Alysha's first apartment...and living vicariously through her

When Alysha told me her Mom's housewarming gift for her was an E-design for her very first bachelorette apartment, I was sooo excited. Like, I think I ate a whole bag of marshmallows, excited...or maybe I just really like marshmallows...oh smores sound good...wait what was I talking about?...
oh yes Alysha's apartment. I truly was excited, because I never had my own first apartment. I got married young and moved in with Race when I was only 19. Don't get me wrong, I of course don't regret it, but I'm a little jealous of the fact that Alysha can decorate her new place in any way she wants, with as much femininity as she wants, without anyone saying "it's kind of girly".  I really wouldn't consider myself a feminine stylist when it comes to my home, but I do love pink...I'm only human people...and was excited when Alysha told me she did too. Basically, she wanted something feminine and hip, a little edgy, but surprising...nothing to matchy, matchy. This is the basic idea that we came up with:

I apologize, I'm not sure why the moodboard looks blurry....it doesn't on my computer but does on Race's...no clue
Being a grad student, Alysha is obviously on a VERY tight budget and since this is a rental, we were stuck with the grayish/white walls, which actually weren't terrible...better than "apartment white". Alysha already had that small white couch, side tables (from Wal-mart for anyone interested) and dining table, which is great because I love them all. I found the dining chairs (similar to the pictured ones) on her local Craigslist, but they were black, so she had them sprayed pink. The chandelier, which was definitely the "splurge" for this space (and luckily we were allowed to install it...what a nice landlord) and ceramic deer head are from Zgallerie, found here and here, the chairs are from Ikea (and only $70 each), found here, and the three stumps that make up her new "cocktail area" are DIY projects by her and her dad (only because I had another client make them, and they said they were super easy and looked great when all was said and done) and I think they add that surprising aspect she wanted. The rug is from my go-to for rugs overstock.com (I know, not exactly the most glamorous place to get rugs, but trust me they have the best prices and rugs can be a budget killer for sure). The pillows are from all different Etsy shops, and the curtains are made my her mom, with the "green zig zag" fabric from fabric.com, found here (on sale right now for only $6.36/yard). We also decided to add a photo collage that frames out her television (which sits on a white dresser, she already owned) on the wall facing the couch....Basically, this is the idea...but with all white frames to keep it contemporary...or because Ikea's white frames are only $3.99...

Also, it's worth noting that words can't describe how much I love gazing at this picture...so much great vintage art, the television basically disappears, or maybe that's just me...but still I could stare all day...Emily Henderson is seriously a genius, we have completely different styles, yet I love her designs and styling, and that says something...Picture found here
Back to Alysha...
I think we hit the nail on the head...It's feminine but fun and flirty, and with a hint of surprise here and there. In the end, she's happy and that's what matters. Congratulations on your first apartment Alysha, and if you ever come home to find me laying on your black and white chevron rug (oh when will my chevron obsession end) and staring at your gorgeous white chandelier and deer head, just leave a trail of marshmallows out the door and it will lead me home...
And in true Friday fashion, a little eye candy to get you through the weekend :)

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Happy Friday all!!

Mind officially blown...

This post is a complete hodge podge of whatever the heck is on my mind lately, so I apologize for the craziness...
First off, I don't want to get all mushy or sentimental and stuff, but seriously it's been a crazy couple of months. Designs by Ashli has already been a bigger success than I ever thought it could be, and I really want to thank everyone who's been supporting me in this very short journey. My mind is officially blown...
Now, let's talk about my fears...It may seem like all of this is very premature, that these thoughts shouldn't even be running through my head...and you are right, however, I've thought about doing this for over 10 years, so these thoughts have been rolling around in my mind for a long time. My first and second project for Designs By Ashli were for a friend of a friend (who now is a very good friend of mine too). And my third, fourth, AND fifth were friends of her's, so now I'm terrified that this is it. I'm scared to my core that it's going to come to a screeching halt and I will never be offered any type of design work or receive another E-design order ever. I've never been happier, and getting up in the morning, even if it's just to finish a post for the blog, or send an e-mail about a fabric I found, is much easier. Don't get me wrong, I like my day job, but of course it's not my passion, this is, and I basically can't get enough of it. The idea that I could spend my life doing something I love, is both extremely exciting and also very terrifying. It could all end tomorrow, though and that is something that never escapes my mind. I've been very lucky to have such supportive friends get the word out, but now what? Maybe, I'm expecting too much too soon, in fact I know I am, but I still can't fight this feeling. (I sound like I'm about to break into an REO speedwagon song...but I wont).
Then, there's a whole different fear...the fear if any of it matters. The fear that I'm not going to leave any type of mark in the world. I'm not a doctor. I don't save people's lives, or help them to have a better quality of daily life. I am not a police officer. I don't spend my days protecting the innocent, or helping keep the streets safe. I'm surrounded by people who make a difference in other's lives daily, whether it's my sister-in-law who works as a nurse and/or my little sister, who is soon going to be changing children's lives as a teacher but lately, I've had this very gut wrenching feeling about what I'm going to spend my life doing and I'm terrified it's not enough...Then I get mad at myself for even thinking that...of course it's enough. Designing an environment, in which someone's going to bring their new baby home to for the first time, where they are going to learn to count and play with their brothers and sisters IS important. Helping someone turn their home from "something they can just afford" into a place their excited to come home to everyday and proud to show off to others IS important. Our environments play an important part in our daily lives, I know this, yet I question it. There is a very famous quote by Winston Churchill (it's actually printed on my business cards), "First we shape our dwellings, and then our dwellings shape us." This quote really hits home to me, because it's so true. Soothing colors help us relax, bold colors excite us. A well organized/designed home gives us confidence. Our environment plays a large part in our mental being (for anyone who doesn't know, I actually got my bachelors in psychology, so I know this is true:)) Our home is where we raise our families, where we share memories with our family/friends/pets. It is our own sanctuary, and it DOES matter. I love helping others turn their hopes and dreams of what their homes could be into something tangible, and eventually into reality.With these thoughts/fears running through my mind, I recently got a forwarded e-mail from one of my readers, who happens to be a designer as well that truly spoke to me...Here's an excerpt:
"Your work improves the lives of others. You design for the homebody and the workerbee, in addition to the aged, handicapped, and infirm. Whether you add light to a dark interior or design a beautiful and healthy working space, you make a difference in the lives of others. Through design, you create harmony in a home, which helps others feel comfortable and relaxed in their own space. You help others express who they are and who they want to be through design."
Design is important, Art is important....and we are making a difference, even if it is in a small part, to people's everyday lives. We help them come home to a place they feel safe and comfortable, a place that makes them happy. In the end, that is all that matters.
And now because a post without pictures is like eating Oreos without dipping them in peanut butter (try it it's delicious) here's some pretty eye candy...

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Any other designers/artists/anything else really ever have these feelings?! Do share....

An American Sun Room

For some reason, in all the years I dreamed of doing this for a living a sun room never even crossed my mind. So you can imagine my excitement when Rene e-mailed me about doing her 4-season sun room. She wanted a simple but fun room that would be a great place for her two pre-teen daughters to hang out in with her husband (watch tv, play games, etc). She also wanted something with a little bit of an "Americana" theme (in honor of her husband and fathers long standing service in the military). This is obviously not my normal color scheme, but it was really fun to put together...Rene's sun room is quite large at 20' x 16'. It has light tiled floors and was to be the perfect hang out space.This is what we came up with...

The daybed is from West Elm (Found here), and is perfect for this space. For one, covered in pillows it is super comfy (I know it doesn't look like it, but we shopped for one of these for our guest room awhile back, and it was beyond comfortable), for two it's great for summertime sleepovers (easily fits two), and since it's metal it's indestructible, and if anything is spilled on the mattress, you only need to buy a new cover (instead of buying a whole new mattress/sofa).  The red garden stools are great for spaces like this because they can be used as seats, a place to prop up your feet, or a place to sit a soda and popcorn. We found these on clearance at Pier 1 but you can find them practically anywhere (in fact, I just saw some great ones at World Market on sale for $50). The Moroccan style rug is from Overstock (where else), and the white chairs are these from Ikea.  The great navy and red throw pillows are from here. Those awesome nautical red lights, are actually outdoor lights, but too cool to not go in this "non serious" indoor/outdoor space and we found them on Ebay. The sunburst mirror was from Target.com and I actually have it in my own home (it was on clearance but is apparently sold out now). The black pedestal table is perfect for playing games and is from Jcpenneys believe it or not. Find it here, although it was on sale, but it looks like it's not anymore :(. The white upholstered chairs are the exact opposite of what I originally wanted for this space, but in the end something comfortable was our number one priority, and these definitely are comfortable (got them on Overstock.com for $100 for the set). The vintage brass stencils were from Ebay and are a nod to this family's love of scrabble :). The small blue lanterns are the "Casablanca Lanterns" (great name) from Zgallerie. Find them here. The large blue dressser/buffet was from Pottery Barn kids and has tons of game/dvd storage and is to be used as a tv stand. The red pendant light, she already had, and it works perfectly! I was a little afraid it was too themy, but in the end I don't think you can go too far with the red,white, and blue :)...and Rene loved it (and from what I heard, her husband loved it too)...In the end, we created a comfortable and fun room for her girls and husband, that I think everyone loved.
And now, in true Friday fashion, some eye candy for you...

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Have a good weekend!

Someday I'll be a millionaire...

Someday I will buy a storage unit and fill it with vintage furniture that I will buy simply to reupholster in pretty fabrics...and I will make millions...or actually probably no money since it costs a fortune to have vintage furniture reupholstered....in fact this hobby might break us... In any case, I would love to spend my days scouring vintage stores/flea markets for beautiful furniture to make my own. Oh how I would love all of these great pieces...

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This is what I call, "granny chic" with those floral prints and shabby coffee table....love that blue couch...

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You know how much I love an impractical white couch...And the gold legs...forget about it...

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Why do I feel the need to drink scotch and smoke a cigar in a night robe to own this couch....none of which I've ever done...

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Love the mid century clean lines...I could totally live on this couch...

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Oh that blue....and an acrylic coffee table...this one's definitely my favorite...come to mama...
...yes folks...someday I'm going to be a millionaire...or I'll end up broke, living in that storage unit....and probably single...because Race would leave me...

A Patio for a Party..

First off on this beautiful Monday morning, for my daily readers I want to apologize for the ridiculous number of changes on my layout and design. It's been a real headache (literally, staring at all the different styles gave me a legit headache) trying to get any background/template to work and to get the design to where I like it/where it looked right. I finally figured it out and am happy with the new design...For any others out there who are having trouble, try reverting to the old blogger interface....they must still be getting the kinks out of the new one. Now onto the fun stuff...well for me anyways :)
So a couple weeks ago, I got an e-mail from Marcie...a teacher, wife, and hip mother of four (yes four..ranging from 7-18 too...strong woman)...Marcie wanted some help in her patio, she basically had nothing but a black table and matching chairs out there, but wanted a "sprucing up" before her oldest son's graduation party in just a couple of weeks. Here's an excerpt from one of her e-mails...
"We love eclectic style, modern but traditional, classic but fresh, hip without being too trendy, and comfortable"
Yes, I would call that eclectic...while most are probably a little confused by her description of their style, I totally get it....in fact I probably understand better than most. I would call my style eclectic and a little trendy generally, but I have a serious respect for all types of design. I can look at something country or shabby chic, two styles I would never use to describe myself, and still be like "I would love this in my house"...Basically, I love it all. So she definitely came to the right place. In the end we decided based on her inspiration pictures, her style was definitely more modern and fresh, but less traditional than she thought. Her backyard is huge and basically has two separate spaces on her patio. We decided to create both a dining area and a living area. This is the basic idea:

Marcie already had that dining table, it's simple and black, but large enough to fit six people. Neither of us loved the matching chairs (she just didn't like them, I didn't like that they matched :)), so I reverted back to Leesa's office, when I fell in love with the silver metal tub chairs, and luckily she loved them too, but we went with the white this time, and found them on overstock so we got them for an even better price, along with the outdoor black and white chevron rug. We found the lanterns, sofa, and those amazing garden stools all at Zgallerie (that's right people I have a serious Zgallerie problem). That awesome metal planter and two white chairs were all CB2 finds, and I actually went to look at the chairs (they are much better in person, trust me). These pillows are not the exact ones we are going to use (she's going to make them herself with a great fabric we found with these same colors), but they are almost identical. I am obsessed with these trunk side tables, but the prices on them are truly ridiculous ($150?!...Really west elm?!...do you know it's part of a tree?...do you?) so I found a DIY version and sent it to her and her hubby (I was a little nervous about that FYI), and they were super excited to give it a try. In the end, we only had to come up with one option for this space (as great as that is, it almost made me sad, I was having fun working via the interweb with this fun couple). I can't wait to see pictures of the final space..
I've also made a few random changes around our own abode...pictures coming soon...