Style Diagnostic

Ever wonder what your interior design style is? Well, I found a site that gives you some really original ideas on what your style is.

You can check out your style HERE.

Oh, and my style was "Old Money Eclectic."

Before and After

I am a huge fan of "before and after" pics so I thought you might want to see mine. I've been working, for awhile now, on my very first solo design project.

My friend Sydney referred me to the doctor she works for, to remodel their office. I presented my "design plans" and he actually trusted me to make the design "come to life". I know, pretty cool.

He decided to do the reception and waiting area first. Here is the BIG reveal!

The Design:

• I had to work with the existing blue and purple chairs, the carpet and the cherry wood stained tables.
• In the old design the chair colors looked really out of place with warm yellow-y colored paint on the walls.
• My goal was to make it look like the chairs, carpet and other furniture was selected specifically for this design and make them all blend together.
• I added wood chair rail and base boards to match the color of the wood frame on the chairs.
• I demo'ed the existing, unwelcoming, reception desk privacy glass and replaced it with a polished travertine counter and new wood surrounds.
• I repainted the walls one color that was a little bit more of a "cool neutral" to blend with the chair colors.
• Then, I added accessories and a few finishing touches.

~Before~

~After~

~Before~

~After~

~Before~

~After~

Eventually I want to get really good quality photos of the "afters" but this gives you the general idea.

Luckily the doctor, staff and patients are all really happy with the result, which is such a relief! It has been a great experience and I've learned a lot about transferring designs from drawings and ideas, to reality. So fun!

More Memorial Day

Side note: This was our 3rd Memorial Day with our friends. That sounds like we've been married forever and it seems like we've known our friends much longer than 3 years. We are seriously SO lucky to have such great San Diego friends!

(Photos courtesy of my friend Erin.)

Memorial Day

I was really lucky and got to hang out with two of my favorite people yesterday...

(Don't worry Brett would be the "most favorite" and he was there too, but this is the only picture I got the whole day!)

Daxton's 1st Birthday

Our friends super handsome baby had his B-Day celebration this weekend. I can't believe that this time last year I was holding his delicate little self in the hospital and we were all giving our "vote" for what to name him.

Now, he's walking, waving, laughing and (one of the cutest ones) he leads the music at church, from his seat of course. We love him and his adorable personality!

Alice and Corbin threw the cutest lil' B-Day shindig "Cops and Robbers" themed- my friends are seriously SO creative. It was so detailed, delish and fun!

Some of the other 1 year old babies got in on the cake action.

I had to get this one of Dax's handcuffs and holster.

Of course I got some London time.

Tim brought his parents, which was cool since....

Brett brought his parents. Corbin said it worked out well since we needed some "grandparents" at the party.

Chris met our surrogate little one, and even matched the party decor with her sweater without even planning it, she's just that cool.

And, we barrowed London for this shot since we-don't-have-no-babies!

Super cute set up for the food and everything had a special name like "hamburglers"

Christian was a "special" robber.

Gotta love the costume party dedication.

I love this one because it looks like there really were some cops at the party!

Also - awesome black and white decor.

Amazing party for one amazing baby!

Mudders Day

It was "the big day" for half the population yesterday. And, even though I am yet to be a mother, Brett did make breakfast, do the dishes, and bought me a corsage to wear to church. Pretty good husband, huh?!

The flowers were actually our friend Tim's idea, and he got several of our friends husbands to be in on it too. It was kinda cool to see my friends with corsages, old-school-style.

(There are a few not pictured they had left before the pic)

Mother's Day:

This holiday would not be complete without a shout out to my amazing mother.

She is seriously my best girl friend. We talk just about everyday. We can talk about anything and everything for a long time. I'll look down at my phone after our "quick" conversation and its been 45 minutes. Time flies when you're having fun :)

My mom knows how to have fun, is beautiful, likes to travel (this is a real perk), raised all of us kids right, and is basically the best!

Love you mommie!

Mom, I know you're not going to like that I put this picture up, but look how happy I am. I think It shows your great mothering skills.

Look at that olive skin! You rocked that feathered haircut!

London's 1st Birthday

Yes, our same favorite baby is making an appearance again.

London turned 1 and we were lucky enough to be able to attend her "sweet shoppe".

Kate (London's birth mom :) did an INCREDIBLE job with all the Birthday decor and festivities, definitely one of the best 1st b-days I've been to. It was just plain impressive.

On London's gift I wrote:

To: London

Love: The people that wish they were your parents (The Montys)

Because seriously if they asked us to take her, we would, no questions. She is THAT cool.

PS: Don't worry, I finally charged my camera, so I will no longer be posting blurry Brett phone pictures :)

Royal Party

I have been extremely excited to do this post, ever since I had my super amazing Royal Wedding Party Friday night!

That's right, Royal Wedding Party!!!

With HATS!

And British Outfits!

And Tea & Crumpets!

In short, it was as close to a real life fairly tale as we could muster in our apartment complex. It was my dream party.

I invited myself over to my friends house upstairs, because she has DVR, and she's awesome. I text-ed her, "We need to discuss, the royal wedding is tomorrow." She responded fantastically with, "What?! What are we going to wear!"

Gotta love my friends - always looking for an excuse for a costume party.

And the Royal Wedding did not disappoint. Kate Fab. Pippa, also fab. The flower girls were a little special, but cute. The carriage ride was magical.

AND

I must say we looked...

~AMAZING~

I told Alice she deserved a "Full Body Shot" since she had this incredible vintage matching outfit.

I made my hat, that's why its getting so much camera time.

Royal Wedding

We are planning to immerse ourselves in THE Royal Wedding this evening, but I just thought this conversation between B$ and I was worth blogging.

Last Night - Discussing the longevity of William and Kate's Marriage

K: "I just really hope they make it, you know."

B: (solemnly) "We all do babe...we all do."

Brett is INTO the Royal Wedding, since he served his mission in England.

For instance he sings "God save the Queen" instead of "My country tis of thee." - seriously

Anyway, I am a lucky girl, to be married to someone who wants to watch hours of wedding footage with me tonight!

Whenever Brett begins to talk excitedly about THE wedding, I say, "That, is, MY MAN!"

Before and After to "swoon" over

Some renovation pictures from my new beautiful house....he he he. Well, really they're just from the Alice Lane Home Blog. But, they're still pretty fabulous, a girl can dream, right?

Before:

After:

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE - Its like they bottled my essence and made it into a kitchen/living room.

What I'm working on NOW....like right now

Trying to design an office space that maybe looks kinda like this....

In an historic building located near La Jolla Cove...

With possibly some interesting recycled furniture...



A roof top ocean friendly garden....

For the surfrider foundation....

And, something like these translucent nature panels might be cool too, right?!

But, don't worry my friends, its not a real project its all just for school.