Instagram Q + A - Casual Cottage Master Bedroom

A couple of weeks ago, I had a little Q + A over on Instagram. I love helping folks solve design and decorating dilemmas, so I said "ask away". I chose 3 of the questions to answer in a little more depth.  

Ashlee's Master Bedroom is the first room I'm going to try to offer some assistance with. Here's what Ashlee had to say about the space:

"We live in an old cottage, with small rooms and every single wall in our bedroom has a window, door, etc. The longest wall hosts out bed, but it has an off-center window right behind our headboard. I have struggle for 5 years with either hiding it and making it seem like it's not there or embracing it and balancing the off-settness with art or something." (You can see pics of the room below.)

We chatted I bit about colors and existing furniture. She likes orange, coral, teal-blue and navy. Her bedding is a nice solid grey and the walls have just been painted a pale grey as well. And she isn't attached to the furniture or lamps at all.

1. Terracotta Vase

2. Coral Vase

3. Retro Blue Vase

4. Asymmetrical Mirror Set

5. Mid century Headboard

6. Black Nightstand

7. Wall Lamp

8. Black and Gold Lamp

9. Ikat Pillow

10. Lattice Pillow

11. Navy Squares Pillow

12. Peach and Orange Striped Throw

13. Mid century Nightstand

Here's what I suggest for this space:

1. I think you have to embrace the asymmetrical window situation.  I think there are a couple things that could be done to help achieve a bit more balance.  First, I suggest the funky pair of mirrors hung over the bed to the left of the window.  I also think in small rooms, you need to let in as much natural light as possible. A lower profile, slatted headboard would feel less bulky and not block the window as much. I am in LOVE with this mid-century headboard from Target, you guys, it's only $100!!! And losing a foot board will make the space feel a lot more open. 

2. It's not going to be a symmetrical room, so let's not be matchy-matchy.  I love mismatched nightstands and lamps. They make a room feel a lot more casual and collected over time. This also gives you a chance to do something a little more feminine on on side and masculine on the other. Mixing wood and painted pieces is totally fine, I give you permission!  

3. You know I love grey, but let's also have some fun with colorful, patterned accent pieces. Different shades of orange and navy blue are always going to be a hit. Anytime you can play with complimentary colors, bland will never occur.

Do you have any other suggestions for Ashlee to help her solve her wonky window situation?  I'd love to hear.  Stay tuned.  I've got a couple more Q + A rooms I'm going to tackle. 

Black Fireplaces

A couple years ago I painted our fireplace white in our living room, even the inside of it. We used to have a little wood pellet stove, but when it died, we decided not to replace it.  I wanted to make the space feel light and bright. Now, with my new found love of black, I wonder how the space would feel painted in this dramatic way.

I'm working with a local client. Their fireplace and mantel is currently a creamy white color and is very traditional. I'd love to use a charcoal, navy or black paint to give the fireplace a more modern, unexpected look.  

Here's a few examples of that look pretty great. 

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In small doses, black can be a show stopper. I'm not ready to cover a whole wall, but a little splash of black here and there feels a bit like wearing a black tie, put-together and buttoned up.

What do you think? Black or charcoal grey feels pretty safe and neutral. What about a dark navy or denim blue, to risky? I'd love to hear what you think.

Black Cabinets

My obsession with black continues. Yes, I love it on exteriors and in entryways, and now I'm considering it for cabinets in my laundry room. When we renovated our kitchen, we took over the old laundry room space and then added on a new laundry room to the back of the house.  But, almost 6 years later, we still haven't finished this room. The washer and dryer are of course hooked up and working, but there is just a temporary cabinet in there (that has one door broken off) and plumbing for a sink that doesn't exist yet.  

Every year I say, "this is the year we finally finish the laundry room", and then every year it just doesn't happen. Not in 2016, I'm determined. Last weekend I even made a trip to IKEA to look at cabinets and start laying out this tiny space. I really just want a couple cabinets for vacuums, mops and cleaning supplies, a sink and hopefully a place to set up my sewing machine. Since this is such a small space, I'd love to try something dramatic like black cabinet doors.  Here's a few examples of black cabinets done right. 

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I'm considering the Tingsryd cabinet doors from IKEA.  They are super economical and I think they have that modern shape I'm looking for. And for hardware, I think I have no choice but to do some brass or gold nobs or pulls. What do you think?

Comfortable Ankle Boots You Can Wear All Day

This Fall, Winter and now Spring, ankle boots have been my go-to foot wear.  I love them with jeans and leggings and also with skirts and dresses. I own numbers 4. and 7. below, these are both boots that you really can walk in all day long and your feet still feel good. 

When it comes to investing in shoes these days, I no longer feel like a can wear shoes from Target or other discount stores. My feet and back just can't take it. Now I'm just sounding like an old lady, but that's kind of what I am. So, when it comes to shoes, I like to buy a brand that is known for some comfort and support.

One of my favorite online sources for good quality shoes, at great prices, is 6pm.com. You'll want to visit their site often because each day they offer a new sale and a daily deal. They carry all the brands I love, like Lucky, Clarks and Born. I've shopped around and found 7 great ankle boot options for you.

1. // 2. // 3. // 4. // 5. // 6. // 7.

Are you more of a brown leather or black leather person? I thought I was all about brown, but I find myself wearing my black boots quite often.

(Gold Foil Kindness is the New Black shirt available HERE!)

This post is sponsored by Groupon.  Thank you for supporting the brands that help make this blog possible. 

Black Exteriors

Does anyone want to buy a cabin in the woods and I'll design and decorate it for you? I love the idea of a simple weekend home that is minimally decorated and has a dramatic black exterior.  I can't get enough of these black exteriors.  I love this bold choice of color for staining wood siding or even painting brick.  It feels modern and a bit of risky choice, which I love! 

Black with Large Windows

Black Terrace

Black Two Story

Black Midcentury

Black Siding and Black Doors

Black Brick

Like the dramatic Black Entryways I found, how do you feel about this strong color choice? 

Book Review - Modern Pastoral

I have been a long time fan of Nikki Brantmark's blog My Scandinavian Home. So, when I heard that she had a new book, Modern Pastoral, I knew I needed a copy for myself. If you love good Swedish design, you MUST follow her beautiful blog. Nikki takes you into some of the most beautifully simple, clean Scandinavian homes out there. If you've followed me for long, you must know how crazy, in love I am for all things Swedish.

I'm still a sucker for a good hardcover, coffee table book. Yeah, you can find pretty much everything on Pinterest, but there is something special about taking time to hold a real book and enjoy the curated images and stories that have be crafted together.

This gorgeous book takes you through some lovely interiors photographed in Scandinavia and the United States.  "All are inspried by natural landscapes, making use of exposed wood and stone, large windows to let in light and plants and greenery - yet adding warmth, too, through color, fabrics, and all the personal touches that create a home."

The book is divided into 4 chapters - Forest, Graphical, Homestead and Waterside.  I found myself drawn to the second chapter, Graphical, the most. These homes features clean, colorless palettes with a beautiful balance between natural, rustic elements and bold, geometric patterns. The homes are far from cold and sterile, warmth and comfort are added with natural fibers, sheepskins, and plenty of foliage from the outdoors.

For the past few months I've been pinning and drooling over gorgeous black exteriors on homes and cabins. The Woodland Valley Cabin in this chapter is absolute perfection, as far as I'm concerned. Gorgeous black stained siding on the exterior is complimented by bright, white, open rooms inside. The accessories throughout this home are minimal and clean and it has me inspired to pair down and simplify my home even more.

If you love a good design book, this is one you are going to need to add to your collection.

Be sure to head over to Instagram where I am giving away a copy of this gorgeous book.  Check out THIS post for all the giveaway details.  

Black and White Pillows - The Accessory for Every Season

I think everyone is getting Spring Fever pretty bad these days. I see pastels EVERYWHERE! And I'm a fan of them as well (especially pink). If you are thinking about sprucing up your home decor this Spring, but want a style that works all year long, black & white is the answer. You just won't get sick of this timeless combination. And black and white looks good with everything, pastels, brights, patterns, and even neutrals.  

I have found you some great black and white pillows that are sure to freshen up your bed or sofa this season, and all the seasons to follow. 

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6 // 7

The two Kilim pillows (3 and 7) are on my sofa, and I LOVE them. Do you have a favorite in this mix?

Metallic Gold Framed Art

It might be a small addiction, but I just can't get enough of gold accents in my home. I love the vintage feel it adds to a room. If you asked me what I thought of gold frames a couple years ago, I'd probably think of the family photos that hung in my mom and grandma's house in the 70's and 80's. Metal frames do feel a little like a throw back, but done in clean modern lines, they are current and even a little trendy. Now I don't think you should fill your home entirely with trends, but it is fun to have a few here and there.

I've long been a fan of Minted art prints, and now they offer metal frames in matte brass, brushed silver, champaign silver, matte copper and matte black. I teamed up the Minted to change up my entryway up a bit and add some fun matte brass framed pieces.  The largest piece, called Green Forest, added a huge dose of my favorite color to the room.  I tend to stick with greys, blacks and whites, and it can feel a little too neutral. This giant punch of bright green adds some energy to my living room. I paired it with black and white mountain climbing print, called Summit, for my husband and one of Emily Jeffords gorgeous sky paintings called, Mornings Away. 

I decided to hang these prints in a nice neat, evenly spaced square grid. Hung over my credenza like this, they act as one large scaled piece together. When picking art to go together,  I suggest 3 tips to make the process a little easier. Really anything goes if you love the art and it speaks to you. But, if you are a rule follower, these tips might be helpful.  

1. Pick one or two colors that will repeat in the art.  For mine, I picked the color green.
2. At least one of the pieces should be black and white. This graphic element adds interest and always feels sophisticated.
3. Consider variety in the detail or pattern of the images.  I made sure to chose three pieces that all had a different pattern. For example, the black and white mountain image is very tightly patterned. The large green forest painting is made up of bigger, almost chunky brush strokes, so it's pattern is a little loser. And finally the sky image is very smooth and fluid. 

I'm really glad I went with these gorgeous matte brass frames. I found myself always picking between black and white frames, because I wanted to stay neutral and timeless. But, adding a little metallic element is a fun, way less boring neutral to decorate with. 

This post is sponsored by Minted. All my opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the companies that help make this blog possible.

Camel Colored Leather Sofas

Ok, I'm definitely not in the market for a new sofa.  I still REALLY love mine, but maybe one of you are considering and new sofa and would like some help.  If I was to buy I sofa right now, it would be a gorgeous camel colored leather sofa with clean, mid century lines.  I don't think you would get tired of this color quickly and I believe it gets better with age. 

This light tan, camel color is a great neutral color option.  It can be accessorized with just about any color.  If feel a little retro, but very sophisticated.  Say no to chocolate brown leather, this camel color feels a lot more modern and current.  Check out the great examples I found of a light tan colored leather sofa used in some gorgeous living rooms.

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So, what do you think? It's a pretty great look, don't you think?  Do you have a favorite from this selection.  Mine is probably the West Elm Hamilton sofa seen in the 4th and 7th images.  I love the piping and the clean, narrow arm on that sofa. 

DIY Reversible Valentine's Day Clutch

Valentine's Day is just about here. And I have one last DIY for you. Whether you have a date or not, this clutch is going to be perfect for a night out on Valentine's Day. I customized a couple simple clutches (that I found at Forever 21) with #single on one side and #taken on the other. So, even if you don't have a valentine yet, get out their and carry your #single bag with pride. Who knows, maybe some single guy is looking for you. 

I used my Cricut Explore Air™ machine to cut out iron on letters in gold glitter for the denim clutch and white for the linen clutch.  But, you can also buy iron-on letters at the craft store, like these.

And please meet my adorable model and intern, Val. Yay for me!  I have a obviously cute, but also super smart and stylish assistant now. 

Now that you have the bag, let's fill it with some date night essentials:

Vaseline Lip Therapy Tins, for soft kiss-ready lips

sunglass (because I live in sunny California)

hair Clips for any hair disasters

gum or mints for fresh kissable breath

wallet and keys

phone (because we can't live without them)

travel sized perfume

nail file

pen or pencil

mirror

New Vaseline Lip Therapy Tins are a popular U.K. must-have and now they are available stateside in these iconic tins.  These tins contain 100% pure and safe Vaseline Jelly and are clinically proven to help heal dry lips and provide long-lasting moisture. And they are available at Target.

Your guys, I've got these lip tins everywhere - in my car, by my bed, in my purse and at the studio. My lips are happy! No more dry cracked lips for this girl.

This post is sponsored by Vaseline.  All my opinions are my own.  Thanks for supporting the companies that help make this blog possible.