My Home, My Space

Are you into beautiful decor?? Would you like a chance to be featured on MadeByGirl blog?? Keep reading..

MadeByGirl is holding a short series called:
My Home, My Space. 

As a lover of gorgeous interiors, we started this series hoping to find beautiful spaces to feature on the blog in hopes to inspire you!! So, I'm calling for submissions.

HOW TO SUBMIT:  

Email me - (2-3) good quality images of your fave space. Must be no smaller than 490 wide. No flash. The space can be anywhere in your home! Submissions are ongoing. With your submission tell me a little bit about your space & why you LOVE it! Subject of your email should say "My Home, My Space".

As a thank you for your participation, we will offer you a 20% off discount code to MadeByGirl shop! (code will be given out to those chosen, after receiving your content)

*please note, not everyone who submits will be chosen to be featured.

image source: StyleMePretty

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Design: The Entryway

Hi MadebyGirl readers, Sam here with another fabulous dose of decor.  Today's post is focused on one of my favorite rooms in a house: the entryway!

{Jeffrey Alan Marks}

  I so adore entryways because they are the first room guests see when they arrive, and often set the tone for the rest of your home. I love to see meaningful items in an entryway, such as family photos, antiques, and other tchotchkes that represent you and your loved ones well.  This gives the entry a personality and tells a story to your guests.

{Chapman House}

An entryway allows for bold creativity and the ability to express design elements you would be to timid to use in your living or family rooms. Entrance halls are actually the perfect area to unleash your creative design daredevil and go bold, brave and creative.

{Ty Larkins}

{Meredith Heron}

If I were to re-design my entryway, I think I'd go for bold geometric flatweave rug, slipcovered chairs, and Orangerie Rose throw pillows:

Shop This Board:

Malibu Console/Arteriors Table Lamp/Scaffold Painting/Wayland Slipcovered Chairs/Orangerie Rose Throw Pillows/Hexagon Rug

How do you like to dress up your entry hall?  Do you go for bold accents or keep it more subdued?

-post by samantha penner

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Design: Snakeskin + Magenta

Hi MadebyGirl readers!  Sam here, with another home decor post.  Lately I have been crushing on a new chic combo for the home- bold magenta and snakeskin.  I have always felt that animal prints can serve as neutral tones, and work well mixed in with bold colors.
 

I've been on the hunt lately for fun ways to incorporate this combo in to the home.  Here are a few of my recent finds:

 

1.) Faux Python Tray $55
2.) Agate Coaster Set $64
3.) Homesense Snakeskin Frame $12.99
4.) Arianna Belle Magenta Velvet Throw Pillow $75
5.) Pink Ikat Cocktail Napkins $12
6.) Pink Gem Lamp $165
7.) Jayson Home Faux Snakeskin X-Bench $476

One thing's for sure- a mix of bold magenta and snakeskin makes quite an impact.  Would you incorporate the look in to your own home?

 

-post by samantha penner

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Design: Coastal Accents

Hi MadebyGirl readers!  It's Sam from The Peak of Tres Chic here, back for another decor post.  Around this time of year, I begin dreaming of summer.  The warm weather, lying by the pool, beach vacations, and evening soirees occupy my mind and help me get through these last few cold months of winter.  Needless to say, my mind has been focused on all-things-coastal, especially beach-inspired interiors:

{Munger Interiors}

{Coastal Living}

{Lonny Mag}

{Lonny Mag}

I am so delighted to see so many fabulous coastal accents in stores lately!  Here are a few of my favorites:

Shop This Board:

1.) Large Pink Sea Fan $38/2.) Jamie Young Mother of Pearl Table Lamp $299/3.) Phi Seaweed Starfish Hook Pillow $48/4.) Jayson Home Cabebe Shell Dish $44 .) European Seltzer Bottles $80/6.) Chunky Coral on Glass Base $50

Are you ready for warmer weather like me?  Any beach vacations planned?

-post by samantha penner

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Lush Interiors Home Accessories

For those of you not living in NYC, the snow is back. White rooftops galore. Pretty hard to believe, since we're now in March! But, I love it...

On another note, if you're looking for something cute to stash your jewelry in or add some interest to your coffee table, check out these lacquered boxes from Lush Interiors shop. 

The owner, Carla makes these direct from Switzerland. I love them! My favorite is the one with the gorgeous white crystal. I can see this one on my coffee table or in my office! You can put all kinds of things in them, rings, jewelry, even cotton swabs to transform your bathroom into a chic looking space.  

Which is your favorite? How else would you use these vignette boxes?

-images via lush interiors

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Design: Farrow & Ball Wallpaper

Hi MadeByGirl readers, this is Sam from The Peak of Très Chic blog.  I am thrilled to be a new design contributor here on MBG!  In addition to blogging, I attend school and work as an interior designer in Houston- and am so excited to be here!

Today I wanted to share with you a peek at the new line of Farrow & Ball wallcoverings launching February 4!  I am sure many of you have heard of the infamous Farrow & Ball paint colors.   I love them for their high levels of pigment- use just about any F&B shade and you are sure to get a saturated, full color.  

Unlike their competitiors, Farrow & Ball doesn't have 100 shades of every color to choose from.  Instead, they have just over 130 paint colors total, but each shade packs a punch.   True to form, Farrow & Ball's wallpapers utilize the finest pigments and are offered in a variety of motifs.  Here are a few of my favorites:

 

 {Lotus}

{Ranelagh}

{Orangerie}

 

{Wisteria}

{Lattice}

{Ocelot}

And lastly, my very favorite:

{Tessella}

I can picture it making a bold statement in an entryway:

  

Shop This Board:

Tessella Wallpaper $255/roll/Gem Light in Pink $165/each/Curvilinear Console $1,398/Sunflower Antiqued Wall Mirror $330/  Bliss Studio Elgar Chairs $1,563/each/Vintage Kilim Rug $900

  

 Which paper design is your favorite?

Access the wallpapers shown above and check out the full Farrow & Ball wallpaper collection here.

-post by samantha penner

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Design: Sweet or Sexy Bedroom?

Hi everyone, Amanda here. With Valentines just two weeks away, it's official: I'm seeing so much pink and red hearts and lipstick kisses everywhere! But when it comes to home decor, I prefer to steer away from the typical decorations (although a heart or two here and there wouldn't hurt).

 

So today I've put together two ways to "sweeten" or "spice" up your bedroom so that you can enjoy even past Valentines day!

Sweet Boudoir: *Image (Rue Mag) // 1. Lip Mounted Print // 2. Substitute- Art Print // 3.Kate Spade "Lights Out" Pillow // 4. Tufted Ottoman // 5. Gabrielle Table Lamp // 6. Ava Frame // 7. Little Kiss // 8. Mirrored Accent Table // 9. Hermes Avalon Blanket // 10. Jo Malone Room Spray

Sexy Boudoir: *Image (Nicole Cohen's home via Rue Mag) // 1. Bonsoir Pillowcase // 2. Fornasetti Pillow // 3. Mirror // 4. Scalamandre Black Zebra Tall Vase // 5. Hermes Avalon Blanket // 6. Well Read Photography Print // 7. Bocca Tray // 8. Floor Lamp // 9. Python Frame // 10. Croc End Table

Now... which one would you pick?

-post by amanda dietz

 

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Luxury, Vintage Furniture: FUNKYLUXE

I'm always on the lookout for unique home decor / furniture (since the move) that's one of a kind. As much as IKEA or Crate & Barrel. is ideal for all, I prefer to do a little digging to find the perfect piece. And I found FunkyLuxe to be one of my go-to luxury, vintage online furniture stores. Founders Lana and Omar Karim, hand pick each piece to be reinvented through color, textiles and of course their expert craftsmanship. Here's just a few of my favorite's below (also available for the trade).

1. White Pineapple Side Table

2. Snow Leopard Stacking Stools 

3. Black Dining Tables & Chairs 

4. Turquoise & Gold Chairs 

5. Gold Rattan Side Table 

6. Indigo Blue Side Table 

7. Black Antique French Arm Chair 

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Preparing To Re-Decorate - Help!!

Ok - so I sold several items of furniture, Hurricane Sandy hit NY, president Obama was re-elected, snowstorm hitting NYC as we speak & we'll be moving next week. With all that said, I've been busting my head thinking about how to decorate the next place!

I LOVE decorating but my husband doesn't understand my passion (he'd say obsession) with what will go with what!!?!? I'm certainly NOT an interior designer, so I'm asking designers or non-designers to pls give some quick input on what you think looks best. We no longer have our white french provincial sofa, it was SOLD. Boo hoo. 

However, the show must go on & I'm ready to select a new sofa, this one to be exact from Jayson Home & Garden in a velvet fabric.  I've already purchased the Madeline Weinrib greek key rug in 8x10" you see below & am keeping the Jonathan Adler lamp as well as the white IKEA floating shelves & white leather daybed (I hope). I'm also bringing with us our white lucite coffee table, I think it will make the space appear spacious because it is clear.

The Dilemma: I have no idea what color fabric to choose for the sofa. What do you think would work well with the rug below?? The rug is a blueish color with off-white Greek key around the edges. Based on the pieces you see below, what color would you select for the sofa?? YES, the python benches will be included in the mix & the sofa will also have a set of bolsters on each side of the arms.

Below are some swatches - any of these colors? or something else???

I'd love to hear your thought! 

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Moving Again...

Hey guys! How are you? We've been in Minnesota for the last day & will be back in NYC on Sunday evening. As some of you may know - we're going to be moving - again. God-willing we'll find an apartment here in the city & be moved in by early or mid November.  Crazy huh? The reason we're moving is because the construction in our current area has gotten to me & it's gotten to the point that we just have to go!

So, with that said, we've been looking at apartments here & there - and of course, what we'd really like, isn't always what we can afford. Know the feeling??  It sucks sometimes, but I'm sure God will lead us in the right direction despite any current obstacles. I looked through Sotheby's the other day - of course, daydreaming, & came across a dream apartment. It's so inspiring. In fact I can't wait to move & start the decoration process over again. I know my guy isn't looking forward to it because he's the one that ends up having to hang everything up on walls & so on.  I'm hoping the apartment-hunting experience will be a smooth one. We shall see.

Have you ever been apartment HUNTING in NYC? What was your experience like?

 -images via sotheby's

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Style At Home Mag Feature & More

Earlier this year it was a pleasure to work with phographer Janis Nicolay - whom I always admired. So, when she emailed me about working with me, I was like "are you kidding?! Of course!" 

As some of you already know, Style At Home Magazine one of Canada'smost popular home design mags featured our NYC apartment in their latest issue! It's a Special issue currently in news stands & will be available until March 2013! 

It's NOT often that my HUSBAND & I get to be featured in a magazine together, so this was a unique press moment for us both! I CAN'T say I love the picture they chose, but hey, it's us. 

I also wanted to show you MORE of our livingroom - the parts that didn't get featured in the issue. It's been a CHALLENGE in a half decorating & living in a 1000 sq ft apartment, especially after living in a much larger home prior!

You may recognize a few pieces from our old place, I managed to SQUEEZE them into our current apt. What do you think so far??

The marble table above is from CB2 - however I thought it would look better with the legs painted GOLD. So, that's what they look like. The before was a light wood color. Similar style here.

The lamp below is by Jonathan Adler - It's the Meurice floor lamp & it's the most amazing lamp ever. It has a dimmer as well and a unique design on the inside of the drum. It comes in white as well!

The velvety black regency pillows on my sofa are by Jill Sorensen.

The paintings are all painted by me. Via Cocoa & Hearts.
 

One of my favorite bible scriptures framed in the living room - from Matthew 6:33

The lamp above I purchased at a vintage shop here in NYC- I actually joined a live auction to bid on it- then won! The print "Cougar Friends" I got online - click here then search for "cougar".

 Gold skull candle - by DL & Co.

Gorgeous vintage white cross from Australia - shipped to me from Claudia over at Peep My Style.

All photos minus the 2 bottom ones are by Janis Nicolay.

Also, BIG thanks to Danielle from Urban Walls & Myrna over at For the Love of Black blog for sending some mags my way!

Enjoy your weekend!!!

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