Hello Lover...

Hello Perfect Foyer

2012-01-26T04:00:00.000-08:00

Alaina posted this space on her blog the other day as part of her chevron rug source post and I have not been able to get it out of my head!

Source: livecreatingyourself.com via hellolover on Pinterest

Anyone know the source of this one? I would love to see more of this space and would definitely love to see more of this home!

Wedding Wednesday: Chalk

2012-01-25T04:00:00.000-08:00

Chalk and chalkboards have started showing up all over the design world. We've seen refrigerators painted with chalkboard paint to wine glasses with your name written out in chalk. Now chalk has also started showing up in the wedding world and I'm really loving how creative people can get with the stuff.

customchalk

wedding paper divas

Green Wedding Shoes

How about using it to share info with your guests - the menu, where they are seated, etc.

Sarah K Chen

How amazing is this photo backdrop?!

Saipua

Dana Tanamachi

If these images are inspiring you to incorporate chalk into your wedding or event be sure to check out Custom Chalk on etsy and please, please look at the work of Dana Tanamachi - she even did the cover of Oprah this month and if she's good enough for Oprah...

Hello Rossini

2012-01-24T04:00:00.000-08:00

Well I have gone and fallen head over heels in love with a fabric. Here she is.

via here

The colors, the pattern - I'm literally obsessed. Here are some photos of her put to work.

Ruthie Sommers

Last three via Full House

Last two via here

The fabric is called Rossini and it is by Jane Churchill for Cowtan & Tout. I can no longer find it on Jane Churchill's site but I can still find it via Cowtan & Tout. This would be the perfect fabric for our office/guest room. Does anyone know if this is still available to order? Do you love it as much as I?! Where can I find it - help!

Hello City Park

2012-01-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

I have been searching and searching for the perfect wallpaper for our guest bath. I was really set on going with either Osborne & Little's Paradiso by Nina Campbell or Cole & Son's Hummingbirds.

I was torn and continually looking at other options to see if I would find something that I just knew was right. Then, this morning I picked up the newest issue of Chicago Social Interiors and I was floored when I came upon this wallpaper.

via Alan Design Studio

I love so many things about it. I love the coral color. I love the pattern and when I looked into the source I discovered even more things to love about it. The wallpaper is called City Park and is by Flavor Paper. It is an urban take on the damask pattern and hides lots of fun surprises. Here is the image from their website.

Can you see what I'm talking about yet? Hidden (kind of) in the damask pattern is fire hydrants, pigeons, rats, & parking meters! I think it's really hilarious and I think it makes a somewhat girly, traditional pattern a little more fun and edgy. I definitely think it makes the idea of wallpaper a little more appealing to my husband. I have already emailed the company to find out about ordering this in the coral color and I am anxiously awaiting their response. I love it when the exact thing you've been looking for (when you weren't really sure what you were looking for) finds you.

Thoughts? Would you put these urban items up on your wall if you could disguise them in pretty coral damask? I'm pretty set on it.

Wedding Wednesday: Leather

2012-01-18T04:00:00.000-08:00

So last week on Wedding Wednesday I showed you some beautiful examples of cotton used in wedding decor. This week, I am going to share with you an even more unconventional material - leather. Have you seen the beautiful wedding of Jose Villa to Joel Serrato that was featured in the most recent issue of Martha Stewart Weddings? If not, you must check it out here.

Jose & Joel used leather throughout their wedding from the invitations, to the coasters, to the place settings. It was so great to see what is thought of as such a masculine material look so beautiful.

Source: marthastewartweddings.com via hellolover on Pinterest

Don't you just love this?! The whole wedding was absolutely stunning - and the leather touches were absolutely perfect.

Hello Olive & Cocoa

2012-01-17T04:00:00.000-08:00

Have you come across the online store Olive & Cocoa? If not, prepare to pleasantly surprised. They are an online source for gifts - and they really take the art of gift giving seriously.

Check out their florals - they are truly stunning. No generic rose or daisy bouquets here.

Their food baskets are greatly styled.

They also have some really fun home decor items. I adore these dogs!

This guy is Jack. I really love him.

And how about this shaggy little friend?!

They also have some really great items for children (or for their parents with the idea that they are for the kids).

This is a tooth fairy dish - a pretty alternative to an envelope under the pillow.

Some really adorable socks that look like little girls shoes.

Tabletop items,

Gorgeous pink tapers.

Individual cupcake stands.

Some really simple, beautiful jewelry.

My favorite thing about this company is probably how they make packaging an important part of the gift - look at how beautiful these boxes are, and they even wrap them in satin ribbon!

Have any of you ordered anything from here? If so, what was your experience like? Any other great gift giving sources you want to share?!

Hello Geronimo Balloons

2012-01-16T04:00:00.000-08:00

This time of year has me feeling like we are jumping from one Holiday to the next. And next, just happens to be Valentine's Day. My husband and I really don't make a big to-do out of this day. I usually grab some cheese and wine from whole foods or some sushi from our favorite place and have a quiet night at home. But after seeing Geronimo Balloons little V-Day video I wouldn't mind coming home to this.

Source: geronimoballoons.com via hellolover on Pinterest

Here is the video

Geronimo Balloons Valentine's Day from hak lonh on Vimeo.

How fun would it be to receive this?! I mean maybe a little embarrassing at some uber professional office (which I do not work in)- but at my front door - yes please!

Shabby Apple Winner

2012-01-15T16:31:00.000-08:00

Sorry I'm a few days late on announcing the Shabby Apple giveaway winner - work got a little crazy at the end of the week. I picked the winner the old fashion way. I put all the entries into my little anthro mug, shook it up and picked out the winner.

Without any further delay, the winner is Missy, who said:

Oh my goodness! I LOVE the teachers pet skirt! And I "like" shabby apple on Facebook! :)

Congrats Missy & Thanks to all who entered!

Wedding Wednesday: Cotton

2012-01-11T04:00:00.000-08:00

I love seeing unique wedding decor. Now understand - I never really tire of seeing a beautiful bouquet of peonies or ranunculus, but every once in a while it is refreshing to see a centerpiece or bouquet made of a different type of material. Enter, cotton. Most people would never even think of cotton in terms of wedding decor, but personally, I can't get enough of it. Here are some great ways cotton is used in weddings, from miscellaneous decor to centerpieces to boutonnieres and bouquets.

Source: birdsinchandeliers.com via hellolover on Pinterest

Source: stylemepretty.com via hellolover on Pinterest

Source: cottonman.com via hellolover on Pinterest

Source: stephaniewilliamsphotography.com via hellolover on Pinterest

Source: jasminestarblog.com via hellolover on Pinterest

Source: idodeals.net via hellolover on Pinterest

Source: helloloverofbeautifulthings.blogspot.com via hellolover on Pinterest

What non main stream items do you really love seeing used for wedding decor? What about winter weddings - I love the idea of using cotton in a winter wedding!

Don't forget today is the last day to enter the Shabby Apple giveaway - all entries need to be submitted by midnight. I'll announce the winner this Friday, January 13th.

First Aid

2012-01-10T04:00:00.000-08:00

So the inevitable cut/scrape is always a hassle when it comes to fashion. No one ever wants to be showing off an ugly band-aid.

Cynthia Rowley to the rescue.

Source: cynthiarowley.com via hellolover on Pinterest

How adorable are these band-aids? I almost want to just wear some for fun.

You can get yours here.

Don't forget, tomorrow is the last day to enter the Shabby Apple Giveaway!

Hello Bookcases

2012-01-09T04:00:00.000-08:00

If you recall a while back I had blogged about my ideas for our built in bookcases, if you missed it you can catch up here. Well a few months after that post the plans were all finalized and the installation began. I'll go through the before/after photos as well as some during in a different post. For now I want to share with you how I used them to display some of our Christmas decor. Now introducing, our built-in bookcases!

This was the first year we really had a place to display lots of Christmas decor and I loved it.

We set the bottoms shelf near the entrance up as a bar. A few bottles of liquor, some pretty glasses decked out with some brass deer and surrounded by faux trees made it festive.

Here is a close up of another shelf. The gold sequin bird was from west elm last year and those bowls are of course anthropologie.

Here is a better look of the left side.

And the right side.

These dogs are a favorite of mine! I picked them up at a little store in Andersonville for $28 - score.

We brought our boxwoods indoors for the winter. To dress them up for Christmas I wrapped their planters in burlap and tied them with and aqua satin bow. These clearly have nothing to do with our bookcases but I really loved how these turned out.

Hope you enjoyed a little pick into our Christmas decor. I'll be posting photos of our tree this week and then will finally be putting all of our Holiday items to rest for the year. How about you all - how long do you keep your Christmas decor up? What is your favorite part of the house to decorate for the Holidays?

Don't forget to enter the Shabby Apple giveaway - it ends this Wednesday at midnight!

Hello Pippin Hill Farm

2012-01-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

So I'm a little off on Wedding Wednesdays this week as I'm doing a wedding post on Friday. But what I'm about to share with you is so beautiful that I don't think you'll mind. I came across this amazing wedding venue on both The Bride's Cafe & Grey Like's Weddings and it is nothing short of stunning.

Source: thebridescafe.com via hellolover on Pinterest

The venue is Pippin Hill Farm (in case you couldn't tell by the title of the post!). It is located in North Garden, Virginia (near Charlottesvile, VA). It is a boutique winery & vineyard with a focus on entertaining - hence the beautiful venue. It's a newly built space and it's construction was just finished this past June. Here is a little tour of the interior of the space.