Greyson and I went out for dinner last night at a place that he has been telling me about for a few weeks now.  The interior design was so cute and the food was great, so I thought I would share!

This is the view of the place when you walk in.  The restaurant is dimly lit and has sort of a luxe speak-easy vibe.  If there has never been such a thing, there is now!

 I love those bright orange Tolix chairs and the tables are like a galvanized metal.  The addition of the tufted benches and booths add in the classic design element that keeps the space from seeming too stark and industrial.

 The bar is pretty rustic, and the stools there are in the same Tolix style as the chairs.  Greyson said that the bartender told him that they used a lot of reclaimed wood in the design.

 There’s an area in the back of the restaurant with high-tops and TVs.  Still super cute, and I love that it’s not your typical sterile sports bar — a non-sports fanatic could still enjoy him/herself here, even in this designated area!

 And how cool are these mason jar chandeliers!  I have no idea if these were DIY projects or not, but there are two of them and they are outfitted with Edison bulbs which adds a little bit of extra interest.

I can’t write a post about this restaurant without mentioning the food, which was great.  I had the Beet Salad with turkey and a side of Mac and Cheese, which was, OMG, awesome.  Highly recommend for all you Phoenix/Scottsdale peeps who want a good place to eat with design pretty much anyone can appreciate.

Hey there!

I hope this finds you all well and enjoying your Summer.  It’s been a while since I have popped onto this blog, and I’ve been missing it.  Grey and I are still saving for a house, but we are making huge progress and it feels amazing.  We’ll have our own home before we know it!

This time of year, I always think a lot about childhood Summers, and time that my family and I used to spend at a particular cabin.  I loved the style of it — your standard lake-house cabin, but I think the more modern cabin styles are also super cool and unique.  I thought we could focus on some inspiration pertaining to that today!

Home Adore

What’s lacking in privacy is made up for in beauty with this design.  I love how the perimeter of the home is pretty typical as far as any cabin goes — but it’s the simple yet expansive wall of windows on the back that creates that contemporary vibe.

Buzzfeed

Awesome rustic raw wood on this house.  It’s like it has been in this same spot for years, weathering with the ages.

Apartment Therapy

How cute is this?  I love all of the angles, and the contrast with that black door on the side.  It’s nice that it is not centered on the front — creating a level of funkiness.  Notice all of those straight lines (paneling, stairs, etc.) sort of offset by the angles.  That is great design!

If It’s Hip It’s Here

I think I could do an excellent job vacationing in this house.  🙂  Seriously stunning.

Wallpaper

How fun are these?  A family compound of what ‘they’ call “micro-cabins!”  I could picture this being really fun.

One of the things that I had some trouble getting the hang of in design school was pattern mixing.  I remember being in a Kravet showroom, hugging a handful of samples for a color board, and laying them out for one of my instructors who looked at me and said, “Honey, these just don’t work.”  She explained to me all about dominant, subordinate, and neutral fabrics, and I just felt so overwhelmed.  Like, why can’t these go together?  Panic ensued.  How did I even have a future as a designer if I couldn’t tell that a large quatrefoil geometric pattern didn’t work well with a floral?

I got better at this, although I think this is something that I still have yet to master.  As a designer, there is a “feeling” you get in your gut when you get it right, though.  For anyone who is a designer of any capacity, you know what feeling I’m talking about.  We mean it when we say that the way something looks doesn’t “feel” right.  It literally tugs at us, and bothers us, and follows us around all day until we solve the problem that is nonexistent to someone who isn’t both blessed and cursed with an eye for design.  And so, for me personally, there is a lot of trial and error in what I do.  I usually can’t look at a pattern and say — “That will look PERFECT with x.”  Because of that, I save my receipts!  😉

Pattern mixing is tricky…  You don’t want this:

Scary, gaudy, overwhelming

But you also don’t want this:

Almost completely devoid of pattern altogether

What great pattern mixing  accomplishes is a layered palette of textures, colors, and interest that really gives a sense of who lives there and what they like, and sets the tone for the space.  Great pattern mixing tells a story!

Traditional Home

Traditional Home

Jennifer Davis Interior Design

Tidbits & Twine

The Design Chaser

Design Manifest

BHG

Because It’s Awesome

Tidbits & Twine

Good morning, and happy Monday!  I hope you all had a great weekend and a happy Mother’s Day if you were celebrating.

Today we’re talking pretty kitchen storage solutions (i.e. hutches, buffets, open shelving, etc.).  These solutions can be used in a variety of different ways — to conceal items or to display them; to corral items that will be used and items that will not; and to further the design aesthetic that is trying to be achieved.  Because of the versatility, if you have room for one of these spaces in your kitchen — even a small one — they bring about a really custom and luxurious feel.

Home Bunch

This china hutch doubles as a coffee station, with the built-in espresso machine.  I have mixed feelings about built-in coffee machines.  But that’s for another post.  🙂  A mix of clear glass and porcelain accessorizes this cabinetry.

 This is actually my in-laws’ kitchen.  There is a cabinet above the little countertop area for glassware that we use on a daily basis; an armoire of sorts in the corner reserved for pretty items that are just for decoration; and the center cabinet on the left-hand wall stores tons of other serving pieces and pewter that are stacked and nested.

Houzz

I love the mix of dark and light in this kitchen, and especially all of the pretty storage on the right wall.  Those recessed glass-front cabinets are beautifully done.  I would imagine that the double-door cabinet on that wall is the refrigerator/freezer combo.  Stunning cabinetry there, as well.

Berry

How about this rustic two-toned kitchen and that amazing glass-front cabinet?  I love the muted, mossy green and that rich chocolate wood.

Wadia Associates

Open shelving, a couple of cabinets, and transitional finishes create a really unique and open area that was definitely designed custom for the homeowner to enhance the way that they wanted to utilize this space.  And please take a moment to sincerely appreciate that ceiling.  That’s detailed design and architecture at its finest.

Workbook

I’m basically a fan of any taupe cabinetry these days, but the paneling and exposed hinges on these is particularly stunning.  Also, the paned glass — really subtle, but without it, it’s just not as good.

Vintage House

A nice idea for plates and other serving pieces with a theme, providing an eclectic, collected-over-time look.

Country Living

And again.

I hope you have a great rest of your Monday!