Details from the Designer - Vol. 2

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I’m off to a great start - two months in a row of these fun newsletters! Going strong.

August is a favorite around here. It’s about slowing down and even taking a full pause to breath in the second half of summer before the rush of September. We’ll share lots of project updates on social media throughout the month, but we will also try our best to be a little unplugged as we focus on family and ice cream.

Styling Breakdown

 

Photo credit: Kendall pestana

 

Today I’m sharing a pretty and purposeful kitchen vignette from our Fairchild Project. Everyone has a counter in their kitchen and yours can look like this with relative ease. It’s a spot for your frequently used cookbooks, so you’re not searching through the back of a cabinet above your fridge (or where ever you hide all your cookbooks), a beautiful storage container and a fruit bowl. For mini open shelves, we suggest tiny plants and stacks of little bowls.

SOURCE LIST

Keeping Myself Busy

I first heard about Drive to Survive on the Armchair Expert podcast. Thereafter it felt like friend after friend was talking about it. Raving about it. Addicted to it. It’s a documentary on Formula 1 racing. To me, it’s somewhere between Real Housewives and Fox Sports (or NESN if you’re local). A mix of big egos and fierce competition all set in a ultra boujee circumstances. I can’t believe I’m obsessively binging a show about car racing. This is not me. But…it is.

Fashion Find

It’s too early to wear cardigans, but not too early to get your fall wardrobe in order. Add just a few new things that will make your whole closet feel fresh. This cardigan was new to my wardrobe last fall and it was a quick favorite. Classic, quality and so, so pretty. It always evoked a compliment. There are too many beautiful colors to choose - I went with Rosewood, but I’m now eyeing the Birch (below).

 
 

Local Fun

Did you know that Treehouse Brewery hosts live events, including concerts? At the end of this month, the Deerfield location is hosting Trombone Shorty. You can sip THE best beer (literally) and listen to excellent jazz. Sounds delightful.

Let’s see if I can keep this up! And please let me know about any local events, stores or restaurants that you’re loving. I would love to share them in my upcoming posts.

Cheers, Leah

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Fern Playroom - Reveal

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I’m surprising you with a fun reveal today. Frankly, I’m surprising myself. Turns out I’m going for gold with this re-commitment to the blog.

The playroom from our Fern Project has a few easy and inexpensive design details you can consider for your home. The truth is that most playrooms will look this great only once a year (or however often you choose to clean and/or overhaul yours). But, at least if you start from a point of pretty organization you can journey your way back once in a while.

We chose wall mounted bookshelves because they are particularly narrow. The idea is to keep as much space as possible open for play. And the etagere style (no solid sides) makes them feel airy and less visually obtrusive. We chose white, but these shelves also comes in black. We could see a cool, teenage hangout making great use of the black version. Bins of video games, books and board games instead of blocks, toy food and trucks. And we have also used this look for less.

 
 

For the lowest shelves, we love acrylic bins with an opening in the front. The clear material lets kiddos see what is being stored and the dipped opening lets them easily help themselves. Seagrass baskets on the next two shelves create true hidden storage. Over the year (maybe on a monthly basis), toys can be rotated from the seagrass baskets to the acrylic baskets to reignite interest in forgotten toys and hide toys that have lost their luster.

The top two shelves were saved for true decor - framed family photos or kid art and plants - and some larger toys or books that require adult supervision or assistance. It’s also a nice spot for sentimental toys that are more for display than play.

 
 

For this room, we had plenty of space to add a table and chairs that can be used for puzzles or art or playing. A solid color, flat weave rug in a rich shade of blue anchors the room. We often choose solid colors for playrooms because there is enough color chaos with all the toys. A simple, plain rug is a nice backdrop for the naturally occurring rainbow.

 
 

And we always recommend a lidded basket to throw all the extraneous toys that you don’t feel like sorting out (or don’t have time to sort out). More than one is even better!

Maybe this is your inspiration to do that annual playroom overhaul?! Add a few storage elements. Clear out some broken toys or games with missing pieces. Donate a few books that your kids have aged out of. It certainly is for me!

Cheers, Leah

*This post contains affiliate links*

Details from the Designer - Vol. 1

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Welcome to the very first volume of Details from the Designer. I’m finally making good on my 2023 professional resolution to blog more regularly with tangible design ideas for your home (easy, quick and inexpensive updates) and a little fun personal inspiration. Better (very) late than never?!

I’m going to keep the format of this newsletter straightforward and short. I want you to be able to read them during a snack break or while you wait in the Target returns line. I also want me to be able to stay regular and consistent about writing them. It’s a win for all of us.

Styling Breakdown

 
 

This built-in shelf from our Cortland Project is about contrast and texture. With the bold, blue wallpapered background, we used light, neutral decor to create interest. Mixed in with that range of ivory, beige and gray is lots of texture.

SOURCE LIST - items carried in our stockroom are noted, please email hello@grayoakstudio.com for pricing

Keeping Myself Busy

I’m currently listening to Lessons in Chemistry. I’m enjoying the plot, I love the author’s voice (a little quirky, just like the characters) and the narrator is fantastic. I have found that a good narrator is absolutely critical when listening versus reading. A great book can be made awkward or boring when I don’t vibe with the narrator’s voice. OH, and Apple TV is releasing a series based on the book later this year…so quick read it now before you can’t resist watching first or everyone’s spoiling it!

 
 


Fashion Find

I’ve been eyeing the woven leather tote from Quince for a long while, so when I got an email that the black was back in stock (I was on the waitlist…do you ever do that?) I didn’t think twice. The black is still in stock for at the moment and you can put yourself on the waitlist for the cognac or light gray.

 
 

Local Fun

I’m sure this is old news for some locals, but I finally made a reservation at Nightshade Noodle Bar!!! Granted, the reservation is months away, but I’m already excited. Right now, it looks like a party of 3 is the biggest available reservation, period. But, there’s a waitlist to be notified for bigger parties. And you now know that I love a good waitlist.

My goal is to pull together a newsletter once a month, totally manageable. And sprinkle in project reveals when possible. I’m a month overdue on Norden. So that’s next on my list!

Until next month (if not sooner)!!!

Cheers, Leah

*This post contains affiliate links*