K Sarah Designs

Currently Loving // Hmong Indigo Batik Pillows

Happy Friday! Can I get a heck yes?!

So, let's talk pillows for a second. I will be the first to admit that I totally have a pillow obsession. I tend to collect/covet them the same way most girls collect/covet shoes. But unfortunately, they take up a lot more space than shoes, so I can't really hoard them the same way (which is actually probably a really good thing).

Anyway, I figured I should start sharing my current favorites on the blog... That way, it might actually be useful for someone searching for the perfect pillow, and hopefully I won't covet them as much :) Double win.

So let's get right to it! I've been so in love with these Hmong textiles lately. The fabric is printed by hand using the traditional batik method, which is a printing process where wax is applied to a piece of cloth and dyed with natural indigo dyes. The wax is then removed, and the design is created where the wax has prevented the dye from penetrating the cloth. Sometimes colorful embroidery is added to the batik designs, and the result can be absolutely stunning!

Here are some of my favorites (all from the etsy shop frompasttopresent):

I love the interesting patters, the indigo color, and the fact that they are all handmade and unique. Check out frompasttopresent to see more options - they have a great selection, and the prices are really reasonable.

 

Now, want to see some pretty spaces with these pillows? Amber from Amber Interiors is a genius at decorating with these beauties. Take a look for yourself:

 

 

 

 

Pretty amazing, right? Amber is one talented lady, and she even has a Shoppe where she sells these amazing pillows as well.

I also love the idea of adding these pillows to a cozy outdoor space similar to this one by Estee Stanley:

Ahhh... I sure wouldn't mind spending a weekend out on that patio, that's for sure.

And on that note, have a fabulous weekend!

Mood Boards // A Welcoming & Relaxing Living Room, Kitchen, and Dining Room

Hi guys! I've had my hands pretty full with design projects lately (which is awesome!), but realized I hadn't shared any in a while, so I figured I needed to fix that!

For this project, I was working on a living room, kitchen nook, and dining room design scheme for a busy family with three little boys.

They were looking for an inviting, peaceful, and fun space that would stand up to their little ones, yet would also be nice enough to entertain their friends. We stuck with a mostly neutral, blue, green, and gray color palette to keep things cohesive between the three spaces, since they're essentially open to each other & connected.

Here are a few inspiration photos that they sent me of spaces they loved:

 

 

 

As you can see, all of the above spaces kept a pretty consistent color palette, and had an overall inviting, light, and airy look.

 

This is what we came up with for the living room:

They already had that sectional, but everything else on the board is new. I think it accomplishes that casual, welcoming look they were going for! It will be a great place to hang out and enjoy family time together.

For the kitchen nook, we went a bit more fun + casual since it's where they cook, eat there everyday meals, and do homework with the kids.:

Their kitchen has the perfect space for this small eating nook, and we decided to go with a settee and two chairs for the seating (they already had a round pedestal table).

As a sidenote - I love using woven, natural fiber chairs in spaces with kids because they're pretty durable and you don't have to worry about staining them.

And lastly, this is what we came up with for the more formal dining room:

They wanted this space to be slightly more formal than the rest, since it's where they will host holiday get-togethers and dinner parties, but they didn't want it to be overly formal or stuffy since that just isn't their style. Inviting and welcoming was the name of the game here :)

Adding a series of mirrors on the wall accross from the hallway will reflect light and make the room appear more open + airy. Adding framed wallpapered or stenciled panels above the buffet will give the space some dimension and architectural interest (not to mention, it's a pretty inexpensive way to add pattern & visual interest over a large wall area).

It was great working with this family, and it's my hope that they will enjoy living in these spaces for years to come!

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Artwork i love // Gem & Stone Photographs by Jen Altman

I recently came across the work of Jen Altman, and thought it was a brilliant way to incorporate the natural beauty of gems and stones into a space. I've talked about my love for decorating with natural stones before (see this post), but I love this new take on it!

The Gem & Stone print shop includes close-up photographs of various gems and stones, and each one is truly a work of art. Any of them would look beautiful framed and added to an art wall, but here are a few of my favorites:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*All of the above prints are by Jen Altman. Find them here.

 

And for a similar affect, you can frame an actual agate slice like I did:

Simply affix an agate slice to thick white cardstock with clear epoxy glue, and place it in a box frame (mine is from IKEA). It's a super simple + inexpensive project, and I love the affect!

Happy Monday!