Closet Crave!

To some people, living the dream is working at their job of choice, traveling the world, being a foodie. To others, living the dream is waking up to an amazing closet. Shoes lined perfectly, sections for different attire, color and a great spot for your jewels. It's all about presentation.

Here are a few closets that I thought were knock outs for all styles of design:

This juicy ottoman in this proper closet kicks it up a notch. I love the coordinating handles on the double doors.

Image credit

Glitz and Glam! You can check your image on any surface in this mirrored closet.

Image credit

Dark and polished, I personally think I may have gone with a long rectangular ottoman to balance the space a bit better, however I still like this look!

Image credit

You know, stunning closets aren't just for women. Men, can't you imagine picking your tie for the day in the masculine space? Everything has it's spot and its not to frilly, right to the point. 

Image credit

Are you a bit more modern? Maybe you have an awkward attic space? Don't let the shape defer you from a great closet. Here is a great installation, more modern and perfectly aligned in a more challenging space. Notice they put the dresser on the opposite wall?

Image credit

Here is an interesting one, this closet is an actual room used to showcase clothing, shoes and accessories! Do you have a large enough home to devote a whole room to a closet? If so, make it a show stopper, not just a storage room. 

Image credit

I saved this one for last, because it's my favorite. I love the use of wallpaper, the vintage image, the entire composition is just very inviting to me. I think I would enjoy picking out my clothes every day!! 

Image credit

A few things I have learned from these closets?

• Make your hangers match, preferably and chunky natural wood, it unifies and brings it all together!
• Don't be afraid to use color in the space!
• Don't be afraid of the possibility of wallpaper in your closet, make it your mini castle of YOU!
• Try to arrange your garments in an organization pattern, whatever works best for you but is pleasing to the eye at the same time. 
• Everything doesn't have to be contained, display pieces artfully to enjoy them daily!

I hope these images have left you with some closet crave, are you already brainstorming ideas for your closet? I am!

xo}L

Let's Get Mad. {Mad Men Madness!}

Oh boy, oh boy, it was the weekend that many around the globe were anticipating for months, no, it wasn't New Years, no it wasn't Christmas, it was the season premiere of Mad Men season 6!

Image Credit

For months I (along with others) have been craving the amazing fashion, dapper gents and breathtaking dames, drinks and smoking that makes you cough through your tv screen. (Yes, I know that doesn't sound the least bit pleasing, but somehow someway, the actors make it so couture.) 

Image credit

Image credit

Image credit

So with all the excitement of the much awaiting season 6, myself, the hubs and a handful of friends threw together a fabulous Mad Men Soiree! Here are a few photos from the weekend:

Preparing for our guests, being the good little house wife:

The dames:

The gents:

My dapper husband:

Mad love...

Dressing up, taking silly photos and drinking delish drinks were so much fun. We plan to do more themed parties like this again. We are hoping for a James Bond theme party next! So get your best 007 swag on!

Did you do anything fun for the premiere? Do share!

xo}L

Day 16 of 31 Days of LOCAL Holiday Shopping: ArtPool

Okay, so I must confess, the vintage lover in me, STILL has not been to ArtPool. I know, I know, so sad. But I will say, I do plan to make that change ASAP! I have a feeling I might become a little obsessed. 

Another unique store on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg is ArtPool. Not only does this boutique have an awesome selection of one-of-a-kind and vintage clothing, accessories and décor, it also serves as an eclectic art gallery featuring local artists. On top of all that, ArtPool also has a great little café with indoor and outdoor seating. If you’re looking for that perfect gift for the vintage-obsessed person in your life –and what to have an awesome shopping experience while looking for it you won’t want to miss ArtPool!

Check them on Facebook

Day 3 of 31 Days of LOCAL Holiday Shopping: MISRED Outfitters

Today, we are going to get a bit vintage! Our day 3 of our "31 Days of LOCAL Holiday Shopping" is for our vintage pals or friends of them, who need a good gift!

MISRED Outfitters is definitely hands-down my favorite vintage clothing shop in the Tampa Bay Area. They offer a great selection of vintage styles for a price that doesn't leave your scrounging for pennies. In addition to their great selection of vintage, they also have their own line, "misred reconstructed" which is phenomenal!  Here are a few looks that give you the vibe of the store:

Photos via: MISRED Outfitters

Each of the people that work there have some kind of knack for fashion and they will help you put together an outfit that you are comfortable in and will LOVE. I can actually speak from personal experience, I wasn't on board with the look of Harem pants, but I went in, and one of the lovely ladies put together a look for me. Now, I have two different pairs of Harem pants and I want to go back for more!

^^ This is me, on a shoot with Nina Grace Photography my whole look is from MISRED! Harem pants and this amazing caftan top reconstructed from a vintage scarf. I love it more every time I wear it! 

So friends, I urge you to visit MISRED for some of your holiday shopping, clothing, jewelry, shoes and bags, I guarantee you will find some amazing things for people on your list. 

"like" them on Facebook

and visit them in person:

615 Central Ave. 

St. Pete, FL 33701

Happy LOCAL Holiday Shopping!!

xo}L

Small Business Saturday! Spotlight: Eugenia Woods, 31 days of Christmas Shopping!

Well my friends, today is Small Business Saturday! You may have stood in line at Best Buy and Target to get those electronic deals yesterday. But from here on out, I encourage you to shop local for your Holiday needs! So, I am making it a little easy for you. Every day, for the next weeks, I am going to feature a small business in the Tampa Bay area. If you have a suggestion for a small business shout out, I would love to hear from you please email me your candidates to be featured.

To kick off this series of blog post, I selected one of my favorite local St. Pete shops: Eugenia Woods , a sister owned company in sunny St. Petersburg, FL , they sell handmade womens accessories with a vintage twist!

Here are a few items you will find in their shop:

Beautiful handmade bags, so many styles to match all the girls on your holiday list!

Unique veiled beanies, (I have one of these, it's such a show stopper, I love it!)

Funky collars of all different fabrics, to add a little somethin' somethin' to your outfit!

Stop by their shop, at the 600 Block of St. Pete, FL, their address is: 

645 Central Ave #10

St. Pete, FL 33701

Or if you can't make it in person, check out their Etsy Shop Here!

Also, show them some Facebook love and "like" their page!

Happy Holiday Shopping!

xo}L

**All photos via Eugenia Woods

Historic Kenwood's Bungalow Fest 2012, Designer Show Home

Hey there design friends! I hope your Fall is off to a good start. Here in Florida we are getting a bit of a cooler breeze, which is very nice, but hoping for safety for the northern states with Hurricane Sandy near.

Last night was the Gala Preview Party for Historic Kenwood Bungalow Fest 2012! I am so excited to be part of this annual event this year. I have met some awesome new people over the last few weeks and hope that it turns into great new friendships!

Yesterday evening, the temps were starting to get a lot more pleasant than our usual 90 degree Florida nights, and I feel like my inspiration room really gave people that cozy fall feeling. Take a peek for yourself and let me know your thoughts!

I personally love mixing old with  new and geometric patterns with florals. The gorgeous art work was provided by Victoria Arendt of Vision 47 Gallery.

The draperies were a huge hit! I found this vintage floral fabric at an estate sale, I squeeled like a little girl when I found out they only wanted $6 for the bolt! So I rushed it over to my drapery workroom, Custom Home Furnishings and she whipped up these beauties for me. 

This mantel is from Schiller's Salvage

I also found these fantastic vintage screens that are from The Tampa Bay Hotel in the 1920's which I also found at Schiller's Salvage. I was so excited that the screens were still available when I went out sourcing for this room, I remembered them from months prior, glad I got to snag them! I think they added the perfect amount of symmetry, history and visual balance for the room!

This great metal bookcase was provided by Paper Street Market

These pretty pillows were handmade by Eugenia Woods, the detail on them is quite stunning. 

And here is myself in my room. If you were able to stop by, it was great to see you, if not, remember that next weekend is actual Bungalow Fest 2012 and you can preview the designer show house along with a number of other bungalows in the neighborhood! 

Special thank you again to all of my lovely vendors, your talent, time and generosity is greatly appreciated! Also, thank you to my supportive husband, family and friends while I put this room together! 

xo} L

Vintage obsession + Dunedin = One happy gal

Have you been to Dunedin? If not, stop all your plans for tomorrow and just go! It's kind of this amazing little town that makes my heart flutter every time I am there. You have everything you could possibly need, walking distance to salt water, great local dining (everything from BBQ to pizza!), locally owned shops some with new things and some with antiques, and my personal favs, two little neighbors that stole a big chunk of my vintage soul! The owners are wonderful and strike up conversation with a smile. On the left you have Kina Kouture  and on the right you have Lace Lingerie and Vintage Couture

Let's start first with Kina Kouture. I stumbled across this shop a few months ago when we moved to the Gulf Coast area and I fell in love! They have a great selection of dresses for the girl with the vintage soul. If you love the retro look and like to glam it up, this is the shop for you. They carry Stop Staring, Bettie Page, Tori Richard, Bernie Dexter and many more. My first piece I purchased was for my bridal shower I love everything about this dress, the classic A-line style (with pockets!) but mixed it up with the great diamond print, it almost had an ethnic feel to it. And it was so comfy to wear...

Myself (center) in my lovely blue dress from Kina Kouture with my fabulous bridesmaids at my bridal shower!

Today, the fiance and I made another trip back to Kina Kouture and I purchased a dress to wear this weekend for my bachelorette party. I am so excited to get slink into this perfectly fitted number. 

I feel like Joan from Mad Men

Image via google

And here is the dress I picked out today, can't wait to celebrate in it!

Image via Kina Kouture Blog

Then, just to the right, you step on over to Lace Lingerie and Vintage Couture and become enchanted with all the vintage finds! Right when you walk into the shop, there are lots of great lingerie goodies, they carry Hanky Pankies and even a great line of maternity lingerie.

Image via Lace Lingerie

Toward the back, Lace is bursting at the seams with lots of vintage goodies. 

Image via Lace Lingerie

I was so lucky to find a fabulous cobalt blue dress with great a great poppy print. 

I just can't get enough of it.... 

Myself mingling at a party in my lovely vintage poppy number from Lace!

Here are some similar items you will run across at Lace

Image via Lace Lingerie and Vintage Couture

I encourage you to stop by Dunedin and check out the great things all these local shops have to offer. Vintage and retro things might not be right up your alley, but there is an abundance of other types of shopping that might strike your fancy!

Oh yeah and one last thing...

Coastal Love

Yesterday, I was driving to work and it was such a beautiful day here in Indian Rocks Beach, FL. The sun was shining and the water was glistening. It looked like someone just threw glitter in the bay. It brought an instant smile to my face and I felt cheery all day.

Throughout the day I was thinking of beautiful coastal inspired interiors and I haven't been able to shake this stunning color palette. I love the beautiful green and blue hues...

Image via Design Seeds

So here are a few coastal inspired images that make my beachy heart sing! :)

I love the coastal-cool retro kitchen:

Image via: Coastal Living 

I love the shutter details on the walls of this breakfast nook:

Image via: Coastal Living

Provide a happy dose of sunshine for your guests with a bedroom like this:

Image via: creategirl.blogspot.com

Kelly Wearstler's line of textiles would work out great for a coastal home:

I don't know about you... but this would be my perfect beach home. Modern, sleek and full of windows and natural light....

Image via: materialicious.com