College Decor 101

If only I had access to fun blogs, ikea, and the knowledge of consignment stores when I was in college.. my dorm room would have had a whole new look.. Fortunately for you, my readers, this advice helps not only the freshman but any woman living in an apartment or townhouse. Enjoy!

WALL DECOR

1. Bulletin Board is essential. You can use it for photos and your calendar. It is an easy way to keep things organized without spending a lot of money.  You can have one framed at a local framer or buy one at container store.

http://www.containerstore.com/welcome.htm

I use mine in my kitchen for wedding invitations, save the dates, and photos from my husband and I's honeymoon.

2. Mirror: Ikea has a great mini mirror It is called the "Honefoss". They are low priced and look really cool when you arrange them properly.  You can display them like the below photo or line them up vertically or horizontally. These mirrors remind me of organic chemistry and or a disco ball.. either way its a partay! 

If you are looking for a floor length mirror this one is perfect and has a pop of color!

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90181973

LIGHTING

1. Side Table Lamps: I love this double gourd lamp because its clean and simple but has a shape to it.  The shape is similar to one of my favorite lamps by Christopher Spitzmiller (the photo below the west elm). 

http://www.westelm.com/products/gourd-table-lamp-w482/?pkey=ctable-lamps

http://mecoxgardens.com/pageCatalogItems.asp?CATEGORY=54

http://www.christopherspitzmiller.com/

2. Floor Lamps: This is the adjustable floor lamp from Ikea is perfect and comes in several colors!

BEDDING

**Most importantly don't overdue it! You want to enjoy it for as long as you can and the best way to do that is not go beyond what your comfortable. Some advice that I received from, the beautiful and talented antiques collector and fabric connoisseur Rebecca Flannery of the Regency Group, is that your taste comes from inside your closet. In other words, look at the colors you wear and feel best in and those are the colors in which you would most likely enjoy living in. 

1. Quilt: A beautiful quilt is very nice to have on any size bed. You can do simple pillows with a plain blanket and a beautiful folded quilt at the base of the bed. I love this hand blocked bedding from west elm. It is very similar to one of my favorite designers John Robshaw (http://www.johnrobshaw.com/shop.htm)

2. Duvet Cover: I love this bright colored Ikat (so chic) printed duvet cover. I would do basic bedding with the duvet folded at the half way point of your bed. 

3. Blanket: Always simple cotton or wool, never chenille. You always want to be able to clean it. 

4. Sheeting: I love this sheeting from Pottery Barn. Its feminine and goes with anything! Its called the Jersey Ruffle Euro Sham. 

These are good examples of making a bed look spectacular! Thank you Elle Decor!

FURNITURE

The absolute best advice I can give is go to consignment stores throughout your city to find unique decorative items such as mirrors and furniture etc.. Some furniture in my husband and I's apartment is from a chic consignment store in Dallas, TX. called Again and Again. http://www.againandagain.com/ 

follow them on twitter @againdallas.

A couple of my favs in our apartment in Houston!

* Chairs: Again & Again - I had recovered and painted white lacquer

* Parson's coffee table: Again & Again Consignment

* Venetian mirror: antique mall in Auburn, Alabama

"Traditional design doesn't have to be so predictable it should just be about good design.. a successful mix.. old and new" 

- Charlotte Moss

College Fashion 101

I have had several young graduates from High School inquiring me about College. Today's Tips are on FASHION.

It is important to make a good first impression whether in a job interview or at a rush party. The best tips I can give are some that will carry over from day one of college to graduation. Fashion is a statement but is also classic. 

1. Never skip meals so you can buy a "going out shirt" that is cheap and temporarily "fashionable"..its just not healthy

2. Always search for that 1 shirt that is well made ie NOT made out of polyester or any other synthetic material (unless it is for an 80's party) watch it go on sale and then buy it with the money you have saved

3. Choose your college boutiques carefully... some are just going to rip you off 

4. Don't be afraid to call your mom and ask her if something is worth your purchasing...she will know especially since these day the 70's are back in :)

5. "work-out clothes may be your new best friend... wear them while you can because you can't wear them to work. But, never wear your PJs to class is kind of tacky and disrespectful to the profressor" - Mackenzie Kearns

6. Never be like this: "@ SororityGirlProblems 

I hate it when people think they can look at me and they can't. #SGP" 

STYLE

The PERFECT Bag!

 Longchamp Le Pliage purse. I love them! They are incredibly light, durable and CHIC!!! They come in fun colors and also different sizes. They are great for traveling too! 

http://www.longchamp.com/en/le-pliage-women-255.html

Nordstrom or Neiman Marcus

The PERFECT looks!

Topshop dress & Anthropologie Belt. Can be both dressed up or down. I love the french blue dress with a bright colored skinny belt.

Topshop & Anthropologie

 This look is chic and fun for a rush party or a date night. Its flirty, but refined. I love the fringe!

Topshop

@Topshop_tweets

Nothing like a brightly colored dress to look like you mean business but are full of life! Cinched in waste is extremely flattering!

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Neiman Marcus

Boho Chic Tory Burch "Shelbee" dress!!! I feel so honored! The model should have been blonde..

Love this bright colored top with below the knee white skirt both by Tory Burch! A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E

@toryburch 

This is a cute outfit for your first day of class or first Day Date ;). J CREW @JCrew_Insider

Love this blush colored dress with flats and jean jacket! I am so sad I gave away my jean jacket from college :(. JCREW

Three cute dresses for teas or date nights!! JCREW

BCBG high waisted shorts! flattering vertical stripes and great color! wear with a white tee or oxford. Thanks to Teenvogue for this tip! @TeenVogue

Anthropologie bright colored floral dress & top below! Precious & Summery!!

SHOES

1. Perfect Flat JCREW (throw them in your Longchamp when your heels start to kill!)

2. Perfect Wedge Tory Burch

3. Perfect Nude Heel Topshop

Lauren Santo Domingo AKA Fashion Guru

I absolutely love Lauren Santo Doming's apartment! She is a stunning fashion consultant and Vogue Contributing Editor. I just discovered this article on VOGUE.com and had to comment!

She is quoted as saying “I think that is the mark of a good apartment; you can never really be done—It’s like a proper wardrobe. At my house, it might be a small tweak, but you’re never going to see the same thing twice.”

Her quote is so applicable to my life! I know that when I get married I will be the exact same way... constantly changing my apartment or at least periodically updating it. It is so fun to be able to collect things with your husband throughout your life just like Lauren has done! Whether it is the weird tooby scientific thing on the table or the giraffe skull! Take a look at these gorgeous photos!

I also think Lauren's dress is beautiful and full of life and texture which plays off the earthy tones and hot colored accents in the apartment.

I love how she transformed her guest room into an office.. what better than to have your gorgeous shoes as your background in your office... I will start collecting those.........

Wishlist? JK..gorgeous..but i would NEVER be able to keep my jewelry that organized!

..and I love this puppy. What a great project if you have a son :). Ha.. good luck dads.

I love the silver tray with her collection of bath accessories on it! Its dressy but organized. According to "Get the Look" on vogue.com the gorgeous boxes are Lynn Feld Antiques vintage opaline boxes with bronze detail. (Bergdorf Goodman, NYC)

I also love the little Herend ring dish. When I got engaged I was given one of these and I love it! It is the loveliest place to keep these little dainty treasures.

And we end with Dos Warhols and Cole & Son Wallpaper (MY FAV!). Need I say more! Tre Chic!

PS Lauren looks comfortably elegant and I wish I could meet her.

Billy B.

"The Essence of Relationship Between the Client and the Decorator must be We."

- Billy Baldwin

After reading through two books dedicated to Mr. Baldwin, "Billy Baldwin Decorates" & "Billy Baldwin Remembers" I learned that he was not only known as a designer to the stars, but a style icon himself. He had impeccable taste, but said "if you can tell I did a house, I didn't" .

Mr. Baldwin's creativity flowed more freely when client's shared their opinions. He relied on the client/decorator relationship to drive the design.

He also had a pet peeve, client's with too much money. I love this about him because to me it showed he was a real person.

Mr. Baldwin said, "I can't tell you how many people I know who won't by something unless it's expensive. I know it isn't good business, but I tell them what I think anyway. I think an unpleasant atmosphere results from the entry into the obviously 'rich' room-the kind that makes you feel you're caught right in the middle between the devil of a museum ant the deep sea of the embarra de richesse."

Here are some of my favorite renderings and rooms from the books I mentioned above.

1949 "A Gentleman's Brown Living Room Accented with Bright Green and Punctuated with a Collection of Black and White Prints and Drawings"

I love the chocolate brown lacquer walls, and black lacquer table. His arrangement of artwork harmonizes the room as well.

Fabulous sofa print fabric, sunburst mirror and the rug is to die for..

I am personally obsessed with the double cushion ottoman & of course the fur rug! Favs!

1949 "A Pink-Walled Stair Hall in a Country Cottage, Its woodwork White Its Floor Painted Black with a Striking Rug and Runner of Black and White"

Orange Doors... Amazing

"The Things I Love" - Billy Baldwin

1. Clean Clean Color

2. Brilliant Flower Colors.

3. Lots of White

4. A 'Coming Home' Look in The City

5. Cotton Everywhere

6. Off-White Textured Materials

7. The Look of Comfort

8. The Banquette

9. Curtains As Simple As Possible

10. Off - White Rugs and Carpets

11. The Elegance of Simplicity and Honesty

12. A Room that is, Above all Personal