Gifts for a Valentine

Can you believe tomorrow is February?! You know what that means...two more weeks until Valentines Day. So just in case you need to snag a prezzie for your Mom, Sis, or BFF one of these is sure to be the perfect gift!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C Wonder Love Me Knot Earrings   C Wonder LOVE Belt Buckle  Kate Spade Alexandria Top  Oomph Zizi Pillow  Paper Source Grapefruite Candle   Serena and Lily Feather Rug


Have a wonderful weekend!

Local Living: The Nest Egg





Yesterday I headed out to the Fair Oaks area of Fairfax to meet with a new client.  On my way back to the office I made a detour (really it was awfully convenient) to check out a locally owned home furnishings boutique, The Nest Egg.  It has been on my to-do list for several months now but with the move then Christmas and getting settled I had to put it on the back burner.  I wish I hadn't waited so long - it is ah.maz.ing.  I obsess over boutiques filled with furniture and accessories 1) because that's my job and 2) it's my 5 year plan...   10 year plan...   dream to own one myself. While I was there chatting with one of the shopkeepers (probably taking up way too much of her time), I told her that what I love about home décor boutiques is that every shop owner has a different vision for their store.  Although some may carry some of the same vendors, each and every store is different and tells a different story.  I love it!! The Nest Egg carries so many of my favorite vendors but of course they had so many more that were new to me - I can't wait to start visiting more regularly!  They are filling the shop with new pieces each week and bringing in new discoveries from market so be sure to pop by soon! 

 

The Nest Egg

11940 Grand Commons Avenue, Fairfax, VA 22030

 

 

 

 

 I loved the attention to detail on this skirt! Adding fabric, not only as a band on the skirt but the invert of the pleat is beautiful!

 Grab a throw...or two...to take the chill off your bones!

 Loved their pillow display.

 

 Like the look of an upholstered ottoman AND  tray? Voila!

 Remember my tips on adding a bit of pizzaz in the entry of your rented home? They carry Tempaper - a removable wallpaper! See...told you it's a great idea!

 They have the most amazing stock of oversized art.  Have a giant wall that needs to be filled? They are bound to have something that suits your taste.

 

 

Thanks Nest Egg for accommodating my drop by visit! Look forward to shopping again with you soon!

Wisteria Sale!

Wisteria is having a great sale on their stools & side tables.  I often recommend their products to my Bundled Room clients because most of their pieces are trend resistant, which is how I tend to decorate.  Since they are one of my go-to retailers, I thought I'd share a few of my favorites.



HARD AS STEEL: METAL

  

SUBTLE STATEMENT: GLASS OR ACRYLIC

 

  

 

A BOLD ACCENT: COLOR

 

  

Tips for Renters in the Post's Express!

This morning I received the best text from my husband. "Um you were written up in the express paper." Rewind to two weeks ago...I received an email from a freelance writer of the Express asking if I could share some tips with her about an article she was writing.  Of course I was happy to do so but didn't know if she was actually going to use the info I gave her.  Hubs rides the metro to work everyday so he usually picks up the paper on his way downtown.  Well boy am I glad he snagged it this morning! I'll let you read it for yourself!  Ready To Rent (pages 17 and 19)

 

 

Huge thanks to my friend Amy Rutherford of Red Barn Mercantile, who is also quoted in this article and who I wrote about here.

 

Have a great weekend!

New Year, New Location, New Goals

Happy New Year! I can still say that...right? I'm so excited to be writing from my new office! Our studio is located in my home, which used to be a 700sf condo in Alexandria.  My husband and I found our #countryhouseinthecity (follow me on Instagram!) in Annandale, just barely inside the beltway.  We fell in love with this house because of the lot - heavily wooded and half an acre (which if you live in the DC area you know that is hard to come by).  The house is a 1957 American Rambler which I intend to turn into a 1957 American Farmhouse.  It has solid bones (literally...our floor beams are made of concrete...not wood) and a great layout, best of all a huge wood burning fireplace which was a must for the Pennos.  Ok scratch that.  Best of all I have an amazing office.  I now have room for samples and a work table to spread out and brainstorm! It is still a work in progress so photos will be posted once a little more getting settled is done.

My New Goal (professionally) for this year is plain and simple.  I don't have a list of ten or even five things I want to do.  Just one.  I want to perfect sketching like this:

Steve Giannetti



Steve Giannetti - you may know the name from the very popular Velvet & Linen blog is a very talented architect and I drool over his homes...not to mention, his actual home.  Brooke, his wife, is the author of Velvet & Linen.  Brooke is a very talented decorator and often posts many of Steve's projects, including his sketches.  I used to free hand sketch a lot more when I worked for Custom Design Concepts because aside from interior design I also produced interior architecture drawings which often came from sketching to help work through the interior of a home.  I feel very strongly that this is a lost art.  Students now learn to draw in 3D using computer programs like Sketchup but you lose all emotion when looking at a computer drawing.  So by the end of 2014 I am going to get back to the drawing board (literally) and start sketching again.  If you were my client, wouldn't you love to receive a drawing like this to help visualize your home? I would!