above: mini flush mounts in our Norfolk Update project 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 4 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. a Photoshop mockup of our Big Room with Schoolhouse Alabax Small Surface Mount in Auburn 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. the Kitchen in our Natick Renovation project / photography by Erin Kestenbaum 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 an 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. 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. note: many are available in different finishes and can accommodate different types of bulbs from left to right, top to bottom one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine / ten / eleven / twelve / thirteen / fourteen / fifteen / sixteen / seventeen / eighteen 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 Studio is an interdisciplinary studio providing bespoke interior decorating services, small batch interior accessories, and content creation. We inspire others to embrace real life & slow design intended to evolve. At the core of who we are is a belief that small details and curated moments matter. That character & charm are rooted in those small, and often imperfect, details. And that design should be layered & feel lived-in. W e’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! Shop our outdoor products below... 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. W e’d love to work with you ! 0 Likes

a moodboard & overall direction for the "new" mStarr design studio Happy New Year friends! I've been working on a rebrand for a very long time. Like very long. Every time I would work on it, something would change. Maybe something small like a color or font but often it was something bigger like "wait why are we even offering that?!" or coming to the realization that I do want to sell some type of products. And it's more than just a visual rebranding, it's really a re-everything! Reestablishing what mStarr is all about , a reevaluation of our offerings ( services and products ), and a revamp of our brand identity with logos, primary colors, icons and more. Let's dig in! who we are mStarr design studio is an interdisciplinary studio providing bespoke interior decorating & content creation services, and handmade interior accessories. We inspire others to embrace real life  & slow design intended to evolve. At the core of who we are is a belief that small details and curated moments matter . That character & charm are rooted in those small, and often imperfect details. And that design should be layered & feel lived-in . mStarr was born out of a passion for, and a need to create. Always embracing a British sensibility by elevating the everyday in approachable ways and creating timeless, nostalgia-evoking designs that are inspired by the past but crafted for present day. our look I was inspired by block prints & classic patterns combined with the right blend of muted & bright colors. And when I was designing our decorative trim , specifically the Tetbury profile which came out of my trip to the Cotswolds last May, I knew I had to incorporate the floral motif in some way. Below is what I landed on and I think it's a perfect representation of both myself and mStarr. what we offer 01. EXPERT DESIGN CONSULTING We believe in... ...bespoke designs that come together layer by layer. ...an intentional & dynamic design process. ...empowering others to create meaningful, comfortable, character-filled homes with our guidance. You :  invest in a 10 or 20 hour retainer block. We:  typically spend the initial hours creating a design concept & plan. The remaining hours are used for 1x per month consultations (done virtually or in person), sending recommendations, answering questions, crafting mockups, even coordinating with trades or other design professionals if applicable. There is flexibility in your investment. The hours are yours to use as you wish and can be spent (for example) space planning, in-person or online shopping, making paint/fabric/wallpaper/finishes selections, vetting out carpentry or millwork projects, decor styling, spacing planning, sharing inspiration or simply bouncing ideas off of us! 02. VIRTUAL DESIGN & DECOR G reat for those not in New England, for smaller projects or for anyone looking for a designer's touch but wants less assistance. You: provide detailed measurements, photos and/or videos and execute the design at your own pace. We: oversee design concepts and craft a bespoke design plan with shoppable links. Available for 1 room or multiple rooms. 03. CONCIERGE CONSULTATIONS A 60 minute video call...  ...for anyone who may be feeling stuck... ...is inspired to make updates but is unsure where to start (or finish)... ...just needs a sounding board.  Topics may include: Incorporating color, pattern, and decorative moulding into your home Art & frame/mat pairings  Paint color and/or wallpaper recommendations Incorporating vintage & thrifted pieces  Hardware & materials  Furniture sourcing Renovation & carpentry projects Seasonal decorating ideas For more on each of our services, click here ! what we make Creating home-related products has been on my mind for years...but what would it look like if I do offer them? Is it in partnership with brands? Designing my own? Producing my own? Items I can't find elsewhere or are too expensive or just aren't executed right? As I figure out where all of this is headed, what I do know is it will be a combo of all of the above. I firmly believe that character isn't reserved for old houses or vintage furniture. I also believe that you don't need to make big or expensive updates to your home to make an impact. So the first items in our product collection are decorative trim pieces that are inspired by historical, whimsical & charming details. Each piece is 1/4" thick baltic birch plywood, 35" long and there are 3 profiles (with more to come): the Tetbury , the Oval Scallop , and the Clover and the possibilities of creating with these non-committal accents are pretty endless: wall & ceiling trim, adding to shelving or furniture, picture frames, Frame TV frames, pinboards, vanities, fireplace mantels, cabinets and more! You'll soon be able to purchase on our website but for now, you can get more details & purchase on Etsy . Bespoke lampshades and photo mats are in the works and you can inquire about both or commission either by reaching out to me here . Looking forward to what 2025 brings. Emily PS. Don’t miss a post. Subscribe to our newsletter ! Disclosure: this post may contain affiliate links which means if you purchase a linked product, we may receive a small commission at NO additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting this small business! mStarr design studio is an interdisciplinary studio providing bespoke interior decorating & content creation services, and handmade interior accessories. We inspire others to embrace real life & slow design intended to evolve.  We’d love to work with you ! 0 Likes

January mooding over on Pinterest . I think there's an innate tendency to gravitate towards all things dark & moody once the holidays are over and the chilly, cozy days of winter set in. I certainly feel this to some degree. But there's more to dark & moody than just muted colors and dimly lit spaces. I also crave some color and pattern, especially after taking down most of the holiday decor . What I'm feeling... Indoor fireplace & outdoor fire pit hangs. Keeping out the window candles. Winter branches & florals. Plaids & ginghams in rich colors. Snug seating. Plate displays. Tactile textiles. Millwork design details. Emily PS. Don’t miss a post. Subscribe to our newsletter ! Disclosure: this post may contain affiliate links which means if you purchase a linked product, we may receive a small commission at NO additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting this small business! mStarr design studio is an interdisciplinary studio providing bespoke interior decorating & content creation services, and handmade interior accessories. We inspire others to embrace real life & slow design intended to evolve.  We’d love to work with you ! 0 Likes

If you're anything like me (I blame Thanksgiving and Hanukkah being so late), you still have gifts to buy. I rounded up options for everyone on your list, all available to arrive in time (some you may need to pay for express shipping but not all)! Let's start with a bit of self=promotion, shall we? How about gifting your loved ones (or yourself hint hint) a design consultation with ME!? A 60-minute video consultation is ideal for anyone who may be feeling stuck, is inspired to make updates but is unsure where to start (or finish), or just needs a sounding board. No topic is off limits! Normally $500, I'm offering 20% off if you mention this post through December 31. Learn more here . Chappywrap Blankets are never ever a bad idea. The absolute coziest with various sizes, colors & designs available. Remember the home bakery kitchen we're working on? Solly's Bake Shop makes cookies free of the top 9 allergens (Gluten, Dairy, Eggs, Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Fish, Shellfish, Soy & Sesame) but are full of yummy flavor! You can still order for both local pickup (Sudbury, MA) and nationwide delivery. Banning books? Not ok. Gift framed banned book artwork from Ideal Bookshelf and then go buy all the books! I fall asleep by reading on my Kindle and my aging hands do not appreciate the awkward angles and prolonged gripping. I got this adjustable gooseneck holder for my nightstand to make reading so much more enjoyable. The Stanley Cross Bottle comes with a removable strap and leakproof lid making it ideal for kids (school & camp) and adults on the go. Grandparent gift alert: Front loading Kids Art Frames are perfect for swapping in/out new art made by the kiddos. I got this micro stitch gun earlier this year and it's changed my life. I use it for hemming curtains, shirt necklines, making pinch pleats and more! Cliche maybe but appreciated nonetheless: a candle warmer lamp (this is the one we have in the Kitchen) adds ambiance, prolongs your candles, and is safe to use around young kids. Pair with candle(s) from Lavune (Nightcap, Rosewood, Santal, Ember and Evergreen are some of my favorites). If you have a dog, you know that their water & food bowls aren't usually the best looking yet they stay out all the time. Upgrade with this heirloom handmade bowl by Tricia Lowenfield , found at Over the Moon. My family absolutely loves playing Sleeping Queens . It's one of the best kid/family games! Max just performed in 5 Nutcracker shows this past weekend and she needed cozy zip sweatshirts to stay warm and to not mess up her hair. This sherpa lined hoodie was a winner and I'll be ordering a couple more colors. Rechargeable lamps came on the scene fast & furious this past year and I am a fan. I keep one in almost every room (and bring them outside too) and have had my eye on this scalloped one from Ballard (available in 5 colors) for awhile now. Bonus: it's on sale! Max loves her Legos. This Lego Icon flower & plant set is a 2-in-1...something to do and something to display once done! I discovered compression foot massagers this year and it is such a treat to use at home, whether just hanging out or keeping under my desk while working. This one has 9 kneading and compression modes, an optional heating function, and a remote to avoid needing to bend down to turn on/off. While we're on the topic of massagers, two more are on my wish list: a hand massager to help our tech-heavy-use hands and an eye massager for migraines and scalp massages. And lastly, Pip Pop earrings which are great for kids & adults alike (Max and I share ours). They're made of hypoallergenic metal and the screw back will never get stuck in your ear, which is actually something that sent me to the ER when I was a kid. Happy shopping! Emily PS. Don’t miss a post. Subscribe to our newsletter ! Disclosure: this post may contain affiliate links which means if you purchase a linked product, we may receive a small commission at NO additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting this small business! mStarr design studio is an interdisciplinary studio providing bespoke interior decorating & content creation services, and handmade interior accessories. We inspire others to embrace real life & slow design intended to evolve.  We’d love to work with you ! 0 Likes

via milas-deli on Pinterest I've been fortunate to work on many unique creative projects  and events  over the years. So when a client whose house I've been working on over the past couple years recently started a cookie business and mentioned that she needed help creating a dedicated kitchen in said house, I was all in! The challenge of course is creating something that is functional, safe, adheres to state codes, and (duh) looks good. And something that works for her growing business now and in the future until she's able to move into a commercial kitchen. Our first decision was where the kitchen would go. The initial thought was that we'd build it out in the dining area of their large open kitchen (there's a separate dining room) - see below from back in 2022. It would allow her to use the existing double ovens and be close to a water source etc. But...the ovens are old & need to be replaced and she's limited by their size (the ideal is a commercial convection oven). She's also got 2 young kids and this is the heart of their home (I took the above picture from the primary living space) so even with all the creative ideas I had brewing, it wouldn't be the most functional or attractive. Plus she's found herself needing to prep/bake/package/ship more and more (a good problem to have!) so we nixed this location. And what we landed on is a bit unusual but perfect for this unusual situation: a formal living room off the foyer that we thought about maybe turning into a den/adult entertaining space at some point. But it's completely unused at this point and offers a good amount of space to build out what we need. shortly after moving in 2022 The columns needed to go before this project; now we have an excuse to finally move forward. Thankfully they're not load-bearing so the plan is to remove them and put in french doors so the room can be closed off and not visible from the rest of the house. The idea is to add a fun fabric to the inside on swing arm rods to offer flexibility for what she wants to show or not show on a given day. via Liz Marie on Pinterest Like any design project, the scope has grown over just the past few months, with her ideally wanting as many commercial appliances as possible. I've been able to help on that front in a non-designer kind of way...my family's business Boston Showcase Company is a 100+ year old specialist in foodservice design, equipment, tabletop and more. My brother recommended convection oven options and a mixer that would work well for her needs, keeping in mind that commercial appliances tend to be loud, hot, and often have specific power and/or venting requirements. We updated the electrical (and added additional recessed lighting - we'll incorporate some decorative lamps or sconces) and rewired so that the whole room has its own breakers. She doesn't need a water source but we did add a fridge and freezer to our list. All the appliances were delivered in the past couple weeks so we've been able to finalize the layout of the room, along with most of our storage pieces. You can see below there are windows, a fireplace, angled walls, jut-outs and more to contend with but my client has a good feel for how she's going to utilize each area and we're both feeling really good about the overall flow of the room! More to come on specific products & organizational plans but lastly, since there is no good reason NOT to have fun with this space, we're going to paint the entire room pink, keeping in line with the business branding. Looking at one of the Benjamin Moore colors below...from left: Valentine's Day , Spring Azalea , Pretty Pink  and Rhododendron . Until then... Emily PS. Don’t miss a post. Subscribe to our newsletter ! Disclosure: this post may contain affiliate links which means if you purchase a linked product, we may receive a small commission at NO additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting this small business! mStarr design studio is an interdisciplinary studio providing bespoke interior decorating & content creation services, and handmade interior accessories. We inspire others to embrace real life & slow design intended to evolve.  W e’d love to work with you ! 0 Likes

Max's room featuring Riley Sheehey, Juniper Print Shop, Danielle Oakey & more! There's no doubt that there is still work to do in the broader scope of promoting female empowerment & protecting our rights. However, I firmly believe that we can make a difference by doing simple things like lifting up & sharing others. So today let's celebrate the influence, innovation & creativity of some of my favorite female-owned lifestyle & home brands and makers! Sharland England The wicker furniture alone is worth a look. Founded by Louise Roe. Huey Light Shop Every piece is handmade & gorgeous (I have the Prairie Sconce in our kitchen). Founded by Bret Williams. Lavune Emily Schuman launched the candle brand at the end of 2022 and won me over instantly with Nightcap and the latest release Rosewood may be my favorite scent...ever. Statuette I've sourced these handmade intaglios for clients & my own house. Founded by Sheri Killackey. Carleigh Courey Design I'm not sure when I discovered Carleigh but I'm forever smitten with her floral art (I've used her calendars to create a gallery wall!) Juniper Print Shop I've been shopping Jenny Komenda's art shop since before it was even named Juniper! They offer downloadable & printed art, including vintage pieces, originals from Jenny, and many female artists. Riley Sheehey I am positively smitten with everything Riley creates. Max especially loves the Nutcracker print that's framed in her room (seen above)! Parterre Founded by Julia Berolzheimer and Hanna Seabrook, Parterre has some of the sweetest pieces for your home, holidays & tablescape. Lina Gordievsky Another artist I have in my own home as well as clients', Lina creates nostalgic pieces focused on nature and has both prints & originals for sale. Lulu & Georgia Sara Sugarman founded one of my go-to online shops for myself & clients. You can find exclusive collections from Sarah Sherman Samuel and Ginny Macdonald and shop everything from outdoor furniture to vintage rugs to pillows. Alice Palmer Alice, a trained Interior Designer, created the first of her signature lampshades to fill a gap in the market and has since grown the collection to include fabric, wallpaper, pillows & other home decor in festive & colorful patterns. Heather Taylor Home The OG gingham queen. Heather 's products evoke a sense of nostalgia but with a contemporary twist. My first purchase were tissue box covers that I love to this day. There are so many more and so many I don't know. Let me know in the comments who else I should know about! 👇🏻 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

This post is sponsored by Ferguson Showrooms. As always, opinions and words are my own. It's been a minute huh?! The past few months have been a blur between the holidays, 3 flooded basements (!). wrapping up 2 projects, and getting our Norfolk project through most of Phase 1 in time for our client to host Christmas! The first floor has seen some major changes already including paint, wallpaper, new hardware, and carpentry projects (a built-in window bookcase, a room divider wall (which you can catch up on here if you missed it.), and ceiling treatment in the Kitchen). And that ceiling treatment paved the way for a lighting update courtesy of my friends at Ferguson Showrooms! Above is from when we started the project. The house is a 6 year-old new build and beautifully done. It's just a bit "boring" so the primary goal has been to infuse more character, add coziness & warmth, and create more defined spaces amongst the (large) open concept Kitchen/Dining/Living areas on the first floor. For Kitchen lighting, swapping out the existing island pendants was a given but I also wanted to do something over the sink. Initially I thought a sconce on the wall but when the electrician was re-wiring in preparation for the beams, it would've been a real hassle to extend the wire down that far so we pivoted to a flush mount. Armed with my design concepts for the house, I visited Ferguson's recently-opened showroom in Newton in search of inspiration...and brass fixtures! The selection in the showroom is vast, and more than anything, it was so helpful to see finishes in person. There are even more options online and the specialists in store can help you place any order! We ended up ordering products found on Ferguson's website but got to see the Heritage Brass finish in store which was most important to me given how different photos can look online vs. in real life. So what did we go with?! The old island pendants were replaced with Hinkley's Keating Pendants in Heritage Brass. I just couldn't resist the ribbed silhouette and those cross knob details! An especially nice feature is that it comes with an optional flat glass lens to hide the light bulbs. While it's often unavoidable, seeing the light bulbs & strong glare from the light itself is not awesome. Aren't they prettttyyyy? For the new light over the sink, we ended up choosing Hinkley's Oliver 14" Semi-Flush Mount, also in Heritage Brass and I couldn't be happier with it. I was worried at first it wouldn't have as much impact being higher above the sink, but I knew I didn't want to do another pendant so close to the island ones. The size is actually perfect and I'm smitten with the contrasting metal bands. Both fixtures are timeless and the ribbing on the pendants add a perfect touch of whimsy. My client is thrilled with how they look & function (both are dimmable), and I'm thrilled with the warmth and sophistication they add to the space! Cannot wait for Phase 2 in here, which will include new backsplash, faucet & counters among other things but in the meantime, lots to revisit or catch up on as this project has unfolded...my visit to the Ferguson Showroom (book your visit here!), a look at the lighting on the Feed, and lots more found in our Norfolk Update story highlight! Thank you to Ferguson! 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: 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

I remember when Emily Henderson first helped to introduce Samsung’s Frame TV several years ago. Like everyone interested/obsessed with design, I was intrigued and excited about a TV that displayed art but in the old #farmhousedialfano, we only had one room suitable for a large TV and a) didn’t want to waste such a beautiful TV on a small size and b) our primary TV worked fine. Fast forward to this past June when we moved to the new house! And gained a living space which meant NEW TV! I felt strongly about getting the Frame (and not just because I’ve long wanted one) but because the TV is in what we call the “big room” which houses the kitchen, secondary living and dining spaces. I want the TV to blend and not just have a massive black hole on the wall when it’s not on since we got a 65”. The Frame sits flush against the wall with NO visible cords and you can swap in/out different bezels (we have the modern teak one and love its versatility) to customize even further. While we’re still not entertaining a ton, being able to turn on the art when people are here is just awesome! There are plenty of reviews of the actual TV out there so I’ll just say that we really do love it and think it’s worth the price. And I’ve been having so much fun downloading art from longtime favorites like Juniper Print Shop and learning of new resources on Etsy in particular that I’ve rounded up some of my top vintage or vintage inspired pieces AND created a shop page with even more! These are all specifically formatted for the Frame. 01 / 02 / 03 / 04 / 05 / 06 / 07 / 08 / 09 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 I do have a few related tips about the TV and displaying art…the first is that you’ll want to play around with the art settings to make everything look the most realistic. In general though, I find that most pieces look better without a mat. Second, depending on where the TV is located, darker art might look somewhat glare-y. For instance, ours is opposite a window so at different times of the day, you can see the window reflected in the TV. Light colored designs look better when the sun is shining bright. And finally, double check the model of your TV before ordering the bezel as they are model/year specific. We learned the hard way, having first ordered one for an older model TV. Thinking this could become a seasonal series so the next one can be winter or holiday themed?! In the meantime, you can see everything I’ve saved over in the Frame TV 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 the brands I support! mStarr is a lifestyle studio specializing in approachable interiors, e-design, content creation, and creative direction. We’d love to work with you! 0 Likes

I grew up in a small suburb of Boston, not far from where we live now. The town center was (and still is) small and the highlights growing up were eating at Bruegger’s Bagels and shopping at the drugstore where my mom had an account. So when I learned a couple years ago of a new artisan- focused shop opening up, I immediately felt sorry for the teenage Emily and thrilled for the grown-up me. I had a chance to visit Weston Table when they first opened and was blown away by the wide variety of unique products. Need a housewarming gift? New baby in your life? Want to add a vintage touch to your home? They got you covered. And lucky for all of you, you don’t need to live in Weston, Massachusetts to shop because their online marketplace is vast. Check out just a handful of my picks below… Happy shopping! 01. vintage thick cutting board / 02. Farmhouse Pottery pitchers / 03. Maileg tooth fairy / 04. vintage wooden jam paddles / 05. Yale dog pillow / 06. vintage copper pie plate / 07. harlem heirloom fireplace scented candle / 08. Nest Homeware cast iron dutch oven / 09. vintage floral glasses / 10. Alison Evans oyster plate / 11. Farmhouse Pottery yellowware pitchers / 12. Farmhouse Pottery silo hurricane / 13. Weston Table barrel aged bourbon maple syrup / 14. Olli Ella Casa Clutch / 15. vintage french dough bowl / 16. Faribault buffalo check blanket / 17. Andrée Jardin brush + dustpan 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 the brands I support! mStarr is a lifestyle studio specializing in approachable interiors, e-design, content creation, and creative direction. We’d love to work with you! 0 Likes

#farmhousedialfano is always a’changing and while it drives the hubs a little (a lot?) crazy, it also keeps my creative juices flowing and I’m thankful that I have a job that enables me to make said changes quite often. Throw a growing toddler into the mix and I feel I’m always trying to create the most functional yet beautiful home I can. I’m always so appreciative, and frankly honored, that I receive as many questions about our home as I do over on Instagram, and I’ve noticed over time that I get a lot of the same questions so I thought it would be a good idea to share the answers in one post here?! *I will be adding and updating to this post so be sure to check back often! WHAT IS YOUR KITCHEN BACKSPLASH? It’s the glazed thin brick from Fireclay Tile in klamath color. We installed it in a herringbone pattern with Laticrete grout in Siltstone. I’m obsessed with the variation in texture and that it can look more blue or grey depending on the lighting. For more deets, check out this post and this IGTV! WHERE IS YOUR COUCH FROM? You love our couch, as do we. It’s from Interior Define and we have the Maxwell sectional with left chaise in pebble weave linen fabric. (*Note: the fabric isn’t available anymore but the replacement is Oat and it’s a performance pebble weave which I would love to have had!) ID offers custom products with tons of fabric, length, depth, and leg options but without paying custom prices. Read more about our couch selection in this post. WHAT IS THE PAINT COLOR IN YOUR LIVING ROOM? It’s Benjamin Moore White Dove. a classic and one of my favorite warm white paint colors. When we bought the house, we had 1 day between closing and moving so got as much painting out of the way as possible. I hemmed and hawed over which white to go with and couldn’t be happier with how the White Dove looks in here. WHAT ARE YOUR WOVEN WINDOW TREATMENTS? Hands down this is your most asked question. And I get it because they’re awesome. All shades in our home are Hunter Douglas including in spaces you haven’t seen (because they’re ugly) such as the bathrooms and hallways. I partnered with a local shop Innuwindow in 2019 to make the switch and I can’t speak highly enough about how much they transformed our home. Learn all about them in this post. WHAT IS YOUR DINING ROOM CEILING MADE OF AND WHAT COLOR? This was an easy update we made at the end of 2019 and it’s one of my favorite details in the house. I worked with Stikwood, a company that makes sustainable peel + stick wood planks (made from reclaimed wood). We went with Golden Oak and it imparts the loveliest glow at all times of the day. Bonus: the install process was so easy (Bill and I did it in a day). WHERE ARE YOUR ART LEDGES FROM? This is the second most asked question I receive and far and away, the most purchased product by you guys. Our ledges were made by Rowe Station Woodworks in a custom size (something they offer for all their products) and in Maple. Couldn’t love them more. WHERE IS YOUR DINING ROOM LIGHT FROM? It’s from Rejuvenation! The Berkshire Linear Pendant in Oil Rubbed Bronze (which looks black) and white linen shades. Bonus: it can swivel if you need to change up the orientation of your space, something we did! WHERE IS THE WALLPAPER IN MAX’S ROOM FROM? It’s the light Oh Deer mural from Anewall Decor, and it’s peel + stick. It’s added the perfect amount of childhood whimsy and we even had it in the dark color first (yeah I’m nuts)! WHAT IS THE PAINT COLOR IN MAX’S ROOM? The top is Benjamin Moore White Dove and the bottom is Benjamin Moore Victoriana. WHERE IS THE OPEN SHELVING SHELVING IN YOUR KITCHEN FROM? When we installed the backsplash, I changed up the shelving. We used heavy duty brackets from Shelfology and used wood that was cut, milled, and sanded at a lumber yard (I added a clear sealer before install and am actually considering staining them dark soon!). Shelfology can also do the shelves for you too though. WHAT COLOR IS THE SHIPLAP IN YOUR BEDROOM? Both are Clare…the green is Current Mood and it’s an absolute dream. The greige is Classic which is the loveliest neutral that feels appropriate for our old house. Read more about the decisions on these colors as part of the #mStarrxohidesign makeover (side note…full reveal of both rooms are coming oh so soon! We photographed Jess’ room a couple weeks ago but we got 14” of snow the day my room was scheduled to be photographed and then we went right into the holidays. For a zillion more things we have {or have had} in the house, you can shop directly from the shop #farmhousedialfano page! And if you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to comment below or reach out on Instagram. 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 the brands I support!

there are several questions i get asked over and over on instagram but without question the one i get asked the most is: where are your window shades from? the second is: what is the material + color? i had been planning to get a photographer in here to capture some new photos but well, corona. so until that happens or i can get max + bill outside long enough to straighten up and photograph myself, iPhone pics it is! when we bought #farmhousedialfano nearly 6 years ago, the kitchen, dining room + living room had woven wood shades and the upstairs, playroom, and hallway windows had pretty cheap white shades. there were a few that didn’t work properly and i wasn’t a huge fan of the woven wood colors, especially as the design of the house evolved. you can see what they looked like over the years below {notice the ribbon holding some up! classy.}… needless to say it was time for an upgrade so when innuwindow, a family-run store located right here in natick, reached out about working together, it was perfect timing! after a visit to the store, we decided that hunter douglas was the way to go and are SO fortunate to have been able to update every window in the house, hallways included. innuwindow is one of the largest independent hunter douglas dealers in the country, and while they’re a higher end product {ie: on the pricey side}, they are WORTH EVERY PENNY. truly. there is a wide range of shades, blinds, fabrics, materials, colors etc. and whatever option you choose, your home will be instantly upgraded. ours certainly has been. back in august of last year {you know, back when people could be in other people’s homes}, rick from innuwindow came out to the house with the hunter douglas swatch books. it’s SO important to see the actual materials in person as they look a bit different than they do online, and seeing the swatches in your rooms with the lighting makes a huge difference when making decisions. during this visit, rick also measured all the windows so that when we were ready to order, he’d have everything he needed. while i’ve measured windows on my own before, knowing that they were measured exactly the right way was a load off. i knew that i wanted woven wood shades in every room. the hunter douglas provenance collection features handcrafted, high-quality organic materials such as woods, reeds, bamboo, and grasses, and the natural fibers filter natural light so beautifully. i also knew that i wanted to do the same material + color in the living room and dining room. originally i had a different and slightly darker color picked out for those two rooms but at the last minute i decided to do the same as what’s in the kitchen. while the darker could’ve been beautiful, i’m ultimately glad i went with the lighter color which allows me to play around more with decorative elements such as pillows, blankets etc. for the downstairs hallway and upstairs landing area, rick suggested doing the same as the main rooms. so the downstairs would be the same as the living room, dining room, bathroom, and kitchen, and upstairs would be the same as the bedrooms and master bathroom. i didn’t have a strong opinion on this design wise as both areas are glorified storage areas right now so i’m happy with the decision! i also decided to do the same in max’s room, the master bathroom, and our bedroom. i wanted them to be neutral enough to work if i changed up the design {which of course we’re doing right now in our room with the #mstarrxohidesign makeover}. after seeing the swatches in our home, we ended up deciding on the following... KITCHEN, DINING ROOM, LIVING ROOM, DOWNSTAIRS BATH + HALLWAY provenance woven woods collection / jute forest / sycamore PLAYROOM provenance woven woods collection / sonoma / pinot grigio MASTER BEDROOM, MASTER BATHROOM, MAX’S ROOM + UPSTAIRS LANDING provenance woven woods collection / maritime / morning fog once we decided on the fabrics + colors, there were a number of other decisions to make including: 01. the control system. i wanted literise, which is hunter douglas’ cordless system, for all the windows. it’s a clean look and they are the safest option for kids and pets. unfortunately, there are a few windows that aren’t deep enough {hello old house} so the large window in the living room, one window in max’s room, and one window in our bedroom have the ultraglide system. it features a retractable cord which is the next best option for children and pet safety, and is super easy to use. 02. inside or outside mount. this is somewhat of a personal preference but also dependent on the type of window and room you have. inside mount means the shades are installed inside the window frame and outside mount means they’re installed outside of the actual window. inside mount in theory blocks the most amount of light but the window needs to be a certain depth. i find it to be more appropriate for a bedroom and we ended up needing to do inside mount in the bedrooms and bathrooms anyways because the moulding around the windows doesn’t allow for an outside installation. we went with an outside mount in every other room however. they feel a bit more casual to me and the right vibe for our house. an outside mount also provides some flexibility in terms of placement. for instance, we opted to mount the shade over the large window in the living room higher than the actual window to make it appear taller than it really is {as seen below}. and in the living room, because the ceiling is uneven, we mounted one shade slightly higher than the other to make them appear at the same height. when doing this, you need to remember to account for the extra height by adding additional length! 03. what shade style? there are 3 options for the provenance shades…roman, waterfall roman, and vertical drapery. for this, we went with the standard roman for a cleaner look when they’re pulled down. 04. what type of valance? i wanted the least obtrusive option so we opted for the modern style which basically blends into the shade for a polished look. 05. liner vs. no liner. i wanted the most amount of light to filter through in the kitchen, dining room, and hallways so we opted out of a liner in those rooms. we like having a little more privacy {and protection in the winter which also helps with energy costs} in the living room, bathrooms, and bedrooms so chose a privacy liner in those rooms. blackout liners are of course popular in bedrooms but the privacy liner blocks out a lot of light and is enough for all of us. it’s easy to see the difference in lined {living room} vs. unlined {kitchen} below. i can’t tell you how much more put together the house is with the addition of these shades. innuwindow was an absolute pleasure to work with, answering any and all questions i had and the turnaround time from placing the order to when they came to install was quite quick. plus they have a full team of consultants to help with all your window treatment needs and wants, from ready-made drapes to custom options. AND most importantly, they are ready to help with any issues that may arise by servicing any hunter douglas product that needs it. i highly recommend working with them if you’re in massachusetts! 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 the brands I support! mStarr is a lifestyle studio specializing in approachable interiors, e-design, content creation, and creative direction. 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