ApartmentPhile: Black Beauty.

I'm not sure what the deal is with my current obsession with all things dark romance (hmm...very 'Fifty Shades' of me) but in my quest to pre-design the perfect studio space for my next apartment I have found it rather difficult to envision exactly what I want the living/lounging space to look like. I've gone back and forth with three other options (you can find the first here, the second here and the third here) and although this one does seem very close to the first, it brings in a little more direction to the actual pieces that I might purchase: a ghost chair for the hand-crafted desk (side note: I love my boss and her furniture-building maverick boyfriend), a black-dyed Indian rug, a charcoal tufted settee, black and white floral curtains with lots and lots of leopard accents, and maybe a leather club chair (just like that lived-in Proenza Schouler bag). Ok, and maybe one pop of color with that light pink/coral/plum pillow. 

But all this does bring up the question: can I live with just one little pop of color in a pillow? Guess I'll have to sleep on this Fifty Shades... File as tied up. 

[Images via: Harpers, Studded Hearts, Tales of Endearment, Zara, West Elm, and the rest via Pinterest @TheMargaretFile]

ApartmentPhile: My New Place.

So my official move-in date may not be happening for another two weeks, but that doesn't mean that I can't begin the decoration marathon for my brand spanking-new art-deco studio. And that cute little drawing above? That's my place!! Stay tuned over the next few weeks, because I'll be sharing all sorts of home posts here from the beginning stages of inspiration (coming very shortly), a couple DIY Ikea hacks, definitely some flea market hoarding and of course, the finished project! If you could ever really call any of my spaces "finished." File as more to come!

P.S. Clearly this is NOT drawn to scale, but you get the picture!


[Images via: My iPhone, drawn by me, Margaret Murrieta]

House Hunters.

If only apartment hunting could be as simple as decorating one, I would have been living in my new place yesterday. (Tiny rant time here.) Who knew that with all the apartments in Los Angeles, all the ones that I seem to be interested in are already leased to someone else probably much more fabulous than myself. (Craigslist, you are no longer my ally in this search.) So I find myself endlessly calling, requesting, viewing, cringing and feeling let down by my options out there. I'm just barely trying to hold on to the hope that my apartment is still somewhere in the Los Angeles Area. One thing for sure is that I'll already have lots of decorating ideas to fill it with whenever I find it. File as still searching.


[Image via: Pinterest, duh. Follow me @TheMargaretFile]

ApartmentPhile: My Next Place Option III.

My boss got me thinking today. Not just about the massive to-do list I have looming over my head this week, but also about my current home situation. Instead of contemplating if the coupons were finished printing I had my mind wrapped up in duvets, chaises, and directional storage options. (Call it a job hazard if you like, but my mind often wanders to these places, unguided.) So her quest reminded me of my quest to decide my next apartment style whether it be funky, boho and super luxe like option two or chic, masculine and rich like option one. Now, I have another option to throw into the mix. It's a little less cold as the first option, a little more girly than the second and a whole lot closer to what I'm used to. Hey, I've been a single gal living on my own for quite some time...a little pink never hurt anyone. File as another choice.

[Images all via Pinterest, links to follow]

ApartmentPhile: My Next Place Option II.

Back to decor inspiration for my next place (still pending obviously as I'm doing this here virtually and not for realsies.) This approach (check out my first option by clicking here) is one that I'm much more accustomed to when it comes to getting dressed each day. Internally, it happens a little like this...

"...Love leopard. Oooh, but maybe one animal print in one outfit isn't enough? That fringed leather mini-skirt looks so maj with the prints. Now what about adding a floral print to this? Well wait, you can't have leopard print without adding a Missoni zig-zag stripe. Okay, time to add the bracelets, but one is just not enough. Four it is. Oh, and that ring is super cute, must wear that one...and the other one stacked with it since they both look so good together. Geez, now I need a shoe that doesn't have an animal print on it..."


Blame it on my desire to impress at my job or just my general obsession with all things style-related, but I have been straying very far from my more classic look of years past (exempting of course that blue vinyl vest and matching skirt in 4th grade...) But I digress! This possible look for my next (still undetermined) tiny-ass apartment is all about layering it on, much like I do each morning, but the real question is- do I want to style my place how I style myself on my craziest days or my most mellow days? File under conundrum.

[Images via: All over on Pinterest, exact links to follow]

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ApartmentPhile: My Next Place Option I.

Even though I may not have a place of my own just quite yet (fingers crossed that I can afford something in the next few months)...a girl can dream! And I am definitely one who loves apartments and all their quirks- hence the new ApartmentPhile post label. So over the next few weeks, I wanted to share some of the apartment design styles that I've been throwing around (virtually of course) one of which will make it into my next tiny-ass apartment. The style featured below may be equal bits rustic, glam, chic and industrial but it makes a very big statement with just a simple color palette. File as hard chic, option one.

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[Images via: Pinterest]