making grey work...

I am about to do a fun project with Valspar paints and I am in serious need of some inspiration...

I have also been trying to convince my family how chic grey can be. They haven't quite embraced the chic-ness of grey yet so I am on a mission to prove how sophisticated this color really is.

I have always thought grey + white is one of the most glamorous combos. However, I love this mix with a light beige so much. The little hints of black make it look so much more masculine, which will appeal to everyone in my family. 

For a little mix of femininity, I really love this look for a guest bedroom. It's so cozy, yet still so glamorous and chic.

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beautiful architecture...

Within the next few days I will be leaving for Texas to spend some quality time with my family.

My dad is also using this time to get me to help him redecorate the family home. I've been putting together ideas and inspiration for the project. 

 However, what I love about New York, they just don't have in Texas. The architecture. I am so obsessed right now with incredible interior and exterior architecture. Ah, its just so beautiful, having a place with character. Intricate ceilings with moldings, shapes and details. Stair cases with curves for days.

 Even the exteriors have to be shape interesting to make for incredibly unique interiors. I love this rounded extension. 

 Probably my most favorite look is this white door facade. Wow. The moldings and teeny details. Even in white its just incredible. 

mint green

white doors

rounded ceilings

beautiful staircase

golden ceilings

White done right: White + Tan

As the summer comes to an end I am looking forward to embracing fall and all of its color glory. However, I do want to relish in the look of summer and one of my favorite color combos is white + tan.

It's so very California because the weather is warm and lovely all year round and all things earthy come into play. I am all about an all white room, even my living room is pretty much all whites but something about the tan breaks up the seriousness. I am just smitten with the look. 

 I'll be back in Austin, Texas (my hometown) next week and I am thinking that this look could be amazing in my family home...it's in need of a revamp. I will see to it that some of this action makes it in the mix. 

images via:

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10 things that rocked my world this week...August 24

1. In case you missed this feature on Glitter Guide...it literally made my week...

 2. This collection of gold + white bangles literally stole the show all week. I loved every minute of rocking these fab jewels. 

 3. Love turning the pages of the September issue of people style watch and seeing my decor thoughts. I love boho, but not when over done. 

 4. Took this cool shot of these bottles of Chanel + it turned out really pretty. I'm obsessed with taking photos on my iphone and playing with the filters.

 5. I loved this "love is patient" graffiti on the streets. It's one of my favorite bible verses. 

 6. I'm kind of in love with my dining room right now. Perfect little place for a candlelight dinner. 

 7. I am obsessed with gold wall sconces and I especially loved it on this tiffany blue wall with extra molding. Gorgeous. 

 8. Antique shopping is one of my favorite hobbies. I found this adorable little store with tons of treasures. 

 9. Macaroon trinket boxes are too cute. In the lovely pastel colors they make perfect gifts. 

10. Alexandra Von Furstenbergs new collection of ash trays and accessories literally took my breath away. Leopard print. Wood. Smoke. Python. Neons. Everything is just so good! 

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

NY Now: Home + Lifestyle market

Over the weekend I attended NY NOW and was seriously blown away by some things that would make the perfect home accessories...

I think a few of these things would be perfect in my home office. Now that my photoshoots have wrapped, I need new decor, right? First off, these NY letters with exposed bulbs are so fab. I'd love these in my office. Alexandra Von Fuerstenberg just always speaks my decor language. How fab are these ashtrays. I don't even know which one I would choose.

I could write little notes in these naughty/nice journals. They are too adorable. Oh, and we all know how I feel about skulls, the more of these babies the merrier.

 I love these little gold and glass jars, they could be so cute on my vanity, next to my cute matching vase.

 My end all be all is this faux malachite-esque tray. So absolutely chic and candles that match to boot. 

images all by me. 

LUXURIOUS LIVING: FORNASETTI

 I can't think of anything more luxurious than Fornasetti wallpaper on the walls...

I have always adored the sophisticated yet whimsical brand. It's so unique and fun. Remember when I stayed at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas and Fornasetti was in the closet...I almost died. I just adore it. The faces, the architectural elements, the butterflies, the suns, I want all of it.

When I was visiting NY NOW gift show this weekend, I found Fornasetti fragrances and their newest collections. You all can imagine my excitement for the new line which will debut in October. I am obsessed with home fragrance. 

So if you can't layer up your walls with Fornasetti, try a few of these accessories.

Fornasetti favorites by the decorista

Get the look with these luxe home accessories...

1. candle  2. Architectural wastebasket 3. room fragrance 4. gold ashtray 5. face room fragrance

 6. gold face plate 7. butterfly lamp

MORE LUXURIOUS SHOPPING POSTS:

Spanish Design: Javier Castilla

 I am such a fan of layers, in fashion and decor alike. What I love about this home is that it is completely bursting with highly fashionable layers...

 Decorated to the nines by Spanish architect/designer Javier Castilla. The elements of textures in this space are insane and I love the collection arrangements. The fabrics and the artwork are completely different but work together so well to give the space such an eclectic and glamorous look. 

Lots of black and lots of wood keep the space sophisticated, while the patterns and curious objects keep it whimsical and fun. 

images via

Nuevo Estilo

10 things that rocked my world this week...August 17

1. A little behind the scenes action for you guys today. I had a blast with 

Emily

, one of my absolute favorite photographers around. She made my apartment look so amazing for our shoot this week. So beyond excited for you guys to see the final feature.

2. My living room nook. I fall a little bit more in love with it each day. All white with bits of black and gold just makes my heart soar. My

Ankasa

pillow is so gorgeous in the middle of that marshmellow sofa.

 3. A little shot from my desk. Nothing makes a desk more lovely than lavender roses. 

 4. Oh, I am so beyond excited to show off my new bedding from my newest sponsor,

Biscuit Home

. My white duvet with lavender borders, just look absolutely perfect in my bedroom.

5. This necklace. It looks stunning on, however it also looks amazing as a decor piece, too. Jewelry is everything.

 6. So are chandeliers. This one in the Gramercy Park hotel is the closest thing to jewelry if I have ever seen one. 

7. New York City. These doors. How incredible are they? 

8. All I wanted to do this week when I had a moment to myself was devour my new book,

How to Decorate

. Its so good and filled with beautiful photos. Nothing better than that.

9. I scored this adorable little glass and gold striped vase in one of my favorite thrift markets. I am so in love with her, she is just so adorable. 

10. I always love to give you guys some

wise words

 because they enrich the heart and inspire your soul. This one really struck me. Lovely. 

Happy Friday & a few wise words...

Sorry for the late post today you guys, life has been pretty hectic around here...

 2 big photoshoots, out of town guests, planning new ventures, coaching calls, writing book #2, decorating beautiful spaces, etc. Sometimes, when things get so busy, its necessary for me to just decompress and reflect. I'm a Capricorn in New York City so I can get caught up in that non-stop work mode and it kinda gets scary. I can completely forget to take care of myself. When I saw this quote something inside me just perked up. How long has it been since I sat down and though about what I want most out of life? Do you guys remember to do that? I don't. So as of now, I plan to spend the remainder of my weekend thinking on this. Making sure that my hearts desires are getting fulfilled and I remember that self care is #1. I always tell my clients this, how could I have forgotten to remind myself?

image source

more dalliance...

I may be waxing poetic about these gorgeously colored rooms decorated by the gals at dalliance, but I just can't help but adore the richness in the color. It makes my knees weak...

and I can't help but gush over a sitting room like this. I mean, hello, deep teal walls. Agh, I wish my apartment in nyc had space for a room like this. It's so unfair. I think I may need to move somewhere with more room. If I did, I probably would change every room decor about 50 times. That's okay, right?

Let me just say that not only is this little vignette bursting with beautiful color, but this Veuve Clicquot art piece with pearls and gold must be the most fab thing I have seen in a long time. I would put it in a powder room, black walls and just this art. I'm just having way too much fun imaging it...

image via dalliance design.

The right accessories for the bedroom...

 Right now I am having a love affair with jewelry. My new stylist has gotten me addicted to have beautiful baubles all over myself and also my vanity area...

So, when the girls from Dalliance Design sent me over some of their design work, I knew we were decorista soul mates. They use rich colors (hello hot pink), mirrored pieces, gold, more gold, and beautiful vintage things. You gotta love that!

 Yesterday I shared with you all this gorgeous little secretary desk nook. So, I wanted to give you a glimpse of the rest because I fell head over heels for it. There is something about a secretary desk that just gives me such a sophisticated feeling. My grandmother would always keep her stationary and bills in hers. Must have made bill paying so much more glamorous. 

images via dalliance design

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.

NYC Hotspot: CASA LEVER

Over the weekend I went to one of my favorite spots, Casa Lever. I am so in love with the vibe and the decor, I knew I had to share with you...

It has an uber sophisticated city vibe. It's one of those places in New York, where everyone says "you'll meet your husband". To me, its so much more than that. I love feeling that old NYC feeling when you go have a cocktail somewhere and when the decor is great, its THAT much better. You feel like you are on some sort of ship, the way its decorated. The banquettes and the curvy shape of the bar give that feeling. The ceiling is tricked out with a golden honeycomb pattern and brass mirrors are everywhere. They didn't skimp out on anything.

 Not only is the food + wine just so rich, so are the Andy Warhol art pieces of many of your favorite celebs from the 80's/90's. It's so fun to hang out amongst their faces.

 The red in the carpet and the tables is so deep its just stunning and those brown tufted leather chairs are to die for. My favorite place to sit are the side round booths, they give such a cozy vibe with outrageous chandeliers, brass mirrors, and swanky black leather. I really love this place.

all images by me

10 things that rocked my world this week...August 11

1. I adore animal prints, in fashion and especially home decor. I love to mix them and in my living room right now is this amazing zebra rug+ these super pretty pillows. 

2. I also realize that in my life is mostly black and white. It's my absolute favorite combo.

 3. At the flower market this week, these purple beauties just stole my breath away. The color so rich + vivid.

 4. The bathrooms at Morimoto in TriBeCa are absolutely insane. I love the endless floating flowers. 

 5. I finally found the perfect bar cart art. I love the way these sexy little cheetahs look next to my cocktail area.

 6. An afternoon spent at the The Plaza Hotel is never a waste...

 7. Neither are brunches in little Parisian restaurants where we practice speaking French.

 8. Absolutely in love with my gold sconces with black candles. It's such a fun look.

9. I've been perfume shopping because I need something new. So, I was sampling the latest frangrances from Oscar de la Renta and I think mi corazon was the BEST smelling perfume I've smelled in forever! 

10. Deep and rich hues of berry and magenta just made my day brighter. This rug is bananas! 

all images by me

Above sofa swag...

As I am prepping for a big photoshoot in my apartment this coming week...

I am trying to make sure that the area above my sofa looks perfect! To be sure I have the right look going on, I am seeking out some of my favorite looks and getting every possible idea lingering in my head. I know one thing for sure it must be over the top glamorous!

First things first, gold is a must. I have an amazing pair of gold candleabra scones that I adore. That's where we are starting from. Then I will put maybe some fab artwork between the stunners.

I also love this pair of mirrors and the tall black lamps...oh, it looks so good. In fact, this room makes me rethink my whole perspective...

images: 1,2,3 design crisis// 4, psilovethis 

daydreaming in black + white...

As much as I love color, I love black + white...
It's the perfect combination because it is the ultimate contrast. Lately, I have been noticing, I am attracted most visually to high contrast. Right now, I am imagining my dream home and Carolina Hererra's Manhattan showroom would be my home entryway. Fabulous, no?

I adore this room and how perfectly the sofa size sits in the window nook.

This living room...so simple yet so chic with just moments of black and white.

 Now this bathroom is loaded with color, but the real goodness comes from the pops of black and white. Chevron and stripes. Such a bold little combo...and who wouldn't want this bedroom wallpaper?

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Trend Spotting: Animalistic

This isn't just your ordinary taxidermy on the walls...

I love a good antler and by all means I appreciate the style, however I am kind of over seeing the same look everywhere. What I am really into right now is seeing different animals on the walls. How fabulous is this cheetah head over this chic home office area? I can hardly deal with how much swag she has. 

Then in this bright white and black entryway, I think this black horse head looks so good. I love an art wall with eccentric items mixed in. It looks so good and well put together. I am so digging this look right now...

images: 1- sea of shoes 2- style at home 

office space of the day...all white everything

I love this office space decorated by my friend Anna Antunes. I could totally work from here today...

all white everything + metallic accents + topiaries + big wood plank floors + lattice screens + candles =

domestic bliss