Our First Home: The Master Bedroom

A while back when I shared the exciting news that the boy and I had purchased a condo, I shared what I had in mind for the design our bathrooms (master bathroom will be straying from that initial plan - no Martinique wallpaper for me; tear).

I know I mentioned here that though I've been having issues (major understatement) in deciding on paint colors for the new place, but the one color I was confident about from day one was doing navy in the master bedroom. This was for two reasons: one, because the boor boy has been stuck with my very girly linens for the past year and two, the room has FOUR windows, so I knew the dark walls could hold up to it.

I have a very strong vision of what kind of feel I want the room to have; navy & white bedding, white furniture with accents of gold, and either apple green or coral - decidedly prep, erring on nautical but not too strongly. 

That said, aside from having decided on Benjamin Moore's Hale Navy for the walls, this room is a blank slate. We are upgrading to a king-sized bed (the boy is 6'4" so we need all the space we can get) and my existing bureau was $175 and breaks a little more every time I open  a drawer. We are going to push everything from our current bedroom into the guest bed and so, I am left with all the freedom in the world with this room, from the furniture to the bedding, lighting, wall art, and accents. Great? Maybe. Overwhelmed? Definitely.

Here are two options I've played around with for the room (so far):

Green accents (obviously).

And coral.

I am super, super undecided about which I like better; I'm tempted to go with the orangey-coral to make it a little more chinoiserie flair-friendly, but the pop of lime is so fresh and happy, and of course, a bit more manly. 

I haven't fully-decided on the bedding yet. I know part of the color pop will be in the sheets, so I am holding off on that search, but we'll need at least a duvet to start, and I am set on white with navy trim.

Top contenders:

Benjamin Moore: Color Me Overwhelmed.

I am losing sleep over paint. Yes, as in wall paint - the thing that is so NOT permanent and not costing me a dime out of pocket (aside from the massive price tag of a city condo, of course).

We went to see the progress on our new place on Saturday for the first time since we put in the offer, and were shocked to see the walls already going up. We were then notified that we owed them our 4 paint (+ trim - "You just HAVE to do White Dove - there is NO other choice!) colors by Friday of this week. Cue internal screams of "oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh SHIT!".

Realistically, I know that paint can always be changed after the fact if we don't like it. But let's face it we (I) are lazy, and the likelihood of us repainting the whole apartment, or even just one room, after all of our furniture has gone in is beyond unlikely. So, thus began my obsession withe Benjamin Moore's color board and thousands of Houzz searches for paint color after paint color.

I should note that this is my very first experience with selecting paint colors, and that because this is being done by contractors in a condo that is not yet complete (or even close to it), I don't have any opportunity to go in an test our a few paint choices on different walls to see how it meshes with the trim (will be White Dove if for no other reason than I CANNOT pick a white out of a pallette of 100+), how it works against cabinetry (there isn't any yet!), and I can't see how it will look at different times of day/in natural vs. electric light (none of that yet either!).

Suffice it to say that I am clueless. What I know is:

- We are going for New England/nautical (living 1.5 blocks from the ocean on Boston - how can I resist?)

- I need a very, very neutral white on the walls in the guest bed & in the entry hallway (guest bed will have these linens and pink walls are not an option - entry/hallway is going to end up being done up with navy stripes, like this)

- We are doing navy walls in the bedroom. We have 4 windows in the master (woop!) and I have been dying to give the boy a more masculine bedroom after being stuck with girly (not to mention that it's technically children's) bedding for the last year. Navy = nautical & masculine, and I mean, who wouldn't want to sleep in these glorious caves?

{via}

Right. 

(PS: I'll be sharing my ongoing navy bedroom design boards (yes, plural) soon!)

But that's all I've got. After about 18 hours of research, here's where I'm at:

TRIM:

 'Cause I mean, I 'have' to. 

But now - how do I decide what shade of white to paint the cabinets? The same? I think I want something more "pure white", if there even IS such a thing. Another problem for another day (hopefully).

MASTER:

It became clear pretty quickly that Hale Navy is the best/only option for the bedroom. All of the other Benjamin Moore dark blue/navy shades either err too much on the purple side or are too Crayola-y. This shade is super deep and pigmented but in every photo I've seen, has a dustiness to it that keeps it from reading anything but a gorgeous navy in every light.

Contemporary Bathroom design by San Francisco Interior Designer Holly Bender Interiors

Eclectic Bedroom design by Other Metro Media And Blogs Michelle Hinckley

Contemporary Kitchen design by Los Angeles Interior Designer Erica Islas / EMI Interior Design, Inc.

Eclectic Bedroom design by Portland Maine Interior Designer Landing Design & Development

See? Lovely.

Moving on...

Note to Self: One Step at a Time

Radio silence again, I know. No excuse is a good excuse, but (I'd like to think) there is a good reason this time.

Word to the wise (and myself, for future reference): do not purchase property (condo, house, office space, what have you) while actively looking/interviewing for a new job. Just don't do it.

(Be forewarned - this post is somewhat for my own personal documentation purposes and is absurdly long (I'm a memory hoarder). Jump down to the end to get a first peek at the new place and the first of MANY design boards!)

For starters, #1 - you read that right, we bought a condo! But more on that later...

Autumnal, Vermont-y Luxury

I am admittedly still recovering from a weekend of complete and utter gluttony - too much (amazing) food, too many drinks, too much of everything, really, except sleep.

After writing that out, it probably sounds like I spent a weekend clubbing in Vegas, but let me tell you, a laid-back luxury, quiet inn in Vermont can also do this to a girl (who knew?).

Our weekend at Twin Farms was all kinds of over the top. From the three course breakfast complete with french press coffee and chocolate, banana and coconut souffle pancakes (yes, they're amazing as they sound), the inn was indulgent. Now's my time to give a special shout-out to the boy's uncle, without whom none of this would even have been in the realm of reality for our lives.

Let's start with our room, shall we?

I mean, seriously? An entirely toile room? Amaze.

 

 Birthday boy poking around the coffee table books.

(yes, there's more after the jump...)

Aparment Therapy: Gold Diggin’

This weekend was spent finally getting around to the little odds and ends we didn’t take care of while moving in – namely hanging pictures and mirrors and suffering through a trip to IKEA.

As much as it wasn’t exactly relaxing, our place is finally starting to feel like home now that my need for symmetry has been appeased (with the addition of this nightstand to the boy’s side of the bed) and we have a (temporary) coffee table situation that isn’t a faux leather storage ottoman (separated...obviously):

That puppy is getting spray painted gold ASAP (realistically in like a month) and I’m on the hunt for vintage gold/brass hardware for the nightstands, and eventually the rest of our room (pics soon!).

Speaking of gold….

Jill Rosenwald Hand-woven Tan Serengeti Wool Rug / Barneys New York Cable Knit Throw / Gold Coin Bank / Gold Athena Tray / Italian brass faux bamboo coffee table  / Gold pig bookends set of 2 / Almoco Flatware  / Deer Head / Lighted Branch - Gold / Morton Skull - Gold / Marquette Taper Holder / Gold Geometric Lamp Base / White and Gold Metallic Cow Hide / Cream 'Mongolian' cushion/ Bungalow 5 Normandy Gold Tall Tray Table

I just can't get enough of it lately. This board started out as an apartment wishlist and I quickly noticed that pretty much everything I'm into right now is gold.

In the last year or so I finally got over my fear of gold jewelry and subsequently realized that it actually looks better on my yellow-toned skin than silver, resulting in an entire revamp of my daily/costume jewelry regimen, and I think the same wave is about to overtake my living space.

While a lot of these items are entirely out of my price rage ($2,000 for a coffee table is just not going to cut it at this point in my life – shoutout to IKEA!), I plan on investing in a few of these accents to spruce up my new table situation -  namely the gold skull, giraffe and piggy bookends. ZGallerie is quickly becoming my go-to for fun homewares that are seriously affordable.

Are you gold-crazy? Would you go gold in your home?

PS: I’m also seriously starting to consider going for a cowhide (flecked in gold, duh) rug over a patterned flat-weave/dhurrie. Am I crazy? Talk to me…

Juvenile Schmuvenile

A very mature title for a very mature post.

As the move-in date gets closer and closer, I have (almost) abandoned my clothes shopping fetish (sorry, fall collections) for all things interiors. And while looking at lovely rugs, couches, lamps, mirror...you name it - is exciting and I have 893405689340 different plans for our new place in my head, the reality is: furniture/decor is more expensive AND more permanent than a pair of heels (for me, anyway).

So I'm being forced to make more thought-through and carefully planned decisions about the our soon-to-be home, many of which unfortunately revolve around my (sad) financial situation. The absolutely #1 on my list for the new place is a rug. The one in my current apartment is not only not mine, but it is high-pile and therefore perpetually disgusting, no matter how much vacuuming I do.

I've been lusting after Jill Rosenwald rugs for MONTHS now, but they are pricey, even when they're on sale. I just know that I need a low-pile or dhurrie to complete a few of our (all hardwood) rooms, but purchasing multiples is out of the question.

Enter Land of Nod. Yes, it's a children's decor store. Am I embarassed? You tell me if I should be after you see these prices.

I mean, right? The rugs are gorgeous - and of course I stumbled upon equally amazing accents like that nautical curtain panel and adorable finial. They'd be perfect with that navy chevron rug in the nautically-inspired office I've created in my head (to appease the male half of my living situation). Don't even get me started on that gold hex lamp. $69, bam. I've paid more for lamps at Target.

So tell me: are there really children out there with impeccable taste? Or did is this an amazing hidden gem for adult accents? 

...or am I an 8 year old stuck in a 26 year old's body trying to decorate a Boston apartment? Really, judge me. I need it.

Cohabitation Creation

I just realized (okay, I am actually counting down) that in just a month and 10 days, I will be in the process of hauling ALL of my crap (and loved items, of course) into a big empty apartment...and the boy will be doing the same. Luckily, he probably has less than 50% of what I'm going to be hauling around, but like I mentioned before, his current setup has no defined style whatsoever, and my current place was shared with a roommate and I invested very little into styling my place (aside from my bedroom) once I knew that the boy and I were "in it for the long haul," as they say.

All of this comes down to two things: 1. this move-in is a huge (and my first) opportunity to really decorate a space to my taste, and this freedom is the biggest motivation behind my spending freeze, BUT, 2. I have NO idea how to style for men's tastes - I can't pick out his outfits without making him look at best, bisexual, let alone create entire living space that doesn't scream "single 20-something  fashionista."

I want the space to have a defined style, but I am seriously struggling to curb my tastes and instincts to be less uber femme. I am fairly preppy by nature (I have had multiple people tell me in the last few months that I am the preppiest person they know...seems like a gross overexaggeration to me, but whatever), and I think prep often has a girly feel. So that said, I am thinking the best way to tone down the Lilly/Kate Spade/Trina Turk color splash extravaganza, I might try to steer in a more nautical direction; pun 100% intended.

Regardless, I can dream, right? I have been a complete click monster on every One Kings Lane and Joss & Main email I get. I'm literally making some marketers day by shooting up their click through rates on every. single. promo. Here are a few things at the top of my wish list for the new place:

I love a good nailhead trim headboard - and definitely makes the cut for masculinity, no?

Okay, so maybe a little girly, but less than the light pink option. I've been dying to add a pouf to my living room setup, eventually as a footstool for a fun patterned accent chair (preferably wingback, thank you very much!)

I know this is a pricey option, but I am DYING for this Society Social bar cart in our massive living space (and to style it up-but more on that later). 

But on that note - I am a total toroise whore and am dying for these Design Darling tumblers.

I do need to decide on a coffee table before I can make this investment, but a laquer tray is CRUCIAL. I'm obsessed with iomoi's patterns, but definitely can't afford them. I guess it will be more worth it when our initials are finalized (yeah yeah, getting too surrious over here) but I dream of this:

Brown popped with orange is stylish, but manly enough for a living space, no? My couch is a cocoa brown suede, so I'm thinking this pallette might be the way to go, in spite of my intense draw to nauticalia (damn myself for not going with a lighter couch!).

Speaking of initials, I am in love with these S&P shakers but I fully realize that this is an impractical purchase pre-nuptials (and pre engagement...I mean, who am I kidding?!)

On a more practical note, I am definitely planning an investment in a pair of these Design Darling topiaries to spruce up my black lacquer entry table in the new place. They're not too femme coupled with a tray for keys, a few candles and a gold mirror hanging above, right?

What are you rules for boy-friendly decorating? I'm clearly in need of some help!

It's All Happening.

After losing the apartment of our dreams two weeks ago, the boyf and I have officially leased our first apartment and are moving in together in September!

I am still somehwhat in denial about the hugeness of all of this, but the one thing that's immediately on my mind (and admittedly has been for a few months now) is how we're going to combine all of our things and create a space that's really our own - all while still being able to pay rent.

I am lucky enough to have a guy that lets me run with my tastes, and in the case of interior decor, he has tentatively given me the green light to put our home together. Though I would never purchase anything without getting his opinion (he has to live with it too!) - I've already started looking for pieces that will work with what we have, but give our things a (much needed) dash of styling.

My number one is investing in a new, nice rug. The rugs we both have are both extremely high pile, and after just one year, mine is eternally dirty and needs to go, stat. My sectional is a fairly deep mocha shade, so I'm trying to stay away from dark colors, and definitely opting for a dhurrie or flat woven for our new place.

Too dark for a deep brown couch?

I totally love this, but I know it would show every spec of dirt..and the boyf is not the cleanest of boys. Sigh.

I love this pattern and the hint of cream/yellow...

Or do I want to go full-on yellow (or another color) for a pop against the brown? Too risky?

Or do I save the money and DIY a sisal rug? I've been dreaming of this since I first saw Mandi's segment on the Nate Show...

 

I know it's early and I'm getting ahead of myself with so many options (all via OneKingsLane) - but I can't contain my excitement! Which would you pick?

Memorial Day Memories: The Tides Beach Club

And so begins my obsession with the Tides Beach Club. After seeing the photos on the hotel's website (many of which are posted here in my pre-stay excitement), I unsurprisingly could not wait to check in. 

And was NOT let down in the slightest. I mean - talk about calming and totally perfect.

Oh, and they gave us a glass of champagne at check in - clearly this place knows the way to my heart.

Loved this custom embroidery (on Frette, bedding, of course).

First of all, these lamps are everything: coral with an oblong shade, atop a lucite base?  And don't even get my started on the carrara marble nightstand...

So monochromatic, but still not obnoxious somehow...probably because that wallpaper was perfection.

I literally could not handle this bathroom.

Yet another photo with a toilet from this trip...weird and excessive? But the driftwood floor was just too much.

And then there was the shower. Subway tile all around, double shower heads - just glorious. Oh, and when I actually took a shower, the pressure and volume was unbelievable, but at that point, I couldn't expect any less.

The front porch was perfect for early evening drinks, with a view of the ocean and a cooling breeze. And my %15 hibiscus/Hendrick's martini was worth every penny.

And then came the time I realized the ceilings were waincoting (waincotted?). At which point I basically died and went to heaven.

Oh, and of course your check casually comes on a lucite plate. The level of detail was just incredible.

Speaking of lucite - just STOP IT with those barstools. The bar itself was a sight to see, but the whole dining area  with its carrara marble tables and chippendale chairs backed up against the plush bar was just so fresh and sophisticated. 

Clearly, by the time we left, I wanted to move in. The rates are on the pricier side once you get into summer months, but I would still 100% recommend staying here, even if you can't use the beach across the street. I mean, there are vintage Schwinn bikes on hand for you to take a spin on whenever you feel like an adventure, and the scenery alone (inside AND outside, haha) are enough to make it worth it.

I wish I had gotten better photos of the lounge (apologies again for my crappy iPhone snaps), but I guess that mean's we'll just have to go back for another visit. And I ain't gonna complain about that!

Maine: The Way Life Should Be

Happy (almost) weekend everyone!

Unforunately, my Memorial Day weekend isn't conducive to a 3-day trip this year, as the boyf is currently in L.A. living it up with his brother in Hollywood and not returning until tomorrow afternoon, but ain't no thang cause...

I'll be here on Sunday!

The boy and I are celebrating our two year anniversary this weekend with a 2-day mini excursion to Kennebunkport, Maine, and are staying at the AMAZING Tides Beach Club. 

The hotel plays host to a few suites designed by none other than Jonathan Adler...

I mean, come ON. I die.

Obviously, we will not be staying in it on my solo marketing associate salary (thank god he starts his MBA internship in June!), but I'm pretty sure I can deal with this goodness:

(Serena & Lily love!)

(those stools!)

Adorbs reading nook.

And lastly...

Are you for REAL with those Chippendale chairs and lucite barstools?! HEAVEN.

Needless to say, I am excited to venture to the place that deems itself "the way life should be" for some much-needed R&R and time with the boy. 

(That will be me making that tool-ish pose in just 2 days!)

Surely more pictures of lighthouses, rocky beaches and delicious meals (and drinks, duh) to come.

What are your holiday weekend plans?