A GROVE INSPIRED PATIO

It's fall y'all! Nothing says fall like tailgating and no one does gracious, over-the-top, entertainer-of-the-year tailgating like Ole Miss. One time, at LSU, I saw an Ole Miss tailgate with a working ceiling fan hanging from a tree, and this was an away game! I thought nothing could better embrace that incredible attitude than an outdoor entertaining space inspired by those Rebs who are heading into a gameday feeling good after beating that team everyone loves to hate last weekend!

This is probably a little more traditional than I would usually go, but it's Ole Miss, they practically define traditional. I love this mix of indoor and outdoor furniture giving the space a really comfy feel, if not a little over the top. I see a group of friends gathered around a perfectly catered spread in Grove Attire. This is a fan base I imagine drinking champagne while watching football. Champagne or really, really nice bourbon. 

1. A warm, Dash & Albert rug grounds the space, maybe in front of a super classy outdoor fireplace. I'll be the first to admit that red isn't really my favorite color but a more fall inspired scarlet, softened with the jute is winning me over here. Red can go really "SPORTS TEAM!! AMERICAN FLAG!!" if you let it get too primary color feeling.

2. Ole Miss fans deserve a sophisticated place to sit, even outside, and these Johnathan Adler side chairs go perfectly with their bowtie and a glass of Pappy Van Winkle. 

3. As a contrast this stump table from West Elm keeps things playful and not too serious. I could see a few of these throughout the patio space for setting down drinks or little plates of food. On real plates because I'm sure thats how they roll.

4. All the pillows, for all the comfort! A mix of classic fall patterns and neutral colors would breakup the stark white of the couch and soften any seat. I like a lot of what Dash & Albert has in their outdoor selection right now.

5. A chandelier. Duh. Hanging from the inevitable and beautiful trellis. These people hang chandeliers in their tailgating tents, of course there would be one in their backyard. This particular chandelier is from Shades of Light. And I want it hanging under my carport. Stat.

6. I couldn't not include this vintage champagne bucket from One Kings Lane (that is unfortunately no longer available). It's gorgeous. Except someone who went to Ole Miss probably just has one lying around from their grandfather's grandfather. I personally feel there should be more champagne with football. I also feel that there should be more champagne always.

7. Finally a beautiful outdoor sectional for all their friends. Ole Miss fans are kings and queens of entertaining and they would need plenty of space for all their friends to sit. Sometimes outdoor sectionals can feel really heavy (you know what I'm talking about, that woven plastic stuff? Indestructible, yes, but not always the prettiest) and this piece from Pottery Barn takes the cake. Perfect in a southern backyard on a herringbone brick patio, covered with cozy plaid blankets around a fire pit.

BAYLOR BEARS DINING ROOM

WOW, this post just didn't want to be made! After so many PAWsitively unBEARable technical difficulties I thought I was going to be SIC ('em). I wanted to do a Baylor Bears nursery, but I also thought that would be a little bit of a cop out. Teddy bears and cute baby bear artwork. I also like to make too much work for myself. So sit back and relax with a Dr. Pepper and check out this modern-rustic Baylor Bears dining room - where you can eat your tortillas instead of throwing them off a bridge*.

1. Maybe it's cheating to have artwork directly depicting the schools' mascots - but I couldn't pass up these awesome geometric bear prints from Etsy artist Yolanda from Tiny Kiwi Prints. They really fit the theme of Modern Rustic and they're quirky and cute (she's got TONS of other animals too - I think these prints are just so good!) I would name the one on the left after RGIII.

2. Who doesn't love a brass sputnik chandelier? I know I've been dying to use one in real life for a while now and this one from Lambert & Fils, a Montreal based lighting company, really fit the bill. I wanted to bring in that Baylor Gold in details throughout the space and this one has huge impact. I would love to see a vintage medallion on the ceiling with this guy hanging down.

3. This skinny console table from Crate & Barrel is a great, minimalist approach to a sideboard. You can keep linens and a few key serving dishes on the lower shelf and the upper shelf is perfect for a curated bar filled with all your classy gameday drinking needs. 

4. I think these black dining chairs, also from Crate & Barrel, strike a balance between traditional and modern and the radiating lines created by the chair backs bring energy and movement to the room. I like the idea of using black as an anchor for  the space. Keeps the more modern flourishes grounded.

5. This dining table was quite a find. The steel legs are extraordinary and the raw, rustic looking top hints at a farmhouse table while keeping things clean. What I can tell from the website is that a cute German man named Philipp needed an awesome table and couldn't find one - and so he made one - which is the best way to solve a problem don't you think? Check out the website because now he makes other really beautiful things too and he's going to start shipping to the US next year. 

6. AH heres that Baylor Green! I really like the warm mossiness this particular shade of green has. It's earthy and rich and I think a settee at a dining table instead of a couple of chairs is really really interesting and comfortable! Velvet couches are to die for and this Jonathan Adler piece is pretty darn great. 

7. Since this room would obviously have beautiful, reclaimed, wide plank wood floors you need a rug to warm things up and ground your dining set. This killim from West Elm is neutral with just enough of a geometric pattern to reference back to the bear art and  the angular legs on the dining table. AND since this is a pretend room we can pretend all your game-watching friends will never ever spill wine or barbecue sauce on this rug. Ever.

8. Finally I threw in this serving dish for two reasons: one being that I've had it pinned to my "Wishlist" board for ages because look at it and two because when you Bear alums look at it you can think back on wonderful times running with the golden Baylor Line - see what I did there? Eh? Eh?

Add some gold flatware, white dishes, and some Mark & Graham linens embroidered with the only monogram that matters to you (B-U) and I think any ex-Waco-ite would be more than happy here.

So that's football post #2!  I'm realizing the challenge I set for myself is hard enough just working within the parameters of a school's colors, mascots, and traditions (special shout out to Siobhan for setting me along the right path with Baylor). I would love to learn more about people making awesome stuff in those cities as well, but man that was a tough one. This weeks room features some wonderful pieces from designers I admire and a few I found while looking for pieces along the way, but this time nothing from the great state of Texas. Tune in next week for my first out-of-state team tribute - and I'm still not totally decided on which teams I'm going to feature so let me know why your alma mater should be next!

*apparently there is a Baylor tradition where they throw perfectly good tortillas off of a bridge. I would love to hear why any self respecting Texan would do such a thing to a perfectly good future breakfast taco. Did you go to Baylor? Can you explain?

IT'S (FINALLY) GAMEDAY

I was recently asked "If you could add a thirteenth month to the calendar year, between which two months would you put it?". My immediate response of course was "Septober!". I would absolutely slip another month in right now! I love fall, especially early fall, the anticipation of cooler weather (with enough heat to still justify trips to the lake or the river!) and as many of you know, football season started last weekend. Ya'll, it's my favorite time of the year. I've decided to set myself up with a little challenge. Every Friday, from today until the end of football season, I'm going to put together a room based off of a college football team. The catch is that is has to be a room even a fan of a rival team would love to be in. So none of this:

So what we're really talking about is a nod to your team. An homage if you will, inspired by the teams colors, state, traditions, and if I do my research right, even hopefully some artists and makers from their home state. Obviously I'm going to start with Texas. My sweet sweet Longhorns, it's looking like yet another holding-on-by-the-seat-of-our-pants season, but I love them none the less. Luckily cow skulls have been trending pretty hard as well as textiles with a southwest flair. Austin, Texas inspires thoughts of natural materials, rustic elements, all with a creative and eclectic flair. These are some images I found that I think encompass the kind of room I could hang out in all day and slip into a nostalgic stupor of college days gone by.

Clockwise from Top Left: Image from The Transatlantic, a midcentury take from Blood and Champagne, one of my favorite inspiration images of all time from DesignSponge, and finally this comfy stunner from none other than House Beautiful

So how can you get this feel for yourself? Think about Austin's natural, casual elegance; balancing Southern Hospitality and comfort, traditional elements with a bit of bohemian and not so fussy that you can't just come in from a day at Barton Springs, pop open a Fireman's 4 and lounge on the couch to watch the game. Here is my take on a Longhorn-inspired living room!

Sources: Plant stand from Ferm Living, Harper Couch from Interior Define, Coffee table and carved side table from West Elm, Assorted Pillows from Shop Saint Cloud and Amazon, Art Work by the ever so talented Mary H Case for Biscuit Home, Metallic Cowhide Rug Similar at One Kings Lane , the incredible Humphry Chair from Houston's very own Texas Rover Company, and of course that corner-filler extraordinaire: the ubiquitous fiddle leaf fig

What do you think? Can you see yourself cozying down in here with The Eyes of Texas playing softly in the background, a little Rebecca Creek Whiskey in a glass, maybe a bottle from Becker Vineyards about to be opened, and a view of the hill country out your window? A girl can dream. I don't know if any of my other rooms will be this extensive, I can't claim to have ever lived in Ohio (Hey, Buckeyes!) or that I have any particular love for those Aggies ;), but I would love to put as much heart into each room I do this season! So heres where I need your help, who should be next? Feel free to tell me about that team you love so much, the things that make your college town so amazing, and any can't-miss makers in your state! Whats it going to be y'all?