Rich Autumn Interiors

Who says white walls can't be warm?  Combined with rich hues and warm rustic woods white interiors become perfect for fall.  Is it too early to be talking about autumn? I hope not because I'm ready for pumpkin spice lattes, plum colored polish, and turning leaves.

[Images courtesy of Delight by Design &  Live Creating Yourself]

So Simple & Understated

This modern engagement shoot lets the couple take center stage while providing simple, quiet backdrops.  I love how common concrete sidewalks, docks, and wooden walls become contemporary compositional tools that provide simplistic lines.

[Images courtesy of Hey Gorgeous]

Outfit Inspiration for the Upcoming Work Week

I figured we all could use some outfit inspiration for the upcoming week.  A little color and texture would do the corporate world some good.  What are you wearing this week?

[Images courtesy of Atlantic Pacific, Tumblr, Dress Design Decor, & Walking Around]

Palette: European Sea

Hope you all are enjoying your weekend. My thoughts and prayers go out to all who have been affected by the hurricane.  I think this post is a great way to escape from the weather we've experienced lately and get into a peaceful state of mind.  This makes me crave a Grecian vacation soaked with sun rays and discoveries of water passages.

Latest Loves: Industrial, Hides, and Mint

It might seem like an unusual combination, but I think these three categories go hand-in-hand.  Textured hides give warmth to industrial interiors and when accented with mint accessories, a space can suddenly exemplify depth and refinement.  And when it comes to fashion, a fresh mint green piece can be sewn into any season when paired with a grounding rich brown or contemporary neutral gray.

Palette: Vineyard Sky

I think this palette encompasses all seasons.  The dusky sky reminds me of summer while the scratched wood is rich like fall.

DIY Reception Decor: LOVE Sign

Another project that we used at the reception was a 4-part sign that spelled out "LOVE".  I had seen an inspiration image on Style Me Pretty, and just knew that I had to create my own version.  My dad had collected some great old barn boards that he cut into 8" long segments.  We found unfinished wooden letters at Michael's Craft Store that we painted our signature pewter color.  We attached one letter on each board, then created stands for each sign to stand on.  Below is the step-by-step process and pictures to guide you along the way.

Step 1.  Sand the corners of edges of the unfinished wooden letters.

Step 2.  Paint each letter with interior latex paint.

Step 3.  Hot glue letters onto barn board cut into 8" long pieces.

Step 4.  Drill hole into bottom of the piece of wood attached to back of barn board pieces.  This reinforces each board segment and provides a hidden place to insert the dowel rod.  Insert the dowel rod into bottom of each reinforcing board and into the top of 3"x6" wooden base.  We painted the dowel and base board to match the letters before we assembled each sign. 

I hope this inspires you to create some of your own wedding decor.  If you see something you love online, build it!  It will not only be less expensive than finding it in a store, but will also be so much more personal to you since you spent time to create it.

DIY Reception Decor: Table Number Frames

One of the things that I was most excited about with our wedding was the reception decorations.  Most of the decor we used was handmade by not only me, but Chris too!  This week I'll share with you step-by-step directions on how we made some of our reception projects.  

We designed table number frames to put on each dining table.  This way, people could find their escort cards and easily locate which table was theirs.  We found inexpensive unfinished wooden frames at Michaels' craft store.  Each one was only $1, and I loved their square shape.  

Step 1: Sand down the edges and corners of each frame.

Step 2: Paint each frame with interior matte latex.  We used Home Depot's Behr.

Step 3: Barely dipping a flat wide brush into white, dab off most of the paint.  Using soft, vertical strokes, dry brush white onto the surface of each frame.

Step 4: Ink a large rubber stamp using a fabric/wood friendly ink pad.  We used Stampin' Up!'s Craft Ink in white.

Step 5: Stamp design onto corner of each frame.

Step 6: Print off numbers and trim to fit frame opening.

Surprisingly, it was Chris' decision to paint the frames persimmon.  I was leaning towards our pewter gray color seen on our invitations, but I am so glad he convinced me to paint the frames the bright persimmon color.  The corally hue popped amazingly well against the navy blue table cloths, which you will see soon!