wedding backdrop! we have just returned from an incredible trip to colorado for my baby brother’s wedding! it’s been a few years since i was there and almost forgot how the altitude can affect pretty much everything, including my skin. so i thought i’d share some of my favorite beauty products that i use on an everyday basis and specifically while traveling. planes are no friend to skin my friends! the best part is most are non-toxic and all make you feel {and look} amazing. 1 / tata harper’s resurfacing mask. instant glow! 2 / i’m obsessed with tata’s floral essence {aka toner}. i use it after cleansing and before oil/serum, and throughout the day for a little moisture and glow. 3 / an everyday super fine exfoliating cleanser. i love using it under the resurfacing mask for a 5-minute mini-facial {i did this the morning of the wedding!} 4 / skin can be unpredictable while traveling. this spot solution targets and rids blemishes quickly. 5 / vintner’s forever and always. for everything. 6 / this glossier SPF goes on clearly and easily. 7 / both max and i use this. it goes on a little while but easily blends in with your fingers. 8 / i swear by beautycounter dew skin. gives a little coverage, a lot of glow, and offers SPF coverage. win, win, win. 9 / i alternate this vitamin c booster with this 10 / antioxidant booster. both get mixed in with 11 / cellular repair serum. the combo is minimizing/removing my sun spots and makes my skin feel amazing. 12 / i typically rinse just with water in the morning but love this simple hydrating cleanser from true botanicals in the evening. 13 / i’ll never go back to regular face lotions again! seriously. i use the renew face oil in the evening and 14 / the calm version in the morning to help with any redness i may have throughout the day {i’m prone to a little redness on cheeks and chin}. 15 / schmidt’s just works for me. i actually love the rose & vanilla scent best but you have to deal with temporary armpit stains until washing and with the lime, you don’t! 16 / water and more water while traveling. especially where we were in the mountains! i fill it up after going through security and bring it with me everywhere. 17 / an everyday go-to for a little tint and glow on my lips and cheeks. 18 / i keep tins of rosebud salve everywhere. i use it on my cheeks, lips, and hands whenever dry. 19 / a little texture spray goes a long way. 20 / dry shampoo. enough said. happy shopping {and traveling}! #beauty #natural #nontoxic #travel

lulu & georgia is a go-to for pretty much anything home related and one of my favorite things {and yours too if judging by all the likes and questions i receive!} in max’s playroom is their mekayla rug {above}. well now’s your time to snag that rug or any other rug on the site as they’re in the midst of a 20% off sale in honor of america’s birthday. that’s right, ALL rugs are 20% off with code JULY4. don’t miss out! below are some ideas to get your shopping started… 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 again that’s code JULY4 over on lulu & georgia. happy shopping! ps. if you like the look of max’s kitchen area, you can shop it here! #luluampgeorgia #rugs #sale

in honor of pride month and max’s rainbow inspired birthday party coming up this weekend, it felt like a good time to share some of the colorful products i’m currently obsessing over. rainbows seem to be EVERYWHERE these days and i’m surprisingly not mad about it. long gone are the cheesy rainbows of old…we now have rainbow stripes, whimsical rainbow designs, muted color rainbows and so much more! the best part? this “trend” is equal parts fun for both kids and adults alike. below are my favorites! 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 happy shopping! ps. i started a pinterest board for all things rainbow. follow along! #birthdayparty #kidsparties #rainbow

max one month before her second birthday / photo by becca brendler photography max as a newborn / photo by hello love photography max at her first birthday party / photo by ruth eileen photography hooray! our sweet maxwell rose turns two today. well not until 11:48 tonight. of course our world was forever changed at that moment but her entrance into the world was also quite memorable. and so i thought i would take this opportunity to finally {!} share her birth story. it was a wild one… wednesday, june 8th, 2016. it was 3 weeks before her due date and 1 day before my 37th birthday. max had been lying pretty low for awhile {fun times i tell you} and if we got to 39 weeks, my doctor wanted to induce as my blood pressure was bordering on high. i had a check-up in the morning and was dilated around 2 cm. it was assumed i would deliver early but despite being uncomfortable and swollen, there were no signs of impending labor. fast forward to 7p that evening. bill was out at a work event in east boston and i was grilling a pearl hot dog for dinner {important detail because said hot dog made a reappearance later in the night}. i went to the bathroom and, TMI, it felt like i just kept peeing. given we were 3 weeks from the due date and it didn’t really compute what was going on. plus, water doesn’t actually break on its own and at home, right?! without getting into it too much, having your water break naturally felt like a really slow drip…for a long time. it wasn’t that dramatic type gushing you see in movies or on TV. i tried calling bill but he didn’t pick up so i called the doctor’s office to determine if what i thought was happening was actually happening. the nurse assured me that it definitely was. i was asked if i was having any contractions {i didn’t} and i asked if i could take a shower {i could}. she told me that she’d let the hospital know we would be there no later than 8a the next morning and advised me on what to look for in terms of length and closeness of contractions. we weren’t supposed to go in until the pain was unbearable enough that i couldn’t talk through it {again, fun times}. i finally heard from bill and gave him the news that we were going to be parents sooner than expected. he started heading towards home and since i still had no contractions, i didn’t think he needed to totally rush. so with a towel in my underwear, i called my mom, set about finishing packing and got in the shower {upstairs}. bill came home and started his packing {most of his clothes are downstairs}. shower went fine and i thought i’d dry my hair. about 10 minutes into that, i started feeling something that was clearly a contraction. it was bearable though so i kept moving along. truly within minutes, i was crouched on the ground in so much pain that i could barely call the nurse back to say we were headed in. mind you, this was at 8:30. my water started breaking at 7. i screamed down to bill and told him, just kidding, it was time to go. we got our stuff together and got into the car. our poor pup bruno was so confused but thankfully my brother came and picked him up not too long after we left. we made some calls to our parents on the way and in all honesty, we both thought we were having a baby in the car. when we arrived at the hospital at 9, bill had to deal with the valet and the bags so i was wheeled into admitting and it’s such a blur, i don’t have a great account of it. somehow i gave basic info and max’s pediatrician’s name and was taken upstairs to triage admitting where bill met me. that was even more a blur and bill wasn’t with me for most of it. i know i took my clothes off, they did some basic stuff, and checked me. just 2 hours after my water broke, i was at 7cm. for those not up to speed on the joys of childbirth, 10cm is when baby is ready. for many, especially first time mothers, getting to 10cm can take days or not happen at all {enter c-section}. so on a pain scale of 1-10, i’d say 7cm was around a 9 for me. now let me just say, i have serious respect for women who want natural births. i’m just not one of them. i wanted drugs. in fact i pre-signed an agreement in the final weeks stating i wanted all the drugs. so when i was brought down to a delivery room, we reiterated that fact and they went to work. despite the attempts from TWO anesthesiologists, the epidural didn’t take. i was simply contracting too much and was in such pain that i threw up a couple times {thank you to the nurse who held my hair while standing over the toilet with all sorts of fluids dripping out of me}. they tried physically holding me and eventually got the actual needle in but the meds didn’t take. i remember them tapping my legs asking “do you feel this? what about this?” uh yup. i could feel it all. and because she had been so low, the pain was made worse. bill i think was in shock from the whole situation and it was clearly difficult to see me in pain knowing he couldn’t do much. meanwhile in the midst of all of this, we were told that our actual doctor wasn’t on call {which we knew was a possibility and it’s why they have us see all the doctors in the practice beforehand but still a little disappointing mostly because i love her!}. the doctor from our practice who was on call came in to tell us that he was being called into an emergency c-section which meant…the doctor who delivered max was someone we had literally never met. i do recall her being very kind, and blonde, and she said something along the lines of “hi, nice to meet you. i’m going to deliver your baby.” we had to ask the nurse’s afterwards what her name was {dr. lacey} so we could write it down! ok so as they continued to try with the epidural, it hit 11p and i said to stop because i knew i had to push. they checked me, said i was at 10cm, and said to go for it. there’s both a desire and a hesitance to truly push. to have your body quite literally be forcing her out but emotionally being like WTF. to actually push from the right spot, from your core is just wild. bill and a nurse held my legs and gave words of encouragement that i’m pretty sure i ignored because i was practically in tears. i was offered a mirror and surprisingly i said yes. i looked for a little bit but i was closing my eyes when pushing so it was rendered mostly useless. bill watched though. lord knows what was actually going through his head. but let’s just say he got confused by whose hair was whose {TMI?}. i’m just thankful my labor was so quick because i was exhausted just from the whirlwind of the past few hours…i can’t IMAGINE how you mamas who had been in labor for a couple days had any energy to push. after just 48 minutes of pushing, at 11:48p on june 8th, 2016, this perfect, crying, swollen 6 lb 11 oz, 18″ long baby with a wonky left foot emerged and the next thing i knew she was on my chest. we named her maxwell rose alfano, after my great-grandfather max starr and bill’s great grandmother. because she had been low and smushed for so long, her poor foot was at this weird angle and didn’t normalize until weeks after she was born. i honestly was in a bit of shock while they were taking her vitals, shaking and shivering, especially while delivering the placenta, getting stitched up, and with all the pressing on my uterus to shrink it. mostly i remember being excited that she had her own birthday and wouldn’t be sharing mine! when my water broke in the evening on the 8th, the natural assumption was of course we would have the same birthday on the 9th. i’m thrilled she instead shares a birthday with one of my very best friends and the son of another best friend. i actually go back sometimes to look at the group text with all my best friends and love seeing the responses when i told them i was in {early} labor. at around 2 or 2:30 in the morning, they let my mom {who had come straight from her school’s prom} and bill’s parents {who had driven up from connecticut as soon as we said i was in labor} come in and meet their new granddaughter. by the way, october 2015 must’ve been a very “busy” month because the hospital was literally overflowing with babies coming into the world. so much so that they didn’t have a postpartum room for us until well into the following morning {including a false alarm that involved a mouse}. so we had the pleasure of staying up all night in the same room where i delivered which wasn’t the most, um, pleasant. the next couple of days were filled with family and close friends visiting, a hospital room birthday celebration for me {it involved rosé and my beloved party favors cake so i was good}, and taking in all that had just happened…and of course what we were about to embark on. we left the hospital on a very rainy saturday morning with max and i in the back seat and a very nervous dad driving. the doctors and nurses and lactation consultations sent us on our merry way with well wishes and sentiments of luck and bill and i talking about what all new parents must discuss…how INSANE it is that they just send you out into the wilds of the real world and it’s now on you to figure out how the hell to take care of a another human being who is completely dependent on you. it’s pretty crazy. women are often asked for their advice or thoughts on childbirth. so here’s mine. birth plans? don’t get too attached to them. while we never put together a true plan {other than, you know, the drugs}, it’s safe to say it would’ve been thrown right out the window. i’m not sure it’s possible to ever be truly prepared for labor and delivery but 3 weeks early and a 4 3/4 hour labor clearly caught us very off guard! and i most certainly didn’t expect to have a natural birth, despite my mom reminding me beforehand that she had one with me. and even though there’s nothing i could’ve done, i do have regrets. i had grand visions of a birth photographer and gifts for the nurses. i assumed i’d have a typical first time birth experience…but i didn’t labor at home. and i didn’t labor at the hospital either. i didn’t touch that hospital bag until well after max was born. it was just a total whirlwind from the get-go. but..i’m also grateful it happened the way it did. i was just getting into that super uncomfortable phase of pregnancy and considering it was june, those final few weeks wouldn’t have been the most pleasant. plus i was starting to think about {aka worry about{ what giving birth would actually be like. like most women, i’ve blocked out the pain. if i dig deep i can recall the general feeling, like i couldn’t breathe. but it’s in a far away place i can’t quite reach. which, you know, i’m cool with. and not having an epidural helped incredibly with recovery. the quick pushing period also helped too. i was able to walk upstairs to our postpartum room and the days and weeks that followed were easier on my body for sure. at the end of the day, she was the best damn birthday present i ever could’ve received and was quite clearly ready to join the world earlier than was planned for. she was a force then and is a force now. happy TWO maxwell rose. here are some of your highlights at age 2… / you dole out “love you” on your own, not just when we say it first. / thanks to dada, you finally are a good {ok?} teeth brusher. / you love bathtime even more than before, which is saying something. / you LOVE being tickled and ask for “mo teeeckles”. your laugh is pure joy. / when we leave a class or being with family + friends, you say “fun” / music continues to make you very happy and you love singing. we can’t wait for your birthday party next weekend with stacey! / when asked what you want for breakfast, you answer “beef.” every single day. / your only means of getting somewhere is to run…with a big smile on your face. / you are curious and determined and free-spirited. / you call me mommy 99% of the time except for when i give you something and you say “thank you mama” {cue the heart melting} / you light up when your dada comes home from work. and are currently very fond of his new car “jeep”. / you quite literally charm everyone you meet…from your aunts and uncles to your teachers to the random people passing by at target. / as friendly as you are, you save your most special qualities and actions for us. never am i happier than when you take my face in both your hands and give me a kiss. photo by becca brendler photography ps. starting day 1 in the hospital i started jotting down thoughts + memories in a note on my phone. it included everything from nurse’s names to instructions on how to bathe max at home. and i admit i’ve had to review it to remember some of what happened when she was born…and fill in the blanks with stories from bill and my mom and in-laws! pps. once we got home from the hospital i started a new note in my phone {appropriately called “life of max”} that is essentially a glorified and ever-growing baby book with milestones, stories + funny things max now says. i highly recommend doing the same! it means anytime she does something i don’t want to forget, i can immediately add it. because let’s be honest, being a parent really messes with your memory. #birthstory #maxwellrosealfano #motherhood #twoyearbirthday

when we first moved into #farmhousedialfano nearly four years ago, we brought with us the sectional that we had purchased four years before that. it was way too big for the room and i still have no idea how the movers got it in nor how we eventually got it out when we got our current sectional {it involved a snowstorm and permanent dents in the walls and door frames}. our old sectional. super comfy but a total beast in an 1830’s living room. we swapped out the white corner sectional for our current sectional {below} a few years ago. we got a sofa bed because we knew that once we had a baby, we’d be losing our guest room. and while we’re glad we’ve had it the past few years, ultimately we knew that it would need to be replaced because at the end of the day, even the best sofa beds {and we do have a good one} are just not going to be that comfortable to sit on every day. so our plan was to ditch the pull out {we will invest in a memory foam floor mattress for occasional guests} and get something that better fits our current needs and wants. enter interior define. they had been popping up in my social media more and more, and my friend jess recently received her sloan sectional which looks awesome. well…i’m super excited to be partnering with them on this exciting update to the living room! our current sofa bed sectional, photographed by joyelle west for glitter guide . after extensively reviewing the various designs interior define offers, i kept coming back to one. and get this, it’s called the MAXWELL, and was designed by maxwell ryan, the founder of apartment therapy. {ps. they also have a rose, designed by the editors of the everygirl so if we were to ever move into a bigger house, we could also get a rose and our daughter’s name will be fully covered.} what makes a couch most comfortable beyond the fabric and filling in my opinion is its depth and having one or two cushions {vs. three which is what we have now}. besides the obvious logistical needs, the maxwell covers both of these things. so here’s the deal with interior define. simply put, they offer custom made furniture at fantastic prices, with 365-day returns, and white glove delivery. additionally, you can download their app to see the piece you’re eyeing in your actual space, check out their comfort guide, and take advantage of more services {like a concierge} to help make your final decision an informed one. headquartered in chicago, interior define also has guideshop locations in chicago, LA, new york + austin where you can sit, touch, and even bring your dogs to test out durability. and ps. new locations are on the horizon! not near a guideshop? you can order free fabric samples. they only let you order five at a time but you can place multiple orders, which is what i did as i also wanted them on hand for my interior styling clients. speaking of fabrics, they have a wide-ranging selection, including kid and pet-friendly options. choosing the right fabric was especially difficult for us! too dark? dog hair. too light? um, a two year old. but ultimately, i wanted something lighter than what we have now. our living room is a tight, narrow space and i want to brighten things up a bit. plus, while the blue color of our current sectional is fairly neutral, i’m looking forward to letting the accessories really shine. i’m a firm believer in changing out pillows and blankets on a regular basis to keep things looking fresh! our final fabric choice? pebble weave in the linen color. yes it’s “light” but it also has depth and texture to it {it’s hard to capture it in a photo…in real life, the subtle color variations are more, well, subtle.} i LOVE it. and we will scotchgard it for extra protection. speaking of, does anyone know of a more organic scotchgard equivalent? i heard about vectra? there are several customization options interior define offers for this sectional…right or left hand chaise, style and color of legs, length of sofa, and number of seat cushions {those lumbar pillows are removable}. in addition to the whole comfort thing, toddlers and sofa beds don’t really mix as it’s difficult to clean under it. our original sectional was a slipcover style so for this one, we’re showing off those custom legs. it’s a look i’ve wanted in our living room for awhile and the bonus is it will make cleaning so much easier. below is a rendering of our actual selection…left chaise and natural oak tapered wood legs. we went with a 110″ length which is a few inches shorter than our current sectional and will fit the space a little better. i briefly considered doing one cushion because i love that look but ultimately decided it was a bit too modern for our humble farmhouse. the rendering is a little misleading as the fabric color is definitely lighter than it is here but from what i understand, it’s fairly accurate overall. because everything is built just for you, it usually takes 8-12 weeks for your piece to arrive. so as i’m anxiously counting down the days, i wanted to share some initial ideas i have for coffee table, pillow and blanket upgrades! i love the look and versatility of our coffee table and hope it still works but with the deeper sectional and not much walking room to begin with, not sure if it will be too big. if the size and shape does work though, i’m considering sanding out the black color and keeping it more neutral vs. such a bold black. if we need a new table, there are a few things to consider…should it match the leg color of the sectional? completely contrast? similar color but different shade? one thing i’m sure of is that round or oval is still the best bet for this phase of max’s life, and having some type of storage is ideal. 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 can’t wait to show off the sectional when it arrives! we’re due for a new rug anyways and there are some additional updates needed/wanted in the living room {lighting, perhaps painting a built-in} so i’ll be sharing those ideas too! #customfurniture #interiordefine #mStarrathome #mStarrdesign

of the various professional hats i wear, perhaps my favorite is stylist. being able to dream up a concept and see it through just makes me happy. a few months ago, i was asked to lead the creative charge for a fun project…the your dream bridal lookbook. the boutique, owned by kick ass new mama malinda macari {who came to the shoot with her months old son}, is in sudbury and offers a unique selection of bridal dresses. malinda carries dresses that are 100% focused on the bride, designs that are stylish yet allow you to be yourself. designers include truvelle {an exclusive to the boutique}, azul by liancarlo, lea-ann belter, laudae and more. but the best part? your appointment is in a one-on-one setting {yes, as in the boutique is completely yours!} so you get malinda’s complete attention. make sure to keep reading because she’s hosting a trunk show this weekend! the shoot was a collaboration in the best sense of the word…every area including photography, styling, florals, hair, makeup, video and more was covered {thanks to natalie from in good company} so we all felt taken care of and were able to truly focus on our respective talents. we bounced ideas off of each other and the end result was really special. i left the shoot feeling creatively energized and when beth sent over the final images, my jaw literally dropped. just take a look for yourself… ok so are your or someone you know getting married? because malinda is hosting a trunk show from may 25-27 for her exclusive designer – truvelle, and she has a few appointment times remaining. brides will be able to CUSTOMIZE a bespoke dress made literally just for you. this is an opportunity that doesn’t come along often and i can attest to the truvelle dresses being equally as beautiful in person as they look in photos! make your 90 minute private appointment today here. and finally, i wanted to give a shout out to the stellar team of creatives who helped bring this shoot to life. photography / elizabeth laduca creative direction + styling / mStarr design bridal boutique / your dream bridal florals / wild folk studio rentals / kadeema rentals hair / maricruz hairstyles makeup / glamour cosmetics models / maggie agency shoes / bella belle shoes rings / e scott originals video / stop go love pr / in good company #escottoriginals #elizabethladucaphotography #mStarrdesign #WildFolkStudio #bridalboutique #ingoodcompanyPR #kadeemarentals #glamourcosmetics #bellabelleshoes #maricruzhairstyles #yourdreambridal #stopgolove #maggieagency #mStarrstyling

it’s hard to believe this munchkin is almost TWO. we kinda went all out for her first because, duh. and while we’ll certainly have some fun details for this party {because you know, it’s me}, we’re reigning things in just a bit. we started music class when max was 6 months old and never looked back. her love for music and singing is as evident as it’s ever been, so a music-related party it is! her teacher, stacey, is coming to the house and following that, we’ll have a little pizza party. and cake of course. so i’m sure you’re thinking, oh it’ll be a music-themed party! yeah, not so much. i wanted to build on something happy and everywhere i turn these days, it’s rainbow this and rainbow stripe that. and i’m kinda loving it all so while there’s no true “theme”, it’ll be colorful and festive! below are some things i’ve purchased, are on the list, or are just inspiring me! 1 / invites are out! 2 / hanna andersson always has the happiest clothes. and ps. it’s on sale right now! 3 / who doesn’t love tattoos? 4 / striped cups. 5 / cutest plates. 6 / pinwheels for the kiddos. 7 / a giant sized balloon fits the bill. 8 / stackable crayons. genius. 9 / rainbow crayons. 10 / striped plates. and now to figure out the cake… hope you all have a happy weekend! ps. photo of max by my dear friend becca, who left boston a florist and returned a {really talented} photographer. #mStarrdesign #sale #littles #kidsparties #beccabrendlerphotography #birthdayparty

there’s still time! thanks to amazon prime {naturally}. i rounded up some last minute gift ideas to arrive before mother’s day. she’ll never know…. 1 / i’ve been eyeing these classic nike’s. they go with everything. 2 / i keep net market bags in the car, my bag, the house…they hold a ton and eliminate using paper or plastic bags. win win. 3 / who wouldn’t want to fall asleep on worn in french linen sheets? 4 / i love using this jade roller. it helps with lymphatic drainage and the cool jade feels great on the skin. 5 / kids get to play, why not adults? this therapy dough is like adult play doh and helps with mom’s stress. 6 / obama. let’s leave it right there. 7 / this hair mask was sold out for months, it’s supposed to be incredible! 8 / i included this backpack in my other gift guide but thought i’d include here as well! 9 / does mom have 50,000 pictures on her phone {oh wait, that’s me}? i’ve had this printer in my amazon cart for months after seeing the beautiful pictures it prints at my brother’s house. 10 / moms are often short on time and these mules are easy-on, easy-off. 11 / i originally found gabby via instagram and her new cookbook is packed with simple and tasty recipes. 12 / maybe mom needs to decompress? with a glass of wine? this is such a pretty puzzle! 13 / floret’s instagram is one of the most beautiful accounts. their book is equally as beautiful {and helpful}! 14 / who has time to vacuum? let roomba do it for her. this one is wifi enabled and can work with amazon alexa. 15 / this is my favorite electric kettle. makes making tea a breeze! 16 / i’ve used rosebud salve since college. i keep tins everywhere! this is a nice three pack. and remember, if you’re ok giving an IOU, check out the original gift guide. happy mother’s day! #giftguide #gifting #mothersday #mStarrdesign

well i can’t say that being featured in a book is an everyday occurrence. more like once in a lifetime! i’m honored to have our home {#farmhousedialfano} included in Your Home, Your Style: How to Find Your Look & Create Rooms You Love, a recently released book by my gal donna garlough who also happens to be the style director for joss & main.i hope you keep reading because you’re interested BUT if you’re not {it’s ok. i guess.}, at least scroll to the bottom to learn about our giveaway {insert smile}. donna has really outdone herself with an easy-on-the-eyes, easy-on-the-brain book that should appeal to pretty much anyone who owns a home and is looking for some style advice. joyelle west {who has photographed our house 3 other times here, here, + here!} was the exclusive photographer for the book and unsurprisingly, the images are beautiful. coffee table / joyelle west photography so what’s the book all about? donna features 13 homes that were designed + decorated by the owners rather than interior designers. it’s a guide to designing and styling but also a guide to learning more about your own style, what you’re drawn to, and how to build off of that. she offers tips, takeaways and helps you focus! we photographed the house in december of 2016 after max’s early arrival pushed back shooting and by then, donna and joyelle had a lot of great content already so we skipped photographing the kitchen and max’s room and focused on the living room, dining room and master bedroom. so it’s interesting to see the book images a year and a half later as the house has changed! nothing major but new rugs, pillows, side tables etc. and let’s be honest, i’m changing things up in here weekly which means it looks different than the glitter guide shoot from just this past november. and different from just a couple weeks ago so…. nightstand / joyelle west photography dining room / joyelle west photography master bedroom / joyelle west photography because they want you to buy the book {which, you know, makes sense. and you should buy it!}, the publisher rizzoli only allows promotion of the images you see above. but there’s so much more i want you to see! so here’s a little peek into the book… dining room chair detail our coffee table styled two ways {#1 and #4} the living room. since then i’ve changed out pillows and replaced those feather prints with photographs from our travels. the back of max’s door the ledge over our bed. it’s been updated since then. my animal-themed jewelry display. a nook in the living room. it’s also been updated! there’s more in the book so buy it here! also check out an interview i did for donna’s blog, self styled, here! and just in time for mother’s day, donna and i are hosting a giveaway! she’s signing two copies of the book so for the design enthusiast mamas out there {or those who want to make their special day even more special!}, make sure you’re following me on instagram and be on the lookout for a post this weekend with details on how to enter. lastly, i put together some links for items you see in the book. shop them below. happy friday! ps. looking for help with your home? ask about our interior styling services. pps. fun fact! both courtney {who used to work for me}, and lindsey {who is a former bride + current collaborator} are also featured in the book. #interiors #mStarrdesign #joyellewestinteriors #published #donnagarlough #yourhomeyourstyle #mStarrathome #interiorstyling

there are certain things that i am always drawn to and will always buy. consider vases + pillows at the top of that list. maybe it’s the stylist in me but it’s hard for me to resist, whether i’m shopping at home goods, a thrift store, target or you guessed it, anthropologie. anthro is one of those stores that manages to mix bold boho with artisan organic and it all just works, you know? i thought i’d share some of my current faves cuz it’s spring and simple updates like these can make a big impact in your home. oh, and a couple of these are on sale, including a pillow we have in max’s room. 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24 or shop directly below! #anthropologie #liketoknowit #throwpillows #vases

i’ve been to IKEA twice this week. why you ask? hjärtelig. that’s why. well in all honesty, the first time was for that. the second time was to get more pictures frames which actually aren’t part of the collection but i digress. anyways, i first learned of this limited edition collection via social media and was impatiently waiting for the day it was released. made from natural materials, IKEA says the hjärtelig collection will help create a soothing, sensual space. the pieces are very organic and most don’t scream IKEA in any way whatsoever. they do, however have IKEA pricing! unfortunately, it looks like the collection is only available in stores but it’s totally worth the trip if there’s one near you. below are some of my favorite pieces… 1 / rattan hangers. i picked a few sets of these up, maybe to display some of max’s clothes and to keep in my styling inventory. 2 / rattan headboard. did you know the “headboard” you see in our bedroom is actually a tabletop?! when we first moved in, i commissioned a dining room table that didn’t turn out as planned. because it was so large, the makers said to just keep it and they’d send a new one. so we got creative and used it as a headboard. it’s served us fine until now but it’s not very tall because it’s just resting on the ground and it moves around too much. so it’s time for something new! these are affordable, great looking, and mount right onto the wall. 3 / display dome. this is a smart way to show off small items that you don’t want to get dusty. 4 / basket with lid. i love how this is a flat basket. you could stack them up or use them under the bed, dresser, or baby’s crib! 5 / green duvet cover + pillows. i’m bummed this doesn’t come in king size because i’d love to incorporate some green into the bedroom. 6 / back pillow. we’re still feeling out the best way for us to spend time with max in the new playroom. it’s a small space so we often find ourselves sitting up against a wall. it’s not comfortable. enter this pillow! it looks great + provides the cushion we need. 7 / throw blanket. i’m a sucker for blankets. especially linen ones. especially linen ones that cost $24.99. and like most linen products, the material becomes softer over time! 8 + 9 / small planter with trellis + large planter with trellis. waterproof planters that have been treated on the inside. love the black trellis. 10 / bench with clothes rack. i so wish we had room for this somewhere. i’m tempted to buy it anyways or use it for the weston house project i’m working on. if you can’t get to an IKEA, i put together some similar options that can be purchased online! have a great weekend! #ikea #ikeahjärtelig

this past september i was asked to style an exciting event to celebrate the launch of wayfair’s nora mattresses…and it was kinda my dream project. editors, influencers and bloggers were invited to city vineyard in new york city to preview and test out the nora in person and help spread the word about it. my job? conceptualize two distinctive, but complementary, bedsides: a botanical-inspired vignette and a minimalist vignette. both were grounded in floral and greenery accents but used in very different ways. the botanical featured lots of lush roses framing the bed while lots of eucalyptus wove around the bed’s canopy. once the designs were in place, i got to shop wayfair’s site and bookmark the various items we’d need to execute the looks. and let’s be honest, this part was REALLY fun. lucky for you, i’m sharing all the items we used below! the backdrop of the event was the hudson river and new jersey skyline {am i the only one who always thinks of “you’ve got mail” when tom hanks and the kids scream “hello new jersey!”?} so it was important to have the designs really stand out but also complement that beautiful background. i took this opportunity to finally collaborate with sierra and her talented team at poppies & posies on the floral design. i told them what i was looking to do + unsurprisingly they ran with it and they knocked it out of the park. the early evening event started with bright sunshine, segued to a truly stunning sunset, and ended with cuddling in the beds under the late summer stars. as an avid wayfair fan + shopper {and having done some things previously with them as seen here}, this was a particularly fun project. and for whatever it’s worth, i spent a decent amount of time lying on the mattress. it’s part of that whole affordable, mattress-in-a-box generation and it’s incredibly comfortable. soft yet firm which is key for a gal like me who has a perpetually bad back + neck! shop the botanical bedside below… or shop the minimalist design! or shop both here! 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 all photos were taken by lisa richov. #mStarrdesign #wayfairnora #wayfair #poppiesampposies #lisarichovphotography #newyorkcity

happy snowy thursday! wanted to pop in and let you know that one of my favorite online shops lulu and georgia is having their big friends + family sale RIGHT NOW. 25% off EVERYTHING with the code SPLURGE. run don’t walk to your computer and stock up on everything from rugs to throw pillows to some of the cutest kids furniture you’ll ever see. maybe you’ve been eyeing that insane anewall woodland mural in max’s room?! now’s your time to snag it for 25% off! that is a serious bargain folks and will instantly transform any room. we love the mekayla rug that’s in max’s playroom {you can see more here}…it seems to be a popular one with others too because most sizes are currently sold out but the size we have is still available {3’11” x 5’7″}. it’s a pretty awesome value for the price and at 25% off? even better! it’s very soft, hides messes/stains and the colors somehow manage to be both bold + muted at the same time. here are some similar alternatives if you like the look but need a different size… 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 and just for fun, here are some of my other current lulu and georgia faves! so much good stuff and ALL 25% OFF. 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24 promo code is SPLURGE. act fast, the sale ends march 26th. happy shopping! #interiors #mStarrdesign #liketoknowit #sale #luluampgeorgia

happy snowy thursday! wanted to pop in and let you know that one of my favorite online shops lulu and georgia is having their big friends + family sale RIGHT NOW. 25% off EVERYTHING with the code SPLURGE. run don’t walk to your computer and stock up on everything from rugs to throw pillows to some of the cutest kids furniture you’ll ever see. maybe you’ve been eyeing that insane anewall woodland mural in max’s room?! now’s your time to snag it for 25% off! that is a serious bargain folks and will instantly transform any room. we love the mekayla rug that’s in max’s playroom {you can see more here}…it seems to be a popular one with others too because most sizes are currently sold out but the size we have is still available {3’11” x 5’7″}. it’s a pretty awesome value for the price and at 25% off? even better! it’s very soft, hides messes/stains and the colors somehow manage to be both bold + muted at the same time. here are some similar alternatives if you like the look but need a different size… 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 and just for fun, here are some of my other current lulu and georgia faves! so much good stuff and ALL 25% OFF. 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24 promo code is SPLURGE. act fast, the sale ends march 26th. happy shopping! #interiors #mStarrdesign #liketoknowit #sale #luluampgeorgia

max’s kitchen. established 2018. i’ve spent much of the past 3 months organizing/throwing out/selling/donating/repurposing/designing/styling/shopping to transform my little home office into a little playroom/office combo. our house is fairly small and with a fast growing, tornado of a toddler ruling all, we realized it was time for more space for her. we initially thought about removing the rarely used wood burning stove in the living room to give more space in there but it would be a lot of trouble and money to do so…and we’d still have all of max’s toys in the living room. not ideal! bill suggested freeing up the space known as my existing office/studio and i’m so glad he pushed me because it’s already a perfect space for her! i’m still working out some final details in the room including artwork, a new desk chair for myself, updating my mood boards, and perhaps another rug underneath the lulu & georgia you see here {like a soft sisal or jute}. with where the shelves are, the kitchen is, her little table and chairs and then of course accounting for the door to open, the size of rug that makes the most sense also seems a bit too small. you can see a sneak of the shelving side of the room here. BUT in the meantime, thought i’d share some details on our favorite addition to the room…her kitchen! we knew it was something she’d start to really use around this age so when bill’s parents asked for holiday gift ideas, it was perfect timing. i researched a lot of options and lusted after this gorgeous one from milton & goose but ultimately i wasn’t comfortable with a play kitchen that costs $500, no matter who paid for it nor how special it is. we settled on this one from teamson kids in the oak color, purchased on amazon, and swapped out the handles for these matte black ones {you want 5″ spacing} since we had them leftover from our kitchen island. you could also just spray paint the existing handles. i was contemplating doing gold and having the handles match the knobs and faucet but ultimately i kinda liked the mix of {faux} silver and black. the kitchen was suprisingly easy to put together! bill and i started it together while max was napping and he finished it up about an hour or so after that. the fridge is separate from the stove/sink piece which is nice if we want to switch up the layout. the best is the little doll highchair from pottery barn kids so max can feed all her babies. i’ve put together how you can achieve a similar look and you can shop via the links or below! 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 option 1 , 7 option 2 i’m anxious to finish up the entire space and photograph it, so keep an eye out for that and don’t miss more sneak peeks on insta. oh and next up i’m going to be sharing our favorite play foods, appliances, and accessories! have a great weekend! #farmhousedialfano #amazon #mStarrdesign #potterybarnkids #teamsonkids #playroom #mStarrathome #shopthelook #playkitchen #letterfolk #luluampgeorgia

max’s kitchen. established 2018. i’ve spent much of the past 3 months organizing/throwing out/selling/donating/repurposing/designing/styling/shopping to transform my little home office into a little playroom/office combo. our house is fairly small and with a fast growing, tornado of a toddler ruling all, we realized it was time for more space for her. we initially thought about removing the rarely used wood burning stove in the living room to give more space in there but it would be a lot of trouble and money to do so…and we’d still have all of max’s toys in the living room. not ideal! bill suggested freeing up the space known as my existing office/studio and i’m so glad he pushed me because it’s already a perfect space for her! i’m still working out some final details in the room including artwork, a new desk chair for myself, updating my mood boards, and perhaps another rug underneath the lulu & georgia you see here {like a soft sisal or jute}. with where the shelves are, the kitchen is, her little table and chairs and then of course accounting for the door to open, the size of rug that makes the most sense also seems a bit too small. you can see a sneak of the shelving side of the room here. BUT in the meantime, thought i’d share some details on our favorite addition to the room…her kitchen! we knew it was something she’d start to really use around this age so when bill’s parents asked for holiday gift ideas, it was perfect timing. i researched a lot of options and lusted after this gorgeous one from milton & goose but ultimately i wasn’t comfortable with a play kitchen that costs $500, no matter who paid for it nor how special it is. we settled on this one from teamson kids in the oak color, purchased on amazon, and swapped out the handles for these matte black ones {you want 5″ spacing} since we had them leftover from our kitchen island. you could also just spray paint the existing handles. i was contemplating doing gold and having the handles match the knobs and faucet but ultimately i kinda liked the mix of {faux} silver and black. the kitchen was suprisingly easy to put together! bill and i started it together while max was napping and he finished it up about an hour or so after that. the fridge is separate from the stove/sink piece which is nice if we want to switch up the layout. the best is the little doll highchair from pottery barn kids so max can feed all her babies. i’ve put together how you can achieve a similar look and you can shop via the links or below! 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 option 1 , 7 option 2 i’m anxious to finish up the entire space and photograph it, so keep an eye out for that and don’t miss more sneak peeks on insta. oh and next up i’m going to be sharing our favorite play foods, appliances, and accessories! have a great weekend! #farmhousedialfano #amazon #mStarrdesign #potterybarnkids #teamsonkids #playroom #mStarrathome #shopthelook #playkitchen #letterfolk #luluampgeorgia

henry + mac this past november, we had the pleasure of designing the most beautiful + special wedding to date…our very own lindsay’s wedding! lindsay has worked with me for several years and she’s the logistical queen behind this creative operation. i can’t wait to share the entire wedding {our overall vision was stormy chic and coastal minimalism}, photographed to absolute perfection by my friends henry + mac, but in the meantime… henry + mac …SO many of you have asked on instagram for resources for the items used in the tablescape design so i thought i’d link them here for you to shop! whether for a wedding, your home, or a party, you can’t go wrong with this elegant, streamlined look. C A N D L E S / what you see are actually 3 different components…open ended hurricane shades, taper holders, and of course the candles themselves. we used shades that are 14″ high x 2.5″ wide but there are other widths + heights as well. the original taper holders we used don’t seem to be available anywhere right now but these are similar and for something kinda different, a square option! black was the perfect accent color for our design but any color will work of course. we recommend dripless tapers {although truth be told, all candles drip.} and we used a mix of 10″ and 12″ tall. just be sure that the height of the candle is shorter than the height of the hurricane shade. it’s very important that the candles are firmly secured in the holders {if they’re uneven, the heat from the flame can cause the hurricane shade to crack}. i prefer this wax but this is also a good choice! henry + mac G E O D E D E C O R / we accented our tablescapes with a variety of geodes + agate slices to add some texture and depth. they can be clustered in piles and nestled amongst other items on the table. jenny sanders calligraphed our table numbers but they can be easily recreated with these agate slices {we used black} and hand writing the numbers, tracing them, or using stickers {here + here}. you could also customize stickers or decals with the numbers written out. you can apply the same concept to smaller placecards like we used below and use smaller round agate slices. just be sure all the agate slices you get don’t have holes! henry + mac M E N U C A R D S / minted to the rescue for our menu cards! side note, did you know that you can customize minted products with your own calligraphy files or artwork? we used their agate design in smokey grey and incorporated jenny’s calligraphy. if you don’t need or want menu cards however, you could do placecards or tags. T A B L E T O P / our napkins, plates, glassware + flatware were all rentals from borrowed blu, but just for fun…here are some similar resources! flatware options 1 + 2 + 3. napkin options 1 + 2 + 3. plate options 1 + 2 + 3. goblet options 1 + 2 + 3. so there you have it! this really is a look that can be recreated for large gatherings or for intimate dinner parties. follow on instagram for more inspiration! PS those whimsical arrangements and lunaria garlands were crafted by my girl caroline at Wild Folk Studio. #weddingdesign #mStarrdesign #WildFolkStudio #styling #liketoknowit #minted #tablescapes #HenryMac #jennysanders #shopthelook

wallpaper / dresser / gold knobs / changing basket / floor lamp / rocker / pillow the last stop in the #farmhousedialfano glitter guide tour…max’s room and our bedroom! the former is probably my favorite in the house, the latter is my least favorite. crib / rug / vintage rattan rocker / faux succulents / planter { similar } / growth chart / birth poster / brass poster frame / mobile / large mudcloth pillow { similar } / small dot pillow / curtains i’m constantly making little changes to max’s room! both for functional purposes as she gets older and design-wise {cuz i can’t help myself}. it’s a small space but a happy and bright one that’s filled with a mix of sentimental keepsakes and new items. because it’s so small, i wanted to make a statement but due to its size, felt the room couldn’t handle too much on the walls. we painted it benjamin moore patriotic white which is actually a very soft pistachio color and went bold on one wall with anewall decor’s oh deer mural. max loves animals and some of her favorites are all in the incredibly beautiful artwork. wallpaper / dresser / gold knobs / floor lamp / rocker / pillow / frame / curtains wallpaper above you can see a couple very meaningful additions to the room…a romper that i wore as a baby and max wore in her newborn shoot {framed by framebridge} and a framed bunny print that hung in my room as a child. acrylic floating bookshelves more sentimental additions above include a pair of my toe shoes that we used for max’s 1st birthday party, the first piece of clothing i bought while pregnant, a vintage dress gifted to max, her very first briar bonnets, and an old edition of house at pooh corner. acrylic floating bookshelves / letterboard { similar } nesting dolls / etched blocks baby book / faux hellebores small dot pillow / bunny lovie rug / vintage rattan rocker / faux succulents / curtains / black frame / white frame / faux succulents and now onto our bedroom! we have a few things working against us. 1/ it’s a rectangle shape which wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing BUT the bed can only go in one place {across from some built-in shelving} which means you walk directly into a bed corner every day. and the rectangle shape is awkwardly split by the bed and the door to the bathroom. 2/ besides a bed, we haven’t bought any furniture for the room {we moved in july of 2014} . which means we’re using a mishmash of old dressers + armoires and they’re not super functional in the space. 3/ there’s a very small, very narrow “walk in” closet. when i say narrow it means that when clothes are hung, you have to slide in sideways and try to view the clothes that are essentially in your face. 4/ slanted ceiling above the bed. anyways, we did paint the room when we moved in and i try to make it feel as cozy + comfortable as possible with bedding, pillows etc. but ultimately? it’s not even close to where i want it to be. nightstand { similar } / linen sheets / linen comforter / blanket / picture ledge / hanging shelf { similar } hanging shelf { similar } / candle and that’s a wrap on the glitter guide feature! naturally, things already look different around here, and i have {really desperate} hope for some additional projects this year (quartz countertops, new couch, new fan/light in the living room, additional storage options, bedroom wallpaper accent wall yada yada yada) but i’m glad you all got to see how the house looked in november when it was photographed. AND i’m just about done with my former office which is now a playroom/office combo so stay tuned for that reveal. shop max’s room + our bedroom below….all links are listed above as well. thanks for following along and be sure to check out parts 1 and 2. the entire glitter guide feature is here. all photos by joyelle west. and as always you can follow what’s currently going on in my world over on instagram. #farmhousedialfano #feature #mStarrdesign #published #mStarrathome #interiorstyling

kitchen island / marble pastry slab / chemex coffee maker / green pitcher next up in the #farmhousedialfano tour on glitter guide is our kitchen and dining room…the most used room and an admittedly underused room. i think as max gets older and we eat more meals truly together, we’ll be able to utilize the dining room more than we do now. but for now, it looks pretty! kitchen island / marble pastry slab / rug / chemex coffee maker / green pitcher vintage botanical canisters { similar } joyelle and i didn’t spend a ton of time on the kitchen this go-around so you’re only seeing a few angles + details. but they’re the best of each! one of the things GG asked was about open shelving, something we have an abundance of in our kitchen. as in, we don’t have any upper cabinets at all! we inherited the shelving from the previous owners and i have a mostly love, slightly hate relationship with it. some days i think closed cabinets would be better {especially now with all of max’s cups, bowls, snacks etc.} but ultimately i love the versatility of the open shelving and that they are a design feature in and of themselves. display cabinet { similar } / rug / light fixture / custom table { similar } / chairs { similar } / table runner { similar } / sheepskin { similar + faux option } like most rooms in the house, the dining room is small. it has 3 entrances/exits {to the kitchen, the living room, and a hallway} and the new playroom/office is off of it. so it gets great light, particularly in the afternoon. and here’s your chance to shop the kitchen + dining room…all links are listed above as well. the entire glitter guide feature is here. all photos by joyelle west. you can check out part 1 of this series here. part 3 coming next… and as always you can follow what’s currently going on in my world over on instagram. #farmhousedialfano #feature #mStarrdesign #published #mStarrathome #interiorstyling

coffee table / tripod lamp / pendleton blanket { similar } / couch { similar } / rug / driftwood stag { similar } / driftwood garland { similar } / knit pillow { similar } / linen throw / stool { similar } well hello friends! it’s been awhile. and i feel like i owe a major update on life in general but for now, i’ll keep things simple. motherhood is exhilarating and exhausting, mStarr is expanding to more projects outside of weddings, while cutting back on said weddings. it’s both an exciting + transitional time! with all that said, i’m back to share a recent feature of our home {aka #farmhousedialfano} on one of my favorite lifestyle blogs, glitter guide. i was honored to receive an email from the GG team a few months back and excited to finish up some projects i had been putting off to get the house ready to shoot {like getting max’s ridiculously beautiful anewall wallpaper up}! with the feature covering 5 rooms and many photos, i’m splitting it all up into 3 posts, to be shared over the next few days! first up in the house tour? the living room. i turned to my photographer pal joyelle west {who has shot our house before here and here AND big news, for a book coming out SO SOON}, and as usual, she captured everything beautifully. the big difference in this shoot vs. the other three is that max was photographed! seeing her cute face in professional photos will never not make me happy. the feature focused on the visuals of the house but also the process behind the design of it. while i often feel like i just make decisions because i simply like something{which, side note, i firmly believe is OK to do!}, digging a little deeper and sharing why i made X or Y decisions was fun. so, for instance, one of my tips for decorating with kiddos is to invest in pieces that can be flexible in meeting both your current + future needs. our coffee table is a prime example of that. we needed a new table when max was only 5 months old and not mobile. but assuming we’d have the table for at least a couple years, we decided on a round one on wheels that has open storage underneath. she’s been able to take out her own toys, we can move the table aside easily to make cozy nests on the floor, and we feel a lot better when she stumbles and bumps her head on something round vs. something with sharp corners. coffee table / children’s chair / windowpane pillow / rug / driftwood stag { similar } / driftwood garland { similar } driftwood stag { similar } / driftwood garland { similar } chair / shelves / rug { similar } / basket / children’s chair { similar } / vintage ladder { similar } / sconce / bunny / mini french market bag { similar } / dog bed and something new for you all! shop our living room below…all links are listed above as well. full glitter guide feature here. stay tuned for parts 2 and 3! and as always you can follow what’s currently going on in my world over on instagram. #farmhousedialfano #feature #mStarrdesign #published #mStarrathome #interiorstyling