Pagoda Pillows

These colorful throw pillows are calling my name!

Yummy

I just had to post this Mary McGee Dining Room I saw here because I think it is perfection. Chocolate walls, gold mirror, linen, velvet, silk, and peonies, what's not to love??

Jayson Home & Garden, Up Close and in Person!

Upon learning that the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show was in Chicago I immediately started thinking about all the great Chicago shops I wanted to try to squeeze in (as if the show and parties wouldn't keep me busy enough) and then it hit me, Jayson Home & Garden is in Chicago! I adore their website and was determined to get there no matter what! Three phone calls for directions (everyone was very helpful), one seedy city bus and one wobbly train ride later and I had actually made it. It is located in what seemed to be a very young, urban, hip part of Chicago- Lincoln Park. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint. Oh, and p.s. the CB2 is also in the neighborhood.

The eye candy that greets you at the front door... zebras, and greek key, and orchids oh my!

Tropical Chic

I just got back from Costa Rica (which explains my lack of blogging lately!) and it was gorgeous. Far prettier and more fun than anything I could have ever imagined. Aside from the breathtaking mountains, lush greenery, gorgeous flowers, and colorful birds, even the interiors of hotels and restaurants there were cheerful and bright. Our hotel room walls were painted a bold turquoise color! I was in color heaven the whole time...

They even love the "blue and brown" trend just like we do!

I was so inspired by their casual, relaxed, and exotic atmosphere that I couldn't help going back to my favorite "vacation" inspired rooms that I have gathered from various magazines. Since summer is almost here and it's finally the weekend, take a look at some of my relaxing and refreshing photos of a few Living spaces that inhabit the tropical chic decorating style!

West Elm room vignette...I love the set up of it- wouldn't it be nice to take a nap on that sectional!

A Living Area featured in Traditional Home. I love the way they incorporated several different materials and textures in this room. The greenery brings a bit of the outdoors inside and the yellow wallcovering brightens up the room

Pottery Barn catalog- tropical flowers really make this room stand out. It's like its own little hotel getaway!

Another Pottery Barn ad...fresh and crisp, this blue on white scheme reminds me of the ocean...very soothing colors, I feel like I am at a beach house- wouldn't that be nice!

This Living Area was featured in Met Home. A bit more exotic, this space can accomodate large groups which is great and also has small wooden stools you can move around for seating versatility. I adore the geometric pillows and the random plant in the middle of the room! Gives it some spunk.

The key to decorating in tropical chic style is not to go overboard. You don't want to start getting a "jungle theme". You really want it understated so it's comfortable and fun to be in... not overwhelming and movie set like!

Here are a few elements to add to your home this summer to give it more of an exotic, relaxing, and tropical atmosphere:

• Rattan or wicker furniture
• Wood flooring
• Natural area rug- seagrass or sisal
• Mixing lots of texture and pattern is a must!
• Small stylish "palm trees"/banana plants- they have some adorable and funky ones at Pottery Barn now...beware of 1980's type silk plants- you want to stay away from that and go for more unique greenery and natural elements
• Comfort is key- large upholstered furniture in preferably white or off white will give it a fresh, clean, and crisp look
• Animal prints!!!!
• A few leather pieces
• Grasscloth wallcovering
• Try to stick with these colors- pale yellows, browns, golds, beiges, natural greens that have more yellow in them, soothing blues, whites, and splashes of red, black, and chocolate brown
• Incorporating some iron like those sconces in the photo above would look great in your new room
• Wood furniture
• Lanterns
• Use leaf motif sparingly but how about a leaf shaped tray? Could do one in metallic so as not to get too tropical looking
• Bamboo shades for your windows
• Table setting- they have these great round textured placemats at Crate and Barrel/ C&B Outlet or you could do wooden bowls
• Large floor vase with bamboo sticks
• A candle in a glass container with water rocks/stones
• Wood bowl with real fruit

But if you want more of a beach/nautical look, here are some of my favorite accessories:

• Faux coral- I can't say enough about it, I have a piece of it in my Living Room that I bought at Crate and Barrell and it just makes my coffee table.
• Extra large clam shells- I know we have done a high low feature on this before, but you can find them everywhere these days- they are very in style!
• Anything dark blue and white
• Stripes are always nice for this
• How about putting starfish in a bowl or in a jar?
• Shells on a stand or in a glass bowl
• A glass apothecary jar filled with sand...my mom (who inspires me every day!) has been collecting sand from the different beaches she has visisted while on vacation for the past I don't know how many years- she then puts the sand in different glass jars and labels them where they came from. It makes a really cute display and a great conversation starter about all of your travels!

Personally, I would mix some tropical and natural elements in with some glamorous elements..that's the best way to know you are not going overboard. If you have a Hollywood Glam scheme, how about throwing in a big pot of natural sticks in the corner? Keep in mind that most schemes you can over do, so you should always have something opposite that will complement it nicely!

X marks the spot!

Lumine Bed Bench- Thomasville

X can mark the spot in your home!

What X might you ask? The X Bench!

What spot? At the foot of a bed, underneath a console table, or placed around your Living Area for extra seating.

Crosby Stool- WS Home

I can't get enough of X Benches! There is just so much that you can do with these small pieces. They are gorgeous AND functional. Who wouldn't love to have a little bit of extra seating? These make sense because they don't take up too much room...in a room!

X Bench- Ballard Designs

Three reasons I love X Benches- they are...

Xtra-ordinary, X-tremely chic, and not very X-pensive!

This X Bench was designed by Johnathon Adler and is a little more on the pricey side- $700 per bench

Below are some different ways you can design your room with X Benches...

I love this little girl's room featured in the Pottery Barn catalog. These white wooden benches look so cute at the end of the bed

This room from House Beautiful magazine shows an X-Bench upholstered in a fun zebra fabric. The purpose of this bench is to provide extra seating in the Living Area

This house from Traditional Home is actually located in Highland Park, in Dallas. Designed by Mary Anne Smiley, these gorgeous iron X-Benches provide some glamour and also functionality for this chic budoir. With the bedding and rug being so light, these darker neutral upholstered benches help to anchor the space- their color matches perfectly with the headboard

Another Traditional Home photo, this bedroom vignette features the "Alexandre" stool by Jacques Garcia. Notice how one of my favorite books- The House in Good Taste by Elsie de Wolfe sits on the bench! I love how this piece of furniture serves as a tray/nighstand for this bed. What a great "table" to put random items on such as books, reading glasses, and mugs so they can be easily reached. A little more curvy than the normal x bench, this stool also has fab nailhead trim!

These benches look very similar to the Ballard Design ones (except these are a lot more expensive!) Designed by Jonathon Adler, these leather benches look tres chic in this entry way while also providing extra seating. This is probably my favorite use of the X Bench- under a console table. Can almost use this set up as a little desk area too!

You can barely see these benches because of the copy that is placed over it, but I had to feature this oh so fabulous room. Featured in this month's Domino magazine, these mod black and white benches gather around the atypical high pedestal table (replacing the normally low coffee table). The table is a little high for the sofa but it's at a perfect height for the X Bench!

Favorite Picks from Room Service Home

Room Service Home is a favorite of the Material Girls, we just love that it's called a "catalog boutique." Here are some of our favorite pieces...

We love this bamboo bar, or maybe it's just the great geometric yellow/white wallpaper in the background...
Chair with Asian Flair!

The Marble Farmhouse table would look great in a kitchen, behind a sofa, or as a desk!

The Abalone Mirror is sure to bring out your inner Boca Raton!

Even the most traditional rooms could use a little geometric.

This side table would compliment a crisp linen slipcovered sofa quite nicely.


Bombay table, on sale now!

These pillows are perfect for summer.

Hollywood Glam lamp.

Custom coasters would make a great gift for your friend who loves to entertain.

The "Desktop Decision Maker" would add humor to any stodgy office.

Request your copy of the latest Room Service Home catalog here.

Chic Today

Check out our article "Material Girls on Metallics: Silver Versus Gold" featured on the online magazine, Chic Today! This month's topic was Gilded Glory so you can imagine how much Lauren and I had to say about gold and silver! Thanks again Rossella- we had so much fun contributing to this month's magazine!

Zebra Cowhide Rugs

This is strictly a self serving post but, has anyone purchased a stenciled zebra rug? I would like to buy one but wasn't sure about Ebay... the prices are good (buy-it-now in the $200's) but I'm still a little squirmish about it...

Above two pictures are examples of the ones available on E-Bay.

This rug is available online through Neiman's. Is it just the styling or does it look better? Worth the price tag?

A link on E-Bay led me here to this rug...border or no border?

I've also seen a few in Houston ranging from $400-600ish. I'd love any feedback/advice anyone has to offer!

I do hope I never tire of this stuff...

I love antiqued mirror! I just really hope it is not something that gets so overdone that I grow weary of seeing it. I just think it is so beautiful, especially on this pendant from Pieces.