I've been wanting to share my bedroom for some time now, but as mentioned in my previous post, these things take time. It's a continuous work in progress, but once I found the perfect bedding and meaningful accents, things started to fall into place. 

By the way, I'm not much of a purple/lavender fan, but we had our bedroom walls painted a soothing grey, which turned out to have unexpected lavender undertones, so we decided to just go with it.

Much of the artwork in our home was done by artisan friends or myself. The sequin wave paintings were done by an incredible talent, interior designer and artist, Brian Carroll. He's much more talented than he even realizes, and once I can afford to commission more pieces for my future Séchoir office, I will! Don't they remind you of fabric and fashion? 

And then there's the lovely "Cricket" print by Leigh Viner. Owning one of her prints is essential for style lovers and she has a to-die-for collection available at her etsy shop. {Enter to win one of her prints here!}

Being a wife and mother of two, I try to be practical (the circle raffia chest holds toys), but sometimes sequins are necessary in the bedroom too!

1. Curtains - silk remnants & ikea 2. "Cricket" ℅ Leigh Viner 3. Bed - Purveyor ℅ Curate 

4. Bedding & Rug - HD Buttercup  5. Silver nightstand - Antique DIY

6. Lamp - One Kings Lane 7. Garden Stool - Home Goods 8. Chair - Calypso St. Barth

9. Raffia Chest - Home Goods 10. Sequin Wave Painting - Brian Carroll

I love to mix prints and textures in my clothing, so why should home design be any different?

Wearing Calpyso St. Barth sequin pants and sweater. Stella dressed herself in Old Navy polka dot leggings, layered tank & tee with a thrifted sequin top.

I'd do anything for these people, and my happiest moments are moments spent in this home... with them.

Does it get any better than this?

Here's to loving what you have and having all you need, because you know your blessings when you see them!

 I am grateful.

Special thanks to interior designer and wonderful friend, Jay Krift, for helping these pics come to life.

Sneak Peek ~ My little girls room

Amongst the 10,000 other things I'm trying to wrangle on a daily basis, I'm also attempting a carefully thought out and decorated home. This takes time. And planning. And budgeting. And patience. Which I don't always have. But I need to remind myself that I'd rather have every corner of every room in my home be beautiful and mean something, than throwing it together in urgency. So here we are... little bits at a time. 

Stella's room is nearly complete, as I tackled it first, wanted her space to feel like home right away. She got involved in the planning from day one, even picking out the paint color. (Ballerina Pink by BEHR!)

The wooden letters were painted white and hung on a string in the backyard of our old house for her second birthday. Remember it here? We cut new pink ribbon and daddy tacked them above her bed with tiny nails. The dresses were sent to us c/o Biscotti and Kate Mack and they are just too pretty to keep hidden in the closet.

The chandelier is from Pottery Barn Kids and the hubs nearly electrocuted himself to death installing it (thanks, honey) but isn't it pretty? It replaced a very unattractive ceiling fan.

The framed floral art is antique and was scored at one of my favorite local thrift stores. The lamp base was also thrift for about five bucks. I was looking for a simple design that had a pull switch for tiny fingers and believe it or not, that was very tough to find! I ended up finding this simple shade at Big Lots and it was perfect! (Inexpensive, but doesn't look it, right?!) The frame is from Home Goods and holds one of my favorite photos of her.

A pregnancy photo and a memory box (also from Home Goods) displays a vintage slip dress she wore as a tiny tot. I want to cry when I think about her chubby legs teetering around in that thing... The vintage postcards need to be framed and hung, but dwell above until I find the perfect spot.

This little bunny jar is one of the most meaningful items in the room... Stella likes it because she can hide trinkets and treasures away, while I reminisce about my sweet friend (who also made my wedding dress) and the day she gifted it to me while Stella was still in my belly.

Monday Makeover - Silver Nightstand DIY

There are so many things on my To Do list for our new home. And even more items we have to purchase! So I'm all about finding creative ways to make things work within a budget and I'm a sucker for antique and vintage, so this project was a no-brainer. 

This antique nightstand has been in my family for years. Since I was a kid, actually. It's been painted and repainted and repainted again so many times. Before it was this shabby chic white (during my single years) it was three different shades of blue. Before that, shades of orange and green. It's been through several bad coats, but the shape is lovely and the wood is solid, so I knew I could do something with it.

I found a simple and sleek gray nightstand for the hubs and wanted mine to co exist in the bedroom with his, without being matchy-matchy. So I decided on silver! I also decided to paint instead of spray paint, because I had a feeling I would be better at it.

But the only silver paint I could find was very light, and I wanted to add a bit more depth... make it silvery gray instead of platinum. So I added in a little Rust-Oleum black gloss paint at the suggestion of a very helpful Home Depot man. 

This was also the paint I used to bring new life to the handle, as I couldn't find anything modern that I liked as much as the original!

Here's how I did it:

1) Sand & wipe clean. 2) Paint with primer, let dry. 3) Test color on inside drawer. 4) Paint.

This was a long process, with a lot of sanding, priming, waiting and meticulous painting, but well worth it! I'm so happy with the results. 

Hope you found some DIY inspiration! xx

New House Inspiration - Bedrooms

Well, we're off to do more house hunting today! As I mentioned before, it's a challenge to see through the mucky interiors of what's out there and visualize all that we can do with a space. But the decorating is the exciting part. And I'm getting excited!

On my mind...

This pic inspires on so many levels. I'm pretty sure I want a chandelier if I can convince the hubs. Absolutely love tufted beds. Something so regal and plush and divinely soft about them. I'm pretty sure when we make the plunge and buy a new (kings size!) bed, the Curate one I found (in this post here) might fit the bill exactly, with the marriage of wood and quilting.

I love the clean lines and symmetry in this bedroom. The dual mirrors, lamps, side tables and chairs. Feels deliciously balanced. 

I obviously lean towards grays and muted tones, but a pop of a color, like the pink here, makes all the difference when creating a unique bedroom.

I'm going to bring this pic in as a color swatch to have paint matched for our room. It's perfection. Light gray with lavender undertones. So chic, so calming, so perfect. The dresser is also so gorgeous and I've seen these antique remade rugs in person. They are patched together pieces that are dip-dyed. Divine. 

{All images sourced through Pinterest. See my bedroom Pinterest board here .}

Home Furniture inspirations by Purveyor ~ Curate Design

The house hunt has begun. We are officially looking at houses. (!!!) And while it may be a bit premature to start designing a space that doesn't quite exist yet, I just can't help myself. It is, after all, my second passion next to styling. I've already created design board inspirations on Pinterest here, here and here and have come across some pretty amazing design sites, including my current fave, Purveyor through Curate.

Some serious items of consideration...

Cocktail Table 

It comes in several different finishes with an antique mirror top. 

Gorgeous and functional. 

(And the rounded shape makes it much safer for rambunctious little ones running around!) 

Buffet Table

Super sleek, super retro looking. 

It feels like something Don's third wife would design their living room around in Mad Men. 

Quilted & Wood Bed

The genius about this design is that is marries two different looks in one. 

I prefer a soft, quilted back, while the hubs likes to keep it sleek. 

How about both? Just adore this. Plus, it comes in Cal King!

Iron Mirror

Hand forged iron in such a unique round/link design. 

I'd hang it in an entryway to give guests a feel of our style right off the bat.  

High/Low Table

This could be used in so many different ways... 

From side table, to coffee table, to serving tray. 

It's pretty much a must have that would fit into any room.

I could go on and on... Hope you found a little design inspiration! For more info and location for retailers for these designs, go here.

A {tiny} Office Space

Someday I will have an entire office/styling room all of my own. In the meantime, the only "me time" happens in a tiny little nook, by a window, in the corner of our dining room. 

I've been trying to come up with ways to not only make this space functional, but beautiful and artistically encouraging as well. This is why I love Pinterest.

I have found so many inspiring images to help me on my journey to make this little space all my own, and I wanted to share a few with you!

I will be revealing what I came up with soon. Until then, see if  you can find a little spark of your own.

Happy Monday! Have a fabulous week! xx

{Images via Pinterest}

Mary McDonald book signing "Interiors" + Calypso St Barth

Calypso St. Barth hosted an elegant evening with Interior Designer Mary McDonald last week, for a signing of her gorgeous book Interiors. I was lucky enough to cover the event, meet her myself, and be in on all of the fun!
If you haven't seen her on the hit Bravo TV show "Million Dollar Decorators" you really must. She truly is that striking and charming in person. 

Tanya Dempsey and Mary McDonald

There was enough music and bubbly to go around, and the circling of eager guests, just waiting to get an autograph from the woman of the hour, was definitely a sight to behold! You should do yourself a favor and take an afternoon to savor this book. You'll be transported into loveliness.

Speaking of loveliness, did I mention the backdrop was that of the breathtaking beauty of Calypso St Barth in Brentwood, CA?  

Take one peek, online (here!) or in one of the stores, and you're bound to fall in love.

Some gorgeous taste-makers and fashionable elite stopped by to support and do some shopping.

Including some friendly new faces from another recent and fabulous event. (Did you see the Hip'tique + Black Halo coverage here?)

I must admit, the night was a little more fun for me, just having a reason to swish around in this dress! The Calypso Lola Paillatte dress is a perfect party frock! (Find it here!)

How would you like to get your hands on an autographed copy of Mary's book Interiors? Enter below!

To be eligible for drawing: (Sorry, this contest is closed)

• You must be a follower of November Grey via google friend connect or bloglovin' ~ (if you are already a follower, let me know!)
•  "Like" Calypso Home Brentwood on Facebook (Click here!) and comment back here that you did so.

Open to international submissions

Contest ends 11/25/11 at 10pm PST

Winner will be drawn randomly & announced by 12/1/11

ZOUK Los Angeles

So imagine you and your best friend, (who also happens to be your sister) live on different continents, (California & Australia) but several times a year you travel the world together, using your impeccable taste to collect one-of-a-kind home décor pieces, jewelry and clothing... and this is your job.

Now imagine that you're also Swedish, blonde, and gorgeous.

Imagining? Good. Now you have a little insight into what it's like to be sisters, Jenny Best and Katharina Tagliaferro ~ the owners and creators of Zouk Los Angeles. I was lucky enough to cover the opening of this eclectic little store and meet these two fabulous women (& all of their treasures) myself!

Upon arrival we were given our choice of these delightful & colorful thin wax bracelets, which in itself, was pretty indicative of the bright spectrum of eye candy ahead.

No sooner did we fill our faces with delectable tapas from around the world and crisp pinot grigio, were we whisked away into an oasis of beauty! Everywhere we turned we found another item to ooh and ahhh and lust after.

From art, to candles, to luxury towels that my friend and I actually thought were blankets!

 To what I'm pretty sure was the coolest damn bull hanging I've ever seen.

I was almost out the door when I spotted the most adorable little sweater I desperately wanted to take home to the monkey.

But what I loved most about this evening and these women in general, comes in the form of two very charitable hearts. 3% of all sales will be donated to the buyers choice of either amFAR, Doctors without Borders, Heal the Bay, OPCC, The Humane Society or WFP. Now that's something fabulous to get behind!

If you live in the area, do not hesitate to stop by. I promise you will be inspired!

Zouk Los Angeles

1311 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, CA

310-260-1230

{I wore a satin backless dress (unknown) as a top, vintage slacks, leather jacket designed for me in a film and  Sam Edelman Novato Platform Pumps}