Thursday, December 13, 2012

{chicago guest room + GIVEAWAY!}



One of the things I was most excited about decorating in our Chicago place is the 2nd bedroom which we decided to turn into more of an office/closet rather than a traditional guest bedroom.  Our previous loft barely had one real bedroom so the idea of having a whole second room at my disposal to decorate had my head spinning with ideas.  We decided to paint the walls in fresh white and picked up all the white furniture from Ikea to go along with it. There are still quite a few things on my wishlist to complete in this room such as finding the perfect white rug as well as a white desk chair or completing this little project on the white curtains.  Since we have been so busy in the last few months and my wishlist of projects will not be completed anytime soon with all the holidays plans around the corner, I decided I wanted to share photos of where the office is as of now.

And as a special bonus I have a little tassel garland giveaway for you today from The Flair Exchange at the bottom of this post!!





{one of my favorite images from our wedding printed on canvas} 


 {white "Lack" shelves above the desk}


 {brass tray from here and acrylic desk accessories from The Container Store & Russel + Hazel}


 {vintage milk glass and a boxwood topiary}


{another to do item on my project list for this room is to paint that eagle in the top left gold} 



 {artwork I have had since high school & an artificial lemon tree brighten up the shelves}


 {white ceramic finial jars I scored at Bash, Please's garage sale}


{expedit shelving unit, storage boxes & magazine files all from Ikea}


 {collection of vintage milk glass containers we used for the sweets table at our wedding now 
hold an array of washi tape, sharpies & address stamps}


somewhat of an inspiration board & place to display photos/invites}


{somehow even these two closets aren't quite enough space for me as I also use half of the closet
 in the master bedroom- they say the first step is admitting you have a problem...}


{attempting to keep my closet more organized by arranging by color} 


 {garland from The Flair Exchange above my closet- scroll down to win one for yourself!}





{new gold edged business cards}







Carmen from The Flair Exchange who I purchased my tassel garland from has generously offered to giveaway a strand of tassel garland to one lucky reader today so you can adorn your own closet or party or whatever you desire with a garland of your choosing!


Simply leave one comment on this post letting me know where you would plan to use your garland! Winner will be selected by random number drawing on Tuesday December 18th at 11:59pm.


Please note: one entry per reader and this giveaway is only open to US residents. 
Garland will not ship until after Jan. 1st 2013.


**no compensation has been offered from The Flair Exchange to host this giveaway. I just fell in love with my tassel garland and The Flair Exchange has generously offered to giveaway a strand to one of  my readers!!! 

96 comments:

  1. You are freaking adorable. This space is so lovely and chic. So on board with your new Chicago digs!

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  2. So pretty. I'd put mine up somewhere in our bedroom...and hopefully end my fear of commitment that's resulted in bare walls!

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  3. I would put my garland in MY second bedroom, which also functions as my home office. I love the brass tray, I just ordered one myself so thanks for the link!

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  4. I'm moving soon, so I don't know exactly where this garland will go, but I don't doubt it'll spruce up the new place.

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  5. This is such a nice and sweet office. I would put a garland above my desk, to finish the redecorating of my space!

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  6. I would look awesome in my bedroom!

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  7. I am moving in to my very first apartment downtown Chicago in the Spring and I would definitely use it to spice up my bedroom!

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  8. I love these garlands -- I might hang mine over my bed!

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  9. I would hang mine in my work-in-progress office/workspace!

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  10. I would use it to decorate a bare wall in my bedroom. It's in need of some fun tassel.

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  11. I would love to put it in my entry way above my floor length mirror! What a great first impression that would make!

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  12. I would use it in my daughter's room on the wall above her crib. Love the fact that it could grow with her! BTW - LOVE LOVE your blog...very inspiring.

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  13. Ohh I would put it over top my TV console. Since I live in an apartment and don't have a fire place, I like to use the top of my console and my makeshift mantel haha. It's decorated right now for Christmas and the garland would be the perfect finishing touch :)

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  14. I love your guest room, so inspirational for redoing my office over break!

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  15. This would look totally fab on our mantel! Or above the bar... Too many places, not enough sparkle!!

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  16. I think mine would be a traveling garland. It would be used for parties, naturally, but it would have a more permanent spot above my window! Love what you've done with your guest bedroom!

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  17. My office nook in my bedroom, finally have the parsons desk and ghost chair, just need the garland to help complete the space!

    Your organized closet has me itching to get to work in mine!

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  18. So fun! I would use the garland in my home office/craft studio/guest bedroom!

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  19. Gorgeous garland! I would put it above the mirror in my bathroom.

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  20. I would use it at the sweetheart table at our wedding in February and then as an over-the-bed decoration after that!

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  21. I would use it in my bedroom probably over my bed - it's just bare at this point. I love this blog by the way and I'm originally from Chicago and was so happy to see you moving there! Hope you're enjoying it.

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  22. Oh my gosh! It looks absolutely amazing! The details make it such a special space, and I can't even begin to start talking about your closets. I would love nothing more than to add the tassel garland above my bed for now and then when I finally get a desk, I would move it there for some daily sparkle. xo

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  23. Love the enormous frame! Is it just pin board in it?

    Who doesn't need a bit a flair?! I would love it for my office! xoxo

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  24. I would put it on my big mirror!

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  25. I would love to use the Minted garland as a backdrop for the photobooth at my wedding! Fingers crossed!

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  26. I love this giveaway! I would use it in my sweet daughters room!!

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  27. The garland would look great either on the stairs that lead to the loft in my apartment, or above my dresser where I keep all of my jewelry and framed photos! So pretty!

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  28. Beautiful after and those garlands are STUNNING! I'd use it to add a little flair to my office/studio space and would probably move it around temporarily to other locations in the house when we host parties.

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  29. Definitely adorned above my closet! Anything to draw the eye to all the pretty things hanging!

    xo,Taylor
    iLikeMyClothesTaylored.blogspot.com

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  30. Love your office!! I love that you made an all white room not look sterile. I would use the garland above my bed or the one (sad) window in my apt.

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  31. The garland would look amazing in my bedroom :)

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  32. This garland would be perfect above our bed... all that empty space is just sad.

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  33. OMG I need to win this garland for my wedding in PalmSprings.
    It would go perfectly by the bar table and cocktail section!

    amazing!

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  34. Love what you've done with the room! I would definitely use the garland for my wedding.

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  35. i would use it to decorate the dessert table at my wedding this summer, and then drape it in the bedroom or maybe over the closet door! love these!

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  36. First of all, your guest room-turned-office is gorgeous! I love all of the gold details, and your business cards are amazing. Second of all, I LOVE The Flair Exchange garlands and would love one for above my desk!

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  37. My office could use a major pick-me-up with that fun garland!

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  38. The room looks beautiful! I've been on the hunt for a tassel garland for my guest room/office forever (I might even have to borrow your idea of putting over the closet)! I'd love to have the Flair Exchange be the one!

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  39. Over my bed on my brick wall!! LOVE!

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  40. HMMM! I think I would use it as a pick me up in my classroom!!

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  41. Garland would go over my livingroom window! Love this room design.

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  42. My 2 year old shares his birthday with Christmas - would love some festive decoration for him that isn't holiday-centric!

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  43. i would put it in my guest room / office! it needs to be feminized :)

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  44. The makeover turned out amazing! I love the wedding photo you have on the canvas. Such a good idea! I'd love to hang a garland above my desk in my home office.

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  45. First of all...welcome to Chicago! Love your blog :) The tassel garland would look beautiful in my office. Nothing like a little sparkle to inspire me while I work!

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  46. I would love a garland like that for the super bowl party I'm planning next year! Keeps it a little fem for the ladies, and also a cute nod to cheer leaders. very festive!

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  47. I would probably put it over the television - I haven't wanted to put art there but the blank space of a few feet is driving me nuts!

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  48. I would use it above my dresser! Too cute!

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  49. Love the room makeover!!! I would put the garland up in my office, because who says you can't have a little bit of glamour at work!

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  50. The exposed brick in my apartment is aching for some tassels to warm it up - too cute. And the makeover looks great!

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  51. I love the first garland and I would drape it over one of our mirrors. xo Kristin

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  52. I would use it in our office loft! I love this look and am keeping my fingers crossed for this adorable giveaway! :)

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  53. I would use it on top of my closet like you. Placement is great! I have been looking for these just love them!

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  54. I love these! It would be the perfect addition to my extremely eclectic bedroom decor!

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  55. OMG. love this post. your 2nd bedroom looks fabulous in all white! if i win that sparkle garland is going right over the dining room table. LOVE!

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  56. I love this office, white is may favorite color. so organized and cute. Maria X

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  57. That garland BELONGS elegantly draped across my late Mother's (milk glass filled) china cabinet.:) I'm thrilled to have found your blog and enjoy following you and the new hubs on IG.:)

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  58. I would use it in my entryway!!
    family74014 at gmail dot com

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  59. aHHHHHHH I would loooove to use this on our chalkboard wall, above our cow skull! It would bring some very necessary metallic flair to that part of our house, lovelovelove!

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  60. I am just dying. You did the most amazing job with this room! I am having major expedit and gold frame envy!!! What a bright, inspiring, cheery place to work! The hardwoods are a major bonus. Just love, love, loving this!!!

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  61. I would definitely use mine above my bar, so it always looks like there's a party going on :)

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  62. With the high ceilings in my bedroom I would love to put the garland above my headboard!

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  63. I would put mine over our large mirror in our dining room. I love it!

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  64. I would put it above the bay windows in my living room to brighten up the room during the dark winter months!

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  65. I would love to have some of this beautiful garland at my wedding in June... I would put it with the dessert table. :) It would add just that little bit of extra flair.

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  66. My wife would place this above her closet door.

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  67. over My Closet Exactly how yours is!

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  68. This would look adorable above my desk!!

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  69. This would look adorable above my desk!!

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  70. I'm moving into a kind of shabby new apartment next month - this would be great to brighten up my room!

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  71. I'm moving into a kind of shabby new apartment next month - this would be great to brighten up my room!

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  72. God, you're wonderful.

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  73. LOVE your office! I would spruce up my work office, and its standard issue office furniture, with the garland.

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  74. i am a girl. living with three boy roommates. THREE! and yes i have to share a bathroom.
    luckily my little retreat of a bedroom acts as many things. an office, a craft room, a runway, a hair/make-up studio, and most importantly a respite for quiet thoughts and cozy nights.

    i'd love to have this amazing garland hanging in my multi-functional room. just a little way to add some extra sparkle to a football, beer and bacon filled apartment!

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  75. I would use it by our entrance way. It's looking a bit bleak now but this surely will brighten things up! :)

    deeg131 at gmail dot com

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  76. Would use them in my loft, right above my bed. Perfect!

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  77. LOVE your new office space! I'm so into white offices right now!
    And I would love to use the strand of garland for a wedding shower I am planning/styling in the Spring!

    xoxo,L
    www.llstyling.com

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  78. Lovely! I would hang it in my kids' room... my daughter and son share a room, and I'm trying to give them each their own "space"; my daughter would love some sparkly garland on her side!

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  79. What a beautiful space! I would use the garland in my new living space in the city. I'm moving to San Francisco next month to get my BA in Design at USF. I likely won't have a sparkling view of the city, however, but this gorgeous garland would certainly do! x

    Meredith
    missgoodwillhunting.tumblr.com

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  80. I think I would hang it in my kitchen! Thanks for the opportunity!

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  81. I've been coveting one of these garlands for AGES! The empty, white wall in my home office is just begging for it :-) such a great give-away, thanks for the opportunity! Absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog as well!!

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  82. I would put it right above my closet like you did. My best friend/roommate and I have been looking for the perfect solution to spice up our closet, and this is exactly what it needs!

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  83. I thought of so many places that this would be amazing, but I think I've decided that it would look best over our bar. I love it over your closet!

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  84. I love this garland! We are following your DIY instructions on your sandwich board signs and think that this garland would look great on the front of the bar at our reception or on our photo booth backdrop! Either way, it's beautiful!
    ~Cheers! Kara R.

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  85. I would use this garland for our photo booth at our Wedding reception or at my bridal shower!

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  86. I would use this garland as decor for our engagement party. After the party, I would then put it in our living room so we could always be reminded of how much fun we had that day (and so it feels like the party never ended!)

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  87. I would love to string this garland from two gum trees to be the backdrop for our wedding ceremony. ;-)

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  88. p.s. your gold edged business cards are amazing. where did you get those? i'm in love!

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  89. Where did you get your gold foil business cards? I've been researching printing companies that can do this and can't find anything. I love your blog! My fiance and I follow your cocktail recipes often. Thanks!:)

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    1. Hi Molly,

      I actually made these myself! Glad to hear you are enjoying the cocktail recipes :)

      -Natalie

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  90. You should sell them on your Etsy site! I am a jewelry designer on Etsy and am looking for sharp business cards. You definitely have a talent with design!
    If you are interested I would love to work with you in possibly sending you a couple jewelry pieces of your choice from my site (for free), and if you like them you could feature them on your blog. I am building my Etsy inventory daily with new product photos. Check out www.mollyjanedesign.etsy.com
    Let me know! Thank you!:)

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  91. Hi Natalie!

    Would you consider doing a how-to on making the gold foil business cards? I would love to know more about how to make such classy business cards!

    ~Lindsey

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  92. I would hang it over the window in my living room! Just the thing I need to finish decorating my new apartment!

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