Lately, I’m noticing a bit of a pattern where I start Christmas shopping for others and somehow veer off and just start shopping for myself instead. I’m posting my winter wishlist in hopes that if I put it all here then my brain can go back to focusing on the joy of giving! Ho, ho, ho! – Marianne
A. SLK Halo pickleball paddle: This fall I took up pickleball and have quickly become obsessed! Perhaps a chic paddle could take me from a 2.0 to a 3.0 overnight!
B. Cotton frilled blouse: I’m in my Edwardian teacher era and I love it!
C. Wool-blend sweater vest: Give me all the textured layers!
D. Satin bow set: Such a cute way to throw your hair half up and make it look special!
F. Iris Hantverk round knob dish brush, Savon Olive oil soap cube and soap dish: I recently spotted this set at a chic boutique but freaked out when I discovered the price tag! Months later I’m still thinking about it and you know what that means!
G. Sézane Claude bag: This shape! This color! This texture! Ooh la la!
H. Madewell darted barrel jean: Every mom I know wants these! If you want to try out this trend then this is the perfect silhouette that won’t overwhelm your figure!
I. Wool dish drying mat: I love that this is functional and aesthetically pleasing. **Adds to cart**
J. Greta ballet flat: Give me all the Parisian girl flats, please.
K. Merit makeup set: I’ve been dying to try out this whole set! Merit gets nothing but rave reviews, and I’m so curious if it lives up to the hype!
Hello friends! It’s been ages since I last blogged, and I’m excited to start up again after this long pause. This past year I have stepped away from designing professionally, but I have still been longing for a creative outlet. When faced with renewal fees for running my website it was a good motivator for me to reignite this spark. I could either shut down this blog that I started over 15 years ago or keep it going… and I chose to do the latter so here we are! I am unsure which direction my creativity will flow in this new chapter of The Style Trial, but I hope you’ll be along for the ride as I mix in design, decor, fashion and various elements of style inspiration.
Currently, I have been collecting ideas for what direction I want to go in with my holiday decor this year. I absolutely live for the day after Thanksgiving when I get down all of my holiday boxes from the attic. Opening each box and rediscovering all my treasures gives me so much joy. Each year I curate a different assortment from my stash and switch up the colors and textures a bit. Last year, for the first time, I leaned into traditional colors like shades of red. This year I want to continue that and I found this beautiful velvet burgundy ribbon that I’m going to tie on my wreaths and add to my tree. I’m still into brown and caramel tones as well, and I love how that combination of tones add additional warmth as shown in the following Pinspiration:
These bronze-brown ornaments are so pretty!
One thing I love about decorating for the holidays is that there are absolutely zero rules! I love a maximalist and a minimalist approach! I can appreciate both an au natural aesthetic and one that has incorporated faux elements. I recently stopped in my scroll when I saw glimpses of Jean Stoffer’s Holiday home tour this year! Although I typically shy away from artificial accents this mantlepiece that features faux metallic stems is a dream:
Here’s another interesting attempt featuring a brass laurel garland by House of Jade:
On the other hand, this wreath has all natural elements, plus a dried hydrangea that has my heart, and I love both approaches equally:
I also love a bold minimalist look with a heavy focus on real greenery:
I’ve also been so inspired by many of the small trees that I’ve been seeing! This petite tinsel tree is small, but mighty:
This mini-tree dressed in giant pearls is amazing (this Holiday home tour will blow your mind):
This table topper tree is so uniquely simple and yet still so interesting to me:
I also have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to Christmas trees in Chinoiserie pots! This tabletop tree by Simply Marie is so charming:
I’m also pretty tempted to see if I can find a Black Friday sale on some candle stick lights for my tree! They are definitely the trend du jour (but could be hit or miss in real life):
Last, but not least, there are the those who incorporate fruit into their holiday decor (which I consider to be the highest of art forms)! They go way beyond the dried orange garland! This is the peak of chic if you ask me:
And Mary Ellen Becker’s entire holiday scene is a master class in sticking to an orange & blue theme (her Instagram account is loaded with more amazing examples):
So, there you have it! I have a million more Pins that inspire me, but those are just a few that fill my creative cup with joy. Decorating for the holidays is such a bright spot for me during these cold, dark and rainy winters. I’m so excited for everyone to get started on their decorating journey as well! Thanks for being here and welcoming me back to the blogosphere. Happy decorating, friends! – Marianne
By now you’ve certainly caught onto the English cottage vibe that has reminded us all that history repeats itself for a reason. Marble countertops, unlacquered brass hardware, quality craftsmanship and those charming little fluted details are more popular than ever. If you haven’t already devoured For the Love of Kitchens about the incomparable deVol Kitchens it’s a master class in English design that I highly recommend. If you’re looking to add a bit of that charm to your home the perfect place to start is by updating your lighting! Here are some of my favorite picks that fit every budget. I’ll cheers to that!
During this time of isolation I have been constantly combing online sources for inspiration to keep me feeling creative and motivated to freshen up my own space. I rounded up some of my favorite pieces (all of which are available to shop online) to lend a little isolation inspiration for you as well. Perhaps a little stimulus splurge will help spark joy in your home base!
A. Faux Peach Blossoms in Vase Foraged greenery loosely gathered in a large vase doesn’t require purchasing anything new! Just grab your clippers and head out into the backyard!
B. Floral Stripe Pillow Shades of mauve add a warm dash of color without overpowering your surroundings.
C. Silk Stripe Pillow Cover Take a break from bright blue pillows and embrace a softer navy and cream combo that doesn’t scream “nautical” theme.
D. Vintage Still Life Don’t want to splash out for new art? Just download a print (I love Vintage Supply), spray paint an old frame gold and voila!
E. Striped Throw Blanket It’s time to swap out your heavy throws for a lighter weave. I love this neutral stripe and can never pass on a tassel!
F. Conical Lamp Shade These cone-shaped shades are trending and add a modern-throwback update to any old lamp.
G. Faris Ceramic Table Lamp This beauty is backordered for good reason: it is grand, neutral and very chic!
H. Olive Tree I’ve had a lot of time to tend to my plants these days and have become convinced that I’m able to keep them alive! I’d love to plant an indoor olive tree next. Don’t have a green thumb? There are countless faux trees to choose from.
This delightful cottage designed by Kristen Panitch always stops me dead in my tracks! This beauty was featured in House Beautiful and the entire project is beyond charming. For me, the star of the show is these vintage Parisian holophane globe street lights which have been repurposed as pendant lights. Now I’ve begun to notice this prismatic glass look in so many forms, and thankfully it’s attainable in a more budget-friendly form. Here are my picks for the best ‘dupes’ online!
This month marks the 10 year anniversary of The Style Trial! In 2009, I started this blog fresh out of design school as a creative outlet where I could discuss all things related to style. My favorite posts have always been related to trend-spotting, so I thought what better way to celebrate than with my favorite trends for fall 2019! The time has come to embrace the cozy sweater weather and settle in at home with your pumpkin spice everything! So happy fall y’all and thanks for following along for a decade of my style blogging journey!
A. Fresh bundles of eucalyptus are my absolute fave for fall and the holiday season! I get a couple bundles on the cheap at Trader Joe’s and they last forever. They look best when they are really full and fall into an organic shape!
B. Amber soap bottles are everywhere right now! This Lavender Rosemary Hand Soap is both yummy smelling, chic and totally worthy of keeping out on display.
C. The pendant of the moment is definitely this Conical Drum Pendant from Rejuvenation. It’s modern meets classic and so versatile yet unique. Major seal of approval!
D. As the temps cool down I want to live in all things sherpa right now including this Sherpa Fleece Snap Up Sweatshirt in the most beautiful shade of green!
E. After spotting a cabinet similar to this Ventana Glass Cabinet on Chris Love Julia’s new budget kitchen makeover I started to notice them everywhere. Such a chic way to display your finest wares and a new alternative to the china cabinets of yonder.
F. This Loloi ‘Layla’ rug in olive/charcoal is defintely a mood that will anchor a room nicely. It has that vintage look, but it won’t break the bank like the real deal will.
G. One of my favorite trends is the surge of vintage gold-framed paintings tucked into tiny corners of kitchens. I love using art in unexpected places and this Green River Series Original Acrylic is a perfect place to start!
I. I love the fall transition from bright to muted nail colors. This Reclaiming My Name Nail Polish is not only such a good look, but the company gives back to worthy causes. This is also a shameless plug for my bestie/Claws Out founder!
L. Nothing says October decor quite like an heirloom pumpkin. I prefer the real deal to anything faux because each has a unique, beautiful shape, and I’m so here for it.
Now strap on your ankle boots and hit up your local patch!
I meet with so many clients who want to update their kitchen without breaking the bank. When all new cabinets are out of the question I typically suggest all new, professionally done paint to change the look without breaking the bank. Wood stained cabinets seem to go in an out of style, and painting over wood is a daunting decision for many clients. For those who find painting over wood stain to be a risky or wasteful option you must check out these ‘before and after’ photos from my client in West Linn. The new paint looks fresh and modern, and new stainless steel appliances, hardware and quartz countertops completed the transformation. If you’ve been looking for a way to make something old look new again may these photos inspire you to take a leap of faith with paint.
Before.
In progress with new quartz countertops installed.
After new paint, appliances, hardware, back splash and countertops.
Cosmos quartz countertops in “Tropical White” and a solid white subway back splash make the space look and feel clean, shiny and new.
Paint colors: island in “Pipeline” and cabinets in “Fondant” both from Miller Paint ‘Colorevolution.’
An oiled bronze faucet added a bold touch to the new black granite sink.
Sturdy charcoal hardware added dimension and gives a modern feel.
Such a great Cinderella story for this 90’s kitchen!
I’m beyond excited to share some before & after pics from a recent bathroom refresh project! My clients had an outdated half-bath that was in desperate need of a transformation, and I pulled together an assortment of traditional (with a splash of modern) options for them to choose from. As you can see they have great taste, and more importantly they now have a beautiful, updated space that reflects their classic style. I think these selections are timeless, and I love that this unique, understated blend will be adored for many years to come. See ya later, powder pink wallpaper! Don’t let the ‘powder room’ door hit you on the way out!
BEFORE
The floor to ceiling pinkish stripes had to go!
I’m glad that wallpaper is back, but that borders have been given the perma-boot.
If only this gold brass had antiqued itself over time! Still shiny as ever– it had to go!
AFTER
New mouldings and fresh white paint kept it business on bottom and party up top.
My clients are all about the oiled bronze, and I was thrilled that Schoolhouse Electric had the perfect double sconce to illuminate this little space!
I love that this faucet is a little vintage and a lot of chic!
The metal of the moment is definitely antiqued/aged/satin brass! No matter what you call it the look feels vintage, rich and timeless. Try it out in a modern light fixture, a vintage style faucet or with sturdy cabinet hardware. I love how well it pairs with all shades of grey! Here is my guide to get you inspired to branch out to brass!
… and I’m back! I’ve been so busy styling up a storm, but I’m thrilled to be able to tell everyone about a recent project I’ve been working on! My client has a unique aesthetic of her own, and I’ve loved the opportunity to present her with options to revamp her entire residence! One space I’ve been updating is her dining nook. The current chandelier looks like a white flying saucer of sorts, and I’m in search of a bold, gold fixture to modernize the whole look without overwhelming the small space. My personal favorite (see option F below) is too tall for this project, but I still had to share it anyways (and perhaps manifest it into my own home)! My client has yet to settle on her pick, but here’s your chance to pick the gold medal winner!
A. 
Marianne Bruton Design & Style Blog 