned to update my picture frames and think this one turned out to be the perfect match!

I styled the bottom of the nightstand with some favorite books and my favorite House Beautiful EVER-- "The Power of Pink."

On the other side of the bed I found a home for one of my TJ Maxx bamboo chairs (see post here).

I would be doing a disservice if I didn't mention the curtains to y'all in this post.  Would ya believe it if I told you my curtains were actually two shower curtains folded in half and hung by jeweled shower hooks?  Would you believe it if I told you the entire window treatments (curtains, rod, and hooks) all cost $57!  I've had a vision for my room but I've had to get creative to make it all happen!

On the wall across from my bed is my dresser and closet.

On my dresser I have pictures of some very special people in my life-- The Cuties, my parents, AMF, and of course, Bryce!

I also found a special spot for my oh so special  "The South" sign!

We put these Anthropologie hooks on my closet to display some of my baubles.

My elephant garden stool even found a home nestled between the dresser and closet!

Now I'll give you some peeks into the rest of the apartment.  ALG has already been living here for a year, so luckily for me everything was furnished with the exception of my room.  This week, I've been able to add some of my own touches throughout the different rooms to really make it feel like it belongs to both of us.

One of my favorite rooms is our sun room!

In here I added one of my favorite pictures of ALG and me:

In the living room I've added my personal touches to the bookshelf and coffee table!

On the bookshelf I added some of my own picture frames as well as some prized trinkets:  Lilly animal crackers, A Passion for Blue & White, and my stationery box.

ALG also let me put my Haymarket Designs Tray on our coffee table!

In the dining room I got to add my own personal touch to the bar cart!

I was able to add my wine bucket, cocktail napkins (another TJ Maxx find mentioned here), cruiser wineglasses, cocktail stirrers, and Smarties!

There is definitely no shortage of monograms in the apartment or on this bar cart.  Between the two of us, there is a monogrammed wine bucket, monogrammed engraved julep cups, a monogrammed flask, and monogrammed wine glasses all on the top shelf of this cart!

And now for the upcoming projects...

Dining Room

I found the CUTEST placemats at HomeGoods and am also working on a centerpiece involving these 

blue and white beauties:

Headboard and Bed Skirt

I have always loved the look of an upholstered headboard and have decided to make my very own with a matching bed skirt for my room. 

I haven't yet gone fabric shopping, but do you think something a little funky like this would be too much for the space?  I want to go out of my comfort zone a little by mixing prints and colors, but it's scary!

Blank Wall

What the heck should I do with this boring wall?  It's to the right of the door as you come in on the same side of the room as my bamboo chair.  My dad has said we could add shelves to the walls, which I think could be good, but it's such a big wall, I'm worried a few dinky shelves would look awkward?  What about a big mirror?  Any suggestions or ideas are much appreciated, I need HELP!

Gallery Wall

On the other big blank wall in the room (the far wall you first see when entering) I have decided to add a gallery wall.  I have completed the layout of it and am hoping to have it up on the wall this very afternoon!

Here's a preview of it during the earliest planning phase--trust me the final version is much more elaborate and exciting...I even have a diagram to prove it! (Yes I know I'm a bit anal...)

So what do you think?  Any suggestions for my big blank wall?  How did you decorate your first place?

Have a fabulous weekend!!!

I Chose...C!

Happy Monday friends!

How were your weekends?

Mine was incredible--Bryce and I packed in lots of quality time over the weekend, which was so nice since he had been gone for 10 days!

Friday night we had a date night at Edo's Squid which was on our checklist (see here).  The food was delicious!!  We started with calamari.  Next, for entrees,  I had spaghetti with crab meat and Bryce had penne pasta with a cream sauce, broccoli rabe, and pine nuts.  We shared a tiramisu for dessert.  The atmosphere was bustling and a bit artsy.  If you're ever in Richmond or are from Richmond, I highly suggest checking out Edo's.

Saturday I was able to grab some Starbuck's with LPC who was visiting home for the weekend (she's currently in grad school at Wake Forest).  It was so great to catch up with her and see how much she is enjoying grad school.

Bryce and I then went shopping for a wedding present and headed to the wedding.  (Funny side story--we bought wrapping paper and ribbon while we were at Target, but when we got home, we realized we didn't have any tape.  We ended up having to buy tape on the way and wrapped the present in the back of the car between the ceremony and reception).

And now...what you've all been waiting for--I chose C!

Most of y'all selected Choice A or Choice C for the wedding, so I decided to leave the decision up to Bryce. He LOVED Choice C and thought the blue color really popped, so that's what I went with.

Allie & Bryce

The ceremony was at a gorgeous Lutheran church downtown that was built in 1911!  The reception which followed was at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.  I loved the venue--we were surrounded by gorgeous marble walls and columns and also were able to stroll through some of the art galleries.  

Bryce and the groom

One of my favorite aspects of the wedding was the couple's spin on a guest book.  In lieu of having a traditional guest book, they bought vintage postcards from places they have visited together or are significant to them as a couple.  They invited guests to select a postcard, write their wishes for the couple on it, and put it in a mailbox.

We also really enjoyed the art.  Bryce wanted a picture of us with abstract art as the backdrop.

I followed April's advice (see her blog here) and did some color-blocking with the dress, pairing the lime pashmina with the bright blue!

Bryce also wanted a picture with Andy Warhol's Triple Elvis from the pop-art collection.

What a goob!

The night involved good food (they had a mashed potato bar!), some crazy dancing, and lots of fun!

Sunday, we slept in and I grabbed brunch with ALG at River City Diner--we both had the chocolate chip pancakes which are heavenly!  The rest of the day I relaxed and prepared for the week!

How was your weekend?