This little girl went to MARKET!

Hello all! It has been a crazy and exciting week! For the very first time, I went to High Point, NC for the worlds largest and most exciting furniture market! I was so excited to learn how the process worked of selecting new things for the upcoming season and of course... to see fun new styles and trends! 

I was shocked and surprised! We are headed in a GREAT new direction for interior design! I have always had a theory that the economy dictates current trends for the fashion and interiors industry- and this market completely proved my theory. Our country is still having uncertain times- but I think we can see some hope and some light at the end of the tunnel. Between our troops coming home and working on financially rebuilding our country- Americans are seeing some positive notes in the news and are looking to take some bold chances in design. 

Here are some of my favorite things from market :) 

I did not expect a downtown scene of awesome architecture!! This place was HUGE... new shoes were not the best idea. Being a girly girl is hard, but someone has to do it!

Gorgeous and chic! I am seeing a trend in "comfort." With all of the unstable circumstances with the economy, people seem to gravitate towards the familiar and comfortable. While this is safe- the punch of the blue adds a more stylish spin on a white sofa. 

PANTONE, if you ask me, is the world's color expert! Every year, they decide which color is "the next big thing."  Last year, they chose a shade of gray- which we all know, has been SO popular. This year- the color is hot pink! The photo above shows exactly how to take a bold color and make it work!! I'm in love! 

One trend that I saw quite a bit of was combining a very traditional frame with a contemporary fabric. The result is so beautiful and really unexpected! For people like me that have a more transitional style- this is perfect! You get a little modern and a little traditional! Gorgeous!

One new trend is "speaking your mind!" Accessories with words, quotes, etc. are everywhere! It's such a fun way to make a statement and can really express your personality! 

Another exciting trend is the appearance of "organic" elements in your room.  I think we are all looking for simpler ways to live while still holding on to our style and personality. Natural looking elements are so simple but add SO much character to the room. This light fixture WILL be hanging in my home soon... get your tools ready hubby!

let's recap:

If you're heading out to shop or re-doing a room in your home, remember these notes!

Color is KEY! Don't be afraid to take some chances with bold colors (some good suggestions are citron, turquoise, navy blue, and orange.) These can easily be combined with grays, neutrals, and brown.

Your Accessories need to get personal! (This does not include the clay statue of a dog that you made in 3rd grade or anything else scary like that!) Try to be creative- flea markets have the very best accessories! They're old and seem to have a story behind them- which I love!

Rugs- Simple is best! Don't get too crazy here- If you want some pattern, choose something that you can live with for awhile. Rugs should be an investment- so spend the moolah and enjoy them for awhile! I saw a few vendors at market layering rugs. They would take a jute or sisal rug- and then use a wool rug on top- so you get the natural look of the sisal, but the comfort of the wool! Genius!

Artwork- I preach this daily! Do NOT buy artwork that has no meaning to you! I truly feel that art can speak to you- buy what you love! Even better- find a local artist that you like in your town and go to a gallery show! You get to know the artist and get an exclusive look at his or her work on a personal level.

Good luck and Happy Shopping! If you have any questions/ comments/ photos of your project- please email me here!

til next time,
let your light shine!
jessica

the essentials for a FUNctional kitchen!

This week, I have lots of before and after pictures of our kitchen! We RARELY cook but the kitchen still proves to be one of those rooms that we congregate in... so it has to be fun!
(and maybe a little functional in case we get hungry!) 

Ok, let's all say it together.... boring. This is what it looked like before we moved in (sorry previous homeowner... but this is DULL.) 

... another before shot. 

We wanted to make the kitchen feel like us without too much spending. After all, we don't cook... who needs fancy appliances if they are going to warm up a lean cuisine? With the addition of a few key pieces, I think we came up with some cute and frugal ideas with some fun personality. Enjoy! 

Hello hardwoods and darker paint! We actually left the cabinets the same (for now...)  and changed the hardware to give it a little update. 

We needed a functional island for more counter space and my mom actually found this one at a local flea market for $50! We were shocked at how closely it matched the cabinets! Voila! 
As for the rug, I fell in love with one at Pier1... but if you ask me, $125 is way too much for a small rug that I will most definitely spill something on. So I went to TJMaxx and found the EXACT rug from Pier1 for $54... ahh bliss. I adore a deal! 

Darcy just loves the rug too. :) 

Tip: Instead of buying a utensil canister, look for something with character- like this neat old cookie jar! I found it on etsy and fell in love! 

These funky little pots are for my plants. Aren't they lovely?  I found these at M. Bagwell on a clearance shelf! They add so much color to a boring white window... now imagine if they only had plants in them! One day!

EVERY kitchen should have something fun to write on. My husband and I love to leave little notes on the fridge with these colorful letters :)

On the opposite side of the kitchen, We created a cozy desk nook using an extra dining chair we had with our table and a vintage desk that my parents weren't using. 

On the other side of the backdoor (opposite the desk) I added a cute table for our cookbooks!  Get ready people- I found this table on the side of the road!!!
It is a little wobbly- but it looks so stinkin cute, it's gotta stay!

Sweet and personal finishing touches added so much to the wall above the little table. The framed "D" is actually a piece of a quilt that has been in my husband's family for a very long time. The frame was a bit boring- so I painted it white and when it dried, I took a kitchen sponge and used the rough side to scratch it up! The photo below it was one of our favorite engagement pictures (check out our awesome photographer here!)

Well, that's about it for today- but I hope you all found some fun tips! I believe in bringing in personal touches to show off your unique personality! Good luck with your own projects!

until next time,
let your light shine!
jessica