Eclectic Design: How to Mix n' Match Styles

I mix and match things on a daily basis. I mix gold and silver jewelry, fitted shirts with the perfect boyfriend jean, and traditional style with modern accents. Call me crazy but it's possible! You can rock any style your heart desires by flawlessly executing: "cohesiveness".

Eclectic style encompasses a variety of time periods and styles with uses of color, texture, shape, and finish. Eclectic may be the catch-all phrase that terms for any room that doesn't fit a particular style but it is more than a miscellaneous style. To create a "Collected" look it takes thought, knowledge, and balance.

Ultimately, choose your color palette. Pick one item as your jumping off point for design. This could be a piece of artwork, an oriental rug, or a family heirloom.

This living room has used the Persian rug as the foundation for this room. Pulling the colors from the rug by use of artwork and accessories really blended the different styles effortlessly.

[houzz=http://www.houzz.com/photos/84399/LINDENWOOD-CIRCLE-eclectic-living-room-austin]

Although this room could be classified as contemporary, the slipcover sofas, the traditional ottoman, and the modern chairs create a cohesive look by sticking to the same color palette.

[houzz=http://www.houzz.com/photos/106780/Living-Room-Dining-Room-contemporary-living-room-other-metro]

A black and white color palette seamlessly ties together diverse items to create a collected look. Notice the global influences and textures mixed with contemporary bedding and side trays. There is even a dinosaur head that pops his way in!

[houzz=http://www.houzz.com/photos/117353/The-Olivers-House-eclectic-bedroom-dallas]

#AreaRugProblems

HI EVERYONE!

I need YOUR HELP! This is my first post EVER that I am requesting design advice for MYSELF! Shocker - but hey, there is a first for everything. I love hearing from you all and it warms my heart that my tips impact your lifestyle in some way. Now is your chance to help me!

Here's the Deal - my parents have me on the hunt for a 6x9 area rug. I have searched so many different stores and vendors.

The problem is that my dad has VERY ornate style. He gravitates towards the most oriental rug in the store. The guady-er (is that even a word?) the better. My mother on the other hand likes contemporary rugs.

Complete opposite side of the spectrum but I am trying my hardest to satisfy both their styles. Our house is more casual so the traditional/ornate rug is too formal for our family room. I have been looking at traditional rugs that are more washed out or less ornate. I've also been looking at transitional style rugs too.

Here's the catch: we are looking for a thick plush rug with gold and brown tones. No red tones. Green/olive are okay. 

I don't want to give up and settle with a plain shag rug. Please comment below :)

Greatly appreciated <3

A Tidy Home is a Happy Home

Have you ever caught yourself saying, "My house isn't big enough for ALL my stuff!"

Your shoes don't have a home, your purses are in a disarray, and your jewelry is tangled. As if that wasn't enough, you don't have enough room for your clothes yet somehow you find yourself screaming on a Saturday night, "I have nothing to wear!". Trust me, I know the struggle.

My number 1 rule is "If you haven't worn it in a year - toss it or donate it." Chances are if you haven't worn it last season, you are most likely not going to wear it next season. I recently donated four bags of clothes and it felt great to give!

Rule number 2 - Don't hold onto clothes that don't fit you! If I had a dollar for every time my mother said "I'll wear this when I'm skinny again," I would be rich. Update your wardrobe with only clothes that fit you.

With a little discipline and hard work, you can do some serious purging to your closet by sticking to those two rules.

What do you struggle with the most? I encourage you to comment ! Your design dilemma could be solved in my next post!

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Travel Tuesday: Morroco

I travel all the time to exotic and magical places...... through pictures. It is my dream to travel the world. I want to experience other cultures, try new foods, and absorb all the design details during my journey. For now, I will continue exploring through pictures. Surely it isn't the same and not nearly as fun.. but still inspiring. I am so mesmerized by Moroccan architecture. I can't begin to imagine how much time it takes to tile colorful mosaics throughout the walls and floors of hallways. The intricate detail that is involved is absolutely breath taking.

Here are just a few pictures that inspired me. What is your dream travel destination? Share with me below :)

Gray Had Better Days...

Feeling a little gray today on this overcast day (hey, I rhymed!) Although, I love a neutral color palette - I feel like gray is a bit overworked. I have been getting a lot of requests from friend and family members for "the perfect gray paint". How about we switch gears and warm it up a bit?! Lately, I have been gravitating towards colors with warmer undertones, such as Revere Pewter, which is the perfect warm grey. I have been more partial towards mink browns and taupe shades as well!

Take a look at a few warm spaces that I like - what do you think? Is gray here to stay or are you ready to save it for another day?

Adventures with AMA - in the sky!

Hi there! LATE POST -- Last the weekend, I surprised my boyfriend for his birthday with a helicopter tour above NYC. Thankfully, the two of us aren't afraid of heights!! We really lucked out with the weather that day; sunny and clear so we got gorgeous views of the city.

I was SO mesmorized by the never-ending views. It was truly breath taking. In fact, so breathtaking that I was silent for a good five minutes - the pilot turned around to see if I was okay. It was interesting to glance at all the skyscrapers from a new perspective. I'm so used to staring up at the buildings.

Our pilot was very informative and gave a great tour. However, I did feel sick after we landed because the ride wasn't exactly smooth - all the twists and turns really flipped my belly upside down. Ahh! Although, it was a memorable experience and I would probably go again! :)

Design Adventures with AMA!

Over the weekend, my boyfriend and I went to NYC to visit the new Frank Lloyd Wright exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art. I don't think he was nearly as excited as I was --- but I sure enjoyed it! I appreciate historical architecture and all forms of design.

I literally jumped when I saw Van Gogh's "Starry Nights" in person along with some other pieces that I only saw from textbooks. There were also a few other paintings that caught my eye on the contemporary floor.

This painting for example struck me. I love the texture and how all the bold colors blend together. After the museum, we stopped at Charrito's in Weehawken for lunch. We enjoyed authentic Mexican cuisine and homemade sangria while admiring the NYC skyline.

My art adventures didn't stop here. Later on during the week, I went to Pinot's Palette in Montclair for a painting class with a few friends. It was a two hour class and I can't nearly explain how much fun it was. I have never laughed so much in one night! Even if you are not an artist - the instructer takes you step by step and will help you if you mess up.

While browsing for some inspiration, I discovered the gorgeous earthscapes by Andres Amador. Andres creates massive drawings on beaches during low-tide. If you haven't seen his work - check out his website.

After an exciting week of being surrounded by art and design, it has influenced me to get working on some projects this weekend. Maybe you'll see a new painting from me coming soon? hmmmm.....

Room Transformation: Baby Bedroom to a Teen's Dream

Once a young girl, this bedroom was well-loved. Now in her teenaged years and embarassed to have her friends over; it was time for a make-over! Clearly out grown her doll wallpaper-border, the pink walls, and the stuffed animals - this room transformation was well over due. With my design advice and a few tweaks - we were on the path to this teen's dream bedroom. A spot where she envisioned her friends coming over to hang out or staying the night for midnight snacks and gossip.

For this make over, I decided to keep the original furniture because it was such great quality. The furniture was constructed well and the paint looked brand new. Instead of new furniture, I updated the dresser and nightstand with new acrylic knobs.

With the money we saved from purchasing a new bedroom set, we spent it towards new wall paper and paint. The accessories and shag rug were from Home Goods. The curtain panels and bedding were from Target. The white tufted futton was from Walmart.

There you have it! This room is complete! What do you think of the transformation?

Before

After