when a little too much is just enough.

Currently I am working for one of the greatest architects in New York (so essentially the world) and I'm honestly learning so much. One of the most essential lessons I'm learning is knowing not just other designers, their style but also respecting their work. Everyone- designers, clients, family, friends- EVERYONE has an opinion and the thing about design is it's all a matter of opinion. At the same time that a design of a room might not be in your taste, learning to respect that and explaining why you do and do not like something is key. 

When I saw the especially fabulous home of Hutton Wilkinson's - the incredibly ornate decorator famed for his over-the-top style- home featured on One King's Lane, I was extremely intrigued. A minimalist would probably jump out the window within a few steps, but luckily I am no minimalist, and I found the space fascinating. Compiled of overly embellished antiques, eye-popping colors and enough leopard print to make a the RHONJ jealous, this home is one to be seen.

And this goes back to what I'm learning. This house might not be within my taste but I definitely respect aspects of the space. That chartreuse velvet sofa is amazing and I need that gilded console in the dining room. However, bright orange walls and a countless number of animal figurines would probably give me nightmares if I stayed there. That is a matter of my opinion, learning to explain that better is something every designer needs or learn.

see all the images & more on onekingslane.com. 

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St. Lucia

Two weeks ago I lived the island life and it was absolutely amazing. I stayed on the island of St. Lucia with my family and our significant others (yes my parents are that awesome to invite our significant others along). The break from the real world was perfect but I missed you all and wanted to share some of my experience to make up for it.

If you've never been to St. Lucia you should know it is extremely lush and the perfect place if you're looking for a vacation where there are things to do, yet you still have the option to do nothing. My father and I are all about doing nothing. I am so one of those people who can lay (under the umbrella) on a beach with a book for days and be utterly happy. My mother and the boyfriend are the complete opposite. They can't sit still and luckily we stayed at a resort where all the water sports were included. That meant while I was lounging on the beach he could be water skiing, paddle boarding and vollyballing his heart out. 

I do have a few tips for those of you looking to visit St. Lucia:

• I stayed at Saint James, Morgan Bay resort and, like I said above, it was incredible. If you decide to stay there though here are my three biggest flaws (because I could go on about the good stuff for days):
  • Only one area is Wifi accessible. So if your like me and hate being cut off from the social world, this can be a tough transition. But after a few days I got over it. 
  • The outlets were placed in the weirdest areas. It might be the interior designer in me, but also as a girl who likes to have straight hair, getting ready was tough. I'd say bring a light extension cord if you're prone to using a curling iron or straightener.
  • It's about an hour and a half away from the airport. Brace yourself.
• To go off of the hour and a half drive- Saint Lucia has no direct roads. Like many islands, all the roads are extremely windy so if you're prone to car sickness BRING MEDS!
• Go on a boat tour of the island (this is the one I went on). It might be pricey but is totally worth it.
• Make sure to stop off at the volcano. Dip yourself in the hot spring and definitely try the mud bath. It made my skin soft for days.
• And, of course, bring tons of sunscreen.

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get social with cmq

Their are plenty of ways to get social with cmq (see below) but my all time favorite is instagram

So be awesome and follow cmq on Instagram! 

And for those of you not on the instagram bandwagon the cmq facebook, twitter and pinterest pages are there for you.

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fashion to interiors // The Blonde Salad home

There are thousands of blogs out there (ie this lovely interior design blog), but fashion blogs are definitely the top tier of the blogosphere. And at the top TOP of that tier is Chiara Ferragni of The Blonde Salad. You might not know her by name, but the chances are you've seen her on the popular pages of Instagram, or maybe on the cover of your favorite fashion mag., or maybe you've unknowingly checked out her shoe line while online shopping. Basically unless you've been living under a rock, chances are you've seen the gorgeous Ferragni. 

To no surprise, Ferragni's LA home is just as gorgeous as herself and thanks to Domaine we get an inside look. I loved to see how Ferragni's bold style translated into her space. With vibrant colors and a chic mixture of patterns, this home has such a fun and quirky personality that was so fun to page through. Domaine originally gave their readers an inside look back in March, but in case you missed it...

check out all the images & more on domainehome.com

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