Hello loves! I am currently working on a gazillion different things around the house and due to g̶e̶t̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶c̶a̶u̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶a̶ ̶b̶i̶g̶ ̶p̶i̶l̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶w̶a̶l̶l̶p̶a̶p̶e̶r̶/̶w̶a̶l̶l̶p̶a̶p̶e̶r̶ ̶p̶a̶s̶t̶e̶ delays in shipping one of my projects is taking a little longer than expected. So while I am waiting for my new roll of wallpaper to be delivered I started thinking a lot about my new design plan and these shelves just weren't cutting it. I'm sure you'll remember these shelves from this post. 

While these were great for the farmhouse style I was going for at the time they are currently bringing down the whole vibe of this area. These shelves are a focal point of the room because of our open floorplan so I really wanted to use them to bring the rooms all together. Cue: Marble contact paper. You guys. I would wrap myself in this if I could. I'm obsessed...and frankly, embarrassed to admit how many things in my life I've wrapped in this stuff.

Another obsession of mine...coffee table books! I LOVE them. Any time I go to a store I keep my eyes open for cool books. I not only look for amazing pops of color but for a book with great content as well. 

My secret to designing a shelf is to start with your main objects...whatever it is you want to display more than anything. For me, in this instance, it was my books. Then I work that into my color scheme and adding stuff around those objects. Don't be afraid to play with textures, patterns, and prints. I'm really starting to listen to myself more and just decorate with objects that spark joy.

I told you guys in my last post about how I love to collect cool things that strike up conversations. These playing cards are so cool! They are sold out right now but I'm hoping they come back in stock soon because you guys NEED them. Each card has a different portrait on it and they are hilarious. I've never seen anything like them.

My favorite design secret is stacking! There is a rule in the design world that I always follow and that is to decorate in odd numbers. If you're going to stack books...stack three of them. When you decorate with an even number of objects it becomes visually boring. An odd number of items keeps the eyes wandering.

 

Another tip is to always be surrounded by lots of greenery. I love real plants. However. I kill them. Most of the plants you'll see in my home are fake because I already know these poor babies are doomed if I bring home the real thing. That being said, fake plants have the same effect (visually) as the real thing and you can find some pretty good steals at HomeGoods or Hobby Lobby.

Another trick is to have a good mixture of height. I love putting a tall vase next to something short. If everything you have is the same height it's not as appealing unless that is the specific design you are going for. When you're dealing with shelves like I have where there's tons of space between each shelf it's always good to fill the space with taller items. This creates the effect that the space is full. There is nothing more dull than an empty space that doesn't speak to you.

I know you guys are used to seeing me decorate in neutrals (specifically white) but I am so inspired lately and I'm just going with it! Shaun and I went to LA back in May and we spent a lot of time in Beverly Hills. I loved seeing all of the retro decor, the velvet, and the mixed prints. I have been dreaming of decorating our home the way some of the hotels and restaurants were decorated. So I'm doing it! Listen to your gut and you will most likely end up with a beautifully designed space.

I told you guys before to just be yourself while decorating your home and not to listen to standards. It's sad to say but I wasn't listening to my own advice. Everything had to match in my home. At the end of the day I ended up with a really blah space. My new design is going to breathe new life into our home and I couldn't be more excited. So when you're designing your shelves just remember to have fun! Display things that you love-the new, the old, the cheapest, the most expensive, and anything that sparks joy. I can't wait to share more with you soon! For now, there's a sneak peek of my new pink velvet chairs in the mirror below ;) 

"I like all things vintage with a mix of modern. My decorating would probably be described as white with a pop of white. Some may say boring. But for me it's a dream come true. Feel free to contact me at any time...even just to say hi. - http://kylatori.com/about.html