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....