Sometimes a girl just needs to sparkle!

 

...and for me, this is one of those weekends. After weeks of being stressed and sick and exhausted, I've finally had a great week, and I am ready to take full advantage of my health and mood (before the freezing temperatures settle in). So I will be donning my ombre sequin dress from Express and joining my best lady friends for a night of dinner, cocktails, and dancing in this beautiful city of Chicago.

What are your plans for the weekend? Anything special happening? Spill the beans!

You Betcha A Lady Lives Here

I mean, just look at all those bright pinks! And tufted furnishings! And crystal lighting! And antique daybed! And oversized coffee table books stacked high!

Just look at that perfectly cluttered inspiration board! And zebra-patterned ottoman!

And notice the gold jewelry spilling over colorful porcelain trays! And pink peonies everywhere!

And then there's the bed... just look at that bed! The understated canopy! The ornate suzani throw at the foot! Those mirrored night stands! And again with the crystal chandelier, charmingly off-centered in the room!

See? I just knew it was a lady who lived here. And her name is Jacqui Getty. And I want to rob her house. Shhh...

Source

Jayson, I've Got a Crush on You

Having lived in Chicago for the past two years, I am embarrassed to admit this weekend was my first trip to the wonderful world of Jayson Home and Garden. In all seriousness, this highly stylized store - filled to the brim with upholstered antiques, one-of-a-kind casegoods, and dramatic, quirky accessories - would qualify as any design junkie's paradise. Take for example this antique trunk. The perfect size and naturally distressed, how great would it be re-purposed as a coffee table or nightstand? I'm sure that's what the store owners had in mind when they styled it the way they did.

Loved this collection of antique mirrors and velvety throw pillows. Not to mention the salvaged wood walls are a nice touch!

While quite a few sofas caught my eye, it would be the Graham sofa I'd most want to take home with me. The granite-colored upholstery, shapely arms, and nailhead trim offer the perfect mix of tailored elegance and comfort.

This past weekend was the annual Jayson Flea Market. Shoppers are treated to a curated collection of antiques from Paris and Provence. Tables, chairs, couches, bookshelves, lamps, antlers, and oversized accents crowded the tent in the Jayson garden courtyard. The pair of oversized salvaged doors had my heart racing.

And then there's the Jayson Gardens... oh, what a serene, enchanting, brick-paved wonderland that is. And I am not a plant person (having never managed to keep anything alive over a week). I can't wait to see how this space transforms from one season to the next. Fingers crossed it will be brimming with Christmas trees, wreaths, and greenery in a couple months!

If you're ever in Chicago, I highly encourage a trip to this fantastic store. It's located in Lincoln Park and just a short cab from downtown.

The Room that Stickers Built

Did any of you see this gorgeous bedroom in the September Elle Decor? It was my favorite room in the issue for a number of reasons: the paneled shudders on the windows, the oversized headboard, and the neon yellow nightstand to name a few. But it was mainly the intricate, feminine wallpaper that caught my eye. Or so I thought.

Imagine my surprise when I began reading and learned... wallpaper it is not! Trickery! Madness! What?! What could it possibly be?! Turns out twenty-five-year-old creative maven Payton Cosell Turner used thousands of stickers to create intricate the damask pattern.

Yes. Stickers. Like the kind your teachers would stick at the top of a spelling test. Stickers of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Everything from pizza slices to pooches, fishing vests and sparkly monster trucks join together to create her brilliant and beautiful designs.

She created her first sticker wallpaper project for her senior thesis at the Maryland Institute College of Art, and apparently a designer in New York City saw it and commissioned another project in the Greenwich Village home. Now Payton has done installations for several people's homes across the country, and has started her own wallpaper line, Flat Vernacular. Talk about an inspiring lady!

Some of my favorite wallpaper designs from Flat Vernacular are Eyelets, Flora, and Dandelion Creatures.

Cailin's Curating

I absolutely love these styled collages Caitlin has been putting together for her blog each week. She compiles a few of her favorite fashion and home accessories, all of which are uniquely gorgeous, and displays them atop of one of her books or magazines. A close-up shot captures the perfectly curated collection. Absolutely brilliant, Caitlin!

To see the sources of each of the items the photos, click here.

Your Go-To for Fall Weddings

Look no further than BHLDN. The bold colors and rich textures are perfect for those of you attending fall weddings and are in need of something new to wear. I have my cousin's wedding in two weeks, and I'd love to don any one of these to the outdoor ceremony. It's taking place on a farm, which means a lot of walking on grass... shoes will be a trickier choice. Flats or wedges? Any advice?

mustard | turquoise | navy | red

Happy weekend!

White Done Right (take two)

I can't quite get enough of rooms painted white that are jaw-dropping gorgeous. White walls just seem so much like something you have to deal with when you're a renter. They're a hassle, something you want to fix. But these spaces, with their unique design and eye-catching accents, wow the viewer as much as a dramatic room painted in lacquer navy or sunshine yellow. Look how much a hot pink rug or dazzling brass shower nozzle can glam up a white bathroom. Or how dark, rustic woods highlight the whites even more. I have a feeling you'll be seeing more and more "White Done Right" posts as this is quickly becoming one of my favorite looks in interiors.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Frollicking in Fields of Green

wearing red shoes...

oversized plaid...

and her cropped sweater.

Love it all. I really need to get my fall weekends in order and jump on the frollicking in fields, pumpkin patch, corn maze, apple-picking bandwagon!

A Chicago Home I Could Get Used To

As soon as I saw the living room of this Chicago townhouse designed by Arden Nelson, with the nailhead-trimmed grey sofa from Jayson backed against built-in bookshelves, I knew I was hooked. The understated yet oh-so-pretty decor of this home leaves me weak in the knees. Clean lines (the geometric vignette above the mantel), charming accents (the antique mirror on the dresser), and fresh colors (soft greys and taupes accented by pinks and green plant life) are all details I try to bring into my own home. Even the J.Crew handbag on the floor is one I blogged about back in January. Well done, fellow Chicagoans. Well done.

via Chicago Home and Garden; photography by Nathan Kirkman