above: Old Silver Shed It's admittedly been wayyyyy too long since I've shared anything client related here. Yes, mStarr has client design projects! The pandemic has certainly been interesting for the home industry, providing lots of new opportunities for designers and interior enthusiasts...however it also threw a wrench in finishing & photographing any existing projects. It's hard to believe we're 3 years in (!) but 3 years ago I had just a few interior projects and one went on hold and one was outright cancelled once lockdown started. While the on-hold project started up after a couple months, most of the others felt incomplete piecing things together and/or sold before I could photograph! It's so nice to now be in a stage with many exciting projects and wonderful clients, and you bet we will be photographing every last detail to share as they wrap up. The Norfolk Update is a special project. The house is just 6 years old and it's well-built. There's even some character already incorporated (crown moulding, pretty window casings etc.). But our goal for this home is to up the charm factor...to layer in pattern, color, and texture. For it to be curated and collected, and to feel comfortable. Ultimately, we're looking to expand on the existing character which will help balance out the newer construction and some of the more standard builder grade details. above: a view of the kitchen leading into the living area (to the right is the dining room) below: the rest of the living area There are several bigger carpentry projects in the works and our first big one is something I'm most looking forward to bringing to life. The first floor does have some separate rooms (entry, playroom, mudroom etc.) but the primary space is open concept, including kitchen, living, and dining. I want to create more defined areas and the most practical location is between the kitchen and living (as seen above). I've been long inspired by the glass partial wall in Old Silver Shed's home and know this is the perfect home and perfect situation to create a similar one. This will create separation, and certainly serve as a a stunning design element, but with so much being glass, it will keep the rooms feeling light & airy and won't interrupt the flow in and out of the kitchen. above: sources unknown via Pinterest above: Jean Stoffer Design's The Madison From a design standpoint, we want this wall to look older, bespoke, and like it's been there all along. We are exploring both antique glass options and custom if we can't find the right style, size etc. and debating whether to do square mullions or perhaps diamond shape (which would provide some contrast between existing glass transoms in the house). In order to keep things feeling open, we are limiting each vertical part of the wall to 24" wide (one on each side of the room), keeping the entire wall 18" deep and 8" thick including the casing around the glass. I'll share more details at a later date but the idea is to create a seamless transition on the ceiling by carrying through the existing crown moulding. Below is a very quick and messy sketch to get an idea of where it's going and what it could look like. Clearly left side shows square glass panels and the right shows diamond! Above is the only real picture I have that shows the transition from the kitchen area to the dining (clearly need to take some additional photos). We are using the existing wall below (next to the slider door) as our starting point and to keep things symmetrical, it means leaving like a foot or so of existing wall seen above (to the left of the console). I was a bit worried about it at first but it eliminates the need to move electrical and I'm thinking through ways to ease the transition...perhaps it's as simple as some pretty art! above: taping things out Let me just say, it is SO nice to be able to work with a skilled and communicative carpenter who sees & contributes to the overall vision AND knows the house because he did all the finish work when it was built! Such a treat. Stay tuned for the next phase and so much more on this project! Make sure you're following on Instagram to keep up with things behind the scenes. emily PS. Don’t miss a post. Subscribe to our newsletter! Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase a product I've linked to, I may receive a small commission at NO additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business. mStarr design is a lifestyle studio that provides interior design and content creation services, inspiring others to embrace character and real life by helping them elevate the everyday through charming & curated details. We’d love to work with you! 0 Likes

With every new season comes the itch to swap out home decor items like blankets, florals, and pillows. The shift from Winter to Spring is one of the more dramatic ones in my view, and the perfect time to introduce softer colors and more whimsical floral patterns. My husband might say I "horde" pillows but I like to say that I "collect" instead and consider them an important component in any styling arsenal. Shoppe Amber Interiors has the prettiest selection of unique and one-of-a-kind pillows so I thought I'd go ahead and show how to mix & match some of them. Bonus...shop with my code MSTARR15 and get 15% off! My top tips for pillow styling? * Incorporate different sizes & shapes. For example, 22" square with 18" square or square with lumbar. * Think about scale. Mix small patterns with medium or bigger ones. * Pair contrasting patterns such as florals with stripes or checks. * Use colors that don't clash but complement. What tones you can pull out from a favorite patterned pillow? If you want a more subtle look, go with the neutral tones. If you want something bolder, go with the more colorful ones. * Solids don't have to be boring, think about using ones that have texture to them to add visual interest. * Use an insert that is at least one size bigger than the cover. So a 20" cover should be paired with a 22" insert. left / middle / right left / middle / right left / middle / right left / middle / right Did you know that you can use my code MSTARR15 anytime at Shoppe Amber and get 15% off any order?! Happy shopping. emily PS. Don’t miss a post. Subscribe to our newsletter! Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase a product I've linked to, I may receive a small commission at NO additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business. mStarr design is a lifestyle studio that provides interior design and content creation services, inspiring others to embrace character and real life by helping them elevate the everyday through charming & curated details. We’d love to work with you! 0 Likes

above: a Photoshop mockup of our Big Room with mini flush mounts I've long struggled with how to address the ceiling in our Big Room (what we call the open concept room that houses the kitchen, dining, and one of our living areas). Meaning I've always wanted to do something. Before we moved in, I was dead set on planking the whole ceiling. And truthfully, it's still a possibility but there are some real challenges to doing pretty much anything: a structural column & a beam that extends into the kitchen cabinets, a vaulted ceiling on one half of the room (an addition at some point), and various small walls, nooks etc. But after almost 2 years in our house, I still can't shake the feeling that the ceiling feels incomplete. Enter a concept I've loved for awhile AND that can kill two birds with one stone...mini flush mount lighting. Because an additional challenge in this room is that it is lacking in the lighting department. And what it does have is, well, not great: 2 island pendants, track lighting on the vaulted side of the room, and 3 randomly placed recessed lights. Now people tend to feel strongly about recessed lighting (also called can lights)...they either like it or they don't. I'm somewhere in the middle. I do think there's a place for it depending on the style & age of your home, the type of room, and your overall needs for said room. With that said, I'm a big fan of ambient lighting and creating a cozy & inviting vibe in your home with wall sconces, pendants & chandeliers, table lamps & floor lamps. And given the age of our house (it's from 1898), I'm certainly not looking to add any more recessed lights. My plan is to remove the ill-placed existing ones in the room and replace them with mini flush mounts that will add visual interest and more consistent lighting. The existing lights are all on dimmers and the new ones would be too. above: Heidi Caillier's Portland Project / photography by Haris Kenjar above: Jake Arnold's Brentwood Villa Vendome / photography by Michael Clifford While I do think bigger lights can look good and be a real statement (see Studio McGee's project below), I'm thinking more in the 5-7" (both width & height) range and a TBD layout. Maybe 4 in the living side of the room, 1 in the kitchen area, and 1 in the dead zone, pass-through area by the basement that leads to the entry. The non-vaulted side of the room is pretty standard 8' and I don't want the lights to blend in per se, just to add a beautiful detail that also happens to provide a functional purpose as well. There are so many ways to achieve this and so many lovely options out there to use. above: Studio McGee's Historic Charleston Remodel above: The Misfit House Plum Nelly Project / photography by Kristin Karch above: Jean Stoffer Design The Madison / photography by Stoffer Photography I'm really excited to get the electrician over and vet this out more. I know the look isn't for everyone but I think it'll be exactly what this room needs. I'm hoping that because the ceiling is already hardwired, it won't be a massive job but we'll see! Note: I'll most likely replace the track lighting on the dining side of the room with a few armed sconces (these ones from our last house) or nicer looking track lighting that doesn't look like track. Below is a list of some great options I found (many from Etsy!) including a couple I'm leaning towards. The best part is that many of these come in a variety of finishes and you can choose which bulb to use which changes the look. from left to right, top to bottom one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine / ten / eleven / twelve / thirteen / fourteen / fifteen / sixteen emily PS. Don’t miss a post. Subscribe to our newsletter! Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase a product I've linked to, I may receive a small commission at NO additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business. mStarr design is a lifestyle studio that provides interior design and content creation services, inspiring others to embrace character and real life by helping them elevate the everyday through charming & curated details. We’d love to work with you! 0 Likes

above: the Morning Room Over the holiday break, we spent a day in Newport, Rhode Island. We ate, we drank, we shopped (I got some beautiful art at Anne Hall), we saw a killer sunset. And we went to see The Breakers all decked out in her holiday glory. If I have been to The Breakers (and I'm truly not remembering), it would've been a long time ago and I probably wouldn't have appreciated the design, details, and just overall grandeur. If you're unfamiliar, The Breakers is the most well-known of Newport's summer "cottages" and was built from 1893-1895 for Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt II. Richard Morris Hunt, a premier architect during the Gilded Age (1877-1900), was commissioned by the Vanderbilts to design the home in an Italian Renaissance style and with brick, steel, and limestone to make it as fire-proof as possible. The home remained in the Vanderbilt family until 1972 when ownership was transferred to the Newport Preservation Society. Bottom line? She's a beauty. Breathtaking in not just size and splendor, but in materials and millwork, down to the small details such as hardware and textiles. We only had an hour to get through the grounds and the house so while we weren't rushed, I certainly could've spent more time taking it all in. Max was particularly cute snapping pictures of everything just like her mama (she got this camera over the holidays) and both Bill and I loved how into it she was, finding angles and specific items to capture. Note: we went about an hour before it closed for the day and it was a beautiful time to go...the way the sun was filtering in was mesmerizing and added to the whole vibe. above: look at those oval windows! above: the color palette here has my heart. above: the Upper Loggia was originally used as a semi-outdoor sitting room and had wicker furniture, rugs, and an abundance of plants. above/below: my most favorite room was Gertrude Vanderbilt's bedroom. The 4th of 7 children, her room is a visual stunner with bold floral patterns, intricate millwork, and feminine textiles (fun fact: she founded New York's famous Whitney Museum). above: I can't get over this bedspread. above: our little photog. above: that kitchen island. no words. above: the built-ins in the Kitchen & Butler's Pantry are just so beautiful. above: the green wall panels in the Guest Bedroom haven't been touched since they were installed. above: THAT TUB. It has faucets for hot & cold fresh and salt water. above: plush damask covered furniture provide such a striking contrast against the ornate stonework and metallic accents. above: I'm just so inspired by the layout of this closet (not to be confused with a dressing room which is where they actually got dressed). I absolutely love the grid design. above: it's all in the details. What's your favorite detail or space? emily PS. Don’t miss a post. Subscribe to our newsletter! Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase a product I've linked to, I may receive a small commission at NO additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business. mStarr is a lifestyle studio specializing in approachable interiors, virtual design, content creation, and creative direction. We’d love to work with you! 0 Likes

Happy New Year friends! I enjoyed a simultaneously busy yet relaxing holiday break complete with an unintended break from Instagram (more to come on that actually and how it plays into my still-working-through plans for 2023). With a new year comes a focus on home improvement, decor & function so like so many others, I chipped away at a few projects & made updates around the house during my time off (plus some minor rearranging after taking the holiday decor down (see them all here). One exciting project is changing up all of our door hardware...interior and exterior! This is an overdue project after being in our 1898 home for a year and a half and dealing with a mishmash of old doors with old and non-standard size knobs.To the point where several doors don't even shut (2 of them being bathrooms)! Thankfully my friends at Emtek were game for helping with this much-needed update (they generously gifted the hardware but as always, opinions and selections are my own). Emtek offers high quality, American-made hardware in a variety of finishes and styles and there's truly something for every need & desire. Once everything is all set, I'll put together another post with before & after pics and more details on the installation (let's just say that it's not as easy as it could be because of how old/poorly installed our doors & existing knobs are). For now, I wanted to share a bit about what hardware I selected and why. The primary decisions to be made were the following: finish, rosette (backplate) style, knob & lever style, handing if applicable (which way a lever faces), and function of the door (privacy, passage, or dummy). FINISH I immediately knew that French Antique was my finish of choice. It's a beautiful brass tone that looks aged in the very best way. The only exception is our back door hardware which will be Satin Brass as French Antique wasn't available in my desired style(s). ROSETTE (BACKPLATE) & KNOB /LEVER STYLE I decided on a few styles to mix & match for added visual interest: rectangular, regular and oval. But telling a cohesive story by using the same finish and knob/lever style: Melon knob and Turino lever. The melon knob has a decidedly vintage feel and feels whimsical yet elevated. The Turino is timeless. HANDING This is only applicable for the Turino levers. If the door hinges are on the left when standing on the outside of a door (which opens away from you), you need a left hand lever. If they're on the right, yes you need a right hand one. FUNCTION OF THE DOOR We need a mix of privacy (able to lock from the inside) and passage (no locking mechanism). BACK DOOR I am so excited to transition to an electronic lock. It's something we've talked about doing for awhile and decided on the Emtek EMTouch Electronic Keypad in Satin Brass combined with the Franklin Tubular Entry Set with Turino Lever in Satin Brass. FRONT DOOR Since this isn't our primary door, I opted for no electronic lock and chose the Franklin Tubular Entry Set with Turino Lever in French Antique. DEN CLOSET This is an old louvered door that shuts with a magnet and has a knob hole already drilled so I chose the Melon Oversized Knob in French Antique. I may however install a dummy door knob down the line for something for substantial. BASEMENT DOOR There isn't much space between the knob and the edge of the door so I kept it simple with a smaller rosette...Melon Passage Knob with Regular Rosette in French Antique. DECORATIVE FRENCH DOOR This is the door that separates one part of the house from the other and it stays open 99.9% of the time. I went with a Turino Passage Door Lever with Rectangular Rosette in French Antique. PLAYROOM/GUEST ROOM/OFFICE DOOR Because this serves as a guest room on occasion, I did a Melon Privacy Knob with Oval Rosette in French Antique. OUR BEDROOM DOOR Considering the existing knob recently fell off while I was inside the room and subsequently got locked in, this is an update I'm very excited about! I went with the Melon Privacy Knob with Rectangular Rosette in French Antique. OUR BEDROOM CLOSET DOOR Kept the rectangular rosette that's on the main door but opted for a Turino Passage Door Lever to pair with it. French Antique of course. MAX'S BEDROOM DOOR Giving her a privacy knob felt like a bad idea so went with the Melon Passage Knob with Oval Rosette in French Antique. The oval is SO sweet in this room. MAX'S CLOSET DOOR Following the same thought process as our closet door (same rosette, different knob), I chose the Turino Passage Door Lever with Oval Rosette in French Antique. MAX'S BATHROOM DOOR I am not looking forward to this one as it's a seriously weird door / knob situation but this is another that doesn't shut and since it's you know, a bathroom, it will be awfully nice to be able to shut it! I went with the Melon Privacy Knob with Oval Rosette in French Antique. OUR BATHROOM DOOR In all honesty, this beautiful knob will be the nicest thing in the bathroom. It's small, ugly and not super functional but it will have a pretty knob: Melon Privacy Knob with Rectangular Rosette in French Antique. Make sure you're following along on Instagram as I'll continue to share progress over there (there's also a story highlight where you can catch up/keep up). emily PS. Don’t miss a post. Subscribe to our newsletter! Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase a product I've linked to, I may receive a small commission at NO additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business. mStarr is a lifestyle studio specializing in approachable interiors, virtual design, content creation, and creative direction. We’d love to work with you! 0 Likes

Back with another gift guide, and one that's been requested a few times on Instagram: coffee table books! There's a heavy dose of home related books because well, duh but I've also included some pet, fashion, travel, music, and photography options too. A note about gift guides...I tend to curate them based on products we may already own, products I have my eye on, products that others who I trust share, and products from brands I'm a fan of! There will be some inevitable cross-over along the way so be sure to check out all the guides as I continue to share them (and sign up for our newsletter where I'll send them out). Some items may sell out quickly (but could restock) so you’re best signing up for in-stock notifications where available and ordering as early as possible especially because of inconsistent shipping times. Another tip is if you use the LTK app (follow @mstarrevdesign here!), you can simply save items if you're not ready to purchase or need to go back to something. All of these gift guide items will be posted there as well! 01. THE EVOLUTION OF HOME: ENGLISH INTERIORS FOR A NEW ERA by Emma Sims-Hilditch (Author) and Giles Kime Simon Brown (Photographer) 02. AT HOME: EVOCATIVE AND ART-FORWARD INTERIORS by Brian Paquette (Author) and Haris Kenjar (Photographer) 03. SACRED SPACES by Carley Summers 04. VANITY FAIR: 100 YEARS by Graydon Carter 05. FINDING HOME: SHELTER DOGS & THEIR STORIES by Traer Scott 06. ICONS by Oscar Abolafia 07. FEELS LIKE HOME by Lauren Liess 08. JOHN DERIAN PICTURE BOOK by John Derian 09. STREETS OF PARIS by MENDO 10. ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST AT 100 by Amy Astley 11. COLOR ME FLORAL by Kiana Underwood 12. MADE FOR LIVING by Amber Lewis 13. ANNIE LEIBOVITZ: PORTRAITS 2005-2016 by Annie Leibovitz 14. 1000 RECORD COVERS by Michael Ochs 15. PARIS, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE by André Ostier 16. LIVE BEAUTIFUL by Athena Calderone Did you miss our other guides? Check out For Your Inner Child here and For the Grandparents here. THANK YOU for checking these guides out and for shopping directly from them if you feel so inclined. It helps keep this li'l business going. Lastly, for holiday inspiration, check out my Holiday Decorating, Holiday Entertaining, Fa la la la la, and Winter Decor Pinterest boards. And for holiday shopping, check out our Holiday Hub and LTK exclusive content. emily PS. Don’t miss a post. Subscribe to our newsletter! Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase a product I've linked to, I may receive a small commission at NO additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business. mStarr is a lifestyle studio specializing in approachable interiors, virtual design, content creation, and creative direction. We’d love to work with you! 0 Likes

Presenting our 3rd gift guide, and tackling one of the trickiest categories: grandparents. Long gone are the days when grandparents were elderly, anti-tech and only wanting (or pretending to like?) mugs & calendars with their grandkids' pictures on them (not that there's anything wrong with those!). I've rounded up some items they can indulge in, stay active with, feel a sense of nostalgia, and yes, keep up with the grandkids pictures. A note about gift guides...I tend to curate them based on products we may already own, products I have my eye on, products that others who I trust share, and products from brands I'm a fan of! There will be some inevitable cross-over along the way so be sure to check out all the guides as I continue to share them (and sign up for our newsletter where I'll send them out). Some items may sell out quickly (but could restock) so you’re best ordering as early as possible this year especially because of inconsistent shipping times and signing up for in-stock notifications where available. Another tip is if you use the LTK app (follow @mstarrevdesign here!), you can simply save items if you're not ready to purchase or need to go back to something. All of these gift guide items will be posted there as well! 01. AMERICANFLAT KIDS ARTWORK PICTURE FRAME As a parent of a 6 year old, I know how much art comes home every day from school. Save the good pieces and gift them to the grandparents with this picture frame which allows them to store & swap out art. Available in multiple colors. 02. MIKO SHIATSU FOOT MASSAGER AT WALMART Give them the gift of relaxation with a foot massager that has a variety of heat, kneading, rolling & pressure settings. This may or may not be on my wishlist as well...Currently on sale 03. AND 04. ALWAYS PAN AND PERFECT POT Simplify their cooking routine and gift the pot & pan that can replace pretty much all others. Currently on sale 05. SWEETGREEN GIFT CARD Of course there needs to be a Sweetgreen nearby but if there is, they'll be thrilled to pick up (or have delivered) yummy salads whenever they want. 06. APPLE AIRTAG - 4 PACK They won't lose anything important anymore. Currently on sale. 07. COZY EARTH BAMBOO SHEET SET These really are the only sheets we sleep on these days. Temperature-regulating, moisture-wicking viscose from bamboo fabric and SO SOFT. Use code EMILYSTARR40 for 40% off your entire purchase. 08. 9" AURAMASON BY AURA DIGITAL PICTURE FRAME A neutral frame with a super clear picture to rotate all their favorite photos. Unlimited photo storage with instant sharing. Currently on sale. 09. LSA INTERNATIONAL LOTTA CHEESE/PASTRIES DOME AT LULU & GEORGIA Whether entertaining or having a night in, this mouth-blown glass cloche and wood base serving piece is equally beautiful filled with pastries and displayed on the counter or used as a serving piece with cheese. 10. VICTROLA EASTWOOD RECORD PLAYER Sleek, simple and sure to evoke a feeling of nostalgia, this all-in-one record player also features Bluetooth connectivity. 11. BLINK OUTDOOR CAMERAS We've used these in both of our houses and love how easy they are to set up and monitor activity around the house. Deliveries in particular are easy to track but the added sense of security will be appreciated. 12. 3 MONTHS OF LUXURY FOOD CRATES SUBSCRIPTION AT WILLIAMS SONOMA Who wouldn't want a delicious food crate filled with artisanal goodies delivered right to your door?! This subscription includes a Utah family-owned cheese crate, a Tour of France crate, and an Italian themed one. Other options & lengths of time available. 13. APPLE AIRPODS 2ND GENERATION Supposedly these are lights (or sound) out good with superior noise cancellation. They're just what the grandparents need for long walks or working out at home. Currently on sale. 14. DASH GINGERBREAD MINI WAFFLE MAKER They'll be the coolest grandparents on the block when making mini waffles for the kids. Did you miss our first guide? Check out For Your Inner Child here. THANK YOU for checking these guides out and for shopping directly from them if you feel so inclined. It helps keep this li'l business going. Lastly, for holiday inspiration, check out my Holiday Decorating, Holiday Entertaining, Fa la la la la, and Winter Decor Pinterest boards. And for holiday shopping, check out our Holiday Hub and LTK exclusive content. emily PS. Don’t miss a post. Subscribe to our newsletter! Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase a product I've linked to, I may receive a small commission at NO additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business. mStarr is a lifestyle studio specializing in approachable interiors, virtual design, content creation, and creative direction. We’d love to work with you! 0 Likes

I so enjoy taking out Max's holiday books for the season...and it's especially exciting this year because she'll be able to read them herself! We have many of the above and plan on adding to our collection with others. 01. ALL IS MERRY & BRIGHT 02. THE CRAYONS' CHRISTMAS 03. HOME ALONE 04. THE TREE THAT'S MEANT TO BE 05. DEAR SANTA, LOVE RACHEL ROSENSTEIN 06. THE LITTLE REINDEER 07. DADDY CHRISTMAS HANUKKAH MAMA 08. PICK A PINE TREE 09. THE WISH TREE 10. THE POLAR EXPRESS 11. STORY ORCHESTRA NUTRACKER 12. LITTLE RED RUTHIE 13. TALLULAH'S NUTCRACKER 14.THE NUTCRACKER 15. OLIVE THE OTHER REINDEER 16.THE UNICORNS WHO SAVED CHRISTMAS For more holiday books, visit our Shop Page. Happy reading! For holiday inspiration, check out my Holiday Decorating, Holiday Entertaining, Fa la la la la, and Winter Decor Pinterest boards. For holiday shopping, check out our Holiday Hub and LTK exclusive content. emily PS. Don’t miss a post. Subscribe to our newsletter! Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase a product I've linked to, I may receive a small commission at NO additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business. mStarr is a lifestyle studio specializing in approachable interiors, virtual design, content creation, and creative direction. We’d love to work with you! 0 Likes

Does it feel early for a gift guide? Yes. But retailers kicked off the holiday season weeks ago and now that Halloween has passed, we're fully in it. So without further ado...our first gift guide! This one is for the inner child. Don't we all want to feel that sense of nostalgia especially around the holidays? Delight your loved ones with everything from a face mask that bubbles up & makes you look like a troll from Frozen to intricate LEGOS. A note about gift guides...I tend to curate them based on products we may already own, products I have my eye on, products that others who I trust share, and products from brands I'm a fan of! There will be some inevitable cross-over along the way so be sure to check out all the guides as I continue to share them (and sign up for our newsletter where I'll send them out). Some items may sell out quickly (but could restock) so you’re best ordering as early as possible this year especially because of inconsistent shipping times and signing up for in-stock notifications where available. Another tip is if you use the LTK app (follow @mstarrevdesign here!), you can simply save items if you're not ready to purchase or need to go back to something. All of these gift guide items will be posted there as well! 01. BRINKER & ELIZA 🌈 LENNON NECKLACE AT MAISONETTE You can't help but smile wearing this cheerful necklace. 02. THERAPY DOUGH BY CAMMIE & KIP WEEKS AT UNCOMMON GOODS Stressed? Bored? Distract yourself with this dough infused with essential oils. 03. COCKTAIL SMOKER BY UNCOMMON GOODS Customize your cocktails with an easy-to-use glass topper smoker. 04. FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI 40 Fun for all ages but the retro vibe of this one certainly feels more grown up. 05. NINTENDO SWITCH WITH OLED MODEL My brother got this recently and I admit, it's realllllllly fun, especially to play all the old games I played as a kid. This one comes with a 7" screen if you're not near a TV! 06. HOME ALONE LEGOS I almost bought this for myself last year and remain tempted. An activity that ends up a piece of memorabilia? Sold. Same with this 07. LEGO FLOWER BOUQUET. 08. BLACK DAHLIA CBD LOLLIPOPS AT JAYSON HOME Stay stress free this holiday season with CBD lollipops in flavors such as huckleberry and paloma. 09. WRAPABLES PIG MINI TABLETOP VACUUM If you think I didn't immediately add this to my Amazon cart, you'd be very wrong. Perfect stocking stuffer! 10. EMBROIDERED HEART STRAW BAG BY MARK & GRAHAM Hearts just take me back to childhood. Plus you can add a monogram to this chic & versatile bag. 11. THE GREAT X EDDIE BAUER THE HUNT PAC MINI BOOT A winter essential in a whimsical floral pattern. 12. MAKE YOUR OWN REEL FINDER BY UNCOMMON GOODS Remember these? Instead of looking at something ready-made, gather your cherished photos and enjoy those memories. 13. FAT BRAIN TOYS MINIATURE MODEL KIT - GRACIE'S GREENHOUSE Not for the faint of heart, it supposedly takes serious attention to detail and patience to put this model together but it's adorable! 14. CHLOE ART CRAFTS FLORAL EMBROIDERY KIT ON ETSY This kit comes with a hoop, illustrated linen fabric and the needle & thread, everything you need to create your own piece of embroidered art. 15. HEARTH & HAND AT TARGET TABLETOP PING PONG SET Got a table? All you need is this cute set to keep everyone busy. 16. ELIZAVECCA MILKY PIGGY BUBBLE CLAY MASK You have to look at the review photos. Hilarious but more importantly this South Korean detoxifying mask seems to work really well and the price can't be beat! THANK YOU for checking these guides out and for shopping directly from them if you feel so inclined. It helps keep this li'l business going. For holiday inspiration, check out my Holiday Decorating, Holiday Entertaining, Fa la la la la, and Winter Decor Pinterest boards. For holiday shopping, check out our Holiday Hub and LTK exclusive content. emily PS. Don’t miss a post. Subscribe to our newsletter! Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase a product I've linked to, I may receive a small commission at NO additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business. mStarr is a lifestyle studio specializing in approachable interiors, virtual design, content creation, and creative direction. We’d love to work with you! 0 Likes

Inspiration images sources from top left Rust & Trust, her86m2, The Suffolk Nest, Apartment Therapy, OKA, Shoppe Amber Interiors, mStarr design, Afloral, My Old Pub, The Glossy Nest, The Makerista, Marney Ash, Honeysuckle & Hilda, A Little Bit Southern This will be our second holiday season in what I really-can't-call-the-new-house-anymore (but still do) and I'm very much looking forward to it. We're naturally much more settled after almost a year and a half, and the house has certainly seen some changes since we last decorated. This year I'm feeling a traditional British meets festive whimsy vibe, building on the cottage-leaning aesthetic of our home and last year's decorations. Think velvet bows and gingham ribbon, dried organic accents, mixed greenery (faux and real) garlands, fluted candles, dried citrus, tinsel, and paper lanterns & ornaments. For more inspiration, check out my Holiday Decorating, Holiday Entertaining, Fa la la la la, and Winter Decor Pinterest boards. For holiday shopping, check out our Holiday Hub. And for a look at our holiday decor from years past... emily PS. Don’t miss a post. Subscribe to our newsletter! Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase a product I've linked to, I may receive a small commission at NO additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business. mStarr is a lifestyle studio specializing in approachable interiors, virtual design, content creation, and creative direction. We’d love to work with you! 0 Likes

above Courbe ceramic lamp via Crate & Barrel above Athena’s Amagansett kitchen with vintage lamp the Courbe was based on via EyeSwoon, photo by Nicole Franzen If you don’t know who Athena Calderone (aka EyeSwoon) is by now, I’m not sure we can be friends. No but seriously Athena is a celebrated, and uber talented, designer, creator, chef, author, podcast host, and so much more. Everything she touches looks effortless and even if her signature organic modernist aesthetic isn’t your usual cup of tea, there’s something to be taken from all her designs and creations. A focus on natural materials and small details, both embracing natural light and leaning into the moodiness that a room may have to offer. In other words, I’m a big fan and have been for years. Athena’s latest collaboration is with Crate & Barrel launched today and it does not disappoint. Given her work straddles both interiors and food, this collection has it all…from cozy shearling seating to ceramic scalloped bowls to incredible re-creations of her cherished vintage lighting (see above photos!). So many beautiful and functional products I had to put together two roundups! Happy shopping. Click the images below to shop! 👇🏻 emily PS. Don’t miss a post. Subscribe to our newsletter! Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase a product I've linked to, I may receive a small commission at NO additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business. mStarr is a lifestyle studio specializing in approachable interiors, virtual design, content creation, and creative direction. We’d love to work with you! 0 Likes

If you’re looking to shop this weekend, it’s safe to say you can do so literally anywhere! And my friends at Joss & Main are no exception…get 20% off of a wide selection of curated pieces. I rounded up a bunch of favorites, including this mirror for our entry and this rug in ivory for our bedroom (which is already a steal even without the discount)! rug / pendant / pendant / mirror / chair / chair / chair / bed / tea towels / sectional / pillow / coffee table emily PS. Don’t miss a post. Subscribe to our newsletter! Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase a product I've linked to, I may receive a small commission at NO additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business. mStarr is a lifestyle studio specializing in approachable interiors, virtual design, content creation, and creative direction. We’d love to work with you! 0 Likes

Given I started seeing the Back to School section at Target a month ago, I feel like I’m behind in sharing this?! Cut me a little slack though…because school starts at the end of August / early September here in Massachusetts, I sometimes forget that there are plenty of kids starting up in just a couple weeks! Anyhoo, I rounded up some cute (and nostalgic…I’m talking to you Trapper Keeper) back to school gear and supplies. Happy shopping! Snack Containers / Stasher Bags / State Bags Kane Kids Backpack / Unicorn Scissors / Stainless Steel Lunch Container / Holographic Pencil Case / State Bags Water Bottle Sling / Stainless Flask / iClever Headphones / Travel Utensils / Customizable Fabric Stamp Kit / 1st Day of School Signs / State Bags Kane Kids Backpack / State Bags Detachable Chest Strap in Pink and Orange / Wide Ruled Notebooks / Hydro Flask Water Bottle / Yeti Rambler Jr. Water Bottle / Monsters Lunch Box / Tomato Flip Snack / Dog Pencil Case / Embroidered Fjallraven Kanken Backpack / State Bags at Target Rodgers Lunch Bag / Galaxy Trapper Keeper / Linen Insulated Lunch Bag emily PS. Don’t miss a post. Subscribe to our newsletter! Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase a product I've linked to, I may receive a small commission at NO additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business. mStarr is a lifestyle studio specializing in approachable interiors, virtual design, content creation, and creative direction. We’d love to work with you! 0 Likes

above top source unknown via Pinterest / above bottom source unknown via Pinterest Oh hey, it’s been a hot minute since I last posted! Yet here we are in mid-May, we’ve been in the new house for almost a year (!?), and the nice weather finally seems to be sticking around here in Massachusetts. Which means it’s backyard season! While our offer was accepted last April and we made several visits to the house before moving in June, this has been our first Spring here. It’s been fun to see things bloom and also a bit challenging not knowing what’s a weed and what is still growing in as actual plants and flowers! Because we moved in the middle of June and were fortunate to inherit an overall lovely and landscaped property, we hired a landscaper to do a big cleanup and weekly mowing, and were able to focus on the interior of the house. This allowed us to enjoy the yard and get a feel for how we want to use it moving forward, what we may want to do long term, and what we want to do short term. I really want to lean into the English cottage vibes…lush & floral but with wispy grasses and greenery in a palette of mostly whites, purples, and blues. In all honesty, I find it overwhelming to share everything we have planned or are envisioning at this point 😂 So let’s start with what’s planned for the next several weeks (hopefully)! 01. Tree removal… …this is the key to any major changes. The tree (above) is massive. It’s grown quite a bit in the past year too. It blocks the view from the Big Room (below) and of particular annoyance is that it turns what could be a large outdoor living & dining area into two not so functional ones. The slider on the left is in the Big Room and the slider on the right is in the playroom/office. Since we’re primarily in the Big Room but the BBQ needs to be on the playroom side, it means we have to walk around this monstrosity to get back and forth. It’s just not practical nor do I think it fits the general aesthetic of the yard (currently and as I envision it). Anyways, I was very excited to get the tree down this past weekend but nature had other plans. We found a nest with 3 eggs! Admittedly I was (and still am) a bit bummed because now everything is delayed a bit but the good news is they hatched the very next day and after a close call, we think at least 2 of the babies survived and mom has been with them/bringing food. Could be another week before they’re ready to leave the nest so fingers crossed this tree can come down soon! 02. Stepping stone patio… …the area outside the Big Room slider (where we currently have our lounge seating) will be transformed from grass to a paver situation. This is as much for function as it is aesthetic given that the constant traffic has made for a loss of grass and a lot of dirt/muddy spots and an unevent ground. I’m picturing medium to large size, asymmetrically shaped stones (most likely Pennsylvania Steppers), spaced maybe 3-4” apart with a low growing plant such as creeping thyme planted in between them. Having this space done will allow for more flexibility in how we use the yard and entertain in it. Plus it’s going to be GORGEOUS! There’s a lot to still think about and take into account (like the transition from the pavers to the existing brick patio, not blocking access to our septic tank etc.) and while we want this to look great, I’m not sure I can say whatever we do will be the end all be all to our yard transformation. above top part of the area we’re updating / above bottom a peek at that area from the Big Room above top via Lonny Magazine / above bottom via Wilson Bros Gardens 03. Pergola… …for the holidays, we asked my in-laws for a pergola. We got this one and didn’t bother putting it up over the winter. So I’m looking forward to doing it but the question is where…I’m thinking probably over the seating area where the new pavers will be? I’m envisioning bistro lights (we already have these weatherproof ones) and plants & flowers! My end goal is to train plants to grow up and over the pergola but will manufacture what I can in the short term, maybe even getting some faux UV safe strands to incorporate. above top via Better Homes & Gardens and Edmund Barr / above botto source unknown via Pinterest 04. Mini cutting garden… …with the intention of growing it. Max has been growing some seedlings and they need a home. Plus I’d really like to plant some wildflower seeds! I’m not totally sure if I want a raised bed of some kind or to just plant them in an area of existing soil/mulch. above top via La Musa de las Flores / above bottom via Google 05. Miscellaneous… ...we need seating for around our fire pit, an herb garden or planters, adding some plants/flowers in and around our stone steps, and a whole lot of power washing! Below is a roundup of a bunch of outdoor items we have already and are using or considering/planning to get. And if you’re looking for more inspiration, check out my #farmhousedialfano the sequel…outdoor Pinterest board, and a look at our yard story highlight. emily PS. Don’t miss a post. Subscribe to our newsletter! Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase a product I've linked to, I may receive a small commission at NO additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business. mStarr is a lifestyle studio specializing in approachable interiors, virtual design, content creation, and creative direction. We’d love to work with you! 0 Likes

(above) the Costa Daybed in Max’s Room 20% off AND free shipping?! Run don’t walk to Serena & Lily and use code INSIDER through April 27, 2022. the scalloped baskets I’m always asked about on Instagram / a vintage-y pendant / cozy gingham jammies / ruffly striped pillow cover / gingham napkins perfect for Spring and Summer entertaining / outdoor umbrella and folding chairs / the flush mount in our entry / Max’s woven bed / a picnic blanket / the ceramic pendants over our island / a floral skirted ottoman / the storage baskets I have all over the house / a rattan wrapped dining table / a comfy outdoor chair in a cheery shade of yellow emily PS. Don’t miss a post. Subscribe to our newsletter! Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase a product I've linked to, I may receive a small commission at NO additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business. mStarr is a lifestyle studio specializing in approachable interiors, virtual design, content creation, and creative direction. We’d love to work with you! 0 Likes