It opens like this.. "El Cosmico is an 21 acre nomadic hotel and campground in Marfa, Texas. In keeping with the belief that life should be a balance of adventure and do-nothingness...." Count me in! So much is happening these days that I am ever more grateful for, but the idea of running away to a remote getaway with miles of stars and quiet is always so appealing. Of course funky design, sunset soundtracks and camp cooking are just the extra pieces to get me to pack a bag and jump on a plane to wide open Texas. 

Trailers, teepees, yurts and tents dot this property inspired by "hippies, nomads, bohemians and those living a life of self-determination." Its the perfect spot to tune in and get centered. 

Follow along on my Wander pinterest board for a little reminder to breathe in the air and look around at all the beauty. 

all  images via El Cosmico

Audrina and I had so much fun re-designing her bedroom that we were pumped to jump in and start on our next project- the combined living room, dining room and kitchen. Audrina initially started out on her new home re-design with her master bedroom because she was just about to have new baby Kirra and really wanted a place to be cozy and to nest. She soon realized that she was spending most of her time with her family and the new baby in their great room and really wanted to get that space as shaped up as we got her bedroom! 

First thing first, inspo! Audrina sent me lots of great inspiration pictures for what she was hoping to achieve in the space, lucky for me I already had a good idea of what she was wanting- Boho/ Bali/Beach, functional, luxurious, tropical, pattern infused. I had also already been privy to her closet and how she likes to inadvertently match her shirts to her lamps (insert smiley face) so I was pretty clear on the design direction! 

Before

Before

Keeping her existing sectional, Audrina and I set about creating a comfortable, space for the family to hang out. One of the  major changes to the room layout was the shift of the sofa to face into the space. I really wanted to open up the space so that whoever was cooking in the kitchen could still feel connected to the rest of the space and vice-versa. Two low slung chairs with a subtle printed mudcloth provide additional seating and add that bohemian flair we were trying to bring to the space. I absolutely love the beaded chandelier it is definitely the glamorous, bohemian show stopper that we needed for Audrina's space! 

Audrina is such a great client, I love working with her because she has a great sense of style and really know what she likes! I think the space is a reflection of that and of her -  It feels so functional and cozy, but also designed and pulled together. Check out the articles in People and Architectural Digest and be sure to hop over to Audrina's blog to find out where all the pieces are from! 

Photography Credit: Carla Choy Photography

Friday inspiration! Feeling ultra grateful to do what I love and share it. Find your own fire. xoxo

I always say that the most important part of the success of a design project (and what happens to be my favorite part of being an interior designer) is the connection between the designer and the client. This couldn't be more evident than in the case of the design that I created for my virtual bff Kyla Herbes from House of Hipsters. First of all, this is the second time that Kyla and I have worked together. We first "met" when I did the design of her guest bedroom and really met when she flew out to the Seattle Showhouse and I was able to give her a tour around the house. When her and her family moved to their new home it was the perfect opportunity to collaborate again! 

Let me start by saying that Kyla is an amazing designer and stylist in her own right and I said more than once during the course of our working together "you totally dont need me!" But I think the fact that we both love the collaboration process so much and bouncing design ideas off of each other is what keeps us going! The amount of times that she has purchased a piece of art that I own, or emailed me saying "hey do you like this" and I literally just picked out the exact same item for another client is so many its spooky! 

Now lets get to the room! This space is the first area that you enter into when you come through the front door- its more of a "formal living room" so I wanted to dress it up a bit, but also make it ultra accessible for Kyla's family. I imagined Kyla having a cup of coffee or her kids jumping on the sofa in the space. I wanted it to feel welcoming but special. I think this was achieved by the mix of materials- shiny brass, organic woods and luxe velvets. I love mixing materials, textures, patterns and I think this room is the perfect example of how a layered room can feel so rich and have so much depth. 

Art is really important to me. I see interior design in itself as functional art- actually living in art, so bringing in special art pieces is really crucial to me and luckily equally important to Kyla. The piece from Tappan Collective is one of my favorites (I had spec'd this for another client and Kyla sent it to me asking me my thoughts on it- design brain connection!) and really sets the tone for the space. Its relaxing, ethereal, soft- everything I wanted this room to feel. The other art pieces are from Nicole Cohen  Kyla introduced this amazing photographer to me and I was instantly in love. She has so many beautiful pieces, go check it out!! 

So love this space, see all the details  here . its one my favorites, for one of my favorite people! So happy to be part of Kyla's new home and hey ready to tackle your other living room! Go check out the full reveal over on House of Hipsters, FYI the befores are pretty amazing!  xoxo

photo credit: Emilia Jane Photography

I'm headed to France next month and already planning for all the croissants I will be eating and museums I will be frequenting. I had enrolled in a beginner French class in preparation for my trip (and lets be honest my life) but sadly due to my crazy travel schedule criss crossing the US of late, I have missed every single lesson... So instead of buckling down with my Rosetta Stone I did what any design obsessed, newly minted Franco-phile would do, I turned to Pinterest for travel inspiration and immediately fell down the rabbit hole of all the places i would be finding treasures to bring home with me. 

So turns out I'm totally in love with Hotel Henriette in Paris. The rooms are to die for and don't you dare ask me which room is my favorite. I absolutely refuse to pick a favorite and I intend to switch rooms every night I am there. 

Follow along on my France Trip Board on Pinterest- I will be adding all the places I plan to visit! 

All images via Hotel Henriette

You guys! Have you seen the newest Fall collection from Nate Berkus at Target? I love all things Nate and Target has really hit the mark with this one. Target is such a great source for unexpected, affordable home pieces and I swear the collections keep getting better and better! I love Target especially for accent tables and textiles. Their pillow and throw collections are always great and its the perfect place to source trendy seasonal items that you might want to switch out because nothing is too expensive. 

Be sure to check out the Nate Fall collection, so many of the great trends I have seen for the Fall are happening here- rattan, gold accents and rich browns. Go grab some! 

A. Black and Gold Round Coffee Table B. Fringe Oblong Decorative PIllow C. Braided Woven Storage D. Stardust Bowl E. Striped Tassel Throw Blanket F. Over Tufted Shag Rug G. Inlay Tray H. Charcoal Earthenware Vase I. Metal Wall Decor

Love this video of a little behind the scenes action of the install of my design of  Julie Solomon and Johnathon Schaech's house. We had such a great time working together- I didn't want the project to end! Julie is so stylish and has such great taste that she made my job way too easy!  And seeing Camden's reaction to his teepee was my favorite thing ever! You can also read more about the project on the World Market blog here.  

Seems like I have been working on a lot of kitchen designs lately and wanted to share some of my tips when it comes to designing a kitchen and also what I am loving right now! There is a lot to think about when you are re-modeling a kitchen, unlike many other spaces in the home kitchens and bathrooms are usually spaces that need to do a lot of jobs as well as withstand the test of time because they typically end up staying put for a bit!  Case in point the 1970’s kitchen that I am currently working on! It hasn’t been touched in a couple of decades so its finally time for a facelift! 

Top Tips

Be practical! Think about all the functions for your kitchen- how do you use it? Are you a super cook? Do you love to entertain? Do you want to just make your kitchen disappear? These are all important things to consider when starting on your project. Although you love the look of carrera marble, its tough to maintain and if your countertops take a beating a quartz or other manmade material might be a better option for your lifestyle. 

Steer Clear of the Trends! You want your kitchen to withstand the test of time. In kitchen’s and bath’s I tend to recommend that my clients go with neutrals on things like the cabinets. Although a lime green cabinet looks amazing in a magazine this wont necessarily translate for many years and if you are planning to live with your new kitchen for awhile I recommend staying with the basics on the major pieces. 

Treat your tile and hardware like jewelry! These are the places you can have a bit of fun with. Be more adventurous with your tile choices and know that nickel, chrome, rose gold.. you can change up your hardware easily over the years. 

Brighten it up! I love me some lighting! In all spaces! Lighting in a kitchen is especially important. Here you have to consider decorative lighting as well as task lighting. A vintage pendant can make any space interesting and again this is an area that can be changed out of you keep your kitchen for 30 years! 

Trends that are not Trendy! 

I’m loving a lot of whites, natural stone and light woods.  There are so many amazing materials out there to choose from and dont even get me started on tiles! But truly I am really drawn to the direction of the kitchen being a space that takes its inspiration from nature, it should be a beautiful backdrop to create delicious meals for family and friends to enjoy. 

I love thick natural wood open shelving. 

Hints of brass or gold mixed with a surprising rich color. 

I have been seeing a lot of islands that are different material than the rest of cabinets and that is a trend I am really loving. 

Bench seating is always a hit with me! Anywhere you can lounge to drink your coffee is a plus! 

Ok I am going to go back to pinning incessant inspiration pictures. Follow along with me here! And in the meantime I hope you are inspired to create your own perfect kitchen oasis.