Pure Style Home: The Open Sky Project

I wanted to let you in on a little something that's in the works right now. I've joined The Open Sky Project & will be opening up an online store featuring some of my favorite products. The Open Sky Project is a new concept & company: It's an online store that sells products through a series of "Shops" owned by "Experts." Many of the experts are bloggers in various areas of interest ranging from cooking to gardening to fishing & we've all chosen some of our favorite things to sell. (I'll be joining in as the second interior decor shop.) Its goal is to make the online shopping experience personal. You're comfortable buying because it's a recommendation from someone you trust. If I were into fishing I'd trust him:

hee hee Anyway, I'm in the midst of choosing my products & would love your input! I've got my eye on a few things but am looking for more ideas! What would you like to see? What do you think buyers would be interested in buying?

It can be anything from lighting to pillows to rugs to accessories to artwork. Right now I'm leaning towards some of my favorite things in my own home- the things people email me about asking where to find. I definitely want to include a nice slew of beautiful & budget-friendly products. Any thoughts? As soon as my shop launches, I'll let you know. Thanks so much for your help & I can't wait!!

xoxo,

lauren

A Southern Living Before & After

I was asked to review this November's issue of Southern Living, and have to say that I loved so many things about it, but my favorite had to be this bedroom before & after. (Photos by Laurey W. Glenn) Here's the before, which is so much like my own (in-need-of-love) guest bedroom:

And here's the After:

I love it!!! It belongs to Mary Ankar & she was assisted by none other than Anne Turner Carroll. (I think it's safe to say we bloggers pretty much love anything she gets her hands on.) What made the biggest impact in the space was the addition of the gray-green grasscloth wallpaper. I think I MUST have this somewhere in my house:

Our guest bedroom has a pair of glass lamps just like this & a very similar bed and I will have to fight with all of my being to not straight-up copy this room!! :) hahah

Also check out the before of the antique chair:

And how perfect is it now?! :

The roman shades are hung just under the crown molding & I love their relaxed elegance...

The antique desk looks far from old with the modern lamp & artwork above it. They put sketches in ready-made frames for budget-friendly accessories:

The pillow (I have to say this!) is just like the body pillow on my bed! (here I thought it was so original!! oh well ;)But I just LOVE IT!!! It's from a rug they purchased for the room that didn't work & they had it turned into a pillow. The pattern is gorgeous & it really oomphs the style level in the room. (And I can tell you how easy haveing one big pillow is!)

And finally, Anne Turner Carroll created this arrangement below out of mounted wallpaper. She felt an entire wall or large canvas of it would have been too much for the space so she broke it up. What a great idea!!! Especially if you have pretty wallpaper remnants- which I do!!! (remember the kitchen nook?!) Love the pops of yellow throught the room...

Anyway, with the loss of some of my favorite magazines (Domino & Cottage Living--- tears!!) I was really happy to see such a fresh, young space in Southern Living. There are a few more in this issue & I'm hoping this is how it will stay. We're all out here begging for some new, budget-friendly, beautiful "real" spaces!!!

xoxo,

lauren

ps- Thank you SO much for all the sweet comments about our bedroom redo!! (previous post) It really make it all worth it!! :)