Why you shouldn't be afraid of mixing animal prints

If there is one thing that I am so into right now it's animal prints. All of them!

How chic is this outfit with cheetah pants? I am especially loving all things cheetah right now. (check out my home office cheetah on Made By Girl)

My new thing is mixing animal prints. Kinda loving the look of a zebra rug with leopard pillows. It's genius if you ask me and so hot right now...

I can even appreciate this tiger + leopard combo.

As you all have seen in my home office, I have cheetah print art, my zebra rug + leopard pillows. Like I have said before, things are always better in threes. Of course, this shot of the pair of chairs in my Manhattan office space just makes me fall in love all over again. 

office space of the day...my home office

This week, it was beyond an honor for me to be featured in Glitter Guide's "the chic office spaces of our favorite business women". So, I thought I would give you guys a personal peek inside my home office space...

My office makes me so happy. I love working next to the city sunlight and my guest seating area is so comfy, its so fun to have clients over for meetings. I'm constantly inspired, burning candles and making vision boards in this small but stylish little haven. 

GET THE STYLE:

1.These tufted chairs are the best things I have ever sat on, they make the perfect place for my guests to come and chat with me for meetings.

2/3. Honestly, I thank God for my friend Jen, her cheetah & love prints speak right to my heart and make me smile everyday. Love having these on my art wall.

4. My white leather chair is everything for me. It's good for my back and chic too.

5. Who doesn't love a good brass floor lamp?

6. A zebra rug completes just about any work space.

7. When I added these cute lion head pulls to my vintage desk it felt so complete.

 8. Gotta love this chic black & white pillow

9. Even though I think they are over played, I do love my moroccan pouf, It is the perfect footrest for chilling out in my work space.

images via MHJ

My new faux fur rug

When interior design is what you do for a living, it can be quite frustrating when you always find yourself wanting something new...

As many of you know, I have decorating ADD. I am constantly finding new images and things that I love and must have immediately. As a young girl, it used to drive my mom crazy. Now, I just pretty much drive myself a little nuts. I have been coveting this plush, white faux fur rug since the moment I laid eyes on this photo. 

Now, thanks to Rugs USA, its mine all mine. It looks so beautiful in my living room apartment I can hardly stand it. I walk on it just to walk on it because its just that delicious. As I fret around today prepping for a few photo shoots of my home this week, I fall more and more in love. Can't wait till see debuts her beauty and I get to share her in all her full glory with you all soon.

Sherwin Williams National Painting Week {My bedroom makeover}

 

Yep, it's finally here, my purple bedroom paint makeover. I mentioned last week that I was going to show you pictures of my new bedroom look, now that its national painting week I am sharing the story. When Sherwin Williams reached out to me about joining NPW and assigned me the color purple, I jumped at the opportunity. For me, purple is a gorgeous color, but I never decorate with it. I'm not really sure why, its just usually a last accent color but nothing I've ever really wanted to work with. At first I considered painting a piece from an antique store but then I thought, I really need to shake up my all white bedroom and make it more of a cocoon for blissfully deep sleeping. Game on!

I ended up going with the Emerald line of paint, in the color called "soulmate" and I absolutely love it. It's so soft and muted, reminds me of a color you would see in Paris. It completely softens the more modern furnishings I have in my bedroom.

I think most of you know how much I was feeling the all white thing this winter, but painting my room purple was everything I needed and more. Now my teeny little manhattan bedroom is such a cozy little jewel box. 

My most favorite area is my vanity. I absolutely love getting ready here and something about the purple sort of makes it feel more luxurious, especially with my little pink velvet vanity seat.

I really love the color at night too. It's such a dream to sleep with. Who would have thought I would love my purple bedroom so much? I'm not finished with the entire room, I need more art on the walls , a few more choice accessories and I think I am considering a new bedding look, too. For now, I am thrilled with it. 

Purple can be interesting to accent, so I went for white, black and gold...Here are a few of my favorite pieces...

mirrored end table//vanity table//white delta lamp//bengal bazaar pillows//atlantis clam shell//tuberose candle

Be sure to check out my purple co-hort The City Sage and her adorable makeover, or the rest of the bloggers and their color makeovers. They are not to be missed!

photography by Michelle James

My bedroom makeover...

So, a while back I think I mentioned something about painting my bedroom from shocking white to dramatic purple. At first I was hesitant but I was feeling I needed something a little more jewel toned. I am getting so excited to share my new bedroom with all of you because I am so happy I decided to take the plunge. 

What inspired me? Well, Sherwin-Williams is celebrating National Painting Week beginning April 15th, and they asked 14 top design bloggers to get creative with our very own paint projects! Each day next week, NationalPaintingWeek.com will feature color inspiration, painting ideas, expert tips, product information and one-of-a-kind projects from all of us to give some serious inspiration for your own spring home improvement projects.

Out of all the purples, I needed something soft yet decadent. I went with "soulmate" and I am so in love.

Stay tuned! 

Spring Decorating: Coffee table candy

I am seriously still obsessed with my mirrored coffee tables. One of my favorite things to do at home is change my coffee table decor around each season. Right now I am thinking It's about that time to refresh the coffee table with some spring time accents. 

Click to buy: Decor-Pretty amethyst candlesticks, Arteriors Casper Skull, C.Wonder Mint Green boxes.
Books-
I love your style by Amanda Brooks. Such a fab book with amazing tips and great photos.
Hue by Kelly Wearstler. I love the blue color of this issue.
Time and Place by Steven Gambrel. He is an interiors genius so this book will have you wanting to redecorate asap.

A bedroom side table

The next thing on my shopping list...

 Typical of New York, my bedroom is particularly small and I refuse to give up my big bed. So, I am in search of the perfect small side table that will fit that area. On the one side, my large vanity fits perfectly but on the other, I need something small and sweet, just enough for a little lamp and an accent or two. By the way, I am collecting my favorite things on luvocracy. Check em out! 

images via bedside stylings

Loving Lamps Plus

Things around here are so crazy right now, so forgive me for not posting as often as usual. I have been trying to get everything with clients up to speed and my new apartment ready before my trip to Spain. Yes, I am heading to Madrid for work and a little bit of play next week...

Thank goodness for people and companies who make shopping for decor oh so easy and seamless, like Lamps Plus. Where I decided to get a few things to beef up my vanity area. I really wanted to make it fresh and modern yet still girly glam. 

The robert abbey delta lamps (my current obsession) look so fresh atop this gorgeous white desk, right?

Once I started shopping, I literally couldn't stop. I knew for my new space I wanted a super fluffy white rug. I also knew I needed to get some brass into the mix so this gorgeous mirror and floor lamp were the perfect additions. I also fell hard for leatherette lamp shades for my new brass vintage babies. 

So far, I am loving everything. Decor success!

secret of domestic bliss #54...glossy black doors

The decorating of my new apartment is coming along rather quickly. Its amazing what a girl can get done when she is on a mission. One of the first things I had to change was the inside of my front door. I have always longed for glossy black doors inside a home, and I finally made it happen for myself. 

(P.S. to see more progress on my apartment and for updates on my latest projects sign up for my newsletter here)

There is nothing more chic than gorgeous, dark and glossy black paint. Do not hesitate to add a little chic to your world with a gorgeous black door, especially if the finishes on the knobs are gold or brass. So very stylish. 

Don't you just want to walk into this???? This photo inspired my own door. love! 

1) Ashlina The Decorista 2) decorpad 3)nate berkus 4)martha stewart living 5+6)mfamb

Wallcolor Wednesday {grey + beige = greige}

The walls in my new apartment are finally done and I am just smitten with the color. It's a soft greige that really just warms up the space. I love the way metallics look against the color and small pops of black look fabulous too! The greige creates such a cozy and ethereal look, I can't wait to throw in some pops of color to really make the walls sing...

I love the way the beautiful outdoor lighting hits the soothing walls, makes for such a dreamy space. 

couch contemplations...an aqua tufted sofa

Okay, I've nailed down the wall color for my new place...at least I think so. I am going for a GREIGE (grey and beige mix)...and I seriously love that word, it couldn't be cuter. 

To go in my seriously teeny studio, I want a big pop of color and I think I have fallen for this amazing tufted sofa. So colorful and full of personality...

This is the exact photo from the website. It's curvy and buttery in leather. I looooooooove it.

What do you guys think?????

Friday fun with The Decoristo...my NYC apartment

Wallcolor Wednesday {horizontal stripes}

Already have my mind going for the new apartment and I haven't even gotten the keys yet. I am seriously thinking that we are going to do some fun horizontal stripes down our long corridor to the bedrooms. I think it can be such a fun and playful way to perk up a long hallway, no? Add some pretty frames and fabulous photography and we have an insanely cool view from our bedrooms.

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bliss in the kitch' {so crisp and so clean}

It's moving week for me!!!!! So excited to pack up my things and head in to my new place. What I am most excited is the kitchen in my new space. It's nice and big (well for NYC) and ready to be cooked in. When I spotted this pretty white kitchen I felt my heart just giddy with new kitchen excitement. 

I love all white kitchens but what they need to be more pretty and clean, is a hint of classic black. It's a genius combination.

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Wallcolor Wednesday {creme de la creme}

So, I finally found an apartment. fingers crossed it all goes smoothly and I will be moving in less than 2 weeks. The apartment is gorgeous and as you can guess, I have been obsessing over my bedroom wallcolor. I love so many colors, black, white, deep blues, but for some reason lately I have been secretly in love with beige walls. More cocoa beige than just plain beige, I feel like it could be a very serene feeling room. Seems like a boring color, but I almost feel like it would be such a fun challenge. My mission...to make beige work it! 

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The Art of Living...gorgeous natural light

As I have been endlessly searching for the perfect apartment in the city, I have come to realize that you just can't have it all. Well, maybe you can on the upper west side but anywhere in the middle of Manhattan you are probably going to compromise on an amenity or two. I have come to terms with maybe not the perfect sized closet or bathroom but something I will not part with...ample sunlight. I simply could never wake up to a dark apartment and be happy. Sunshine makes me utterly blissful and how beautiful are those morning coffee moments with bright sunlight? 

images via everythingfab and decoristadaydreams

white walls and gold mirrors...

A lovely and very chic decorating combination, white walls and chic ornate mirrors make such a fabulous mix. Hoping that my new NYC apartment allows me to paint, however, just in case that is not the situation, I'm daydreaming of ways to work with white walls. These are such fabulous examples, no?

NYC apartment inspiration...sophisticated decor

Ok, so the heat in new york city is getting pretty apparent. Sigh, makes me miss my southern california weather. Having said that, I know I can't complain...new york city is so chic and sophisticated. I love it.

I have some exciting news...I have found my dream apartment in the city and I am looking so forward to settling down and moving in. I go over and over in my head for apartment decor inspiration and this photo just makes me swoon! Black, cream and candles, I just love the sophisticated style!

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the decorista NYC apartment inspiration {alexander wang}

For the time being I am staying with family in NYC and have now made the decision to get my very own apartment in the city. So this weekend I will be prancing merrily around the town looking at real estate...something I truly love. There is so much to consider when hunting for a space (i am open to any and all advice) but of course all I can think about is the inspiration. This alexander wang apartment is so right up my alley. I love the dreamy light walls, and accents of black and white glamour. What girl wouldn't love this high glossy style.

to see the rest of this breathtaking manhattan apt...

interior design by ryan korban via this is glamorous