Personal Style, Defined: Katiedid

A couple of weeks ago, I was really inspired by a topic on Decorum: If someone asked you to define your personal decorating style in three words, what would they be? It led me to do a post defining my own style, but I also felt inspired to ask some of my favorite bloggers how they would define their personal style. My goal is to bring together some of my favorite bloggers and to showcase their different styles. I want to focus on the importance of individuality and personal style. Even if we identify with a particular style or trend, no matter how popular it may be, there is always a way to make it our own. "The Personal Style, Defined." series will feature a different blogger each week, who will share a room with us that is the embodiment of her personal design aesthetic.

Katie's gorgeous console table changes with the seasons.

To kick things off, I couldn't have asked for a sweeter or more talented blogger. Katie Denham, of katiedid writes one of the first design blogs I ever read and has always been personable and accessible. Katie is a super talented interior designer who has a knack for writing. She recently decided to start her own design firm, Katie Denham Interiors, which is already doing quite well. Without further ado, I present Katie's "Personal Style, Defined."

First, I wanted to thank Paloma for inviting me to participate in her “Personal Style, Defined.” series! I have been thinking about how to define my personal style. Not all that easy really. There are so many styles I love to work with for my clients, and so many styles I love to see from other designers. I try many of them on for size for myself….in my own home. Some work for me…some don’t. Sometimes I find that an idea or an object I thought I would never tire of, I start to see everywhere…..so, like a song that is overplayed on the radio….I have to turn the station to something new.

So, back to the question. Defining my style. I think it is tailored, timeless and fresh, with a little bit of something unexpected or humorous so as not to be static. I like traditional rooms with a modern twist. I like modern rooms with a traditional classicism.

The room above is a place where my family spends the bulk of our time. We think about, plan for, prepare and eat meals at home a lot. The feeling I wanted was of a beach house with lots of windows, lots of light. And I wanted it to tie in with the rest of our 1911 house. I used v-groove paneling , beams, and open shelving to create a casual atmosphere. The wood floors are used throughout the rest of the house as well. So….to add a little something different, I used four industrial beaker type light fixtures above the island, and added the modern classic barstools by Bertoia.

Paloma asked what our favorite thing was in the room we were posting. I would have to say, in this room, it would be my dog, Cooper. After all, he is a classic….sort of like an Eric Clapton song.


A huge thanks to Katie for being the first one to take the plunge in this series! Your kitchen is absolutely gorgeous!

Personal Style, Defined: Sarah of Matters of Style

I am very pleased to feature Sarah from Matters of Style in this week's installment of "Personal Style, Defined.". Her blog is still relatively new, as she just started writing it back in April. I met Sarah when we exchanged e-mails about blogging and thought that she was incredibly sweet. She is off to a fabulous start with her blog which chronicles design trends, fashion, design inspiration, and some really great do-it-yourself projects, like this incredible bench makeover. Not only is Matters of Style fun to read, but the content is rather fresh and original, which is becoming more and more difficult to do with the recent influx of design blogs. In addition, Sarah has great style along with an uncanny ability to mix pieces from all eras and price points.

Thanks so much to Paloma for including Matters of Style in her Personal Style Defined series! I feel so honored and to be recognized by such an impressive woman, and to be included with such a talented group of guest bloggers.

My personal style involves the use of a mixture of various elements from different eras, price points, and design sensibilities to arrive at a classic, comfortable look. I definitely adhere to the principle that "the devil is in the details," and it is these details that can really make a room stand out.

Although I generally choose classic pieces of furniture, my style is defined by the details in the space, such as a mixture of stylistic elements and a splash of color. Pieces in my own living room range from estate sale finds, hand-me-downs, new modern pieces, custom pieces, and accessories ranging from Target and Pier 1 to Herend and Baccarat.

This sofa was an estate sale find- I loved the lines of it, but it was covered in teal velvet that had to go! I wanted to keep the room light, so I used glass topped tables rather than heavy wood. The directoire tables on both ends of the sofa were a catalog steal at $25 each. I had the blue and brown Marimekko-inspired club custom made in Hickory, NC. The drapery panels were also custom made from a P.Kaufman trellis fabric.

While I originally designed the room in the room in blues, creams, and whites, it needed a pop of color to warm things up. Enter my very favorite color, coral. I added a coral cashmere throw from Williams-Sonoma Home, modern coral circle throw pillows from Target, and my favorite piece- this needlepoint goldfish stool from Source Perrier, which I think really ties the color choices together.

To add some energy to the room, I incorporated some modern elements such as a Philippe Starck Louis Ghost Chair, paired with the needlepoint stool pictured above, which I thought was an unexpected combination. I also added this modern butler's tray table from West Elm, paired with vintage silver barware and crystal decanters. Antique rose lithographs are hung over it, in contrast to the modern lines of the table.

My goal for this space was to create a comfortable, classic living room, accented with details and accessories that make it fun, personal, and appropriate for a 20-something girl. It is this mixture of styles and eras, with a splash of color, that I believe best defines my style.

Personal Style, Defined: Emily of Material Girls

I am so excited to share this week's installment of "Personal Style, Defined." with you. I have been so impressed with the talent of my fellow bloggers so far and this week, founding member of Material Girls, Emily Johnston does not disappoint. Not only is she super sweet, she is super talented. The Material Girls concept is quite unique in the world of interior design blogs and in addition to creating the fabulous blog, she also has a fantastic Dallas-based interior design business, EJ Interiors. Today, she shares the evolution of her gorgeous bedroom with us.

Thank you Paloma for inviting me to participate in your Personal Style Lineup. It was a very flattering invite coming from someone whose own blog we read constantly for style advice!
In a nutshell, my personal style is always evolving. I grew up with a mom who was always re-painting, re-wallpapering, or re-arranging the furniture in our home. She would rip her entry wallpaper off the walls in the middle of the night if she got an inkling to re-decorate. The house was constantly changing (for better or worse) and I like to think that is what first spawned my passion for all things design.

I also believe that different stages in my life have generated different design styles. Just as we all have those embarrassing photos of ourselves from years past that we hope no one ever digs up (the parachute pants, the big glasses, the perm- oh my!), I can't deny that I don't have those same embarrassing photos...but they happen to be of rooms. Rooms so bad that if I were Miss USA, Donald Trump would probably pull my crown if these scandalous and shocking photos were to surface. But luckily, as I've grown up, so has my style. I like to think that my style has only gotten more sophisticated over time.

I could show you a ton of pretty photos from magazines I like, but I do that on our blog every day- so instead, I thought I'd focus on how my personal style has evolved throughout my lifetime (as Lauren likes to call it- learning from "the ghosts of your design past") and how I performed quick, affordable fixes to update my bedroom on a whim and put my personal style back in check!

Exhibit A- "the college bedroom"- I am CRINGING

The "art" does not fit the scale of this room at all. The pieces are too small, hung too high above the bed- hence why they look disconnected from everything, and aren't even centered properly. The lamps are too small as well. The iron bed looked good when it was only $150- fast forward years later and it's on my "gotta replace" list. The vanity being cramped in the corner gave me no space to actually utilize this piece of furniture. The iron "bed bench" that used to be my vanity chair is not proportional to the bed at all- and all that iron makes you feel as if you were in a jail cell....which in a way, I was- a prisoner of bad design!

It was lack of extra funds that my room stayed this way for a while. But eventually I knew it was time for a room makeover- I had a VERY small budget but I needed a change and FAST.
A bedding sale at Restoration got the process started. I decided it was time to finally get rid of the floral PB look and get something more sophisticated. A new paint color was in order too. I wanted a grayed out blue/green for the walls- something soothing I could come home to.

I got shams made out of an inexpensive leopard print fabric to quickly add in some pattern to the room and tie in the border on my bedding. I found a mocha colored blanket at Crate and Barrel Outlet to break up all of the white and also purchased a circular pillow from TJ Maxx that happened to match my walls perfectly. A mirrored lamp from Wisteria and lucite photo frame (with a silhouette inside) gave the room some sparkle.

I moved my vanity to another wall so it was more accessible. I added in a white Panton chair as the vanity seat- I liked its juxtaposition against the dark, traditional vanity table and it made me not hate my old vanity table as much. :)

I moved the lingerie chest to where the vanity was to add some height to that wall. I added in white sticks to bring an organic/natural element into the room and took off the footboard from my bed to decrease all that iron.

Curtain panels that match the wall color (and still need to be badly lined with better liner!) are mounted under the ceiling- which made the room instantly feel so much bigger. Remember the old ugly iron vanity bench? I upholstered it in a blue and white houndstooth print and spray painted it white for a quick fix.

Crystal perfume bottles from Wisteria Outlet dressed up my vanity table and made it feel more like a boudoir...

I purchased some antique, crystal sconces from Ebay (a Lauren find!) and a simple piece of art from Horchow to add some subtle pattern to the wall.

I finished up my room fairly quickly and felt so much better when it was done- the room finally felt more "me". Although it still isn't my dream room, I did everything on a budget without compromising my personal style

Personal Style, Defined: Inside the Loop

We're going out with a bang! It has been so fun to bring you the Personal Style, Defined series and to explore how each of the fabulous bloggers who participated defines their own style. This will be the last installment of the series, but I am tempted to maybe do a part 2. If you're interested, please let me know.

I can't think of a better blogger to round out the series than the fabulous Courtney of Inside the Loop. Courtney was one of the first bloggers I ever met and I was instantly impressed by how warm and friendly she was. On top of her sweet personality, Courtney has serious style! She is always dressed to the nines, accessorizes like nobody's business, and has a great eye for design in general. Courtney recently moved to Kuala Lumpur where she is taking on a new set of design challenges.

Since moving to Kuala Lumpur, "home" is a far cry from my previous Houston bungalow. And while our new digs are, sadly, in no shape to photograph, I can at least say my personal style remains the same: I constantly reinterpret my belongings, move things around and work to create a collected, seasoned and slightly masculine feel in my surroundings. I don't need a quick design fix in my house—and I'm guessing that's a positive considering I've lived in this place 4 months and it looks the same as it did on Day 1, except there's more food in the fridge. Preferring spaces that evolve over time, I strive to collect with abandon, but decorate with restraint. Lived in, loved, well-edited and special. I'm a digger and a traveler, so between those two traits I love to unearth treasures in markets and exotic towns. I have a passion for prints and color, and layer for an eclectic, unexpected, laissez-faire feel. No matter where I'm living, I want my home to forever be a place of comfort. A place where friends can, without asking, put their feet up and let their hair down. A place where nothing is deemed too precious, except the company in our house. So at the risk of showing photos that I'm sure your readers have seen ad naseum, here are spaces that touch more than just my eye—they hit my soul and exemplify my personal style, defined. outside. [Sue Rohrer] living. [Weekend Retreats] [Lisa Borgnes Giramonti] [Thom Filicia] [Kristin Cunningham] [Jay Jeffers] kitchen. [The Selby] [Thomas O'Brien] [Bobbi Brown's kitchen] [Shelter] master bedroom. [all photos via Domino] guest room. [Domino] [Thom Filicia] kid's room. [Domino] [Anthropologie] [Walnut Wallpaper] patio. [Paul Fortune] [Brown Design] [Paul Fortune] [Thom Filicia] [Gardening Life]

Personal Style, Defined: High-Heeled Foot in the Door

This week's installment of Personal Style, Defined features the lovely Camila of High-Heeled Foot in the Door. I found her blog sometime in the last year and it has quickly become a favorite. Camila focuses on approachable, attainable design and frequently shares her fabulous do-it-yourself projects with readers. She has great style and her sweet personality comes through in every post.

When Paloma asked me to participate in her Personal Style Series I had a flood of emotions. I was honored that she grouped me with such a great group of women. It made me feel like I had inched my high-heeled foot one more step into the design field. Happiness and honor quickly turned into panic and stressed.

{Yours truly in my Tory Burch like alike dress, but cost me $4.90 at Kmart! Stylish and thrifty!}

What was my personal style? Tough question to answer. When it comes to helping clients bring out their personal style I’m your gal, but turn it around on myself and I freeze.

{ All time, hands-down favorite room, by Miles Redd that sums my design style perfectly. A bit traditional with the bird/floral wallpaper, whimsical with the canopy bed modern with the zig-xag rug and blue side tables, feminine with the ruffle in the curtains, preppy with the color combo. Perfection}

Why? Because I tend to love a little bit of everything. I love modern, traditional, coastal, cottage, shabby chic, hollywood regency, chinoiserie,etc. Name a style and I’ll love some aspect of it and will most likely combine some of them in a room.

{Fabulous foyer by Amanda Nisbet, which has a mix of preppy with the stripes, a dash of modern with the lamp, traditional with the table and a bit country with the lantern yet it all works and isn’t done over the top.}

Instead of losing my cool I decided to do what I would do with a client and head straight to my closet. In my opinion the way that we dress ourselves is our most honest expression of our personal style. When we step out into the world everyday the clothes on our back completely paint a picture to outsiders.

{When Michelle posted pictures of her friends new shop, Lady Bird I immediately feel in love with their bold use of color,additon of traditional wallpaper and unique art gallery. }

Looking at my things I realized that a lot of my closet looked like they came out of Charlotte York's with a tiny dash of Carrie (Sorry for the S&TC references, but I’m getting excited for the sequel) without the price tag. It’s a mix of classic pieces with some modern preppy aspects for good measure and a touch of what is trendy at the moment. So, in defining my style I would say it’s Kate Spade (modern, color, pattern, fun) meets Audrey Hephurn (classic, timeless, elegant)

{Adore this room from Sara Story. I wouldn’t change a thing from the bold orange patterned wallpaper, to the hermes throw this room is ready for me!}

Like your clothing picks that go in and out with the trends as seasons go by I think a room needs to go through the same maintence, which is why In my eyes a room is never finished.

{Another favorite from Palmer Weiss. I spy orange, x benches, chinoiserie accents, zebra rug, neutral sofas. Love that she kept it real and didn’t hide or remove the flat screen or ceiling fan.}

Since I love color I tend to go big on color for the walls. After all it’s just paint! If you tire of it you just need a quick trip to the paint store and a couple of hours and voila new room.

{Love, love, love the traditional built ins matched with high-gloss black walls. It great when a designer like Nancy Boszhardt isn’t afraid to paint it black.}

Due to my love of bold color I tend to go neutral on furniture choices and window treatments and then introduce pattern and additonal color in my accessories. Since furniture is normally one of the most expensive pieces in a room keeping it neutral allows you to play with color and switch it up when you see fit.

{Another perfect blend of styles and color. Designer Summer Thornton mix traditional elements like the floral wallpaper and chandelier with a modern sofa and Imperial Trellis clad ottoman that just speaks to me!}

I have turquoise walls in one of my rooms. Last year the room had accents of brown. I got tired of that and with a few minor inexpensive changes it is now a wonderful mix of yellow and blue with the help of accessories and it makes the preppy girl in me very happy.

{My new preppy yellow and white striped curtains that have my room moving in a new direction! Can’t wait for it to be finished so that I can share it with all.}

In defining my style I also realized that what is most important is what you like. Not what is in this month’s shelter magazine. If you love the color orange paint the town with it, if elephants make you weak in the knees go for it, if zebra print makes your heart skip a beat then answer the call of the wild.

{Designer Erin Valencich's office has a great mix with the stripes, zebra and wallpaper and is currently my background image on my computer}

Your rooms should look cool and effortless. Don’t worry yourself with rules and what has always been done. Trust yourself and I’m certain it will all start coming together. Plus if you need any help along the way you can always reach out to professionals in the field like me!