STYLIN' MAMMA

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

I am trying (and failing) to temper my glee about some upcoming work travel.  You see, I used to travel for work ALL THE TIME.  And not just travel: international travel.  Executive Mileage Plus Platinum membership travel.  It was grueling and sometimes lonely and involved a lot of late-night hotel VH1 marathons and room service.  At the time I couldn't wait to get home.  Ah, the old days.

Since having the kidlets I am lucky to see the inside of an airplane twice in a year, and usually this is the happy consequence of someone I love tying the knot. Don't get me wrong: we travel as a family all the time (roadtrippin' is our game!) but it's almost always the four of us and inevitably involves me throwing snacks into the backseat of the car on the highway.

SO.  This four-day work trip on the horizon represents the second time in six years that I have boarded a plane and gone somewhere alone, with only some magazines, my ambition, and a suitcase full of fabulous clothes to keep me company.  I'm a teeny bit stoked.  There are daytime meetings and nighttime engagements, so needless to say, I need to shop.  

For day, a few items that say "I'm creative but still reliable!": a packable dress (that begs for a necklace), a pair of slightly edgy pants, a simple funnel-neck sweater, heels that mean it (but can still handle an airport), and a roomy bag for computer and whatnot.  

For night, a dress and some utterly impractical shoes, thank you very much, with earrings that might otherwise get pulled off by tiny reaching hands.  

Now hand me that weekender.  It's time to get packing.

CURATED NEST: Sparkle Like Gold

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

What do you do when you see GOLD cotton candy...? Well, find other awesome cool gold products of course.

That's the perfect new years dress, with sparkling underpants in case it gets windy. Why not entertain with gold dinnerware and provide gold seating for your friends and family this holiday season....

1. Dress / Net-a-Porter
2. iPhone case / Nordstrom
3. Hot Pants / French Connection
4. Dinnerware / West Elm
5. Sofa / Anthropologie
6. Pouf / Pure Home
7. Wall Decor / Dwell Studio
Inspiration image via Buzz Feed

- Cori

Postmod: Designing with Kids in Mind

Monday, November 24, 2014

Most of you who have followed along know my friend Jaime Tollas who contributes my Stylin' Mamma blog posts.  Jaime recently took the plunge into self employment and has started up a great web destination for new and experienced moms.  Postmodyrn explores all sorts of topics including fashion, exercise, food, and of course interior design. I'm contributing interior design posts for Postmod and I thought I would share some of them here with you as well.  My first post revolves around how to design you home when you have kids waiting on the sidelines to undo everything you've done.  Here it is:

As a designer and mom I often have the conversation with other moms on playdates and at the park about how one’s child slowly takes over one’s home. Snippets of the conversation often go something like this:

“Yeah, Johnny spit up on the sofa so I decided to cover our sofa permanently with a towel.”

or

“We had a glass coffee table but then we opted for this ugly wood chest that my husband had in college because it was safer for little Leah.”

or

“The house leaves me wondering if they run a day care center, and if they ever have adult friends over."

These conversations and experiences leave me sad and frustrated. Sure, I’ve had to make design concessions now that I have kids. We have baby gates on our stairs and I no longer display my antique snuff bottle collection on the coffee table. On the other hand, I firmly believe that you can live in an adult house with kids and have it be safe and beautiful at the same time.
Here are few tips on how to make that happen:

Consider your upholstery choices. You don’t have to always use dark colors to cover stains. It’s all about what fabric you use. Microfiber is very cleanable as are many wool based fabrics such as mohair (wool doesn’t absorb liquid). If you go with a cotton or lighter colored fabric, consider a slipcover. Usually it’s best to select a sofa that is already slipcovered, or have one custom made so that it looks tailored and doesn’t get messy. Slipcovers can be thrown in the wash or even bleached if they are light or made of outdoor solution dyed acrylic. One tip is to take them out of the dryer when they are still damp to avoid shrinkage and to let them mold to your sofa as they dry.  
 
Display your valuables, but keep them high. Wall shelves on brackets and built-in or free-standing book shelves and etageres (open-sided book shelves) are a great way to show off your valuables but keep them safe. Use lower-down shelves for baskets to corral toys and higher ones for precious items. Remember: if your shelves are freestanding, use a child-safety wall bracket to prevent tipping.


My valuable snuff bottle collection stays up high and out of reach.
 
Keep yourself organized. This is probably the single most important rule. In this day and age, when kids get showered with gifts and there are so many toy options, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. The key is to purge the items that are not used and to do it often.

Hand stuff down to friends, store stuff away for future siblings, but keep the toys at bay! Consider the aesthetics and durability of the toys your kids do have. A set of classic wooden blocks or a cute wooden car or hand-made rag doll is more visually appealing than some of the uglier plastic toys out there. It might be more expensive, but it will stand the test of time, and can be used down the road by siblings, and you won’t feel bad leaving it out in the open. 


Sure Bryan still has ugly plastic toys but we keep those in baskets and let the pretty wood ones sit out.

Corral, corral, corral! Shelves with cubbies for baskets and large open baskets for balls and sports gear are great. Consider adding hooks on the inside of a coat closet door for hats, mitts, and scarves and set up a mud room “station” if you don’t have an entire space devoted to this.
We don't have an entry foyer but this console is a place to drop keys and sunglasses and the basket underneath stores balls and toys.

I know it’s easy to preach all of this stuff and living with a toddler and a baby every day makes me realize how challenging it really is in practice. But it is doable! And don't be deterred if you feel like you don't have much space to work with -- in some ways that is the best challenge. Hopefully I’ve inspired a few of you to do a little spring cleaning and freshening up!

Stay tuned for more design posts on Postmodyrn.

DESIGN BLUEPRINT: Reading Corner

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

As someone who used to live in a studio apartment with my husband before we got married, I'm here to tell you that a bedroom is a very special room of the house. It's where you can relax and get away, not just from the daily grind, but even the hustle and bustle that goes on in the rest of your home.

Now, taking it a step further, what can take a bedroom to the next level of special, is a sitting area. Designing a little corner to read a book or just daydream is something really great, if you have the space.

I love this design above, found on Remodelista. It's quite simple, yet every detail is considered. The mix of materials, along with the deep rich color of the chaise and bold wall light, makes this my favorite reading corner yet.
 
DESIGN BLUEPRINT:
Wall Light / Lamps Plus
Chaise / Room & Board
Throw Blanket / Thos. Baker
Faux Branches / Crate & Barrel
Shelving Unit / West Elm
Off White Pillow / MGB Home
Grey Pillow / ZGallerie
Sequins Pillow / Nordstrom
Brass Vase / Ferm Living
White Bowl / All Modern
Accent Table / West Elm
Area Rug / Crate & Barrel
 

CURATED NEST: Holiday Red

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Let's get in the holiday spirit, shall we? But make sure to keep it stylish, of course...

This bold red architecture inspired each and every one of these items... They will all get you in the mood, but they'll also last year round!

1 / Pendant via DDC
2 / Socks via Poketo
3 / Accent Chair via Danish Design Store
4 / Glasses via Gaffos
5 / Smeg via West Elm
6 / Cookware via Poketo
7 / Rain Boots via Liberty

DESIGN BLUEPRINT:

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

With the entertaining season just around the corner, I thought I would feature a super cool dining room.
This space is a perfect combination of chic, modern design and organic style. I love all the textures with the sheepskins and layered rugs. There's just enough greenery and bonus, cool wall art.
 
Lastly, it goes unsaid, how much a unique chandelier can change a room.

Here's how to get this dining room in your own home...

DESIGN BLUEPRINT:
Chandelier / YLighting
Art Work / SaatchiArt
Dining Table / Hive
Bench / Pottery Barn
Sheepskin / Wayfair
Cowhide Rug / Ikea
Jute Rug / World Market
 

Stylin' Mamma: Sweat it Out (or Don't)

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

At my main client site, I share a closet of an office with a colleague who has become quite a good friend and a serious shopping partner in crime.  Lately she cannot stop laughing at me and my TOTAL OBSESSION with the "track pant" craze that is sweeping the high street.

Track pants in every fabric!  Chic and functional!  Even as I write I am wearing a cozy terry pair from Old Navy; later I plan to switch it up to a khaki rayon pair by Hive & Honey, styled with heels (heels! with track pants!) for a meeting.  I am honestly feeling a little sad for my denim, because track pants just might be my future.

So here, for all you Stylin' Mammas out there, is a little roundup of fave fall sweats, from leather to fleece, no running required.  

For casual looks, denim & fleece are a-ok.  Style with your favorite runners or a pair of slip-on kicks, and a big cozy sweater and beanie.
 
For a slightly uptown look, try a jogger in twill or wool or even leather.  Pair with a killer heel, crisp white shirt, and statement necklace for any occasion.

(Word to the Wise: do make every effort to try on track pants before purchasing.  Length and cuff-tightness can make all the difference in how these fit: you want the look streamlined, not sloppy.  Happy shopping.)