a guest bedroom reveal, in one night flat

So remember last week during the One Room Challenge reveal when I mentioned that I completed a orc in another space in one night rather than 6 weeks? Well here she blows. We had a revolving door of guests last week, and with a space that was unsuitable for company and less than 24 hours remaining, what was a girl to do? Exactly. Twerk it. I was sweating more by the end of this project than Richard Simmons has in all of his "Sweatin' to the Oldies" workouts combined. 'Tis true. 

So my initial vision with this space was tone on tone color paired with turquoise and yellow accents. Hence the peacock blue walls and peacock blue draperies. You like? Get them here.

The key to any great guest space is making it comfortable welcoming to your house guests. For that, you will need a few essentials. One being great lighting. I took these two chess piece lamps and spray painted them my go to gold, to get that warm and inviting look. 

Another must have would be crisp linens. These linens were a bargain find with a classy platinum adorned border. You can find some here. The bolster pillow was is a Jonathan Adler from One Kings Lane find. 

A close up of the rug. The room is shallow in depth, so it is difficult to get a full on shot. 

A must for your guests would include all of the pleasantries one could find in their own home. Writing material, reading material and by candlelight, of course. These twin chinese red bamboo tables were a steal off of the local Richmond's Craigslist. The painting is from the estate of my late uncle. Man had awesome taste in art. 

This journal was a Marshalls find that I zsushed up the exterior of the pages with a little gold leaf pen. Super easy update. 

A little corner in the room that I have a special plan for. I am thinking it will involve a slab of wood, some black lacquer paint and some corbels. I think this will become the perfect workspace for our guests to get something done while they stay awhile. 

Another painting that has been in the family. Lucky me. 

Equip the side tables with a clock of course. Peeps got to know what time it is. I cannot bring myself to a digital clock though. That is where a standard hotel and I do not see eye to eye. This table was also a Craigslist find that I took a can of turquoise spray paint to. 

This sofa table was given to my by my amazingly gracious boss. It was brown about 2 hours into our relationship together until I again, took a can of turquoise spray paint to its face. I think the color suits it. 

Always include beside bowls/trays where your guests can place loose change (for my keeping), bobby pins (for my using) and everything else that is small in nature. 

So there you have it. A total transformation within a night. A lot of sweat, sweat and tears. What say you? Are you into it? I find myself going upstairs more and more to take in the completion of another space. Now on to our bedroom. Oy. 

monday musings: all about the tortoise

Lovelies! I have separation anxiety from not seeing you the last two days. Tragic! Today, we are talking about my newest obsession, tortoise shell. Remember the fable of the tortoise and the hare? And the life lesson that was being reiterated by steadiness and perseverance actually wins in the end as opposed to hastiness? Well, the tortoise actually wins in my book because he is better dressed. He wore it best. Let's face it. I am not sure that I care how the tortoise shell is displayed. On a table, on a wall, on your body, in a car...okay, maybe that was overboard but you catch my drift. I love it anywhere, and anytime. It is such a classic pattern that has stood the test of time. 

{elements of style}

{little green notebook}

{decor pad}

{villa bisono}

{decor pad}

{via}

{style-edition}

{decor pad}

{windsor smith}

{tilton fenwick}

{everything leb}

{apartment therapy}

So what say you? You need it in your life yet like moi? Someone please buy some of this stuff out so I can resist my undying temptation to incorporate yet more tortoise into our home. Get you some tortoise. 

Get the Look: 1./2./3./4./5./6./7./8./9./10./11./12./13.

Kickin' it with my girl Sam

I am totally kicking it with my girl Sam at The Peak of Tres Chic sharing my ideal girly haven. Check it. 

unintentionally vegetarian

Hola chicas. Como estas? My gratitude goes out to those who invented the "weekend" because it is finally here. Today I am sharing a couple of our go to, staple meals as of lately. If you are like me, you will  accidentally, unintentionally become a vegetarian. You stop and think about it, and you actually have not eaten one piece of meat in days. This seriously happens to me. Tell me I am not the only one. 

So this week, I made our traditional go to wedge salad, and concocted a little stuffed portobello masterpiece that I cannot wait to share with you. It tastes amazing, therefore I could eat it days in a row, and the simplicity is astounding. Bingo. Bango. Let's go. 

Wedge Salad with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing

Ingredients

Iceberg Lettuce

Tomatoes 

Blue Cheese Crumbles

Blue Cheese Dressing:

3/4 C Sour Cream

1 1/3 C Mayo

1 t Worcestershire

1/2 t Dry Mustard

1/2 t Garlic Powder

1/2 t Salt 

1/2 t Ground Black Pepper 

Dash of Lemon Juice

Dash of Cayenne Pepper

4 oz Blue Cheese Crumbled

Combine all of the dressing ingredients. Assemble and Bam. You have a restaurant quality wedge salad. I am for serious. 

Totally off the cuff right here.

Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms 

Ingredients-ess (a la Teresa Giudice)

Portobello Mushrooms

Tomatoes

Fresh Basil

Olive Oil 

Balsamic Vinegar 

Fresh Mozzarella Cheese

Garlic Powder

Directions

Preheat oven to 425.

Remove stem from mushrooms, and place mushrooms topside down into a pan. Drizzle balsamic vinegar, olive oil and sprinkle garlic powder to coat the mushrooms. Place in oven for 20 minutes.

Remove mushrooms and and cover each mushroom with fresh basil leaves, tomato slice and fresh mozzarella. 

Bake for an additional 5 minutes and then turn onto broil until cheese is slightly browned. 

I mean how is that for easy? Super easy. Annnnndddd it was beyond delish. The boy wanted more if that tells you anything. Be unintentionally veggie with me this weekend. Loves!

Favorite Room Feature: The Pursuit of Style

Hi dollfaces! Today we have another fabulously talented gal who is strutting her striped walls right in front of our faces. Lindsay from The Pursuit of Style is one of my go to daily reads for many reasons. 1. She is fabulous. 2. Her name is Lindsay. 3. She spells it with an "a". 4. She is killing it. Today she is sharing her favorite space with us, her entryway. Ooooohhhh ahhhhhh. Like I don't adore anything with a black and white stripe. Let's be honest. 

Hi all, I'm Lindsay from The Pursuit of Style and I'm excited to be sharing my favorite room with you today! I hope Lindsay doesn't mind, but I'm using 'room' a little liberally because my favorite room is actually our entryway.

When we first moved in, the narrow, l-shaped entry with its beige walls and ceiling was entirely forgettable and totally not my style. I decided to use the small size to my advantage and make a big impact with black and white cabana stripes. They say first impressions are everything, right?

P.S a million thanks to my dad who patiently measured and taped off and each and every one of those stripes!

A vintage brass pineapple welcome sign greets you as you enter.

A pair of Christian Chaize beach prints add a dose of color. I love how they pop against the black and white background. They're the first thing you see when you enter and always make me smile!

Scalamandre zebra umbrellas and other rainy day essentials are at the ready in a vintage ceramic urn.

So there you have it, from beige to bold black and white! I hope you've enjoyed a peek into our home. Thanks to Lindsay for inviting me!

One Room Challenge: Week Six

Well. The end is no longer near, it is here. I love a good rhyme scheme in the morning. I have put the final touches on my space and now it is ready for its close up, Mr. Demille. I told you all last week that my hideous Ikea cube shelving unit was in desperate need of a little bronzer and some blush to update her look. Insert greek O'verlays and black lacquer paint. I tell you what, they make all of the difference. How Hollywood Regency of them...

Just a traumatic flashback of what she used to look like. 

And the cubical units styled. 

 Remember this little gallery wall ensemble? Well I added a black and white striped throw for contrast. 

 A close up of what is happening on my desk. Please note my awesome new mousepad by Birdaria in the Marrakesh Bazaar Red. Could it be anymore perfect?

 Of course my new personalized agenda from May Books is getting some face time on my desk. Thanks to the fabulous recommendation by my girl Natalie I now have a cute way to keep track of my busy schedule. 

My creative addition to the once plain desk. 

 Lucite business card holder to carry this precious cargo. 

Where the magic happens. 

Remember the etagere?

And the DIY Wall Bulletin Board?

I am lovin' it. 

You know the drill. Here are the other ladies that are bursting through the finish line with me this morning. It isn't a pretty finish line either. Blood, sweat and tears. 

Beth - Chinoiserie Chic/Lauren - The Cottage Mix/Sherry - Design Indulgence/Lindsay - Everything LEB/Barbara - Hodge:Podge/Janet - House Four/Kim - Kim Macumber Interiors/Lisa - Lisa Mende Design/Tiffany - Living Savvy/Jessie - Mix & Chic/Linda - My Crafty Home Life /Alison - My Little Happy Place/Danylle - Nana Moon/Nicole - Nicole Scott Designs/Julia - Pawley's Island Posh/ Jennifer - The Pink Pagoda/Bethany-Powell Brower/ Lindsay - The Pursuit of Style/Emily - Rue de Emily/Lisa - Trapped in North Jersey

I have to say, the ORC was definitely a challenge but I will tell you what the real challenge was. The ORC we had going on at our house last night. One room. One night. Done. I am not even kidding. More on that next week. Thank you so much for following along and supporting me in this back breaking, self induced torture chamber. Loves!