secret of domestic bliss #43...colorful couches

When working with clients, most people shy away from color, but in the end always want a little more. It's really normal to be reluctant to dropping down a pile of cash for a bright and beautifully colored sofa.   I get it. I really do. However, in light of some recent decor discoveries, I have found that some of the most stunning spaces are using bright, colorful sofas and they look fantastic. I am starting to think that sometimes, it might be just what you need to make your home stand apart. I'm smitten over some of the couches with completely gorgeous hues. In my next apartment, I might just have to get one.

I even semi think this super vintage + retro sofa looks perfect in this uber hip space...

images via...decorpad, lonny, pinterest, houzz

Fashion inspiration for the weekend...the NYC look

As I prepare and pack for New York I am oh so inspired by the fashion! LA fashion is fantastic but it will be a nice change to layer up for cooler weather. As you can probably imagine, I want to make sure I wear the perfect nyc outfit everyday...gotta be a stylish decorista!
a gorgeous and sleek navy trench is oh so fabulous for those crisp days
Lately the belted trouser look has captured my heart, throw in gold chains and a loose blouse...lovely.
scarves, capes, tights and leopard...
oh and of course, shimmer and fur! 

images 1 & 2 bia, 4 seaofshoes

Weekend bliss, birthday fun + BIG NEWS

So last weekend was another celebration for my birthday. I had to have an LA celebration in addition to Miami, right? It was also a small kick off party for our fabulous new crew and LA Woman website. This dinner had some of the most stylish girls in the city of Los Angeles. How blessed I am to have been able to celebrate with fabulous friends. I got some of the most amazing gifts (notice the beautiful kate spade box in my lap? loves.)
 I just love girlfriend get togethers.

Suzanne my beautiful adopted big sis + founder of LA Woman hosted the most amazing dinner, she made an incredible pasta and the cake was absolutely to die for!
Here she is working her magic little hands.
Here is the rest of the fabulous crew... and be sure to check out their blogs too!
top left to right:
 Christine Kirk the luxury PR gal
 Crystal Gentilello Editor in Chief of Rue Magazine
 Nancy Pak the korean yenta
Nina Petronzio interior designer + owner of Plush Home
bottom left to right:
Bri Emery Design Love Fest
 Jaime Rummerfield the beautiful blonde half of Woodson + Rummerfield
me, Ashlina, La Decorista (as my mom likes to say)
and Catherine Sheppard Stylist + owner of The Life Styled

With all of these fabulous women taking over the world one business at a time, you could imagine how fun a girls get together would be, no?
So now for the big + exciting news...
The soiree was also a bit of a farewell party as I have packed up my things and am heading off to NYC next week! I am so thrilled to be making to be taking over to New York. It's something I have wanted to do forever. I have several projects in the works in Manhattan and I am ready to get those moving forward. So many exciting things happening.
I will keep you all posted on everything that happens of course. 
And don't worry, I'll be back in Los Angeles before you know it! 

*images via crystal G.

bliss in the kitch' {teal chinoiserie goodness}

Something about this kitchen stopped me in my tracks and made me look twice. I don't know if its the gorgeous toile-esque teal wallpaper, which I absolutely adore or if its the starkness in the white countertop against the dark wood cabinetry. It's not something you see everyday but looks fabulous well put together. The kitchen is not usually the place where people get creative but I just love it when they do. This gorgeous kitchen is no exception and I am just dying to bake something delicious in that beautiful oven. 

E-decorating dining room progress

I've been completely busy working with e-decorating clients lately. As soon as the new year hit, everyone started buzzing around and getting things done, which is fabulous. This particular dining room is joined next to a fabulous living room which we are working on concurrently. I am really loving the progress of this dining room. There is still so much to get done in here but look where we started.
So much better! I love what gray has done for this space.

Things to get done in this space...finishing the chairs, a fabulous mirror, a rug, and the curtains. 
I can't wait to show you the final look. It's going to be fabulous.

Home Tour: Loving Lisa Vanderpump Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

As much as most of us abhor reality shows, I have become addicted to Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Tomorrow night is the finale, do you guys watch it too? I love it because for one, I live here and two because of the gorgeous homes these women live in. Lisa Vanderpump is one of the women you just love, you could totally see her as your best friend. 
Her home is absolutely stunning. There are no words for the grand and gorgeous palace she lives in. 
Take a peek at her style. 
Any girl who decorates with beautiful touches of pink, wins my affections. It's over the top glam.
Now for the beautiful master suite...
how fabulous is this closet? I have always dreamed of this...
As much as I love all the pink, I think the other bedrooms are perfectly exquisite.
Now, this part I love...
In a departure from all the feminine decor, they threw a bit of dark, dramatic and masculine for the pool room and I obviously love that they have a purple pool table. So chic and fun.

Now I could get used to lunching on the patio like this....
Stunning! Oh, the delight I would have living here. 

The Art of Living...how to create a glamourous bathroom

After falling for the Dita Von Teese shoot, I am feeling the feminine vibe. Nothing is more fun than luxuriating in the art of getting dolled up. So you must have a fabulous bathroom to make you feel glamorous. This bathroom styled by Eva Lindh is incredibly posh, don't you think?


Redesigning your home and want to 
Get this look:
There are key essentials when redesigning your bathroom to look like this. First of all you need to re-grout with some gorgeous sheen tile. I love the gold trim on the shower enclosure, a beautiful one is essential after all. In the corner, you must add a fabulous shower tray to store all of your essential items, too. Notice also the gold bathroom tap, it just pops.

Domestic Bliss... dita von teese at home Instyle Mag Feb 2011

Could you imagine walking in to the Los Angeles home of Dita Von Teese? I wouldn't expect anything other than over the top girlish glamour and charm. I have always liked her look and her effortless Hollywood charm. Her happy pink kitchen is absolutely adorable to me especially the black and white checkered floors. I spot some vintage Barbies in there, too. How about her gorgeous mirrored vanity? What a sweet indulgence...and the perfect touch is the silver + gray wallpaper that graces the bedroom walls. Another fabulous indulgence...the super plush silver padded headboard. At the moment, I think my favorite is her beautiful teal wallpapered room with a gorgeous fireplace. Oh so lush and very much Hollywood glamour! I love this LA Woman.
images via swing

10 things that rocked my world in South Beach, Miami

A quick re-cap of the amazing time we had in Miami for my birthday! 

1. The view from our hotel in Miami was absolutely killer. We enjoyed coffee on the balcony and watched on as the sun rose and set...the perfect girls weekend backdrop.
2. My birthday bouquet...pink roses, pink peonies and lime green hydrangeas (my favorites). Such a beautiful combo!
3. Instead of cake I had the most incredible Thai Donuts from World Resource Cafe. Deelish! 
4. A super fun crew of ladies to spend your birthday with! Tricia, Erika, Angela, Bianca (not pictured)  and Tuyet...i heart you!
5. My new favorite decor store in the world Nest Miami! I was wowed by the amazing items in this store. Completely gorgeous...you would die! 
6. Shopping on Lincoln Ave. always rocks my world. We spent an entire day shopping the fun boutiques and eating brunch at the fun restaurants on the strip. My favorite...sushi samba.
7. Out of all the hotels in Miami the Mondrian has the best bar and poolside view. Super swanky and chic. All the furniture was oversized and so very Alice in Wonderland.
8. The best part of the weekend was the fact that I got to wear a beautiful tiara to my birthday party at the Fountainbleu...we danced the night away. 
9. Poolside moments watching the sunset...very relaxing.
10. Beach time was so much fun, nothing beats the beautiful blue water! As much as I love the California beaches, there is something very tropical + european about the beaches of South Beach.
We had the best time! 

Style-icious Sunday {parisian glam panache}

There is something so enchanting about parisian glamour. The decor is so timeless, elegant and lovely.
Ornate gold pieces and light blues are often found in places like this. I love when the look is mixed with a bit of modern too... It can really take it to another level. I guess I'm smitten with the look.

The weather in LA is incredibly gorgeous today, but I'm craving for an afternoon of tea and old black and white films...preferably the ones set in Paris...with subtitles.
Hope you all are enjoying your Sunday! 


via brightbazaar + sanctuary

office space of the day... fashionista fierce-ness

gorgeous chair + fashion books + fashion art + fashion collage = 
domestic bliss

absolutely LOVING this office space of B. Jones, a reader + fellow blogger. such a fashionista this gal is, i adore her! Especially when she said on twitter that The Decorista inspired this workspace.
gotta love that!  
I love the bohemian meets thrift store meets fashionista vibe it has going on. Gorgeous. 
for more of her beautiful office space see her fashion blog.

how to decorate like a NYC socialite {Lauren Santo Domingo}

 NYC socialite + fashionista Lauren Santo Domingo shows us how its done...Her manhattan apartment is equal parts woodsy, vintage inspired and glamorous. She has the hottest look for 2011 in decor and she knows it. In her recent article on Vogue.com she coaches us how she created her fabulous spread, one amazing item at a time. 
 Her beautiful office space is killer and oh so office space of the day worthy.
Feast your eyes upon her collection of shoes and with closet doors like those, who wouldn't kill for this personal space? I myself am also crazy about that inlaid bone chair.
 as usual, organized sparkling gems call out to me...
 I love that she used this retro vibe wallpaper with fantastic art prints and a collection of subdued graphic pillows...very, very chic. as every manhattan socialite should be.

needing. wanting. loving. {PEACOCK CHAIRS}

I know in most parts of the country and even most parts of the world, the weather is awful and cold. However, here in LA, its perfection at a sunny 73 degrees and I am loving every second of it. Sitting on the patio sipping my morning coffee, I found myself dreaming about the perfect patio chairs I spotted in this latest issue of Lonny. 
Perfectly peacock chairs absolutely rock my world and I am dying to get my paws on a pair asap! 
They are essential on any chic LA girls patio for weekend mornings.

They can be fabulous for lounging around with your girlfriends or even at your office space...
I would prefer mine in black but sunny yellow never hurt anybody. I think she's cute, no?
I'm also fond of the mini version in the dining room...

cocokelley

3 wonderful ways to use floral wallpaper

 pretty in pink for your cozy reading nook...
 gorgeous + sophisticated in the powder room...
pretty and chinoiserie-ish for your luxurious bath!

I'm just crazy about this floral wallpaper from Urban Outfitters...one of my edecorating clients wants to use it for her dining room and I am beyond thrilled at the idea.
a closer look. so pretty.

images houzz + uo

Wallcolor Wednesday...sunny shades of yellow

Never underestimate the power of a yellow colored room. It might seem a bit much at first thought but yellow is jam packed with happiness. I think yellow can be beautiful when used with discretion. 
Yellow is not for everyone but how grand does this gorgeous yellow entryway look in the first photo? I really think it works well here and with a dash of pink...its perfection. I also happen to adore this gorgeous and cheery living room via martha stewart. Very martha, very traditional, very palm beach...i dig it. 


Now if all yellow on the walls is a bit too much for you...try going with stripes. They work too.



photos via livelikeyou + effortlesstyle

The Art of Living: desktop deliciousness

a beautifully decorated desk is exactly what makes returning from a long vacation such a treat. I often luxuriate at the thought of sitting at my desk hours upon end when beautiful things are laid carefully around me. Perfect pens, floral scented candles and lovely stationary make my day oh so blissful! 
I am so happy to be back and in full work mode today...
There is absolutely no place like home...