Exciting Announcement!

For all my fellow Houstonians and design lovers, I will be speaking on a panel this coming Wednesday, October 16th at 2 pm as part of the Fall Market Afternoon Keynote at the Decorative Center Houston. The panel will be moderated by social media maven, Leslie Carothers, and will focus on how you can harness the power of social media to propel your business. The panel will also feature Sarah Brooks Eilers of Lucas/Eilers Design Associates, Lauren Haskett of Lauren Haskett Fine Design and Material Girls, Meg Lonergan of LeSueur Interiors, and Paloma Contreras of La Dolce Vita blog and Paloma Contreras Design.

Truthfully, I did things backwards and started a blog that eventually led to a business.  I know that a lot of people have a business and want to increase their exposure or reach, so they then decide to delve in to social media.  Starting a social media presence can seem daunting at first- What platforms should you explore, what type of posts do people respond best to, how often to engage your audience, etc.  We will attempt to answer these questions and share what has worked for each of us, at different phases in our careers.  

If you live near Houston, I hope you'll come!  

Have a great weekend, everyone!

XOXO, Sam

 For more information on the keynote, go here.

Designer Crush: Lynn Morgan Design

TGIF!  Any exciting weekend plans?  Sam and I thought about heading up to Dallas for the OU/TX game, but with work commitments and other travels in the works (like going to visit my girl Lindsay in a week), we decided to stay in Houston.  No doubt we'll be cheering on the Sooners from here, though! For today's designer crush, I'm highlighting a new favorite- Lynn Morgan Design. I am planning to launch a full design website separate from my blog once I graduate, and when I was researching design sites for ideas I came across Lynn's page.  Based in Connecticut, Lynn has been published on the cover of House Beautiful, in Elle Decor, Coastal Living, and many more publications.  She fuses a traditional approach with a touch of whimsy and sophistication:

This is my favorite of all of Lynn's rooms.  I love the colors and the King Louis chairs mixed in with a Quadrille-upholstered ottoman:

The room was also loved by House Beautiful, and scored the cover spot on their April 2012 issue:

I think another thing I love about her spaces is how clean and crisp they feel- without coming off cold.  And, of course, her ability to mix color and pattern appropriately!

Do you share my crush?

{all images via Lynn Morgan Design}

Nightly Ritual

I don't like sticking to too many rituals, but my bedtime routine hasn't changed for years.  I light a candle (or two), put on my bedtime playlist, blog, and moisturize.  Of course, cute pajamas play in to the routine.  I manage to find a lot of cute nighties and PJ sets at Anthropologie, but I really adore this J Crew set.  A few years back, my mom bought me a Branche silk pillowcase, and I've been hooked ever since.  Apparently research has shown sleeping on silk is better for your skin and hair and helps prevent wrinkles... which is a perfect excuse to spend $95 for a charmeuse case.

Shop This Board: 

Cream Charmeuse Silk Pillowcase $95/J Crew Pajama Set $85/Skinceuticals Overnight Moisturizer $61/DVF Memoir $22/Ugg Slipper in Gray $100/

And here are a few tunes that set the mood for my nightly ritual... enjoy!

Albertina Loves: Shades of Blue

[ home || mirror | rug | bed | pillow | sheets ]

[ you || belt | necklace | shirt (on sale!) | skirt ]

So happy to be here at The Peak of Tres Chic again!  This is Albertina from Mimosa Lane, back for our tenth installment of the "We Love" series where Sam and I swap posts for the day.  Today Sam and I are focusing on Shades of Blue- navy, light blue, cobalt,- really few combinations are as versatile and beautiful as blue in any shade and white.  I love this combination for both you and your home.  For both you and the home I'm focusing on a heavy pattern mixing today as well as mixing in different shades of blue.  

That skirt really is elegant and there is nothing that I love more than a gingham shirt.  And I just love Arianna Belle's pillows.  She has a fabulous collection of different blue and white fabrics.  It was so very hard to chose which one I wanted for my post today.

How do you feel about blue and white?  Where do you prefer to use it? on your home? on yourself? or both?

Come see what Sam's favorite striped things are over at Mimosa Lane!

Needing, Wanting, Loving: Swing-Arm Library Sconces

Happy Monday!  Did you have a good weekend?  I got my car towed (ugh) and missed my favorite Sunday spin class (double ugh), but there were some highlights to it- like when I teared up in Don Jon (bear with me here).  Yes, Don Jon is that cheesy Jersey movie focused on sex-crazed Don (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and full-of-herself Barbara (Scarlett Johansson), but Julianne Moore makes a surprising appearance that caused me to let out a few confusing tears.  It is a trashy movie though, so if you get embarrassed easily don't go see it.  But let's get to the good stuff.  Last weekend I was perusing Instagram and came across this stop-you-in-your-tracks-good bathroom design by Bailey McCarthy:

{Bailey McCarthy}

I am always inspired by Bailey's bold use of color, but what I really loved about her design here were those swing-arm sconces.  What an unexpected touch!  Here are some of my other favorite applications of the swing-arm library sconce:

{Design Gallery via Home Bunch}

{Domino Magazine via Katy Elliot}

{Stacy Jacobi}

Although the swing-arm sconce is perfect in the kitchen or bath or above a bookshelf, it adds a unique twist when utilized as a bedroom sconce.  It's also perfect if space is limited and a bedside table and lamp won't fit!

{Homedit}

{Tineke Triggs}

{Tineke Triggs}

Of course, my favorite lighting vendor, Circa Lighting, offers several versions of the swing-arm library sconce.  Here are a few of my favorites:

{E.F. Chapman's Boston Functional Library Wall Light}

{Suzanne Kasler's Graves Pivoting Sconce}

{French Library Single Wall Sconce}

So, what's your take on the library sconce?  Love it, or leave it?

Fall Happy List

Although here in Houston the temperatures are still in the 80s, I've been drawn to a warmer color palette, ankle boots, and pumpkin-spiced everything lately.  Today, I am guest posting over at On Cloud Desi9n about my fall happy list.  Here's a little preview...

Shop This Board:

Chloe Military Shoulder Bag $2,295/Meg Biram Banana Leaf Turban $135/Nest Pumpkin Chai Candle $34/Beyond Chic Coffee Table Book /Jan Showers' Glamorous Retreats Book $30/Amber Interiors Benny Rug $1,595/ASOS Ankle Boots $177.20Orla Sculptural Table Lamp $495/Butter Nailpolish in Saucy Jack $15


Go check out the post here, and show new blogger, Bonnie, some love!

Fresh + Fun Living Room Design

Hi loves!  Today I am excited to share a fresh + fun living room design with you.  You may recall I shared a nursery design a few weeks ago for this very same client, appropriately named, "Fresh + Fun Nursery Design."  This Houston couple has serious style, and have just finished building their "dream home."  You may have seen their incredible kitchen via my Instagram snapshot last week:

I mean.... seriously?!  Carrera Marble island + subway tile backsplash + polished nickel pasta arm and pendant lights... it's just too good.  Their kitchen opens up to a living room with a west wall of built-in cabinetry surrounding a stone fireplace.  Since the couple is young and have one precious baby boy, and are expecting a baby girl next year, we wanted to keep the look of the living room both youthful and practical.   Here's the design plan I'm starting with:

The couple wanted to go with a darker upholstery for their sofa, since 2 babies + 3 big dogs can quickly wreak havoc on light fabrics.  I loved the idea of a navy velvet upholstery paired with coral throw pillows.  For the floor, I visualized a beni ourain shag rug (you know, those gorgeous rugs all over the Parker Palm Springs?) that would be soft for the little one's feet, or perhaps a vintage kilam that had a bit of navy and coral in it.  For the south wall, we need a large art piece or photograph to hang as a focal point.  After seeing a peek at the TV room I did for my Rose Creek client, where we incorporated a Slim Aarons vintage photograph, this client liked the idea of doing something similar.  And to add a pop of luxe, I loved the look of these tufted leather chairs paired with a navy lamp.  

This is just a starting point, as I'm sure the look will evolve, but what do you think of the direction we're going in?  I hope you like it!