How To Mix Patterns

As one who is always freaked out about things not coordinating, it is odd that I am attracted to the idea of mixing patterns. I've seen it done really well, and then I've seen it look like a hot mess. Here's some tips on how to conquer this difficult feat for both interiors and fashion:

• Make sure one color repeats in the outfit/room


• Combine loose prints with structured ones


• Blend small designs with larger scale ones, i.e. gingham with bold flowers


• Clinton Kelley suggests stripes as a neutral that can be paired with anything


• Use patterns that are complimentary without being too matchy-matchy.

Shall we see some examples of this phenomenon done right? See how well I've taught you (or rather Real Simple taught you. Hey, even I needed some help!) and figure out why these work.

Feeling the Industrial Chic Vibe

I am baaack! I have lots of fun pics from the home show and the amazing shopping of Vegas, but I've been rather nutso unpacking and getting back to work. I will definitely get them together to post this weekend. In the meantime, let's chat industrial design. There's something so chic about raw materials and the bare bones of design. Have a looksy:

Amazing Mechanic Beacon's lamps from Anthro. I feel like I could totally dig around in my some one's old shed and find one.

This dining room does a great job of marrying industrial design by way of the coffee table and pendants with modernism with the chairs. There's such a raw chicness in this room, gotta love it:

A sneak peek at one of the trends I've picked up last week, loft-like living is becoming extremely popular. Not necessarily with an industrial aesthetic, but the openness and high ceilings are being craved. I'd say it's pretty awesome:

I can not for the life of me find this image I had. It was a loft-like space with brick ceilings. Really beautiful to look at, but guess we all have to imagine it for now. In the meantime, here is where I'm getting married! Very industrial chic!

Anthro has really been coming through for me with this industrial chic business. Check out this outfit from their site. The vest is the perfect raw element for the black backdrop:
You've got to check out Sorrelli's new line, Mimi. If you love the chic industrialism I've been speaking of, you will want the whole collection:

New Blog Discovery

I always feel it is a blogger's duty to inform others when they find awesome blogs. So I'm paying my respects. After opening my majorly overflowing mailbox yesterday, I found the March edition of Traditional Home. (by the way, I have a serious problem with magazines. I actually get really excited at the beginning of every month in anticipation for all the new issues. I know, really crazy.) Anyway, I came across this really cute article about a mother/daughter duo that took on the project of decorating the daughter's post college apartment. The article mentioned the blog they wrote together, Good Bones Great Pieces. It's all about good fashion and good interior design, and we know I'm all about that.

P.S. I have lots of fun interior design ideas from the Builder's Show! More to come...

Vacation!!

I'm off to Sin City for the 2010 Builder's Show, so I'm taking a blog-vaca. I'll be back next week full of valuable information on 2010 Design Trends! So excited!! I'm also super pumped to be staying at the Venetian; I hear the interior design/architecture is out of this world...

Alice in Wonderland

Who else is as pumped as I am about the Alice in Wonderland movie by all time best fantasy director Tim Burton? Come on, put those hands up, I know you wanna! Really, who else could have been more perfect for the part? And the set design in the movie is going to be amazing.

Alice in Wonderland has been so inspiring to both the fashion and design world for so many reasons. For me, a major source of inspiration is the color. Just look at this amazing usage from an earlier version:
I see a million color palette options in just this one image. Check out this funky home decor to inspire an Alice in Wonderland theme:

This teacup lamp is from Anthro, but you could make your own and save the $200.
Yes, this is a real door. I couldn't find the information about purchasing it, but it is a real thing.

The following furniture is totally impractical, but hilarious:

I also found some amazing Vogue photo shoots with Alice in Wonderland inspiration:

In the newest issue of Marie Claire, they also featured a spread on Alice, so be sure to check that out. Have a great weekend friends!

Everything's Coming Up Roses

Dress via ShopBop, Pillow via ZGallerie

Blog Discovery

I just came across this amazing blog today and I thought I'd share. It's called:She posts such beautiful images you'll end up staring at all day. Like this bouquet made of vintage brooches:
Click here to experience this very chic contribution to the world wide web.

Coco+Kelley's Floral Post

I constantly rave about Cassandra's blog Coco+Kelley, but I particularly loved this recent post on florals. Check it out.

Interior Inspiration: Wedding

I apologize for the lack of post yesterday, things got a little crazy! I freaked out a little bit when I realized this past weekend that my wedding is in 9 months. I have no idea how that crept up on me, but it did. So I spent most of the weekend flipping through all my wedding mags I've collected and refining all the details. In Brides Philadelphia, I came across something that made me so excited. A couple was having a difficult time finding their wedding style, so they looked to their apartment decor for inspiration. Their apartment interior design united clean lines with vibrant colors and ornate flourishes.

Her gown inspiration was taken from the cream colored walls adorned with frames arranged in perfect rows and capped with crown molding. The gown has the same clean, structured feel:

This dress was her favorite outfit, so they used this as the cake's inspiration. Looks so cute! Their invitations were taken from all the vintage postcards they collected and displayed around their apartment. The flower colors were designed around the painting in their home, that the bride actually painted.

I definitely can't turn to inspiration for my wedding from my house (the colors are definitely not something I'd pick for my wedding) but the plums and golds from this room are talking to me for sure. I'm going for a more darker eggplant purple, but you get the idea:

In the Traveling Mood

My trip is less than 2 weeks away! I think that is what's getting me through my least favorite month of January. I always love to see how people dress for flights. It's said that if you're wearing the classic sweatsuit ordeal, the person with their chic sunglasses and pashmina scarf sitting next to you will get better service. Hey, I didn't make the rules, just sharing what I've heard. Anyway, here's a little flight outfit inspiration for those of you who are also taking a trip soon:

Just kidding! Here are some realistic options from Who, What, Wear:

Pashminas are a staple when traveling. You can easily use them for a blanket, too (and they don't have to be the real thing. I have tons in my closet from good 'ol Chinatown.) Also, in the summertime, I like to wear my flats without socks. I can't tell you how many nightmares I had the first time I had to take them off and walk barefoot through the metal detector. NEVER AGAIN! I wear those little half socks only for that portion, and then tuck them in my bag. I advise you do the same...

I've been to some great airports and then I've been to some horrible ones. I've never been to one that the interior was amazing, so I decided to do a little research and now I totally know what airports to fly in:
Airport in Wellington, Arizona

Airport in Dubai:

Airport in Spain:

Hope I've psyched you up for some traveling!

2010 Book List

I have a sincere obsession with books. I love to collect them. Here are some of the fashion and interior design ones I aspire to add to my collection in 2010:

Interior Design:

Penguin Classics updated with stylish covers:

Fashion:

This sort of doesn't count as a 100% fashion book, but favorite recipes from the best fashion designers we know? Perfect.

A spin-off of their inspiring website, Who What Wear:

And for some lovely organization inspiration: