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Office spaces and how to maximize space, has been on our minds lately as we contemplate moving to a larger space. These offices, while obviously over the top, are absolutely amazing! I could look at these all day. Can you imagine working in a place that looks like these? So cool! I especially would LOVE to make one wall all chalkboard as seen below, and maybe even one wall covered in cork tiles! That way it’s a completely interactive and constantly an evolving look!
photos via thecoolhunter.net
Mercury glass, also known as “poor man’s silver”, is clear glass coated with a solution of silver nitrate and grape sugar to produce a mirror-like finish. Over time, the silver coating chips and flakes off, giving it that old, tarnished look that I adore for vintage-inspired weddings. Be prepared to pay a pretty penny for authentic mercury glass (up to 1000 buckaroos for a single vase)! Even faux mercury glass can be pretty pricey to use for a one-day event. But boy is it gorgeous.
For Julia and James’ whimsical wedding, my mission was to track down over 50 various mercury glass bowls and vases in curvy, antique looking shapes. As I searched my favorite glass wholesalers, I was disappointed with the puny selection. Most of them were completely sold out or lame looking (for example, the shapes were modern cylinders, not at all reminiscent of the ornate mercury glass vessels from the 1800s, or the paint strokes were machine-made and too “perfect” looking.) Panic ensued.
I decided I would buy as many good reproductions as I could get my hands on. I found 15 gorgeous hurricanes at Pier 1.
As a bride, I must confess that I had my bridezilla moments. I think even the most sane brides have their breaking point or a tantrum moment. Having worked on hundreds of weddings, I’ve seen my share of disappointed brides. When I think about all the time, money and energy spent on weddings, I often ask myself, how can a bride avoid disappointment even when they’ve selected a top notch team of vendors? Having the best team possible in your budget is a good start, but there any more ways to prevent miscommunication, disappointments, and mistakes.
Communicate Specifics to Vendors, Create Timelines, and Provide a Contact List
Often one of my clients forgets to send me basic information like where they will be the morning of the wedding. Once I had a groom I couldn’t locate, and I ended up driving around the city with a bag of boutonnieres looking for my lost groom and his groomsmen. Finally the nervous bride texted me that the group was at a particular hotel. When I got there, I had to look for them in several places. If I couldn’t find the groom and his groomsmen, all the photos would have been taken without their flowers!
One thing that would have helped is a contact list with cell phone numbers. A time line would also have been helpful. After that instance, I’m much more cautious and my staff always gets contact and timeline information from our clients.
Here’s yet another scenario. Early in my career as a wedding floral designer, I worked with a bride who had her sister in law plan her wedding. This sister in law was great until the day of the wedding, when we found ourselves 7 centerpieces short because the table count was off. If I had received a floor plan from the couple, this problem could have been anticipated.
Bottom Line: Never assume that any vendor knows where they are supposed to be. Be sure to give them clear and useful information like contact lists, timelines, and floorplans.
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Crystal LeQuang and Nicole Ha put on an amazing display of vendors and work last night at their annual event Una Bella Sera. We had the honor of being a featured photographer at the event and had tons of fun hanging out with some of the hottest vendors in the industry. We also got to see lots of our photographer friends and also saw some past and future clients.
Each vignette was inspired by one of our seven continents. We were assigned to shoot the Asian themed room:
For a recent wedding, the bride, Michelle Ferry of the fabulous MiBelle Photography, asked us to create some adorable signs to hang all over her reception. Taking their B monogram, Michelle told me all of the things she wanted her guests to “B” at their wedding! To coordinate with the overall look of the reception, and to match her invitations as well, I hand painted these black chalkboard-like signs with white ink. Pictured here is a more modern looking all lower-case script script, but they can be done in any calligraphy style. What a precious idea for adding an extra touch to your decor and getting your guests in a cheerful mood!
Sometimes during the week, I just get hooked on things and can’t get them out of my mind. This week they include: this amazing custom dress I saw on the always amazing 100 layer cake; this oh so pretty high heel font; and this gorgeous photo from Jane Heller on Etsy. I can already visualize it hanging in my house!
I always look forward to our trips to Michigan because I know we will come back home with a unique find. Last year we found this amazing paper chandelier, known as pajak in Polish which means spider, at the Polish Art Center in Detroit. It’s very old and the colors are just so gorgeous -the photos don’t do it justice. Some of the colors have faded from being exposed to light over the years and if you get real close you can see the tips have pastel colors. And if you peer deep down into the curled paper, the deepest color is hidden; it’s truly fantastic. It’s all handmade with color tissue paper, thread and natural straw.
This is an old tradition that Polish families do during the winter months; then they display them around the house or above the dining table for celebrations. I think is so important to pass on old customs like this one because it’s really what makes a country and the world so, so precious. We live in a Polish neighborhood and I have asked some Polish businesses about these chandeliers and people think I’m crazy because they have no idea what I’m talking about. I guess it must be a dying tradition. 
I love being asked to do table top designs from Emily at ONCE WED, it really gets my creative juices flowing. I get a budget of $200 to try and create a table that would give inspiration to all brides. I did all 3 of my recent tables, The Frida seen here, this Modern inspired table, and the next to come the Vintage Study {see sneak peek here}, with the base of a round table, white table clothe, basic dishes, white napkins or black napkins, all of which are the usual items given to brides at venues. I wanted to challenge myself to turn them into nothing short of fabulous. I usually end up going over the budget a smidgen but I made sure this table stayed right on target.
My inspiration for this table was based on the Movie “Breathless” by Jean Luc-Godard. I pictured roaming the streets of paris during the 60’s surrounded by the mid century modern lifestyle, stumbling upon a street fair, stopping by the local record shop, photographing the Eiffel tower, sitting in a cafe, and finishing the day with a martini at the local beatnik bar listening to poetry readings. I had to include balloons, black and white stripes, a vintage camera, some records, and of course candy cigarettes. I wanted the yellow to be very subtle so I used just some yellow freesia and imagine the martini glasses already filled with lemon drops when your guests sit down.
I tore strips of fabric to make runners for the table. The records are all gathered from thrift stores, and the vintage camera is my own… I added the hint of a Paris cafe by placing flowers in small espresso cups. I was trying to make the table a little more on the “girly” side so I added pink vintage style plates from Anthropologie, to soften up the static geometric shapes of the vases, from Ikea.
You can see the invitation I designed surrounding the theme here. The escort cards are tied to small 5 inch balloons for your guests to enjoy. Go over to ONCE WED and take a look at the table and her gorgeous website filled with inspiration. All photos are by my husband and myself.
So without further ado Breathless-The Modern Table Top….
When I stayed at the Viceroy in Palm Springs a couple years back, I fell instantly in love with the cabanas that they featured all over the spa pools. While in Vegas recently, I noticed that every chic hotel has their own version so of course the wedding industry finally has a resource that carries them.
Prayer answered.
Today, I met with Neil at Blue Print Studios and I got so tickled with their version of a cloth covered cabana. I love these for hot Napa weddings - since they make terrific lounge areas. I can also see how this would look great as a very unique ceremony decor. Oh my, the possibilities are endless.
You can find more over the top props and a slew of furniture choices at Blue Print Studio Collection.
Enjoy!
After reading my friend Trista’s blog post on her gorgeous home decor inspirations, I wanted to gab about mine, too! It was a bit of a struggle figuring out my home decor style. From week to week I find myself delving into so many completely different styles. My first wedding of ‘09 was soft, romantic, and traditional, last week- black and white graphics and lime green florals. This week the style will be sultry, over the top glam, next week - cutesy grapefruit pink and mercury glass. And I can honestly say I get overly excited about each and every wedding I do! In that moment when I’m seeing it all come together, I feel like it IS my style. I really get into it, you know?
But my home is completely mine. I don’t have to worry if it suits anyone else’s style. I just want it to be absolutely, positively ME (and Joe of course 
).
After browsing through endless design blogs and mags, Joe and I decided we want our home decor to be:
Cozy. Eclectic. Welcoming. International. Detailed. Slightly worn. Antique. Exotic. Affordable. Nothing too trendy. Nothing that I’ll need to overhaul in a few years. I’m trying to buy most of my furniture and tchotchkes off of craigslist, ebay, and flea markets.
Although deep, Tuscan red is typically not my favorite color (I’m more of a pink girl) I just love how warm it makes a home feel. And for Joe a pink house was not an option. So we started with ruby red and other jewel tones against the preexisting yellow-beige walls and neutral travertine floors.
I found a few inspiration pics that seemed to call out to me right away via Desire To Inspire:
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