#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

dreaming...

hi friends.

I've been busy working on some collaborations and can't wait to share one I'm working on with my twin sister Pam Stasney. We have been scheming for years about how we can meld our worlds and work on some projects together...so we decided to seize the day and just make it happen. I'm completely obsessing about a post she's pulling together and am crazy eager to reveal all the inspiration + ideas to you (soon, I promise).

Until then, I wanted to just give you a few thoughts and let you know what's been inspiring me lately. Honestly I feel like I need to make more time to invest in experiences that lead to inspiration. I need to take myself on an "artist date" and reflect, explore, and soak in all the creativity that surrounds. I wrote a post awhile back about our "cinema selves." ... and right now I'm feeling the need to tap into that, to become that vision of myself.

I'm dreaming of it. And as the saying goes, If we can dream it, we can become it. Right?
And let me tell you, putting dreams into action is lots of hard work. Ultimately one of my goals for this year is to work smarter. I haven't quite figured it out yet. So if you have any tips, feel free to chime in. I am wide open.

Here are a few pretty pictures that have me feeling motivated to create, simplify, organize + believe in the power of dreams...

{image via La La Lovely}

{image via pinterest, Oh My Dear Blog}

Find a fun "Let's Stay Home" Pillow here.

{Image via pinterest, Bauble Bar}

... and an on-trend pink choker here (or get one in every color) ...
I also found a great source for a sweet pink suede choker via Etsy (link here to the Etsy shop). 

{Image via Sincerely Jules}

I am dreaming of an organized office space. fresh + simple styles for my home + fashion. 

...and finding new coolness on instagram...

{image via Studio 125 Mpls}

(I just spied a set of 4 Eames-style pink dining chairs ...
link here to get in on the deal.)

{chairs available via Amazon}

Plus, of course, doing a little crafting. 

My latest creation: 

❤️ C R A Y O N  H E A R T S ❤️

(blog post here)  ...

Tell me, what's moving + motivating you lately?

C'mon, spill. I need some inspiration! 

xo

patti

a fresh take on holiday decor

Happy December!

It's so funny, at first the flood of holiday posts seemed premature... but now I'm feeling behind...and like I better catch up before I miss it.  Oh the peer pressure of social media and all us design-y bloggers. Don't get me wrong, I love the holiday inspiration + festive entertaining ideas...but seriously, it can be a little overwhelming. Am I the only one? We are surrounded by "Marthas" these days. It's a good thing. :) 
So much creativity + so many ideas! 
But here's the real deal...

You need to be you.  
And I need to be me. 

We need to find our own design voice. I just read an interview with Meg Ryan in Architectural Digest, and loved her comment, "...with decorating I am in control; it's a chance for me to bring my vision into the world." Love her! ...and love that thought.

My holiday decorating is not over-the-top ornate, and I'm okay with that. In fact, I kinda dig that it's not. Just call me a rule breaker. 

Fresh + simple is my design language, for the holidays + for always. 
Yes, I have managed to actually adorn that naked tree, but I loved capturing the beauty of its utter simplicity.
I would call my style a mix of Scandi minimalism + boho vibes. 

Here are two recent finds on instagram which are my current inspiration...

{image via AHomeFor DesignCrafts}

{image via Karla Venegas-Quiz}

I also wanted to share a few hints for a fresh take on holiday design:

1. Keep the color palette simple. Of course, I have to stray from tradition (surprise, surprise). My colors this year: white + pink, with hints of aqua + mint.

2. Bring in elements of nature. Fresh pine is a timeless cue that the holidays are upon us. I also love using pinecones + branches to add organic shapes + textures.

3. Don't be afraid to keep some decorations in the box. The past several years, I've freed myself of the obligation of putting it all out and it's liberating. Don't be afraid to re-invent some items with a fresh coat of paint (Oh the colors my pinecones have been!).

* * *

Keep an eye out for my instagram to see more as the holiday decorating continues. I also did want to share a recent holiday DIY that I did with SmartStuff4Kids. I made these sweet + simple sand art terrariums for the holidays {photos by Rex Yau @crobarcreative} ...

📷 by Rex Yau

Aren't they the cutest? See my DIY video here...and the blog post here.

I am in love with bottle-brush trees for the holidays. Some of these were from my personal collection (Thanks @targetstyle)...others I sourced via Etsy (my go-to source for all things hand-made). Etsy artists make beautiful hand-crafted bottle-brush trees AND Etsy is the perfect source for colored sand and glass terrarium vases. See all the colorful options here...

{Etsy sand source}

Be sure to follow me on Instagram for more of my latest inspirations.

So, tell me, what's your holiday design voice? I'd love to hear from you.

xo

patti

white geraniums + back porches

I don't know about you, but I am a lover of all things summer.

sandals + sunnies. warmth. beach trips. cool drinks. poolside.
+ making memories with friends + family.

I have been breathing a little easier after a rush of Spring HP Market design work and photo styling gigs ... but I wanted to take a few moments to blog about my current inspirations + finds.

My recent mission accomplished: getting the porch put back together again. We sprayed off the piles of pollen and washed down the furniture; pulled out the stowed-away cushions and planted a few white geraniums. AAaahh. I love the calming effect of white-on-white + breezy spring days + nights on the back porch ...

{outdoor pillow from World Market}

I love fresh outdoor living spaces (see my outdoor décor pinboard here.)

... 

A yummy recent find: a genuinely real simple recipe via Real Simple ... A refeshing dessert, "easy rice pudding," made with rice, natural vanilla ice-cream (i love breyers) and cinnamon.

{image via Real Simple.}

So very delish. promise.  

...

A source of inspiration: attending the book signing of the Nester's newly published book @ Bebe Gallini's (that's where I found the fun sunnies too). Link over to Myquillyn's blog for constant aesthetic and life inspiration and to find out where to buy her book ~ The Nesting Place (it's full of real + inspiring images + stories + how-to's...)

{journal is from greenroomeco, found at target}

...

A fab find: the perfect summer sandals. My first official Rachel Zoe purchase (a TJ Maxx find). Have you ever watched the Rachel Zoe Project on Bravo? She is such a style icon + fun to watch. Here's a snap of the sandals on a sunny day with a new fave shade on my toes, taupleless beach by opi (part of their Brazil collection) ...

Hope ya'll are well. Thanks for checking in.
Let me know what is inspiring you lately.

xo

patti

loving...

here's what i'm loving {+ longing for} lately...

{via design sponge}

cozy outdoor get-togethers, curled-up under blankets.

{via etsy}

chunky, yummy sweaters.

{via mechant design.blogspot}

neutral, restful, relaxed design.

{via cdn1.gilt}

soft shapes + layers + organic elements.

Happy November!

xo

patti

location scouting

One of the perks as a stylist is working in, and discovering, really amazing locations. I admit, one of the drawbacks is the jealousy that may set in on occasion (like this time).

Monday I was scouting locations in Charlotte with photographer Kenton Robertson.  He had come across this gem online...& we were lucky enough to see it live & in person...

Yep, I fell in love.  Wow! Stunning.  And not in an over-the-top, glitzy kind of way... but in a very current, fresh, re-purposed, aah-inspiring kind of way.

It was just my colour palette.  Lots of white with pops of turquoise.  Lots of reclaimed, raw wood. Layers & layers of coolness. Barn doors, great floors, rich textures.

I can't resist, I have to share a few quick scouting snaps.

Be Inspired too!

{LOVE the Pendant Lights & Turquoise Vessels!}

 {Re-claimed wood-turned vanity &

Re-purposed shutters-turned-closet doors. LOVE!}

... & a close-up made a little prettier with instagram...

Hope you enjoyed the quick tour.

Getting ready for a shoot next week...Painting begins today. 

More soon.

xo

patti

white hot summer!

Aahh! fresh, crisp white.  I love white all year round, but I find it especially cooling & soothing in the heat of summer.  It's been steamy hot here in the Carolinas so I've been reaching for my fave white pieces on a regular basis (like my lace skirt from banana & my white jeans, summer staples).  

I've also been attempting to fine-tune our family beach getaway plans to Charleston.  How come none of the beach cottages I find on-line look like this?

...Ok, I'm going to put it out there to the universe (aka- the blogosphere) ... my dream gig is to decorate beach cottages, condos, homes, villas... any beach is fine.  Anyone need a designer?

Here are more white, summer-inspired images to INSPIRE you too...

A girl can dream, right?  Happy summer!
{images via pinterest}

xo

patti