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Globetrotting in Style: Seattle, Washington

If you’re looking for  a new place to travel to within the U.S., Seattle may be the perfect location. I absolutely love this city, and so does our guest blogger today Lauren Hughes of Lolly Jayne Loves. 

Hi, I’m Lauren Hughes, a graphic and web designer working at Nordstrom. I blog over at Lolly Jayne Loves and I will be launching my art and style blog Bank of Swans really, really soon! So, I “officially” moved to Seattle from the UK just over 2 years ago. I use “officially” because Seattle has seemed like home for much, much longer than that. My parents have lived in Seattle for around 12 years, so I have spent a lot of time back and forth between there and the UK. As I said I decided to make the move a permanent one 2 years ago, and I have never for one second regretted that decision. Seattle really is my home and I love it, and I’m excited to get to share a little bit of it with all of you in this post.

1. Volunteer Park
Seattle is all about nature and being outside, there are so many gorgeous spots to explore in and around the city and, of course, the surrounding mountains and islands. I feel really lucky that I live in walking distance of a place as beautiful as Volunteer Park, it’s the perfect bit of tranquillity in the heart of Capitol Hill. Being a stunning open space would be enough to encourage you to stop by here but Volunteer Park has so much more to offer than just green lawns and tall trees. All year round there are events going on, from Shakespeare plays in the summer, to music festivals, markets, and Christmas Caroling in the Winter. Also, there are stunning vistas of the city and the Space Needle. It is also home to the Seattle Asian Art Museum, which has amazing exhibits all year round. And then last but by no means least there is the Conservatory, which is home to so many beautiful plants, roses, lilies, cacti, succulents, palm trees, and ferns. The Conservatory also hosts unique events throughout the year.
 
 
All in all Volunteer Park is the perfect spot to take a break from all the hustle and bustle of the city without having to go very far at all.
 
2. The London Plane
The London Plane is one of my favorite Seattle spots. Housed in the historic Pioneer Square neighborhood of downtown Seattle, The London Plane is, to quote “part cafe, part specialty foods grocery, and part floral workshop”. This is the place to go when you’re looking for elegant brunch, sophisticated cocktails or a unique dinner. Their brunch is special, an in-house bakery serves up a myriad of pastries and breads as well a variety of cereals, yogurts, vegetables, and grains. It’s a great alternative to all the heavy, stodgy food you often find available for brunch. 
 

My food choice is always their mezze of beet hummus, caramelized cauliflower-eggplant spread & cashew romesco, accompanied by either a glass of red wine or rose.  Not only can you get great food here at The London Plane, you can also pick up all kinds of produce to take home with you from their exquisitely stocked grocery section, or pick up new stationery, soap or some new art from their boutique shop. All of this AND they can even teach you how to arrange flowers in one of their many floral workshops going on throughout the year. You would also be really silly not to grab a slice of their ginger cake on the way out, trust me!

3. The Pink Door
The Pink Door is one of the cutest dinner spots in Seattle. It’s located right in the heart of the touristy Pike Place Markets, but it’s tucked secretly away down Post Alley hidden behind, you guessed it, a pink door. You could be forgiven for walking straight past as its only identifiable by its door, but once you step inside you instantly know you’re in the right place. It’s charming and cozy, rustic in its decor, homely and welcoming. This place is always pretty busy so it’s best to book in advance if you can. If your lucky enough to make it when a show is on your in for a treat. The Pink Door plays host to cabaret performances, trapeze artists who soar above you as you dine and burlesque shows. If you head here in Summer be sure to sit outside on the deck with its amazing views overlooking Elliot Bay and the Olympic Mountain Range. 
 
 
The food reflects the vibe of the place, it’s Italian-American fair and it’s hearty and wholesome and totally satisfying, the pasta is not to be missed. We dined on Risotto Al Limone – shrimp, scallops and Bloomsdale spinach and one of their constantly changing specials, squid ink spaghetti, with mussels, clams and calamari in a spicy tomato sauce, and baskets of bread. You also can’t go wrong with their decadent chocolate sponge dessert. Mouthwateringly good. The Pink Door is the perfect place for a date or a celebration, it’s a definitely night you won’t forget in a hurry.
 
Stop by Lolly Jayne Loves blog to learn more about Lauren. To see more great “Globetrotting in Style” destinations take a look here. 
 

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The Queen of Jewel Tones

 
Mali Azima Photography, Image via Veranda 
 
That’s right.  Emerald is the Queen of Jewel Tones.  It always feels so regal whether it’s being dressed up or dressed down.  Above, the rich, velvet drapes in emerald green transform the space and exude sophistication.  I especially enjoy the beaded chandelier as a natural element that juxtaposes the velvet – very smart indeed.  
Designer Matthew Bees, Image via House Beautiful, Gordon Beall Photography

The emerald wall above is such an unexpected punch! Although it’s such a tiny corner, the green isn’t overwhelming at all, which I attribute to the impactful gallery wall.  This space is perfectly curated and intriguing to the eye.  The bold emerald wall gives the space a true depth.  The global living room below is also an example of masterful curating.  While this room only uses emerald green as an accent, the emerald glass bulbs anchor the room and add to its visual interest.  

Photography by Lisa Romerein, Image via Coastal Living
 
Image via The Turquoise Iris

The dresser above is an upcycled piece that really illustrates just how effective a can of emerald green paint can be – quite literally, transformative.   This old dresser, which was originally a plain medium wood tone, now looks like a regal work of art.  The gold hardware adds to the luxe look and the peacock design really gives it a custom stamp. Why not try your hand at making your own fabulous, emerald accent piece?  This beautiful furniture was painted and upcylced by Dionne of The Turquoise Iris. She refurbishes and reimagines fantastic furniture for her Etsy shop.  Check out her before and after photos here.  Maybe you’ll be inspired! 

green.

Designed by Nate Berkus

Emerald and gold are a classic color combination.  It’s so sophisticated, even when done casually like in the dining room above.  In fact, one of my favorite pair of earrings has this color combination, making it my go-to for a chic outfit. I thought I’d leave you with a shot of my fab earrings just to show that emerald is not only the Queen of jewel tones for interiors, but for stylish accessories too.  

*Amrita Singh earrings here*

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The Etsy Eight: Awesome Etsy Finds of the Week

 
 
  1.  Hand-painted silk scarf – Dikla Levsky Design
  2. Antique, Chinese sytle drawer pulls (5.6 inch) – LBFEEL
  3. Trina Turk persimmon arches pillow – Pop O’ Color
  4. Hand-woven, large mandala basket – Weaving Art
  5. “Lydia” Fine Art coaster set (4) – Christoff Davis
  6. Men’s Titanium ring with cocobolo wood – Ring Ordering
  7.  Seamless, Burnt Honey leather ribbon belt – Mano Bello
  8. “Love birdie on twig” long earrings in silver, gold, or pink finish – Once Upon a Cho
Which of the Etsy 8 is on your wish list?

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Chic meets Rustic: Decorating with Reclaimed Wood

The Sky is the Limit Design, Works Photography
I just love bringing the outdoors in!  Bringing reclaimed wood into a space really achieves that.  I should note that you don’t have to be resigned to farmhouse style to make reclaimed wood work in your space either.  Not only that, but reclaimed wood can be very, very chic!  The reclaimed wood dining table above is such a great example of the chic-ness that can be reclaimed wood.  Design company, The Sky is the Limit Design, creates such a stylish juxtaposition by combining this root wood dining table with the contemporary chrome leg dining chairs.  Take a look at these other great ways to introduce reclaimed wood into a space. 
 
REFINED LLC, Martha O’Hara Interiors

Against the cream color palette this reclaimed wood ceiling above really pops.  Designer Martha O’Hara creates a lovely sunroom.  Her use of the rustic wood slabs on the ceiling gives this room a special cottage-charm.  It all just comes together quite nicely, especially with the chandelier! I’d absolutely enjoy relaxing in this room.  What do you think about the uses of reclaimed wood in the rooms below?

Home of Keri Russel, Image via Elle Decor, Photography by William Waldron 
 
Sarah Richardson Design, Image via Houzz, Stacy Branford Photography
 
Stunning antique Moroccan doors accent this feminine, purple living room.  This room was designed by Rafael de Cárdenas for model Jessica Stam’s Manhattan apartment.  Stam says these reclaimed doors were already installed in the apartment when she moved in.  Winning! Let’s hope my next home comes with one-of-a-kind antique, Moroccan accents.  A minor request for my realtor. 
 
Rafael de Cárdenas, Image via Elle Decor
 
Rafael de Cárdenas, Image via Elle Decor

Lastly, for those of you who haven’t found that one-of-a-kind reclaimed wood statement piece, you can still bring the outdoors in with high-quality wall paper that resembles weathered planks of wood. Below, check out this fab new wall paper from Thibaut, which is scrubbable vinyl for those who are durability conscious.

CozyStylishChic, Image via Thibaut
Blog CozyStylishChic.com has a great article on smart alternatives to wood paneling.  Take a look! So now that you’ve seen the many ways you can include reclaimed wood elements in your home, which reclaimed wood feature shown here do you like best?  Do you have any reclaimed wood elements in your home currently?