Happy {Hosting} Weekend!

Relaxing weekends are always nice to have, and this weekend will now be one of them. I've got my days packed with out of town guests, appointments and a brunch to host.

My mom is traveling down from Portland this weekend with my wedding dress in tow. I'm excited that the dress will finally be in San Francisco. It gives me peace of mind. Since the dress is arriving, we're going veil shopping. It'll be a fun thing to do with my mom, aunt and cousin from Carmel. along with my maid of honor.

On Sunday I'll be hosting this month's book club meeting. I thought it would be fun to mix things up a bit and have a Mimosa brunch. I can't wait to decorate the table (which I had to borrow from a friend) and buy flowers from Birch (they've been so colorful lately) to make it extra special. I'll try to take pictures and show all of you.

I hope all of you have a great weekend. We're days away from February, so that means Spring is just around the corner.

{photo courtesy of This Is Glamorous via william abranowicz for house beautiful}

Perfection: Malene Birger's Home

There aren't many words to describe this Cophenhagen home, except for the fact that it's utter perfection. Danish fashion designer Malene Birger's home is filled with treasures that any women would dream of having.

The photos speak for themselves; the coats, shoes, earrings and decor are perfectly placed. Skona hem did a phenomenal job photographing this inspiring home.

{photo's courtesy of decor8 via Skona hem}

Inspiration: Let There Be Light

Since November, I've been looking at this serene living room wishing it was mine. I love all of the light that pours into the space through the bay windows.

Jon Jensen Photography captured this space perfectly. It's so peaceful looking. I hope you enjoy this space as much as I have over the past three months.

{photo courtesy of Black*Eiffel via Door Sixteen}

Wednesday Wedding Updates!

Hi lovelies, today is an exciting day. Our invitations are "out for delivery" and I'm waiting not so patiently at my desk. Every time I hear the elevator ding, I hope that it's UPS.

Once they arrive, I have about a week to get the envelopes to our wedding planner (who has amazing calligraphy) and send them out. Boy is it going to be a busy week.

Be sure to check out the sneak peek of our invitation, here.

Something else is arriving this week . . .

My lovely mom is flying down to San Francisco this weekend with my wedding dress. We're going veil shopping on Saturday. I'm excited to try on my dress again!

Next Wednesday, I'll be featuring an interview with a special person that made one of my dreams come true for the wedding.

{photo's courtesy of style me pretty and Elizabeth Anne Designs}

My Spring Color Crushes

January is almost over, I can't believe how fast it has gone by. With that said, I'm already thinking about my Spring wardrobe and decorating inspiration. I think it's the only way to get myself through these gloomy, rainy days we've been having. I've been on the hunt for colors I'm drawn to this season and I already have some crushes...

I love patent leather nude shoes and these Christian Louboutin's are stunning. The slim heel and the rounded toe make them perfect. I don't think you can go wrong with nude, whether it's on your feet or in your home.

Chartreuse is a color that you have to love in order to wear and decorate with. I personally LOVE it. When Mrs. Lilien posted about seeing this Kate Spade necklace, it was love at first sight.

Normally, I'm not a pink person in my interiors, but there's something sweet about adding a touch of it to my bedroom. I do on the other hand wear light pink nail polish all the time. My friends are stunned when I change my nail polish to something bright. I'm attracted to this new color Chanel came out with this season.

What color crushes do you have this season?

{interior photo's courtesy of coco+kelley}

10 Things That Make Me Happy: CreateGirl

Today I'm excited to have Julie from CreateGirl guest post about what makes her happy. When I first started my blog Julie was, and still is, one of the most supportive and positive bloggers in the blogosphere. Every week I writes a comment that puts a smile on my face.

Julie not only has CreateGirl, but she also has her own interior design business called Jace Interiors. She's been in the industry for over eleven years. When she started Jace Interiors, the motto was“Your Home, Your Style, My Assistance.” She kept in mind that it's a very personal experience to let a designer into your home and work in your personal space.

Thank you so much Julie for guesting here on Sacramento Street today. Hope all of you enjoy this post as much as I do.

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Hi All! Thanks Caitlin it was so sweet of you to ask me to participate in the "10 Things That Make Me Happy" Series! Who knew it would be so challenging to scale back my list to only 10 pieces?! In both my blog CreateGirl and my design company Jace Interiors I tend to focus more on the accents which truly create the extra wow to any room! With my picks below, I think you will see that same thought process throughout.
I hope you enjoy my list!

10 things that make me happy!!

Fresh Flowers - like these from the Frolic Blog. Fresh cut flowers are something my mom always had around the house and it is a special touch I have taken from her, they always make me happy!!

Oversized Cocktail Rings - Yes, I am an Italian girl who is always expressing herself with her hands, so to have a stand out ring makes all those hand gesture a tad more entertaining! I have a big collection of rings and tend not to spend a lot on them so Forever 21 and Banana Republic fit the bill. Banana Republic Ring $17.99

Spring - all of it is what I am loving right now, well really my spring inspiration board which includes this outfit from Trina Turk. The turquoise/coral combo just feels so fresh!

Inspirational Quotes - Since I was a teenager I have collected quotes, I have them all over the house and often find them tucked into a book or on a sticky in my bag! This is one of my all time favorites! Etsy $27.00

Classic Fabrics - Imperial Trellis II from Schumacher in Navy is timeless and I hope to use it for BR panels this spring!

Coats - make me incredibly happy since I am one chilly girl and the Boston Winter can be so unfriendly! Soia & Kyo literally have the warmest wool coats and their exaggerated features make them unique. For me the winter is all about multiple interesting coats those that might hide my tutleneck and jeans! Look for them in January when they go on sale!

Trim - Any time I create a custom pillow for someone I insist on trim. It will create the wow to any fabric and add that special touch it needs! Rope Welt, Loop Trim, Tassel Fringe, Beaded Fringe...I love it all!! Anything from Schumacher is a little slice of heaven.

Metal Beds - makes me happy as it works easily with any type of wood furniture! The Mendocino Bed from Pottery Barn is a piece that I can see myself handing down to my children someday. I love the simple lines and the way the headboard and footboard hug the bed with its slight curve! Pottery Barn: Queen $1,099.00

Dinner Parties and Linens - make me ridiculously happy if it is on sale even better! Nothing makes me more excited than having my friends and family at one table even if it is just for take out...linens are always a must! I just purchased this Williams Sonoma Foulard Table Cloth for $9.99 at the outlet store. FABULOUS! (image from Cooking in Stilettos)

Happy {Honeymoon Planning} Weekend

The weekend is hours away and I couldn't be more excited about having a few days to relax and check things off my wedding to-do list.

At the top of my list is honeymoon planning. We're finalizing our accommodations this weekend (I've been smiling ear to ear about the house we found), and I'm excited to share it with all of you next Wednesday.

Next up on the list is finding beautiful beaches, great hiking trails, good snorkeling spots and yummy restaurants in both Kona and Kauai. If you have any recommendations please send those along as you would make our honeymoon even more special.

I hope all of you have a nice relaxing weekend and thank you to everyone who has stopped by this week.

xo, Caitlin

{photo courtesy of definitely golden}

A Pop of Color: Pink

With the torrential rain and gusting wind we've been having here is San Francisco, all I want is a little color in my life. When I came across this pink peony (my favorite flower) it brightened up my day. There's nothing like adding fresh flowers to my house that makes me know Spring is near.

If I were to ever add a touch of pink in my apartment, it would have to look like the image below. I think a slight accent looks simple and elegant.

I hope all of you can find something to brighten up your day that puts a smile on your face.

{photos courtesy of definitely golden and coco+kelley}

Wednesday Wedding: Elizabeth Dye

After my first year of college I few home to Portland for the summer to find a job and I ended up working at the English Department with owner Elizabeth Dye. Back then it was filled with ready-to-wear clothing and only one rack of wedding dresses. Now, it's transformed into a beautiful bridal boutique where you can find gorgeous one-of-a-kind wedding dresses and bridesmaids dresses.

When I asked Elizabeth what her inspiration was behind her Spring 2010 collection she said "my inspiration for the collection was heroines of English literature—writers and characters—so I called the collection “Heroines.” I wanted to make dresses that feel pretty and romantic but are still perfectly practical for bicycling down a country lane. Okay, maybe you couldn’t bicycle in all of them, but you know what I mean." Read below to read what Elizabeth has to say about the two dresses I adore.

"This dashing party dress is made from silk shantung and English tulle. Silk bodice with sweetheart neckline and princess seams is embellished at the waist with a scalloped band of vintage Alençon bridal lace and a whimsical tulle ruffle."

"This dear little dress would be perfect for a wedding by the sea. Alençon lace bodice with slight sweetheart neckline is embellished all over with delicate ruffles of silk chiffon and strewn with vintage pearl beads."

I wish I could change into one of these dresses for my reception. They seem like they'd be so much fun to dance in. Don't you think?

If you live in Portland be sure to go to Elizabeth's fashion show on January 31st. For more information go here.

Thanks Elizabeth for the beautiful wedding dress inspiration!

{photo's courtesy of Elizabeth Dye}

A Trench Kind of Day

On a day like today when the rain is coming down in every direction and you can hear thunder in the distance, it's no wonder you see a lot of people on the streets with their rain boots and trench coats. Even though on a rainy day you want to stay home in your pajamas, just slipping on your trench automatically makes any outfit chic. Just look at these women below...

I love my Burberry trench and on days like today I don't know what I'd do without it. What I don't own is a good pair of rain boots. What are your favorites? Hunters? Aigle? I need some recommendations for the five storms that are approaching.

{images courtesy of Burberry via Art of the Trench}

Brighten Up Your Day

After a nice long relaxing three day weekend (I didn’t even open my computer until this morning) was just what I needed. Since it's pouring down rain here in San Francisco, and feels like it's the middle of the night because it's pitch black outside, I thought I'd post an inspiring picture to get me through the day.

I hope all of you had a fabulous weekend and that you’re having better weather than us San Franciscans.

{photo courtesy of Kathryn Russell via Desire to Inspire}

Happy (Rainy + Long) Weekend!

I've been counting down the days (ok, the hours) until this long three day weekend, and it's finally arrived. Yippee!

This weekend I'll be lounging around the house trying to stay dry. I'm actually kind of excited for the rain to come because that means I get to cozy up with Eric while watching movies, reading books, catching up on magazines and eating yummy warm food.

I hope all of you have a lovely weekend.

xo, Caitlin

photo: unknown

HELP: Camera Recommendations

I'm on the hunt for a new camera like the one in the picture, but I can't decide if I should get a Canon or Nikon. I need your help!

Which do you like better, Canon or Nikon cameras? Thanks in advance for the helpful tips!

{photo courtesy of Mary Ruffle}

Wedding Wednesday Update: Veil

Tonight I'll be booking my last flight to Portland before the wedding. I've got to pick up my wedding dress and bring it back to San Francisco in order to find a veil the works with the dress. Since my dress doesn't have a train, I'm leaning towards a long veil, but one never knows what could happen in the end...

I love the dramatic feeling a long veil adds to the whole look, along with the photos.

Short veils aren't seen as often anymore and that's something I like seeing, but there really isn't anything like a long veil being put on for that last touch.

In the end, I'm almost positive I'll be wearing a long veil, but like I said before, "one never knows" because I never knew I'd be wearing a strapless dress.

{photo's courtesy of Style Me Pretty}

Inspiration Board: First Client

Today I'm excited to share my very first client's inspiration board. I've put a lot together for myself over the years and each one varies with what I'm trying to achieve. They encompass my initial vision and thoughts about the space. It's a way for me to gather everything to start my design project.

When creating this board I thought about a few words my client had mentioned she wanted out of her apartment: chic, warm and glamorous. I had only one request from her; I had to decorate with the color purple.

After numerous hours of brainstorming about what to add into her inspiration board, I chose the color palate of purple, greys and ivory that will work with her existing bed and couch.

A few style notes:

* Recover her headboard in a patterned fabric (above) will add an extra pop against her already white walls.

* Adding texture that will bring in warmth to the room with faux fur pillows and blankets.

* Bring in pillows that draw in the accent colors.

* John Robshaw sheets are a must in every household. These go perfectly with this color palette.

* Add in furniture with additional storage that will declutter the apartment and keep it more organized.

* A sleek, chic desk with clean, straight lines is exactly what she wants for her workspace.

* Find unique pieces that will bring in a touch of glam.

The progress of this project is moving along great. I've already purchased a few things; a dining room table, coffee table, headboard fabric and throw pillows. I'm excited to go to Alameda the first weekend of February, I know I'll be able to find a lot more treasures for her apartment.

Hope all of you enjoyed a little sneak peek at this project. Can't wait to continue to share my progress on it. Keep an eye out for the before pictures of the apartment that will be posted soon.

10 Things That Make Me Happy: Haute Design

When I asked Sarah from Haute Design to guest post about what makes her happy, I knew she'd send me a fabulous post with amazing images. I couldn't be more thrilled with her post. One of my favorite things about finding out what makes someone happy is that I always find myself having similar things on my list. If only the list could be 100 things.

When I first found Haute Design, I fell in love with all of the unique images Sarah posted. It brings me daily inspiration and I always find myself going back a few times a day to get my daily fix.

Thank you so much Sarah for taking the time to guest post today!

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Hello everyone! I am so happy to be here on Sacramento Street today, showcasing 10 things that make me happy. When I begun drafting a list, I found that I could quite easily fill out an entire page -- so I scaled back quite a bit, and am showing you a few of my most favorite things -- the things that bring me a little more comfort and beauty each day. I hope you enjoy and perhaps come across a product or two that you might like to try...

Happy {R & R} Weekend!

After a long week of work, wedding planning, wedding drama and redecorating our apartment with a new bed, I'm exhausted. I am so glad I have a new bed to collapse on this weekend.

I want to apologize for the late afternoon posts this week. It's been rough dealing with two of my bridesmaids. Let's just say I highly recommend that as a bride you're there when your bridesmaids take their measurements. Don't let them turn in what the "hope" they'll be or they may be wearing their dresses with safety pins up and down the side like a Scottish Kilt! But when your bridesmaids live in another country, you'd think you would be able to trust them. Unfortunately, mine didn't give me their REAL measurements. I'll keep you posted about what happens, but for now I just have to laugh about the whole situation and enjoy every minute of being engaged.

But no more drama this weekend. My weekend is going to be all about resting, relaxing and working on redecorating my first clients apartment. I'll be sharing the inspiration board I created for her apartment next week.

{photo courtesy of this is glamorous}

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Mattress, Welcome to Our Home

This morning Eric and I said goodbye to our full size mattress. Tonight our new queen mattress will arrive and both of us are waiting with bated breath (at least our backs are).

I'm excited to put new sheets on the bed, iron the bed skirt and get it all set up. Luckily, our headboard is on a truck headed our way. Next week the apartment will look even better!

{photo courtesy of design to inspire}