Happy Birthday Elaine! Photo credit: Ansley Nguyen

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you Elaine! You are by far one of the most fabulous women I know, and I hope that your day is just as glamorous as you are! You are loved by so many and we love to see you succeed!

You have worked so hard to get where you are today, so take time to celebrate YOU! You truly deserve to take a break and just relax!

Remember that you are loved by so many! We all wish you the best on your very special day!

-Ansley

Learn to breathe. Photo credit: unknown

Showing authenticity as a person is to show a genuine concern for others and to do right by them. Authentic is quality over quantity. It is being real with yourself and doing what makes you happy, not what is expected of you. Now, I’m not saying quit your day job and go completely off the grid, but it’s never too late to start completing that bucket list. Face your fears. Travel. Learn to take a deep breath and let everything go (even if only for a few seconds).

Learn to paint. Photo credit: Kathy Yu

While in High Point, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet some wonderful, genuine women. Meeting them showed me the importance of real  people in life, and how faux friends are as bad as a pair of pleather pants– they do nothing for you and leave others thinking, “Oh, honey no.”

Here’s to 2012. Here’s to having real friends. Here’s to the authentic life. Here’s to living.

Face your fear. Photo credit: Democratic Underground

Lori's Broadway Tree, Photo credit: Ansley Nguyen

This season is all about celebration and decoration, but sometimes being traditional is just too blah. What better way to decorate your home than something with a splash of your personality and event-themed accents? Don’t know where to begin? Start with something your family does together, and hit the ground running! Here’s one of my favorites from my dear friend Lori!

I spy the "horse" from Monte Python! Photo credit: Ansley Nguyen

The idea for her Broadway themed tree came about after she and her family started going to musicals, most of which are presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. Each year they attend several shows, always saving the Playbill given when entering the theater and usually purchasing at least one souvenir. Lori cleverly turned the Playbills into ornaments by copying and shrinking the cover, then laminating them before adding them to the tree. She and her family have even turned souvenirs into tree decorations– Chitty Chitty Bang Bang flies low in the branches, joined by a few characters from How the Grinch Stole Christmas! How fun is this tree?

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Photo credit: Ansley Nguyen

Ok, so now you have the dilemma of finding your own niche to make your tree truly personal. Keep it simple and important! Take a cue from Lori’s husband Nam, who has his own Star Trek tree in his office (complete with speaking replica of Captain Kirk). Or from the zeal of rivalry between colleges and their “House Divided” tree– half University of Virginia, half Virginia Tech (I smell family a family feud this season)!

But most of all, it’s about the heart you put into it. It’s not the gifts beneath the tree, or even the tree itself, but the people who gather around it! So gather round, keep warm, and have a very merry Christmas!

Drexel Heritage, Photo credit: Ansley Nguyen

With cold weather moving in, it often seems like a better idea to curl up by a fire with a good book and a cup of warm coffee. To make an escape and seclude yourself from the chill and get cozy and comfortable. To make a getaway to a cabin high in the mountains where snow and trees abound and city lights disappear.

Drexel Heritage, Photo credit: Ansley Nguyen

No, I’m not talking about roughing it out in the wilderness– I want a lush, luxe, rustic cabin that doesn’t skimp on the details. Warm colors and textured fabrics with elegant escape appeal, like what we saw in Drexel Heritage’s  showroom at High Point Market. Drexel has this amazing capacity to turn what is so masculine into something every woman can love. The bedroom has a masculine build and strength about it, but the fabrics are so inviting and even feminine. The living room has a similar appeal, with warm, rich colors and a masculine coffee table, contrasted with a sleek, curved armchair in a soft, neutral gray.

Ok, so maybe I can’t just up and leave for a winter cabin retreat high in the mountains. But the inspiration that can be drawn from the idea is unending. Plus, there’s no Starbucks in the woods and they’ve got Peppermint Mochas back on the menu!

Photo Credit: Tack and Pet Supplies

It’s the first ride of the cold season. His coat is getting longer and fuzzier, his nostrils flare with every breath he sucks in. The first steps onto the pavement leading to the trails breaks the silence of the afternoon, and we make our way to our hidden valley where we ride calm and free.

It’s been a month since my last ride with him. I can feel his excitement surging with every step as his body moves beneath the saddle. Something about the cold air always gets to the horses, and it sends a giddy feeling from my toes up through my spine. His excitement makes me even more happy about riding this winter, even though I usually hate the cold. But on the back of a horse, even the cold weather and chilly breeze becomes liberating. As we walk the trail to our favorite spot, I begin to relax into the seat of the saddle. I slouch and let his walk move me. I breathe in the frigid air and relish this moment even though it happens every year. That first ride of the winter that makes me anxious for my break from school, so I can run to the freedom of my saddle and escape to the trails with my horse.

Julie Browning Bova for Stanford Furniture, Photo Credit: Ansley Nguyen

Riding is my passion. It is what drives me and what soothes me. And up until now, I have been rather disappointed with the selection of interiors that fit my style. This past Market was my first, and I was elated when Elaine told me about the collection Julie Browning Bova did with Stanford Furniture. The collection has equestrian elements throughout and has the small details every rider like myself would adore. It is elegant and livable; it is warm and lush. The collection models the lifestyle of riders, and mixes in the textures of the sport with the elegance of luxury living.

–Ansley

Remember that it’s all about individuality and your personal style. Here’s a few more ideas for you to take with you as you’re preparing for your holiday celebrations!

What's your style? Photos from Pinterest, Collage credit: Ansley Nguyen

Remember, this holiday is all about the people you surround yourself with and the memories you create with them. These setting make great pieces to gather around, and customizing each plate with a card allows those gathering with you to take a small piece with them when they go.  So this holiday, cherish those around you, savor the food, and embrace your environment!

Looking for a warm and cozy setting this Thanksgiving? Look no further than to bring the outside in and bring the flavor of fall to your dining room.

Warm and Cozy!

For a fun, playful, kid-friendly setting, try this! The adorable little boats filled with goodies are sure to bring a smile to any child at your dinner. Customizing the sail adds an even more personal touch, and it gives a small hint back the the heritage of the season.

Adorable!

 If you’re planning on procrastinating and putting off you table settings to do holiday shopping, here’s a good one for you! It is modern, but gives a pop of color that keeps it festive.

Modern and Colorful

 Looking for a more crisp, clean winter wonderland set-up? Martha Stewart has some great inspirations to show on her site as well! Take a look at this clean and elegant setting that has a touch of romance:

Crepe-Paper Bells, Photo credit: Martha Stewart

Remember, the holidays are all about who (not what) you surround yourself with, so use these settings to bring everyone together. Customize them, tweak them, and make them fit your personality. And don’t be afraid to let the kiddos help… just watch where that paint splatters!

Looking for something ultra lush and elegant this season? Check back on Tuesday afternoon for my video about different setups that will absolutely transform your dining table!

Drexel Heritage Showroom, Photo credit: Ansley Nguyen

I love pretty things. I mean come on, what designer doesn’t?  But oh, the pretty things I got to see at Market!  One of the last stops I made was at the Drexel Heritage showroom, and I was ecstatic to see everything they had this year. Well, they must have saved the best for last, because this showroom was absolutely stunning.

The photo I featured was one of the back of the showroom, where natural light

Drexel Heritage Bed and Mirror, Photo credit: Ansley Nguyen

shone through large windows, giving an elegant and romantic glow to the room. The furniture was sleek and lush and inviting. Every room had its own vibe, each one with it’s own personality but still with that swank that is very much Drexel Heritage. Walking from room to room was like a journey through wonderland. Everything you have seen before was transformed into something even more extravagant and sophisticated. A sofa in here was not just a sofa– it was almost alive with personality, each curve of the frame or texture of the cushion shouted out the vibe it was meant to carry.

Drexel Heritage Dining Room, Photo credit: Ansley Nguyen

Ok, so maybe all it did was sit there in the room, just as pretty as can be. But the pieces that were placed together worked in such harmony. Like an orchestra on performing night, every piece playing its part so wonderfully, not to stick out on its own, but to work together make a beautiful symphony of furniture. And I could listen… excuse me, look, all day long.

Thomasville featuring Eastern Accents bedding, Photo credit: Ansley Nguyen

Think traditional. No, no. Not that traditional. It isn’t old, it isn’t drab, it isn’t stuffy and boring. It is cultured, it has a story, it is exciting. Well, at least it is now. Thomasville furniture has brought a new light to the traditional style– the company has kept the wonderful quality it is known for while bringing that update that everyone desires.

The Thomasville showroom at Market this fall gave a wonderful peek into the updates they are bringing to traditional furniture. Clean lines, custom headboards, and new fabric options bring an exciting contemporary feel to the brand so synonymous with classic pieces. Pairing the beautiful bedding from Eastern Accents made the settings even more warm and inviting as we walked through.

Forget heavy, dark, and drab. The Thomasville collection this year took the classic structure and made it modern. They made it relevant. They brought true timelessness to the traditional line they created, and in doing so have solidified their place as a top design pick.

Mulloy Residence featuring Lane Venture furniture, Photo credit: Frisco Style

“Our interiors are an extension of our personality… [and] it is important to take your interiors outside.” -Martyn Bullard

No words have ever rung so true than those spoken by the wonderful Martyn Bullard. So many people often forget to extend their interiors to the great outdoors, and in doing so they forgo so much space that is open for them to use. But there are no excuses to give up that space when such beautiful outdoor furniture is available.

Sadly, beautiful isn’t enough. Many companies fall short in durability, customization options, and selection. But there is hope! Enter Lane Venture. The options you get with the furniture are outstanding. The quality is the best of the best, the durability unparalleled. I’m talking 365 days of sun, rain, wind, heat, and cold and it holds up and keeps it’s integrity. Every piece is crafted to stay outdoors all year long, with special fabrics and cushions that don’t need replacing every season.

Monogramming is available on these chairs! Photo credit: Ansley Nguyen

Lane Venture has always been a favorite of mine, whether it is theirtraditional collection or the swanky collections by Raymond Waites. The company has always had an eye for bringing the indoors outside and completely fulfilling what Martyn expressed. Furniture is made to be enjoyed, and Lane Venture makes it pleasing not only to the eyes but to the body as well. With a multitude of fabric options (some are reversible– talk about serious options!) and a wide array of paint choices, the combinations are endless. Individual personality and unity come together with the monogramming options and beautiful patterns, so really, what more could you ask for?

Raymond Waites for Lane Venture, Photo Credit: Ansley Nguyen

What about some more Raymond Waites? Well, sure! I have always felt so connected with his style and the depth that he brings to his designs. The structure of the pieces is phenomenal and unique, and the textures, patterns, and colors he uses complete the pieces that he creates. I even StyleSpotted one of his sofas from High Point Market! The shape of it was so dramatic yet so incredibly beautiful and inviting, and it seemed to bring life the the room. And I can personally say that Raymond has always had a flair for the dramatics and over-the-top designs, but he does it in a way that is controlled and elegant, so his pieces can be used in any setting.