Statement Artwork

We’re almost to the end of the week, people!  Time to get excited and do the It’s-Almost-Friday Dance.  😉

A look that I love in almost any interior, any style, is a piece of statement artwork that pops from the wall and does all of the talking.  Like I’ve said before, me personally, I am really in love with neutral spaces; but my job by nature makes me appreciate all kinds of design.  A splash of personality in any interior is usually what makes it go from cookie-cutter-magazine-clipping to hey-someone-actually-lives-here.  Let’s look at some pretty pictures, shall we?  🙂

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Here we have two colorful chinoiserie cabinets that are grounded by a statement piece — the black abstract art.  Black is great to use when you’re introducing bright colors to a space.  Tones it down!

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How fun is this piece?  The room without it would be way too mute and dull.  But with the addition of this dotted canvas, it’s fun, lively, and contemporary.

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While I don’t find this interior to be incredibly inviting, just look at the amazing contrast here.  The artwork makes it.  The color palette chosen for the piece really sets the mood for the space.  Just think of how different the room would look with something brighter.

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Check out that ceiling!  This definitely counts as artwork.  Speaking of which… I need to go to this cafe pronto.

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What some would consider a cold interior is warmed up in this entryway with a piece featuring reds, oranges, and bits of blue and purple.  It absolutely draws you forward into the space.  I would like to see more color in the other artwork, though!  Perhaps there is more at some other angles that we can’t see here?

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We’ve got statement wallpaper and statement artwork going on in this dining room, but it works!  The wallpaper is busy and neutral while the art is colorful and simple.  A great way to mix — it looks effortless and chic.

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Statement artwork doesn’t always have to be colorful, sometimes it can just make you laugh.  This piece works well with the monotonous color scheme, yet provides a bit of humor to the space.  This is a piece of art that will be talked about — thus, making a statement.

What kind of statement artwork do you like best?  Colorful?  Wordy?  Black and white?

xoxo, Maria

Pairing High and Low: Part Two

Hey there, happy Wednesday!  This week is flying by.  I posted a couple of weeks ago Part One of my Pairing High and Low series.  This is an easy topic and a fun one to master — pairing high and low furnishing to make everything appear to be luxurious and high-end.  Today we’re going to look at my in-laws’ kitchen.  As you know, most all of these posts (as well as any other home-related posts) will be of my in-laws’ house because we are living here.  But their house doesn’t disappoint, so here we go!

So.  The kitchen.

For this post, I’m really concentrating on the items displayed atop the cabinets.

A few pieces are from a trip that they took to Italy, and then the rest is filled in with finds from HomeGoods.  And there you have it!

A Few High-End Pieces + Several Lower-End Pieces = An Overall High-End Look — for everything above those cabinets.  Everything looks substantial and expensive.

What do you think?  Can you tell the difference?

xoxo, Maria

Fall Fashion

Happy Friday, everyone!  I am really looking forward to the weekend — it has been a busy week!

So, everyone knows that the best part about Fall is the fashion…right?!  Maybe I am biased, but I think this is especially true in Arizona.  We (impatiently) wait through a hot hot hot summer in order to slip into our mild Fall and Winter weather patterns and pretend like the gorgeous boots and coats are necessary.  There are places in AZ where temperatures actually require these things, but where I live, not so much.  I just pulled out some of my Fall clothes from storage and am willing the cooler temperatures to come with their presence in my closet.  This probably won’t happen for another month or so, but in the meantime, I will be ready!  😉

Over the course of the past few years, I have adopted a pretty conservative/classic style.  Oh, how I wish I could pull off a lot of the super edgy looks that are out there right now, but I’m more comfortable in my, well, comfort zone and really prefer easy outfits that basically look good on just about anyone.  So for Fall fashion inspiration, I’m seeing (for myself) a lot of cozy knits, boots, the occasional faux-fur outerwear, and tights.  These are the styles that I am planning to implement into my wardrobe in the coming months…

Leather pants.  Or, in my case, faux leather pants.  I want to sooo bad…  I have been in the process of losing a bunch of weight (something I will share about eventually here on this blog) and I feel like I am *almost* at the point that I could do this.  Cute chunky sweater, pretty and slightly edgy handbag, and killer shoes.  This should be easy.

A trench, jeans, and ballet flats.  You don’t get much more French-inspired than that.  I need a trench coat this year…  A timeless style and a good investment.  Loving those Salvatore Ferragamo flats, too.

I love this outfit for something dressy.  Christmas Eve dinner?  A fancy night out with my hubby?  Clearly Kate Middleton always looks effortless, but there’s something so put-together about this and yet it is not the least bit fussy.

Very cute for a casual day out running errands.  Another need: a tweed jacket of some sort.  That metallic trim detailing is what makes the ensemble, in my opinion.  Boyfriend jeans…  What do we think of these?  I like that the ones Bethenny is wearing are not super baggy.  These are really flattering and are still feminine without being saggy.  Pink Hermes bag.  Yeah, I want that.

Navy and black…what do we think of this, people?  I read somewhere a couple of weeks ago that this is a thing now and that you are allowed to pair them, so perhaps I will try this at some point.  Flawless Chanel bag.  Need that too, for obvious reasons.

All black.  I can get behind this look because there is a lot of texture here.

Another effortless ensemble.  And another tweed-looking jacket.  Do you see why these are a necessity?  Instantly adding an element of tailored chicness to any outfit.  This is the year I find one of these.

Jacket makes it.  Can’t stand the pretty.

Now this is fun!  Easy striped long-sleeve with a fun leather skirt.  Fun heels to transition from warmer to cooler temperatures.  It’s conservative but at the same time a little edgy because of the material of the skirt and the sandals.

I think that this may be my favorite Fall outfit…ever.  Killer Louboutin boots, the most perfect jacket in existence (in my opinion), all black, plus a pop of color with the handbag.  LOVE LOVE LOVE…could not love more.

What is a must for your Fall wardrobe this year? Clearly I am jacket-obsessed.  😉  Someone help me.

xoxo, Maria

September 11th

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Just like every other American in our country who was alive on September 11th, 2001, and those from far away who remember it with us, that day is still so alive in my brain.  I was young… Thirteen, to be exact.  I don’t remember a lot of things from that year, my first year of middle school, but I do remember this day.

My dad shook me awake earlier than usual that morning, and he had the Today Show on TV in the living room.  He told me that two planes had hit the World Trade Center.  The first words that came out of my mouth were, “On accident?”

There is an element of innocence that was taken away from so many of us on that day.  Our country suffered a huge loss as so many people died at the hands of this tragic event, and more lives were lost as the war waged on throughout the many years since.  But on that day, and the days after, there was a sense of unity that even a thirteen-year-old girl could feel.  I wish every day we as humans could remember to love our neighbors as strongly as we did that day.  Sometimes I feel like there is a huge sense of compassion missing from the outside world, and while there are days that it makes me sad and angry, there are other days it makes me smile and try that much harder.

It just makes sense to take a day from blogging about the beautiful things in the world, and instead reflect on the beauty in human connection and the hearts that we extend outside of our own bodies for others.  Let’s never forget the pride that we have in our country, and the love that we have for our fellow humankind, not just today, but every day.  A smile, a hug, a thank you, an I love you can go such a long way.  Let us be reminded of that.

xoxo, Maria

Bubble Light Fixtures

Hey there!  It’s already Wednesday and I feel like this week is just flying by.  As a sort of continuation of my June post about those super-gorgeous Lindsey Adelman light fixtures, today I’m writing about the also-super-gorgeous bubble light fixtures that I am seeing so much of lately!  You know, these?

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I love these fixtures.  And yes, I am sort of biased because we are going to be installing one in a client’s loft pretty soon, and I just think they’re stunning…  But there’s something so whimsical and delicate about them without it being a frilly or fussy addition to a room.

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Clearly gorgeous over a dining table.  Have I made my point yet?

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Clearly the answer is no.

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Really pretty metallic bubbles in this bathroom.  A masculine and feminine juxtaposition all at once.

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Equally lovely in this chic little kitchen!  I love how simple this space is, but it is certainly not lacking in sophistication.

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How about this awesome egg yolk-yellow variation?  To me, this screams, “Put me in an entryway with a high ceiling!”  Would.  Be.  Killer.

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And, here it is, in all its glory…installed.  And it does not disappoint.

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There’s also this fun variation — Sputnik light meets bubble light.  I think it gives the look a little more edge, don’t you?

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Lastly, I’ll leave you with my favorite variation of the bubble light fixture…  If I were to put one in my home, this is the look that suits me.  Super delicate, not too contemporary, and pairs really well with more traditional decor.  Love it!

How about you?  Do you LOVE the bubble light fixture as much as I do?

xoxo, Maria

Happy September!

Hi there, friends.  I hope you have had a Happy Sunday.  We spent ours with family, as usual.  My baby nephew was present and he is so cute and growing so fast.  There was plenty of good food and plenty of football.  Which got me thinking…

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To me, the beginning of Fall is an absolute state of mind — it starts when you say it does.  This season is my absolutely favorite, and now that we have been thrust into September, I’m finding myself slowing down more, enjoying the slight changes in day-to-day weather, and really letting myself dwell in the start of this season.

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I know that, for some, it is way too early to even be thinking about this new season.  After all, Labor Day was just last weekend.  But for me, I am there and reveling in it.  I’m thinking about our first nippy morning, my annual taste of a piping hot Pumpkin Spice Latte, a Halloween with a baby in the family, and Thanksgiving with my Aunt who is traveling all the way from Holland to be here this year.  That’s a lot of happy in a few months’ time; and I, for one, am so ready.

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Although I don’t have my own house to decorate for the season this year, I’m looking forward to seeing what my mother-in-law has up her sleeve.  I will obviously share all of the various decor with you all, too!  I am going to miss having a space of my own to make pretty, but I think this will be the year that I focus on more than just the decorating aspect, you know?  Sometimes I feel like it’s easy to get lost in that and miss out on all of the memories being made while things are messy or in transition.

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So, as the year wraps itself up, my goal for these next months is to be present.  Spend as much time as possible with both of our families, snuggle with my gorgeous husband as often as I can, and enjoy, cherish, and smile every day.

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I hope you don’t mind the occasional Fall post around here as we enter these wonderful months.  October will be more Halloween-dedicated when seasonal posts are written; but I’ll reserve November for lots of Fall posting.  Until then, I hope you’ll join me in reveling in the start of this season.  This is the most wonderful time of the year…. the beginning.  🙂

xoxo, Maria