Cherished Hearth Studios!!!

I've been keeping mum for a while now but it's officially time to let the cat out of the bag! This blog has really evolved over the past two years, progressing from my adventures in both Boston and Virginia into more of an interiors/lifestyle focused space. It's quite obvious where my passions lie and I'm excited to announce that soon this blog will be moving to a new location, with a few extra perks accompanying it! 

Cherished Hearth Studios is soon to launch in the next month! Along with a new blog URL will also come a new business endeavor! Expanding on my serious love for styling interiors, I am launching my own interior design company.  Focusing on the organization and styling of interior and event spaces, I hope to bring a modern and fresh twist to the traditional sense of interior design in the Washington DC area. 

I hope you'll continue to follow me as I embark on this new chapter in my life. It's going to be difficult, and it's definitely going to get messy, but I look forward to sharing all of it with you! 

Thanks for your unwavering support and continued interest! I will keep you all posted on Cherished Hearth Studios new home very shortly! 

Cheers! 

The Evolution of a Bedroom

Bedroom. overhaul. is. finished!

Sincerest apologies it's taken me so long to get these photos up on the blog! I have been working on a few exciting things that I can't wait to share with you, but I must keep mum for now. So, let's dive into what was once a vision and how I brought it to life, shall we?!

First off, let me just say that this project was 2 years in the making. I honestly couldn't wait to get my hands on this room and really deep dive into full decorating mode. But I needed to get our dining room and family room (and part of our kitchen) up to par for entertaining and dining purposes before I tackled the more intimate rooms of our home. So our bedroom sat with old furniture, cream walls and limited details for 2 years! Mind you, I was plotting it's makeover from the very minute I moved in, but patience is everything when it comes to good design and I had to take it one room at a time and really save up my pennies for the perfect execution.

To say this room was no retreat is an understatement. Here is a snapshot of what the bedroom looked like when I first moved into my husband's bachelor pad:

Bedroom

Hubbie and I knew we'd tackle this room the minute the holidays were over this year. First things first, the furniture had to go. It was my husband's bedroom set since he was a boy and it just wasn't translating into the new millennium, nor into the married chapter of our adult life, so we donated it. And then we set out to find the perfect furniture for our room. We knew this would take a while...Jon and I have slightly different tastes. This was our first step in the room overhaul and I'm quite happy with what we eventually compromised on ;-) 

Secondly, the crown molding in the bedroom, and throughout the entire house, needed some major TLC. The previous owner of our unit did not make this his priority and unfortunately it showed. Cracking wood and flaky paint just didn't bring out the beautiful charm and elegance of the wood work. It's one of my favorite features of our home and it needed some serious loving.

Third, we needed a major paint overhaul. Not just in the bedroom and en suite but throughout the whole house. Touch ups were necessary.

Lastly, I wanted to make our master bedroom a complete retreat. A place where we could come home from work, kick off our shoes, open a good book or dive right into a beautiful bed. I wanted this space to inspire us when we woke up, comfort us when we got sick and relax us after a long day. These were my absolute must haves:

1. Tiny recess and accent lighting were mandatory to create atmosphere and mood. My husband is an electrician and also works for a lighting design company, so I put him to work immediately. Lighting is everything and can truly transform a room.
   
2.  A beautiful accent wall. I love the look of exposed brick but unfortunately in our 1970's built condo, I wasn't getting that. So I turned to wallpaper for inspiration!
3. A cohesive paint color that could be translated from bedroom to en suite.
4. A beautiful, elegant upholstered bed. I wanted a foot board as well but that silly husband of mine can't seem to make up a bed that has a foot board. We needed to find a compromise we both loved.
5. New chest and dresser.
6. A mounted television...without a clunky DVD player and cable box in sight! Hubbie had his work cut out for him!

Once we settled on a color-scheme and a design plan, we tore the room apart....

A messy overhaul! 

Fixing the crown molding

Serious painting going on.

And now, for the big reveal!!

 

Sources:
Upholstered bed & bedside cabinets: Presido Collection from Bassett Furniture
Wallpaper: Feather design in Bone from Serena & Lily
Dresser with mirror and chest: Emporium Collection from Bassett Furniture
Corner Accent Chair: Colette Armchair in Flax from Pier 1
Decorative bed pillows and bedding: ABC Home, Arianna Belle, Pier 1 Imports, West Elm
Window panels: Wayfair.com
Lamps: Dorset Collection from Feiss Lighting via Lamps Unlimited in McLean, VA
Moroccan-style Rug: Overstock.com
Moroccan Wedding Blanket: Calypso St. Barth 
Bed throw: Nate Berkus for Target 
Decorative details: Target, Anthropologie, Z-Gallerie, Waiting on Martha & West Elm
For-Like-Ever print: Super-Rural 
Not shown, Prada Marfa Cowboy Photograph: Gray Malin Photography

Gray Malin Photography on One Kings Lane!

I've always liked the idea of art. Finding that piece or style of creative that makes you just stop. But I never thought it was something I could truly consider investing in at my age or at my tax bracket. And let's be totally honest here, art is intimidating, completely subjective and truly scary. I didn't spend much effort indulging in it or getting really serious about purchasing art until I grazed upon this post last fall.

I had never heard of Prada Marfa. But the images! I. couldn't. stop. staring. The concept was so unique and the mission behind the photographs was so inspiring. The photographer, Gray Malin, is a fellow Bostonian and a young entrepreneur with a serious eye for pristine landscape and color. I filed his images away in memory to retrieve one day, when I had a blank wall to adorn.

And then came our bedroom remodel. I had a vision and I wanted Gray Malin on my wall! I immediately went back to his Prada Marfa collection and bought the photograph that had lingered the most in my memory. It's humorous and contradicting and completely perfect for our space. For $200, I felt it was worth the investment and a piece I could hopefully build off of in the future years to come.

Cowboy & Mule photograph by Gray Malin framed in our bedroom

Now that Gray is hanging in my bedroom, I'm pretty smitten over all his work. His collections are bold, unique and so beautiful. Today on One Kings Lane, his latest work, Antarctica: The Private Collection is debuting and available for purchase.

I hope to add to my Gray Malin piece one day. Maybe because it's the dead of winter and it won't stop snowing down here in DC, but I'm really feeling this photograph right about now! Take me there!

Pouffe!

It occurred to me yesterday while I was talking to my mom about some of the smaller details I was working on in our new bedroom, that a 'pouffe' might not be a standard household term. "What IS a pouffe exactly?" she inquired. Well, basically, it's versatile! It can be used as extra seating, as a footstool, a coffee table, beanbags for the kiddos, a decorative item to add dimension to any room or used as a pretty catch-all for your magazines and books. Whatever it's intended for, it's very useful. And gosh, so darn cute and stylish! I love how the earthy, casual-chic Moroccan style is incredibly influential in home decor right now. The invitation to take a seat on these little Moroccan poufs or on a beautiful Moroccan rug creates a cozy, relaxed feel for any guest. 

I did a quick roundup of my favorite pouffes that I've stumbled across over the past month in my search for the perfect items to add to our bedroom. Their price point can range anywhere from $50 to $1,550. What's great is that no matter your budget, no matter how large or small your room may be...these little poufs are a great addition to any home! Starting from budget-friendly to more of an investment piece, here are a few of my favorite little guys:

Target: $49.99

Etsy: $89.99

Jonathan Adler for JC Penny: $95.99

ABC Home: $150

Wayfair: $152

West elm: $249

Ballard Designs: $249

Paleck: $1,089

Clayton Gray Home: $1,095

Details to Follow

A new accessories bag from Madewell carrying my favorite everyday beauty essentials!

A rainy day in New Orleans called for hot chocolate and beignets at the famous Cafe du Monde

Captured at the new DC hotspot Kabin Lounge!

A beautiful evening snowfall in New Hampshire equaled a gorgeous sunrise over the lake the next morning!

Family ski day on the slopes in New Hampshire!

Playing with the details in our newly redesigned bedroom :-)

Our newly stocked WestElm bar cart!

Come follow along with me on Instagram!

Bedroom Progress

Well life has been a little hectic lately. About the time our master bedroom remodel began, I departed for New Orleans on business. I'm actually quite glad I didn't have to live amongst the mess that was our home for about ten days! But man! This room has truly evolved. The Serena and Lily wallpaper truly is divine on the accent wall behind our new bed! And I'm really loving how nicely all the little details are coming together. Give me another week and I'll give you a full tour of the entire room. We're still waiting on the rug and bedside tables to be delivered next week. Then all should be complete! For now though, the room is truly taking shape!

 

Dining

After hosting a very large dinner party this past weekend, it occurred to me that when Jonathan and I do eventually move into a single family home and begin to host large dinners more often, including holiday gatherings, we will need a much larger table to accommodate his incredibly large Lebanese family!

I'm kind of digging the look of a large oval table. I love how it can accommodate more guests if needed but looks incredibly classic and elegant when set just for a table of 4! What are your thoughts on the new trend?

 

 

 

Fancy Feasting

As I mentioned earlier last week, I threw a little family dinner party on Saturday! Everything went smooth as silk...that is until 2 more guests showed up that weren't expected and I had to frantically pull in seating from our patio set and rearrange the table to accommodate two more members! My husband and I laughed through it though and even though we were a cramped table, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, the food...and especially that bar cart!

Here are a few snapshots!

Autumn florals for a coffee table centerpiece

Place setting: West Elm place mat, charger and cloth napkin. Pier 1 napkin ring. Wedgewood English Lace china dinner plate and Bernardaud Ecume Platinum salad plate. Waterford Crystal stemware. Silverware is a family heirloom.

Bar stocked with Johnnie Walker Double Black, Vermouth and Veuve Cliequout Brut champagne!

The table.

Family Gatherings

It seems to be a trend that my husband and I host family for a little pre-holiday dinner every year in November - remember my scramble last year to host our first dinner party as a married couple? Well...here we are again! But this time, I find myself a little more prepared. Jon and I have already discussed the menu and even though the dinner is this upcoming Saturday, we plan to begin the shopping process this week to allow ourselves some time on Friday evening for preparation, so that 'the day of' details aren't rushed. Ah, the joys of learning to cook. My grandmother and my mother always made preparing Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter dinner while entertaining more than 20 people look so effortless! One day I'll master it!

Is it terrible that the most joy I get out of hosting a dinner party is actually planning and styling the table scape? I still intend on using most of the beautiful pieces we received as wedding gifts, like our china, silver and crystal, but I'm thinking this year I'll mix up my silvers with a touch of gold! I'm really loving the eclectic look of the two together.

I've also been practicing with floral arrangements recently and hope to put together something soft, seasonal and lovely as a centerpiece. Candlelight is always a beautiful add on as well. This intimate party for 8 this year should be a little more relaxed and cozy than those in the past!

Stay tuned for photos! xx

Fine-tuning My Style

Over the past few years, I'd say that I've been striving to ascertain and fine-tune my distinctive wardrobe style. I tend to gravitate towards the classic pieces that have a bit of a modern twist. And man, do I love me some boho-chic! I've learned, however, that certain tastes don't always compliment my body shape. Lately, I have been able to identify certain trends that will actually accentuate my frame, and weed-out the trends that are more beneficial to drool over from afar. Particularly over the last year or so, I began to fine-tune what works for me and choose pieces that really build off of my preferred style. The looks I've been piecing together are actually starting to became a reflection of who I am, not just something I'm wearing.

I've mentioned before that every season, I delve into my closet and rid it of the well-worn, the over-sized, the under-sized (womp, womp), the unflattering and the out-of-trend. This season, I received some professional help! I enlisted fellow blogger, clothing designer and New York based wardrobe-stylist, Kimberly Cauti, to take matters into her own hands and help me elaborate on my particular taste. She helped identify holes in my wardrobe that I wasn't aware of. For example, I tend to buy big statement pieces, such as a fabulous blazer or a very elaborate dress, and forget to pay special attention to layering pieces, such as embellished tanks and neutral shift dresses, that can be worn under or paired with pretty much anything. As we dug into the depths of my closet, it also became very apparent that I have more fall/winter pieces than I do spring/summer pieces. I suppose the Bostonian in me defaults to clothing more appropriate for cooler temperatures!

Kim also helped me see the potential in some of my more 'boring' pieces. I tend to throw the same style blouses together with the same style trousers week in and week out, which leads to me feeling tired of my wardrobe quickly. She paired vests over blouses I never considered wearing together and stumbled upon a few garments tucked away in the back of the closet that I had completely forgotten about!

We documented my wardrobe overhaul and began identifying my unique style. We fine-tuned my closet solely to my taste alone - and tossed out pieces that weren't in line with it. Currently, my closet (and my style) is a work in progress. I still need a few more additions to round it out and give me better options.  Having a third party perspective (who does this for a living!) really helped shed some light on some of my wardrobe inefficiencies.

The task at hand

Color-coordinate your clothes, and group them by item, so you have a better sense of what you own

A stylist at work - diving in and really inspecting each garment! She made me toss a few tried and true pieces that looked too well-loved

Pairing a shirt I normally wear to the office with an unexpected pair of lace shorts for summer evenings out

That lime green accent shirt is one of the few layer options I had in my closet, which made me realize that I need to put more effort into investing in additional layering options for work and for play

This blouse has cut-outs around the shoulders, so I never considered wearing it to the office. Kim suggested throwing a tailored blazer over it for an easy office ensemble

The Beginning of the End?

Those that know me personally know how difficult it is for me to dedicate myself to something and it not turn out exactly how I had hoped it to be. That goes for anything in my life...my relationships, my career, my home, my hobbies....and this blog. I had high expectations to stay truly committed to the direction and the content I shared through this little creative platform, but have found myself being pulled elsewhere lately. I'm on the forefront of wanting to do something greater -- what that is exactly, I'm not sure, but I'm restless and in need of something more. That might be why I've taken a few weeks off from this space recently....I've needed some time to consider my thoughts and make sense of my sudden eagerness to throw all of my hard work on this blog aside.

But I just can't. I have to finish what I started here...I need to feel like I've accomplished something out of this project. I've put too much into this blog to just quickly delete it all and move on.

I'm not sure what I hope to achieve here though and maybe that is why I'm struggling. Initially, I had hoped to document my fashion and interior decor experimentation through this blog - however, it has become more than that. I have exposed who I am on a very public platform that has allowed complete strangers from all over the world to gain insight into this little life of mine - from my adventures in my old stomping ground of Boston all the way down to my every-day life in Virginia. I've enjoyed the connections I've made through this blog, the people I've met through Twitter and Instagram and the commentary we've shared.

And it's because of those connections that I'm continuing on and finishing (if that is even a relevant term when you maintain a blog - is there really an actual end to this?) what I've began here.

In all sense of the word...I have finished...decorating our living room that is! Well, I don't really believe that a home is completely finished per se. I believe it is constantly evolving to reflect the style preferences and needs of you and your growing network of family and friends. However, I'm at a point with our living room where I feel content to move on and dive into a new project.

I'm so excited to finally be 'done' with this particular room! It's exactly how I had envisioned it looking - rustic, chic and with a touch of old-world luxury. It's comfortable, inviting and cozy. And I actually think my husband is happy with the results too! After months of execution, it's nice to finally relax on the finished product - literally!

Without further adieu....

Our new love seat from Arhaus furniture. 

Our large sofa, also from Arhaus furniture, really makes our wall color pop. I think it also ties nicely with our Pottery Barn rug and give more definition to the room. 

That beautiful Eliza chair from Hudson Interiors in Boston is STILL my favorite piece in this room, but we added that cute little foot stool from Pottery Barn to give it more use and comfort. I'm really digging the mis-match of leather and wood. And goodness, I'm still in love with that tri-pod lamp!

We changed out the window panels as well - the navy blue satin really adds some luxury to a more rustic room. 

Pretty feminine details also add a bit of luxury to the room. 

I feel like I actually accomplished the goal I had set out for this room back in November. It may have taken a few months, but I'm glad we took our time with it and really embraced the process.

I do really love sharing this part of my life with you all. Making the connections through this blog over the past year has truly given me the motivation to develop this platform more and put more of my time into it. I guess I just needed to give myself a little pep talk.

So...I hope you'll continue to join my efforts here...as well as on....