You just bought your first place together, and want to upgrade your home from the leftover college hand-me-downs, to a cozy and modern place that looks like both of you. The problem is...
you have no idea where to start.
He likes bulky black leather furniture, and you like light and bright marble finishes. He wants a huge TV over the mantle, and you want your engagement pictures proudly displayed.
All couples go through this, and it's important to value each others decisions to come to a compromise. But sometimes you just need that outside perspective that will be able to bring it all together with a good mix of each personality.
I've listed below a few options of how to get that HGTV worthy home, while finding your home style as a couple and continuing to plan that wedding of yours!
1| ONLINE DESIGN SERVICES
There are online services (Laurel & Wolf, Havenly, Decorilla) that will take your room measurements and photos, and for a flat per-room fee will provide you with a virtual mock-up of your newly designed space. They will completely transform your room from a far. The flat fees are VERY affordable, and judging by the website images, the transformations are amazing!
This type of service is definitely gaining popularity, and I really want to try it! If you have worked with one of these online designer services, please let me know in the comments below how it worked out for you. I think it would be amazing to say that I had a designer redo my room, without needing to take out a loan to pay for it. And hey, if I can feel like a celebrity while doing it, I'm totally up for it. Needless to say, I am seriously considering their help in designing a few rooms in my new home.
2| BRAND SPECIFIC STYLISTS
Some of your favorite stores may offer free design services on site. For example, if you know you love everything West Elm, but are completely at a loss of how to incorporate it into your home, the West Elm stylists will be able to design a floor plan and curate a list of products just for you...Voila! No more stress of weeding through an entire website of products, and more time to plan that amazing honeymoon.
They offer in store and in home consultations where you will chat about style, wishlists, wants and needs, and then they do all the hard work of sourcing just the right pieces for you. You just need to approve it and press go! They will even show up on delivery day with accessories in hand to stage your home like a celebrity.
Don't we all just dream of that?!
SIDE NOTE: If you are local to Princeton, New Jersey, and love West Elm, let me know in the comments below and I'll personally get you set up with a stylist!
3| PINTEREST LIKE AN ANIMAL
There are so many resources out there, and so many beautiful pictures that you can reference when making a home that feels like you. You can easily go onto paint websites to figure out which gray is best for your room, or if this wallpaper will really work as well as you think it will. So if you are the type of person that is all for research and LOVES the hunt...Hey...more power to ya.
I go through phases where I like to look at EVERY option before making a decision, but more often than not I end up spinning in circles and ending up doing nothing instead. So while you may be MUCH better at making decisions than I am, this option is going to take time. Make sure you evaluate if it's worth it, you busy, multi-tasking lady!
I'm a strong believer in doing and buying what you LOVE, so in the end, whether you shop in the local antique shop, browse Pinterest until 1am, or end up hiring someone online or in-store to do the dirty work for you, enjoy the process of building a home and a life together.
That's really what it's all about, right?
YOUR TURN
Are you a Pinterest hunter, or would you rather invest in some professional services? What is your go-to home design resource?
Wishing you all the best in love, business and HOME life,
Chelsea B.
Putting on that dress and adding a spritz of perfume, those cuff links, the tear-filled first look, the most special walk of your life, and the reciting of your "I do's". These are some of the most special moments of your life, and what better way to capture them and revisit them than in video form.
This is what W Beyer Creative does. They are a husband and wife team who are able to capture those moments and create one of the most special take-aways of your wedding day and special events. If you are living a moment you never want to forget, you definitely want to contact William and Allison and let them work their cinematic magic in creating the perfect video memories.
Check out this wedding trailer, and read on below to learn more about them!
I'm starting a new blog series that you won't want to miss! I'm gathering my favorite vendors in your area, and giving you a little behind the scenes peek into their business. If you've ever wondered what wedding vendors do each day, or if you want to know fun little facts that noone else may know...keep reading for todays vendor!
If you are recently engaged and have a million and one things on your mind, I've got one piece of advice that will not only lessen your stress, but make all those parties and celebrations actually exciting. You will feel SO amazing and confident, guaranteed!
Sound too good to be true?
It's not! Enter...Randi Poilon of Styled by Randi.
You’re staring at your bling all day, still getting used to your new name (hey there, Fiancé!), and you’ve just set your wedding date for October of next year. Congratulations! Among all of the congrats, squeals, and spontaneous dance parties, the first thing that people ask is “Ooo, are you planning a Halloween themed wedding?” Um...no.
If you are a bride like I was, you love fall, but do not want to see pumpkins at your wedding. You still want to have the feel and overall fall aesthetic, but just need some inspiration to get you started. Well ladies, this blog is for you!
Click through to read more, and to get some FREE and fabulous mood boards to get you started planning your fall wedding!
PS: Don't forget to pin these boards, and head on over to our contact page to get started on your fall wedding invitations!
Knives chopping bright, crisp vegetables, and pots sizzling with new combinations of fresh ingredients. All of this is captured immediately and in full vibrant color by Rachel E.H., owner of the food blog Vorace.
About 2 months ago I was going through emails and working remotely and when I came across one email in particular, and it broke me down. Right there in the middle of a hotel lobby coffee shop...
Click the link to find out what I was reading when it happened...you just might need it too.
You've saved the money, reserved the venue and photographer, and even said, "YES" to the dress. The big things are taken care of (phew!) and you've turned your attention to the next round of details, wondering where can we cut back so we can upgrade our honeymoon flight to first class.
Wedding invitations may be entering your mind as you go down the list of to-do's. You've searched Pinterest and a few online shops, but haven't found "the one" yet, and are wondering if the investment is really worth it.
The short answer is, yes.
Here are three reasons why you should invest in your wedding invitations.
You just bought your first place together, and want to upgrade your home from the leftover college hand-me-downs, to a cozy and modern place that looks like both of you. The problem is...
you have no idea where to start.
He likes bulky black leather furniture, and you like light and bright marble finishes. He wants a huge TV over the mantle, and you want your engagement pictures proudly displayed.
All couples go through this, and it's important to value each others decisions to come to a compromise. But sometimes you just need that outside perspective that will be able to bring it all together with a good mix of each personality.
Click the link for a few options of how to get that HGTV worthy home, while finding your home style as a couple and continuing to plan that wedding of yours!
Beachy. Moroccan. Moody. Vintage. Bohemian. These were all of the words that were used to describe this styled shoot.
Are you intrigued yet?
You're prepping for an important work meeting, catching up with an old friend for drinks, and trying to figure out the maze that is wedding planning. Your week has turned into one crazy, non-stop hustle, and you can barely slow down enough to enjoy a week night in with your sweetie to binge watch all the shows that you've missed.
It's exhausting, right?
And the LAST thing you want to do is go to the grocery store to wade through the crowds of other exhausted and multi-tasking career men and women, who are just trying to pick up dinner so you don't have to order take out for the 3rd night in a row.
I'm tired just thinking about it. And if you are like me, I HATE meal planning! I just have some sort of mental block that when it comes down to planning out the week and deciding what to eat each day sounds exhausting.
I like cooking, but hate the planning. It's the "chore" aspect of it that I just continue to resist.
I'm here to tell you the simplest solution of all solutions, that will immediately free up your mind and your week...
Follow the link to find the solution to simplifying your life in one step!
Nicole and Bryan came to me from somewhere out in the social media wonderland, and I'm so darn happy they did.
Nicole has so much energy and excitement, and they were both SO in love. Nicole knew that she wanted an invitation suite that would accent her designer gown and gorgeous chandelier-filled reception hall when sending it to their over 300 person guest list! She knew she wanted pinks and maybe some green, and wasn't a fan of too much cursive.