Accessories please. Your style. Your Signature.

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Its a new year, 2018! Out with the old in the new! This year I have decided to blog about “how to” as well as still sticking with adding Fashion Design to the mix.

Accessories, can either make or break a space, an outfit or in this case your cocktail table. In this blog I am going to show you “how to” design a simple table top.

First thing, decide what you want to feature. Is it flowers, books, candles? What is your focal point? In my option fresh flowers make me happy, so for me fresh flowers are a must on my table. I want to display them in a small vase. I have chosen this one from Michael’s . You want nothing too tall unless you are going to have long stem flowers. Of course my favorite flower are Sunflowers, but in this case I have chosen Peonies! (most girls favorite flower).  Then pick a favorite candle, mine is Brentwood by Hudson Grace. I always like add a decorative box, one of my favorite type is Faux Shagreen from William Sonoma. I just love how simple and the texture is.  Now you can put these items on a tray or you can just have them just sitting on the table. I like to have everything simple and clean so of course I would have a tray. I have chosen this tray by West Elm is because I love how simple and having a mirror bottom can bring light to your space especially if you have the candle burn. Of course I could not leave these books out of my space. I love fashion and why not have some fashion books such as Chanel, Prada,  and  Louis Vutton. You can choose whatever book you would like, it could be art, travel, photography. You want to create this space that is to you, to your taste. Pretty soon, when you start to put all these together this is what you have created.

William Sonoma
Michaels
West Elm
Hudson Grace
Peonies
Etsy

Created by Julia Cavallaro Designs

This creates a simple yet clean accessories for your table. Make sure that when designing your accessories, that it does not get to cluttery. My motto is create simple, live grand.

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Happy Holidays!!!

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From my heart to yours, to my readers Happy Holidays!!! May this holiday season bring you joy and happiness throughout the new year.

For this special post, I am doing something a little different. I want to share with you some of my favorite pieces for setting the table and a little hit of fashion for this holiday season.

Starting from left to right, down and around… plate setting (via pinterest), my very own table cloth (target), long stem wine class (crate and barrel) , champagne flute (crate and barrel), black place setting (west elm), gold napkins (pottery barn) , gold lace charger plate ( Anthropology). under $ 800.00.

Now for dressing up your house or the table here are some fun images that you can re-create.

The hurricane lantern is one of my favorite accessories for your home, you can put in the dinner table or you can use it just about anywhere, you can find this at Michael’s my favorite crafts store. The reindeer i found at west elm, two of them in the center of the table with candles make a festive table. Whatever you decide to place as decorations around your house, it will be festive and cozy!

 

Wither you are hosting the party or attending the party here are some fun fashion options: (via pinterest) I love the A line skirt with a long sleeve shirt or sweater. It gives it the classy look for this holiday season

Whatever you decide to wear I am sure you will celebrate in style!

With love

Julia-Signature

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Print me!

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One of the hottest trend for 2017 and maybe into 2018 is printed velvet. I know you are thinking to yourself, printed velvet…reminds me of 1990’s or my grandmothers sofa that she was so proud of. That one focal point of the room. Well its back, history always repeat itself, but it is not history its more like a revival with a twist. Painted velvet 2017 is bigger scale patterns, washed out “vintage” and not so 1990’s.

My place of business has this fabric line name GP&J Baker, which carries this amazing printed velvet!! Back in history if you had any type of velvet in your home or in your wardrobe you were either very wealthy or royalty. In today’s world it does not matter if you live in 8000 sq ft home or 463 sq ft velvet makes a room. Even Tom Ford designed a velvet suit for a man, mind I say very well done. I did a post about 2 years ago about velvet. I still to this day would a chesterfield sofa with either a royal blue or emerald green velvet on it.

My best friend her aunt has this amazing yellow 1970’s bucket chair that I am eyeing and if and when I can buy them from her this is what i would re-upholster the chairs in. Something out of the ordinary, I am usually a very tailored simple clean line type of person but when I saw the chairs and then I saw this fabric. It screams please upholstery me in this…I do not have a photo for the chair.

myfabrics
GP&J Baker fabrics

 

Here are some fun interiors that have inspired me to post this blog (all images are from google) Top row second photo that wallpaper is to die for. I would love to design an interior using it…Anyone???

 

As I said in the beginning of this post that velvet’s in your home you were either wealthy or of royal blood, well this also applied to fashion. If you wore any type of velvet you were from noble blood. In today’s world, everyone is wearing velvet, either as a man’s suit or as under garments. Whatever you sport at home or while you are out and about. Velvet is never going to go out of style. Some runway fashion ( all images from google)

You can always be like the velveteen rabbit.

Julia-Signature

Cozy time

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Its getting that time of year where you either put all your bright summer clothing it in the back of the closet or in a large bin hidden under your bed, and it is time to bring out the heavy oversize sweaters, pea coats, boots and winter accessories.

Living in California we are blessed with what we like to call “winter” do not get me wrong sometimes I wish we lived in a part of the US where snow falls. Fall is my favorite time of the year, transitioning into the leaves turning and then falling onto the ground, where you rake leaves and then jump into them. You cannot forget pumpkin spice everything. The best part of fall going into winter is being able to take out my wool socks, sweaters and even a wool undershirt. The thing that comes into mind when you think of wool is 1. it is itchy why would you want to wear that and 2. 1 is natural fiber that usually comes from a sheep or goat but there are some wool’s that come from camels or llamas. Some of my favorite types of fall clothing is my wool sweaters, I promise they do not itch. I have taken some of my inspirational wool fall fashion 2017. (images are from google)

You cannot have cozy fall fashion without some cozy fall interiors. Wool is the easiest fabric to clean. It is great for sitting chairs and sofas, if you do decide to re-upholster them in a wool make sure you get a wool that has been brushed, it will give it the more cozy look and also it will be more luxurious. I have also thrown into this blog 3 of my favorite Benjamin Moore wool paint.  (images are from google)

Wool Peacoat CSP-25
Steel Wool 2121-20
Sheep Wool 857

Wool can come in many different colors, it does not have to just come in gray. Since it is a natural fiber and the sheep or goat wool is a natural color, vegetable dye takes the color so well. Do not be afraid of picking a dark navy or bright pink wool to add spice to your pumpkin latte!

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Dinner is served!

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So far in my 30’s I have hosted maybe 4-5 dinner parties. Dinner are one of my favorite things to host, gathering my friends around the table. Now that is something I have grown up with…table…food…friends,family and stories. Also something that Italians love…Food, wine, and family (friends are considered family). Growing up my parents would always throw dinner parties for their friends putting out their best china or sometime causal. I remember when I was a kid I wanted to throw parties just like my parents. Now that I am older I have taken their tradition of dinner parties and adding my own funky twist to it.

The last dinner party that I hosted was about a month ago, gathered my closest friends and of course we made pizza, with wine and a bunch of laughter. This is how I decided to set the table.

my very own dish
@juilacavallarodesigns

Table cloth- custom made with Gaston Y Daniela fabric * napkins- Madeline Weinrib @ San Francisco Design Center * Plate- Dandelion ( San Francisco location closed) * Charger- Pier One * Glasses- Waterford wine and water * Fork/Spoon/Knife- Grandmothers collection

Now that the weather is starting to get nicer, people actually want to be outdoors, days are longer, sunny days with some hot summer nights(if you live outside of the city) I thought what better way to blog about how to dress your table and yourself for a dinner party. See some of my favorite photos of dressing your table ( all images are from pinterest)

girly
sophisticated
garden fresh ( my favorite flower)
Fresh flowers
Elegant
summer love
what you can do with a wine glass

 

Most of the time you learn how to set a dinner table properly by your grandmother or your parents, but this day and age we tend to forget the traditions. Seems like everyone is in a hurry to go somewhere . In case someone has not taught you how to set a table don’t worry pinterest is here to save the day.

ettict
Pinterest

Now what would a hostess proper attire would be. I think dressing up yourself is a lot more rewarding than dressing your table. Don’t get me wrong both are fun, but showing off your outfit is a lot more fun. One of my favorite dress that I wore to a wedding but heck why not wear it to my elegant, sophisticated dinner party.

me
Me 2016

 Now if that is too formal here are some fashion dinner party attire taken from

My Style..California Style 

garden fresh
funky
girly
sophisticated

RSVP

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Under $5,000 Beach Room Getaway

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shoreline
Half Moon Bay, California

Summer is around the corner, and summer is my favorite season of all. Longer days, BBQ with friends, warm beach days in the California sun. I normally blog how fashion meets interiors, but this time around I decided to just blog about Interior Design. I decided to turn your bed room into a beach room getaway on a budget, that’s right on a budget…under $5000.00.

beach on a budget
Created by Julia Cavallaro Designs

How to achieve this beach look under $5000.00

*Artwork-Allposters $299.99 for framed 50″ x 38″ *Nightstand- Ashley Furniture – $ 158.95 (2) *Lamps-Wayfair $118.99 (2) *Bench- Sears– $328.31 *Bed- Wayfair – $592.00 * Bedding- Nordstrom- $179.00 * Paint- Benjamin Moore- Florida Keys Blue 2050-40, Clearest Ocean Blue 2064-40, Costa Rica Blue 2064-50 (at your local paint store that carries Benjamin Moore) *Mirror-Bed Bath and Beyond – 18″ x 24″ – $39.00 * Rug- Living Spaces – 8′ x 10′ – $395.00 * Candles- Bed Bath and Beyond – $ 10.00 (2) * Pillows – Bed Bath and Beyond – $ 25.00 each ( 4) * Duvet Cover- Macy’s– $100.00 * Chest of drawers- Pier 1– $550.00 * Vases- Amazon– $ 24.99* Grand total $3244.17.

However you design your budget bedroom, just remember just ride the wave and listen to the waves crashing.

Julia-Signature

International color for Love…Red

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Since February is considered the month of love. I associate love with the color red.

There are many more meanings of the color red than just love. Some cultures believe that the color red is a sign of good luck, bring good fortune to you. Others believe that the color red symbolizes joy, life, energy and creativity. There are also ways on how a color makes us fill physically such as it increases enthusiasm, stimulates energy, increase blood pressure, encourages action and also confidence. It can also provide a sense of protection from fears and anxiety.  All About The Color RED .

“Red has guts …. deep, strong, dramatic. A geranium red. A Goya red … to be used like gold for furnishing a house … for clothes, it is strong, like black or white.” – Valentino

Gone with the Wind
Runway 2017
Beyonce Grammys 2017
Golden Globes 2017
Carrie Underwood Grammys 2017

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” I always put in one controversial item, it makes people talk”- Dorothy Draper

Dinner Party AF300
Caliente
Morocan Red

Benjamin Moore – Dinner Party, Caliente and Moroccan Red

All images are from google.com

 

Just like Scarlet O’Hara, you can never have too much red in your life.

 

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