UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON

Hey H-town, you've got a not-so-secret in your midst. The University of Houston is an incredible institution of higher learning and now, under the guidance of one (much more wealthy) head coach, they're also undefeated in football. To celebrate yawl heading into these last few weeks, you've got your own spot on this football series.

This living room is steeped in Houston - picture these pieces in one of the many beautiful, industrial loft spaces cropping up in renovated warehouses all over town. Soaring ceilings, expose beams and ducts, huge, steel, industrial windows. Modern and comfortable, much like our much-loved city.

1 ] Starting with this amazing buffalo-check chair from Anthropologie - hint hint buffalo bayou anyone? its been a while since I've had a bad pun - would make the perfect book-nook chair from which to gaze out over our bustling and incredible city.

2 ] Did you know that Houston is home to the fifth most significant museum district in the country (the world?) from the MFAH, to the Menil, the CAMH to all the galleries and smaller museums that sprinkle through our city. Grab a part of that spirit for yourself - visit one of the many art shows or if you don't have the time head on over to Minted - a website full of artists and makers creating beautiful art like these abstracts from Christina Flowers.

3 ] That powerful Cougar Red. Again I'll admit the difficulty I have using red. That difficulty stems from the exact same reasons red makes such a fantastic color for a school. Red is bold, powerful, exciting, and strong. Everything a university could want to be known for - and traits the University of Houston definitely embraces. West Elm made my job a little easier when they started making the Martini Side Table in all sorts of beautiful lacquered shades.

4 ] What Houston tailgate is complete without some of our stellar Houston brews? Buffalo Bayou Brew Co has been pushing the boundaries of beer in the bayou city. And with the Cougs practically setting the city on fire with their string of wins I thought a little Smoke of the Bayou was in order.

5 ] You know me and pillows. They add complexity and comfort; layering color and pattern to liven up an otherwise simple couch. This selection is a mix from West Elm and CB2 - both great sources for modern patterns and colors that easily compliment city living.

6 ] Another stellar choice from Bryght, the Sven Sectional in gray leather is a sleek addition to any city dwellers home-sweet-home. Plenty of room for all your friends who want to come over to watch the games. 

7 ] A simple, modern geometric rug keeps with the theme while softening and warming those polish concrete floors any loft around here is bound to have.

8 ] This coffee table brings the whole room together. A sophisticated marble top and a bright and bold laquered red base carry the UH spirit into the heart of the room. Have I ever mentioned that Anthro makes the best, most interesting coffee tables I've ever seen?

A COLORFUL CLEMSON LIVING ROOM

You did it Clemson. This week you are #1 - will it last? I guess we'll see tomorrow but to honor this moment in time - it's your time to shine! Gather close all your Clemson Orange and Regalia (I know you're probably already decked out in orange, it is Friday after all). This blog post is almost more exciting than that moment you got your t-shirt at Tiger Town Tavern. Almost. So what are my first impressions of Clemson? For one, I know you're rabid football fans, next I know that you live in an absolutely gorgeous state. I had the honor of spending some time in South Carolina recently and let me tell you  wow. I never wanted to leave. Those blue ridge mountains y'all. We don't have mountains here in Texas, that was a real treat. That and everyone was so, so friendly. So lets see, friendly southern hospitality, football fanatics, and fabulous outdoorsy-ness? I'm sold. This one is pretty wild - an orange and purple color palette will do that - so lets dive right in: 

1 - Since from what I can gather it seems that all of your Clemson bars close at midnight, how about bringing the party back to the house, and while you're at it, class it up a bit. These beautifully packaged small batch mixers  from Jack Rudy Cocktail Co deserve a place on any bar cart, but since their made in Charlston, South Carolina they're extra special. Drink up Tigers!

2 - These pillows from One Kings Lane and Manor inject pattern and color and help break up that great, orange, expansive couch.

3 - South Carolina is a beautifully artistic state. These pieces from Minted are a beautiful, colorful addition to the space and for me the images evoke the feelings of being immersed in the beautiful natural surroundings of South Carolina. Clockwise from the left they are Sunset Fade 2 by Kelly Ventura, Cacophonic by Kelly Witmer, and Midnight Mountains by Holly Royval.

4 - Make sure everyone who comes over on gameday cheers at 110%. This River Rock side table and planter are from a fascinating little (oh but really not at all little) shop out of San Jose - which is even better because - for those not in the know - Howard's rock was originally a gift from Death Valley, California. Fitting. Buy it and you, too, can stroke it lovingly on game day hopefully securing yet another Tiger win.

5 - The orange couch. I went for it. Clemson. Orange. You can't miss it; this couch packs a powerful, midcentury punch. Not for the faint of heart this orange couch would shout your school spirit from the rooftops of Tillman Hall and is definitely giving 110%. Not to mention that it will easily seat all your rowdy orange-clad friends.

6 - This coffee table from West Elm encourages resting your feet, drinks, and eyes (that orange couch though!). It has a rustic mid-century vibe and is big enough to hold it's own against the Joybird couch and visually heavy enough to ground the space. Style it up with a tray full of tailgating snacks!

7 - Finally a rug because I can't do a space without a soft little guy underfoot. This rug from Lulu & Georgia not only defines space but gives little nod to tiger stripes with it's subtle Moroccan inspired pattern.

Alright Tigers! I hope you liked it, it's a little wild but hey, so are you! Good luck holding on to that #1 spot this weekend! 

A NOTRE DAME LIVING ROOM

I've been literally dying to do a Notre Dame living room. Navy and Gold are BAE. Thats the second time I've used BAE on this blog - and funny enough, the second time I've used BAE ever. You know that it means "before anyone else" or something like that? It's an aconym, not a short form of babe, and that makes it marginally less obnoxious. But I digress. We're gonna get a little crazy with this room. I think a lot of people think of Notre Dame as a very traditional school - and since I'm all about contrast, funky and contemporary seemed like the way to go. This is the perfect room from which to listen to a chortling Lou Holtz predict another Notre Dame win.

1 | I always have to address the bar y'all. This set of glasses and decanter are from Anthropologie and right off the bat get you thinking about the Fighting Irish. Whiskey? Irish. Drinking? Irish. Impossibly shiney gold helmets? Irish. Someone give me the tiniest reason to style this set on a bar. *insert heart-eye emojii*.

2 | Surviving those South Bend winters is no easy feat but a cozy living room can make it a little bit better. And a cozy living room isn't complete without pillows! You can snuggle up with your significant other and watch Rudy for the 939,485th time. I've been drooling over The Citizenry's amazing collection of worldly textural pieces and Lulu & Georgia is always a good source...and H&M Home is without a doubt my go-to for solid pillows in any color I need!

3 | Always gotta have a rug - it ties the room together, visually organizes the space, and keeps things soft underfoot for all those little ones running around (because everyone you went to college with has long since gotten married - you know thats how those Irish roll.) I tried this scheme with two different rugs from Lulu & Georgia this one and the one I chose.

4 | This couch is from Bryght Furniture. I love the golden burnished leather on this beauty. It looks so warm and masculine but also inviting - and I can tell you from first hand experience that they make super comfortable furniture. I think this would please men and women alike - and a great piece for couples decorating together.

5 | This coffee table might be the craziest, most incredible thing I've ever seen. Not to mention it's the perfect coffee table for a house full of little rug-rats - they might put their eye out on those side chairs, but this big ol' guy would softly caress them as they fell. If this coffee table doesn't scream GOLDEN DOME you're clearly not listening - it might even become a family tradition to rub it's shining form after every touchdown. I know how you Irish love your traditions.

6 | Referencing the dome again is this Milo Baughman Style shelving unit from Charish. A great place to keep all your books and momentos and if you could get your hands on one of those shiney gold helmets it would look so good styled on these shelves. 

7 | Finally this custom upholstered chair from West Elm (that is actually very Baughman-esque too) brings in that navy punch. I would get two and have them on either side of that couch facing each other. Below is another layout I was working with that pulls a bunch of the pieces together so you can get a feel for what I'm thinking with the furniture. Floating in the middle of a generous living room....

As always I'd love to know what you think about the room and I would love if you have some Fighting Irish friends and family if you'd share with them as well. Look for a post in the coming weeks about Bryght too, if you're in the market for some furniture you should probably check it out. I just received my first order from them and I'm completely smitten.