make it pretty: travel

logo, photography and styling by Corrin Acome

Tips and my side of the challenge coming soon. As soon as I buy a new CompactFlash card, take the photos and figure out a tip. 

For more prettiness, go here.

seeing red. the right way.

With today being the Reds AND Indians home openers, I thought it necessary to pay homage to two teams I hold close to my heart. Between my brother being named after Pete Rose, my parents having owned a baseball card store (mmhmm... Gateway Cards) and my brother playing it all his life (he now coaches high school ball in Orlando) I can easily I was born and raised to love the sport. I've met both Manny Ramirez and Charles Nagy (both held signing sessions at my parents store) and my dad even helped Manny find a place when he first moved to Cleveland! I tell you, it's in my blood. Which works out perfectly for my boyfriend who is a Cincinnati Reds DIE HARD.

So what the heck does all of that have to do with anything I post up on here? The color red that's what. A pretty, vibrant color to use as an accent. As long as you know how. Here are some tips to steer you in the right direction.

1. When in doubt, add a chair.
 A simple update like a paintied chair can help break up a neutral palette.

via simple blueprint

via design sponge

via house beautiful

2. Or a hutch.

Painting a piece of furniture red creates a "pop of color" (thank you, mom) regardless of the piece.

via decoratualma



3. Or fabric.

I'm not a fan of painting an entire wall red. I think it's because I like to switch things up a lot. So instead, I opt for things like fabric and furniture that you can move in and out of a space depending on the color scheme.

via house beautiful

via elle decor on alternate binkyality

via justina blakeney



Whatever the accessory, just be sure to keep the color in small doses. The more you use as an accent, the more dramatic the color will look. Happy opening day!!

you're invited: make it pretty challenge

Lately I've felt the need to step up my game in the styling department. I've always wanted to be one of those people that's able to put a table display together in a way that's effortlessly chic and absolutely fab.

Like this.

via Lonny Mag

Or this.

via darling dexter

I mean, how do they DO that? So pretty. So functional. So NOT in my current decorating capabilities.

To help get my bag o' styling tricks up to speed, I'll be challenging myself (along with my crazy-talented styling friend, Corrin) to create a daily vignette based on the list of themes featured below. This means every day in April, we'll each be styling a vignette, snapping a photo and posting it right here for all to see (and judge). My hope is that by the end of the 30 days, I'll have figured out what works, what doesn't and get thatmuchcloser to styling greatness.


Interested in brushing up your styling skills too? Then COME JOIN US in the Make it Pretty Challenge!

All you need to do is style something fab, post the photo to Twitter and include the hashtag, #makeitpretty. You can create something daily, weekly, whatever works with your schedule. It'll be a fun way to get your creative juices flowing, expand your decorating skills and just try something new.

So get ready, get set and start styling!

logo design by Corrin Acome

day 01: morning

day 02: nature

day 03: magenta

day 04: accessorize

day 05: stack or pile

day 06: clean up

day 07: light

day 08: dinner

day 09: sparkle

day 10: bedtime

day 11: furry friends

day 12: fabric

day 13: medicine cabinet

day 14: shoes

day 15: little people

day 16: ingredients

day 17: celebration

day 18: something sweet

day 19: bubbly

day 20: books

day 21: urban scape

day 22: travel

day 23: quiet place

day 24: water

day 25: table setting

day 26: flowers

day 27: paper

day 28: picnic

day 29: how-to

day 30: office