THE MOST DIFFICULT ROOM YET

It’s no secret that as a life-long Longhorn fan, Aggies may not be my favorite subject. As a mature adult though I can put aside my differences long enough to design them a beautiful, classic, quirky dining room #adulting. Just please, I beg of you, don’t WHOOP at me, I can’t think of a more awful sound. When I first started considering doing an Aggie room I was nervous about finding anything in Maroon – heaven forbid a maroon sofa, but then I remembered – those lucky Ags – the Pantone 2015 color of the year is Marsala. For those who don’t venture out of the ROY-G-BIV color world: Marsala is a beautiful, rich, maroon color. And it just so happens that Marsala goes beautifully with copper – the design world's new metal darling-du-jour. If I’m being honest, these are two color trends I haven’t been too keen on, but through the process of pulling this all together, they’ve grown on me. Not will this classy dining room will make my Aggie friends happy but it’s also a room full of warm tones that all of us fall-lovers can get behind.

1. The Place Setting - I love the look of these mixed white plates, a little bit country but the mismatching and the sleek copper flatware gives it a modern flair. The maroon linen napkins from Crate and Barrel will pop against the white farm table (and some maroon candles in copper candles sticks and I could go on forever - table styling is so so fun). You can achieve the mixed look by either scouring your local resale shops for a variety of white plates, or by visiting several different stores and buying 1-2 sets of several types of plates.

2. Artwork is so personal and nothing is more personal than the century tree on the Aggie campus. This Ansel Adams print will hopefully always remind you and your love of the first time you walked under the big old oak. I think this is my favorite Aggie tradition. If you don't know about it you can read about it here, and if you do know about it, you can buy a seedling from the Century Tree at the same website - so cool.

3. These Tom Dixon pendants may be a little over the top, but hey, so are those gigantic Aggie rings. Always be reminded of your favorite huge round jewelry when you stare at these floating orbs. But on a more serious note, these chandeliers and the rug are the real players in this room - and I would be over the moon if I were presented with an opportunity to use these pendants in a project. They really draw your eye up and keep the light bouncing in fantastic ways. Imagine a candle-lit dinner party (post-midnight yell?) with the flames reflecting in the surface - I'm not sure I can think of anything more dreamy.

4. This rug definitely becomes a show piece in the room. This is where the maroon really comes out to play! Soft underfoot and super rich in color, you could layer it over a darker wood floor for a more subtle look but I could also see it over a floor of beautiful oversize white Moroccan inspired tiles for a really eclectic impact. What I think is fantastic is that all the beautiful detailing is on the edge of the rug, so when a dining table is on top you don't miss out on any of the pretty.

5. This linen upholstered dining chair is fit for a 12th man. I love mixing dining chairs or at least making the head of the table special. Linen is a perfect rustic/chic fabric for this Aggie dining room - again, a little bit traditional, a little bit modern, and a little bit country.

6. Aggies are one big family. That means when they get together they get together in force, so you've got to have plenty of seating, meaning one big long farm table fits the bill. This table from Pottery Barn is great because it expands to seat even more when the occasion calls for it - and in white it pops against that rug and keeps the room from feeling too hectic. 

7. While those pendants scream their presence like a quarterback who will remain nameless, sideboards and buffets are the unsung workhorse of the dining room - typically topped with flashier bar pieces - and what everyone came to see: the food. This buffet brings us back to the country look but it has really clean lines as well so I think it could play nicely with the more modern elements in the room too. Most importantly there is plenty of room to store all that booze.

8. Modernize that rustic sideboard with some copper barware from Crate and Barrel. None of these college football rooms are complete without a bar - alcohol goes just as much hand-in-hand with tailgating as it does entertaining. And since we're all adults here: at home lets aim to be just a pinch classier than Northgate.

One thing I know for sure about Aggies is that they have a whole lot of Aggie pride, so just in case a room full of maroon isn't quite enough here are some items I found while looking around the web for this post that might just be your cup of tea:

Even I can appreciate this coffee mug, this slate tray from College Artisan is a pretty classy addition, and if you want to get really extreme you can replace ALL the doorknobs in your house with these doorknobs from Collegiate Specialties

Whew! Aggie room: complete! As always I would love to hear from the Aggies and non-aggies alike. What do you think of the copper? This may be one of the more "on trend" rooms I've done - a fact that this Longhorn finds a little ironic. ;)

AN O-MAZING BEDROOM

 Image Andrew Larsen/Flickr

What did I learn in this weeks edition of Football Rooms (TM)? I learned that there is very little (if any) good duck art out there in the world. This one was a challenge, I honestly don't know too much about football culture in the pacific northwest so I had rely on colors and stereotypes. I guess thats what I've done with the other rooms, but those weren't stereotypes, they were truths! I know they are some serious football fans up there, but when I started thinking about an Oregon Ducks room this is what came to mind: the rainy, woodsy, outdoorys Pacific Northwest mixed with a solid dose of bohemian hipster. Everything started with the bed...and I hadn't done a bedroom yet so here we go, it's a wild green and yellow ride y'all.

1 - Pillows - Pillows make everything cozier and again are my favorite ways to layer color and pattern into a space. I picture Oregon as rainy and cold - but in the best way. The kind of way that makes you either want to stay in with a cup of (responsibly sourced and locally roasted) coffee or  to bundle up in your best rain gear and hit the trails. I'm sure it's sunny sometimes, but I would rather not think of it that way. H&M has great, affordable pillows in all the colors you could need to rep your favorite team too.

2. Art is a really great way to bring in some subtle school spirit and colors (without resorting to taxidermy ducks and mass produced paintings of feathers...both of which I very much almost did). If you went to the O you will definitely appreciate this print by Kate Quale for Minted.

3. The bed that started it all. It's WINGED. Ducks! (If you haven't picked up on the rule: I get at least one really bad pun per post. Doesn't make this bed less gorgeous.) Anthropologie is a gold mine for any type of beautiful velvet furniture. Can't you just feel yourself gazing out into the misty morning from within the loving arms of this bed?

4 - Keeping with the "O" theme from above this West Elm dresser's hardware is like a quietly quacking cheer each time you look at it. The beautiful wood tones and forms harken to Mid-century influences and I think a little bit craftsman too. Look at the details in the base...it almost looks like it's floating, dare I say flying? Like a duck? Eh?

5 - Now, if you're more of a "don't you dare put 1000 pillows on my bed" type person, this beautiful handcrafted pillow from The Citizenry is for you. This lovely long lady is hand woven in Oaxaca by a collective of women. Put a stunner like this on the bed and you can show off your bohemian vibe and your concern for companies with a goal for the greater global good. You citizen of the world you.

6 - Always need a rug. I love the faded, worn look of this one. To me it looks like fog or rain clouds. Or those crazy gray, pixellated, trippy, wing-shouldered uniforms!

7 - Another gorgeous print of what Oregon looks like in my dreams (From Minted for West Elm). Maybe I'm off the mark and if you actually live in Oregon you would want to be surrounded by yellows and bright colors and heat lamps to combat the rampant Seasonal Affective Disorder. But perhaps this Ducks fan moved to Texas, and it's hot and not at all beautifully and magically forested and this print would always remind them of home!

8 - I had to throw something in from this ridiculously artistic state. I stumbled across this adorable little shop while looking around online. Canoe is a brick and mortar in Portland, but they have a pretty extensive online shop as well with a tab just for things made in Oregon! These ephemeral water color glass vases hand crafted by Lynn Read would add the perfect touch of Oregon artistry to any bedside table. How beautiful do they look in the good ol' ducky green and yellow?

9. Hey West Elm, I love you and your affordability and your good style. West Elm revamped the Martini Side Table to be two toned. A glint of gold and white brings some much needed lightness to this dark and cozy room.

10 - Finally, every good bedroom needs a place to sit that isn't the bed. Anthro knocks it out of the park again in a warm grey linen. Celebrate a rainy home game win my snuggling up in here with some cider or a home-brewed coffee stout.

Y'all be kind, this room was tough for me but please let me know what you think! Did you go to University of Oregon? I would love to hear from you! Have a great weekend y'all, should be a great one for us football fans!

A LOVE PURPLE, LIVE GOLD LIVING ROOM

Photo courtesy of Laura

Tiger lovers rejoice, after taking a bye-week last week from my football series, I'm back with a big one. As much as I was raised a Longhorn, I was also raised a LSU fan. I own as much purple and gold as I do burnt orange. My dads a Tiger, my brothers a Tiger, at least half of my cousins are Tigers, and my boyfriend is a Tiger. It's taken me a long time to get the courage to do this room. It has to be just right. Let me tell you, purple and gold aren't exactly tame colors and while there is plenty of crazy associated with this school - I'm not sure "crazy" is the way one wants to describe their living room. Bold, however, seems a good choice of words. And unavoidable. Seriously, purple and gold are two of the most opulent colors on the planet - and tiger stripes don't exactly fade into the background either; I have my work cut out for me. Remember the rules I set out in the beginning - anyone should feel comfortable in this space while making Tigers feel extra-at-home.

1. Gilded Bar Cart | It's no secret LSU is a school that likes to...er...celebrate. From Tigerland to the tailgates a stocked bar is always available. Throw in some Rougaroux Rum, some Abita brews and probably some Natty Light (if we're being real), and it's gameday. It shouldn't be any different at home and what better place to store all that fun juice than a beautiful gold bar cart. Live gold y'all.

2. Purple + Gold Agate Coasters | Once you craft the perfect gameday drink you need a place to put it (though I know Tigers aren't known for putting their drinks down too often). These coasters from Manor are a beautiful way to add some Tiger spirit to your room all while protecting your coffee table.

3. Vintage Safari Chairs | They're tigers get it? Safari? I love a safari chair and Tigers give me the perfect excuse to throw one in. These particular ones are vintage Arne Norell and add a bit of masculinity to the room while balancing the heaviness of that couch. Mike would approve.

4. Mignon Faget Rock Glasses | Bourbon. On gameday I'm not sure many in the South would opt for anything less. Mignon Faget is a fantastically classy company right out of New Orleans who just want to make your house feel like home (while you're at it, get a couple Superdome rocks glasses too...gotta be ready for Sunday.) They also design amazing jewelry and many times donate portions of their sales to non profit organizations doing great work in New Orleans and Louisiana (you can read more about the company here.) 

5. Laquered Round Coffee Table | Another opportunity to bring in some gold. Again keeping it visually light to contrast with the couch and no sharp corners. LSU games are a family affair, everyone from gramps to the littlest Tiger cub will be in attendance. Gotta keep those little eyes safe. 

6. The Couch | I had to. I had to pick a purple couch. Any excuse for a purple velvet couch. Doesn't it just look so comfy? You won't even want to stand up while chanting "TIGERBAIT" at your friend's significant other who came over and made the mistake of supporting their alma mater in front of you. 

7. Nate Berkus Side Table | From Target's new fall collection, this table rocks the gold once again. Put it between the safari chairs to bring in a little sparkle. Plus it never hurts to have more places to put all that good food and drink. Mmmmm...jambalaya.

8. Souk Rug | This rug from west elm is that subtle nod to tiger stripes that ties the room all together. Soft underfoot, modern, and classic all at the same time. One of my favorite rugs of all time and it just happens to play well with everything else here. 

Alright Tigers, weigh in. What else would you include? Maybe a series of framed #7 jerseys? A shadow box with a handful of grass from the field? A couple voodoo dolls dressed in a variety of SEC rivals colors? Nah, I don't think you need that last one - not with Fournette on the field. I see royal purple velvet drapes on expansive arched windows framing views of the lakes, a brick fireplace, and a dining table in the next room piled high with some of the best cajun food around. Some of my favorite memories we're made tailgating on the LSU campus and this room would bring all those memories home. GEAUX TIGERS!