Sleeping Beauty

I love a good upholstered headboard. Images 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Quiet Time- In Every Moment

Via, Thanks Jenn

Lauren Liess Textiles Launch!!

The Pure Style Home online store is finally finished!! 

We are launching the shop itself and my new textile line on Monday so be sure to stop by! 
(Yes, as my mom has pointed out, the logo looks like a dirty paper bag.  I'm okay with that.  Actually I love it ;)

The shop is made up of four parts: my fabrics,  my upholstery line, rugs, and "uncommon finds."  The fabrics will be the only section launching Monday & the other three are on their way. 

{a peek at some of the fabrics... I think I've shown most of these before}

For the upholstered line, we have a couple of pieces finalized & ready for production, but I'm waiting to sell the them online until the first collection is finished.  (I'll keep you posted- fingers crossed!) 

{The Madhatter Wing Chair will definitely be included!}

I hope to have the rugs up in the next couple of months- they are mostly new although some are vintage-

{Washed & Faded-looking Rugs like the one I used above in a client's living room}

...and the "Uncommon Finds" Shop will only be open for select sales throughout the year.  It's made up of mostly vintage & antique finds with some new pieces & artwork.  The criteria for anything going into the Uncommon Finds Shop is that it's only made up of things that I'm absolutely crazy about & don't want to part with.  I'm trying to get everything photographed in time for the first sale in December. 

{The "Fog" Collection- LL Textiles}

I'll also be doing a giveaway of a couple yards of one of my new fabrics.  (Winner's choice)

Thank you so much to my wonderful (and extremely patient!!) web designer Emily Thomson of Emmarie Web Design who made the beautiful site. I'll be posting more about Emily on Monday!

Enjoy this gorgeous Fall weekend!!




If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

ps- All photos in this post by Helen Norman

Apartment Beauty

So much to look at in this apartment- a beautiful sitting area next to a sharp desk/work space.

Is that a navy table? Love the unique art...

Bright and white at the same time. Clean without feeling sterile, fun without feeling cutesy.

Pretty entry. Also a great example of how styling can make a picture.

Images Claiborne Swanson Frank Apartment in Elle Decor

Love The One You're With- Inside Out Design

Today I have the most wonderful Sherri guest blogging for me. I know I have said

this before, but Sherri is one of those people who you

really feel like you know after reading her blog Inside Out Design.

The other day I read this recent post and was brought to tears. Maybe it is still the hormones, or maybe it is having a baby in our "very tiny but special to us first home" but it really spoke to me. Anyhoo, I am honored to have Sherri here today so without further adieu...

When Marianne asked me to contribute to her 'Love The One You're With' series, I had a hard time deciding which room to choose. Do I choose the one I enjoy looking at the most or the one that holds the most memories? I decided to show you the one I love looking at the most. It is the one room in my house that is always peaceful, has no television, is used mostly for family gatherings and always looks clean (even if it isn't).

I love to sit in here and read a book, visit with friends and open gifts on Christmas morning. This room is also the first thing you see when you walk through our front door and it feels the most like 'me'. When we first bought our house 24 years ago, the "living room" was a narrow space that was basically a pass-through from the bedroom wing hallway to the kitchen. Because of that, it was a hard room to space plan.

Over the years we made some changes. We relocated the front entrance, moved the hallway opening so it was not in the middle of the room and created an 'entrance' by adding a courtyard in the front. It is not a big house by today's standards and I never thought it would be our stay-in-forever-house. There are many things I would love to change (a larger dining room for one!) but it is our home and it holds so many memories I do not know if I could ever give it up. We have watched our two beautiful daughters grow up in this house and are blessed to be enjoying our new granddaughter here as well.

I have always liked white and except for a short phase where I tried to 'conform' I have had a white sofa. I found that it was the easiest to care for with small children (and even more so when they became teenagers) because I could clean it and it would never fade. I have had my current sofa for 12 years now. It has had red wine spilled on it, chocolate and who knows what else but all I have to do is throw the slipcover in the wash or spot clean it and it is as good as new.

For me, white just feels fresh and gives me a feeling of calm. It is also easy to throw in pops of color when I am in the mood and gives me the ability to change things around; which I do a lot.

I originally bought the corner armoire to place a TV in but changed my mind. It holds my revolving accessories and overflow of platters and serving pieces and balances out the fireplace in in the opposite corner.

The decor has evolved over the years. It was never decorated like I would do for a client - all at once and put together; instead pieces were added here and there, little by little - mostly discounted furniture I found while shopping for clients or perusing through HomeGoods. I tend to buy pieces that I love and don't put too much thought into where it will end up. It all gets moved around anyway!

Last summer I brought in the white cabinet that used to be in my daughter's room to give the room and lighter look. It was an inexpensive Ikea piece that was intended to hold my daughter's school books but I have to say, I am really enjoying it in the living room.

I hope you enjoyed seeing the room I love ... in the house that I love. Thanks Marianne for including me in your series!

Thank you again Sherri, what a wonderful post about a wonderful room. I can definitely see chatting with friends in there and I loved hearing your take on the white sofa! Everything looks perfect but comfortable and inviting.

They Call Him The Fireman

My favorite men on Halloween. Henry was a fireman and Harry (who won't look at cameras) was his trusty Dalmatian.

Baby #3 & Halloween

WARNING: Total mom-post / pretty much NO design stuff

Halloween is one of my favorite days of the year & it's even better with kids. 

My children are now both throughly sleep-deprived & coming down off sugar highs.

{Batman & Robin...  I swear they both have two eyes.}

They drove the Bat Mobile around the neighborhood and then we had to abandon it because getting in & out took too much time:

I am also sleep-deprived and have a slight stomach ache from the disgusting amount of candy I consumed.  Ah vell. 

...And now onto our Baby #3 news: We're having another baby!!  He/ she's due in mid May 16th & I have about a week or so to go left of first trimester.  {anyone who has kids probably remembers being completely exhausted during her first trimester...  I literally go to sleep between 7 and 9 every night...  If I even make it that late.  -- I think my husband is actually more excited than I am for my second trimester.  He's the best.  -- 

{Exhibit A}

 ...And if you haven't had kids, be prepared for complete & utter exhaustion.  Like falling-asleep-sitting up-tired. Add in some nausea/ dizziness & you get the idea.   But of course it's all completely worth it.}

We're so excited about the new baby, but I have to admit, with two already in the house,  I sometimes forget I'm pregnant. {until I fall asleep at 7 PM.}  I'm pretty sure it'll be another boy & would love to have 3 of what I've got, but of course I would also love to have the experience of having a girl.  So we'll see.  (we're waiting until baby comes out to find out)  I did save all of my Barbies just in case.

{Peaches & Cream Barbie was quite possibly THE BEST.}

   

So far I've had pretty great pregnancies & labors & I'm hoping for the same with #3.  It's been interesting to notice the differences in my pregnancies though.  For example, with the 3rd baby, my baby bump has popped SO MUCH sooner.  I guess the belly's just more pliable eh?  But I have to admit, I am scared of how big I might get.  I gained 60 lbs with each of my babies.  I'm already up at least 10, which is right on par.  {eeeeeeeek!}   My grandmother talks about when she had her babies, how she walked out of the hospital wearing her pre-maternity pants.  HA! If only I could! 

Watching my boys develop a relationship & play together probably makes me happier than almost anything else.  I took Justin (my toddler) to Christian's (4 yrs old) preschool last week for pumpkin-carving and Christian was just so excited to show off his little brother & introduce him to all of the kids.  He held his hand and stayed with him the whole time.  Seeing them get along like that literally makes my heart melt.  (At home, half the time they're hurting each other & the other half they're laughing.)  SO, I'm really excited to bring another little one into the picture.  The boys are already talking about how they're going to take care of the "new baby."  (By "take care" I know they mean be really sweet at first and then start running him/ her over once they get used to him. ;)

Anyway, I'll keep you posted.  We don't really have any names picked out yet, but I've got ideas of a soft blue & yellow nursery. 

{Fern Star in Yellow, one of my newer textile designs...  I'm pretty sure it's happening in there.}

ps- On the online store/ fabric line launch front:  we are launching any day now.  My web designer just got back from vacation & I'm having her take a look at the site to make sure everything's up & running properly before we launch it.  I can't wait for you to see it!!

I've decided to keep control of the textile company myself (vs selling designs to another large company & going the royalties route) & to approach showrooms across the country about carrying my collection.   I'm in conversations with some showrooms right now, so I'll let you know if any of it works out.  Suffice it to say I'm squealing inside because I'm so excited to even be considered and insanely nervous/ anxious because of how much I admire these companies.