The Shelf that Style-Slapped Me

Y'all, it's gettin' all DIY Dirrrrrty up in HERE! Uh huh! One of my collections needs a serious real estate upgrade in our salon/office. YES betch, we call the second living room/office our salon-- y'all don't? I mean. My vintage Dansk cast iron candleholders need a new perch-- There's at least 15 in the hoard, prob more. Here's what they look like now, more or less:

That's the LESS shot, b/c what y'all don't see is how they're all kinds of jimmy-jammed together so closely they're pretty much stacked atop one another across the entire length of that 6' long slate ledge. And there's some on an adjacent bookcase. And some tucked inside a drawer. And on the bar cart. Y'all get the point.

I've always been a big believer in making my walls WERK for me-- esp. in a NYC apt, where floorspace is limited and/or there's no furniture to properly display a 15+ collection-- say, a 20' dining table, or 15' wide china cabinet, for instance. Y'all feel me. Initially I was thinking a glass shelf b/c the candleholders are so sculptural, viewing them from below, as well as front view, seemed way cool to me. But that's a logistical nightmare beyond belief b/c y'all did see that part above wherein the words, CAST IRON were typed, yes? That wasn't just me trying to be all 'fancy descriptive writer'...this shiot is HEAVY. Then I thought of a reclaimed wood shelf, like everyone else on planet earth...and I do live in Brooklyn, where it seems to grow. But I can't get on board with that. Pun intended-- comedy GOLD! Same with metal, b/c y'all know, vintage industrial...blah blah...BLART yourselves! What to do? THIS!:

That fine hunk of man is holding a lucite shelf! WHAT?! Also known as plexi-glass or acrylic. This bad boy was found recently at a salvage surplus building materials store called, Big Reuse. And the shiot cost $5!!!!!! Shut the F&*K YOU, I'm not kidding! 8' long by 6.5" wide by 1/4" thick. $FIVE DOLLAS. Let's get another look at that value nonsense:

OK, so, y'all see my glass shelf dreamzzz are totally becoming fulfilled with this piece of plexi-glass perfection, yes? It's not quite as wide as I'd like, but for $5, baby can WERK with it. Now, how to hang it safely and chic-ly? Y'all are gonna have to check back into the 'dazzle a little later for that...trust that there's all kinds of hanging shelf realness that y'all don't want to miss...oh, and happy Friday-- time to rage 'til the break of dawn!

A blouse becomes a room!

Y'all I was style-slapped full on when I spotted this fab blouse/coat at an upstate vintage boutique several months ago:

The colors, the pattern, the quilting...I mean...shut the F%&K YOU?!:

photo 2 (2)

I've been known to SLAY THEM with all kinds of blouse realness in my day, but rather than rock this betch as intended, I got revved up thinking on how amazing she'd look as a room! So behold, y'all...using this blouse as my jumping off point, here's what I came up with:

Slide1

Apologies for my lame photoshop skillzzz...but, y'all get what kinds of living room dreamzzz are being fulfilled here, right? Are you just DYING?

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Lurv! The fuschia sofa is just serving LIFE. Then the mix of leather and rattan side chairs provide great texture, but also help dial down some of that sofa LIFE. 'Cause believe it or not y'all, I DID try and imagine that a man might live in this room (see green leather chair), along with his scrumptiously chic, wife-about-town. Oh and they're unlimited budget. To this end, I also thought the moroccan inspired rug really helped to ground all the glamour that's oozing all over the place b/c of it's neutral color and texture. And I just lurv how the trellis pattern plays off the quilted pattern in the blouse. Same with the tufted seat cushion of the LIFE sofa. The coffee table, light fixture, console, mirror, floor lamp (yes, that giant gold leaf thing is a floor lamp and sad panda alert: sold out on eBay), bench (also sold out on Huntersalley, pillows (1, 2, 3, 4 & 5)...even the artwork (1, 2, 3) are just slaying me. Oh and I can't forget that sheepskin slung in that rattan chair and that sweet side table-- both IKEA-- I KNOW, right?!

Y'all, this room is BEYOND HAWT! Of course, I could've kept going for days, adding more and more 'licious...but, I think it's an awesome mix of high/low, chic/silly and totally nails the concept of blouse as room. What do y'all think?

Wrap it UP!

Y'all, sometimes a fab pair of lamps just land in your life! Like these Restoration Hardware sconces I scored for a clients' bedroom, I mean:

I think we snagged these polished nickel princesses for something like, $125 for the pair...which isn't full-on VALUE BEYOND BELIEF, or anything, but the chic black linen shades came with and overall they were in excellent condition. Plus, they plug in, which was a necessity for this particular project b/c Betch Budget wasn't having any kind of hardwiring of electrical. So I got my light source for the dressing area and the client didn't have to worry about costly wiring/electrical light installation drama. Win win-- except for the ugly cords dangling off the sconces. Like most plug-in wall sconces, there's about 24" of electric cord channel/cover running off the fixture, like so:

This isn't normally such a bad thing since most folks hang this style of sconce above a bed or sofa and the remaining dangle is hidden from view. But y'all know that's not how I roll. or Hang. Oh SHIOT-- COMEDY GOLD! These gals needed to put off more light for dressing area and they just made more of a statement, in tandem with the other elements, when hung higher on the wall. Rather than worry about hiding those heinous cords with some janky solution, I decided to highlight them, by wrapping them in silk cording! WHAT?! YES Y'all-- IT DOES GET MORE HIGH MAINTENANCE-- LOOK!

In the pic above, I wrapped about 9" of electrical cord in pink satin from where the metal cord channel ends. It's lookin' HAWT! Here's how I did it:

**Start where the electric cord exits lamp base-- usually at the end of the cord channel-- and dab a pea-sized amount of hot glue or fabric glue (even wood glue-- yes, y'all know this Betch forgot my glue gun the second day and had to employ wood glue for the other lamp!) on the electric cord.

**Press one end of satin cord, or whatever cording/twine/ribbon into glue. Now, holding the glued satin cord in place on the glue spot, begin to wrap satin cord around and around the electrical cord, leaving NO SPACES in between the 'wraps'...make sense?

**Eventually you can let go of the starter glue spot and use your other hand to help guide the wrapping around electric cord. You will need both hands (and if available, hands of willing friends) to help untangle and guide the remaining satin cord to you for easier wrapping.

**Once you've reached the end/electric cord plug, place another dab of pea-sized glue on electric cord and gently press the satin cord in place. Trim off excess satin cord, if necessary.

And then look what you get:

Ok, y'all that pic is slightly horrid but you get what's happening...here's another shot of just the cord...

It's definitely a subtle detail, but I think it's cool...gives that cloth-covered wire look. This same process could also work on regular table (or task, etc) lamps...now get to wrapping!

It's Thursday...and THAT Means...

Thrift Whoring has gone down, in a BIG WAY, y'all! Here's a round-up of the latest 'liscous from my recent troll:

Wedgewood, Limoges, Italian rock crystal and shut the F&$K YOU ironstone transferware!?! Y'all won't believe what all this YUMMY set me back?

$24.87 VALUE DOLLARS! Salvation Army made me a satisfied thrift whore to-day! What's your latest score?! And YES, I do want all the steamy PICS!

It takes a WHITE PLATE (& a village) to raise a child...

Y'all it's been MORE than a minute since I've dispensed with some blog lovin'-- sorry Dazzler's-- Blog Blackout! Aside from the usual busyness of the holidays that we're all prone to, I got hit with a mild case of the social media meltdown! #socialmediameltdown Uh huh! All this 'socializing' just gets bed, bath & beyond exhausting at times! Right? In the midst of all the pinning, tweeting, posting, liking, sharing-- of which, I've actually kept pretty consistent with throughout this blog blackout (in fact, click my new Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, FB widgets to the left of this post and follow me, y'all! HOLLA IRONY!)-- I just couldn't find the energy for blogging too. But Betch is baaaaaack!

Excited to share the latest cover I styled for All You magazine:

I mean, as y'all no doubt suspect, this cover tested all my skillz as a prop stylist. The detail, the nuance...the WHITE PLATE. I mean, Shut the F$%K you with this WHITE PLATE REALNESS! Have you ever seen a more beautiful WHITE PLATE in all YOUR LIFE?! This will forever be etched in y'all's memories as the WHITE PLATE that defines white plates. I'm truly sorry for y'all b/c there will never be another white plate. Done. Period.

But in all seriousness, I thought this would be a cool example worth sharing in reference to the peeps who ask 'what is a prop stylist?' or 'what does a prop stylist do?'. So, for the cover above (shot by Kate Sears & food styled by John Bjostad...John baked & iced that scrumptious cake), I was responsible for sourcing and bringing that WHITE PLATE (and LOTS of other white plates) as well as the pink surface (and LOTS of other pink surfaces) the white plate is sitting on, to the shoot. They call these OPTIONS, in my business. I also brought other elements that might go along with the ubiquitous "generous slice of cake cut out" scene: napkins, dessert plates, tea & coffee cups, saucers, etc., b/c y'all never know what else you'll need when you finally sit down to eat that cake, right?

These additional elements can help 'seal the deal' if a shot needs a little somethin'-somethin' extra to make it pop, give it a sense of real place, or mood/energy. This is where being a prop stylist can get really fun, b/c, budget permitting, you get to be really creative and bring things to help 'tell the story' that may have never even been requested by Creative Director. And though y'all only ever end up seeing the WHITE PLATE OF YOUR DREAMS on a pink surface, here's part of what was actually brought to the shoot that day:

And

Note the Pantone chips...these colors were specified to me by the Creative Director, so we were both on the same 'color page' and I'd pull the exact shades of pink she was after. In addition to fabric as surface options, to suggest a tablecloth, for instance...I also pulled wood & plaster surfaces with pink finishes, like these:

So next time y'all see an image in a magazine, print or online, a book cover, a catalog spread, etc...don't be fooled: A LOT of time, talent and energy went into creating that moment...even if it is just a WHITE PLATE. OH and follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, FB! :)

Gobble up Thrift Whores!

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all! I'm SO thankful that I'm a Thrift Whore, that it's Thursday...it's Thanksgiving and I've found all kinds of thrifting bounty I've shared this year! Here's another major score:

Such the side table cuteness, with her clean lines, shelf, and these wood inset designs:

Then these brass drawer pulls that just style-slapped us all quickly about the face...well shiot!:

And here's where it gets REALLY good...this chic lady only cost $3.99!!!!! YES! So y'all know that Betch got scooped right up and slung over my shoulder...Happy Thanksgiving & happy thrift whoring!!!

Thrift Whore Thursday Pictorial

Disclaimer: GRAPHIC SCENES OF HAWT THRIFT WHORES GETTING DEALS TO FOLLOW!!!!

Yes, that's $7.99 for a vintage, marble-topped side table. Tag also reads, 'Must Go Today'...well, I can certainly help with that:

And:

We came. We conquered. We Thrift Whore'd.

Target Time!

Y'all, on-set today styling some fun vignettes for an upcoming Target social media spot...check out the hawtness:

Look at this festive scene that's just SLAYING this 'family' with all kinds of Holiday cheer:

Why is only half the wall styled out? B/c that's the only bit of wall y'all are gonna see when this shiot goes 'live'!

We also served up a bathroom sink moment:

Everything is hung so low b/c the star of this shot was all of 3'8" tall, y'all! AND NO, Betch, it wasn't ME! Here's how it was framed on the monitor:

Then we tricked out a little bedroom scene too:

This one looks a little janked for a kids' room, but it was an added shot so y'all know we had to WERK with what was on hand...but I think it's still festive & fun...y'all know we had to pull out the ole, 'hang the holiday cards from a ribbon' trick...HAWT!

Oh Fa La La La La...La La La KITCHEN CUTENESS:

Somebody was slung up, baking Holiday Dreams:

Awwww, Tender! Check out Target.com in the next couple weeks y'all to see the final spot! Lurv!

Betch-Slapped by Brass!

Last week there was the cutest little mid-century dresser featured on Free Shiot Friday, and this week, it's this dining set! Presenting Brass Regalia Realness:

She isn't even attempting to trick y'all into thinking she's real brass, but cleaned up, re-upholstered in something fab and given a new glass top, she could help you WERK your hostess skillz beyond belief:

The table base design is giving us all kinds of Dynasty...it's on it's side on the end:

Happy Friday, y'all-- now go out and score some Free Shiot!

Thrift Whore Thursday-- Twerk Time!!!

Shake yo butt up & down, side to side, Betches, 'cause today 's Thrift Whore Thursday is 'bout to go off!:

And:

Confused? What y'all are looking at is a gilded entertainment center from back in the day when they knew how-to make an entertainment center! You've got built-in's for dayzzzz, like this record player shiot:

And these compartments for your album collection:

And y'all see that mirrored panel? That whore just so happens to lift up, holding one of the chic-est bars on earth! WHAT?!? Oops, guess I didn't snap a pic of that, but TRUST it was Shut-the-FU$K you amazing!! There's also two speakers tucked behind the compartment doors on both ends that look like this:

This shiot is SLAYING me-- and for only $200, it could be in y'all's living room SLAYING you too!!! Get on it! Happy whoring!!! And Twerking!

Free Shiot Friday!

Y'all, this little lady greeted me on my way out of my building:

How sweet! Just minding her own business, all cute-like with hits of mid-century details, trying to stay out of everyone's way behind that gate...I sure hope someone scoops her up & takes the best care of her with some fab paint job or a refinish...she is FREE after all, and it IS Friday! Enjoy!

Purple Perfection

This luscious combo will soon be installed in one of my clients' bedrooms...wallpaper + paint + carpet= one chic teenage girls bedroom...I mean!

Check back soon to see the progress!

Lacroix, Sweetie, Lacroix...

Tuesday I shared some wallpaper that had been selected for a new Alchemy Eclectic interior project...here it is again in all its' Christian Lacroix GLORY:

This paper is giving me all kinds of decorating hives and y'all are about to be style-slapped full on about the face when I tell you it's going into a powder room with a YELLOW painted ceiling!!! WHAT?

Here we go!:

Dying!!! Check back soon to see the HAWT after pics!!!

These lovelies

Are the final wallpaper selects for another Alchemy Eclectic interior project I'm twerking on, y'all! Can we just say hashtag wallpaper hawtness?!?

And yes, those are my HAWT pink shut the F$&K you shoe laces peeking in! Stay tuned to see the rooms where these wallpapers end up! Holla!!!

Got y'all covered!

holla: check out my latest styling work on the Nov '13 cover of All You magazine...

y'all know you want to turn some pumpkins into a centerpiece!!! GET IT!

Double Decorating Drama!

Well damn, y'all-- go ahead and clutch your pearls, 'cause here's another interior project, done-up by yours truly, to indulge in this week!:

All photos by my girl Kelly Marshall and lovingly brought to you on these inter-webs by Tech Director, Dylan...xxoo! Check out the interiors section for more hawt REVEAL pics!

Alchemy Eclectic project reveal: Mekanism

Can y'all even handle all this hawt-ness being slung at you??? SO EXCITED to share the pics of one of my recent interior decorating gigs for this NYC office of this awesome ad agency called, Mekanism. HUGE shout out to Kelly Marshall who photographed the hell outta the place! GORG! Check out the interiors section to see the rest of the space (more screams for Tech Director, Dyl, for creating/managing/tolerating me & website/gallery realness)!!!

Patrician Court gets Planted!

Y'all, our building, Patrician Court, is gettin' all prettified:

This may not look all that dramatic, but trust this courtyard was akin to the pit that opened up and swallowed that betch in Drag Me to Hell...narsty! I was so excited it was going down I called my landlady to thank her...figured she probably gets tons of complaint/repair request calls, she'd appreciate one that acknowledged this fabulousness...this courtyard has been on lockdown since we moved in, so not sure these improvements mean we'll get access to it now, but the view alone is amazing!!! What a difference plants make!?!

Happy Friday!!

Another day, another Alchemy Eclectic interior...

Y'all are lookin' at a screen grab of one of the shots (by fab photog Kelly Marshall) from another one of my interior projects:

This is a detail pic of a bar, that I made from an old armoire from Salvation Army...

Check back soon for the hawt REVEAL shots of the rest of the space! HOLLA!

Weekend Almanac

Thrilled to share some prop styling I did for this story running in a new magazine called, Weekend Almanac:

Some other morsels, enlarged for y'all's viewing pleasure:

"Finders Fare", shot by Jacob Pritchard with food styling by Corey Belle...it was an awesome lakeside shoot, even when we had an uninvited guest bear briefly join us-- no shiot! Betch, even Bears want to eat from a stylish table too!!! The magazine is brand new, so go grab y'all-selves a copy!