Marble Palace

Today I am inspired by: Marble

My first year in Miami the boyfriend and I lived in a 40th floor apartment overlooking downtown and the ocean. It was beautiful. One of the things I loved most about the unit (aside from the stellar views) was that it had an entirely marble floor. There's just something very lovely about bare feet on cool marble.

Marble is one of the most versatile materials available when it comes to designing chic spaces. It's polished yet industrial, and can instantly add a touch of class and glamor to any room. Whether you like chic marble details or wall-to-wall marble flooring, there are lots of ways to incorporate this gorgeous material into your home:

iidudu

Decor Pad

Best Home Designs

Cococozy

Oyshis

Stylebeat

Lonny

Happy decorating!

Til next time,

Laura 

Road to Morocco

Today I am inspired by: Morocco

There's something about Moroccan decor that is so exotic and warm. Vibrant colors, jewel tones, detailed tile work––entering a Moroccan-inspired room is like being transported to another world.

Check out these design ideas and get inspired for your own indoor Moroccan paradise:

Digs Digs

A resplendent mix of deep jewel tones, multi-faceted tile, and stunning custom windows.

Lifestyle Home

This is one of those rooms that I wish I could take piece by piece and reassemble in my own (admittedly way too small) apartment. At the very least, I am coveting that incredible red rug and octagon coffee table.

Lulu Belle Design

Adding a bit of Moroccan flair to your home can be as easy as laying down a fun and vibrant tile floor.

Elements of Style

I could spend all day lounging in this sunny, happy room.

Interior Matter

Another view of that room I was drooling over above. Who could have thought it could get more perfect? A tiled fireplace and arched entryway make this even more of a Moroccan paradise.

The Marion Housebook

Moroccan textiles pop in an otherwise neutral bedroom.

Happy decorating!

Til next time,

Laura

Float Like a Butterfly

Today I'm inspired by: Butterflies

I have such a fondness for butterflies. They make me think of warmth and sunshine and childhood days spent at the beach. Of course, I'm currently up at my parents' house in the frigid Chicago suburbs, so there are absolutely zero butterflies fluttering around brightening my day (though I am enjoying all the cute chubby squirrels and the sweet baby deer).

If I could, I would have butterflies around me all the time. (Side note: an excellent place for this is the butterfly room at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Center. It is magical.) But since I can't, I have to rely on other ways to get my butterfly fix.

Just try not to get happy checking out this butterfly inspired decor:

Houzz

'Tis the season for whimsy! The butterfly chandelier lends a curvy twist to the abundance of straight lines present elsewhere in the room.

Panda's House

I'm delighted by this emerald green wallpaper scattered with butterflies. It brings movement and brightness to this otherwise simple space.

JSDPN

An unassuming white pedestal sink allows the glossy and dramatic wallpaper to shine without seeming overdone.

Snuut

I know I'm all about the wallpaper right now, but I just couldn't resist including this super sweet print. I love how the bright colors are echoed in the lampshade and the hand-painted box.

HGTV

This butterfly wall art is almost opalescent in color, and goes oh-so-well with the soft lilac fabric used on the bench and chair.

Decor Pad

It's amazing how many gorgeous varieties of butterflies exist––a gallery wall is a great way to show off a bunch of these unique creatures.

Mitsubai

I need this butterfly lamp by Mitsubai Tokyo.

Happy decorating!

Til next time,

Laura

Make Me Blush

Today I am inspired by: Blush Pink

I have a confession to make: I love the color pink. I know this isn't some wild revelation, but for some reason, I've always felt a tad ashamed of my giddiness when it comes to this color. As a rule, I won't buy any products which are pink purely because some dude thought that was the only way to market it to women (pink electric drills? I think we ladies are perfectly capable of choosing a drill based on more than just its shiny surface). But I happily buy other little things in pink (I just got a rad new hot pink wallet) purely because of the sheer joy the color brings me.

Blush pink is the sweeter, more gentle variety of this happy color, and using it in your home is a great way to bring in a little pink without turning your home into Barbie's dreamhouse. Some ideas:

Weekday Carnival

I love the masculine shape and fabric of that chair paired with such a feminine hue. Proof of the beauty of mixing and matching.

Decor Pad

These delicate pink walls stand out and brighten the other colors in the room.

Refreshed Designs

Another great example of the beauty and versatility of blush pink walls. Here, they lend a soft touch to modern decor.

Places In The Home

Gold is the perfect complement in this stunning bathroom.

Baby Green Design

Blush pink totally pops when teamed up with dark, bold colors.

The Decorista

Who knew that rooms full of pink could look so adult?

Happy decorating!

Til next time,

Laura

Pretty + Patriotic

Today I am inspired by: America

I had jury duty this morning. It consisted of me driving out to the courthouse at 7:00am and reading my Kindle for three and a half hours in an assembly room full of strangers before being released for the day directly prior to lunch (though you better believe I still made use of my $5 stipend at the coffee shop––thank you taxpayers for the pretzels and hummus).

I kind of loved it. Hope I get called back tomorrow.

Following my first day as a member of a random group of people who may or may not be active jurors sometime this week, I'm left feeling quite patriotic. The jury organizers (overseers? babysitters?) really laid it on about civic duty and how our very presence signified the greatness of Democracy, and despite being still half-asleep, I was all ready to stand up and wave the flag after they'd finished––or at least eat some apple pie.

America is pretty great, and you don't have to stick to only celebrating it on the Fourth of July. These spaces will have you wanting to shoot of fireworks all year round.

Hadley Court

Hints of red, white, and blue (mixed with splashes of gold, black, and grey) bring a youthful touch to this impressive room.

Elle Decor

That beautiful antique chair mixed with that playful Jean Dubuffet painting is a great example of combining traditional and modern.

Interiors by Studio M

Accent walls are an excellent and easy way to dramatically play with color in your home.

Dicorcia Design

Red, white, blue... and leopard?! I love the clever mish-mosh of patterns and textures in this room.

Attic Mag

Who says bathtubs have to be white? 

Sanity Fair

I would have loved having my parents send me to my room if my childhood bedroom had had such fabulous wallpaper.

Happy decorating!

xx

Laura

Here Comes the Sun

Today I'm inspired by: Yellow

When I got my first apartment, I was most excited about the prospect of painting my bedroom. The ability to pick whatever color I wanted felt so freeing and adult (these are the things design nerds get excited by, I suppose).

I spent the entire summer before moving in debating over what color I wanted before eventually settling on a creamy and inviting shade of yellow. I loved that yellow room––even with the lights off it was still bright. With the sun shining through my window it was like living inside a cozy yellow cupcake (if such a thing I was possible, I would be living inside a cupcake right. now.).

Yellow is such a versatile color, and its actually very easy to seamlessly incorporate a little burst of sunshine into any room in your house.

Inspire Bohemia

This rug is so cheerful and fun. Other pops of yellow throughout the space tie everything together, while the use of neutrals for the rest of the room tones down the general feel and keeps things sophisticated.

BHG

This is a great example of how to play with pops of color. Most of the main pieces in this room––from the window treatments to the chairs to the art on the walls––are yellow, but because they are a mix and match of different shades and patterns, the room feels cohesive, not overly-styled.

All Things Chic

Another great example of how well yellow works with greys and other neutral shades. 

Avalon Jacksonville Beach

Coastal chic at its finest. The yellow island is just so effortless and fun, and the hint of yellow on the window treatments offers some continuity, as do the other bursts of brightness throughout the room.

Fashion Muse

I wish I had a fireplace just so I could paint it this sunny shade of yellow. Paired next to black, white, and a hint of mint, it's the perfect choice for this focal point of the room.

Country Living

Even in the dead of winter this cozy sun porch would make me feel like I was smack in the middle of summer.

Happy decorating! 

Til next time,

Laura

A Garden In My Room

It's kind of hard to believe it's been over a year since I've posted to this lovely blog. I came back with the intention of starting something new, but why not just pick up where I left off? With that in mind, I'll just dive right back in:

Today I'm inspired by: Flowers

One of my favorite things about living in Miami is that it's an all-year-round floral paradise. Bougainvillea cover houses and trees in brilliant pinks and reds, Birds of Paradise flutter their pretty petals in unexpected places, and you can't go two blocks without seeing a stand selling fresh orchids. It's really pretty marvelous.

Floral design itself has always seemed a little stuffy to me, but I do think it's possible to incorporate florals into your home without giving off old-lady vibes (no offense to my grandmother of course, who despite being an old lady has impeccable style and taste). Check out some fun and interesting ways to bring flowers, fresh and otherwise, into your space.

West Elm
I am in love with these faceted glass vases from West Elm. They are like little jewels to hold your most favorite blooms (and luckily, they're not as expensive as jewels––the vases range from only $29-$49!).

College Candy

That flower light fixture would look just as perfect hanging over the living room couch as it would over the dining room table.

Veranda

It's hard to deny the elegance of these gorgeous vintage, hand-painted Chinese wall panels. And notice how the addition of dark wood floors and a delicately muted oriental rug keep this bright pink room from getting too kitschy.

NineMSN

There's no rule that limits you to one floral centerpiece at a time. Turn any quiet room into an interior garden by grouping together a ton of bright favorites. Use clear vases to keep it from looking too loud or over-designed.

CustomHomeOnline

Talk about bringing the outdoors in. I am in love with this indoor/outdoor space––the a-frame sky-lit roof makes everything feel open and bright and the clean lines and muted colors allow the floral touches to really shine.

InteriorDesign-World

Notice how the big, bold floral patterned wallpaper makes this bathroom seem modern, instead of stuffy. The addition of the more traditional fresh cut flowers is a nice touch, as are the sinks, which have a shape that are reminiscent of rose petals.

Til next time,

Laura