Decorating for Urban Rooftops

If I could redecorate my building’s rooftop deck, it would look a little something like this…

Ever since I moved into my new place, I’ve been itching for summer to arrive. Why? Because come summer, I will have a rooftop with pool. In fact, as soon as bikini weather arrives, I highly plan on converting my rooftop into an office for at least an hour or two a day. After all, I only need a laptop and an iced latte right?

But there’s one thing that worries me a little: the decor. Since the building is brand new, I have no clue what type of outdoor furniture will live up there. Will it be comfortable? Will there be shade? Most importantly, will it look good? The one thing that you can’t control in a high rise, is the common areas. And based on the ones decorated so far, trust me that I have reason to worry.

If it was up to me, the rooftop would have a casual boho modern vibe. The kind you would find at the Soho House Chicago: endless banquettes and rows of striped long chairs, lots of wicker pendant lamps, greenery, string lights… and daybeds. Oh how I would be comfortable working under the shade of these daybeds. Lowney, if you’re listening, I’m volunteering for the job!

If you’re ready to revamp your outdoor area, YLiving is having and Outdoor Furniture & Lighting Event with up to 20% off hundreds of products. Even better, they’re giving away a Vondom Faz Daybed to one lucky winner!

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1. Vessel Architectural Pottery Planter 2. Laika Medium Plus Pendant 3. Innit Acapulco Chair 4. Mamagreen Stripe Daybed 5. Thomas Eyck Stripe Pillows 6. Taji Teck Lounger 7. Jetset Tables 8. Kartell Jolly Side Table 9. Bludot Marble Table 10. Harbour Outdoor Dining Chair

Thank you YLiving for sponsoring this post.

Images via Soho House Chicago.

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January 22, 2015

Hang your Gallery Wall like a Pro

Gallery walls may be all the rage on Pinterest, but nailing them without hammering moonlike craters on your walls is easier said than done. Follow these four tips to hang your gallery wall like a pro.

Mix with finesse

There should be a subtle cohesion between the artwork you choose— whether it’s a color palette, types of framing, size or artwork or historical period, but you don’t want to be too matchy-matchy. If you’re going for very different types of art, choose similar frames for example. Conversely, if you’re hanging black & white photography exclusively, consider breaking it up with one or two colorful prints. And if you’re hanging your children’s artwork gallery style, have fun with different frames!

Plan ahead

Before you start hammering holes in your wall with abandon, lay your artwork on the floor and arrange the composition of your gallery wall. You can also cutout the artwork shapes in kraft paper and tape them to the wall to see the overall effect. The better you plan, the better the result.

Let it breathe

Don’t hang all your artwork tightly in a bunch (unless you’re Kristen Buckingham). Let the gallery wall breathe by leaving plenty of white space around the artwork. Start with hanging your first piece so that the bottom of the frame starts somewhere between your waist and chest. You’ll be able to enjoy each piece better if they’re at eye level.

Secure your work

If you own valuable artwork and want to go the extra mile to have a professionally installed gallery wall, consider picture hanging systems that doesn’t use any nails. These can be mounted behind moldings and can allow you to interchange your gallery wall at your heart’s leisure. More importantly, they come with anti-theft hardware so you can be at ease that your gallery wall is secure.

Create your gallery wall

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Get inspired with more gallery wall ideas on Savvy Home’s Pinterest.

Images via Domaine Home.

Thank you AS Hanging for supporting this post.

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January 15, 2015

What’s on Your Vanity?

From perfume trays to ring holders, here are the vanity essentials that will keep your pampering station organized.

VANITY

Whether you opt for a classic vanity, or a desk or desk version, look for a piece with drawers that will hold enough acrylic make-up organizers for all your beauty needs. That way you can keep your vanity vignette looking pretty. When it comes to mirrors, bigger is better. Hang it horizontally for more eye-level reflection.

SEATING

Make sure you’re comfortable when sitting at your vanity with an upholstered stool or chair. If you’re repurposing a chair that isn’t comfortable enough, finish it with a faux fur pillow or sheepskin throw.

LIGHTING

Lighting is key around the vanity. Opt for a space with as much natural light as possible. Hang pendants as low as possible and always have a light source at eye level. Nothing is more unflattering than overhead lighting when doing your make-up. Sconces or a table lamp are good options. Candlelight always casts a very flattering light, as long as you have alternative sources of lighting.

PERFUME TRAY

Displaying your perfume collection is the easiest way to add a dash of glam to your vanity—and sometimes, the serveware section is the perfect place to find the perfect tray. Opt for a sexy white marble tray (it’s technically a lazy susan so it rotates—bonus!) or a shimmery metal version. Arrange a single bloom like a peony in a vase for an extra cheap thrill.

STORAGE

From baskets and bowls to bottles and ring holders, you can never have too many containers to store and organize your baubles. Store oversized items like hair dryers, brushes and body lotion in bigger baskets. Arrange lipsticks or nail polish bottles in a bowl. Keep an array of ring holders, bottles and catch-alls for jewelry. Store cotton balls in jars and makeup brushes in cups.

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Thanks World Market for supporting this post.

Image via Lonny.

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November 10, 2014

Win your Dream Bed with Matouk

Matouk just launched uMatouk — a tool to build your virtual dream bed — and they want you to design & win your own!

I don’t know about you, but I love spending time in bed. There is nothing like the feeling of climbing into a bed of freshly pressed sheets at the end of a long day, knowing that everything has been accomplished, and feeling the satisfaction of being able to just unwind. I spend at least an hour or two in my bed at the end of the day doing just that—catching up with friends on the phone, watching the latest Mindy Project episode or reading a book… In a world that’s always on-the-go, it’s nice to have those small moments to slow down. Then, there’s the moment I wake up — I’ve never been the “one alarm sound and I’m out of bed” type. I usually get up, make myself a coffee or smoothie, then climb back in bed, fire up Spotify on my Bluetooth speaker, and answer a few emails from bed before getting up and ready.

Stop to think of it, we spend at least one third of our lives in our beds (more if we count those oh-so necessary lazy mornings). So if you ask me, splurging on quality bedding is not a just luxury, it’s pure logic. Building the perfect bed is like following a recipe. For me, it involves a classic hotel sheet set (I love the classic three lines of tape); matching white duvet and shams (I’m drawn to scalloped edges); a coverlet (hello seersucker!); and accents euro shams and boudoir sham. Sometimes, I like to switch it up and match quilted euro shams and coverlet. It’s all about mixing comfort and style—and creating a bed that’s easy to make in the morning!

The amount of choice out there can be overwhelming, but Matouk has simplified the bed building process with their new tool uMatouk. Caution: it’s kind of addictive—I forced myself to stop after the 8th bedding combo. It’s no secret around here that Matouk makes some of my favorite bedding. The quality of their classic bedding is unparalleled and their choice is endless—I’ve been obsessed with their Lulu DK collection for the longest time.

I’m incredibly excited to have partnered with Matouk—truly my favorite bedding company—to give you the chance to design and win your dream bed. Simply follow the instructions below. Good luck!