I love the holiday season. The pumpkin spice lattes, the smell of a wood burning fire and gifts too!  Every year I find it more and more challenging to find the perfect gift for my friends and family, do you have that problem? I try to listen and pick up on those little comments they make…only to find out a few weeks later they have picked up the item for themselves. I’m just as bad though, I  just go ahead and pick up that scarf I have had my eye on or a fabulous necklace that has been calling my name.

So when Katie from MODERN EVE asked me to participate in her Dallas bloggers gift guide, I had a hard time pulling my top 5.  I have a few more favorites up my sleeve beyond the 5 favorites on Katie;s blog so stay tuned for my “Dear Santa” letter next week!  Head over to MODERN EVE and take a look at all of the Dallas bloggers’ lists, there are 36 of us and 12 days of great gift guides to check out.  You can see my list HERE.

A few weekends ago I finally met up with Houston designer Amanda Carol while she was attending the Dallas market.  .  We sat down for her “Coffee With” series and ended up staying for almost 2 hours! I love chatting with other designers about the business and seeing how we each run our business on a daily basis. Amanda’s work is beautiful and charming and I am flattered to be a part of this series on her blog.  Pop over to  her blog to see more on our chat.

I have been a fan of La Dolce Vita’s Dream Home series for a long time and am excited to share mine today. I’m a southern girl born and raised in Arkansas and now live in Dallas, Texas with my husband and two bird dogs. I am a girly girl all the way when it comes to interiors, but after being married to Dru (golfer, hunter and fire pit junkie) for almost 4 years my idea of a “dream home” have changed a bit.

Head over to La Dolce Vita to see the full story on my dream home!

Image Via: Houzz

Today I’m over at Emily Clark talking about my house, now and then. The transformation makes me much happier than the newlywed phase of the house did. Head over to Emily’s Blog to see the full story.

Anah (pronounced Anna) is the lastest addition to Studio Ten 25 for summer and I think it’s about time I introduce her.  I first met Anah while she was working at a local showroom in the Dallas Decorative Center and we became fast friends.   It all began with a  few lunches, happy hours and lots of conversations about what she should so with her future as a designer.  When she made the decision to head back to school to obtain her design degree, the wheels began to turn.

After a few more  long talks over happy hour and Anah was registered for classes and on board to work with me this summer.  It’s going great so far and I think I’m going to be lost when she heads off to school..but I’ll still have her part time (fingers crossed). Having a small business that is expierencing major growing pains has been tough for me. But, making the decision to bring Anah on has been just what the Studio needed.

It’s a perfect fit so far. She deals with the girls (our dogs) putting her through a major sniff test every morning,  my in-ability to focus on one thing for more than a few minutes, and my love of having lunch out of the office everyday.  I asked Anah a few questions so that you can get to know her a little better…
When did you realize that Interior Design was the career for you?

My mom has always had a knack for interior design. I grew up going to antique stores with her and would complain the whole time. However, one day it clicked, and I realized how much I loved interiors. So sure enough, my mom’s passion rubbed off on me and I feel like I’ve been made to do this my whole life. Ultimately, I owe my mom for all the creativity and drive I have. I am always in awe of her creative eye!

Who are a few of your favorite designers?

One of my favorite interior designers is Jay Jeffers who owns Jeffers Design Group in San Francisco. I randomly met him while wine tasting in Tuscany with my mother, and I have been a huge fan of his ever since. I greatly admire his ability to mix things up in innovative, funky ways. Jay’s office space is a perfect example of his fabulous style. I had the pleasure of seeing it in person, and it is absolutely stunning!

Images Via: Jeffers Design Group

What product, furniture or type of design makes your heart race?

I am all about the “wow” factor. Whether it be a contemporary piece placed in a traditional setting, or a show stopping light fixture that knocks your socks off! I am drawn to both the eclectic and glamorous. Put simply, I love drama and funk!

Image Via: Here

Image Via: Here

Image Via: House and Home

What are your pet peeves when it comes to design?

It’s always the little things! A crooked lamp shade, a cushion that isn’t just right, a rug that doesn’t fit the space, the list goes on and on! I always seem to get worked up over the small things that most people don’t notice.

What is your all time favorite design magazine?

I grew up loving Architectural Digest. My mom collected copies and I would always look at them and fantasize about my dream house. However, now my favorite magazine is Elle Decor. I love how it always includes the latest trends and provides exceptional, eye-catching designs. I am constantly ripping out pages to add to my dream house file!

What worries you most about being a designer?

Not being a good one! Interior design has always been my passion and my dream. I have recently taken a leap of faith to go back to school and get my design degree but, I keep asking myself: what if I’m not cut out for this? I want to believe that I have what it takes to be a great designer, however, I can’t help but doubt my abilities. I hope the future will prove me wrong!

What have you learned/picked up from being around Studio Ten 25 the past few weeks? Tips, tricks or what not to-dos.

First of all, I could not have picked a better person to learn from. Abbe is a phenomenal designer, but more importantly, she is a good person. She has shown me how much this industry thrives off of relationships. I’ve learned that good relationships with clients and vendors can help create a design process that is more enjoyable, rewarding, and even easier! It’s also become clear that staying involved with other designers helps so much in terms of keeping ideas fresh and staying inspired. Lastly, from my time at Studio Ten 25, I think patience and respect are just as important as creativity in the designing world.

Interiors that inspire me:

Image Via: Jeffers Design Group

Image Via: Here

Image Via: Jeffers Design Group

Jay Jeffers designed this fabulous suite for the Elle Décor San Francisco Showhouse in 2010. It is absolutely gorgeous!  I love the soothing, neutral color palette with pops of teal.  Also, the way that the bathroom mosaic echoes the ottoman in the bedroom is genius! Everything about this suite is stunning!

Image Via: The Lennoxx

Image Via: The Lennoxx

Image Via: The Lennoxx

I have been lusting over this bedroom for a while. So dramatic and chic! I love the graphic floor and navy throughout with fun pops of pink. Notice how the ceiling of the bed was painted pink? Love it!

Image Via: Casa Sugar

I am obsessed with the geometric painted floors. They are so bold and bring a touch of modernity to this classical room.

Image Via:Here

This space is the ultimate show stopper! Not sure if I could live with it, but it is spectacular nonetheless! The space is very masculine, yet sexy and playful at the same time. I love how the bright pillows contrast with the dark gray walls.

Image Via:Here

I am especially drawn to the artwork and mirrored piece over the mantle. Overall, everything in this living room seems to mix well together. The candlesticks in the fireplace are fun!

I wanted to share a great post from one of my favorite Dallas bloggers and freelance writers, Rebecca Sherman. Her blog Houses Gardens People has been on my favorites list for quite some time right now.  Her blog profiles the latest trends, places to shop and great insight to the design world. Rebecca’s latest post, Dallas Designers Speaking Out features a handful of Big D’s interior designers…including me…and what they are loving right now.  Thank you Rebecca for adding me to the list!

Check out the post to see all of the great picks, and yes I picked something with mirrors…big shocker, I know!

I like to take my weekends to spend time with my hubby, the girls and catch up with my girlfriends so I missed sharing my guest post from Tobi Fairley’s Blog yesterday.  Tobi is doing a series full of fabulous guest bloggers called “All-American” and I am very flattered that she asked me to be a part of it.

I decided to talk about my top 5 Made in the USA products so had over to Tobi’s Blog to see who made my list!

Today Shelli from A la mode is guest blogging and this one is perfect for a fabulous Friday! From the moment she shared the images of her home office I knew she had to be part of  ”a week of chic” on my blog!  The pops of turquoise, glamorous lighting and mix of modern and traditional are perfect.  Enjoy the tour of Shelli’s chic home office and stop by her blog to see more images of her gorgeous home to see why she has become one of my favorite blogs!

Hi ya’ll!  I’m super excited to be at studioten25 today!  My name is Shelli and I am a former medical device sales rep, turned stay at home mommy, to the cutest 15 month old hot mess you have ever seen.  I am new to the blogging world, and have had a ball delving in!

When it comes to interior design, I am drawn to an eclectic mix of traditional furnishings and clean lines.  I love pops of color but on a calm and serene base palette.  I want there to be history in my space mixed with new, fresh furnishings.  I want the details to speak about me and my family.

While I may not be working in the corporate world, I knew I needed a space all to myself.  A place to have a glass of wine with a girlfriend, listen to music, pay bills, or let’s be honest…to blog!  I brought the chandelier with me from our bungalow in Atlanta, it was in our dining room there.  It reminds me of that home, and all the happy memories we made there….our daughter’s first home, if only for a few months.

Bookshelves can be overwhelming.  Especially if you are like me, and cringe at the thought of clutter or nic-nacs.  I found that grouping books together by color, and choosing a color ‘theme’ of sorts for my ceramics, helped to keep order in the chaos.  I like them to have a layered feel.  We need a place to put our degrees and my sales awards, but I certainly don’t want them as a focal point, so I placed them behind something colorful and pretty.

Seating for chit chats is a must for me.  When my favorite neighbor pops over for a glass of wine, we retreat to this room, shut the glass doors and vent about our husbands and motherhood discuss current events and important matters in the world.  The turquoise color pops continue here to ground the use of color in the space.

A simple white parsons desk and Eames inspired office chair are the perfect setting to gaze out the window or at my favorite blogs on my laptop. This is also where I monogram (another random hobby of mine).  The blue lamps are a repeating color theme in most rooms of my home.  This helps those of us who have design ADD and like to mix up our accessories often without breaking the bank.

Today Typhanie from Shoebox Decor is guest blogging and I am so excited to have her. Typhanie’s blog is full of stunning images, impeccable style and great ideas for bring chic to any space.   Looking for easy ways to bring timeless chic to your space?  Your in luck…

There are certain elements in interior design that will never go out of style. The Houndstooth pattern, which has evolved with time but has remained as chic as a pink Chanel suit. The classic wingback chair, which was born in an era of simple elegance and charm. And finally we have the Parsons Desk, which I consider the little black dress of design. With these three elements anyone can create an interior that is timeless and chic. Here are some examples of my favorite applications of these three elements.

Scottish design has never looked more chic than it does within the classic checks of the Houndstooth pattern. I first fell in love with this print when I discovered Chanel at the tender age of seven while window shopping with my family. My love for the designer and the pattern has never wavered since that time. Whether it is printed on cotton or woven in wool, this design will forever enthrall not only interior designers, but those in the fashion world as well. I have never seen a pattern transition so effortlessly across both planes. Because of this it comes as no surprise that my favorite application of this print can be found in an etsy store created by Avril Loreti. Her colorfully chic adaptation of this classic pattern shows the evolution of Black and White into color.

Image from Decor Pad

2. The Wingback Chair

Created in the Queen Ann era of design, the wingback chair (then called the easie chair) will forever remain a staple in interior design. I consider this chair the friend you can always count on; whose scrolled winged arms provides cover from the elements and padded cushion seat make it the best place for hours of reading. Over the decades we have seen the wingback chair evolve in many different ways. From curved legs to straight legs, from tufted to non-tufted, and from winged to canopied (thank you Kelly Wearstler).  With all these different options to pick from I must say that the classic design with cabriole front legs will always be my favorite. When it comes to wingback chairs no one does it better than The New Traditionalist. Their Chair no. Twenty Nineis to die for.

Image from Casanova Darling

3. The Parsons Desk

The simple design of the Parsons table has been around since the early 1900’s but it is the adaptation of the Parsons Desk that really makes this modern design chic. Its rectangular top with four flush square legs is minimalist in design but big on style. There are many different designs of the Parsons Desk out there but I must say, West Elm has out done them all. Their array of choices fit any design scheme you are trying to create. There is a metal desk for the modern interior. A mirrored desk for all who love glam and sparkle. A mini desk for the small space fans like myself. Then last but not least, the classic Parsons Desk for the traditionalist at heart. Now do you see why I call it the little black dress of interior design?

And there you have it, my favorite incarnations of three timelessly chic elements of interior design…Happy Decorating Everyone!

All the best,
Typhanie Peterson
949-354-4867
www.shoeboxdecor.com

I thought today would be a great opportunity to add an extra post to “the week of chic” series.  I am a fan and follower of The Glam Lamb blog and was really excited that Hallie wanted to be a part of the series too. She recently changed her blog address and design and it is fabulous, please go check it out. You’ll find everything from fashion, stylish thrifting and tons of design inspiration.

AND her Etsy Shop reflects her personal style with unique vintage pieces! I can’t wait to see what she adds as she builds the shop.

Thank you Hallie!!

Hello there Studio Ten 25 Readers! My name is Hallie,  and I am thrilled to be participating as a guest blogger for Abbe while she’s in NYC this week for the Kravet/Lee Jofa Blogfest.   I am such a huge fan of Abbe’s inspirational blog, and her eye-candy-full e-boutique; so this is a real treat!  I have a blog called the Glam Lamb, it’s all about fab decor finds and attainable luxuries.

When it comes to “Chic” the first thing that comes to mind is MONOGRAMMING.  I love anything with beautiful personalization.   It’s sophisticated, glam, and 100% chic.

Here are some of my favorite ways to personalize:

Abbe!  Thanks again for having me!!  And can’t wait to hear all about your NYC trip!

xoxo,

Hallie