Foyer Restyle With Dressing Room Interiors + Permission And Perspective

Often times in my work I meet new clients who already have a clear sense of their own personal style.  Or perhaps they think something but simply struggle in closing their deal.  They WANT to wear this skirt with this top, but they just are not completely confident it would look right.  So here lies within the reason for my almost forty year old selfies Outfit Of The Day posts.  I feel quite silly at times, but then someone from the street or grocery aisle stops to say I inspired them to go for it... Be confident in themselves, put it together, and do it!  And my Wimmicks dots of insecurity gently fall to the ground or turn to stars.  

Sometimes all we need is permission.  And sometimes we need perspective that is not our own.  Isn't this the only way we learn more and grow and get better?  I am constantly looking to others' talent and inspiration when it comes to interior design, and whenever I get stuck, I want to know how someone else would do it.  I was forever calling my talented friend Katherine to come over and style my bookshelves and table tops before she moved to sunny Charleston. 

I went straight to BlackHawk Hardware for a can of paint after falling in love with Charlotte Lucas' choice of Lichen Green for the mill work in client's library.

My always #1 choice for vignette styling and accessories is Jamie Meares and Furbish Studio (see below Elephant figurine in images). I also nabbed a paper mache crane for my loo.

Lately I have been slightly obsessed with all the girls and their fab finds over at Deep Branch/K. Interiors and Dressing Room Interiors.  I mean I basically mashed together this image I saw on the K. Interiors inspiration board with THIS room at their studio to arrive at my own family room (Stay Tuned).  

I am a bargain gal, but who doesn't love high impact at an accessible cost?  Upon a recent Dressing Room Interiors Instagram stalk, I saw THIS sideboard and made a mad dash straight for their front door.  

I got the piece home and made a good start at it in my foyer but fell into one of those design ruts. That is when I reached out to Ariene for some help getting me back on my feet.  Ariene knows I love color, and she's got a killer eye not only for great pieces but for styling them.  Here is the piece in my foyer now...

And here is how Ariene helped me (over text!) get it to a place that I love...

And this is foyer now.  I walk in the door to this pretty space at the end of every day, and I walk down the steps every morning to see it!  Thanks to Ariene's beezneez eye, I am so happy with it!  

I'll be back soon with a resource guide of you like this look.  In the meantime, here's a look at some of the details up close, complete with a photo from a best friends wedding 10 years ago.  These girls have been my closest for over 30 years.  I was postpartum four weeks... the picture says it all!  Now, I recommend you run, not walk, and check out the Deep Branch and Dressing Room Interiors studio on 8th Street in Elizabeth.  It is filled with some of the most amazing consigned, refurbished and vintage pieces imaginable!

Designer Crush: Jamie Meares

Since I've moved into a new home and I have home design on the brain big time, I thought I'd share some of my inspiration with you here.  I have not spent nearly as much time gazing at Pinterest as I would if I actually had the time, but I do probably spend 1-2 hours a week studying and saving photos of inspiration.  I'm inspired by so many talented designers.  I want to try to get back to this place, with you, and my goal is to share with you at least one great source of inspiration for me each week.  It's like cake... so much better shared with friends!

I'll start with Raleigh's own Jamie Meares.  I adore this gal and her style and taste for so many reasons.  She's fearless and her style is 100% her own.  It's not to say she's not inspired by others. I'm sure she is, but her work is almost always identifiable.. it's her own!  If you're ever in Raleigh, hop on into Jamie's store, Furbish, and be sure to follow Furbish on Instagram for inspiration galore.  Oh, and while you're at it, definitely subscribe to her blog, i suwanee, via email.  You will look forward to every happy, colorful post!

Senior Style Muses

You may recall reading about Ari Seth Cohen's Advanced Style about a year ago.  His documentary style blog showcases the street style of mature women and men live from the sidewalks of Manhattan.  What I would give to see such artful sophistication donning streets of the QC!  These ladies and gentlemen are so inspiring!  Last week Vogue.com featured 8 Senior Style Muses You Need To Follow Now.  Everyone who truly loves fashion knows the Queen Bee of 'More Is More, Less Is A Bore', Iris Apfel.

Also included on that list were a few of Cohen's muses.  I truly don't think there could be anything more stylish at ANY age than Valerie von Sobel in the below outfit.  I mean just wow. Check out Vogue's full list HERE.

In other style and design news, I'm excited to have found what I think will be the most perfect simple bed skirt I've never been able find find before now... thanks to one of my biggie design crushes, Jamie Meares.  You better believe I was all kinds of excited when Jamie's Biz, Furbish, regramed one of my photos of a friend's living room I did a quick refresher on using a few awesome goodies from Furbish.  This python tray, pair of Chiang Mai Dragon pillows and Herringbone Pom Pom throw were all it took to elevate Caroline's room from pretty darn cute to really pretty darn cute. Go crazy shopping Furbish!

Pom Pom Puff Ball Overload

If I see one more of those fuzzy little pom pom puff balls hanging from some girls purse, I think I am going to snag them from her bag and force them down my throat until I choke and can no longer breathe!  So, that's how I really feel about overly popularized puff ball pom pom charm. Trends typically annoy me.  Not in the artistic creative, see how this designer articulates the trend compared to that one, but the way that I really simply cannot stand to do whatever it is that others are doing, or in this case, wearing.  Some of the more original fashion mavens....Bianca Jagger, Johnny Depp, Diana Vreeland, Diane Keaton, Iris Apfel, Jennifer Lopez and Michelle Obama.  The thing I love about each of these ladies (and gent!) is that while I may or may not identify with their personal style, I admire that they HAVE their own personal, consistent sense of style going on.  Jennifer Aniston and Kate Middleton too.  They do THEM.  Jen A, always so simple, monochromatic and fit, and Kate; always put together, hair combed, lip gloss and more often than not a nude pump....

Of course I say that, and then my style is ALL. OVER. THE. PLACE.  I tend to dress for the occasion and/or the people I will be seeing, and I tend to do that in a very maximalist way... whatever the style or occasion is.  One day it's bohemian, the next day classic, the next colorful and the next sophisticated.  

My (quite winded) point of this all is to do YOU, and every time I see this stupid little puff balls my face looks like an emoji I don't think is yet represented.  I'd be happy seeing one or two, but they are literally EVERYWHERE made my EVERY retailer.  That said, what do I know?!  I will brag on two of my favorite gal pal fashion bloggers, Blair Eadie and Bethany Diffey.  They both have their own thing going on and make that silly little puffball look so good everybody (except me) wants in on it.  Oh, and Jamie Meares over at i suwanee sells them at her store, Furbish and on line, I bet like nobody's business.

If you are diggin' the little pom pom puffballs, I've put together a list of the cutest I could find. Can't see those little fuzzy fellas down there?  Click HERE.