The truth is that even though my job often requires me to do a lot of running around, a great deal of my days are spent doing work at home. I really love these days. I move around from room to room for different work setups and inspiration, with my computer and pups in tow, treating myself to a square or two of dark chocolate and a cup of green tea around 4pm (I love the Yogi brand Blueberry Slim Life). When I don’t have a meeting or appointment, I don’t have to give a moment’s thought to what I wear. Often times it’s special if I throw anything but sweatpants and a drapey tee, which can be every bit as chic as a fully styled outfit in my book. But what I reach for in my closet when I’m on autopilot is usually some variation of this outfit – rolled up boyfriend jeans and a casual shirt of some sort. I love a rumpled crisp white men’s shirt like this one from Banana Republic. It’s comfy for lazing around at home, but if I have to run out the door I’ll throw on a watch and my favorite Moschino belt and I’m set for casual errands without feeling frumpy.
In case you missed it back in June, you can see lots more of my home in Glitter Guide’s Style at Home feature.
Z Gallerie chandelier, Fine Web Stores cowhide, Jonathan Adler console, Dwell mirror, Nashpop skull, Generate coat tree, Martha Stewart Plumage
When the ladies from PULP Design Studios asked me to go head to head with Sarah from Smitten Studio to design our dream entryways with a fall décor twist, I threw caution to the wind and chose pieces with the unabashed glamour, edge, and dreaminess that I love so dearly. Ah to have a huge entryway with a big heavy door and high ceilings in which to put these lovely things. These were my picks. See the whole duel on Hello, Splendor and check out Sarah’s amazing blog, which I promise you’ll be hooked on immediately.
Photos: Mine by Sarah Yates, Sarah’s from her blog
Mr. and Mrs. Muse mugs, Eyelashes canister, Bird bowl, George Washington pillow, Anchor sculpture, Dora Maar vase, Futura salt & pepper shakers, Charade studded box, Banana bud vase
I’ll be honest, I used to like but not love Jonathan Adler. I could appreciate the aesthetic and loved what he did with the Parker Palm Springs, but ultimately felt his stuff was a little too colorful and quirky for my style. But then I had one of those moments when I was totally converted into a full-on fan. I wandered into the store as I sometimes do but this time I fell in love with almost everything I laid eyes on. I don’t know if his style or mine changed, but it doesn’t matter. All I know is I have a very long list of items on my wish list now and I like it better this way.
Rebecca Minkoff Mini Macs in gray and black - perfect go-to bags for whatever neutral accent the outfit calls for.
Adorable Fifi Lapin phone cases c/o Iconemesis (cupcake, teacup)
Favorite new makeup goodies: NARS American Dream eyeshadow palette, Giorgio Armani blush in #10 (I’m completely in love!) and Eyes to Kill mascara, NARS eyeshadow pencil in Goddess and lipgloss in Turkish Delight, Chanel lipgloss in Sweet Beige #297 - the most perfect nude gloss from the fall collection (it’s serious – I need to buy a backup)
The cutest mint green camera watercolor print from my mom – for Ian’s new desk setup.
Enjoy all the little delights of your weekend!
It’s true – Minnesota does have its fair share of sprawling cornfields and cow herds, but that’s not all it’s known for. There are some real one-of-a-kind shopping gems in these parts. One of my favorite places to hit up when I’m in town is Hunt & Gather, an eclectic antique store in south Minneapolis that is well stocked with more over-the-top quirky finds than you could ever imagine. I have been known to spend hours browsing each and every corner of this place – 25 booths to be exact – for cool statement items that would jazz up any room in the house. On my visit this weekend, I scored some clever stemmed glasses for the bar cart at $4 a piece. Who needs an early morning flea market when you can spend all your summer days here?
Isotoner bubble umbrella, Juju dining chair, Liberty acrylic water glass, Lipstick Queen Shine lipgloss, Kantek stapler, AMT acrylic diamond ring, Thierry Lasry sunglasses, Love This Planet skull flask, Acne cosmetic case, Juicy Couture watch, Russell + Hazel jotters, River Island sandals
My crush on all things transparent is set to be a lifelong one. No matter how you would define your personal style, I just bet there’s a place in there for something ghostly. I love how it instantly modernizes your look and contrasts against everything else with a touch of futuristic. So if you don’t already have a collection of pretty little clear things forming, I highly recommend you get started. Any of these items will do.
I was recently given the exciting opportunity to be featured on one of my favorite glamourous online publications, Glitter Guide, in their Style at Home column. It was super fun (all be it scary and a bit naked feeling) to let readers into every corner of my home and share more aspects of my life and style than I ever have before. Luckily, I had the help of Jessica to fluff the interiors (and the girl’s a wizard with flowers), Jaimi to make my nails look awesome, and Sarah to capture it so beautifully. There were too many great shots to choose from, so I thought I’d share a few outtakes here. Head on over to Glitter Guide to see the rest of the photos and read the interview if you feel so inclined.
Photos by Sarah Yates
Sometimes the best things in your home are the ones that required some work. Last summer, my mission was to find a bar cart. But I wasn’t going to be happy with any bar cart. I wanted a vintage bar cart and I wanted a fixer upper. I’m not normally one to ask for extra manual labor, but in this case I just loved the idea of finding a hidden treasure and making it over to something shiny and new. So I hit the Rose Bowl flea market… and Long Beach… and Fairfax… and Pasadena… and the Rose Bowl again. I had all my friends on the case. I scoured Craigslist, Etsy, and Ebay. After six months of obsessive searching, crying fits, and questioning my life, I was ready to give up and buy a file cabinet from Staples in which to store a 6-pack of Pabst.
But then I got the call. Jessica of Life’s Little Jems, who’s a super talented interior designer and treasure hunting maven, was scouring a junkyard in Sun Valley (as you do) and found the perfect one… or at least it had the potential to be perfect. So I dropped my bowl of cereal on the floor (not really but doesn’t that make it sound more epic?) and ran out the door to go see this beauty. The yard was filled with an array of fascinating things all piled up like a scene from Wall-e. I was there for all of about 5 minutes before this piece of abandoned tarnished mess (mine for the price of $45) was loaded up in the back of my car and we were on our way home.
I had no idea what it was going to take to get this thing looking presentable, nor was I sure it was even possible. The handle was broken off, the wheels were warped, and the shelves had at some point shaped into rhombuses. But before it could show its face to a professional of any kind, it needed to be polished. Ian and I spent a Saturday afternoon giving it an olympic quality scrub with Brasso so it would at least look like brass, and then it was ready for the metal guy – the hardest part. Silly me, a brass solderer is NOT the same as a welder. It took another month of searching and then finally – thanks to Alissa of The Goods Design (another amazingly talented interiors guru) I finally found a great guy down in El Segundo who could take my case. Phew!
After a few weeks at this brass doctor, who enlisted his friend the glass guy to provide the custom shelves, it was finally ready to go home. Now it was time for the best part – dressing it up and getting it ready for action. I hit the flea market again the next Sunday, where I found a horse head bottle opener, delicate coupe glasses for Absinthe aperitifs, and my favorite set of numbered Tom Collins glasses. I added in a stack of prohibition-y cocktail recipe books, my favorite little single serving Sofia champagnes (no bubble left behind!), colorful straws, and liquor bottles many of which were chosen solely for their design.
I couldn’t be happier with the results. I wanted to create the feeling that any cocktail could be mixed at any given time and I think we achieved that. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I’m not gonna lie – when you tally up the cost of cart itself, the polishing supplies, the soldering, and the glass, I could have bought a brand new or refurbished vintage one and saved myself the trouble. But where’s the fun in that? To top it off, it was ready just in time to make its debut in Glitter Guide‘s feature about my home yesterday. Hop on over to check it out if you missed it!
After photos by Ian Sheppard
Nice jar candles are such treats in the Fall. This Voluspa one smells lovely, looks pretty, and was very reasonably priced.
Some new jewelry finds from Forever 21.
These three books come with me everywhere. Bottom to top: Graphic Image appointment book from Urbanic, Russell + Hazel mini binder, Kate Spade journal (recently given to me as a sweet gift and makes a perfect gratitude journal).
Thanks for stopping by! I'm Catherine Sheppard, a fashion stylist living in Los Angeles...
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