How to create an inspiring work space: Carrie Bradshaw style

This has been a pretty exciting summer so far. Aside from taking off for the Amalfi coast in one week (hello, dream trip!), I also was asked to be a guest designer over at one of my favorite vintage shops in the Dallas design district. Scout Design Studio is amazing. I want everything in that place. So you can imagine how I jumped at the opportunity to create a guest vignette. 

It's things like this that I live for! To just dream up a space, with full pick of whatever I want to make an experience come alive, I literally get high off of the whole thing. This is how I know I am meant to do what I do. Ahhhh! I love it. I am a girl who believes in manifesting and putting things out in the universe, so my inspiration for the space was a modern day office/studio a la Carrie Bradshaw's apartment in Sex and the City. 

I want a workspace that is bright, happy, feminine, fun and uber inspiring! This vibe is exactly what I need in my life right now. I let them know ahead of time what color I wanted and sent them this photo. They went with Electric Blue by Benjamin Moore. 

I knew before coming in that I wanted to create my dream entrepreneuress work space. A space that reflects my personality, is very glam and also makes me feel like I am near the ocean. The walls are totally ocean blue. Then they let me pick out whatever I wanted, gave me an assistant and I began creating. I felt like I was on a dream episode of Supermarket sweep. 

I started off my room with this gorgeous Cinderella's carriage style chandelier, it was hiding in the back of the showroom so no one could see her. It was her time to shine. After going around the whole store about 10 times, I nailed down my final favorites. Here is how it turned out. . .

If I could buy this whole room, I would. And transport it to where I am now. :) I am now obsessed with this desk, its actually lavender lacquer and lucite. Stunning. It's sitting on the most gorgeous lavender overdyed rug. These two things might be my favorite items in the space. I paired a lovely antique chair because I like the juxtaposition of old and new. That tall brass floor lamp looking thing is actually a magnifying glass. How cool is that? Of course a dream office needs one. 

The art wall was fun to put together and was inspired by Carrie's wall behind her bed. The Brigitte Bardot poster was the main piece. The rest just worked. The art wall is flanked by two decadent crystal sconces and guarded by mr. greyhound. 

The sunburst mirror is made up on brass cobra snake door handles assembled around an antique mirror. A custom installation to dream for. It's styled up with a cobalt blue velvet bench with lucite legs and custom black and white striped pillows. 

What office isn't complete with bookcases and storage? I placed these two navy laqcuer bamboo cases and filled them with books, cocktail accoutrements, a zebra and some accessories + art. Atop each case is a Fornasetti style face place. LOVE! I also really wanted to take home the two aqua silk tufted swivel chairs with chartreuse velvet pillows and that gorgeous female bust. She's so art deco and glam. 

Unsightly doors for storage are made perfection by brass Asian style hardware. Totally glams it up, no?

Super thankful to Scout, for having me as a guest designer and letting create my dream office. If you want any of these things or are in the Dallas area, swing by. It's such a fun place to hang. 

In the meantime, if you want to "get this look" I made a little board just for you. 

Let me break it all down for you. . .

I can't get over the lavender desk. I want! This chair works perfectly next to it and a total bargain. Get and frame your own Brigitte Bardot poster here + add some assorted pieces with it.  I love a good sunburst mirror, this one is perfect. A blue velvet bench with gold is so glam. This lavender overdyed rug is the perfect backdrop. This navy bookcase is so pretty, get two and create a faux built in. You can throw in a Fornasetti plate on the wall too! A set of these tufted blue chairs will go nicely. This gold sphere chandelier makes it all come together, so glamorously. 

Entrepreneuress 101: Aussie girl style, black and white done right & a case for personal branding

When I was 13, I visited LA for the very first time as a child actress. While doing a small commercial, I absolutely fell in love with it and I knew that one day I was going to live there. I did. At 25, while living in LA, I was lucky enough to be sent to Sydney, Australia to work on the design of a major hotel. I had a similar feeling, but it was more of an "I so belong here" type of feeling. Instead of Sydney, I ended up moving to NYC, which was mostly because I have family there, none in Australia. I have, however, always kept eyes on my Australian fantasies and thank goodness for instgram, I'm up on the times. 

I've been following a few Aussie entrepreneurs + stylistas on instagram and I have learned so much! For one, their instas are filled with black and white decor glamour. You don't really see that in the states. Usually black and white design is done very masculine, very contemporary, very minimalistic and clean. In Australia, the girls take my fave color combination and use it in the most glamorous ways. This is SO ME! I just can't get enough of it. 

I realized very quickly that these gals were doing something very right. They were capitalizing on their style and turning it into their personal brands to further their businesses. Each photo found on their instagram feed, website, pinterest and the like is pretty much filled with black and white and pops of metallics throughout. They are showcasing lifestyle, through their personal color palates. 

One of the girls @KaylaBombardier , 'grammed one of the shots from my Austin apartment with my gold Tom Ford shoes. (See pic below)

When I teach my girls about personal branding, see ebook here, I always encourage them to go into their closets, go into their daily lives and see what they find. Here in these photos, these girls have nailed down their personal brand to tell a story, that enhances their business. Kayla, does the best job at highlighting ways to use her product, candles, in your everyday life. While always sticking to her black and white theme (and business logo colors), you can pretty much always tell its one of her pics. You are buying into the Bombardier lifestyle. 

Take another one of my favorites, Neue Blvd, formerly Abode Australia. They have an Australian homeware e-boutique that also caters to the black and white lifestyle. Their instagram is also filled with photos that strictly show a strong brand image, black, white, silver, copper or gold with touches of marble and always flowers. It's a strict and distinct style and you will always know what you are getting. This is KEY FOR PERSONAL BRANDING or business branding. Staying true to a distinct style and repeating it over and over again will kill your competition. 

Instagram is a great way to build and define your personal brand. I just love seeing the images from my favorite Aussie girls. It takes me into their everyday and lifestyle. Totally gives me the opportunity to live in Sydney vicariously! 

Aren't these images fun? I just love them. For more on personal branding, check out my Ebook with a playbook and plan just for you. Also, be sure to follow  @kaylabombardier , @neueblvd, @njwhite