It’s a Beauty, Baby!

I wish I had the words to describe how crazy the last 3 weeks of life has been but even now, searching for them, I simply can’t find any to do it justice.  I guess it’s more of an undefined feeling that lies somewhere between sheer exhaustion and utter exhilaration that accounts for most of the blur, but truth be told, it was all in good messy fun!  And when presented with the opportunity to work with Lindsey Hughes, Beauty Baby 44, I knew I wasn’t going to let myself off easy.  So I guess I had it coming! But let’s get to the reason why you’re here, the transformation of Lindsey’s newly renovated downtown loft.  When I first met…

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“Decorate For The Life You Want”

In case you missed it, a much anticipated interior design book hit the shelves last week much to the delight of myself and interior enthusiasts everywhere.  And although mine was pre-orered and delivered promptly by Amazon prime, I’m a little embarrassed to say I just opened it for the first time last night.   Now, I knew I was in love with Anne Sage’s first frolic into bound pages from the instant it’s title seeped into my consciousness, but with every flip of the wrist and turn of the page, my devotion grew ever deeper.    But let’s start at the beginning, Sage Living |Decorate for the Life You Want, “Your best life starts at home.” Simply and eloquently put….

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60 Pretty Pumpkins We’ve FALLen Hard For!

It’s officially Fall in just 2 days, and while I was set to keep my porch pumpkin free for at least another 3 weeks, my sister went ahead and picked a patch of the prettiest pumpkins I ever did see.  And when I say pretty pumpkins, I mean just that- p r e t t y pumpkins.  Think glam squad for the gourds at your doors people!  As in a serious upgrade to last year’s pumpkins without ever going under the knife, these pretty ‘kins will have you falling in love OPI style and seeds free!  Just think pretty in pink or peach or pumpkin and then some!  And without a whisper or a whiff of Halloween, just the prettiest in…

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Painted Pumpkin Donut DIY

This painted donut DIY is easy as pumpkin pie!  Seriously, if you can hold a paintbrush, you got this. It’s easy on skill but huge on style!  Pick your pumpkins, your paints and your donut style.  Paint your “donuts.” Let ’em dry.  “Ice” your donuts.  Let ’em dry.  Sprinkle on some happy, don’t be shy.  Let ’em dry.  Stack and style your DIY pumpkin donuts to trick or to treat or simply look good   enough to eat!      For more ways to style a pumpkin check out the ultimate no carve pretty pumpkin round up here!  

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Celebrity Stylist Talks Fall: What to Buy Now, Wear Now, Layer In Later !

In deciding what to post about Fall Fashion, perhaps the most anticipated season in the industry, and by in large the biggest delivery for most labels, I decided to leave it to a true expert.  Because lets’ face, it may be fall inside but it is still sweltering outside.  And so here’s some great advice from my personal friend and celebrity stylist Kristi Brooks on how to handle this tricky time of year, what you can buy now to satisfy your cravings for what’s come down the runway and layer into your wardrobe later, when the real Fall shows up, fashionably late as always. Working the summer to fall fashion transition Ugh… It’s hot, very hot. It’s hard to imagine Fall…

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The Best Apps to Help you Save Time, Money and Advil

There really is an app for everything.  But I had no idea life could be THIS EASY…so easy I’m kind of speechless — and therefore out of words, which is probably a good thing.  So I’ll let the apps do the talking via my favorite time saving trick, the Pinterest Board.  Click the board and do yourself a HUGE favor. Follow Messy By Design’s board There really is an app for everything! on Pinterest. The highlights: Already you feel lighter, don’t you?  

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25 Chic and Cheap Ways to Decorate for Fall with ZERO Pumpkins!

   If you are alive and breathing and went pretty much anywhere this past weekend you surely noticed the switch.  Store shelves, magazine racks, decorative displays, they all went pumpkin on us one day last week, undoubtedly at the stroke of midnight, and are now squatting happily on summer’s territory before it’s technically time.  And no matter how we feel about this annual assault, we all know the drill and we know fighting it is a losing battle.  It may be hot outside but fall has no warm feelings for summer and has officially staged it’s coo. Now, if you’re like me, you just can’t fathom how you’d possibly manage to break out the pumpkins just yet but you’re willing…

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3 Kid Friendly DIY Projects for Any Fiesta!

   Before everything turns into a pumpkin, my kids and I decided to soak up the last remaining days of summer and give the prickly pineapple its’ fair share of fun in the sun.  The occasion, my husbands birthday, our plans…a little BBQ before naptime, but shhh…it’s a surprise!  His birthday was actually a couple of weeks ago but this is our first weekend in town to celebrate as a family. First up: Mason Jar Pineapple Planters 3 ways!  This one is as easy as pineapple pie! For 2 of the 3 versions, we painted the inside of the jars by dropping in the paint, giving it a good shake (Sebastian’s favorite part) and then letting it sit overnight to…

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When You’re Messy, You’re In the Moment

A few years ago when my husband and I were struggling to adjust to life with just one child, my mother-in-law sent me an email.  It was one of those emails that had been passed from address book to address book and best friend to friend in need.  And I could tell by the amount of “FW:’s” in the subject line (that no one bothered to erase) that it was most likely the kind of email that would have some funny caption accompanied by photos or video of puppies and babies in all kinds of predicaments.  But it wasn’t, and I was pleasantly surprised by it’s simple but profound message. Now don’t get me wrong, it was still one of…

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Make your Target “Run” Now, Don’t Walk!

  The last thing I expected to be doing while making one of many trips to Target this week was whipping out my iphone and stepping tentatively over unpacked boxes and half full display shelves all while snapping photo after photo of unpacked product and immediately sending it to friends and family.  But I simply had to.  It’s here, it’s finally here, the much anticipated home collection from Target which has been written and blogged about for months now — even teased and sneekpeeked for us in a recent Instagram posts from my favorite celeb stylist/designer and reigning girl crush, Emily Henderson, Target’s Style Ambassador.  So when I saw it roll by me in another shopper’s cart, I instantly knew…

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The Summer Decor Icon Sticking Around For Fall

When you go to open any of the fall 2015 catalogues hitting your news stands this week (or perhaps last), you might be surprised to see one of this summer’s trends forging it’s way straight into your fall decor.  Popping up in both the expected and unexpected ways, the pineapple is and endless summer enthusiast’s dream.  Once reserved for only colonial or plantation style decor or as a quick shot of summer style that was stored away in a flash, this peculiar fruit has won us over in a major way and the powers that be have noticed our infatuation.    Maybe it’s the tropical mood it sets that draws us in or maybe it’s the fruit’s deep connections to…

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The One Design Trend That Will Take You Effortlessly Into Fall

If you’ve paid any attention this summer to all the brightly colored blankets adorning beds and couches, patio chairs and lounge chairs, and going from design on less than a dime to the better lives of the rich and famous, you’ve undoubtedly smiled and maybe even cheered for the familiar underdog.  The serape, or Mexican blanket as it’s often referred to, has been living it up all summer, getting quite used to the spotlight and showing up in all sorts of unexpected places.  And why not?  These traditionally inexpensive long rectangular blankets full of colors and patterns can compliment any palate or style and just scream happy design – making them the ideal candidate to help you warm up to…

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The Best of Summer Served On A Stick!

It’s here, Labor Day weekend, the official unofficial end of summer and whether you’re sick of sweating and ready for the fall to run it’s familiar chill down your spine or you simply cant believe it’s time to spare your shoulders any more rays and slip your toes into some socks, it is upon us like it or not.  But have no fear, no matter which side of the meridian you fall on, lusting for additional lazy days bronzing or already unpacking cozy knits and chunky cottons, it’s time to celebrate.  That’s right, celebrate — love it or hate it, you have to accept it, so either surprise yourself and muster up one last gangbusters weekend or save the tears…

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Get Mindy Kaling’s New Office With Your Paycheck, Not Hers!

There’s no denying that Mindy Kaling is bold, bright and committed, so it makes perfect sense that her new office is exactly the same.  It’s also fun, inviting and full of happy as far as the eye can see, like seriously deliriously happy spread over each and every inch of a perfectly curated home away home on the NBC lot.  Full of vibrant colors and rich textiles, it looks more like and in inviting living room you never want to leave rather than an actual office, but who’d complain about that!  If you can surround yourself with a space dripping with creativity and whimsy, then why not keep it polished while still being uber playful?  I mean seriously, there’s a…

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Mixing Words With Pinterest

With 3 new projects underway I decided to spend some serious time on Pinterest and add a whole collection of visual inspiration boards to my arsenal.  Why?  Because all too often, when talking to friends or clients, I find that words just get in the way for one of two reasons. The first is definition. What I consider modern or traditional is exactly that, what I consider the style overall to be. However, I will have a filter and an interpretation just like the next guy.  And in most cases, especially if you’re seeking design help, you won’t know how to verbally communicate when something crosses the line from traditional to transitional or mid-century modern to just modern, so why…

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What’s Your Style? The Ultimate Design Style Roundup

Many people would argue your personality and your style go hand in hand, that they are almost one in the same, inseparable.  And while trends and trappings come and go, at the core, you remain true to what moves you.  You can evolve and expand, but you don’t really ever change, hence all the well known adages about not being able to change a person.  And I have to say I agree with this overall concept, but I would argue, like with anything, there are always exceptions.  But for right here, right now,  I’m going to make it easy and just say yes. I also believe if you understand what makes you tick, what gets you weak in the knees…

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Bohemian Design Styled Your Way

With summer’s end quickly approaching I find myself gravitating towards anything and everything Bohemian.  Perhaps I’ve been struck with some simple wunderlust and I just can’t comprehend the reality of the days getting shorter or maybe it’s all the boho chic design style I’ve been immersed in this week for my clients.  Either way, I’m embracing it with joy and holding tight to my copy of Justina Blakeney’s The New Bohemians, Cool & Collected Homes for a quick fix.  Why fight the free-spirit inside when it’s just as easy to dive in and channel my inner bohemian through rich and radiant design and style — even if it is just on the pages of a book or through an inspiration…

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Gettin’ Set To Bat an Eyelash!

September is going to be a busy month, good thing the kids will be in school soon enough and I’ll be so busy that I (hopefully) won’t even have time to be sad.  We shall see!  But I have 3 projects that I’m currently working on and have been busy Pinning away for inspiration, ideas and products!  The first is for a good friend of mine, an Emmy nominated make-up artist who is branching out and opening her own lash studio.  I’m super excited to get my hands on this space because when something is small, it means every inch is easily manicured and nothing gets neglected.  You’ve got the time, the energy and the budget to really make an…

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My Designer Girl Crush Strikes Again!

When I convinced my husband to accept a navy blue velvet couch into our lives it was based on this photo (above) I stumbled across on the internet, somewhere.  It’s bold and masculine while also being happy, refined and user friendly.  But because things are pinned and re-pinned, tagged and re-tagged, and dare I say swiped and stolen, I had no idea at the time, the living room I was lusting over was an Emily Henderson living room.  I simply loved it, took a snapshot from my phone and filed it away under my “one day” dream living room.  Until one day, that one day came when West Elm, much to my dellight, featured this little beauty.  The Peggy Mid-Century…

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Lulu And Georgia Take Me Home (With You!)

One week ago today I was just getting back to Los Angeles after a whirlwind trip to the beautiful city of Chicago where I met all the lovely ladies from Create + Cultivate.  And while the conference was filled with inspirational women taking charge and living their dreams in the digital world, I have to admit the one thing I cannot stop thinking about is Lulu and Gerogia, one of the event’s pop up shops.   And to be honest I have no idea how I have survived so long without discovering this priceless gem of a home design resource that I actually had to ask my design minded friends if I failed epically or if L&G was just playing…

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