Mood Board: Dining Room

I loved doing the mood board so much I am making another one. Except this time its based on design. I am actually used to doing something similar when planning a concept for a space to design. However, this is more of my personal taste. I get so inspired at work seeing new fabrics and pieces that I would LOVE to use, but we may not have a client that would love them too. So I want to pull some of those AMAZING pieces and make my own design in hopes that one day I can use them to maybe design my own dream home??
And now coming back to reality...I also hope to start posting about getting a "look" for less. Certain styles that are very popular may be wayyy to expensive to reproduce. So I want to help you out by showing you comparable designs to give you the same "look" for a lot less.
Moving on, this mood board is designed as a chic, yet rustic space. I would definitely strive to achieve this look if/when I get to design my own dining room (or maybe a friend that loves this too??). The color palette is fun but soothing. Its sophisticated and updated but not so formal that I couldn't eat in there every night. I love mixing textures and I think the polished look of the lighting and mirror contrast in such a nice way against the table. And of course the pop of color is teal :D

Wallcolor: Benjamin Moore- Gray Horse
Rug: Shades of Light- Floating Medallion Hand Tufted
Chairs: Shop Ten 25- White Chippendale Arm Chair
Wallcovering: Eykon Sequins Bicentennial
Mirror: Sanctuary Boutique Home: Silver Leaf Quatrefoil Mirror
Chandelier: Shop Ten 25 Antique Mirror Lantern
Table: Reclaimed Wood Herringbone Dining Table
Curtains: Urban Outfitters Magical Thinking Dotted Medallion
Gallery Wall DIY
Dishes: Rachel Bilson Edie Rose Collection (I have some of these pieces already!)

Accessories:
Shop Ten 25- Pebble Double Bulb Vases

What do you think of this space? Would you live in it?? Do you like this mood board better?? I would love to hear from YOU!

XO Samantha

Mood Board: Autumn

I love mood boards/collages/inspiration boards/whatever you want to call them! I know my blog has been full of all things fall and I promise I will post design things once I get out of this phase. However, today was such a nice "fall" day even though it hasn't officially started yet.
I have been trying to keep up with my goals. If you refer back to that post here you can see what those goals were if you missed it. So, September is flying by too and I have yet to 100% finish any of these goals yet :0

• I am almost halfway through The Help and I am loving it. 
• I have not been exercising anymore than just walking :( 
• I am still forgetting to take my camera everywhere with me. 
• I have to print pictures for scrapbooking and hanging in the apartment. 
• Still haven't finished the last of the name change. 
• Curtains are all taped and ready to paint so that is ALMOST done and will follow up with a post!! 
• I did skype with Sammi :) YAY but I still want to catch up with a few more friends before I mark that as complete.

To make myself feel a little bit better about this I have been making small to do lists and completing those. I did get my fall decor put up this weekend so I WILL take pictures at some point and post those!! Anyways hope y'all had a great weekend and Monday and I hope this mood board brightens your "fall" day.

1. Fall Tablescapes-Pinterest 2. Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte 3. Apples- Pinterest 

4. Fall Engagement Sessions- Photography by Lani Patrick 

5. Boots, Coats, Scarves, Leather-Pinterest 6. Inspiration Photo-Pinterest

7. Pumpkin Pancakes 8. Fall Scented Candles-Pinterest 9. J.Crew Cashmere Sweaters 

10. Pumpkins- Pinterest 11. Leaves changing color and falling-Pinterest

Is this how you envision fall? Would you add anything? What other mood boards would you like to see me create?

XO Samantha

Friday Favorites #2

I really enjoyed doing a Friday favorites post last time, so I figured I'd give it another go and who knows it could become a regular post.

Things I am super excited about:

1. Denise asked me to be her bridesmaid! and with an adorable infinity ring from Etsy :)
2. We are starting on a modern kitchen project at work!! I love kitchen design (probably because I love to cook)
3. Erin gave me a cute Go Hokies sign! another maroon and orange addition to our apartment (and just in time for the game tomorrow!)
4. I get to skype with Sammi and Olivia this weekend!! Love and miss them soooo much :D

Sites/blogs that I am obsessing over:

1. My Semi-Charmed Life (love your blog Anna)-http://annassemicharmedlife.blogspot.com/
2. J's Everyday Fashion-http://www.jseverydayfashion.com/
3. Life with the Hawleys- http://lifewiththehawleys.blogspot.com/

Current Favorite Shows:

1. Diner's Drive-Ins and Dives (always love this show, but especially in the fall)
2. The Voice- loved the first season and its at my favorite part (the blind auditions)
3. and well House still.... (this will probably never change or maybe it will when Vampire Diaries season 4 starts)

Current Favorite Songs:

1. Maroon 5- One More Night
2. Fun- Some Nights
3. Phillip Phillips- Home

Current Favorite Stores:

1. Red Dress Boutique- especially their jewelry
2. Target- love all of their stuff but especially seasonal stuff!!
3. Clementine- boutique shop in Carytown :)

No need to write a wish list this time since I just did a post on that here.

What are your favorite shows, songs, stores, etc. right now?? Be sure to check out these other blogs and give them a shout out too! Do you enjoy the friday favorites post? I am always discovering new things that I love especially since I started blogging and I love to share these things with you (like the Red Dress Boutique- I found that from J's everyday fashion blog)

XO Samantha

Wednesday Wish List

We have made it through half of the week and I am really excited for this coming weekend! Why? Well we aren't going anywhere special but I am really happy that I just get to relax with my husband this weekend. :D I can't wait to watch the Hokies play on Saturday. We are also planning to go to Class and Trash too! Before you judge, check out their website. Its a thrift, antique and collectibles store. I also plan to decorate the apartment for Fall this weekend too. I have a long list of Pinterest ideas to try out for this. The ones I am most excited about are a fall wreath and a mercury glass pumpkin!!

Find the step by step here

I already have the glass pumpkin so it is meant to be!!

Some random things:

1. I am going to be featuring some senior interior design student work pretty soon! Get excited :) I know I am.
2. The apartment is now clean and smells like the yummy pumpkin bread that I made.
3. I've started reading The Help! Loved the movie and really wanted to read it so thanks Gabby for letting me borrow it. (and remember it's on my September goals to read an entire book-on my way to completing that one)
4. My awesome friend Erin told me about Amazon wish list and guess what? MIND BLOWN! Now I can access all of these pretty things in one place :)
5. And finally, I got to meet a blog friend (Anna) for Sweet Frog last night! Who else loves froyo?? I got peanut butter and dulce de leche :) yum!

Now for my wish list:

Raskog- Ikea kitchen cart

Gap Suede Loafers in Electric Fuschia

Urban Outfitters Pointy Pony Skimmer

Anthropologie Viscid Watch in Sky

Kate Spade Bag 

(unfortunately its no longer available but I will always love it!)

Target Table lamp (for my bedside table!)

and last but not least:

The Nook Tablet

Barnes and Noble

Etsy

and probably one of these to go with it ;)

I'll let you know if/when my fall decorating turns out like this:

Haha! yeah right :P ( I would have to go Pinterest CRAZY)

What is on your wish list? Do you think its too early to put fall stuff out? I would love to see pics if you have already done so!

XO Samantha

A moment of silence

I know my words and thoughts can in no way describe what it was like on September 11, 2001, but I just want to share what has been on my mind and heart. Today I decided drive home in silence. Instead of singing in my car and blasting my music on the way home, I wanted to reflect on what this day is really about. I turned the radio off and my usual 5 o' clock traffic rage to remind myself how lucky I am to be here. I like many others remember exactly where I was when tragedy struck. I was in 6th grade in my English class. Once I got home that day, my parents explained to me and my sister what had happened. We sat there watching the news and I knew that our country had been devastated. I couldn't fully wrap my head around it and I don't know if I ever will. I couldn't understand why someone would want to kill these innocent people? Why would they attack us? I have so much respect for those who were brave enough to come to these people's rescue and sacrifice their own lives. My heart breaks for the families and friends who lost loved ones. The entire country still weeps 11 years later. It feels like such a long time ago. Actually it's half of my lifetime ago, but the memory plays over like it was yesterday. I hope the pain and sadness that I feel for them will not fade over the years because we must NEVER forget. What made peoples lives turn upside down 11 years ago today now makes us stronger. Like I said, I know my statement won't change things, but I hope it makes you stop and take a moment of silence to reflect all of the lives that were lost.

I want to share some of the images posted on facebook because a picture is worth a thousand words. God Bless the U.S.A.

Never Forget

XO Samantha