Details from the Designer - Vol. 4

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Hello and Happy October! You may, like me, be slightly relieved that September is over. I love September for the excitement and weather. But, it can be overwhelming with all the transitions.

By now, routines are settling in. Sweater weather is just about here and I’m finally ready. And it’s not too early (kinda is) for me to be prematurely planning for Thanksgiving.

Styling Breakdown

This month’s Styling Breakdown comes to you from the Bonus Room in our Grey Project. We are so very happy with these custom built-ins. The function is amazing. And the opportunity for a little decor moment always makes us giddy. We have a source list below and always feel free to email (hello@grayoakstudio) or DM with a request for something we missed!

 
 

Below is a close up of the art on the shelf (we used London because it’s meaningful to the homeowners). This artist has so many letterpress and cut out pieces of different locations around the world. The one in the middle (below) is Nantucket!

SOURCE LIST

Keeping Myself Busy

I crochet! My grandmother taught me when I was about 7 and I’ve been doing it ever since. Hats and blankets are my favorite, but I went through a big infinite scarf phase and I made crowns for my daughters when they were toddlers.

This time of year reinvigorates a nightly ritual with the old hook and yarn. It’s not fun to crochet in the summer with the heat and the thick growing blanket and the piles of yarn. But, when the weather gets crisp and holiday gift planning starts…because you have to plan this far in advance when the gift takes a couple months to make…I dig into a new project.

I wanted to share a book that I found in case you’re interested in picking up a cozy hobby or, if you’re a pro, interesting in trying some new patterns.

 
 

I also wanted to share my current favorite yarn for a thick, quick blanket. Use this plush yarn with a nice, big hook and you’ll have a blanket in no time (aka 2 months).

 
 

Fashion Find

If you’ve been a steadfast watcher of our Instagram stories, you already know about these fashion finds. If not, here’s the scoop. But, also, Instagram stories are where the action lives!

I got myself a lovely birthday gift this year - new sneakers from Freda Salvador. They were a big time splurge, even with a 20% discount. That said, I’m obsessed. They slip on and off truly easily. They hold their shape perfectly, despite the slip on/off factor. They’re ridiculously comfortable. And they go with anything and everything I wear (in my humble opinion).

 
 

I also got a new everyday athletic sneaker. So, not the sneaker I wear for a run, but my choice for errands and Install Day. They are reasonably priced, especially for Nikes. They come in some really cute colors (I went neutral…of course) and they’re very, very comfortable. Wider than your average Nike, which my feet appreciate.

 
 

Local Fun

I can’t take credit because a lovely new client shared it with me: Beacon Hill Books & Cafe. I’m heading there later this month for some perusing and snacks. It is in a recently renovated space (you can check out the Instagram to see some progress pics) and it’s stunning. So much design inspiration. So much charm. Such a great place for a Sunday afternoon adventure into Boston. I’ll be sure to share pics on Instagram Story (like I said - where the action lives) later this month.

 
Gray Oak Studio - Beacon Hill Books and Cafe
 


Until November!

Cheers, Leah


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Details from the Designer - Vol. 3

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Happy September, Everyone! It’s my favorite month of the year. I’m looking forward to apple pies, chilly nights that require sweaters, surprisingly hot days when I can still wear sandals, watching my kids play all the fall sports (so many), season two of Welcome to Wrexham (Tuesday, Sept. 12) and a blowout stockroom sale to celebrate ONE YEAR in our studio!!! Details will be solidified and shared in the coming weeks.

For this month’s edition of Details from the Designer, I have included some art in the Styling Breakdown and an excellent Amazon fashion find. Enjoy the start of this new season!

Styling Breakdown

SOURCE LIST

Keeping Myself Busy

I’ve been reading the book The Seven Husband’s of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid and listening to the book Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant. I’m usually a one book person but these are very different genres and very different topics, and I read one before bed and listen to the other in the car and it’s somehow all working! I realize I’m behind the buzz when it comes to The Seven Husband’s of Evelyn Hugo, but I never stumbled upon spoilers so the end is still completely unknown to me. And I’m clueless, which I love. Think Again is one of the more powerful nonfictions I’ve read in a very long time. It’s part about how to change other people’s mind, part about how to change your own mind and part about the sheer power of edits/revisions/feedback/criticism and the like.

Fashion Find

I have owned the medium transport tote from Madewell forever. It’s such a classic bag that works just as well heading to the gym as it does heading to a client meeting. The leather wears beautifully and it holds so much without being a truly large tote. BUT, the cross body strap on mine broke off a few weeks back. The metal piece that attaches the leather literally snapped. The bag does hold a lot, but I’ve always pushed whatever weight limit may/should exist (a tape measure alone is 2 lbs). So, I decided to get a new strap and found this one on Amazon. It’s comfortable, coordinates beautifully with the english saddle color and looks good. Not quite a Parker Thatch (SO pretty)…but I’m very happy with it.

Local Fun

I took my daughters back-to-school shopping at Love Struck in Reading a couple weeks ago. I had never been and I fell in love. I was, in fact, love struck with Love Struck. It is a woman owned business and we were assisted by the owner herself and her incredibly sweet daughter. The selection is absolutely perfect for tween and teenage girls. Cool, fun, unique pieces. The store is beautifully decorated and my girls and their friends had a whole Pretty Woman afternoon trying on options. There is absolutely a bigger price point that comes with the style and quality, so we found first-day-school-outfits and not wardrobes. But, we are all obsessed with what we found and will absolutely return for the next special occasion.

Until October!

Cheers, Leah

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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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