House Tour: Dining Room

Since I showed you my study, I figured I would continue on our house tour this week with the dining room.  I was recently inspired by Caitlin Wilson's dining room to hang a similar oil painting that I have:

via Caitlin Wilson Design

My husband and I purchased it while we were dating on our first vacation together in Puerto Rico.  It was painted by a local artist.  While it isn't something I would necessarily be drawn to now, it represents that wonderful vacation together and always makes me smile. I had the painting framed years ago and it was a non distinct silvery-gold color.   I like how Caitlin Wilson put it in a large gilded gold frame, which inspired me to spray paint the existing frame gold:

Study Reveal

Yes, I see that the additional shelf prongs can be seen from the side...definitely taking those out now

I plan on replacing some of the photos I took in Egypt with some personal photos and of course I will be tweaking what is inside the shelves for scale, but I am so pleased with how the built-ins turned out.  I am also ordering 2 X benches in this beautiful leopard fabric for additional seating to be placed in front of the desk.  The dark navy portion is velvet.  I'm in love with this fabric as well as the price:

Library Shelves Styling

I messed up!  My library shelves are finished, but it may be a year before I actually finish filling them up in a way that is aesthetically pleasing.  I should have taken a photo before I started placing items in them up but I forgot to do so.

Styling shelves is definitely not my forte.  Maybe if I had an endless shopping budget and could start from scratch but that really wasn't the point here.  I had them built in order to house the books and items that I already own with maybe just a few added accessories here or there.  It is hard to master scale and proportion with such large shelf openings.  I only own small hardcover books, and very few coffee table sized books that would serve to fill up the space better.  Here are some photos I am garnering inspiration from:

Source: velvetpalette.wordpress.com via Kate on Pinterest

Source: knightmovesblog.blogspot.com via Kate on Pinterest

Source: knightmovesblog.blogspot.com via Kate on Pinterest

Source: lilikoikanoe.blogspot.com via Kate on Pinterest

Source: lonnymag.com via Kate on Pinterest

Source: brabournefarm.blogspot.com via Kate on Pinterest

I am going for a collected global feel.  While I usually prefer to decorate rooms on my own...this is an instance where I would love to hire an interior designer to help me!  Nonetheless, I will share with you what I have done so far next week.

Inside Weddings Feature

Here is the magazine feature via Inside Weddings I mentioned last week, and let me tell you as beautiful as these photos are it looks even more amazing on the glossy magazine pages:

I spotted myself-- on the far right!

La Costa Wedding

I can't believe the summer is coming to an end!  We just came back from a trip to San Diego to celebrate one of my best friend's weddings at the beautiful La Costa Resort.  Even though going to San Diego is a vacation itself, the La Costa Resort was a vacation from our vacation.  We enjoyed hanging out at the pool and seeing friends from all over amidst all of the wedding activity:

Friday Night Dinner

Relaxing at the Resort Pool

Celebrating with the Gorgeous Bride

The breathtaking ceremony
via Cary Pennington Photography

via Travelmoon

Speaking of weddings, remember the fabulous Dallas wedding of one of my besties that I posted about (here) last year.  It was just published in a magazine...which I will share next week!

Library In Progress

After discussing and figuring out what we wanted to do for our library bookshelves they are finally in progress!  Here is a little sneak peek of what will be making an appearance:

I will update along the way!

Monday Escapes: Designer Collaboration Heaven

I have been gone for too long again.  We took a great trip to Florida where Riley got to meet her Great Grandparents and see her Great Aunt again, and also got to meet her Great Uncle and cousins!  I am back, because I had to mention the collaboration that I had read about a few weeks ago.  Target and Neiman Marcus are teaming up with not just one designer in time for the holiday season but 24!  The lines will be available at both Target and Neiman Marcus come December 1.  Here is the list:

Alice + Olivia
Altuzarra
Band of Outsiders
Brian Atwood

Carolina Herrera
Derek Lam
Diane Von Furstenberg
Eddie Borgo
Jason Wu
Judith Leiber
Lela Rose
Marc Jacobs
Marchesa
Oscar de la Renta
Philip Crangi
Prabal Gurung
Proenza Schouler
Rag & Bone
Robert Rodriguez
Rodarte
Skaist-Taylor
Thom Browne
Tory Burch
Tracy Reese

What?? That is designer overload.  If the Missoni for Target madness reached such frenzied levels, I can't even imagine what craziness this will bring out in people!  

via NY Mag