FIRST LOOK: Designing My Closet & Boudoir with Laurel & Wolf

The designers have spoken and now I NEED YOUR HELP!! Seriously! 

 I had 4 designers create style boards for me and I never thought I would be this excited! I mean they are literally competing to be my designer! I can't EVEN!! Each have a slightly different vision but all of them encompass everything I am looking for! NOW here is where it gets difficult! Who would have thought I would love each of them so much! I seriously thought that I would be able to know right away...but I am still so stuck! Each of them left a little note and I was able to ask them questions as well. I have added their notes below for you guys to see! I basically have 3 days to choose a designer. It is important to note again that the pieces in the pictures are not the exact pictures so read what the designers had to say!

So without further ado, here are my FIRST LOOKS with the Laurel and Wolf Designers! 

SO Let me know what other questions I should ask them and who your top pick would be!! 

DESIGNER #1

SUBMITTED BY DANIELLE LEPPO

Danielle: Hi Shana! Here is a Vintage inspired boutique look for your wardrobe space. Utilizing your existing pieces, I was inspired by the white and gold, but also love the navy and rose accents. I think it would be fun but resourceful to display your jewelry and hats by adding hooks on the walls. Making a vertical shoe display in the space somewhere would also utilize the wall space, but have easy access to your collection.

MY THOUGHTS: So I absolutely love how she has not only used some of my pieces in this style board, but I am loving the wallpaper, chandelier and closet space.

Designer #2

SUBMITTED BY JORDAN SHIELDS (PREMIUM Designer)

Jordan: Hi Shana,

Hope all's well! your project looks like it would be a ton of fun and I love the pieces you have to work with! I also see a lot of sequins and fur on the wardrobe which I love. I put together a general mood board that shows some organizational ideas as well as some accents like wallpaper we could layer into the design. I think that it is important to have your pieces on display as both art and focal points for your blog and would love to work with you on this project.Please be sure to let me know if you have any questions and look forward to hearing from you.

The Clip Boards on the wall for jewelry, I had thought that could be a cool way to organize blog posts as well if you had things organized by the day or week but up on display, because it's all so fun so might as well lol. I think that if we used that inspiration image it would be a great thing to reference and create a really great unique space. For the wallpaper I have a few removable wallpaper sources that are really great over traditional wallpaper because you can install them yourself so it cuts down the cost a bit. Wallpaper is also fun behind shelves or lining drawers, I think that could be a cool use for it in this space. Glad you like the ideas and for the chandelier I know of a few etsy and online vintage decor shops I'm sure we could find a deal with.

From the main inspiration image what could we incorporate? I think it we were to use that as a the go to for staying within a look it would be really helpful. So mainly the colors and how they used a mix of vintage but in a balanced way so that the closet and pieces in the room don't become to cluttered or overwhelming looking.For the wallpaper gold would be cool too! As far as the pieces that you have I think we could use everything but I love the larger pieces like the dresser and chair to give that vintage look and we could add a more trendy item like a fur pillow on the chair for a great mix of new and vintage. I also love the hat boxes and luggage you have and think we could do something really fun with that. The ladder also stood out to me and I think we could really get creative and use it as some type of display.You are lucky because you have so many pieces with great personality and so the space will definitely reflect that. Would love to work with you on your space! :) Thanks, Jordan
MY THOUGHTS: Well as you can see Jordan was FILLED with creative ideas...Not only did I love all of the creative ways to display my stuff but she actually used an inspiration picture from my pinterest! The way she had the clothes hanging and the shoes on the wall loved the creativity. and the inspiration picture was the color scheme WHICH I LOVE. She also said she would used my grandmas dressers and chair! Which means I can spend a lot of my budget on organization, a rug, curtain and even wallpaper! I also found out she is a premium designer for Laurel and Wolf which was really cool! She is in my top 2 for sure!

Designer #3

SUBMITTED BY SHELLEY PFISTER INTERIOR DESIGN

Shelley: A Romantic, Chic, Funky, Vintage Inspired Dressing Room for Shana

Hey Shana! I am so glad you love the design!! I can NOT believe your grandma is from Paris, wow that is just wild! As far as organizing the clothes, I would suggest Ikea wardrobes. I could draw out the floor-plan for you to see which ones fit best. I have a few other ideas and thoughts and would help you to place each piece so that all is displayed nicely and some hidden until you need it to make it look like a boutique. I took a few things off because the board was filling up fast. That chair is just beautiful and the colors and fabric are just perfect! Please just let me know if you should have further questions! :)

MY THOUGHTS: Well if you can't tell Shelley is the most GLAM of the bunch. I immediately was drawn to the colors and that RUG! The gold and white striped wall paper the whole color scheme spoke to me and to see my grandmas chair just made me smile. The lighting is gorgeous also!

Designer #4

SUBMITTED BY ESTIE KESSLER (Premium Designer)

Estie: Enjoy the playful yet elegant vibe of this vintage-inspired dressing room. A European floral blue and white pattern room divider separates this space from the master bedroom, while a corresponding blue vintage-inspired rug anchors the space. A "Byzantine" blue wallpaper continues the motif, while several colorful Moroccan glass hanging lanterns add visual interest. Other features include a pair of glass-door bookcases for shoe display and a medley of framed hats and purses as wall decor. Not shown: clothing organized and displayed on racks. Note: Furniture in style board not exact, used for visualization purposes only. Overall, a unique and creative space for styling your wardrobe and as a set for your YouTube channel! 

Hi Shana, glad you're liking the direction so far! I definitely had your grandmother's pieces in mind, sorry it's hard to visualize without seeing the exact pieces in the board. I was thinking the long one would stand along the wall facing the entrance, with the mirror over it, and the tall one would be on the left side of the room. Two glass door shoe cabinets would stand on either side of the window on the right. The chair would be in the left corner, sort of in front of the wide dresser, so that your eye immediately goes to the pretty vignette as soon as you enter the space. Also, I love the idea of having both the floor mirror as well as the wall mirror because then you can get shots showing front and back of outfits!

MY THOUGHTS: Ok I have a soft spot for Estie...I don't know if it is how she explained her ideas or the fact that she has glass Moroccan lamps but I just kinda like her overall thoughts. I if you couldn't tell Estie is like the perfect combination of chic, glam and vintage. I feel like she took ALL of the elements. If you read her thoughts she is seeing my dressers and chair in the space. I love her ideas for the cabinets so chic but still organized. The Morroccan lanterns...UMM YES...Wallpaper, frames with hats and jewelry...She is in my top 2 as well...I also loved her thoughts after talking to her. The room divider was almost genius to separate the room! The pieces you see in her collage are not exact pieces so that is something to keep in mind!

Project Launched: Designing My Closet & Boudoir with Laurel & Wolf

WELL. The time has finally come...haha I get asked almost daily for a closet tour...well if you guys only knew what my closet looked like you would probably call HORDERS on me no joke. I couldn't give you a tour I couldn't even give myself a tour! haha So I finally decided that something needed to happen! I LOVE decorating and using my creativity on OTHER PEOPLE...but when it comes to myself I am a total flop. I can never seem to make a decision on anything and I can't seem to let go of anything...those two combinations don't seem to be working so I finally decided it was time to give in and get help. 

AFTER our HUGE garage sale fail Edwina and I decided and created #ThriftGiving which will really help me get rid of a lot of my clothes to homes across the world. More on that to come. But it was time to make my space usable, creative, inspiring, and a place where I can feel calm. Just like a trainer I never thought I needed the help, but if I ever want to reach my potential in anything I have learned you must let go, so I started searching for an interior designer. 

YEP

I know.

Don't worry the search was short after I saw what they were charging...umm I don't even have that money for my space let alone to hire someone to design my space. PLUS I have so many incredible pieces that I don't even know what they would actually do! 

In my search I came across a company called Laurel and Wolf. It was actually THIS YOUTUBE video I came across. 

WAIT. HUH? 

I know what you are thinking...I don't get it..you hire someone who doesn't actually come to your house, I mean I wish they, I dream of Jeannie'd like they did in the video but it isn't necessary! I was intrigued and immediately went to the website.I was wondering if a company like this would be willing to work with someone like me..I mean I could not only blog about it but I could film my whole experience! I reached out to them to see if they would want to collaborate and they said YES... I couldn't believe it. I didn't wait but 15 minutes before I got back online and clicked on Get started!!!

That brings me to STEP 1 of the Laurel and Wolf Design process! I had already decided that I wanted to re-design my closet/boudoir which used to be a retreat in our bedroom. I wanted to take you guys along my journey not only to share the experience but to share inside of my closet! FINALLY!! and don't worry I might of bamboozled Edwina to also share hers! SO Here we go!

There are actually 4 steps to the whole process and right now I am on Step 2 so let me catch you up!

We will start with Step 1!

FIRST you START a New Project!

They ask you what you will be designing. I chose other since closet wasn't a room.

The next question is asking what your design style is...if you are not sure you can take a style quiz to see! I was 

CONTEMPORARY ECLECTIC I knew right away when I looked at the picture!

Next step is to choose a design package! 

There are two options to choose from:

The Classic or The Premium Package. Basically the Classic is going to give you access to the whole community of designers at a more affordable cost, the premium package will guarantee you work with a premium designer who in essence has more experience. I believe you also get more designers to choose from in the premium package but since I was collaborating and since I really wanted to show how you can create a million dollar room on a Thrifters Anonymous budget we opted for the classic package! The final design package includes a style board, a shopping list, a floor plan, and instructions!

Then it is time to checkout! You can choose more then one space but you will treat each space as a separate room and if you want to add one you can coordinate so that you are more cohesive with the space! 

Once you have made your purchase you begin adding in more details about your space! I actually found a picture online of my actual space! This is below! I included dimensions but they also wanted pictures of the space now and well get ready for this before picture! haha 

this is what it looks like with all my nonsense inside!

One of my favorite questions they asked was do you have any pieces of art, furniture or anything you want to incorporate into your new design. 

THIS was so important to me! 

I truly believe that our homes should tell a story about you. Very few pieces were bought for this specific space. I have traveled all over the world and I have been given pieces from my family who have lived all over the world. When I look around I want to be reminded of all the people and the places and the things that you love and the experiences you have. I know, sounds crazy but I want my space, my whole home to say who I am and I don't want Pottery Barn to do it for me haha but there in lies my issue and well by the look of the picture haha you can see I have a LOT OF STUFF so I needed someone to help me refine my space and get rid of the clutter so I can enjoy the incredible pieces I have.

On the left side of my space I have this vintage high top dresser that was my grandma's...when I was little I remember imagining what was inside...jewels, gowns couldn't wait until she would get ready so I could watch her! I chose this as a piece I would like to incorporate!

This is the dresser that is currently housing my ridiculous accessories! haha

Ugh this chair...We were not allowed to sit in it or even touch it. The colors the fabric this chair makes me smile and makes me think of my grandma every day!

I have this metal dress form from Marshalls that I thought could hold something as well as this ladder which may work for something as well.

This mirror is one of the 3 I bought at goodwill for $25. Yep you heard me $25 ridiculous and it is over 90 inches long HUGE!

I have 2 rolling racks like this rack which I keep currently inspired pieces on! 

Lastly is this mirror that goes with the furniture! 

I was also able to upload or share links of inspiration! I started a PINTEREST BOARD for this closet/boudoir re-design if you want to check it out!

Some of the other questions they ask are about style and brands of furniture you love or dislike, your timeline, color preference, wallpaper or paint, and why you are designing this room. I had so much fun filling this out! I am hoping that the designers don't get scared by my space and hopefully they are inspired!! I CAN NOT WAIT to see what they come up!

Typically they will have 2 to 5 days to get FIRST LOOKS to you via a style board! 

COME back and will share the First looks and designers that choose me!!! Let me know if you guys have any questions or if you would like to see anything additional! I am also filming this and will appear on both my channels!!! Make sure you are following me on Instagram @ShanaEmily_ or Facebook @ShanaEmily for more pics and sneak previews!!! Also check out my YOUTUBE for the behind the scenes! #ShanaEmily and #ThriftersAnonymous

Love you guys! and I am going to need your help deciding so check back tomorrow for the FIRST LOOKS!! 

xoxo

ShanaEmily

Lightly Twisted: 8 Lights I am Lusting over!

It is no secret I like a good project, and I also love me some Home Decor and planning. When I found out about Black Ravens new project I was so excited seeing as not only was I asked to be in it but I got to see first hand some of the most beautiful lighting pieces I have ever seen. Take a look at the commercial I was recently in and check it out for yourself!!!  Make sure to like the video and subscribe to see more of the upcoming projects from Black Raven Films! 

VARALUZ Lightly Twisted Commercial

Here are just a few more I am in love with! From the odd shapes, to the vintage vibe, I need them in my home STAT!!! What do you guys think? I see a new project coming... when we moved in our home almost 7 years ago we never did go out and get lighting. I think I got a few fans and a vintage chandelier that was passed down from my grandpa that I love and is in our kitchen. But that is  it. we actually have no lights in our living room, dining room and formal living room haha oh and in our game room/movie theatre. Yep. Nothing. haha SO let me show you my dream lighting...and let me know what you think!

1. Varaluz 237P01BL The Wright Stuff 1-Lt Pendant I need this Pendant like yesterday. It is my all time favorite. I would put this in our living room. I love the modern twist to it, no pun intended and It would just fit right next to my vintage vibe. The juxtaposition of the two would be awesome. 

2. Varaluz 228P06RT At-Mesh-Sphere 6-Lt Pendant – Radioactive Tangerine I feel like this one could look awesome in a kitchen or even the living room. I kind of want this one for our Game room also. 

3.Varaluz 169P01WH Urchin 1-Lt Pendant – White This Pendant comes in different colors and I would love the red ones in my kitchem. This white one is so freaking cool. I was even thinking in the bathroom, or at the front door!!

4.Varaluz 151C03PE Area 51 3-Lt Pendant – Pearl If there was a lighting that had my name on it it would be this one. It's got all of the elements I love. there is a larger one I believe but the small one I would put in our formal livng room. 

5. Varaluz 247P05HO Flow 5-Lt Pendant Hammered Ore This one would be perfect in our dining room. PERFECT. I've got a wall of vintage mirrors and this next to it would be simple and add some modern edge. ugh. 

6.  Varaluz 245P03SL Treefold 3-Lt Pendant – Steel This is another contender for my dining room. elegent and modern but with an added vintage vibe and shabby chic feel. And well the hubby is from Alaska so the antlers or whatever these are make me feel like we are adding some of his culture haha 

7. Varaluz 242M01RB Reel 1-Lt Mini Pendant – Rustic Bronze This one in particluar would look so cool in our Movie Theatre/game room... maybe above the bar.

8. Varaluz 124P09MBZ Pinwheel 9-Lt Pendant – Painted Chocolate Bronze Last but not least This one is just plain cool. I was thinking it might make for an awesome living room pendant or even in the bedroom!!! Oh yeah...maybe our bedroom!!!!! 

Would love to hear your thoughts and I will take you along while I re decorate our home one room at a time! You can follow my Youtube Channel where I vlog almost daily! Here is my latest vlog!!

Don't Make Me Go NINJA on you!

I had to share what my hubby got me for Valentines Day. If this doesn't describe our relationship I don't know what does. 

Not to mention he shopped at my favorite store....thank you Marshalls...he knows if he goes there he won't go wrong...;O)

What did you guys get? Hope you had a wonderful day!

XOXO

Project Home: Shana's Schweet Shop...a dessert table for your guests...

So what's funny about my incessant need to have a dessert table is up until about a year ago I HATED cake...wanted nothing to do with frosting and anything sweet minus the salt was not for me...well here is the funny thing about a CLEAN EATING diet...it's so FREAKING clean...that rice is now sweet and my gum has turned into an addiction...I crave pound cake daily and dream of FLAKY PIE crust....haha Something about a fun dessert table filled with guests goodies and home made treats that make me happy...Between Vintage shops, family heirlooms and Marshalls...I can set up a pretty darn cute dessert table...i.e. Shana's Schweet Shop...haha My family expects this at every party and I hope I deliver! 

What you see above: 

My EAT sign was a GASP in the store purchase at Marshalls...I had been on the hunt for old letter to make this very sign and there it was all together..I love it....that along with my owl book end...

All the small plates and polka dot bowls are from Marshalls! I LOVE LOVE their entertaining section more than you know...my hubby often wonders what the heck I am doing with all of these girly bowls...

and then...and then we have the pie stands and plate stands...I also got those at Marshalls...those things can be expensive...but I think I paid like $5 on sale! 

Mason jars are all thrifted and the table cloths were vintage finds and my grandmas lace table cloth used at Hannukah! 

The suitcase is also a vintage find and I love using to hold the plates, napkins and forks etc...the strawberry napkins are seriously vintage passed down from my hubby's grandma...I loved being able to use all of these things to host the family...

So I suggest and highly recommend a dessert table..I always have chocolate to dip your goods in also...haha even though I couldn't partake in NOT A SINGLE THING...it brought so much joy to watch everyone else...haha I will get to treat myself next week...and I am looking forward to it. BRING ON THE PIE CRUST! haha 

Hope you guys get inspired as do I and please share your holiday decorating with me! #thriftersanoynmous @colorblindblog I would love to see!

Project Home: Setting the table for the holidays

For about 4 years now our family decided it would be nice to celebrate Thanksgiving on the weekend...WHY? because on Thursday everyone has about 4 or 5 different dinners they have to attend all of which are serving EXACTLY the same food...there is football on tv which basically takes the attention from your beautiful table scape and fine attention to detail when it comes to setting your dessert table...haha hypothetically speaking of coarse...everyone is rushed and uncomfortably stuffed and the night ends around 5pm where you are left with an empty feeling that no one really spent any time together....SO...that brings me to Saturday night...the family tradition I started.... I will post more pics this weekend but I thought I would start a new series on this blog to inspire...but mainly to help me get this house done...and not DONE in there will never be things we want to change etc...but done.. in every room has it's purpose and is filled with personal touches...so I thought it only fitting to start this series right after Thanksgiving as I got my butt in gear and started adding the personal touches...I also wanted to get this going before the new year has begun and we would have officially been in this house 7 years I think? 

So let's start with setting the table for our dinner...this was Thanksgiving but I think it can be used for any holiday... On to my table...or 3 that I basically stacked together as we had over 18 people over! Thanks to Marshalls, our grandparents, and vintage finds/craigslist deals...I think it has come a long way.... whether it is for Christmas..Hannukkah in our home, or just a dinner in December...I LOVE breaking out all of the dishes and special silverware at this time...especially the ones you are worried to break...this should ALWAYS come out...haha USE YOUR STUFF! Who wants to store amazing things they are scared to break!!

I love mixing old and new...personal and unique... for the runner I got some burlap from Walmart about 4 years and just folded it in half...love the rustic look of it and it was cheap! I used vintage tablecloths for the tables all from our grandparents... The gold chargers were gifted by my hubby's mom and I believe were his grandma's for all of their holidays...The small mercury glass votives are from Marshalls...I got 6 for $8!! really cute... and the white milk glass vases came from my hubby's grandma as did the REAL silver candlestick holders. I picked up the wine carafes at Marshalls also. I got the pine cones at Whole Foods but you can get them anywhere and the flowers are from Trader Joes.

 The antler candlestick holder is from Marshalls in the clearance aisle..I had been waiting on this to go on sale for two weeks and sure enough it did...patience my friends patience...haha The vintage looking bowl is also from marshalls.. and the milk glass vase is vintage.

I used my grandpas vintage wine carafe as a vase..he loved this thing...he had a whole matching bar set in this glass..I am sure you guys have seen this before..

 The plates are from my hubby's grandma who passed...Noritaki vintage..and they are lovely...You can also see a mismatch of chairs..the wood is from Marshalls and the dark wood was thrifted.

I love collecting things and I look forward to sharing them with family and friends...thank you to Marshalls for helping me set my table as well as my family and good friend Dawnya of Everything Nonsense who well helped make sense of my eclectic pieces...

More to come I will share the rest of my home and how I have added my personal touches...I will also be looking to you guys for advice as I complete it! You can follow me on Instagram where I try to share my finds and or pieces I am looking for! Thank you as always and I hope that you are preparing your table for family dinners to come here in the next few weeks!

You can check out how I decorated my fireplace HERE. Let me know if there is something specific you want me to share!

Some of the items in this post were sponsored by Marshalls in connection with my affiliation with Marshalls Project FAB.Thank you for supporting my sponsors who are helping me make this blogging dream come to life!

2 Dogs, 2 Cats, and a Menorah

The first night of Hanukkah was a success...Sophie, Sampson, Sasha, & Oscars helped light the Menorah and sang a diddy about a Dreidle...and this was just Day 1!  I know...us Jews know how to celebrate...Just wait untill we bust out the Gelt! I mean what is better than Gold Foil covered mediocre chocolate! haha yeah..I said french fries too...

These are my babies...I know...they are not REAL human babies...but let's face it...I'm an animal lover...I also like things in pairs...

I had made a video showing you some items I bought to decorate around the house HERE, and here is a quick video of how it turned out! Sorry about the lighting..