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]

Current Obsessions: Lilac Dreams.

I'm not sure what it is about this color, but I'm totally falling for lilac right now. When I was very little, my room was a certain shade of lilac (made my father repaint about 34 times before finding just the right one) but circa now, when paired with lived-in red, glossy white, and cool black pieces, lilac is so super chic. File as in love all over again.

[Images via: @TheMargaretFile on Pinterest]

Home to Runway: Smoke Signals.

Pink eye never looked so good...not to mention that you can never go wrong with pink cushions.

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Insane amount of blue crushes here, reminding me how chic cobalt can be.

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Yellow eyeshadow and a matching yellow canvas? Sign me up.

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There is a reason that a grey smokey eye (along with equally dark linens) are classics.

[Images via: My Pinterest @TheMargaretFiles] 

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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 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]

Two Rooms, Two Looks.

I've been thinking lately about my interior style and find myself in a design dilemma. (Let's just say that Pinterest hasn't been working for the past week and I've had a lot of free time to think!) As you can see in Elisabeth von Thurn und Taxis's home (yup, that's her name) she has the same dilemma choosing between simplicity and something, well a little more eclectic. What's even better is that her fashion choices seem to reflect her disparate interior styles, just as I find myself when I pick out my outfits in the morning. So maybe I can have it all...I'm thinking I'll be mixing up my next place with a light, clean bedroom and a funky, colorful living room. Hey, a girl can dream. File as best of both worlds. 

[Images via: Vogue.com]

Home to Runway: Pink Proper.

It's a two for one special this week with Home to Runway posts! I just couldn't resist sharing this one in all it's pink splendor. File as gorgeous.

[Images via: Pinterest and Vogue.com]

Home to Runway: Purple Pop.

When I was a little girl I convinced my father to paint my room a lovely shade of lavender, but since then I have not been the biggest fan of such shades of purple. Now deep plums are always a color I gravitate towards, but those soft lavenders just never had the same effect on me like when I was little. Stumbling across this interior though, with just a touch of light purple (like on the model's tip-toes) I feel myself coming around to this color I once surrounded myself with. File as pretty.

[Images via: Pinterest, Prabal Gurung via Vogue.com]

Coveting: Black and Gold.

It's a double dose of Home to Runway this week! Although I spent the early part of my day shopping for non-home items in San Francisco, I couldn't help but peek into a few home stores around Union Square considering I can never have enough lamps, side tables or funky art. Keep reading after the jump for the black and gold items that I'm currently lusting after! File under gold standard.

Home to Runway: Tough chick.

With my impending move to a mystery location (more on that later) I've been having to sort through all my home decor items and while some of them are getting packed up, most of them are being gifted to my dear friends or donated off to the Goodwill down the street. This move couldn't have come at a better time, while I find my home style straying from the what can only be described as girlie and glamorous to something well, a little more rough around the edges. Like the clothes on Lanvin's spring runway, I have a feeling my next place will include a deeper palette, richly reflective vintage pieces and a masculine edge that is oh-so-cool. File as man up.

[Images via: Unknown source, Lanvin Spring 2012]

Home to Runway.

Something that I'm becoming more and more aware of as my personal style evolves, is that decorating your space is just like curating that perfect outfit. For me, neither are complete unless there is a touch of animal print, a piece that looks like it might have a few years on me and lots (never enough) black. Notice any style trends in your space that translate to your wardrobe? Stay tuned for more weekly posts of Home to Runway, my absolute favorite mash-ups of gorgeous spaces and runway looks. File under style accordingly.

[Image via: Pinterest and quote via Anna dello Russo at Dolce and Gabbana Spring 2011 show]

Coveting: Highlighters.

Decisions, decisions! I'm totally coveting these highlighter worthy shades right now, but I'm not sure how bold I am to wear these rather traffic-stopped hues in such heavy doses. Although, it does make quite the statement...what would you rather wear?! Keep reading to see my final answer! File under pop.

Saturated.

Even though I may not be the biggest color conspirator out there, (a friend once told me that nude could not be my favorite color because it isn't a color) I have been trying to bring a little more brightness into my looks- both in the closet and around the home. And what better way to do so than with saturated pops of color that mix in with even the most basic of neutrals. Whether it's a yellow mustard bedspread (LOVE) or a magenta suede chair, you cannot go wrong with these brights. Ok, now I'm going to have to rethink this all nude outfit I'm currently wearing as well as my black and white bedroom...File as uplifting!


[Images via: all fashion shots by Tommy Ton, home photos via Coco+Kelley (x3) and Elle Decor via my files]

Brick House.

Not only was the editorial I posted a few days ago of Shiny, Black and Dirty one of my favorites in a very long time, but it also got me thinking as to why I was so drawn to it in the first place. I mean, I've always loved dressing in all black (especially with black leather considering I wear the same black leather pencil skirt to almost every night out now), and the balance between cutesy dressing and tough vibes has always been a style I'm drawn to, but it was the background, those bricks, that really got me scratching my head. I've always been a self-proclaimed hater of exposed brick in the home, but after looking at these beautiful homes...I might be coming over to the brick side. My absolute favorite? The whitewashed brick complete with feminine accents all in black and white. File under perfection.

[Images via: Fashion Gone Rogue, Lonny, SFGirl By Bay, Coco+Kelley, Elle Decor, Drop Anchors]

Blue Crush.

With the holiday weekend here, I can't help myself from falling under the spell of the colors of the American flag- namely, the lovely blue. This blue velvet crush, as you can see, translates from both the home to the  runway (and the street) as long as its within just the right dosages...any more and it could turn into a velvet disaster. I'm totally coveting the final couch upholstered in blue velvet paired with some other eclectic pieces, but until I can afford said piece, I think I can settle with a cute pair of pumps for stomping around the city in. File under crushing. 

[Images via: Coco+Kelley & Pinterest, Pinterest & Pinterest, Coco+Kelley & The Sartorialist, Lonny Mag & Pinterest] 

Rainbow Bright Kitchens.

This past week has been one of the brightest I've had in a while mostly thanks to one new friend (and neighbor!) in particular who has acted as my partner in crime (ok not really) while gallivanting around the Bay Area. And although our mini dinner party this weekend will take place within our rather shabby apartment building, I couldn't help but imagine what it would be like if I had a kitchen that was as bright and exciting as her personality and style. So today, these rainbow bright kitchens and looks to match are dedicated to my new friend Emily, who makes even the most mundane situations terribly fun. File as out of the ordinary.


[Images via: Pinterest & Elle Decor, Pinterest & Google, Stockholm Street Style & South of Market, Tommy Ton & InStyle, Tommy Ton & Elle Decor, Faking Fashion & Pinterest, Pinterest & Apartment Therapy]