November 9, 2009

Sneak Peek: Paloma of La Dolce Vita!

Today marks 'day 1' of my vacation which means it's times for our weeklong sneak peeks into my favorite bloggers' homes! I'm beyond thrilled to have Paloma of La Dolce Vita as our first guest of the week! Just as the name would imply, La Dolce Vita is oozing with sweetness - from inspiring interiors, to fantastic fashion, and more. But the real icing on the cake is that Paloma couldn't be a sweeter person herself! Today she's kindly welcoming us into her beautiful home. Enjoy!

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I was both excited and a little nervous when Crystal asked me to do a guest post on Plush Palate. I thought about all of the projects that I would like to undertake at my house and how I wouldn’t have enough time to finish them by the time she needed my post. Then I got to thinking about the task at hand. Crystal wanted me to share a room in my home that is special to me or that I spend a lot of time in. I work from home, so I pretty much live in my office most of the day, but my favorite part of the day is when my husband, puppy, and I hang out in the family room in the evenings after work. Like any design-minded person, there are several things that I’d like to change in this room, but all in all, I really do like it. 

My coffee table is stacked with interior design books and magazines. Although I love my bowl of starfish, I usually have to put it up on a bookshelf because my puppy, Tate seems to think that it is a bowl full of treats.
Earlier this year, my husband and I took the chairs in the background and completely breathed new life into them. We think they were from the 1950s. We removed the dingy powder blue velvet they were covered in, painted them, and had them reupholstered in a more modern, graphic fabric.

My Suzanne Kasler Quatrefoil Lamp is one of my favorite pieces in the room.
I also adore my Penguin Classics Collection and get a lot of compliments on them. I like that they add color to the room without being too obvious.

My design style is more masculine in a sense, but I always add a touch of glamour. In our family room, a pair of mercury glass candlesticks and a starburst mirror do the trick!

I am all about the balance of masculine and feminine aesthetics, so I think this vintage seltzer bottle from the 50s and strong “C” typeset letter from Anthropologie round out the fireplace vignette perfectly.

My favorite "accessory" in the room would have to be Tate, who spends most of his day in our family room. 

November 6, 2009

Sparkles + Late Nights in...Seattle!

Happy Friday, lovelies! I'm especially excited about this one because next week I'm treating myself to a week-long vacation in Seattle!! It's where I grew up and the place I still call home. I can't wait to be back in the beautiful Pacific Northwest!
The week's events are already booked with sparkly outfits and late nights! On the list is dinner with Cassandra, Erin, and Sarah, a stylish wedding, girls night out, coffee and lunch dates, and a slumber party with high school friends! And of course, a shopping marathon and some quality time with the BFF.
I've also got some pretty exciting stuff planned for the week here on the blog! When I took a poll on twitter to find out what you'd most want to know about your favorite bloggers, the answer was unanimous: To see the inside of their homes! So, I'm bringing you sneak peeks into 5 fabulous ladies' homes for the entire week! You won't want to miss this one (these are ladies I'm sure you already read)!

xoxo Crystal

*images via julia.

November 5, 2009

Coveting the Convex


The convex mirror took awhile to grow on me, but now that it has, I can't get enough of these bulging surfaces. The rounded edge and curvy center make it the perfect antidote to any square-plagued room. Of course there's also the light it casts and depth it creates that make a convex so wonderful. But really...it's something different and that's reason enough for me to like it!!

November 4, 2009

I Spy a New Trend...


Embellished tights are popping up everywhere these days - and not just on elementary school girls! What do you think? Do you heart them?

*images via julia. and HauteDesign


Riveting Rental in San Francisco


The other day I stumbled upon this fantastic San Francisco apartment on the New York Times and haven't been able to get it out of my mind since. The tenant, Grant Gibson, an interior designer, offered his landlord a deal: for two months' free rent ($3000) he would renovate the place. This sounds like a win-win situation to me and one I'll definitely keep in mind for futures moves!
He sanded the floors and stained them walnut. He also framed pages out of an old book and used hand-me down items, like an antique Turkish rug for a budget friendly way to create high impact style. 

Mr. Gibson added built-ins to heighten the architectural presence of the space and added mirrors at the back of the cabinets to create depth. 


A few investment pieces, like the beautiful secretary and painting above, matched with practical touches like these bamboo Roman shades from Target, are the perfect blending of old and new, expensive and economical. The result? A cozy and luxurious rental, anyone would be happy to call home!

*Be sure to check out Mr. Gibson's portfolio. It's stunning!

November 3, 2009

A Few Lovely Ideas Via Lonny Mag

Do you live in a city where gardens and backyards are a thing of the past? Why not create your own little urban oasis with a indoor garden like this! 
Monograms are back friends and I am loving these by Leontine Linens! They're the perfect way to personalize a space and make home a true reflection of you.

Doing the dishes has never been so chic! This suzani serving tray from Decorative Things used as a dish rack base is nothing short of stylish genius!

*images via Lonny Magazine
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