My Top 10 Hit List for the Home

"I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best"

- Oscar Wilde

Mr. Wilde my friend, I concur! I love punchy humor for one, but this could not ring more true when it comes to fashioning your living space. Don't confuse "best" for "expensive", after all, some of the best things in life are.... ok, you get the idea. But truly, when you create the right style and sensory experience in your home, it can literally uplift your mood.

I've been thinking about my non-negotiables when it comes to everyday living and these are my top 10 must haves that are game changers. It's the little details that make the difference.

1. Something Scent-sational. These scent diffusers from Antica Farmacista can transport you to a state of bliss from the comfort of your own couch.

2. A beautiful go-to table cloth. This Crate & Barrel classic makes even a spur of the moment gathering feel pulled-together.

3. Art that inspires. I might be slightly obsessed with Brit Brass (hubs, this is your cue to add it to my birthday wish list... ok thanks).

4. Things that make you go hmmmm.... in my book, the quirkier the better. This piece from Jonathan Adler is a delightful conversation piece.

5. A reliable handyman. Little improvements like switching out knobs, repainting, installing new lighting, etc. can make your home feel brand new. 

6. Instant ambience. Get it with a dimmer like this one from Ikea. Lighting absolutely sets the mood and can be simply installed with the help of your #5 bestie, the handyman :)

7. "Tray chic". A place for everything and everything in it's place. I'm a sucker for anything stylishly minded that also organizes my space, from baskets to this lovely lacquered tray from Swing Design.

8. A cozy couch, chaise or oversized chair. Who doesn't want to curl up into a heaven of billowy fluff at the end of a long day? Feet up with a glass of vino in this oversized chair from Crate & Barrel. ... sign me up. 

9. Bold pattern. Add a dose of dramatic backdrop with delightful wallpaper like this from Black & Spiro. Try it, you just might love it! 

10. Something sparkly. Because we all need a little glitz in our lives. A piece like this from ZGallerie will be your daily reminder to shine. Promise.

And that's a wrap! Whatever your must haves are for your home, the biggest reminder is to never settle for less than the best!

xo,

Emily

Classic White Kitchen with a Twist

I have to admit, there is nothing more lovely, clean and bright than a classic white kitchen.  I am currently redesigning a white kitchen in an old Spanish bungalow built in the 1920's. The homeowners want to incorporate their own fresh take, giving the kitchen a modern bohemian feel with a vintage eclectic twist, while still paying respect to the period of the house. The result? A family and pet friendly home with a cozy, laid back boho vibe that is oh so So-Cal.

Here is an inspirational style board on how you can achieve this look by mixing modern function with vintage flair. Vintage style pendants over the island, a brass faucet and farmhouse sink, crisp white subway tile, and Carrara slab are reminiscent of an earlier era. Mixing and matching brass and oil rubbed bronze is fun and casual - and totally acceptable! Choose a clean but warm white that has a little depth to it, like Benjamin Moore's Moonlight White, so it doesn't feel too stark or chalky.

Classic White Kitchen with a Twist by emilylamarque featuring decorative hardware

Decorative hardware
knobs4less.com

Rohl RC3618 36" Handcrafted, Single-Basin, Fireclay, Apron-Front...
build.com

Rose City
rejuvenation.com



Here are some other examples of gorgeous white kitchens that have caught my eye, and maybe yours too! I'm loving the mixed use of white and warm wood counters and floors that gives each kitchen a decidedly cozy look. Modern stainless appliances and luxe marble counters give these kitchens a feeling of refinement. And of course, I particularly love those with a bright splash of color!
http://www.alamodemaven.comhttp://designfile.architecturaldigest.com/photo/rustic-kitchen-peter-dunham-design-beverly-hills-california-201106

Stay tuned for a sneak peek of this fabulous white kitchen to come...

Oh so Lovely Lucite

When I was a sassy little teenager and asked a "get to know you" question like "what's your favorite color?",  I used to fire back a quippy response and say "clear". Truth. I have family that will vouch for me on this one.

Many moons later (ok, not too too many), it's pretty ironic that I do in fact choose clear over color in my interior design work. More specifically, I work with lucite, a gorgeous acrylic lightweight material. It can add just the right sparkle to a room and it's widely available in both home furnishing and fixtures.

Still can't picture it clearly in your space? Well here's a visual of one of my projects recently featured in Small Room Decorating.

Many of the pieces featured here are from Design Within Reach. Lucite can work in virtually any space. So now that you have some clarity, go pick out something clear! Oh and now that we're all adults here, if someone ever asks a get to know you question such as "what are you wearing?", be sure to tell them "something low cut and see through that brings out my eyes"... (wink wink). Yep, still can't shake the sass!

xo,
Emily

Working with Radiant Orchid, 2014 Pantone Color of the Year

If you weren’t already in the know, the new Pantone color of the year is Radiant Orchid. I see it being used in a lot of home accessories, women’s beauty and fashion and even bridal palette inspiration. Purple happens to be one of my favorite hues, I mean, hello, it’s widely associated with royalty! If that’s not a good choice indicator, I don’t know what is. 

But how do you invite this new hue into your living space without sending the man in your life fleeing from the palace? Back in our own neck of the serfdom, incorporating this color at home can be a tricky balancing act, particularly if you live with a manly man who shakes in his work boots at the mere mention of “Radiant Orchid”. So please don’t go waging a color war in your own home- there are bigger better hills to die on like a spa weekend with the girls. For reals. You have to find a happy medium, and here's how you do it...

I just finished this project for a couple who wanted to incorporate purple tones within their space and here is how to achieve the right balance. 

Grounding the space in rich browns and neutrals makes the space feel sophisticated and masculine while the purple tones work to add the right pop of color adding the just enough softness and femininity. The combination makes the space feel both glamorous and luxe.

For those of you out there bold enough to use Radiant Orchid for the walls and background of your space, by all means DO IT! This powder room I recently finished is a perfect place to go bold with these gorgeous tones. 

And for those who are more faint at heart, try a light warm neutral gray background palette to let your orchid accents shine. Pair it with a warm pale grays, crisp bold whites, and metallic silver and gold. Balance the delicate and the fem with heavy aged brass, chunky or rough textures, and structural geometrics. Add a touch of the unexpected and you've got a room fit for a king!

Here's to a New Year of love and color!

xo,

Emily (aka)

"The Design Duchess" ;)

Modern Holiday Style

As a designer, I spend a lot of time looking at visual eye candy for my clients. Add holiday decorating to the mix, and it's easy to get your brain tangled around all that tinsel. But fear not, I am a seasoned pro... and a holiday "seasoned" one at that!

While the traditional Christmas reds and plaids, or winter whites are always classic, I really enjoy seeing the modern aesthetic that continues to pop up in stores year after year. The trick is make sure that the modern touches have warmth, it is Christmas after all!

Here are some inspiring ways to liven up your living space this season...

1) A fresh color palette: A jewel toned inspired holiday. Think magentas, teals, emeralds, mixed with a touch of sparkle.

These gorgeous faceted glass vases, agate stone ornaments and darling bird paperweights from west elm  enhance the mood, and create a rich, yet decidedly festive living space. All still very modern and chic, yet can also be used year round... bonus!

I love this hot pink table accented with metallic paper chain featured on Living Etc. This wonderful combo adds color and warmth by mixing bold, clean lined furnishings and handcrafted seasonal sparkle. Paper chains are so easy to make, you can get the kids involved on the decorating fun too. Best part is, toss it at the end of the season- no storage required! 

This tree skirt from LandofNod is cheery and fun for the kiddos, with a festive, yet simplistic pattern and an updated color palette... LOVE. Hits me right in my happy spot!

2) Add texture. Layer on the faux fur, rich knits, burlaps, feathers and fun. There are several ways to achieve this look:

The burlap stockings were hung with great care from Horchow. And who needs a traditional mantle when you have antlers!

The faux fur rug accent creates texture and warmth to a very clean holiday winter white palette. I also love the use of the mirror accent cleverly displaying pops of pink holiday cards. http://ext.homedepot.com/community/blog/christmas-decorating-ideas-black-white-living-room/#_a5y_p=1046949

http://www.hdbuttercup.com/focus/holiday-chic

Furry and feathered fabulousness from west elm... yes, I have a small (I mean teeny, tiny) love affair.... shh, don't tell the hubs!

3) Add sparkle. 

This room featured on My Home Ideas touches on all three decorative musts that complete a modern christmas space. The turquoise ornaments, window treatments and pillows all add texture and sparkle  to compliment the clean lined space. And nothing says holiday party like a little disco ball on top of the tree. Just fab!

Just when you thought tinsel was a thing of the past, Martha Stewart revives the past with this proud little pink tinsel tree.

Pewter and peacock and turquoise, oh my!
http://www.home-designing.com/2012/12/christmas-mantel-decor-inspiration/formal-christmas-mantel-decor

Bling your table top from Z. Gallerie.... a must do on my list this year!  A little festive pizzaz goes a long way.

The weather outside may be frightful, but the home inside's delightful!

Happy Holidays,

Emily

Designing Holiday Traditions - Part 2

As promised, here is Part 2 of my best designed holiday traditions....

Since becoming a mother, it finally occurred to me that there has been a subliminal passing of the holiday tradition torch. By that, I mean that I never really claimed it. All I did was give birth and now I'm in charge of creating family traditions! Who me? Yikes, that's a tall order! But it made me realize that much like designing a home, designing a lifestyle for your family that is rooted in tradition both old and new is just as central to who you are as your living space.

Now that the holidays are here, I've been giving some thought to creating or passing down long lasting traditions for my own family and what I'd like to do to create meaning, togetherness and fun. With that in mind, I came up with a handful of ideas that don't involve creepy holiday elves, a glue gun or an abnormal amount of tinsel.... enough of the reindeer games, ain't nobody got time for dat!

1. AN INSPIRED ADVENT 

Sorry, but there is so much more to the season than those advent calendars filled with cheap chocolate. I don't even want to know the shelf life on all that nuclear candy inside. The advent is such a terrific way to ramp up holiday spirit, especially for the little ones. Here are several examples to engage the whole family.

Starting on December 1st, remove an ornament from the bag corresponding to the day and hang one up each day on the tree. You could hang them on the mantle as shown or place them in a decorative basket.

House and Home

You don't have to be limited to ornaments. You could instead have advent cards and hang them on a tree like this from the red thread. I love that this is chic, easy to do and doesn't take up room space or require storage post-Christmas. Get the free printable download here.




As you hang each daily card the back could feature a craft or recipe the whole family can get in on. If you simply don't have the time (and I completely do not!)  you can arrange for a family outing to look at neighborhood Christmas lights or enjoy a favorite holiday movie night in. If you're attached to treats, you can leave a clue to where one is hiding around the house and make it a mini scavenger hunt! The ideas are endless. In the most simplistic sense, you could hang numbered tags and post an inspirational quote, a little love note or scripture. Whatever touches your heart, brings your family together and is realistic for your lifestyle! Can I get an 'amen' to that?

2. NORTH POLE BREAKFAST

Another way you can officially kick off the season is to have a North Pole breakfast. This year it falls on Sunday which makes me happy because we can all lounge and relax! If you have children, set the table for fun and make snow covered pancakes (powdered sugar) and hot cocoa with snowballs (marshmallows). If it involves food, I promise everyone will join in the fun! 

If you do the whole Elf on the Shelf tradition, you can have your elf make his grand entrance at breakfast. I have to admit, I think the idea is adorable, but I have not committed to the Elf hook line and sinker just yet. When I do though, I think this is a fabulous representation of a picturesque North Pole Breakfast with the kids from Hello Love Designs.

3. "HOARDAMENTS"
Normally just hearing the word "hoard" gives me anxiety, but Christmas ornaments are the exception to the rule. One tradition I keep every year is to give my son an ornament for our tree. He's really into trains as of late, and vehicles in general, so each year I try and give him something he currently loves. Each year it's fun to take out the past ornaments and see how his tastes have evolved... or haven't! Here are a few that I've had my eye on...

So much wooden whimsy going on here from Graphicspacewood

I can't resist the lighthearted chic that these animals add to the tree from Jonathan Adler

These are one part glitz and one part vroom, a match made in heaven from Pottery Barn Kids









You could also have your children paint their own ornaments. The little one's handprints make fabulous reindeer and special memories as they grow.

Fingerprint reindeer

 

4. A SIGNATURE DISH
What's your go to holiday dish? Growing up, no matter the menu on Christmas, we always ALWAYS had my Grandmother's lasagna. This dish took center stage at many family dinners and holiday occasions, and it has left a long lasting reminder of being together in good health and good cheer.  Now that I am the one handling the bulk of the cooking (and baking!), here is one of my go-to faves. This recipe for Triple Chocolate Chip cookies from Williams Sonoma's Essentials of Baking are hands down my favorite chocolate chip cookies.

5. GIVE BACK

'Tis the season of giving after all. While the opportunities to give your time or money are endless, the most important part is that you do something together as a family and teach your children about the importance of helping others. One clever and easy way to get children involved is to have them place a large bag for Santa under the tree on Christmas Eve. Have them fill it with toys that are still in good condition that they no longer play with but that other children may like to have. Santa will pick up these toys and replace them with new toys. It's a great way to declutter (hallelujah!) before Christmas while teaching children about giving.

The best designed traditions are the ones that create a sense of belonging, establish roots and most importantly, are downright fun! What holiday traditions have you created in your home? Share your ideas!