Material Girls | Interior Design Blogs | Decorating & Home Décor

As I am sort of (pseudo) helping my brother and sister-in-law with their home in Manhattan Beach, CA - I came across the idea to incorporate a bit of surf theme into their modern-era beach adjacent home. What better to decorate the walls then with a surfboard? (And why there are half a dozen surfboards stacked in the garage I do not know!) Instant art and decor! In searching for concepts I found some fun ideas, everything from a modern home to a beach cottage...  

Fun colors, a little cottage-y, a little glam...and a longboard hanging on the wall of this living room!

A surfboard shaped headboard for a children's room. Precious.

In a tall stairwell, a vertical hanging surfboard fills out the space well.

A completely surf themed bedroom!

A beach cottage truly needs a surfboard somewhere in the decor!

Colorful art and a colorful surfboard pair well together.

A sophisticated black and white striped bedroom contrasts well with a plain white surfboard.

This ultra chic living room uses a vintage surfboard as part of it's decor.

And if your office happens to be near the beach, keeping a surfboard on display is convenient for catching those good waves when they come rolling in!

All images via Pinterest.

  I can't believe Emily and I started Material Girls over 5 years ago! Time flies! In the beginning of the blog I was working for an amazing Kitchen & Bath firm here in Houston learning all the ins and outs of Kitchen & Bath Design. I loved having the blog to keep up with the world of Design since I was pretty focused and specialized in one area. Since that time I have had a baby (who is now 2-1/2! crazy!) and have ventured out on my own to form Lauren Haskett Fine Design. I do all types of Residential Design, but still love taking on Kitchen & Bath projects! I launched my website a few months ago and wanted to share a peak into my portfolio (more pictures on my website). You can also follow me on instagram and twitter: @laurenhaskett where I share lots of sneak peaks into my world! I'm doing my dream job and was so proud to have checked a big life time goal off of my list - to own my own business by the time I was 30!   If you are interested in our services to create a beautiful functional home please email susan@laurenhaskett.com.  I look forward to hearing from you!

  Thought I would share some finds from a recent concept board I put together for an entry + living room in a California coastal home. Light furniture, warm woods, a play on patterns...perfect for a small sitting room.  

The Orb Chandelier from Ballard Designs.

Slipcovered loveseat from Restoration Hardware (*different but similar version shown above).

Concrete round coffee table.

Club chair from Ballard Designs, shown in a different fabric than above - with many more options to choose from.

Coral Needlepoint Bench, shown in red (additional colors available).

Cowhide Patchwork Rug

Rustic Wood Mirror.

Floor Lamp from here.

A floral arrangement (as seen on coffee table).

For more room looks & concept boards, view here.

The other day I came across this mid-century masterpiece of a home on California Home & Design. The house is located in Pasadena, CA and currently listed for sale at $1.695 million. It was designed by architect Arthur Swab for his own use in 1959.

The concrete block house features four bedrooms and four baths, an outdoor kitchen / pool area, with lush landscaping nestled into a hillside.

The living room and dining area with views to the backyard.

Details reminiscent of mid-century modern architecture: built-in bookshelves lining the corridor.

A modern front door.

The sprawling pool.

An outdoor bathing area.

View of the backyard with lush landscaping, oak trees and olive trees.

For a complete slide show including floor plans and landscaping details, view here.

It's summer time and we all know what that means.  It's time to doll up the back yard and throw as many outdoor parties as you possibly can!  This is in between all those hours at the beach, the pool,  summer camps, visits to grandma and grandpa -- but wherever you are and however busy you are this summer you should always find the time to sit back and enjoy the weather, some good food and a few drinks with friends.  Setting a table and planning for the party is one of my favorite things to do because it's all about the details.  Let your creative mind go and get funky with your settings, lights and other decorative touches.  You'll feel cheeky and your guests will love the effort you put into making their party experience a fun one!

Spend time on your arrangements and flowers.  They'll make everyone around you happy

Don't skimp on the candles at night

Serve fun, ready to drink cocktails that will allow guests to relax and not think about what they want

Don't be afraid of bold color.  It will brighten anyone's mood

Serve healthy options for those who are trying to be good and keep that swimsuit body

Light, easy, colorful bites are the way to go

Have some fun with the cocktail napkins

A few paper lanterns can go a long way and will add mood light and ambiance

If it's a sit down dinner go the extra mile to make the table setting pretty and soothing.  Keep the centerpieces low so you can see the people across from you!

Go wild! and grab flowers from your back yard to throw together something organic and simple

 

Last week I had the amazing honor and opportunity of interviewing the one and only Tim Gunn!  Watch the video here! Be sure to turn your volume up!

Tim has been one of my favorite TV celebrities ever since I watched the very first episode of Project Runway years ago.  I also look up to Mr. Gunn as a role model.  His career in design is truly inspirational.  He's basically covered everything from architecture to fashion!  His perfect mannerisms, dress, and personality are nothing short of captivating.  And let's not forget about his outrageously extensive vocabulary that he's so well known for, as well as the famous 'Make It Work' quote that he coined! In the interview, you'll find that his love for architecture and design started with Legos as a child! Legos were a a favorite of mine growing up as well (and I'll admit, I still like playing with them as an adult).  It always seemed that my brothers and I usually got a new set for birthdays or at Christmas.  Who knew such a simple toy could lead to design stardom! (in Tim's case anyways!)

He's also written a few books along the way.  I highly recommend picking up one or two if you're a book junkie like me!  

Gunn's Golden Rules is my favorite!

A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style will show you how to always have impeccable style that is timeless.

Tim Gunn's Fashion Bible is a great go-to when you find your self in a fashion conundrum!

I hope you enjoyed my video interview with Tim Gunn!

A special thank you to Mr. Tim Gunn and Caroline Ambuhl of Sullivan and Partners

Loving this pool pavilion featured in Elle Decor, of a home in the Hamptons. The bright blue cabinets are custom made with a smoked mirror-paneled bar, counters are of cast glass, and floors are honed Thassos and Atlantic Blue marbles. View the full feature here.