Which Room Do You Like Better?

Which room do you like better? Putting all analytical thinking aside.

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or....

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Which one did you choose?

The other night I was playing around on the computer and came across an interesting article on Apartment Therapy. I love when I'm not looking for something in particular on the Internet because that's when I seem to find/come up with the coolest ideas. Does this happen to you? Same goes for brainstorming blog post ideas, projects...I can sit for hours trying to come up with ideas, but the instant I stop trying a great idea pops in my head. It's always at random times too like when I'm getting up in the morning.

Anyway, back to the article. It explains in detail how the majority of us are drawn to the second image due to our emotional connection with the curved architecture. Were you? Not because it has a better decor or furniture, but because its curved lines are much more appealing to us. Notice the arched doorway, round edge sofa and coffee table, pillows, and accessories. It's easier on the eyes and more soothing and calming. Now if you were drawn to the first image that doesn't mean you have bad taste, it just means you like the structured, linear look. It's all about finding the balance that appeals to you.

I'm Seeing Neon

Vanessa Colyer Tay

Casa

EM Design Interiors

Enjoy Events Co.

Well guys, neon is no longer just for the Vegas Strip. They've been popping up all over in homes and I'm not complaining one bit. It's such a fun, modern accent. Although a bit spendy, they sure do look pretty neat. My girl, Emily, practically started the YOLO phenomenon with her neon sign pictured above. She came up with the saying before she even knew there was a song about it. She's cool like that. I think a neon sign would be so fun in my living room, but I don't know how I would decide on a phrase. Would you want a neon sign in your home? What would it say?

Crazy Cat Lady

By Emily Henderson

Happy Friday!! Who else is excited for a crisp fall weekend? This past week we really got a taste of fall here in Iowa and it is wonderful. Temperatures were in the 50's and leaves are finally starting to turn color a little. Usually I'm such a hot weather girl that when it hits 50 I want to pull out the winter coat, hat, and mittens. You'd think after 22 years of miserable, long Iowa winters I'd be used to it and see 50 degrees as treat compared to the negative temps we have December-February. I don't know what's gotten into  me  this year but I'm absolutely loving the "cold". It's so nice to not be sweating the instant I step foot outside and I love the briskness in the air. Plus, without the humidity it's like a good hair day everyday.

A friend's baby shower is this weekend so I'm looking forward to catching up with friends and doing some celebrating. Next weekend I have my sister-in-law's baby shower so lots of baby talk happening. I"ll keep this post short and sweet so I'm sharing a few of my favorite things from the week.

Have you checked out this week's one room challenge update? I talked about it last week here, and upon discovering I have pretty much been obsessed with it since. There are some pretty amazing interior design projects happening. One of my favorites to follow is this killer bachelor pad. That is one lucky dude.

A fun fact: I love cats. You know how some people are dog lovers and own like 4 dogs? Well, I'm a cat lover. Always have been, always will be. Ever since I was a kid I loved playing with my kittens. I took my cat-sitting (Yes, I felt like I had to babysit the little kittens constantly. What if they forgot to eat?) duty very seriously. So seriously that my sister and I would give them "lessons". I'd like to think they loved it. Anyway, anytime I see a cute cat/kitten I instantly squeal in that annoying high-pitched voice. When I saw this video of Aslan, Grace's new kitten, you can only imagine my reaction... You have to watch it until the very end, but that's all I'm going to tell you. If I could force everyone into watching it I totally would. That's how confident I am that you will love it, even if you aren't a cat lover. So here it is, the cutest video ever. 

Have a great weekend!

One Room Challenge

Last year's ORC finale by Design Manifest

Hope your week is going well! Typically Wednesdays are set aside for Wednesday Wish List but to be honest, I'm starting to stray away from that series. With work and class, my blogging time is a bit more limited than it was in the summer. So when I do have time to post I'm finding I'd rather share with you guys other things beside my wish list. From time to time I might share a list of things I'm loving, just not as regular as in the past. How's that sound? Also, please let me know if you like (or don't like) a post, so I know if I should be doing more of a certain type.

Last night while browsing one of my new blog favorites, Design Manifest, I came across the One Room Challenge. It's a 6 week long challenge where interior design bloggers decorate or re-decorate a room. Now 6 weeks is not a long time to finish an entire room, so to keep motivated, the participants share weekly updates on their blog and link to each other so everyone can follow the process and are sort of held accountable. I don't think a winner is chosen at the end of the 6 weeks so it's more of a "here's the chance to finish that room in your home you've been putting off for months" challenge which I think is pretty clever if I do say so myself. There are a total of 20 interior design bloggers that were selected to participate in the challenge and it's also open to the public this year. The One Room Challenge officially kicked off last Wednesday so I'm a week behind. I thought about joining the challenge and "finishing" my apartment, but then I started thinking about it and that would be really unfair. While everyone else is slaving away trying to finish their room in time, I'd be over here straightening a frame on the wall and reorganizing my shelf accessories. My apartment is pretty much complete and I actually shot a video of it on Monday! Now I'm just trying to figure out how to edit the video and stuff... Once I figure that out I will officially reveal my apartment!

Anyway, if anyone has a room they want re-decorated, I'd love to do it as part of the One Room Challenge! Let me know. We could do it as an e-design, meaning you would send me photos of the space and then we'd discuss designs/inspirations/budget and I'd select the items for you.

Go check out the participants as they begin their 6 week long One Room Challenge!

Images via

Update Your Bedroom With 5 New Items

Pillow | Throw | Lamps | Chair | Furry Stool

BEFORE

Re-decorating can be overwhelming, I get it. You already spent money on the headboard, end tables, and bedding, but as time passes you change your mind and would like a different look. Feeling like you have to completely change everything in the room to create a new feel, you get discouraged. After all, that can mean lots of money and time.

The truth is, it does not take a complete overhaul to update a room. Just a few new pieces can completely transform the look and feel, and all it takes is a couple hours. How's that sound for re-decorating?

This bedroom before was nice. It's calming colors makes a great getaway after a busy day, and I love the velvet bed frame. However, let's say you're looking for something a little more playful with some color. You grew tired of the dusty grey and green and need some flavor in your life. Tearing down wallpaper is not an easy feat, so that's out of the question. Instead of bringing in color with paint (which requires moving furniture, taping, time, etc., more time...) we're going to use textiles and a couple fun lamps to bring in color, pattern, and texture.

I added just 5 new pieces that transformed the room from Traditional Grey to Cheery Global.
1. These pillows are fun, vibrant, and the perfect dose of exotic.
2. A throw folded across the bed brings in nice texture and repeats the red and salmon color found in the  pillows.
3. I like having alternative seating in the bedroom like a chair and foot stool to drape clothes or sip your morning coffee.
4. The fur stool is so fun and brings so more needed texture.
5. These foo dog lamps I think are what pull the whole room together. It adds a little extra blue color and ties in the global theme.

The key here to making it work is keeping the color scheme similar to what it was before by still using shades of blue and grey and pulling the pink from the pillows. I love the overall look of mixed patterns and textures in a room. The wallpaper wasn't my favorite before but it works great here after we added a some more prints and color.

Do you like the changes? Do you have a room that could use some sprucing up and aren't sure where to start?

What I Bought in September

Whenever AG jeans are on Hautelook things get pretty impulsive around here. Let me back up first, AG jeans are my ultimate pair of jeans and Hautelook happens to sell them for a portion of the retail price. If you've shopped on Hautelook before, you know things sell out quickly. Like within hours. You also only have 15 minutes (I think) after you add an item to your cart to check out or they will be up for grabs again. So a couple weeks ago, I knew AG was going to be on sale starting at 10am CST the next morning. Once 10am rolled around I instantly visited Hautelook and scanned the items for sale. I quickly considered the different pairs of denim and went to add a pair to my cart only to find my size was sold out. WITHIN THE MATTER OF 5 MINUTES. I refreshed the page and my size just so happened to appear again, and I was off to checkout. Probably the fastest purchase I've ever made. Usually I contemplate a purchase for days. Needless to say, I love my new pair of AG legging skinnies that I got for $60!

Technically I bought the red striped shirt, necklace, and blue tank top on the last day of August, but they hadn't arrived in time to include them in last month's haul. It was the final day to use my Anthropologie birthday coupon so I picked out these items and some home decor as well which I will show in my upcoming home tour. All 3 have been my favorite things to throw on this past month.

Meg Briam's Manifesto Ts shop was having a clearing out sale so all of her tees were half off! I scooped up this cute Moxie shirt that also came with a free Bare Minerals Moxie Lip Gloss. I had been wanting one of her shirts for a while now and love how cozy yet playful it is.

The leopard shoes and belt are from Target. I needed a different pair of flats for fall and loved the leopard loafers I'd been seeing everywhere. Of course, there are tons of variations out there, but these happened to be a great deal. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to wear them yet since bringing them home I realized they pinched my toe so I will be returning them...possibly for a bigger size.

I also picked up this super moisturizing lipstick at Sephora by Josie Maran. It's got a ring of argan oil around the actual lip color so it goes on real smooth. It isn't incredibly long-wearing but when it fades it doesn't leave that awful line on the inside of your lips (Am I the only one who gets this?). Plus it doesn't feel sticky or drying.

Hope you had a great weekend!!