DIY Ikat Painted Rug

We're back at it with the Knot & Nest collaborations! This DIY video will show you how to revamp an existing rug or even a cheapy one from IKEA (like I used!) by adding a hand painted Ikat pattern. It's easier then it sounds! Take a look  - 

Jane Street Apartment Redo

A few weeks ago I completed a full apartment redo of a darling client in the West Village. She lives in an up to date one bedroom in a great area! She had a distinct style and idea for the apartment: feminine, modern, romantic, cohesive, bright and creamy color palette and lovely. I loved her direction for the apartment, and found it to be a fun opportunity to stretch my personal taste in a different direction. 

Today, I'm just going to focus on the living room. Here are a few before pictures:

She had a lot of great furniture to start with - which helped our process. She was really hoping for something dramatic over the couch, as well as additional pillows. In general, she wanted her apartment to feel more complete.

TV / Entertainment wall before. 

And a side view of the built in book shelves and tv area.

My goal for the apartment was to make it feel approachable, lovely, feminine and complete! Bringing in flowers was also an important part, as my client lovesss flowers. So I brought in the wonderful (and fellow Auburn tiger!) Leeann Ricky. She is an uber talented full time corporate interior design / part time floral stylist. She creates the most beautiful and organic arrangements. And I knew she'd have just the eye for such a dainty/white/gold/girl space.  Here she is in action!

Which brings us to the AFTER's!! Always the best part in these types of posts . . . 

Here is the broad view of the living room after the refresh - 

Using simple Pottery Barn gallery frames and $5 Wallpaper samples from Hygge & West , we created a large scale gallery. 

Added some blush ikat pillows to her existing pillows.

Brought in coffee table books, interesting knick knacks and a large tray to spruce up the coffee table. Layering was the key.

Here are the spectacular flowers Leeanne created! 

They were gorgeousssss!

The TV wall was something I really wanted to revamp. We brought in a rod iron console table and layered mirrored gallery frames along the sides of the tv. We'll actually be adding more gallery frames to this wall to amp up the impact. 

More flowers. Couldn't help myself.

 And the living room from the other view! Stay tuned for the bedroom reveal, for some major changes!!

PSA: the pressure

This is a Public Service Announcement.

Why do we always feel like we're under pressure? Pressure to get to work earlier? Pressure to work out more. Pressure to blog more. Pressure to get married.  Pressure. Pressure. Pressure. Gross.

Brooklyn Boy and I have been thinking and praying this a lot lately. I finally feel that truth beginning to shift my perspective. Shifting it away from the pressure to go/do/be more. 

So as I return to blogging after oh.... a week or two of not blogging, yikes! don't shoot me!, I'm coming as I am. I do have fun stuff to show you, two installs, a baby shower for a dear Brooklyn friend, a blog redo and even some DIY, but right now there's just not time to do it all, and to do it well.  I know that's a common reality for so many of us :) Heck, I may even be preaching to the choir on this! 

That's really it. Just wanted you to hear where I'm coming from. Hope you stick around! There's more to come :)

college reunion

Last weekend, all of my close friends from college got together for a reunion at the beach. It's an annual occasion. Technically speaking, this is our 10 year anniversary from when we all met freshman year of college at Auburn! If that doesn't make you feel old . . .

We spent the weekend talking, eating, walking, laughing, eating, drinking, laying out, eating and laughing as we fell asleep in our bunk rooms. It was the best.

So, I thought I should give you a very brief introduction to some of my favorite people.

Here they are. Complete with pictures we've taken over the years!

Leigh. LeighAnn. Jana. Anne. Jess. Me. Mary Brantley. Laura. Mel. Turner. Erin. Ivy. Kim

1 mom of three. 1 graphic designer. 1 history teacher. 1 education fundraiser. 1 photographer. 1 blogger. 1 healthy workerouter. 1 nutritionist / cake baker. 1 Hong Kong dweller. 1 young lifer. 1 singer. 1 children's minister. 1 small town girl.

We represent: Birmingham, Alabama. St. Petersburg, Florida. Nashville, Tennessee. Dallas, Texas. Brooklyn, New York. New York City, New York. Atlanta, Georgia.  

This was when our friend Mel was living in Hong Kong. We skyped her in! 

And I think Turner is wearing a back brace here. She fell off a horse this one time. 

And here we are most recently. We have 3 babies in the group so far and SIX on the way. Sometimes I can't believe these are my friends. Love em! Wish we could go back to the beach . . .  and freshman year!

DIY Spring Garden Centerpieces with The Knot

Happy Tuesday!

I'm back from a long weekend at the beach with my college friends and feel refreshed and READY for spring! To help get you in the mood, here's a Garden & Spring inspired Centerpiece (um. hello spring!) I recently did with theknot.com. 

Here's to no more snow!