spring vibes + fresh finds

Hey all!
How are you holding up during this unconventional time? Hoping this post finds you safe at home. I wanted to share a few favorite finds and let you know what I've been up to, hoping to inspire you to create fresh spaces in your home despite the chaos going on around us. Thankfully, I've been busy collaborating with Isabella Style {see my recent blog posts here.} I miss being in the Isabella shop + studio, but grateful for an amazing creative team of women to connect with weekly on Zoom and daily via group texts. I've been pinning ideas, dreaming of minimal style for my interior + current loungy vibe. Here's a recent moodboard which gives you a sense of my style dreams (follow along on Instagram for more of what I'm lovin' lately)...

The mood is organic, fresh, simple. Do-able luxury with edited details. Currently craving French-inspired herringbone floors (a possible DIY in my future?). I've also been purging, streamlining and spring cleaning. I started with my porch and outdoor living areas (more spring cleaning + outdoor inspo here). Take a peek at my de-pollened porch which now serves as a family gathering spot, work-from-home office and study niche.

I also re-styled the living area for a bit of a re-fresh (for more interior ideas + inspiration link here)...

I cleared everything off the mantel. Added an organic branch and scavenged through old watercolor tablets to find one to frame. I love the color mix and always love the subtle statement of a watercolor. Isn't it fun how a mat and frame make any artwork totally legit?

I've been attempting to edit out the clutter and focus on clear surfaces. I've also been diffusing fresh aromas. Lemongrass + Sweet Orange are my go-to essentials. I love this set of essential oils in a cute compact package for tidy storing ... and currently coveting this ceramic diffuser ...

I've also been eyeing a few finds on the Isabella Shopify site, like these stunning abstracts by Kristin Endsley ...

... and this sweet straw bag with tassel, perfect for the spring + summer seasons and for shopping green ... 

... and these jewels from Noble Collective. I'm a sucker for white-on-white layers ...

And of course, I can never get enough candles to light-up the days + nights and create warm + cozy home feels.

What have you been dreaming of lately? ... What ways have you been coping with this time of isolation?  I'm super grateful for spring weather in NC and time outside.  Looking forward to connecting with friends in person again soon.  Until then, always over here dreaming, styling + creating whenever possible. Next up for getting my life in order, my home office (which sadly is currently a hoarder's episode of props and way too much stuff). 

Stay safe! Wishing you health, time for self care, and a little home refreshment.

xo

patti

creative inspirations

Inspiration {for creativity} is everywhere.

movie sets + fashions
hip cafés
a plant on a window sill
the petals of a flower
street art
new insight from a real friend
a pink sky
holding your daughter's hand (no matter her age)
a photograph or piece of art that connects with your soul

*****

Sometimes we just need to remind ourselves to look around, experience the moment, and see the art in the every day. I just came across an Andy Warhol quote I love, "There is beauty in everything, just not everybody sees it."

Be the one who sees it.

*****

Here are a few things that have inspired me recently ...

* A fresh snowfall in NC (+ this photo of my back-porch by my daughter)

* Cool cafés + Plant obsessions 
(Currently obsessed with plants + coffee cafés, like this one in Charlotte's Atherton Mill & Market.
Do share any must-see sweet spots you've discovered.)

{found this one via ig, Trade & Lore, Charlotte, NC}

{photo via SF girl by bay}

* Simple chic Black + White style
(read my recent blog post here)

* Re-discovering inspiration {like these amazing images from an ELLE magazine spread featuring Julia Roberts - Eat, Pray, Love}. The old issue is sitting on the top of a heap of favorite magazines on a bookshelf in my home office {which btw is currently a catastrophe). Though life is messy, having beautiful inspiration at close hand reminds us of our need to create {and our need to eat, pray & love.}

*****

What is inspiring you lately?
Leave a comment so I know you stopped by ...
and be sure to follow along on instagram, it's where I hang out most to connect with other creative types.

xo,


patti

yoga, matcha + interior style

It was a beautiful weekend in Charlotte, and even more beautiful for me since my twin sister came into town for a visit. It was short, but sweet. It's always special to get sister connection time. We are both photo stylists + interior designers so our loves + passions are very much in sync.

We had some fun exploring the city; checking out a few of my fav places that always inspire; and indulging in matcha lattes at Luna's Living Kitchen.

I'm so in love with the vibe at Luna's ... it's the perfect mix of boho + mid-century, industrial + modern ... Such a fresh interior!

I also love their catch-phrase, "We believe that health, beauty + art can be served on a plate." 

Beautiful, healthy, artful food... Plus, very hip interior design. Who could ask for more? 

We also soaked in some visual inspiration at Anthropologie in South End (right next to Luna's) which is always a feast for a stylist's senses. 

...and finally, we took on hot yoga at Yoga One.  

In the midst of chaturangas, I learned a few lessons that have me reflecting on life + career pursuits... lessons that I think are really relevant to blogging + design ... so I just had to share a few thoughts.

{Link here for these yoga-inspired art prints}

{Link here for Lotus printable}

{image via pinterest}
{get a similar photo print here}

Lessons from yoga for life + design:

F O C U S

"Where the eye goes, the energy flows" ...the words of our yogi are still resonating in my mind. What we focus on is where our energy will take us. Our intention will drive us, move us, lead us. In yoga, the act of setting an intention is a dedication. It's a way to take your yoga practice beyond your mat and into your lifestyle. Having a focus is key in yoga + life. Lately I've realized how important it is to have focus + intent in the areas I want to grow, whether personally or professionally. 

Focus is also an important element in design. Focus, having a focal point, is what draws your eye to what's important, in an art composition or in a room interior. Consider your current design project and ask yourself, "Where's my focus?" Sometimes we have to edit, take away in order to bring the the focal point into focus. There are so many parallels. What do you need to edit in your interior? in your life?

{Link here for Mandala Printable}

B A L A N C E

Perhaps what's most evident in yoga + in life, is when we are out of balance. The practice of grounding your feet in position, having a specific stature + rhythm allow you to find your balance on the mat. In life, it can be more complicated... learning to balance self care, parenthood, career, relationships. It requires grounding too, and sometimes starting over. It requires flexibility and forgiveness, of self and others. In design + interior spaces, balance too brings peace + room-to-breathe. {See my last post on balancing an interior here.} 

What are you balancing lately? What ways do you need to ground yourself? I don't know about you, but I feel like I'm on a constant quest for balance. I crave it. If you have any secrets, share your thoughts in the comments. I'd love to hear your perspective. I wrote a post awhile back about the Artist's Way ... about pursuing the elements you want your life to look like. {Check-out that post here.} I'm always + forever seeking new strategies for obtaining better balance.

{Link here for Zen Art Printable}

M O M E N T U M

In yoga the movements between poses, or vinyases, keep the flow of movement going. The poses, motions and transitions build flexibility, strength and momentum. For some reason, my favorite move this weekend was rising up on my toes in downward dog and then jumping to the front of the mat. It dawned on me that the movement of my toes rising allowed me the momentum to jump rather than walk. Similarly, in life lately, I've seen how one move, even a small one, can build momentum toward more and more progress. 

I have been wanting to build this blog for a long time, but lately with a little focus, I have made some moves to begin to make it happen. Slowly, but surely I'm moving. I'm officially an affiliate with Etsy and Amazon. Two of my go-to sources for props, home and interior accents, fashion, DIY items, etc. {If you want to become an Etsy affilate too, click here.} That move propelled me to do more research at driving more traffic to my blog. I'm learning about SEO, rss feeds, pinging posts ... Oh the rabbit hole of possibilities.  I'm such a novice still ... I am wide open people. Share your insights. Here's to momentum taking us exciting places!

Thanks for taking the time to read my yoga reflections and see some interior + style inspiration from Charlotte, NC. 
If you love these yoga-inspired prints as much as I do, be sure to link here.

{Link here to purchase print}

{link here to purchase print}

My dream is for more 

FOCUS

BALANCE

and

MOMENTUM

in work + life.

More opps to connect with ones I love

+

places that inspire.

What are you dreaming of lately?

xo

patti

ps. all photo creds go to Pam + my daughter Sofi

{Follow me on pinterest for more interior inspo}

#shelfie 101 : styling tips

In the age of the Selfie, we design-obsessed have a version all our own ... the Shelfie. Oh how we love a perfectly styled shelf. 

What is it about a well-designed etagere or bookcase? Is it the sense of order, the pretty mix of layers + textures? What draws you in?

I admit it, I'm guilty. Every time I see Emily Henderson's freshly styled bookcases, I'm inspired. Granted, I'm a photo stylist. These are the things we live for... to style, decorate, accessorize. Give me an empty bookshelf any day, and I'm ready to dig in and style away. Call me crazy, but styling a shelf is my kind-of fun!

I just recently teamed up with two amazingly talented women, Kelley Vieregg of KVID {Interior Design} + Emily Decker of EA Decker Photography. We were on location in the Charlotte area, in a fabulous kitchen designed by Kelley. I had the chance to add a few styling touches, and Emily captured it all in beautiful images. 

A killer kitchen, right? I mean, this is what dreams are made of (especially for those of us who adore an all-white kitchen).

I so love collaborating with other creatives. I had such a sense of girl power with this shoot. These lady bosses have got it going on. So much talent, style + creativity.

This brief shoot has me craving more opportunities to style, play + collaborate. I also wanted to share a few behind-the-scenes shots and use this opportunity to share some styling insight. A mini Shelfie Styling 101.

I know there are plenty of tips out there for styling a beautiful shelf (like this one from Em Henderson + this one from Design Sponge), but I wanted to give you my spin on the subject. The first step with styling a shelf is to clear it of everything. That's right, take it all off. Start with a clean slate, and then start building with books + props.  I typically love adding artwork into the mix, but this time kept it super clean.

Here are a few Quick Tips 
for Styling a Simple + Chic Shelfie:

1. Balance the elements. When styling shelves, it's all about the balance. You want to balance the colors and weight of objects. For this one, I kept the color palette fresh + clean since the shelf resides in an all-white kitchen. I wanted to carry that white-on-white look throughout. I chose to balance the whites with metallic accents and added a few natural textures, like the raffia tray ... making sure the right and left side of the shelf got equal love with pretty white shapes.

My goal was simple + clean. Of course you can always add more props + layers. 

Here is where I started...

The balance was off for me. Sometimes you don't know until you start to play with the arrangement. I didn't like the groupings right on top of one another and needed to balance the shapes and colors a bit.  Just a few tweaks + edits ...

...and I liked the fresh result...

2. Keep the mix simple. I love a layered shelf with a mix of bohemian, eclectic elements, full of color + texture... but sometimes with shelf-styling, less is more. Streamlining the color scheme to a blend of two or three colors keeps the look fresh and gives the eye places to focus and places to rest.

3. Add something organic. In this scenario I mixed in fresh potted herbs since these shelves are in the kitchen. Plants like succulents are perfect for shelves because you don't have to water as frequently. You can also opt for adding organic shapes like driftwood or coral...or cut a fresh branch or two from outside and place them in a vase or jar (like I did for the kitchen island).

... Here's a glimpse from behind the scenes in this stunning kitchen, design by Kelley Vieregg, KVID {Interior Design}. Photo by Emily Decker of EA Decker Photography.. 


I hope you enjoyed this mini lesson in shelf styling. Share your secrets with me too + be sure to comment. I love hearing from you.

xo


patti

like the cool kids

"I wish that I could be like the cool kids 

'Cause all the cool kids, they seem to fit in."

{Echosmith} 

Way back when, it was just about keeping up with the cool kids you knew... fast forward to now, and we are literally linked to the coolest of the cools across the planet on the daily. No pressure, right?

It's so easy to get caught up in the comparison game, but the reality is, it's our uniqueness (the way we don't fit the norm) that is ultimately cool. We all have something to give the world.

To be honest, even if I secretly get a little jealous from time to time, there are some very cool women who truly inspire me. Women who create, explore and make it happen. Girl power at its best.

Today I wanted to share a few of the Spring styles I'm currently craving, and one of my design crushes, who happens to be one of those very cool chicks.  

{image via Em Fashion Files + Pinterest}

For me, Spring weather means all the more reason to wear white (though I'm a big believer in wearing it year round). This is my Spring style inspiration. My Spring vibe. I just want to look that cool. 

I've been on the look-out for the perfect pair of sunnies (I'm currently crushing on these groovy pink shades via Amazon... 

...link here to purchase yours.)

Spring is also time for savoring the moments + capturing them in creative ways. I love this idea from the SF Bay Girl (that cool chick I mentioned) - creating chic mini photo books of instagram images with Artifact Uprising. It makes me want to document my life in much more interesting and unexpected ways ... even if it's just a trip to the local farmer's market. #summergoals

I also loved Victoria's recent take on the Terrazzo trend. See her post + all the pretty photos here.  I'm tellin' you, her instagram feed is definitely swoon-worthy. She has amazing travel pics + depths of design insights for all of us creative types. Promise, you'll be inspired.

When it comes to decorating for Spring + Summer, I love to add simple fresh elements that give a nod to the season. My most recent find on Minted is this pretty pink palm print (say that fast three times)...

{image via Minted: "Palm Study #2" - Art Print by Cindy Lackey}

I love adding fresh art (like this print) to an interior to give it a Spring fresh feel. Link here to check-out Limited Edition Art Prints by Minted.

In addition to finding inspiration online, my biggest source of inspo recently was a short weekend trip to NYC. There's nothing like city feels to feed the creative soul. One of my instagram snaps captured some great graphic street art (click over to follow along on my visual journey).

This image has me wanting to paint + create ... and actually reminds me of my JuJu Hat DIY. I still have some feathers left, so I just may need to make more! Link here for my video how-to. Be sure to get the perfect feathers for the job at Etsy {Kimonos Feathers}.

{JuJu Hats created by moi; feathers by Etsy}

Inspired by the JuJus, I made this moodboard with hints of blush, brass + great textures...

Find links to the Moroccan Pouf, Pom Pom Blanket and Runners, all available for purchase via Amazon.

 I hope this post finds ya'll enjoying all the goodness of Spring. Here's to cocktails on the back porch + cool moments with good friends.

{image via Thou Swell}

Wishing you good vibes this weekend! Here's to a beautiful Spring to you + yours!!!

{Link here for how-to create your own mood-board}

xo

patti

Amazon ,  Etsy  +  Minted  Affiliate