Hello lovely readers!

Today's post is about closets. As we know, a well-organized one can make dressing a much easier task.

My closet has been a work in progress. Originally, we had a spare room in our house that I made into a walk-in. But we have a more important use for that room now that our little one is here! So we got rid of the closet and made it into our sweetie's nursery.

Anyhow, that left me closet-less. So I went to Pinterest to start looking for inspiration on building one in the extension to our bedroom. One thing that helps when getting started on a project like this is knowing your dressing habits. I like to see my clothes, shoes and accessories all at once so I can easily decide what to wear. I also like to keep my formal, business and casual pieces in separate spaces so I know where to go to grab what. My walk-in had a vanity from which I was able to conveniently apply makeup, so that was an important feature I wanted to keep. Finally, since the new closet is in our bedroom, I wanted finished doors so the clutter wouldn't be the first thing we woke up to every morning.

Additional wish-list items to consider: a space for a laundry basket; an extra large bottom shelf for tall boots; separate installed drawers for jewelry, sunglasses, scarves, belts and gloves; ample lighting; appropriate space for hats; installed chest/drawers for undergarments and socks with separate compartments.

Here are some photos from the before and after:

BEFORE:


At first I was really excited about the walk-in closet. I liked having the space to myself, but once we did the makeover, I realized just how untidy it all really looked.


AFTER:

Once we did the makeover, I was much happier with the set-up! With all the clothes tucked away neatly and shoes and bags organized on display for easy grabbing, the look is not only more clean, but functional as well. 








All the pieces are from IKEA. The great thing about the IKEA closet builder is you can customize the interiors with shelves and compartments to hold your pieces. The display cases holding the bags, shoes, and accessories are actually IKEA's Billy Bookcases. For the wardrobes, we just took measurements to make sure they fit wall to wall and floor to ceiling.

What are some of your easy dressing and closet organizing tips? I'd love to hear them!

xoxo

Thanksgiving is just a day away! And if you're entertaining this year, you know table settings and decor are (almost!) just as important as food.

Here's some of my favorite table decor right now. You don't always have to go with orange and pumpkins. One of the best combinations is a chic mix of gold and silver, and you can throw in an elegant winter aubergine for some color.

Hello lovely readers!

Today I wanted to share with you pics of a before/after home project of ours that's always been in some sort of transition. If you follow TSM on Instagram, you might have seen a peek I posted last week. I wanted to share more details with you all here!

Despite being a focal point in our home, the room's structure - a patio door on one side, fireplace on the other and dining room opening on the third - left us with only one wall off which we could really work. And there lay our challenge. 

In the beginning we thought the space might make floor-seating a good option, so we plopped down a mattress and piled on ethnic floor cushions, pillows and throws. It got kind of tiring and we ended up not using the space as much as we hoped except for entertaining. 

To fix this problem, I started thinking about we needed most. One thing was a more efficient home office space from which I could work while doing other things in the house. But with office space often comes clutter, and we didn't want that out in the open as the first thing being seen. 





After finishing the more time-intensive changes like paint color, replacing the ceiling fan and removing the window dressings, we got to work on furnishing. This time around, we contained the floor seating to just one corner by the fireplace, and anchored the other side with a chaise. In the third corner, I placed an open-concept desk and solved the clutter problem by using stylish trays and boxes to complement the ethnic textiles in the rest of the room. I also wanted modern elements like a white acrylic chair and silver halogen track lighting to offset the global-chic decor palette.

Now the room is more functional while still keeping a cozy and relaxed vibe to complete work comfortably :)  




Our next big project will be to convert the spare room (which I currently use as an extra closet) into a nursery. I'll post updates on how it's progressing very soon, so stay tuned!

xoxo

I like making things look unique - when I look at stuff, I always want to change something, whether that means making it a different shape, another color or adding different finishings.

One way to get what you want - and also satisfy a creative urge - is to find things cheap and turn them into what you want them to be. Two great things about this process is that you (1) save money, and (2) get to work on a creative project and bask in the fruits of your labor.

Right now I'm on the hunt for a gorgeous writing desk. I'm loving traditional pieces that have a modern upgrade in a bold color with a glossy coat and come complete with great brass finishings. Here are some great examples: 

Image from Cococozy.com

While browsing through Apartment Therapy, I came across these great BEFORE/AFTER projects from a crafty little blog called Goodwill Glam.

CLICK BELOW FOR MORE

Interior décor can be an expensive endeavor. But if there’s one piece in a room that can make all the difference, it’s a fantastic light fixture.


Check out some of these chic examples of great interior decor made even better with awesome light fixtures as their centerpiece: 

And now for your Thanksgiving enjoyment, here are some photos of well-coordinated decor. Since most of us are spending today indoors anyway, why not feast our eyes on some good decor (since we'll be feasting our stomachs anyway ;)
 
For a sleek black, white and gold palette, check out this great example. The matching glossy black door arches and bookshelf add a glam look to the room which is carried through to the black granite floor. The gold accents in the vases, picture frames and chair add an element of luxury, augmented by the crystal chandelier. Finally, the sequined black-and-white chevron throw cushion adds some much-needed pattern and texture to the room.

Ralph Lauren

For a brighter, more classic look, check out this example alternating gold and seafoam seamlessly. This room is all about the dramatic gold ceiling-to-floor curtains and square moldings.

Maybe you've thought about adding some global accents to your decor but aren't sure which are good pieces to buy or worse, whether they'd actually clash with the decor you've already got going on.

The best way to get your own decor right is by understanding why great examples work. Global decor done well mixes different prints and pieces in a seamless, effortless way.

Here's one great example: layers of different print rugs, hexagonal Moroccan coffee tables, Indian screen-printed throw cushions, Safari-inspired zebra print furniture and antlers, and Moroccan poufs - we've got a lot going on here. But somehow, it manages to all look chic and put-together instead of becoming a cluttered mess. One reason is there's a consistent color theme in the decor pieces that ties them all together: we see the reds and oranges from the rugs being pulled through the couch cushions, and then also immediately complemented by the accents of greys, blues and black. The clean, grey walls provide balance to the busy room, while the glossy paint finish adds that chic factor.


Design by Melissa Collison

Since so many of us have been stuck indoors due to storm Sandy...

Here's some home decor inspiration for your day. 

The look of the day is: the Versailles dome chair.  So plush and romantic, it might be the perfect place to curl up and wait for the storm to pass.

Check out some of these great examples:

With fall right around the corner, nothing sounds cozier than lounging in front of a warm fireplace on a chilly night.

Check out some of these fine examples of great fireplace decor to find your own inspiration:
I loved the silver and mirrored accents in this eclectic-chic fireplace setting. The lime green and turquoise added great touches of color to make the space truly unique.

White minimalism was the theme for this ultramodern chic fireplace. The result is a clean space with strong lines.
This space is most influenced by the baroque-inspired painting above the mantle. Carrying the blue from the painting to the throw pillows on the couch unifies the whole room.
The contrast of the magenta pillows on the yellow and white striped chairs anchoring this fireplace creates a warm, cozy feeling in this room.
This fireplace may be my favorite because of the glossy black bookcases and rich, magenta couches. I can't think of a more perfect place to curl up with your favorite book than a rich, warm fireplace and this room provides the perfect space to do just that.

This fireplace is a perfect example of eclectic style: Moroccan side table next to modern mid-century chair, teal pouf and mix of glass hexagonal tables in the center.  If that wasn't enough, top it all off with unique touches like an Eva Peron painting above the mantle and a crystal sailboat chandelier.

What's your favorite fireplace decor?

Whether it's fashion or home decor, mixing different styles can produce truly unique results. The challenge is to do it in the cleanest way possible. Repeating themes - whether in your outfit or a room - is one way to successfully bring an eclectic look together. And focusing on one element in particular - like shoes or throw pillows - can make the whole process of coordinating accessories a lot easier.

The following photos focus on the ceiling as a way to give a room its distinct feel.
Interior Decor by Carden Cunietti

This first set shows the genius behind juxtaposing modern elements like halogen track lighting with traditional, more luxurious features like crown molding. It updates the entire space instantly by giving it a special feature that draws the eyes upward.

Interior Decor by Jordan Carlyle

In these photos, we see a stark contrast between the exposed loft-style ceilings and a glam-chic decor palette. This set is great because we're treated to an interesting and unexpected design element in the form of the unfinished ceiling to what would otherwise be a standard decor theme of black, grey and white with accents of a large mirror and a glass chandelier. The exposed ceiling makes it so much more than that. 

Images from Desire to Inspire

When a good friend from Cairo visited recently, she brought me these cute coasters featuring retro pop art Egyptian movie posters. They were so fabulous, they inspired me to create a Middle Eastern-inspired sitting area for our fireplace.

The first step was to create comfortable floor seating: piles of floor cushions covered with patchwork quilts from Pakistan. The floor seating is anchored by silver Moroccan lanterns atop cylindrical latticework side tables. Then I layered different textured and colored rugs with a low brass tray table.

For a little variation in seating, there's a sleek chaise lounge in the corner that I adore - it's the perfect way to curl up in front of the fireplace and read a book!

There are also a few modern elements to the room - including halogen track lighting and sleek silver floor vases - to balance the ethnic theme and keep the look fresh.

Do YOU have an item that's inspired you to create a special look, whether an outfit or a room?