Fashion meets Interior Design featuring Kalan Laws

When it comes to men’s fashion, Kalan Laws really knows his stuff!  Today I’ve collaborated with Kalan to bring you the male perspective on Interiors by Jacquin’s very own series, Fashion meets Design.  I provided Kalan with a colorful interior design for inspiration and he came up with this fantastic look!  Kalan shares his fashion interpretation of this color-rich design…

Who is Kalan? Well I’m the fun loving, life living southern gentleman with big city dreams! I’m from a one high school town outside of Dallas, TX who is in love with Faith, family, fitness and fashion. My journey in fashion began in middle school. I loved wearing my suits to school on game day. That was a requirement by all of my coaches because we meant business! This quickly turned into a staple in my weekly wardrobe. As a preacher’s kid I had a lot of suits and was eager to wear them every chance I could.

Fast forward 20 years and through many iterations of my personal style (Cross Colors and Guess ruled my closet in the 90’s) and we land in 2012 when I launched my blog Senor Guapo 713. The name is translated as Mr. Handsome. I started the blog in an effort to establish a voice in the fashion world so that I can transition my expertise into design. The blog is a showcase of my personal style, menswear style and grooming tips, and stylish lifestyle events!

Designed by Suysel dePedro Cunningham & Anne Maxwell Foster of NYC firm Tilton Fenwick

When asked about my “style-spirations” it’s always difficult. I tend to pull elements from many different persons…most of whom are not famous or in the industry. My current aesthetic is European street style. I’m a SUCKER for harem pants, extended tees, and the freshest walking sneakers or cross trainers you can find. However, I will never abandon a more dapper look. As is the case with the ensemble built based on my design choice.

When I looked at the pieces from the room design I focused on the essence of the room. The room spoke class and fun! I love how the sofa is very traditional in yet funky. This perfectly describes my style aesthetic! The blue and yellow draw the eyes but the muted brick calms the scene as well! I love how the blues and yellows are on opposite sides of the room creating a symmetrical balance.  I wanted to mirror this complete sentiment exactly when choosing my ensemble.

The cap toe oxfords shoes by JD Fisk was my starting point. Such a bold color can be a challenge but if done correctly will be a win! Next was the blue. I knew the blue could touch the yellow because it would be too much so I opted to break them up with a sea foam green denim and rolled them up too keep it fun. To add texture, which is an essential element to a strong outfit, I put a striped tank under the blazer. A splash of maize on the pocket square with a butter hued lapel flower rounds off the look. A perfectly placed gold timepiece and beachy wrist candy adds the right amount of class and playfulness.

I tried to capture the comfort, modernness, classicism, and edginess that I saw in the design frame and put it in a sartorial masterpiece.

¡Espero que disfrutes!

~SG

To find these looks, check the link below:

·        Royal Blue Blazer | Express Men: www.express.com

·        Denim | Levi’s: www.macys.com

·        Oxfords | JD Fisk: www.nordstrom.com

·        Tank| Pac Sun: www.pacsun.com

·        Lapel Pin | www.harrisonblakeapparel.com

·        Pocket Square | www.nordstromrack.com

·        Time piece | Diesel | www.norstrom.com

·        Wrist candy | Aldo Accessories | www.aldo.com

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Amara Blog Awards + "Shabby-Chic" with Chairish co.

Hi everyone!  It's so nice to be chatting with you again today!  I have a tiny favor to ask you that will make a huge difference for me.  I'm nominated for an Amara Blog Award and I would be very grateful for your vote.  It's so easy too.  Pop over and vote now!  Just click here.  I truly appreciate it.  Thank you!!  Now back to your regularly scheduled post.  :-)

Chairish co. Shabby-Chic Challenge

I've been invited by Chairish, an online retailer for high-quality vintage furniture and decor, to participate in their Shabby-Chic Challenge.  Chairish even allows you to sell your vintage items through their website, which is fantastic. I was able to use any of the furniture and decor on their website to create a single e-design.  I must say that I saw many pieces that were very unique and special, which made this a pretty fun challenge!  

When it comes to shabby-chic, it's all about taking upcycled, vintage, and antique items and making them come together to create a chic and pleasant aesthetic.  The best thing about the shabby-chic decorating style, is that the look can really morph depending on your own personal style.  

Shabby-chic decorating tends to allow an individual's personal style and personality to shine through.  In fact, I think we can learn a lot about our style & preferences based on the type of pre-loved and antique furniture we select. When it comes to my style preferences for pre-loved & shabby-chic furniture, I must say it's all about originality and character.  Shopping at a place like Chairish is right up my ally because many of their furniture and decor items just simply cannot be found anywhere else.  So for me, I like to select the most original items, even with a few small dings because I believe this adds additional charm and character to a space.  

What you'll notice most about this shabby-chic challenge is that while I used primarily vintage pieces here, the room is far more chic than shabby.  This just goes to show you that shabby-chic doesn't have to be overly shabby, but can read more boho, rustic, ornate, or in my case today... a dose of mid-century modern!  Like what you see?  You can shop these Chairish finds below! 

Here are links to the FAB Chairish items in my design: 

1. Pair of Brass Side Tables by Mastercraft

2. Vintage Yellow Faux Bamboo Floor Lamp

3. Mid-Century White Coral Vessel

4. Custom Boho Ikat Pillow

5. Totem Paintings

6. Restored Mid-Century Danish Teak Arm Chairs

7. Lane Clover Leaf Table

8. Yellow Orange Overdyed Turkish Rug

9. Mid-Century Tufted Blue Couch

Learn more about Chairish and their amazing home decor finds here.  Have a great week!  

Vote for Interiors by Jacquin blog for the Amara Blog Awards here!

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Artist Spotlight with Artfinder CEO

Today I'm pleased to introduce an exciting segment featuring Artfinder.com, a London-based online fine art vendor selling artwork from around the world.  This website has the most extensive collection of fine art, available for purchase globally including the United States.

This multi-part Artfinder collaboration will showcase 3 Artfinder artists over the course of this summer, who I've personally selected for the Interiors by Jacquin Artist Spotlight Series.  Today I'm interviewing two great members of the Artfinder team: Jonas Almgren, CEO and Liz Hipkins. 

An Interview with Jonas Almgren, Artfinder CEO

Jonas Almgren, Artfinder CEO photographed at an Artfinder event

Jacquin: Hi Jonas!  I'm excited about our collaboration and the opportunity to learn more about you and the Artfinder team.  What's your favorite thing about your job?

Jonas: Nothing beats hearing back from artists, to hear first hand what our efforts accomplish.  It's made me truly understand the challenges most artists face, and what a dramatic difference it can make for an artists when their art is validated through a sale.  Also, customer reviews can be great, as this one we recently received from a customer in Australia:

Jacquin: Show us your favorite contemporary work of art right now from Artfinder! 

Jonas: There are so many great artworks on Artfinder, and I see probably a dozen new works every day that I find exceptional.  I really like when an artwork surprises me, forces me to see something with new eyes, though exceptional technique can be very exciting too. 

Recently I've been paying attention to the abstracts by Richard Kuhn, a German artists that's been with Artfinder for quite a while.  He started out selling brilliant evocative portraits, but has recently ventured into large abstracts, that I find very compelling.

Photo of German artist Richard Kuhn at work.  

Richard Kuhn acrylic painting, unknown model, 2015

Jacquin: What's been the most exciting thing about your work so far?

Jonas: As with all startups, it's about building up something from nothing.  When we started out, we had a handful of artists and a few hundred artworks.  Now we are proud to say that thousands of artists have sold work through Artfinder, and the Artfinder Community includes artists from 95 countries. 

Gradually we hope to eliminate the "starving artist" syndrome as we enable more artists to live from selling art, while helping buyers find unique artworks that they often can't find anywhere else.

Jacquin: What does Artfinder have in store for the future?

Jonas: We're planning a massive US expansion this year, but we're also launching several new product features that, among other things, we will support interior decorators and architects with key tools to enhance their project processes.  We believe there are plenty of opportunities working directly with businesses and retailers, and this year we intend to give them our full attention. 

An Interview with Liz Hipkins, Artfinder Community & Events Manager

Jacquin: How did you train for you job with Artfinder?

Liz: Prior to working at Artfinder, I worked for 5 years at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, building out the Membership community and working on a very varied program of events.  Before this, my background was actually in music, studying it at university and working for an orchestra, basically submerging myself in the London Arts scene as much as physically possible! 

Jacquin: How did you come to be interested in art or fine art, specifically?

Liz: It is hard to say, my parents have always had a huge interest in culture, visiting historic places of interest, virtually every weekend.  I grew up in a very rural part of England and so it wasn’t really that easy to pop to galleries and exhibitions, but I always remember coming on a trip to London as a child and going to the National Gallery for the first time and being surrounded by amazing and admittedly very large artworks!  Since then I have always been interested in art and the wider art scene.

Jacquin: How does Artfinder promote its amazing artist? 

Liz: We promote our artists through our community events. We host Artfinder Pop-Ups which are still in there early days, but these involve displaying physical art by local Artfinder artists, alongside an interactive experience using touch screens which enable visitors to curate their own exhibitions to promote on to the venue walls. 

Artfinder Pop-Up Event featuring interactive screens, London

By hosting Pop-Ups, it enables Artfinder artists from all over the world to have their work included and enables us to promote thousands of artists, rather than just been limited by the size of the space.

Artfinder Pop-Up Event, London

Jacquin: Show us a work of art in your home?  Why did you choose it?

Liz: This is a work called ‘Baron Samedi’ by artist Jayne Evans, an artist based in the UK (see below).  This work was actually chosen by my boyfriend who saw it and instantly liked it, plus he has always been a fan of the Bond series.  It is an acrylic painting, which came framed, as it includes a striking red color again white and black, I wasn’t sure where we would hang it, but as it turned out it looks fantastic against our open brick fireplace, it provides a lovely contrast to look at. (see Liz's at-home artwork below)

Artwork by Jayne Evans hanging in the home of Artfinder's Events Manager, Liz Hipkins

There are several different layers to the work.  (see above) Jayne Evans actually took part in an artist demonstration at a recent Artfinder pop-up and it was quite incredible watching her processes and the painting evolve over the time.  She is also a lovely artist to speak with!

Jacquin: Where do you go for inspiration in London? 

Liz: We are very lucky in London that inspiration isn’t hard to find, with wonderful architecture and art around every corner.  I love walking along the river on the Southbank, especially at night when all of the lights are out in full.  With new buildings going up every month, the city landscape is every evolving which I just love.  (see below)

Tips for Selecting Artwork for Your Home:

• (1) First and foremost you need to look for art that's inspirational and at some level reflects the personality of the owner.  With over 100,000 unique artworks to choose from, it's very much like a matching process.  The art you will fall in love with is out there, you just need to find it. It should be art you're happy to live with.

• (2) Secondly, you need to consider the interaction with the environment.  What impact do you want the art to have on the room where it is placed?  Do you want to add colour, do you want to create sense of peace, maybe add some energy, or a fresh feeling of open water or green overgrowth?  It's easy to underestimate the tremendous impact art can have on a room, especially if the art is large.  Take advantage of it!

• (3) Lastly, consider the practical aspects.  How do you want to hang it?  Do you want it framed, or perhaps a ready to hang unframed artwork with painted sides?  If it's a photography work, be careful with direct sunlight, as it will bleach the colours over time.  If you cover it with UV protective glass, consider how the glass will reflect light (but from lighting, and from windows).

If you're looking to add artwork to your space, Artfinder is THE place to search.  Honestly the best collection of original fine art I've seen available for sale on the Internet and it's so accessible.  Stay tuned as I showcase three Artfinder artists this Summer personally selected by me, Jacquin!  In the meantime, take a look at my earlier feature on Artfinder artist Sal Jones. 

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Bloggers at Home: Nicole Regan

Today we have a great interview with Nicole Regan of the awesome Chicago blog Cedar & Rush!  I'm originally from Chicago, so I've been especially excited about this week's feature  You'll enjoy this cozy home tour along with Nicole's expert tips for a fun outing in Chicago!

Jacquin: Hi Nicole!  Thanks for this interview!  Please introduce yourself for the wonderful readers out there.

Nicole:  Hi there friends! I'm Nicole, the little lady behind the Chicago blog, Cedar & Rush. I am so excited to be a guest on Interiors by Jacquin today! I am also a social media consultant by day and have the most amazing husband, Sean, and little pup, Larry. Today's feature showcases my Chicago apartment downtown - but recently just moved 20 minutes outside the city. I hope you enjoy!

Jacquin: What's your favorite thing about blogging?

Nicole: The opportunity to collaborate with brilliant people and create exciting content. And someday I will be so happy I have this "personal journal" to share with my grandchildren someday!

Jacquin: How would you describe your personal style?

Nicole: Classic, preppy and bright.  When it comes to decorating, I love mixing modern with classic. We currently rent, but when we purchase our first home, I cannot wait to play up the space. Think vibrant colors and printed wallpaper.  

Jacquin: Who is your style icon?  What blogs or resources are your go-to for style inspiration? 

Nicole: It's a tie between Elin Kling and Miroslava Duma. I also read Sequins and Stripes every morning. She opened my eyes to the world of mixing prints and patterns. Huge game changer!

Jacquin: Tell us about your favorite fashion accessory?

Nicole: My favorite style accessories are my scarves from my husband, which there is a fun story behind.  Ever since we got married, he started a tradition of bringing back a scarf when he travels internationally for work.  He picks these out all by himself and I can't wait to sport them when I'm old and gray.

Jacquin: What is your favorite place, thing, or vignette in your bedroom? 

Nicole: I adore my Pottery Barn lucite lamps with Ikat shades (above).  And my West Elm orange lacquer tray adds such a great pop of color (below).  Classic silhouettes with modern materials. (More on the topic of ikat here.)

Jacquin: What would the perfect day be like for you?

Nicole: Kick off the day with a family coffee walk with my main squeezes, Sean (my husband!) and Larry (my little pup!). Lunch at a pub over IPA's.  A little bit of blogging and dinner alfresco with friends.  And always a boozy brunch the next morning.  Pineapple mimosas anyone?

And if you're wondering about this cute dog, that's Nicole and her husband's puppy, Larry, getting adventurous in their moving crates.  They're moving!  

Jacquin: I think a lot of people overlook Chicago as a getaway destination.  What is your favorite thing about Chicago and why should people visit (in a brief nutshell)? 

Nicole: The summer! (And it's almost here! Woohoo!) The beach, rooftop pools and patios. You can also find my Perfect 2 Day Chicago Itinerary I made for my friends here. It's the best mixture of everything the city has to offer!

Jacquin: Ok, last question Nicole!  And my favorite question yet... If you don't mind sharing with us, what are your favorite hot spots in Chicago?

Nicole of Cedar & Rush's Favorites in Chicago: 

• My favorite boutiques in Chicago: P.O.S.H. and Classic Remix.
• My Favorite casual dining in Chicago: Lux Bar. The Club Monaco and Truffle Fries are where it's at!
• My favorite fine dining in Chicago: The newest one! I love trying the latest and greatest. 

And for the inside scoop on Memorial Day Sales, check out my roundup of Home & Fashion Sales this weekend including discount codes! Along with an awesome grilling tip! Click here: http://ow.ly/NmBey

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Get Your Photos Onto Your Wall with Creativity!

Image via Death to the Stock Photo

Hi! I'm Tiffany Josephs, friend of Jacquin's and Portrait & Event Photographer for Creative Entrepreneurs, based out of Fredericksburg, VA.  I love photography, but more importantly I believe images should be seen on a regular basis, in print, in your home, for everyone to cherish and reminisce on.  

As a mother of three kids under five, (1) five year old and (2) four year olds to be exact, they really do grow extremely fast!  It’s nice to see their faces when they flip through a book filled with images of them in diapers or portraits of them making funny faces hanging on our walls.  My hope is that when they get older, they will be able to remember their innocence and how much fun they had stressing out mommy. ;-)  

So, today I’m going to show you two creative ways to get those special  memories out of your iPhone and onto your walls, for a touch of fun & personalized photo-décor!

Images via Woodific

1. Have your photos printed on wood panels!

Let’s start with having your special images printed on wood!!!  YES, I said wood!  Woodific company will print your photos on 1/2’’ thick, handpicked and highest quality plywood, uploaded directly from Instagram or from your computer in 3 ideal sizes to choose from: 5’’x5’, 8’’x8’’, and 11’’x11’’.  

Jacquin created a wood panel collage with images that represented Interiors by Jacquin | Image via Jacquin Milhouse-Headen

Woodific uses thick, handpicked wood for its photo panels (as shown above) and they are easily mounted to your wall! | Image via Tiffany Josephs Photography

Jacquin and I decided to give Woodific a try and we were both very pleased!  Their website is user friendly and their processing and shipping was super fast.  I was equally impressed with the actual product itself!  The images printed nicely and came with mounting nails so that I could hang them immediately.  #winning 

Wood panel photo of photographer Tiffany Josephs with husband Eric Josephs | Image via Tiffany Josephs Photography

Wood panel collage created with Jacquin's photos from her trip to Namibia, Africa | Image via Jacquin Milhouse-Headen

2. Try this unique & oversized engineer print idea for your photos!  It's do-it-yourself!

My second photo décor recommendation is a do-it-yourself project.  I know what you’re thinking, I love decorating and I love DIY projects, but REALLY, who has time for all of that??  Well, custom framing doesn’t get any easier (or cost effective) than this! 

I have three amazing little ones at home and we thought it would be fun to recreate an image I snapped  quickly while waiting at the doctor’s office recently.  But with this, I wanted to print something really large to put on one of our main walls.  I found this clever idea via Chris Loves Julia blog to make prints using engineering paper.  It turned out that while following the tips from my great source I ran into a few problems, like Staples apparently no longer prints images on engineer paper and you must pay for regular enlargements on photo paper.  Nope.  I didn’t like that at all.  Luckily, good ol’ Kinko’s made life super easy for me and printed out 24x48 prints on engineer paper (aka “engineer prints”) within minutes, all under $10.  

Engineer prints of Tiffany Joseph's adorable children made with DIY frames - Love these! | Image via Tiffany Josephs Photography

While doing more research on Pinterest I came across this AMAZING idea for the frame via 4 Men 1 Lady blog. Originally I was going to go with the Ikea frames suggested in Chris Loves Julia’s blog post (love!), but THIS DIY frame was so my style and worth the little bit of time it took to get the materials and put them together.  It only requires: twine, wood glue, screw hooks, poster board, a small amount of window trim from the hardware store, and wipe-on wood finishing cloths to stain the wood creating a truly original look.  You’ll definitely want to try this photo décor DIY! It's so easy and so unique!

Image via Tiffany Josephs Photography

Materials for this do-it-yourself engineer print project.  It's so simple! | Image via Tiffany Josephs Photography

Instructions:

• (1) Have your engineer prints printed at Kinkos.
• (2) Cut your poster board to the size of your print and adhere.
• (3) Cut your window trim to size (you'll need 2 pieces of window trim).
• (4) Stain the wood a shade of your choice.  Allow to dry.
• (5) Glue window trim to the front of your engineer print.  Glue one piece of trim to the top and one piece of trim to the bottom. 
• (6) Screw in hooks and attach your twine for the length you desire.
• (7) Hang on your wall and enjoy!

To sum it all up, both projects are absolutely awesome!  I must admit there is something very authentic about creating your own masterpiece. ;-)  So go get those photos off of your cameras and cell phones and onto your home's walls! Find out more about me and my Hundred Dollar Headshot Session over at www.TiffanyJosephs.net or follow me on Instagram here.  

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