#and her dropping everything to reinvent a new style of dress just so everyone knows Brigitte has a rack to die for

[ming-sik]

they can push fermyne as hard as they want i will remain steadfast in my faith towards aro lesbian rozemyne. yes a lot of the evidence is her internalized misogyny meaning that she's overly invested in the femininity of the women around her i just think she is also gay

[let-me-write-shit]

Somebody To You: 16

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Word Count: 4,322

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CHAPTER SIXTEEN:

Zoey never considered herself to be a city girl, but the longer she lived here, the more accustomed she became. Of course, there were perks she missed living in the suburbs. Yards, gardening, a better sense of security. She missed those nights where she could sit on her back porch, listen to the crickets chirping, and watch the lightning bugs dance around the lawn. Hearing the trees rustle in the darkness was a calm she could never quite replicate.

But city life was exciting. There was always something to do or something to see. People were on every corner and energies were always high. It was never boring. Downtown LA was bustling with people, especially for a Sunday afternoon. Andy had taken her on a little shopping spree after brunch. He said he wanted to buy a whole new wardrobe to ‘reinvent himself’. She hadn’t planned on buying anything, but he wasn’t having that. They stopped in a bunch of little boutiques, trying on all sorts of dresses, bathing suits, and shoes. There were so many hidden gems in the way of local small businesses in the area. And the store owners were always kind.

“I can’t wait to bring my sister out here one day,” Zoey held up a cute graphic tee, “Katie would love these shops.”

“Do you two talk a lot?” Andy asked.

Zoey re-folded the shirt and placed it back, “I try to, but not nearly enough. I miss her.”

“Didn’t you say you weren’t really close growing up?”

“Yeah. We didn’t start getting close until right before I moved. It made leaving harder. She’s getting ready to start college soon. I think my parents are starting to freak out a bit that she’s moving on campus. Empty nest syndrome.”

“Little bird’s gotta learn to fly,” Andy spoke, earning a nod from Zoey.

The two decided to grab some crepes to go and ate them on a bench, watching strangers pass them by on the street, catching up on all their work stories, and talking about how awkward her date was the other day. Nancy’s friend was nice, alright, but clearly hadn’t been in a relationship before and had no clue how to communicate with women. He had potential if he found someone with patience, but she just wasn’t prepared to baby someone at the moment. She recalled Harry getting a kick out of it when she told him about it, but Zoey just felt bad. She made sure to let him down gently.

Eventually, they got on the topic of Zoey’s birthday coming up in three days. She had already told Andy that she wanted to go to the beach, but he made it a point to remind her that it was a birthday, therefore they needed to celebrate all day. They discussed having dinner at a nice restaurant with all of her friends, bar hopping afterward, and ending the night with a karaoke club. She started to get excited, especially since she just bought the perfect outfit to wear.

“What about Brett? Is he invited, or are he and Rory not speaking?”

“I didn’t tell you?!” Zoey exclaimed, turning towards him and swallowing her mouthful of crepe, “he asked Rory out last night! They’re official.”

“No fucking way!” Andy exclaimed, covering his mouth, “Bitch! Imagine the babies they’d make!”

“Cute little foreign babies!” Zoey cooed, laughing. 

“Does Harry know about them yet?”

Zoey pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows, “I haven’t told him yet, so probably not.”

Andy went wide-eyed, an interested smirk stretching across his face, “Wonder how he’ll react when he finds out.” 

Zoey shrugged her shoulders, looking down at her food. She didn’t know. She was getting these weird mixed signals from Harry. He’s been back in England for a week now and even with the dramatic time difference, they’ve talked more this week than they did when he was on tour. She’d attribute that to him finally having some time off from work, but she knew that he’d been in the studio and had a few meetings, so even that wasn’t necessarily true.

But the increase in communication wasn’t what she was confused about. It’s the conversations themselves. At first, she thought Harry was handling the ‘Rory situation’ pretty well. He had confided in her that he wasn’t sure he wanted to be with her to begin with, which she had suspected. He had told Zoey about how his friends keep making jokes about how they think he likes her. At first, Zoey laughed it off. Her and Harry? That would never happen. She just simply wasn’t his type. And he made that very clear.

But then there would be moments. Subtle. But enough to catch her attention. A tone in his voice, an expression on his face, an extra-long silence where there didn’t need to be. Maybe she was reading into it after what he told her. Maybe she was reading into it because she secretly hoped it was true, which killed her. He was her best friend. She finally met someone whom she could be herself around without feeling uncomfortable. Someone she could confide in about anything and everything, and that meant even more to her now that Jess was gone. 

She didn’t want to jeopardize that by saying or acting on some stupid puppy love crush she had on Harry fucking Styles of all people. He doesn’t like her like that. And even if he did, how could they even attempt to make that work? Especially after he and Rory had a thing. What, so now they’re just swapping sexual partners? Even if Zoey was fine with her friend dating and sleeping with a fling of hers, it doesn’t mean that Aurora was. She couldn’t risk ruffling her roommate’s feathers. She didn’t want to lose her friendship or make things awkward at home, either. So, for now, she’d just keep her mouth shut while this little phase passes.

The two finished up eating when Andy checked his phone and suggested they start heading back to her place to get ready for work tonight. “Get ready? We’ve still got three hours before we have to leave!”

“Yes, but you need a shower and I want to show Nancy and Rory these clothes I got!” he shot back.

“Alright, alright! Fine!”

The ride back to the condo was like any other ride between the two friends: filled with painfully tone-deaf singing and dramatic dance. Nothing was out of the ordinary as the two rode the elevator to the twenty-second floor and discussed the predictions for the turnout at the bar tonight. Nothing seemed different as she punched her code into the front door and stepped inside. Except, instead of the typical scene she’d see, she walked in to see Nancy and Rory standing in the middle of the living room with huge smiles on their beautiful faces, surrounded by several large rolling luggage. One of which she noticed was her own.

“What are you doing?” Zoey asked them, turning to see Andy’s eager grin. Her eyes furrowed, confused, “What’s going on?”

“We’re taking you away for your birthday,” Nancy’s smile grew, stepping out from behind the luggage and walking towards her. Aurora followed closely behind.

“What? Where are we going?” Zoey asked, her heartbeat rising.

“That’s a surprise. ” Nancy grinned.

Zoey laughed skeptically, eyebrows raising, “This is a joke, right?” Everyone shook their head no and she asked, “What about work? What about Binx? Where are we going?”

Andy spoke up, grabbing her shoulders and pulling her into a hug, “I had our manager put in vacation time for us for almost a month now. We’ve had this planned for a while now.”

“And don’t worry about Binx. Brett’s going to watch him while we’re gone,” Aurora grinned, “We think we packed everything you’ll need, but if Nancy and I forgot anything, we’ll just get it while we’re there. Now come on! We need to go before we’re late!”

Overwhelmed, Zoey shoved the new clothes she just bought into her suitcase, double-checking her pockets to make sure she had her wallet and ID on her. Quickly, she grabbed a hoodie and they were off, making sure to grab Andy’s suitcase from his car before getting into Rory’s and heading to the airport. 

The whole way she was trying to make guesses as to where they were going, but none of them faltered. They had managed to get to the airport, check their luggage, and go through security with her being none the wiser. She wasn’t allowed to look at her ticket. Nancy was always beside her, holding onto Zoey’s documents and explaining to TSA agents and any airport employee they encountered that she was going on a surprise birthday trip, asking them to please not ruin it for her until they got to the gate. Most of them got a kick out of it. Finally, when they reached the gate, there, above the seating area, with Nancy recording her reaction, is where she found out where they were going.

Zoey gasped, her hands shooting up to her mouth and her legs giving out, she crumbled to the ground, tears forming in her eyes, “Rome?!” Her friends stood around her, laughing, smiling, and tearing up at her reaction. “You’re taking me to Rome?!”

Andy put a hand out for her, “You better get your ass up off this dirty-ass floor,” he choked, pulling her to her feet.

“Are you serious?” She repeated, holding onto him for support.

“You said you’ve always wanted to come here,” Aurora reminded her, wrapping her arms around her friend, “You deserve it.”

Nancy came over and they all had a group hug, onlookers staring at them with smiles on their faces when they realized what was going on. “You guys, this is crazy!” Zoey laughed, wiping the tears that ran down her cheeks.

“Well, it’s a long flight. A little over seventeen hours,” Nancy warned her, “and because of the time difference, we technically won’t be arriving until tomorrow night around 5 PM. But we made sure to bring a bunch of snacks and games to play while we’re on board.”

“And bitch, we’re in first class!” Andy squealed, jumping up and down.

Zoey’s eyes widened, her mouth dropping again as she processed everything that was going on. “How the hell did you guys manage all of this? I have a passport? How did you get me a passport? Does Harry know about this? He had something to do with this, didn’t he?”

“We had help to get your passport,” Aurora admitted, “We had to snoop and call your parents to get all of your documents.”

“My parents know I’m going to Italy?!”

“And I’m a little offended you think Harry must have had some involvement in this! What, we couldn’t do this for you on our own?” Nancy feigned disappointment.

“No, I’m sorry, I just-”

“I’m kidding. He totally planned this,” Nancy laughed, “It was his idea to do this. We all just helped make it happen.”

“You guys!” Zoey smiled, pulling them into another long hug before they found a few empty seats in the corner of the seating area before they got ready to board. Zoey took the opportunity to Facetime Harry. It must have been a little before midnight, but she could bet that he’d still answer. And just like she suspected, the screen enlarged just in time to see the dark surrounding of Harry’s room illuminate when he switched on the lamp on his side table. 

He rubbed his eyes and squinted. When he saw the expression on Zoey’s face, his mouth stretched in a smile, “Surprised?” he asked.

Zoey shook her head, there was no hiding her grin, “How could you keep this a secret?”

“Because of that look, right there,” Harry pointed at her face, through the screen.

Nancy leaned over Zoey’s shoulder, “I’ll send you her reaction. It was amazing!”

“You’re going to be there, right?” Zoey asked, her eyes hopeful.

Harry nodded, “Yeah, I head out in the morning. It’s a short flight for me. I’ll be there before you land.”

“Okay. I’ll let you get some sleep then. I’ll see you tomorrow!” she grinned.

“Safe travels,” Harry smiled.

Just before he could end the call she managed to say, “Oh, and Harry? Thank you.”

Harry nodded, winking before the call went blank. It was hard for him to sleep after that. He was too excited. She still had no clue what was to come.

Nancy wasn’t kidding. The flight was long. Excruciatingly long. Even in first class, it was hard to get comfortable. Her legs felt like jello and she had no feeling in her butt anymore. Her neck was so stiff that it was hard to move it. She had read an entire novel by the end of the first half of the flight, and she and Andy had gotten bored of playing cards. There was nothing else to do but sleep.

And sleep, she did. Until the discomfort of depressurization in the cabin made her ears painfully pop and woke her from her sleep. She looked out of the window to see a large city in the distance, slowly coming closer and closer. A chime throughout the airplane sounded, waking Andy beside her, and the pilot’s voice had announced their descent into Rome, followed up by a few other languages. 

Quickly, Zoey’s exhaustion was replaced with exhilaration, excitedly staring out the window as the plane collided with cement and sped down the runway towards their gate. They couldn’t get off fast enough. She thanked the pilots and the flight attendants on the way out, skipping down the hallways with her friends, grabbing their bags, and heading out to the car rental lot to pick up an SUV for the weekend, which Aurora gladly drove, as she was used to European roads, having traveled to Italy a few times before.

The air in Italy was different. Cleaner. Less pollutant. It had a faint smell of lemon and roasted coffee that felt so dreamy. Rory plugged their destination into the GPS and Zoey pressed her nose against the window, staring out at the scene. The architecture was grand. Old. Historical. Beautiful. Her heart skipped a beat whenever she recognized something from the endless hours of research she had done on the history of Rome. She was simply mesmerized. 

They rode for twenty minutes as the sun began to cast a golden glow across the sky, still brightly illuminating the streets below, the streets lined with tall cypress trees and stone walls that separated property lines from large estates to which you could barely see from the road when they finally pulled up to a grand, cast-iron gate. Zoey watched as Rory looked at her phone, punched a code into the call box, and the gate slowly started to open. 

As soon as they pulled into the white gravel driveway, they noticed the vineyard that stretched the length of the grounds on either side of the driveway that separated them leading up to a huge water feature that sat in the center of the wraparound drive situated in front of a massive seven thousand square foot elegant Italian villa. 

“Holy shit,” they all muttered, clamoring out of the car and gawking up at the building. 

“This whole thing is ours for a week?” Andy exclaimed, dumbstruck.

“That’s what Harry said,” Aurora said, opening the trunk door.

One by one they began to pull their luggage out when a whistle caught their attention. They turned to see Harry standing barefoot on the stone landing wearing wool cream-colored pants, a white tank top with an unbuttoned white short sleeve shirt over top, and yellow sunglasses. His arms were outstretched and he smiled, shouting, “Finally! Took you long enough.”

The four of them ran up, dropping their bags to give him a huge hug, shouting out various greetings and shouts of thanks.

He turned to Zoey, grabbing the handle of her suitcase with one hand and wrapping an arm around her shoulder with the other. Her heart fluttered at his touch. He looked and smelled different in Italy. It suited him. Harry’s arm pressed down on the end of his ponytail as he pulled Zoey closer to him and he said aloud, “Now, we are going to make this the best week of your life. But to do that, we have one other surprise for you. So if you’d be so kind as to follow me inside…”

“...What is going on?” Zoey asked, suspiciously following the singer with her friends behind her, Nancy, again, filming her reaction.

Harry grinned as he took her hand, leading her into the home. Everyone took in the scene, gaze scanning the beautiful Tuscan terracotta flooring up the Venetian plastered walls lined with beautiful Italian paintings and artwork and the elegant staircase with wrought iron railing. He noticed she took a deep breath and turned to him.

“Is that food? Are you cooking us dinner?” Zoey asked.

Harry had them stop just before entering what she could see was the kitchen and said, “Well, it’s funny you should mention that. Yes, I’m cooking. But I had a little help. You can come out!” he shouted.

And he watched Zoey’s face change from confusion to absolute shock as she screamed, letting go of his hand and running to her little sister. “Oh my God, Katie!” she screamed, pulling her little sister into a tight embrace, both of them beginning to cry as they looked each other up and down and wiped each other’s tears, muttering incoherent words of sentiment to each other. 

Harry knew how much Katie meant to her, but to see it firsthand almost felt like a privilege. And to think, he almost didn’t think to invite her. She only just turned eighteen. It took a lot of convincing for her parents to let her go. He had offered to pay for the entire trip, but her parents didn’t care about that. He had to Facetime and call them several times, promise to keep them updated at every point of the trip, make sure Katie called them every night before bed, send a general itinerary of the week's events, and give emergency numbers to all in attendance, which everyone was glad to give. He picked Katie up from the airport himself, arriving only two hours before the rest of them.

“You knew, too?” Zoey breathed, finally pulling away from her little sister, her words shaking along with her hands as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. 

Harry felt a lump in his throat begin to rise as soon as he noticed Zoey’s chin quivering from the emotions and Katie nodded, explaining everything that Harry had done. 

Zoey shook her head, overwhelmed, and took a deep breath, motioning towards her friends. “Have you met these guys yet, then?” When Katie shook her head again, she introduced the three, “This is Andy. He’s my amazing friend and coworker. And these two are my roommates. Nancy and Rory.”

The three of them pulled the shy Katie away from her older sister, giving her hugs and showering her with compliments while Zoey turned her attention to Harry. He noticed her red, puffy eyes and grinned, pulling her into a tight hug that she could sink into. It’s only been a little over a week, but it could have been longer for all he knew. Facetime was hardly enough. 

When Zoey pulled away, she walked back over to her little sister, running a hand through her sister’s long brown hair and smiling. Seeing them side-by-side he could see the similarities in their features if he looked hard enough. 

“Alright,” Harry announced, “We have about fifteen minutes until dinner is done, so how about a quick tour of the villa while we wait?” Everyone cheered words of approval, grabbing their bags and following Harry as he walked through the house, “There are seven bedrooms here and a few convertible offices, so everyone gets their own bedroom with more to spare. There are three bedrooms on this floor and four more upstairs. Katie already claimed her bedroom down here. Nice choice, might I add,” he winked at Katie who held onto Zoey’s arm as they peaked into Katie’s room which overlooked the vineyard. “I left the master bedroom upstairs for Zoey since it’s her birthday week. I also picked a room upstairs, so everything else is up for grabs.”

As they roamed throughout the house, everyone began picking rooms. Andy had picked a bedroom adjacent to Katie that had a walkout to the oversized Mediterranean terrace that housed an outdoor seating area with a firepit and a grapevine covered trellis with hanging outdoor chandeliers overtop of a long outdoor dining table, while Aurora and Nancy picked the last two bedrooms upstairs with Harry and Zoey, leaving their bags in their rooms before visiting the two large living rooms, the library, formal dining room, chef’s kitchen, and more. Finally, dinner was ready. Everyone helped take plates, utensils, and glassware out to the table on the back terrace while Harry carefully brought out the large serving plate filled with Chicken Tetrazzini and two bottles of wine tucked in his arms.

They each filled up their plates as Harry passed the wine around. “You’re legal to drink here,” Zoey grinned, filling up her sister’s glass.

“Oooh! You’re going to have so much fun while you’re here!” Andy cooed, smirking at Katie. “Don’t tell your mama on us!”

“Definitely not!” Katie assured her, taking her first sip of wine, and smiling.

Dinner was wonderful, and the view made it even better as the sun began to set. The villa sat up on a hill, overlooking miles and miles of beautiful land with an abundance of pine, fig, cherry, pear, and apple trees. The pool sat yards away with lounge chairs surrounding it. She couldn’t have dreamt up a more beautiful place if she tried.

After dinner, Harry made up a fire in the firepit and everyone sat around with their glass of wine, laughing and enjoying each other's company. One by one they began dropping like flies, heading inside to take a shower or get some rest until there were three left. Harry sat with his back against the view of the yard while Zoey sat opposite him, Katies’ head resting on her lap, sleeping, as her big sister braided and unbraided her hair. 

Harry grinned adoringly, “You’re not what I expected.”

Zoey snorted, looking up from her sister, “What does that mean?”

He shifted in his seat, cocking his head to the side, her face illuminating in the reflection of the dancing flames, “Well, you’re a bartender. And for some reason, whenever I think of a bartender, I think of a badass, tattoo-covered, wild child, tough girl. And I don’t mean to stereotype, but you’re nothing like that. I mean, yeah you can handle yourself. But you’ve got no tattoos, you’re so sweet, and you’re almost like the mom of the group, always making sure everyone else is happy first.”

“I think most bartenders are like me, we just have to put on a tough act in front of customers so they take us seriously,” Zoey said before grinning, “And I do have tattoos.”

Harry’s eyebrows furrowed, “You do? Where?”

She winked, taking a sip of her wine, “Don’t worry about it.”

His mouth dropped, inadvertently scanning her, wondering where her tattoos could be hidden and what on earth they could even be. He hadn’t pegged her for the type to even have a tattoo, let alone in a suggestive spot. 

He watched as Zoey raised her wine glass to her lips once more, taking the smallest sip. The way that the light illuminated her features gave her a romantic and sultry glow, hitting the highs of her cheekbone and accentuating the shadows and curves of her collarbone. He decided he’d had enough wine and would end it there for the night. 

“We should get to bed before jetlag gets us,” Harry suggested.

Zoey nodded in agreement, lightly shaking her sister awake. Harry put out the fire and reminded Katie to send her parents a quick text as they sent her off to bed and the two began to climb the steps, his arm over her shoulders, turning off lights along the way, passing Nancy and Aurora’s room before reaching Harry’s next. They stopped for a moment as he backed up to his door, slowly dragging his arm off of her shoulders. Apart of him wanted to invite her in. He didn’t want the night to end, he wanted to stay up for a few more hours and talk. He still had so much he wanted to tell her. But the more he looked at her, the more he heard his friends taunting him in the back of his mind. ‘You love her’ ‘You’re blind’ ‘By the end of this trip you’ll realize it.’ They weren’t right. He couldn’t let them be right. 

“Night,” he grinned, opening his door.

Zoey’s expression looked uncertain for a moment, hesitating which caused Harry to freeze, almost in a panic, before she blinked and smiled, looking up at him, “Night. See you in the morning.”

He watched as she disappeared into her room, closing the door behind her, achingly wondering what she was thinking about.

Zoey leaned her back against the closed door, closing her eyes tightly and sighing before standing up straight and flipping her suitcase open, pulling out the contents and placing her clothes in the proper drawer or hanging them in the closet before putting her toiletries away in her en suite. Anything to distract herself from the absolute embarrassment she almost just made of herself. How much wine did she drink to think that it might be okay to kiss him?

KEEP READING

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Taglist for Somebody To You:

@thurhomish , @stilljosiegrossie , @odetostep , @apples2019 , @stylesmioamore

[tclinemarr]

— && guests may mistake me as ( normani ), but really i am ( taline mar + cis female + she/her ) and my DOB is ( 12/26/1996 ). i am a ( dance teacher ) and would like to stay in suite ( 309 ). i won’t be much of a bother because i am ( idealistic & charismatic ), but i can also be ( domineering & scatter-brained ) at times. personally, i like to ( listen to podcasts, shop online & solve crossword puzzles ) when i have the time to relax, and my favorite snack is ( flamin’ hot cheetos ) to have in my suite. thank you for checking in! ( nessa, est, 21 ).

tw: mentions of anxiety. 

hello, my babies! okay, i swear, this is the last muse i’m bringing in for y’all. the muse with fiona just didn’t click as i hoped it would so i decided to bring back a favorite muse of mine, taline! you’re a real og if you remember when i first played her. anyways, i literally can’t think of how to do an intro post, wowie, but below will have some info about her! if you wanna know more about her you can check out her pinterest board here or her full bio here! i’m always down to plot, so lmk if you’d like to plot and we can work something out! 

as of right now, she is keeping herself focused on herself and uses her job as a dance teacher as a form of every day therapy. she’s been living in chicago for about two to three years so far. in her spare time, she helps tutor kids after school and likes to shop online. taline swears those are the only things keeping her sane.

let’s get a few things out of the way: taline is both distant and clingy at the same time. she doesn’t let a crap ton of people close to her but once she does, she can be draining. she texts about random things that she thinks her friends will enjoy. she asks how they are all the time. she wants to hang out and watch movies and cuddle a lot. she wants to cook for them and buy them things. she wants to share her favorite books with them. she wants to witness their shocked faces during the plot twists of her favorite movies. it isn’t uncommon for her to have to be told that someone needs a break from her for a few days. she tries not to take those times personally but the majority of the time after being pushed away for a breather, taline is unsure of what to do with herself and gets fretful and does massive amounts of work and dancing.

taline is frequently told that she could be a politician due to her diplomatic presence and strong-willed mindset. even so, she has much interest in politics as a profession, and takes it as a compliment and revels in the fact that people think so highly of her.

hardened by the unwanted advances and crass comments people would throw at her when she was younger, the brown-eyed beauty has perfected the art of appearing intimidating and serious. but the reality is that she has a fantastic sense of humor that can be cracked into by treating her the way everyone else didn’t – like a human being and not an object. 

taline fits very well into the “femme fatale” trope and often receives comparisons to michaela pratt from htgawm for both her sophisticated sense of style and bold personality. somewhat of an uptight perfectionist, she has always followed the rules and is her own worst critic.

despite her demeanor, the young woman is extremely caring and always wants the people she cares about to be comfortable and happy. when she’s very close to a person, she can be very emotional expressive towards them. she doesn’t mind expressing her feelings and thoughts with someone she’s extremely close to. in fact, she finds it therapeutic. of course, this is something that comes over time when you’re her friend. she doesn’t get close to people very easily.

everything that she does is very methodical and thought out. she’s not afraid to flaunt her intelligence, nor is she afraid to intimidate people by shoving her systematic way of life in their face if it benefits her. taline is a very cut-throat type of person when it comes down to it, but it’s because she believes she deserves the best and will do anything to get it. 

due to her own arrogance and intelligence, taline has an opinion on everything and a tendency to share those opinions when it’s not necessarily appropriate, which gets her in trouble frequently.

she no longer speaks to her father due to the fact that the pressure he put her under caused her to suffer from anxiety attacks. she’s currently looking for a good therapist since she’s still dealing with the impact of his words and the expectations he set for her. 

she moved to chicago a few months after dropping out of the graduate program at vanderbilt university. she wanted a clean slate since she was always surrounded by the same people for the past few years. chicago seemed like a good idea to her and it would be an easy escape from hearing her father’s nagging. 

currently, she is living at the malnati while teaching at the small dance studio she works at. she posts on youtube every other week and has recently gotten on the tiktok bandwagon. she moved to chicago because it reminded her a little bit of indianapolis and she needed a new place of scenery to reinvent herself. at the moment, there is no family in the picture as taline has been estranged from hers since she was twenty one for choosing to pursue her own dreams instead of trying to fit into the neat little box they’d carved for her. that has left a pretty big void in her life that she chose to ignore and then fill with dance.

to help her make a little money on the side, she has an onlyfans account. she enjoys showing herself off in lingerie. taline at night vs. taline during the day is such a difference that it will blow your mind.

plotting

at first glance, there isn’t very much to taline. she’s the girl who is impeccably dressed with a wide grin on her face and a childlike kindness that makes her embrace everyone she meets with open arms. she goes to great lengths to make sure that is all that people see; that she is recognized as the ex-rich girl who lucked into her own brand of success with her youtube channel. she genuinely adores people from all walks of life and takes great joy in getting to know them. honestly, taline is a combination of a really reliable friend and someone who frequently just disappears off the face for months at a time when she's focusing on her work. she's surprisingly introverted for the job she has and can be something of a hermit, but if a friend needs her she'll dust herself off and come out of her hole. she's an interesting person to have around and has stories for days, but can be a little self-involved and work-obsessed. she's also not great at talking about her feelings unless she's pissed off. she's a lot of fun, though, and loves to party. 

i can see taline having a lot of friends but many of them not being particularly good ones. she's a very charismatic and outgoing person but also withdrawn in the sense that a lot of her friendships are very surface level. it takes a lot for her to decide to let someone get much closer but when she does, she's a good friend who will look out for the other person. she just has a tendency to put herself first because she doesn't feel like anyone else will do it for her, so she needs to do it herself. she also grew up feeling pretty lonely and i think part of the reason why she'd have so many superficial friends.

in conclusion: taline is someone with a kind heart who would give the shirt right off her back for anyone she deems a friend. she’s open-minded, loving, and incredibly forgiving when she wants to be. she definitely has her faults. she can be vain and self-involved and a little unreliable as she’s incredibly disorganized. it tends to be made up for with her genuinely good nature, how eager she is to please and how prone she is to spoiling her friends. overall, she's a good friend to have around when she decides to attach herself to you! 

on the flip side, taline loves a good debate, and honestly, loves a good fight. she's full of opinions and refuses to believe that she could be wrong. losing an argument or debate is not in her vocab. she is argumentative and also quite moral/righteous. with that being said, there will also be people she rubs the wrong way. being a strong character and a person not afraid of confrontation, taline frequently ends up in situations where she antagonizes others. when she believes in something, she's very adamant about it and she will fight for it, even if she's not always in the right. she's very passionate and very outspoken and she tends to step on people's toes more often than not. she's also stubborn and doesn't easily see her own mistakes, so she's been known to keep holding onto her opinion even when it's been obviously wrong. get into a heavy conversation with her at your own peril, xo.

despite having a lot of acquaintances, i would like for her to have a circle of tight friends, people she is incredibly close with that she trusts implicitly. some she's known for a long time and some that maybe are newer but they feel its like they've known each other forever. just give this girl her pals, please!

she has plans to open her own studio in the near future, so anyone who be interested in aiding to her dream or who wants lessons or even just a place to practice could befriend her.

she is a hopeless romantic, through and through. she is something of a serial monogamist where she wants to be in a relationship because they help ease some of the insecurities she’s been battling with since she was disowned by her family. she tends to put all of that yearning for their approval into relationships with other people. she’s bisexual, and she’s interested in people who can make her laugh and feel comfortable. she likes the idea of having a partner in her life but she's also so independent and in her own world, so she hasn't ever been particularly good at dating. if we’re being honest, the only serious relationship she has ever been in was with moira sanchez back in college, and she’s still mending a broken heart from that.

she's very protective over her own feelings but equally tends to jump into things too fast and then back the hell out all of a sudden. if she does choose to be in a relationship, i think she’s quite picky with who she decides to do that with because she had a childhood of not receiving the love she needed and i think that shows in her approach to romantic relationships (ouch). i can't see her having loads of hookups since she does tend to project onto someone who shows her attention or affection. she falls hard for people, especially people she starts sleeping with. fwb or fuck buddy relationships often become complicated for her or they evolve into something that ultimately ends. she’s unlucky in love, to put it simple.

wanted plots

left brain, right brain. taline’s other half. the two couldn’t be more different regarding their behavior and interests, but they somehow make it work. they don’t fight often, either, even if they aren’t the same in the slightest. the one thing they have in common is how much they adore the other’s existence.

two best gal friends. -- like a troublesome trio. the three are always seen with at least one another. you can call them charlie’s angels, destiny’s child, or phoebe, rachel, and monica from friends. something that resembles the friendships of the bold type and someone great.

now we got bad blood. -- taline doesn’t have many enemies, but there is always someone out there in the world that will get on her nerves. this person makes her want to gouge her eyes out with a fork. right off the bat, these two bumped heads, arguing about petty things like favorite tv shows and favorite foods. perhaps it’s because they’re both natural born leaders and can’t seem to reach an agreement, or perhaps it’s because they remind each other a little too much of themselves. either way, nobody understands their dislike of one another. 

the art of intimacy. -- she has never been one to indulge in senseless intimacy. actions where touches were detached from feelings. it’s not her -- that’s not taline. but sometimes, the feelings of fingertips on her skin, and the taste of lips, mixed with the rich moans and pleas for more, drives her to break her own rules. she can study them. learn notes about the way of intimacy and sex when you remove the feelings. true, she’s terrible at removing that and she proves time and time again that she can’t separate lust and love. maybe it wont end in disaster? maybe it’ll provide just the right muse.

almost lover. -- they probably had a thing at one point and she got too attached, they broke her heart, and she just can’t let it go.

[actress-in-ur-bad-dreams]

The actual text conversation I had on the release of the LWYMMD lyric video

Disclaimer-- posting this for the memories. This conversation happened just after the lyric video dropped. Not even the music video. A lot was in the air about the themes of the album and the content that would follow. Still, i stand by around 95% of what i said about the lead single and how lead singles are, in general, an introduction to a larger body of work with broader themes.

Me: I have many opinions. [Friend] sent me a text this morning about how he felt it was a disappointment and I've seen a fair amount of criticism for it but also a lot of 'she's saving 2017'.

When I first heard it was in the zone of NEW TAYLOR AFTER 3 YEARS GIMME but then after a few goes I was like 'what kind of chorus are we going for here' we go from a femme fatale start to a pulsing beat in the verses which I am so here for omg and then a drop for the chorus???¿¿¿

I want a bad blood feat. Kendrick Lamar style chorus. The build to the chorus is so YESSS but I don't understand why you'd drop it all for 'look what you made me do'

The bridge brings me life like 'I'll be the actress starring in your bad dreams' is so reminiscent of blank space and I think it speaks to character development with the edge of it all-- Like the 'dressed like a daydream' has gone, pure nightmare is here and 'don't say she didn't warn us'.

I don't think this is the best song the album has to offer. Taylor said before that she would only release more if she could make something as good, if not better, than 1989 but time will tell. But my faith is hinged on the fact that although shake it off was a BOP it was not the best song on the album IMO. It was an introduction to the era and the aesthetic and feel and I feel the same is true for reputation. LWYMMD is the introduction to the story by saying that the old taylor is dead.

[Friend] said that he was disappointed that Taylor was stooping to a level of diss tracks and anger but to that I argue I think we'd all drop a diss ALBUM if we were virally double crossed by KimYe after a very public make up. She was painted as a snake in front of the world because of misunderstanding of what she consented to Kanye saying about her. After years of repairing a relationship with the media it was torn down in a heartbeat and there was nothing she could do except write a statement. People she called her friends took sides against her for something she hadn't done so yeah, I think she's entitled to a track or two about how she's out for the kill.

Artists write about exes who double cross them so why can't they write about the people who betray them. God knows I would.

Think the single is good given its context, without an album context it seems out of place. So at the moment I'm highlighting it as an introduction and not the full she-bang

It's not the introduction we want but probably the introduction we need.

I think that's everything I have to offer atm

Tl;dr - it's an introduction to the album and I don't think it's the best the album has to offer but without this the era would jumpstart. Oh- I'm also thinking that if the video had come at the same time as the song it would have given more context to the song as a lead single

Her: Blood hell that was a lot but I agree. It’s by no means bad but I don’t feel like it’s the best she can do, but like you said it’s an introduction so they’ll be more

You should right reviews

Me: ahaha I doubt my opinion carried THAT much weight to it. I just like being thorough with my views.

I've also had a thought about reasoning for the chorus drop being a thematic move-- it may be a play on the stomach drop feeling you get when someone does something terrible to you. Like you feel the build up of emotions and you sense something big is coming but then it actually happens and you can't quite believe it. It's all an explosion of silence and all you can think about it what happened and maybe the last thing they said ie. 'look what you made me do' if that makes sense.

I'm always here for deep thinking about artists who do deep thinking with their work because I am annoyingly pretentious like that.

I'm still doing the thinking-- currently on the continuous metaphors of the dramas of the past being a stage performance curated by KimYe(?) or Perry(?)

I Am. So. Here. For. This.

Her: Jesus do you want to do my degree for me. That is some A* analysis right there. I am excited for the new Taylor stage

Me: If only I’d done English literature ahaha.

The only thing I'm sad about this far is that there have been no interviews, no livestream, no clues in instagrams, no cryptic tweets, no YouTube video announcement style things bar the snake vids and the promo posts.

It's a distancing from the media as I imagine she reached her final straw with them. I doubt she's willing to give her time to answer her critics who will eventually receive their answers in the album's discussion of the whirlwind of 2016.

She's IS scooting round it through the two 72 page magazines she's releasing with the album with Target which promise pretty much all the background material we'd otherwise get through media. She's cutting out the middleman and I respect that because I understand the need to avoid having her rebuilt narrative be hers and not an interviewers interpretation of her narrative.

The media has twisted her before but it's a shame it's come to an avoidance altogether.

Her: So much content. But I think you’re right and you can’t blame her. She’s been in the public eye in the wrong way because of the media and it is a massive F you to them to cut them out all together.

Me: It's so cute that even though she wiped everything on social network she stayed following her fans on tumblr and liked like 1000 posts last night. It's like a cute little club of happy

Her: I think she loves how she’s been gone for so many months yet everyone still supports her and her music is still massive

Me: i think its a love and a show of power. it was the ACM awards last night and artists there were asked if they were excited and one guy said he found it amazing how she could just post a snake tail and everybody KNOWS a new album is coming. Jack antonoff and Joseph Kahn have had their twitters spammed all year about ts6 questions. People were anticipating a response to Kanye. imagine there would be some worry in her about whether the fanbase would reject her reinventing herself AGAIN from going country to pop to edge-pop. but here we all are. my body is ready.

Her: My soul is ready

[shorthaircutsmodels]

Blake Lively's Short Hairstyles and Haircuts - 5+ - https://shorthaircutsmodels.com/blake-livelys-short-hairstyles-and-haircuts/ - Blake Lively's Short Hairstyles and Haircuts, This dramatic hair change given is for his star role in the film in the rhythm section. But Blake in a bowl cut is a transformation of all transformations, because he looks like a seriously different person. Blake Lively's Short Hairstyles and Haircuts This won't be lively's first time acting as a Reynolds stylist. The haircut was the first and only time that lasted two and a half hours. The result wasn't exactly what Reynolds expected. Blake Lively's Hairstyles and Haircuts Blake Lively's Short Hairstyles and Haircuts, He eventually told Colbert that he seemed to have done everything, such as using lighters or gloves made of sandpaper. While it's hard to even think Reynolds looks like anything less than a Greek god, we'd love to see even. 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With everyone from Eva Mendes Debra Messing. Who wore blonde waves like Lively for. Ingrid goes West, and Amal Clooney. Blake Lively's Short Hair Who was in charge of electric 70s indebted Perm on Halloween to Aubrey Plaza. That's exactly how he gets the "Blake wave," as Ortega says. It comes down to a good cut and develops as often as a manicure. Blake Lively's Hair Blake Ellender Lively's Short Hairstyles and Haircuts, It also helps you have the right tools. Below, Ortega breaks down what these reveal hair care myths and predicts the biggest hair trend from 2020 to 2021. Blake Lively hair color formula How much did you have to do with Blake to turn her into Serena? He was really just maintaining his haircut and shape. A long layered haircut. What does Blake Lively use on her hair? Blake Ellender Lively's Short Hairstyles and Haircuts, Having the right amount of layers around the face makes it a versatile cut to go down a ponytail and into a wavy bun. Blake Lively hair and makeup It all starts with a really great cut. We talk all the time and there are pictures and there are pictures. We have too many photos. The collaboration is amazing to work with him and you can see the beauty that comes out of it. How to get Blake Lively hair Blake Ellender Lively's Short Hairstyles and Haircuts, incredible blonde locks are as beloved at this point as her ability to troll boyfriend Ryan Reynolds. Frankly, every red carpet appearance of Hollywood waves with a platinum salt. How does Blake Lively curl her hair? Ear length dirty blonde mane cut in a bowl cut in favor of a change to see Instagram come across evidence in mind, we limit the dependent imagine the scenes if not in the red carpet up dos, curls and all kinds of corkscrew curls in a low ponytail chignon, I used sprayed. Blake Lively hair extensions Blake Ellender Lively's Short Hairstyles and Haircuts, Not just a bowl cut, but a conical fringe. And zero balayage to talk about. 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Its sun-drenched strands seem to look right at home in every setting. Does Blake Lively perm her hair? She can return to a seaside bungalow or channel Grace Kelly with a set of pearls without missing a beat. This is partly because the actress is not married to a single style or period. Blake Lively hair secrets Yes her hair is always gold and lush but she alternates between new and vintage trends taking on classic silhouettes and injecting them with modern touches. Blake Lively new haircut The results are dizzying. Read on to collect style secrets from the girl who never missteps when it comes to hair, even on sports days - and how to raise your own # hairgoals game. Blake Lively hairstyle tutorial Blake Lively has great hair. This is partly due to genetics and partly because of Rod Ortega, the waves whisperer who has been lively's hairdresser. What perfume does Blake Lively wear? Since the days of Serena van der Woodsen. He was busy, too. Versace's curly crowd-pleasing look she wore live at the Pre-Fall 2022 presentation on Sunday, and the simultaneously stylish but beachy look she wore to the. Blake Lively hair 2020 - 2021 Chanel Métiers d'art show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art last night below just us or Blake Lively's hair still speaks to Serena van der Woodsen. Gossip Girl may have been cancelled four years ago, but even Blake's last hair looks like screaming Serena. What is Blake Lively's real hair color? Here we pair each of Blake's most memorable hairstyles with a quote from Gossip Girl in this context Blake's hair has never been more meaningful. Actress Blake Lively has been a red carpet staple since appearing in the 2020 film The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. The American Beauty's approach to hair and makeup. Blake Lively hair gossip girl Has not changed much throughout her career, which includes playing Serena van der Woodsen in the Hit series Gossip Girl and a shallow surfer. And why should it be. Lively knows what people want in her messily tousled golden blonde waves and she will deliver. How do I look like Blake Lively? However the blonde bombshell is not afraid to change her style at times recently stepping into her 50s-inspired fake lob. Here's a look at the many times her hair has stolen the show on the red carpet. It's Blake Lively if everyone makes Good American beach blonde hair. Blake Lively natural hair color Sisterrr. I know flour .he knows what. I love so much. Waaaaiiit Khloé Kardashian is an innovator not only in the TV series Blake Lively can't be Gossip Girl who has an entire wardrobe dedicated to her hair extensions but also in her everyday life. How do you get S shaped waves? She always looks sweet and stylish. Her hairstyles are the most glamour. Her hair is designed in many ways, so it shows us her charm. That's how successfully Blake designed his hair. Ryan Reynolds ' wife's second hairdo showed fans what she would. Blake Lively red hair Look like as a redhead. Chop was styled in the popular 1940 style of styling her fringe in a smooth roll and long eye-catching curls while her real life hair was of a similar length. Fans were pleased with the look. old Hollywood charm. When should you get a wave haircut? I love her and she even compares her to American model Betty Page, known in the 1950s for her jet black hair and short bursts. The whole of this film just shows you can shoot any hairstyle a third fan added and I totally agree. Blake Lively haircut People had to figure out how to give themselves salon treatments from the comfort of their homes. Some celebrities have even shared these attempts on social media to do so for them whether doing their own hair or having a family member. Does Blake Lively dye her hair? Stephen Colbert shared a video chat with actor Ryan Reynolds that his next haircut would be coming from wife Blake Lively during this lockout.On The Late Show April 1 the Deadpool star with Stephen Colbert chatted with. Blake Lively Has A Surprising New Haircut The talk show host about how he and his family occupied their time during this quarantine. Reynolds noted that many of them went home school gardening and drinking last for herself that morning only when she said she had made dresses. Does Blake Lively have curly hair? Out of tissues with her three beautiful daughters. On the subject of personal care, Colbert only had to know what to do to get Reynolds sweet hair together during this lockdown. Fortunately, despite receiving a professional haircut two weeks ago. Blake Lively: Hair Style File Tomorrow the fate of his hair would remain in his wife's hands. Gossip Girl actress Blake Lively looks very ethereal with soft airy blonde waves with a long side parting. 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Blake Lively's Hairstylist Rod Ortega On How to Get Her Hair Six months iiiiinteresting bring back our consciousness along with the slowly oozing mullet of adjacent side fringe Emo Billie Hey hey Miley and Selena Gomez. Did Blake Lively cut her hair for the rhythm section? Blake Lively will have 30 children with husband Ryan Reynolds. We don't know the answer, but Blake's father said he could prepare to have a baby. When. Another question. Blake Lively's Best Hair & Makeup Moments On Red Carpet But we are confident Blake Lively will have a big and happy family with her husband. Her first television hit Gossip Girl Serena van Der Woodsen has since starred in. Does Blake Lively have extensions? Several films including Woody Allen's Café Society hit big time thanks to her run as she won a l'oréal Paris contract and had two children with husband Ryan Reynolds. 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Blake Lively hairstyles gossip girl From effortless beach waves to long messy curls, her honey blonde hair always looks perfectly put together. January's January Instagram instagram however her. Blake Lively hair color loreal Trademark honey-coloured hair was nowhere to be seen in her most recent Instagram pictures which show her with two new hairstyles for the rhythm section of her. Blake Lively hair tutorial Upcoming film which airs on 31 January. In the first picture she sports a light brown messy bob that doesn't even reach her shoulders and thick full fringe. Blake Lively haircut layers Although she appears to have flawless skin, she holds a photo of herself looking very tired with bags under her eyes. Wrote. Facetune broke. Blake Lively hairstyles age of adaline Was a very drastic change in her usual look even her sister Robyn commented on the make-up hair transformation which looks both incredible. 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Blake was knocked out at the New York premiere of rocket science thanks to this simple style. Her long hair was kept smooth on top and layers were added. Blake Lively hair stylist Actors Ryan Reynolds and wife Blake Lively entertain fans during the quarantine. This time the celebrity couple gave a haircut Blake Ryan said their hair was too long as they roasted each other again. Like everyone else, actors. Blake Lively new hair Were imprisoned in their homes because of the coronavirus crisis. Among other things, Lively seems to be adapting creative ways to color her hair amid the pandemic. She recently took to social media stories to post a picture of a. Blake Lively hair routine Dye kit she bought from her hair stylist. There's no denying that Blake Lively is one of Hollywood's top actresses, but her sun-kissed golden hair is one of the main ingredients that makes her stand out among a million other good-looking and great actresses. Blake Lively hair dye Girls like Blake Lively hair for an attractive look. The effortless beauty has been offered casual paparazzi snaps of her loose and styled hair as well as her red carpet appearances. she has always swollen our minds with comfortable, elegant hairstyles that require minimal skill and effort hence easy for all of us. Blake Lively red hair color The men are only clear with Blake's looks and hairstyle to hit him while holding their date shoes. This curled hair goes to one side, giving it an ornate but modest vibe. Actress Blake Lively is trolling her husband. once again. Blake Lively hair curly The Gossip Girl alum and Ryan Reynolds are known for their hilarious banter on social media and that's exactly what they both did this weekend. Can you name a few goals? If you thought Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds would take a break from roasting each other online while staying at home and practicing social distance, think again. Blake Lively hair colour Like many people, Blake and Ryan are standing at home with their families amid the Coronavirus outbreak. it means travel to the gym. And according to a picture Blake secretly shared to the Ig Story, Ryan appears to be growing his haircut enough to pull the rest of his hair into the smallest lowest ponytail. Blake Lively hair tips Every time you see him forever I dare to forget that Blake was neatly pulled up in a bright turquoise hair tie next to a picture of Ryan's mini Pony. From Gossip Girl to motherhood. Blake Lively hair color red We're always watching the beauty evolution of the glamorous actress. Click through to see her best looks in years from beachy blonde waves to Hollywood curls. Blake Lively hair how to Blake roasted her husband by posting a photo of him with a quarantine ponytail and joked about how people will never ever forget this. But Ryan's Ryan. So he couldn't keep quiet and roasted his wife by saying that birth control clearly didn't work. Blake Lively hair waves Ryan had in mind that he and Blake had 3 daughters together. and their 8-month-old baby, whose name is still a mystery. Fore Panda Ryan and Blake talked about roasting each other with entertainment pop culture and lifestyle expert Mike Sington. Blake Lively hair length Scroll down for our interview with him. Blake Lively has joined the long list of celebrities who dyed their own hair at home on social distances during the coronavirus COVID 19 pandemic. Lively since 32 was unable to visit her longtime colorist. Blake Lively hairstyle Due to measures of social distance O'connor surprised the actress by sending her through a special handmade home paint set so she could try touching her blonde hair herself. Blake Lively bob haircut When the unexpected package arrived at Lively's door, she took a photo of the color kit and thanked O'connor for the help, but also wondered if her husband, Ryan Reynolds, had cut her hair at home to make it their own.

[ladystylestores]

Totême’s Founders Talk Physical Retail, and the Joy of Slowing Down – WWD

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LONDON — Swedish label Totême has been forging ahead with growth, opening a shop-in-shop earlier this month and readying a number of accessories launches, including handbags and sunglasses, for later this year.

While the founders of Totême weren’t planning for a crisis like COVID-19, their slow-fashion strategy and timeless approach have buoyed the company in hard times.

Like any other business, Totême had to face the impact of the pandemic and was one of the first fashion labels to close its store in Stockholm, yet its healthy direct-to-consumer business and detachment from the fashion week calendar meant that it could stay afloat and keep moving forward with its plans.

Totême started as a digitally native brand driven by one of fashion’s most popular online personalities, Elin Kling, and the former art director Karl Lindman.

Kling, one of blogging’s biggest pioneers, has never chosen the easy or conventional route. When founding Totême more than six years ago, she shut down her own social media accounts, and instead of using her personal following to build buzz, she took a step back from the limelight and turned her time and attention to the fledgling label.

Totême’s San Remo scarf.  Courtesy Photo

Totême grew a loyal community of its own, attracting stylish minimalists across the globe who turn to the brand for its quality and timeless approach.

This community came together through word-of-mouth as much as it did on Instagram — and its flair for discretion and a slower approach to growth has helped the brand to maintain its relevance, irrespective of market trends.

Despite the duo’s digital know-how, the duo chose to also embrace some old-school values from the get-go — namely seasonless, slow fashion and offline engagement. They are now reaping the benefits: This month, the label opened a new shop-in-shop in Stockholm’s Nordiska Kompaniet department store, an institution in the Swedish capital.

Totême’s store inside the Nordiska Kompaniet department store in Stockholm.  Courtesy of Erik Undehn

The Nordiska Kompaniet opening presented an opportunity to keep experimenting with physical retail, following the brand’s successful flagship opening in Stockholm last year — and to inject a dose of its modernist vision into the historic store.

“It’s about bringing new vision to an old structure. We strongly believe that a brand like Totême can renew and create this value for iconic department stores, in this case Nordiska Kompaniet,” said Kling.

Lindman added that physical spaces act as a storytelling tool for the brand, to be enjoyed both by customers who visit the stores in person in Stockholm but also online by those looking at images of the quintessentially Scandinavian interior design for inspiration.

“We want to use physical spaces to communicate our aesthetic and brand values — we almost look at them as embassies rather than retail stores. As an experiment, we started with our first flagship store and that’s been a great project for us, because as much as it is physical in the sense that the customer could go in and look at our [collections] and aesthetic, it can also be translated to online stories or images. Even if you’ve never been to our flagship store, the space offers a way for us to communicate with you,” added Lindman.

In the case of the new space in Nordiska Komapniet, Lindman and Kling wanted to create a graphic, luxurious environment symbolic of the brand’s aesthetic.

Totême’s shop inside the Nordiska Kompaniet department store in Stockholm.  Courtesy of Erik Undehn

They partnered with the Swedish design studio Halleroed to create a space inspired by the Vienna Secession movement, that was the initial inspiration for the Totême monogram and also reflects the department store’s original branding.

“It was a challenge to build a store within a store, as it required a different rule box. We didn’t want to create the same home environment that we had built in our flagship store, but rather focus on certain values of the Vienna Secession movement and build a creative, pure environment that’s all about the details,” said Lindman, adding that physical retail will remain a priority for the brand.

“We’re quite small, but we have very dedicated followings around the world. Our goal is to engage with those communities and bring people together. One way of approaching that is building these physical embassies where people can meet us, experience our values and aesthetic vision, as a counterpart to the online business.”

Kling and Lindman are also readying a number of accessories launches, including handbags and sunglasses, for later this year.

“We’d like to offer a 360-degree solution to our customer. Since we’re talking about style, it’s impossible to dress a woman without thinking about her shoes or bag, where she goes out, what flowers she likes, and so on,” said Lindman. “We’re defining who she is and what she’s wearing step by step, then filter that down into products.”

But just like their highly successful footwear debut last year, the duo is keen on keeping it slow and highly edited with a single new style launching every second month on its own channels.

Mules by Totême.  Courtesy Photo

“I have more shoes than I have bags and that’s also the way we will be selling [the category]. We’re launching with one bag only, then the second one will drop a couple of months later, and that will be a different category within the bag range,” said Klin, adding that the utility is top of mind when it comes to making design decisions.

Her instinct has always been about looking at her own wardrobe and round-the-clock needs, be it a weekend with her children at the park or an evening cocktail event. From there the brand has made it its mission to create modern staples that respond to each occasion or need.

That’s why Totême loyalists are encouraged to buy into the brand with a longterm view, and each collection is designed to build on the previous ones, with items often coming back with small refinements or new color variations.

“It’s less about inspiration from a certain trip and it’s definitely all about a need for women’s modern-day lifestyle,” she added. “We’re thinking about dressing for an occasion, what we need [for that occasion] and how can we create new icons, new classics around that lifestyle. An icon to us is that item that lasts season after season, but can still have a modern outlook and be relevant today. How does a cable knit look like today? How do I make it feel modern but not too trendy? We’re not looking for trends, we’re looking for trans-seasonal style that lives for a long time. That’s where we score.”

Totême’s Avignon leather jacket.  Courtesy Photo

It’s an approach that resonates even deeper today, that consumers are reassessing their shopping habits and the industry is forced to slow down and grapple with the giant waste issues its relentless pace and thirst for newness has been generating.

“This new mentality that is dawning is very much aligned with our philosophy from the beginning. It’s less about new seasons, but twisting and reinventing the classics,” said Lindman. “Through this crisis, we’ve learnt that we can be even more specific, even more edited and focused on every single product. To us, that’s very sustainable: Having a point of view and an aesthetic approach, rather than trying to be everything for everyone.”

That’s why the duo have also chosen to keep their expansion into accessories limited to their own channels and a few see-now-buy-now products a year.

“I’m not looking to create five different pairs of Chelsea boots. We already have so many choices to make in our daily lives. I want to create the perfect Chelsea boot for me — and that’s enough. Then it’s up to the customer if she likes it or not, but at least she’ll know that for Toteme this is the perfect solution,” added Klin.

Totême’s store inside the Nordiska Kompaniet department store in Stockholm.  Courtesy of Erik Undehn

The company, which appointed former McKinsey executive Johanna Anderson as its new chief executive officer last January, has also been strengthening its direct-to-consumer business. E-commerce makes up 40 percent of its business and remains on track to grow to 50 percent by the end of the year.

“We still want to continue developing this collaboration with luxury [wholesale] partners which can carry our message. That’s why we’ve had four collections a year [to date] but we’re excited and interested in current discussions post-COVID-19 about slowing down the industry,” added Lindman.

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[dustyblushblog-blog]

These are a Few of my Favorite Things

Quality is a necessity for me. Products and pieces I buy need to have lasting value and work well. After reading the book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo, I was so enthralled by Marie’s love and affection towards the things she owned. She gives her items the care that one would give to a small child, doing things like “giving them a home” and “saying goodnight to them at the end of the night.” It seems a bit silly, crazy almost, to treat inanimate objects as having thoughts or feelings, but she claims this respect for  the things you own has an impact on your life. 

While I don't say thank you to my hairbrush after brushing my hair, I do see what she’s saying in terms of loving the things you buy. Having a love for your perfume or jeans really affects my mood and behavior. I find myself a lot calmer when I am wearing my perfume, and more confident when my eyeliner looks good. I appreciate the things I buy, and so I invest my money into things that will make me happy. I love items with history, a story to tell. I feel like I’m continuing on their journey by using them.

Here are ten items I swear by, and kinda love. 

Mason Pearson Hairbrush

Like I said, I love a piece with history, but I also love a piece that works, obviously. I have a tendency to want the best of everything I have. I always look up “best white t shirt” or “best eyeliner”. And that is how I found this brush. Founded by Englishman Mason Pearson way back in 1885, it is considered the best hairbrush of all time. The brush is, kind of beautiful? Coming in a box that with artwork that looks like it came from the 1950′s, the hairbrush features fine boar bristles set on a pneumatic rubber cushion. The wooden handle has the name detailed in gold. The set also comes with a little cleaner brush to get out all your nasty hair from the brush when you’re done. The hairbrush just does stuff to my hair that no dollar store brush has ever done. The boar bristles gently collect each strand of my hair, and disperse the oils that hang out at my roots  to my dried out ends. A steep price for a brush, but I don't see this item leaving my cosmetic case for years and years to come.

Chanel No. 5

Infamous is the only word I can use to describe this perfume. Even if you didn't know you know about it, you always kinda knew about it. Chanel No. 5 is seen as the most classic fragrance in the world. Marilyn Monroe even teased reporters claiming it was all she wore to bed. After creating somewhat of an empire and name for herself, Coco Chanel wanted a scent to capture her reinvention of the modern woman in the 20′s. In an effort to create a “clean” fragrance that lasted on the skin, Chanel had perfumer Ernest Beaux create a variety of perfumes that would fit her request. She smelled a collection of fragrances Beaux created numbered 1 to 5, and 20 to 24. She picked number five, hence the name. The scent, concocted from jasmine, rose, sandalwood, and vanilla, was marketed as the scent of a woman. The scent of power that women at the time couldn't have. The scent has been changed over the years, much to the public’s dislike. The newer version smells a lot more like baby powder and less graceful. If you go online, you can find vintage bottles of the pure parfum, more potent and vibrant than the Eau De Parfum that we see so often today. Again, a steep price to pay for a perfume. I got mine online, completely sealed, for about $150. Not a big bottle either. But even after knocking it over, taking it between New York and Florida tons of times as well as overseas, I still have over half a bottle left after two years. The beautiful golden liquid comes in a glass bottle and lid, if you get your hands on a vintage one. The bottle is meant to be turned over, soaking the glass cap. You then dab the cap on your wrists, neck, and wherever else you’d like. I think the bottle, over one with a spritzer, is what makes the perfume last so long. That, and you need so little of the perfume because of its potency. Some say the perfume smells like an old lady, but I think to each their own. When I wear the perfume, I smell strength, confidence, and some vanilla too. I agree it does smell mature, but the comfort I get when wearing this perfume does more for me than anything else. It is the warmth of a blanket, the lightness of a linen shirt, and the depth of a classic movie. I feel Coco Chanel with me when I wear this perfume, and I feel like a woman.

Cartier Tank Watch

The luxury brand Cartier, nowadays, seems to be most recognized with their Love collection, popularized by Kylie Jenner. And while I love the Love Collection (feeling punny today, sorry) it comes off as a little...overused? There’s just something not special about it if everyone who has the money to drop on it gets one. Completely disregard this if I ever come into money because I will for sure buy a love bracelet. But for now, saying it’s too trendy makes me feel a little better about not having one, but I digress. The tank watch, on the other hand, is a timeless piece (oh my god, so punny I am SO SORRY) created in 1917 by Cartier after the American troops arrived in France and helped to save the European Nations. Successful American and British armies relied on tanks, a novelty at that time on battlefields. The watch, is inspired by British Tanks with it’s flat and angular case. The sleek design and leather strap on this small watch caught the eyes of some of the most famous and powerful women including Jackie Kennedy, Lady Di, and even Michelle Obama. The watch is a small piece of jewelry that adds statement when worn. I am not a watch person, but this watch does it for me. It exudes sophistication, class, and time!

Levi’s 501 Jeans

The ever-so recognizable stitching on the the back pocket of these jeans has been around for generations. Your parents definitely had a pair. They were a staple for the 90′s mom jeans and have come back in style with the high waisted shorts and straight leg jean revolution. Though, did they ever really go away? Dating back to 1890, the Levi’s 501 XX jeans are the original 5 pocket jeans that we all wear today. I’d always known about Levi’s jeans (who doesn't?) but I always saw them as a mom brand or dad with white sneakers brand. Not until middle school did I start seeing the famous back pockets on high waisted cut off shorts that girls wore with crop tops or over swimsuits. I still wasn't convinced. It took me until more recently, when I followed French fashion bloggers to notice everyone had a pair of these Levi’s 501 jeans, and they looked good, really good. Not only did they cinch and lift where they were supposed too, but they looked good with just about anything. I've seen them dressed up with lace bodysuits and blazers, or dressed down with a t shirt tucked in. They give of a carefree, casual look while at the same time, projecting quality, functionality, and of course, history. It takes a while to find a good pair of 501′s in the cut and size you’re looking for. They are at just about every thrift store around, but I’ve never seen a pair that resembles the one’s I see on blogs. It took me a great deal or searching to finally find a light blue pair in a size 27 (I’m a size 25 but vintage sizes are two sizes larger than your normal number) on depop. They are a straight leg jeans, kind of in between skinny jeans and boyfriend jeans. I immediately cut them off a couple inches because I’m short and obsessed with cropped jeans. And I can attest to the magic of these jeans (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants anyone?). They are super high waisted, creating a silhouette all of us desire. They give you a Kim K butt by lifting your cheeks to the Gods. And the loose leg, which I thought I would hate, creates a relaxed look while still shaping your legs. These jeans are forever, I swear. 

Black Cigarette Pants

These black cropped pants have been a staple for me for a while. I've had pairs from just about every brand, most recently being LOFT. Cigarette pants stood for the revolutionary wave of women being able to wear pants in the 1950′s. Inspired by men’s slacks, they were undoubtedly an expression of freedom that was beginning to come for women at the time. Cigarette pants are high-waisted and tight fitting. They formed to a woman's figure and showed off her greatest assests. The cropped hem, which ended just above the ankle, provided length for the leg. It suited, and still suits, every body shape there is. Women like Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe were big fans of the cigarette pants, as am I. I tend to grab these pants every day that I’m not wearing jeans. They're so easy to wear it’s not even funny. I throw on a turtleneck, my cigarette pants, and ballet flats and I’m all set. Work, school, a bar, wherever you go these pants will work. I've had a couple pairs, but usually one at a time, and always in black. I look for a high waist, side pockets, and tight (but not skinny jean tight) legs. I almost always have to crop them or hem them because I have unreasonably short legs, but it’s worth the hassle. 

Charvet Shirt

I had always been looking for a good quality button down (button up? What’s the difference?) but every single one I was recommended was always kind of...meh. It wasn't until I was reading an interview from Sofia Coppola, who is one of my style idols, where she said her go to "uniform” was a Charvet men’s shirt and pants. So of course I had to have one. The French shirtmaker Charvet has been the place where men get their perfectly tailored shirts and suits since 1838. The Brand, founded by Monsieur Joseph-Christophe Charvet, has supplied shirts to Charles de Gaulle, Winston Churchill and Yves Saint Laurent. The classic Charvet shirt is white, but the French brand carries blue, stripes, and just about any other color you can dream of. The clean cut shirt is made from premier cotton. The collar alone is made with six layers of unfused cloth.  Buttons are Australian mother-of-pearl, from the surface of the oyster shell for better strength and color clarity. Each shirt takes thirty days to complete. This amount of craftsmanship and quality is reflected in the price. The men’s classic shirt is priced at $695 on Neiman Marcus. However, secondhand you can purchase the shirt, men’s or women’s, for under $100. I snagged a women’s blue and white vertical striped shirt on poshmark and when I tell you this is the nicest button down shirt I have ever owned, I mean it. It’s thick cotton is heavy enough to be opaque but light enough to give a clean cut look. It’s so soft I want to sleep in it. I have washed it, dried it, and done unspeakable things to a shirt of this value, and it is still in mint condition. It dresses up or down and fits me like a glove. I am with Ms. Coppola on this one. This shirt has become a “uniform” for me. 

Yves Saint Laurent “Smoking Jacket”

No I don't own a YSL smoking jacket. BUT, I do own a couple of blazers that are the same thing to me. Officially named “Yves Saint Laurent Le Smoking Suit”, it was the first tuxedo for women. There is a trend with me and “revolutionary women’s clothes”, I know. In 1966, designer Yves Saint Laurent created “Le Smoking” as an alternative to the little black dress. The tuxedo style suit was made for women, taking inspiration from men’s tuxedos, Laurent added feminine shapes and curves to the suit to create a more womanly figure. The three piece suit was made famous by Helmut Lang’s pictures above, which featured androgynous models with slicked back hair, smoking cigarettes in the streets of Paris. The suit, stood for influence and power for women at a time when women were still expected to wear skirts and dresses. The suit, especially the blazer for me, oozes sex appeal and class. Blazers add such a statement to an outfit. I can't help but want to throw on a blazer everyday and while it’s not a Saint Laurent jacket, it still counts. One day YSL, one day.

Burberry Trench Coat

Possibly one of my favorite items of clothing, ever? There is not a time or a place where I don't bring my trench coat. I wear it in the spring, summer, fall, and winter. Anytime it is acceptable, or even not acceptable, to wear a trench coat, I do. The coat was designed in 1912 by Thomas Gabardine to protect WW1 military personnel from wind and rain. It is made from gabardine, a tough and hard-wearing fabric that Mr. Burberry actually invented in the late 1800s. The trench coat made its way from officers to everyday people because of its sleek and verstatile design, attracting film stars and royals. The inside of the trench is lined with the classic Burberry checkered pattern. This jacket is my second skin. I have worn it with jeans, dresses, shorts, even pajamas. It feels amazing on the skin, the lightweight lining feels like silk and the heavy gabardine fabric is tough and hard to ruin (this is big for me, I drop a lot of sauces). It can be a light jacket in the warmer months, or layered in the cooler months. I often wear it with the belt tied in the back, and unbuttoned for a more casual look. I love this jacket so much I sometimes wear it around the house just to feel better. I will never, ever, not wear my trench coat. 

Jane Birkin Basket Bag

This item is actually a new one for me that I purchased this past summer. I've always known about French Actress Jane Birkin, but I never really understood her thing about straw bags? Jane Birkin is the inspiration for the infamous Hermes Birkin Bags, and she has her straw bag to thank for that. Hermes chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas was sat next Birkin on an airplane when her items fell out of her straw bag. He created the Birkin, a handbag with a solid bottom, like her straw bag. She liked straw basket bags because of their sturdy and solid structure. The straw basket bags have been a “trend”, I hate to say, for the past two years with just about every French blogger carrying one. It took me a while to catch on, I saw it as being a little...old woman at the market? But I quickly liked the natural aesthetic it brings to an outfit, even a all black classy outfit. Its light, and airy, something that is often needed, especially in New York where its all dark colors always. I purchased my basket bag on etsy and have never looked bag. I add bandanas and scarves to the handles, making it look different every day. It has sort of become a statement piece for me and I have grown my straw bag collection to include a larger straw tote and a slouchy shoulder bag. I hope it holds up!

E. Porselli Ballet Flats

Last, but most. certainly. not. least. My favorite shoes in the entire world, E. Porselli black ballet flats. I don't ever have to think about shoes with an outfit, because it’s always my flats. Even in the dead of winter, in the snow, I wear my flats. These shoes have been my staple for a couple years now, and I get happier each time I wear them. The ballet flat, obviously derived from the Ballerina shoe, has been around since the 16th century. They went in and out of style after the high heel came around, but were brought back to life when Audrey Hepburn wore them in Funny Face. Repetto is actually the more classic ballet shoe brand, but for some reason I prefer the slipper-like style of E. Porselli’s. They’re lightweight, but they can handle the extreme walking I do in the city. I have this obsession with my feet looking slim and small, and will not wear a shoe if they’re even slightly clunky (sorry boots!) But ballet flats are the epitome of my style. I have nothing more to say.

Xx Chloe

[endlessarchite]

Timeless Home Decor Trends – Is There Such a Thing?

Exposed brick, big windows, french doors — if you asked me what “classic” aspects of design I’d like in my dream home, I’d probably check every box. It’s that eclectic mix of old and new, home and travel, fun and sophisticated, that can make buying a home and decorating it such an exciting challenge. But surely, at one point or another, many classic features were once a “trend” — the new thing on the market that everyone had to have.

photo: The Makerista

However, unlike the way shoulder pads and babydoll dresses stuck around for what seemed like decades, the advent of the internet and Pinterest seems to speed us more quickly through the things that are new, and then “now”, and then passé. “Trend” has become a dirty word — almost synonymous with stuff that’s so of-this-minute that we’ll blink and it’ll already be outdated.

But does it really have to be this way? In my opinion, no.

As much as I might like bohemian and French, industrial and midcentury, and even coastal, I have a limited budget. I can’t afford to constantly replace the stuff that goes out of style. After all, I specifically decided to buy instead of rent to avoid wasting money on things that aren’t a return on my investment!

So, I chose to find a house with “good bones” — the kind of home with the right space, the right light, and a layout I can invest in for a few years. And after DIYing for the better part of a decade, I’ve learned a few good rules for making sure the home decor I choose lives up those same investment expectations.

photo: The House of Wood

How to Make Sure Your Home Design Is as Good an Investment as Your New Home

5 tips for making the things you love STAY the things you love.

Mix Instead of Match

I suppose you could call my style “global eclectic.” But really, that’s just a fancy way of saying “I often don’t like any one particular style, and matchy-matchy just isn’t my thing.” I have a Moroccan-inspired peacock mirror in the hallway, modern blue dining room walls, industrial bar stools in the kitchen, sheepskin draping over my chairs in the living room, and antique items sprinkled everywhere. Not any one style really reigns!

In my mind, decorating where it looks like a single store threw up all over my living room is a quick way to Outdatedsville. Collecting pieces from different trendy styles keeps things fresh and unique. Take, for example, Beth from Home Stories A to Z. Her gorgeous bathroom mixes subway tile, global-inspired cement tile on the floor, modern urban fixtures, and farmhouse features like shiplap walls and vanity. Stunning!

photo: Home Stories A to Z

Go Neutral

Large items like couches, beds, and architectural details (like French doors) can still be fun and interesting, but I tend to play it safe by picking one feature on that item that’s somewhat trendy, such as exposed legs (often seen in mid-century furniture), but with a fabric that’s neutral. Rather than going with a piece of midcentury furniture (trend) in the color of the moment (trend), you choose one or the other. It translates well from one style choice to the next. It also lets all of the other, more permanent features stand out, such as a cool archway (or in my case, the big bow windows!).

Edit, Edit, Edit

Trends that you wind up loathing over time are the ones that you see everywhere. They’re like that boyfriend you fell hard and fast for, and then woke up one day and can’t stand his laugh. Some things are simply never meant to stick around, and that’s OK. Just make sure these aren’t the pieces you invest in; for trendy items, look to bring them in through accents. When you tire of them and want to try out something new, you can then switch them out without making your wallet wince in pain.

On the other side of the editing coin, clutter is also what makes a trend look dated. Not to mention, it steals attention away from cool architectural features that should get more of a spotlight (like my big windows, which again, I LOVE). Too much of a good thing is never wise (except breakfast food), so when you like something, go ahead and try it out, but layer it in rather than buying every item of a single collection. Edit out the pieces that don’t fit, and you’re set.

Stacy Risenmay knows this more than most. With her tiny 1938 home filled with four boys, she’s an expert at getting rid of what isn’t needed while still making her house look gorgeous and full of style.

photo: notjustahousewife.net

‘Round and ‘Round We Go

These days, a lot of trends are about nostalgia (subway tiles, exposed brick, old-school kitchen faucets, reclaimed wood, etc.), so it should come as no surprise that plenty of what we call trends are cyclical. They’ll come into fashion, they’ll be overdone to the point we are tired of seeing them, we’ll move on, and then when it comes back in style, we’ll find it refreshing again.

photo The Inspired Room

But what is it that keeps these things coming back again and again? It may sound cheesy, but I think it’s all about the way we feel in a space — a happiness and simplicity.

That’s why I like the concept of “classic with a twist.” Sure, it could be out of date as far as what’s popular in stores over the next 10 years, but the “classics” I see trending lately are just a recycling of a period that already came and went. That’s really kind of great, because it takes the pressure off. Finding a twist on an older design rather than reinventing the wheel is a simpler goal and something I’m less likely to mess up.

Take, for example, my kitchen’s two-tone cabinets. It’s a vintage look that was made popular again over the last 10 years, and although it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, I get compliments on how retro and modern it looks at the same time.

Focus on Your Faves

I hate burlap. HATE it. But you know what? Some folks love the look of it so much, they make that scratchy fabric into pillowsthat they lean against in their bedrooms every night. But I’ll admit, as I’ve seen the use of burlap grow in popularity or used in a beautiful room, I question whether or not to buy some for a table runner. The key of knowing when you’re liking something versus being influenced by outside forces? Your gut.

Some homes just have that “it” factor. And you walk away from that house wondering if you too should buy all of the same stuff they did. But it’s not really the couch that’s making the house feel that way; it was that the person who picked it out did so because they freaking love the item.

Take Charlotte’s sofa, for example (below). She knew she was dropping a lot of money on it, she knew it was green, and she new it was velvet. But she dove right in. It makes the space, but if you knew her in person, you’d also realize that no other sofa really quite captures her the way this styling does!

photo: At Charlotte’s House

I doubt any reader who has checked out my blog could accuse me of being trendy. In fact, I never really set out to be the kind of DIYer who put a clever spin on everything I touched. And that’s OK, because all I’ve ever really wanted to do is give myself a house that I enjoy living in. So, I pick out pieces that truly speak to me, and forget the rest.

Mixing antiques with modern pieces makes the whole house look like it was collected over time (because it was), but also adds personality unique to me and how I express my style — one that can’t be repeated as easily as shopping through a catalog.

At the end of the day, it’s my home, and the important thing is to make sure that I’m buying it, installing it, etc., because I enjoy seeing it every day — not because someone has once again done something really spectacular with plywood (I’ll still pin the heck out of it, though!). I truly believe that’s what makes a home both trendy and timeless simultaneously — because loving the home you live in never goes out of style.

This post is sponsored by The National Association of Realtors. All opinions are 100% my own.  For additional posts in this series, check out HouseLogic.com

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Timeless Home Decor Trends – Is There Such a Thing? published first on http://ift.tt/2qxZz2j

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Timeless Home Decor Trends – Is There Such a Thing?

Exposed brick, big windows, french doors — if you asked me what “classic” aspects of design I’d like in my dream home, I’d probably check every box. It’s that eclectic mix of old and new, home and travel, fun and sophisticated, that can make buying a home and decorating it such an exciting challenge. But surely, at one point or another, many classic features were once a “trend” — the new thing on the market that everyone had to have.

photo: The Makerista

However, unlike the way shoulder pads and babydoll dresses stuck around for what seemed like decades, the advent of the internet and Pinterest seems to speed us more quickly through the things that are new, and then “now”, and then passé. “Trend” has become a dirty word — almost synonymous with stuff that’s so of-this-minute that we’ll blink and it’ll already be outdated.

But does it really have to be this way? In my opinion, no.

As much as I might like bohemian and French, industrial and midcentury, and even coastal, I have a limited budget. I can’t afford to constantly replace the stuff that goes out of style. After all, I specifically decided to buy instead of rent to avoid wasting money on things that aren’t a return on my investment!

So, I chose to find a house with “good bones” — the kind of home with the right space, the right light, and a layout I can invest in for a few years. And after DIYing for the better part of a decade, I’ve learned a few good rules for making sure the home decor I choose lives up those same investment expectations.

photo: The House of Wood

How to Make Sure Your Home Design Is as Good an Investment as Your New Home

5 tips for making the things you love STAY the things you love.

Mix Instead of Match

I suppose you could call my style “global eclectic.” But really, that’s just a fancy way of saying “I often don’t like any one particular style, and matchy-matchy just isn’t my thing.” I have a Moroccan-inspired peacock mirror in the hallway, modern blue dining room walls, industrial bar stools in the kitchen, sheepskin draping over my chairs in the living room, and antique items sprinkled everywhere. Not any one style really reigns!

In my mind, decorating where it looks like a single store threw up all over my living room is a quick way to Outdatedsville. Collecting pieces from different trendy styles keeps things fresh and unique. Take, for example, Beth from Home Stories A to Z. Her gorgeous bathroom mixes subway tile, global-inspired cement tile on the floor, modern urban fixtures, and farmhouse features like shiplap walls and vanity. Stunning!

photo: Home Stories A to Z

Go Neutral

Large items like couches, beds, and architectural details (like French doors) can still be fun and interesting, but I tend to play it safe by picking one feature on that item that’s somewhat trendy, such as exposed legs (often seen in mid-century furniture), but with a fabric that’s neutral. Rather than going with a piece of midcentury furniture (trend) in the color of the moment (trend), you choose one or the other. It translates well from one style choice to the next. It also lets all of the other, more permanent features stand out, such as a cool archway (or in my case, the big bow windows!).

Edit, Edit, Edit

Trends that you wind up loathing over time are the ones that you see everywhere. They’re like that boyfriend you fell hard and fast for, and then woke up one day and can’t stand his laugh. Some things are simply never meant to stick around, and that’s OK. Just make sure these aren’t the pieces you invest in; for trendy items, look to bring them in through accents. When you tire of them and want to try out something new, you can then switch them out without making your wallet wince in pain.

On the other side of the editing coin, clutter is also what makes a trend look dated. Not to mention, it steals attention away from cool architectural features that should get more of a spotlight (like my big windows, which again, I LOVE). Too much of a good thing is never wise (except breakfast food), so when you like something, go ahead and try it out, but layer it in rather than buying every item of a single collection. Edit out the pieces that don’t fit, and you’re set.

Stacy Risenmay knows this more than most. With her tiny 1938 home filled with four boys, she’s an expert at getting rid of what isn’t needed while still making her house look gorgeous and full of style.

photo: notjustahousewife.net

‘Round and ‘Round We Go

These days, a lot of trends are about nostalgia (subway tiles, exposed brick, old-school kitchen faucets, reclaimed wood, etc.), so it should come as no surprise that plenty of what we call trends are cyclical. They’ll come into fashion, they’ll be overdone to the point we are tired of seeing them, we’ll move on, and then when it comes back in style, we’ll find it refreshing again.

photo The Inspired Room

But what is it that keeps these things coming back again and again? It may sound cheesy, but I think it’s all about the way we feel in a space — a happiness and simplicity.

That’s why I like the concept of “classic with a twist.” Sure, it could be out of date as far as what’s popular in stores over the next 10 years, but the “classics” I see trending lately are just a recycling of a period that already came and went. That’s really kind of great, because it takes the pressure off. Finding a twist on an older design rather than reinventing the wheel is a simpler goal and something I’m less likely to mess up.

Take, for example, my kitchen’s two-tone cabinets. It’s a vintage look that was made popular again over the last 10 years, and although it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, I get compliments on how retro and modern it looks at the same time.

Focus on Your Faves

I hate burlap. HATE it. But you know what? Some folks love the look of it so much, they make that scratchy fabric into pillowsthat they lean against in their bedrooms every night. But I’ll admit, as I’ve seen the use of burlap grow in popularity or used in a beautiful room, I question whether or not to buy some for a table runner. The key of knowing when you’re liking something versus being influenced by outside forces? Your gut.

Some homes just have that “it” factor. And you walk away from that house wondering if you too should buy all of the same stuff they did. But it’s not really the couch that’s making the house feel that way; it was that the person who picked it out did so because they freaking love the item.

Take Charlotte’s sofa, for example (below). She knew she was dropping a lot of money on it, she knew it was green, and she new it was velvet. But she dove right in. It makes the space, but if you knew her in person, you’d also realize that no other sofa really quite captures her the way this styling does!

photo: At Charlotte’s House

I doubt any reader who has checked out my blog could accuse me of being trendy. In fact, I never really set out to be the kind of DIYer who put a clever spin on everything I touched. And that’s OK, because all I’ve ever really wanted to do is give myself a house that I enjoy living in. So, I pick out pieces that truly speak to me, and forget the rest.

Mixing antiques with modern pieces makes the whole house look like it was collected over time (because it was), but also adds personality unique to me and how I express my style — one that can’t be repeated as easily as shopping through a catalog.

At the end of the day, it’s my home, and the important thing is to make sure that I’m buying it, installing it, etc., because I enjoy seeing it every day — not because someone has once again done something really spectacular with plywood (I’ll still pin the heck out of it, though!). I truly believe that’s what makes a home both trendy and timeless simultaneously — because loving the home you live in never goes out of style.

This post is sponsored by The National Association of Realtors. All opinions are 100% my own.  For additional posts in this series, check out HouseLogic.com

Pin to share:

The post Timeless Home Decor Trends – Is There Such a Thing? appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.

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from car2 http://ift.tt/2qOmitP via as shown a lot

[chocdono]

Timeless Home Decor Trends – Is There Such a Thing?

Exposed brick, big windows, french doors — if you asked me what “classic” aspects of design I’d like in my dream home, I’d probably check every box. It’s that eclectic mix of old and new, home and travel, fun and sophisticated, that can make buying a home and decorating it such an exciting challenge. But surely, at one point or another, many classic features were once a “trend” — the new thing on the market that everyone had to have.

photo: The Makerista

However, unlike the way shoulder pads and babydoll dresses stuck around for what seemed like decades, the advent of the internet and Pinterest seems to speed us more quickly through the things that are new, and then “now”, and then passé. “Trend” has become a dirty word — almost synonymous with stuff that’s so of-this-minute that we’ll blink and it’ll already be outdated.

But does it really have to be this way? In my opinion, no.

As much as I might like bohemian and French, industrial and midcentury, and even coastal, I have a limited budget. I can’t afford to constantly replace the stuff that goes out of style. After all, I specifically decided to buy instead of rent to avoid wasting money on things that aren’t a return on my investment!

So, I chose to find a house with “good bones” — the kind of home with the right space, the right light, and a layout I can invest in for a few years. And after DIYing for the better part of a decade, I’ve learned a few good rules for making sure the home decor I choose lives up those same investment expectations.

photo: The House of Wood

How to Make Sure Your Home Design Is as Good an Investment as Your New Home

5 tips for making the things you love STAY the things you love.

Mix Instead of Match

I suppose you could call my style “global eclectic.” But really, that’s just a fancy way of saying “I often don’t like any one particular style, and matchy-matchy just isn’t my thing.” I have a Moroccan-inspired peacock mirror in the hallway, modern blue dining room walls, industrial bar stools in the kitchen, sheepskin draping over my chairs in the living room, and antique items sprinkled everywhere. Not any one style really reigns!

In my mind, decorating where it looks like a single store threw up all over my living room is a quick way to Outdatedsville. Collecting pieces from different trendy styles keeps things fresh and unique. Take, for example, Beth from Home Stories A to Z. Her gorgeous bathroom mixes subway tile, global-inspired cement tile on the floor, modern urban fixtures, and farmhouse features like shiplap walls and vanity. Stunning!

photo: Home Stories A to Z

Go Neutral

Large items like couches, beds, and architectural details (like French doors) can still be fun and interesting, but I tend to play it safe by picking one feature on that item that’s somewhat trendy, such as exposed legs (often seen in mid-century furniture), but with a fabric that’s neutral. Rather than going with a piece of midcentury furniture (trend) in the color of the moment (trend), you choose one or the other. It translates well from one style choice to the next. It also lets all of the other, more permanent features stand out, such as a cool archway (or in my case, the big bow windows!).

Edit, Edit, Edit

Trends that you wind up loathing over time are the ones that you see everywhere. They’re like that boyfriend you fell hard and fast for, and then woke up one day and can’t stand his laugh. Some things are simply never meant to stick around, and that’s OK. Just make sure these aren’t the pieces you invest in; for trendy items, look to bring them in through accents. When you tire of them and want to try out something new, you can then switch them out without making your wallet wince in pain.

On the other side of the editing coin, clutter is also what makes a trend look dated. Not to mention, it steals attention away from cool architectural features that should get more of a spotlight (like my big windows, which again, I LOVE). Too much of a good thing is never wise (except breakfast food), so when you like something, go ahead and try it out, but layer it in rather than buying every item of a single collection. Edit out the pieces that don’t fit, and you’re set.

Stacy Risenmay knows this more than most. With her tiny 1938 home filled with four boys, she’s an expert at getting rid of what isn’t needed while still making her house look gorgeous and full of style.

photo: notjustahousewife.net

‘Round and ‘Round We Go

These days, a lot of trends are about nostalgia (subway tiles, exposed brick, old-school kitchen faucets, reclaimed wood, etc.), so it should come as no surprise that plenty of what we call trends are cyclical. They’ll come into fashion, they’ll be overdone to the point we are tired of seeing them, we’ll move on, and then when it comes back in style, we’ll find it refreshing again.

photo The Inspired Room

But what is it that keeps these things coming back again and again? It may sound cheesy, but I think it’s all about the way we feel in a space — a happiness and simplicity.

That’s why I like the concept of “classic with a twist.” Sure, it could be out of date as far as what’s popular in stores over the next 10 years, but the “classics” I see trending lately are just a recycling of a period that already came and went. That’s really kind of great, because it takes the pressure off. Finding a twist on an older design rather than reinventing the wheel is a simpler goal and something I’m less likely to mess up.

Take, for example, my kitchen’s two-tone cabinets. It’s a vintage look that was made popular again over the last 10 years, and although it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, I get compliments on how retro and modern it looks at the same time.

Focus on Your Faves

I hate burlap. HATE it. But you know what? Some folks love the look of it so much, they make that scratchy fabric into pillowsthat they lean against in their bedrooms every night. But I’ll admit, as I’ve seen the use of burlap grow in popularity or used in a beautiful room, I question whether or not to buy some for a table runner. The key of knowing when you’re liking something versus being influenced by outside forces? Your gut.

Some homes just have that “it” factor. And you walk away from that house wondering if you too should buy all of the same stuff they did. But it’s not really the couch that’s making the house feel that way; it was that the person who picked it out did so because they freaking love the item.

Take Charlotte’s sofa, for example (below). She knew she was dropping a lot of money on it, she knew it was green, and she new it was velvet. But she dove right in. It makes the space, but if you knew her in person, you’d also realize that no other sofa really quite captures her the way this styling does!

photo: At Charlotte’s House

I doubt any reader who has checked out my blog could accuse me of being trendy. In fact, I never really set out to be the kind of DIYer who put a clever spin on everything I touched. And that’s OK, because all I’ve ever really wanted to do is give myself a house that I enjoy living in. So, I pick out pieces that truly speak to me, and forget the rest.

Mixing antiques with modern pieces makes the whole house look like it was collected over time (because it was), but also adds personality unique to me and how I express my style — one that can’t be repeated as easily as shopping through a catalog.

At the end of the day, it’s my home, and the important thing is to make sure that I’m buying it, installing it, etc., because I enjoy seeing it every day — not because someone has once again done something really spectacular with plywood (I’ll still pin the heck out of it, though!). I truly believe that’s what makes a home both trendy and timeless simultaneously — because loving the home you live in never goes out of style.

This post is sponsored by The National Association of Realtors. All opinions are 100% my own.  For additional posts in this series, check out HouseLogic.com

Pin to share:

The post Timeless Home Decor Trends – Is There Such a Thing? appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.

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from mix1 http://ift.tt/2qOmitP via with this info

[garagedoorsbrighton]

Timeless Home Decor Trends – Is There Such a Thing?

Exposed brick, big windows, french doors — if you asked me what “classic” aspects of design I’d like in my dream home, I’d probably check every box. It’s that eclectic mix of old and new, home and travel, fun and sophisticated, that can make buying a home and decorating it such an exciting challenge. But surely, at one point or another, many classic features were once a “trend” — the new thing on the market that everyone had to have.

photo: The Makerista

However, unlike the way shoulder pads and babydoll dresses stuck around for what seemed like decades, the advent of the internet and Pinterest seems to speed us more quickly through the things that are new, and then “now”, and then passé. “Trend” has become a dirty word — almost synonymous with stuff that’s so of-this-minute that we’ll blink and it’ll already be outdated.

But does it really have to be this way? In my opinion, no.

As much as I might like bohemian and French, industrial and midcentury, and even coastal, I have a limited budget. I can’t afford to constantly replace the stuff that goes out of style. After all, I specifically decided to buy instead of rent to avoid wasting money on things that aren’t a return on my investment!

So, I chose to find a house with “good bones” — the kind of home with the right space, the right light, and a layout I can invest in for a few years. And after DIYing for the better part of a decade, I’ve learned a few good rules for making sure the home decor I choose lives up those same investment expectations.

photo: The House of Wood

How to Make Sure Your Home Design Is as Good an Investment as Your New Home

5 tips for making the things you love STAY the things you love.

Mix Instead of Match

I suppose you could call my style “global eclectic.” But really, that’s just a fancy way of saying “I often don’t like any one particular style, and matchy-matchy just isn’t my thing.” I have a Moroccan-inspired peacock mirror in the hallway, modern blue dining room walls, industrial bar stools in the kitchen, sheepskin draping over my chairs in the living room, and antique items sprinkled everywhere. Not any one style really reigns!

In my mind, decorating where it looks like a single store threw up all over my living room is a quick way to Outdatedsville. Collecting pieces from different trendy styles keeps things fresh and unique. Take, for example, Beth from Home Stories A to Z. Her gorgeous bathroom mixes subway tile, global-inspired cement tile on the floor, modern urban fixtures, and farmhouse features like shiplap walls and vanity. Stunning!

photo: Home Stories A to Z

Go Neutral

Large items like couches, beds, and architectural details (like French doors) can still be fun and interesting, but I tend to play it safe by picking one feature on that item that’s somewhat trendy, such as exposed legs (often seen in mid-century furniture), but with a fabric that’s neutral. Rather than going with a piece of midcentury furniture (trend) in the color of the moment (trend), you choose one or the other. It translates well from one style choice to the next. It also lets all of the other, more permanent features stand out, such as a cool archway (or in my case, the big bow windows!).

Edit, Edit, Edit

Trends that you wind up loathing over time are the ones that you see everywhere. They’re like that boyfriend you fell hard and fast for, and then woke up one day and can’t stand his laugh. Some things are simply never meant to stick around, and that’s OK. Just make sure these aren’t the pieces you invest in; for trendy items, look to bring them in through accents. When you tire of them and want to try out something new, you can then switch them out without making your wallet wince in pain.

On the other side of the editing coin, clutter is also what makes a trend look dated. Not to mention, it steals attention away from cool architectural features that should get more of a spotlight (like my big windows, which again, I LOVE). Too much of a good thing is never wise (except breakfast food), so when you like something, go ahead and try it out, but layer it in rather than buying every item of a single collection. Edit out the pieces that don’t fit, and you’re set.

Stacy Risenmay knows this more than most. With her tiny 1938 home filled with four boys, she’s an expert at getting rid of what isn’t needed while still making her house look gorgeous and full of style.

photo: notjustahousewife.net

‘Round and ‘Round We Go

These days, a lot of trends are about nostalgia (subway tiles, exposed brick, old-school kitchen faucets, reclaimed wood, etc.), so it should come as no surprise that plenty of what we call trends are cyclical. They’ll come into fashion, they’ll be overdone to the point we are tired of seeing them, we’ll move on, and then when it comes back in style, we’ll find it refreshing again.

photo The Inspired Room

But what is it that keeps these things coming back again and again? It may sound cheesy, but I think it’s all about the way we feel in a space — a happiness and simplicity.

That’s why I like the concept of “classic with a twist.” Sure, it could be out of date as far as what’s popular in stores over the next 10 years, but the “classics” I see trending lately are just a recycling of a period that already came and went. That’s really kind of great, because it takes the pressure off. Finding a twist on an older design rather than reinventing the wheel is a simpler goal and something I’m less likely to mess up.

Take, for example, my kitchen’s two-tone cabinets. It’s a vintage look that was made popular again over the last 10 years, and although it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, I get compliments on how retro and modern it looks at the same time.

Focus on Your Faves

I hate burlap. HATE it. But you know what? Some folks love the look of it so much, they make that scratchy fabric into pillowsthat they lean against in their bedrooms every night. But I’ll admit, as I’ve seen the use of burlap grow in popularity or used in a beautiful room, I question whether or not to buy some for a table runner. The key of knowing when you’re liking something versus being influenced by outside forces? Your gut.

Some homes just have that “it” factor. And you walk away from that house wondering if you too should buy all of the same stuff they did. But it’s not really the couch that’s making the house feel that way; it was that the person who picked it out did so because they freaking love the item.

Take Charlotte’s sofa, for example (below). She knew she was dropping a lot of money on it, she knew it was green, and she new it was velvet. But she dove right in. It makes the space, but if you knew her in person, you’d also realize that no other sofa really quite captures her the way this styling does!

photo: At Charlotte’s House

I doubt any reader who has checked out my blog could accuse me of being trendy. In fact, I never really set out to be the kind of DIYer who put a clever spin on everything I touched. And that’s OK, because all I’ve ever really wanted to do is give myself a house that I enjoy living in. So, I pick out pieces that truly speak to me, and forget the rest.

Mixing antiques with modern pieces makes the whole house look like it was collected over time (because it was), but also adds personality unique to me and how I express my style — one that can’t be repeated as easily as shopping through a catalog.

At the end of the day, it’s my home, and the important thing is to make sure that I’m buying it, installing it, etc., because I enjoy seeing it every day — not because someone has once again done something really spectacular with plywood (I’ll still pin the heck out of it, though!). I truly believe that’s what makes a home both trendy and timeless simultaneously — because loving the home you live in never goes out of style.

This post is sponsored by The National Association of Realtors. All opinions are 100% my own.  For additional posts in this series, check out HouseLogic.com

Pin to share:

The post Timeless Home Decor Trends – Is There Such a Thing? appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.

Website // Subscribe // Advertise // Twitter // Facebook // Google+

from The Ugly Duckling House http://www.uglyducklinghouse.com/timeless-home-decor-trends/

[noambouzaglou-blog]

Timeless Home Decor Trends – Is There Such a Thing?

Exposed brick, big windows, french doors — if you asked me what “classic” aspects of design I’d like in my dream home, I’d probably check every box. It’s that eclectic mix of old and new, home and travel, fun and sophisticated, that can make buying a home and decorating it such an exciting challenge. But surely, at one point or another, many classic features were once a “trend” — the new thing on the market that everyone had to have.

photo: The Makerista

However, unlike the way shoulder pads and babydoll dresses stuck around for what seemed like decades, the advent of the internet and Pinterest seems to speed us more quickly through the things that are new, and then “now”, and then passé. “Trend” has become a dirty word — almost synonymous with stuff that’s so of-this-minute that we’ll blink and it’ll already be outdated.

But does it really have to be this way? In my opinion, no.

As much as I might like bohemian and French, industrial and midcentury, and even coastal, I have a limited budget. I can’t afford to constantly replace the stuff that goes out of style. After all, I specifically decided to buy instead of rent to avoid wasting money on things that aren’t a return on my investment!

So, I chose to find a house with “good bones” — the kind of home with the right space, the right light, and a layout I can invest in for a few years. And after DIYing for the better part of a decade, I’ve learned a few good rules for making sure the home decor I choose lives up those same investment expectations.

photo: The House of Wood

How to Make Sure Your Home Design Is as Good an Investment as Your New Home

5 tips for making the things you love STAY the things you love.

Mix Instead of Match

I suppose you could call my style “global eclectic.” But really, that’s just a fancy way of saying “I often don’t like any one particular style, and matchy-matchy just isn’t my thing.” I have a Moroccan-inspired peacock mirror in the hallway, modern blue dining room walls, industrial bar stools in the kitchen, sheepskin draping over my chairs in the living room, and antique items sprinkled everywhere. Not any one style really reigns!

In my mind, decorating where it looks like a single store threw up all over my living room is a quick way to Outdatedsville. Collecting pieces from different trendy styles keeps things fresh and unique. Take, for example, Beth from Home Stories A to Z. Her gorgeous bathroom mixes subway tile, global-inspired cement tile on the floor, modern urban fixtures, and farmhouse features like shiplap walls and vanity. Stunning!

photo: Home Stories A to Z

Go Neutral

Large items like couches, beds, and architectural details (like French doors) can still be fun and interesting, but I tend to play it safe by picking one feature on that item that’s somewhat trendy, such as exposed legs (often seen in mid-century furniture), but with a fabric that’s neutral. Rather than going with a piece of midcentury furniture (trend) in the color of the moment (trend), you choose one or the other. It translates well from one style choice to the next. It also lets all of the other, more permanent features stand out, such as a cool archway (or in my case, the big bow windows!).

Edit, Edit, Edit

Trends that you wind up loathing over time are the ones that you see everywhere. They’re like that boyfriend you fell hard and fast for, and then woke up one day and can’t stand his laugh. Some things are simply never meant to stick around, and that’s OK. Just make sure these aren’t the pieces you invest in; for trendy items, look to bring them in through accents. When you tire of them and want to try out something new, you can then switch them out without making your wallet wince in pain.

On the other side of the editing coin, clutter is also what makes a trend look dated. Not to mention, it steals attention away from cool architectural features that should get more of a spotlight (like my big windows, which again, I LOVE). Too much of a good thing is never wise (except breakfast food), so when you like something, go ahead and try it out, but layer it in rather than buying every item of a single collection. Edit out the pieces that don’t fit, and you’re set.

Stacy Risenmay knows this more than most. With her tiny 1938 home filled with four boys, she’s an expert at getting rid of what isn’t needed while still making her house look gorgeous and full of style.

photo: notjustahousewife.net

‘Round and ‘Round We Go

These days, a lot of trends are about nostalgia (subway tiles, exposed brick, old-school kitchen faucets, reclaimed wood, etc.), so it should come as no surprise that plenty of what we call trends are cyclical. They’ll come into fashion, they’ll be overdone to the point we are tired of seeing them, we’ll move on, and then when it comes back in style, we’ll find it refreshing again.

photo The Inspired Room

But what is it that keeps these things coming back again and again? It may sound cheesy, but I think it’s all about the way we feel in a space — a happiness and simplicity.

That’s why I like the concept of “classic with a twist.” Sure, it could be out of date as far as what’s popular in stores over the next 10 years, but the “classics” I see trending lately are just a recycling of a period that already came and went. That’s really kind of great, because it takes the pressure off. Finding a twist on an older design rather than reinventing the wheel is a simpler goal and something I’m less likely to mess up.

Take, for example, my kitchen’s two-tone cabinets. It’s a vintage look that was made popular again over the last 10 years, and although it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, I get compliments on how retro and modern it looks at the same time.

Focus on Your Faves

I hate burlap. HATE it. But you know what? Some folks love the look of it so much, they make that scratchy fabric into pillowsthat they lean against in their bedrooms every night. But I’ll admit, as I’ve seen the use of burlap grow in popularity or used in a beautiful room, I question whether or not to buy some for a table runner. The key of knowing when you’re liking something versus being influenced by outside forces? Your gut.

Some homes just have that “it” factor. And you walk away from that house wondering if you too should buy all of the same stuff they did. But it’s not really the couch that’s making the house feel that way; it was that the person who picked it out did so because they freaking love the item.

Take Charlotte’s sofa, for example (below). She knew she was dropping a lot of money on it, she knew it was green, and she new it was velvet. But she dove right in. It makes the space, but if you knew her in person, you’d also realize that no other sofa really quite captures her the way this styling does!

photo: At Charlotte’s House

I doubt any reader who has checked out my blog could accuse me of being trendy. In fact, I never really set out to be the kind of DIYer who put a clever spin on everything I touched. And that’s OK, because all I’ve ever really wanted to do is give myself a house that I enjoy living in. So, I pick out pieces that truly speak to me, and forget the rest.

Mixing antiques with modern pieces makes the whole house look like it was collected over time (because it was), but also adds personality unique to me and how I express my style — one that can’t be repeated as easily as shopping through a catalog.

At the end of the day, it’s my home, and the important thing is to make sure that I’m buying it, installing it, etc., because I enjoy seeing it every day — not because someone has once again done something really spectacular with plywood (I’ll still pin the heck out of it, though!). I truly believe that’s what makes a home both trendy and timeless simultaneously — because loving the home you live in never goes out of style.

This post is sponsored by The National Association of Realtors. All opinions are 100% my own.  For additional posts in this series, check out HouseLogic.com

Pin to share:

The post Timeless Home Decor Trends – Is There Such a Thing? appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.

Website // Subscribe // Advertise // Twitter // Facebook // Google+

Timeless Home Decor Trends – Is There Such a Thing? published first on https://noambouzaglou.wordpress.com/

[petraself]

Timeless Home Decor Trends – Is There Such a Thing?

Exposed brick, big windows, french doors — if you asked me what “classic” aspects of design I’d like in my dream home, I’d probably check every box. It’s that eclectic mix of old and new, home and travel, fun and sophisticated, that can make buying a home and decorating it such an exciting challenge. But surely, at one point or another, many classic features were once a “trend” — the new thing on the market that everyone had to have.

photo: The Makerista

However, unlike the way shoulder pads and babydoll dresses stuck around for what seemed like decades, the advent of the internet and Pinterest seems to speed us more quickly through the things that are new, and then “now”, and then passé. “Trend” has become a dirty word — almost synonymous with stuff that’s so of-this-minute that we’ll blink and it’ll already be outdated.

But does it really have to be this way? In my opinion, no.

As much as I might like bohemian and French, industrial and midcentury, and even coastal, I have a limited budget. I can’t afford to constantly replace the stuff that goes out of style. After all, I specifically decided to buy instead of rent to avoid wasting money on things that aren’t a return on my investment!

So, I chose to find a house with “good bones” — the kind of home with the right space, the right light, and a layout I can invest in for a few years. And after DIYing for the better part of a decade, I’ve learned a few good rules for making sure the home decor I choose lives up those same investment expectations.

photo: The House of Wood

How to Make Sure Your Home Design Is as Good an Investment as Your New Home

5 tips for making the things you love STAY the things you love.

Mix Instead of Match

I suppose you could call my style “global eclectic.” But really, that’s just a fancy way of saying “I often don’t like any one particular style, and matchy-matchy just isn’t my thing.” I have a Moroccan-inspired peacock mirror in the hallway, modern blue dining room walls, industrial bar stools in the kitchen, sheepskin draping over my chairs in the living room, and antique items sprinkled everywhere. Not any one style really reigns!

In my mind, decorating where it looks like a single store threw up all over my living room is a quick way to Outdatedsville. Collecting pieces from different trendy styles keeps things fresh and unique. Take, for example, Beth from Home Stories A to Z. Her gorgeous bathroom mixes subway tile, global-inspired cement tile on the floor, modern urban fixtures, and farmhouse features like shiplap walls and vanity. Stunning!

photo: Home Stories A to Z

Go Neutral

Large items like couches, beds, and architectural details (like French doors) can still be fun and interesting, but I tend to play it safe by picking one feature on that item that’s somewhat trendy, such as exposed legs (often seen in mid-century furniture), but with a fabric that’s neutral. Rather than going with a piece of midcentury furniture (trend) in the color of the moment (trend), you choose one or the other. It translates well from one style choice to the next. It also lets all of the other, more permanent features stand out, such as a cool archway (or in my case, the big bow windows!).

Edit, Edit, Edit

Trends that you wind up loathing over time are the ones that you see everywhere. They’re like that boyfriend you fell hard and fast for, and then woke up one day and can’t stand his laugh. Some things are simply never meant to stick around, and that’s OK. Just make sure these aren’t the pieces you invest in; for trendy items, look to bring them in through accents. When you tire of them and want to try out something new, you can then switch them out without making your wallet wince in pain.

On the other side of the editing coin, clutter is also what makes a trend look dated. Not to mention, it steals attention away from cool architectural features that should get more of a spotlight (like my big windows, which again, I LOVE). Too much of a good thing is never wise (except breakfast food), so when you like something, go ahead and try it out, but layer it in rather than buying every item of a single collection. Edit out the pieces that don’t fit, and you’re set.

Stacy Risenmay knows this more than most. With her tiny 1938 home filled with four boys, she’s an expert at getting rid of what isn’t needed while still making her house look gorgeous and full of style.

photo: notjustahousewife.net

‘Round and ‘Round We Go

These days, a lot of trends are about nostalgia (subway tiles, exposed brick, old-school kitchen faucets, reclaimed wood, etc.), so it should come as no surprise that plenty of what we call trends are cyclical. They’ll come into fashion, they’ll be overdone to the point we are tired of seeing them, we’ll move on, and then when it comes back in style, we’ll find it refreshing again.

photo The Inspired Room

But what is it that keeps these things coming back again and again? It may sound cheesy, but I think it’s all about the way we feel in a space — a happiness and simplicity.

That’s why I like the concept of “classic with a twist.” Sure, it could be out of date as far as what’s popular in stores over the next 10 years, but the “classics” I see trending lately are just a recycling of a period that already came and went. That’s really kind of great, because it takes the pressure off. Finding a twist on an older design rather than reinventing the wheel is a simpler goal and something I’m less likely to mess up.

Take, for example, my kitchen’s two-tone cabinets. It’s a vintage look that was made popular again over the last 10 years, and although it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, I get compliments on how retro and modern it looks at the same time.

Focus on Your Faves

I hate burlap. HATE it. But you know what? Some folks love the look of it so much, they make that scratchy fabric into pillowsthat they lean against in their bedrooms every night. But I’ll admit, as I’ve seen the use of burlap grow in popularity or used in a beautiful room, I question whether or not to buy some for a table runner. The key of knowing when you’re liking something versus being influenced by outside forces? Your gut.

Some homes just have that “it” factor. And you walk away from that house wondering if you too should buy all of the same stuff they did. But it’s not really the couch that’s making the house feel that way; it was that the person who picked it out did so because they freaking love the item.

Take Charlotte’s sofa, for example (below). She knew she was dropping a lot of money on it, she knew it was green, and she new it was velvet. But she dove right in. It makes the space, but if you knew her in person, you’d also realize that no other sofa really quite captures her the way this styling does!

photo: At Charlotte’s House

I doubt any reader who has checked out my blog could accuse me of being trendy. In fact, I never really set out to be the kind of DIYer who put a clever spin on everything I touched. And that’s OK, because all I’ve ever really wanted to do is give myself a house that I enjoy living in. So, I pick out pieces that truly speak to me, and forget the rest.

Mixing antiques with modern pieces makes the whole house look like it was collected over time (because it was), but also adds personality unique to me and how I express my style — one that can’t be repeated as easily as shopping through a catalog.

At the end of the day, it’s my home, and the important thing is to make sure that I’m buying it, installing it, etc., because I enjoy seeing it every day — not because someone has once again done something really spectacular with plywood (I’ll still pin the heck out of it, though!). I truly believe that’s what makes a home both trendy and timeless simultaneously — because loving the home you live in never goes out of style.

This post is sponsored by The National Association of Realtors. All opinions are 100% my own.  For additional posts in this series, check out HouseLogic.com

Pin to share:

The post Timeless Home Decor Trends – Is There Such a Thing? appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.

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Timeless Home Decor Trends – Is There Such a Thing? published first on http://ift.tt/1kI9W8s

[bespokekitchesldn]

Timeless Home Decor Trends – Is There Such a Thing?

Exposed brick, big windows, french doors — if you asked me what “classic” aspects of design I’d like in my dream home, I’d probably check every box. It’s that eclectic mix of old and new, home and travel, fun and sophisticated, that can make buying a home and decorating it such an exciting challenge. But surely, at one point or another, many classic features were once a “trend” — the new thing on the market that everyone had to have.

photo: The Makerista

However, unlike the way shoulder pads and babydoll dresses stuck around for what seemed like decades, the advent of the internet and Pinterest seems to speed us more quickly through the things that are new, and then “now”, and then passé. “Trend” has become a dirty word — almost synonymous with stuff that’s so of-this-minute that we’ll blink and it’ll already be outdated.

But does it really have to be this way? In my opinion, no.

As much as I might like bohemian and French, industrial and midcentury, and even coastal, I have a limited budget. I can’t afford to constantly replace the stuff that goes out of style. After all, I specifically decided to buy instead of rent to avoid wasting money on things that aren’t a return on my investment!

So, I chose to find a house with “good bones” — the kind of home with the right space, the right light, and a layout I can invest in for a few years. And after DIYing for the better part of a decade, I’ve learned a few good rules for making sure the home decor I choose lives up those same investment expectations.

photo: The House of Wood

How to Make Sure Your Home Design Is as Good an Investment as Your New Home

5 tips for making the things you love STAY the things you love.

Mix Instead of Match

I suppose you could call my style “global eclectic.” But really, that’s just a fancy way of saying “I often don’t like any one particular style, and matchy-matchy just isn’t my thing.” I have a Moroccan-inspired peacock mirror in the hallway, modern blue dining room walls, industrial bar stools in the kitchen, sheepskin draping over my chairs in the living room, and antique items sprinkled everywhere. Not any one style really reigns!

In my mind, decorating where it looks like a single store threw up all over my living room is a quick way to Outdatedsville. Collecting pieces from different trendy styles keeps things fresh and unique. Take, for example, Beth from Home Stories A to Z. Her gorgeous bathroom mixes subway tile, global-inspired cement tile on the floor, modern urban fixtures, and farmhouse features like shiplap walls and vanity. Stunning!

photo: Home Stories A to Z

Go Neutral

Large items like couches, beds, and architectural details (like French doors) can still be fun and interesting, but I tend to play it safe by picking one feature on that item that’s somewhat trendy, such as exposed legs (often seen in mid-century furniture), but with a fabric that’s neutral. Rather than going with a piece of midcentury furniture (trend) in the color of the moment (trend), you choose one or the other. It translates well from one style choice to the next. It also lets all of the other, more permanent features stand out, such as a cool archway (or in my case, the big bow windows!).

Edit, Edit, Edit

Trends that you wind up loathing over time are the ones that you see everywhere. They’re like that boyfriend you fell hard and fast for, and then woke up one day and can’t stand his laugh. Some things are simply never meant to stick around, and that’s OK. Just make sure these aren’t the pieces you invest in; for trendy items, look to bring them in through accents. When you tire of them and want to try out something new, you can then switch them out without making your wallet wince in pain.

On the other side of the editing coin, clutter is also what makes a trend look dated. Not to mention, it steals attention away from cool architectural features that should get more of a spotlight (like my big windows, which again, I LOVE). Too much of a good thing is never wise (except breakfast food), so when you like something, go ahead and try it out, but layer it in rather than buying every item of a single collection. Edit out the pieces that don’t fit, and you’re set.

Stacy Risenmay knows this more than most. With her tiny 1938 home filled with four boys, she’s an expert at getting rid of what isn’t needed while still making her house look gorgeous and full of style.

photo: notjustahousewife.net

‘Round and ‘Round We Go

These days, a lot of trends are about nostalgia (subway tiles, exposed brick, old-school kitchen faucets, reclaimed wood, etc.), so it should come as no surprise that plenty of what we call trends are cyclical. They’ll come into fashion, they’ll be overdone to the point we are tired of seeing them, we’ll move on, and then when it comes back in style, we’ll find it refreshing again.

photo The Inspired Room

But what is it that keeps these things coming back again and again? It may sound cheesy, but I think it’s all about the way we feel in a space — a happiness and simplicity.

That’s why I like the concept of “classic with a twist.” Sure, it could be out of date as far as what’s popular in stores over the next 10 years, but the “classics” I see trending lately are just a recycling of a period that already came and went. That’s really kind of great, because it takes the pressure off. Finding a twist on an older design rather than reinventing the wheel is a simpler goal and something I’m less likely to mess up.

Take, for example, my kitchen’s two-tone cabinets. It’s a vintage look that was made popular again over the last 10 years, and although it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, I get compliments on how retro and modern it looks at the same time.

Focus on Your Faves

I hate burlap. HATE it. But you know what? Some folks love the look of it so much, they make that scratchy fabric into pillowsthat they lean against in their bedrooms every night. But I’ll admit, as I’ve seen the use of burlap grow in popularity or used in a beautiful room, I question whether or not to buy some for a table runner. The key of knowing when you’re liking something versus being influenced by outside forces? Your gut.

Some homes just have that “it” factor. And you walk away from that house wondering if you too should buy all of the same stuff they did. But it’s not really the couch that’s making the house feel that way; it was that the person who picked it out did so because they freaking love the item.

Take Charlotte’s sofa, for example (below). She knew she was dropping a lot of money on it, she knew it was green, and she new it was velvet. But she dove right in. It makes the space, but if you knew her in person, you’d also realize that no other sofa really quite captures her the way this styling does!

photo: At Charlotte’s House

I doubt any reader who has checked out my blog could accuse me of being trendy. In fact, I never really set out to be the kind of DIYer who put a clever spin on everything I touched. And that’s OK, because all I’ve ever really wanted to do is give myself a house that I enjoy living in. So, I pick out pieces that truly speak to me, and forget the rest.

Mixing antiques with modern pieces makes the whole house look like it was collected over time (because it was), but also adds personality unique to me and how I express my style — one that can’t be repeated as easily as shopping through a catalog.

At the end of the day, it’s my home, and the important thing is to make sure that I’m buying it, installing it, etc., because I enjoy seeing it every day — not because someone has once again done something really spectacular with plywood (I’ll still pin the heck out of it, though!). I truly believe that’s what makes a home both trendy and timeless simultaneously — because loving the home you live in never goes out of style.

This post is sponsored by The National Association of Realtors. All opinions are 100% my own.  For additional posts in this series, check out HouseLogic.com

Pin to share:

The post Timeless Home Decor Trends – Is There Such a Thing? appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.

Website // Subscribe // Advertise // Twitter // Facebook // Google+

from The Ugly Duckling House http://www.uglyducklinghouse.com/timeless-home-decor-trends/

[endlessarchite]

Timeless Home Decor Trends – Is There Such a Thing?

Exposed brick, big windows, french doors — if you asked me what “classic” aspects of design I’d like in my dream home, I’d probably check every box. It’s that eclectic mix of old and new, home and travel, fun and sophisticated, that can make buying a home and decorating it such an exciting challenge. But surely, at one point or another, many classic features were once a “trend” — the new thing on the market that everyone had to have.

photo: The Makerista

However, unlike the way shoulder pads and babydoll dresses stuck around for what seemed like decades, the advent of the internet and Pinterest seems to speed us more quickly through the things that are new, and then “now”, and then passé. “Trend” has become a dirty word — almost synonymous with stuff that’s so of-this-minute that we’ll blink and it’ll already be outdated.

But does it really have to be this way? In my opinion, no.

As much as I might like bohemian and French, industrial and midcentury, and even coastal, I have a limited budget. I can’t afford to constantly replace the stuff that goes out of style. After all, I specifically decided to buy instead of rent to avoid wasting money on things that aren’t a return on my investment!

So, I chose to find a house with “good bones” — the kind of home with the right space, the right light, and a layout I can invest in for a few years. And after DIYing for the better part of a decade, I’ve learned a few good rules for making sure the home decor I choose lives up those same investment expectations.

photo: The House of Wood

How to Make Sure Your Home Design Is as Good an Investment as Your New Home

5 tips for making the things you love STAY the things you love.

Mix Instead of Match

I suppose you could call my style “global eclectic.” But really, that’s just a fancy way of saying “I often don’t like any one particular style, and matchy-matchy just isn’t my thing.” I have a Moroccan-inspired peacock mirror in the hallway, modern blue dining room walls, industrial bar stools in the kitchen, sheepskin draping over my chairs in the living room, and antique items sprinkled everywhere. Not any one style really reigns!

In my mind, decorating where it looks like a single store threw up all over my living room is a quick way to Outdatedsville. Collecting pieces from different trendy styles keeps things fresh and unique. Take, for example, Beth from Home Stories A to Z. Her gorgeous bathroom mixes subway tile, global-inspired cement tile on the floor, modern urban fixtures, and farmhouse features like shiplap walls and vanity. Stunning!

photo: Home Stories A to Z

Go Neutral

Large items like couches, beds, and architectural details (like French doors) can still be fun and interesting, but I tend to play it safe by picking one feature on that item that’s somewhat trendy, such as exposed legs (often seen in mid-century furniture), but with a fabric that’s neutral. Rather than going with a piece of midcentury furniture (trend) in the color of the moment (trend), you choose one or the other. It translates well from one style choice to the next. It also lets all of the other, more permanent features stand out, such as a cool archway (or in my case, the big bow windows!).

Edit, Edit, Edit

Trends that you wind up loathing over time are the ones that you see everywhere. They’re like that boyfriend you fell hard and fast for, and then woke up one day and can’t stand his laugh. Some things are simply never meant to stick around, and that’s OK. Just make sure these aren’t the pieces you invest in; for trendy items, look to bring them in through accents. When you tire of them and want to try out something new, you can then switch them out without making your wallet wince in pain.

On the other side of the editing coin, clutter is also what makes a trend look dated. Not to mention, it steals attention away from cool architectural features that should get more of a spotlight (like my big windows, which again, I LOVE). Too much of a good thing is never wise (except breakfast food), so when you like something, go ahead and try it out, but layer it in rather than buying every item of a single collection. Edit out the pieces that don’t fit, and you’re set.

Stacy Risenmay knows this more than most. With her tiny 1938 home filled with four boys, she’s an expert at getting rid of what isn’t needed while still making her house look gorgeous and full of style.

photo: notjustahousewife.net

‘Round and ‘Round We Go

These days, a lot of trends are about nostalgia (subway tiles, exposed brick, old-school kitchen faucets, reclaimed wood, etc.), so it should come as no surprise that plenty of what we call trends are cyclical. They’ll come into fashion, they’ll be overdone to the point we are tired of seeing them, we’ll move on, and then when it comes back in style, we’ll find it refreshing again.

photo The Inspired Room

But what is it that keeps these things coming back again and again? It may sound cheesy, but I think it’s all about the way we feel in a space — a happiness and simplicity.

That’s why I like the concept of “classic with a twist.” Sure, it could be out of date as far as what’s popular in stores over the next 10 years, but the “classics” I see trending lately are just a recycling of a period that already came and went. That’s really kind of great, because it takes the pressure off. Finding a twist on an older design rather than reinventing the wheel is a simpler goal and something I’m less likely to mess up.

Take, for example, my kitchen’s two-tone cabinets. It’s a vintage look that was made popular again over the last 10 years, and although it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, I get compliments on how retro and modern it looks at the same time.

Focus on Your Faves

I hate burlap. HATE it. But you know what? Some folks love the look of it so much, they make that scratchy fabric into pillowsthat they lean against in their bedrooms every night. But I’ll admit, as I’ve seen the use of burlap grow in popularity or used in a beautiful room, I question whether or not to buy some for a table runner. The key of knowing when you’re liking something versus being influenced by outside forces? Your gut.

Some homes just have that “it” factor. And you walk away from that house wondering if you too should buy all of the same stuff they did. But it’s not really the couch that’s making the house feel that way; it was that the person who picked it out did so because they freaking love the item.

Take Charlotte’s sofa, for example (below). She knew she was dropping a lot of money on it, she knew it was green, and she new it was velvet. But she dove right in. It makes the space, but if you knew her in person, you’d also realize that no other sofa really quite captures her the way this styling does!

photo: At Charlotte’s House

I doubt any reader who has checked out my blog could accuse me of being trendy. In fact, I never really set out to be the kind of DIYer who put a clever spin on everything I touched. And that’s OK, because all I’ve ever really wanted to do is give myself a house that I enjoy living in. So, I pick out pieces that truly speak to me, and forget the rest.

Mixing antiques with modern pieces makes the whole house look like it was collected over time (because it was), but also adds personality unique to me and how I express my style — one that can’t be repeated as easily as shopping through a catalog.

At the end of the day, it’s my home, and the important thing is to make sure that I’m buying it, installing it, etc., because I enjoy seeing it every day — not because someone has once again done something really spectacular with plywood (I’ll still pin the heck out of it, though!). I truly believe that’s what makes a home both trendy and timeless simultaneously — because loving the home you live in never goes out of style.

This post is sponsored by The National Association of Realtors. All opinions are 100% my own.  For additional posts in this series, check out HouseLogic.com

Pin to share:

The post Timeless Home Decor Trends – Is There Such a Thing? appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.

Website // Subscribe // Advertise // Twitter // Facebook // Google+

Timeless Home Decor Trends – Is There Such a Thing? published first on http://ift.tt/2qxZz2j

[endlessarchite]

Timeless Home Decor Trends – Is There Such a Thing?

Exposed brick, big windows, french doors — if you asked me what “classic” aspects of design I’d like in my dream home, I’d probably check every box. It’s that eclectic mix of old and new, home and travel, fun and sophisticated, that can make buying a home and decorating it such an exciting challenge. But surely, at one point or another, many classic features were once a “trend” — the new thing on the market that everyone had to have.

photo: The Makerista

However, unlike the way shoulder pads and babydoll dresses stuck around for what seemed like decades, the advent of the internet and Pinterest seems to speed us more quickly through the things that are new, and then “now”, and then passé. “Trend” has become a dirty word — almost synonymous with stuff that’s so of-this-minute that we’ll blink and it’ll already be outdated.

But does it really have to be this way? In my opinion, no.

As much as I might like bohemian and French, industrial and midcentury, and even coastal, I have a limited budget. I can’t afford to constantly replace the stuff that goes out of style. After all, I specifically decided to buy instead of rent to avoid wasting money on things that aren’t a return on my investment!

So, I chose to find a house with “good bones” — the kind of home with the right space, the right light, and a layout I can invest in for a few years. And after DIYing for the better part of a decade, I’ve learned a few good rules for making sure the home decor I choose lives up those same investment expectations.

photo: The House of Wood

How to Make Sure Your Home Design Is as Good an Investment as Your New Home

5 tips for making the things you love STAY the things you love.

Mix Instead of Match

I suppose you could call my style “global eclectic.” But really, that’s just a fancy way of saying “I often don’t like any one particular style, and matchy-matchy just isn’t my thing.” I have a Moroccan-inspired peacock mirror in the hallway, modern blue dining room walls, industrial bar stools in the kitchen, sheepskin draping over my chairs in the living room, and antique items sprinkled everywhere. Not any one style really reigns!

In my mind, decorating where it looks like a single store threw up all over my living room is a quick way to Outdatedsville. Collecting pieces from different trendy styles keeps things fresh and unique. Take, for example, Beth from Home Stories A to Z. Her gorgeous bathroom mixes subway tile, global-inspired cement tile on the floor, modern urban fixtures, and farmhouse features like shiplap walls and vanity. Stunning!

photo: Home Stories A to Z

Go Neutral

Large items like couches, beds, and architectural details (like French doors) can still be fun and interesting, but I tend to play it safe by picking one feature on that item that’s somewhat trendy, such as exposed legs (often seen in mid-century furniture), but with a fabric that’s neutral. Rather than going with a piece of midcentury furniture (trend) in the color of the moment (trend), you choose one or the other. It translates well from one style choice to the next. It also lets all of the other, more permanent features stand out, such as a cool archway (or in my case, the big bow windows!).

Edit, Edit, Edit

Trends that you wind up loathing over time are the ones that you see everywhere. They’re like that boyfriend you fell hard and fast for, and then woke up one day and can’t stand his laugh. Some things are simply never meant to stick around, and that’s OK. Just make sure these aren’t the pieces you invest in; for trendy items, look to bring them in through accents. When you tire of them and want to try out something new, you can then switch them out without making your wallet wince in pain.

On the other side of the editing coin, clutter is also what makes a trend look dated. Not to mention, it steals attention away from cool architectural features that should get more of a spotlight (like my big windows, which again, I LOVE). Too much of a good thing is never wise (except breakfast food), so when you like something, go ahead and try it out, but layer it in rather than buying every item of a single collection. Edit out the pieces that don’t fit, and you’re set.

Stacy Risenmay knows this more than most. With her tiny 1938 home filled with four boys, she’s an expert at getting rid of what isn’t needed while still making her house look gorgeous and full of style.

photo: notjustahousewife.net

‘Round and ‘Round We Go

These days, a lot of trends are about nostalgia (subway tiles, exposed brick, old-school kitchen faucets, reclaimed wood, etc.), so it should come as no surprise that plenty of what we call trends are cyclical. They’ll come into fashion, they’ll be overdone to the point we are tired of seeing them, we’ll move on, and then when it comes back in style, we’ll find it refreshing again.

photo The Inspired Room

But what is it that keeps these things coming back again and again? It may sound cheesy, but I think it’s all about the way we feel in a space — a happiness and simplicity.

That’s why I like the concept of “classic with a twist.” Sure, it could be out of date as far as what’s popular in stores over the next 10 years, but the “classics” I see trending lately are just a recycling of a period that already came and went. That’s really kind of great, because it takes the pressure off. Finding a twist on an older design rather than reinventing the wheel is a simpler goal and something I’m less likely to mess up.

Take, for example, my kitchen’s two-tone cabinets. It’s a vintage look that was made popular again over the last 10 years, and although it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, I get compliments on how retro and modern it looks at the same time.

Focus on Your Faves

I hate burlap. HATE it. But you know what? Some folks love the look of it so much, they make that scratchy fabric into pillowsthat they lean against in their bedrooms every night. But I’ll admit, as I’ve seen the use of burlap grow in popularity or used in a beautiful room, I question whether or not to buy some for a table runner. The key of knowing when you’re liking something versus being influenced by outside forces? Your gut.

Some homes just have that “it” factor. And you walk away from that house wondering if you too should buy all of the same stuff they did. But it’s not really the couch that’s making the house feel that way; it was that the person who picked it out did so because they freaking love the item.

Take Charlotte’s sofa, for example (below). She knew she was dropping a lot of money on it, she knew it was green, and she new it was velvet. But she dove right in. It makes the space, but if you knew her in person, you’d also realize that no other sofa really quite captures her the way this styling does!

photo: At Charlotte’s House

I doubt any reader who has checked out my blog could accuse me of being trendy. In fact, I never really set out to be the kind of DIYer who put a clever spin on everything I touched. And that’s OK, because all I’ve ever really wanted to do is give myself a house that I enjoy living in. So, I pick out pieces that truly speak to me, and forget the rest.

Mixing antiques with modern pieces makes the whole house look like it was collected over time (because it was), but also adds personality unique to me and how I express my style — one that can’t be repeated as easily as shopping through a catalog.

At the end of the day, it’s my home, and the important thing is to make sure that I’m buying it, installing it, etc., because I enjoy seeing it every day — not because someone has once again done something really spectacular with plywood (I’ll still pin the heck out of it, though!). I truly believe that’s what makes a home both trendy and timeless simultaneously — because loving the home you live in never goes out of style.

This post is sponsored by The National Association of Realtors. All opinions are 100% my own.  For additional posts in this series, check out HouseLogic.com

Pin to share:

The post Timeless Home Decor Trends – Is There Such a Thing? appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.

Website // Subscribe // Advertise // Twitter // Facebook // Google+

Timeless Home Decor Trends – Is There Such a Thing? published first on http://ift.tt/2qxZz2j