Ailee Petrovic

Décor January 10, 2013

Our First Couches // Restoration Loving

I’ve got to admit it: I’m slightly obsessed with Restoration Hardware. They built one within the past two years at the nearby Highland Village in Houston (see picture below), and it’s absolutely gorgeous. I could buy everything in the entire store, and on Tuesday, I made my first step towards that by buying two Maxwell couches for The Manor. We got the three-over-three 9-ft couch and the regular 6-ft couch (both the 46-in luxe depth) in the Italian Brompton Cocoa. They won’t be delivered until March, which is good timing for when the wood floors will be in and the walls painted. I’m so excited!

1) Restoration Hardware in Highland Village, Houston, TX – find one by you!, 2) Maxwell Leather Couch, 3) Three Over Three Maxwell Couch

Stationery January 9, 2013

‘Under Construction’ Party Invitation

Ages ago (okay, maybe it was in August – time flies!), I saw the most creative ‘I’ve Moved’ card (if you could call it that). I fell in love – not only because I love maps, but also with the neon pink. What a creative idea! (thoughts continue below)

While browsing Oh So Beautiful Paper, I saw Cristina’s home warming party invitation, and I am officially obsessed. With all the work that’s taking place to The Manor, it’s going to be ages before our house is “pretty party ready.” However, Sasha and I already talk at great lengths about throwing fêtes for every little occasion. The idea of having a party while the house is still ‘Under Construction’ is great – it removes a lot of the stress of making sure everything looks gorgeous. This is most probably going to be replicated in the following months.

Stationery January 8, 2013

8 Days without a Planner

It’s January 8, 2013, and I still don’t have an agenda/planner yet. Cue me being all over the place with my calendar – I had to reschedule a reunion with friends twice because I forgot about a wedding I was supposed to attend and the “meet-my-younger-sister’s-boyfriend” dinner. Then there was Serbian Christmas celebrations – whoops, almost missed that too. I decided that it was time to get to work and make the big, belated decision: which planner do I go with? Thank goodness for McKenzie being paper-savvy and Oh So Beautiful Paper’s roundup here.

Last week, McKenzie ordered this Russell + Hazel planner, which is gorgeous. I saw it this morning for the first time and fell in love.

Other options:

1) While I was at the University of Texas, I rocked the momAgenda (like any cool college kid should).

2) McKenzie had a Cavallini planner last year – which was a gorgeously colored leather book, but I wanted to try something a little different.

3) Letter C is a kraft-paper-lover/organization freak’s haven. Check out their collection of calendars.

And then the analysis paralysis hits: there are so many good options. What do I choose? After reading this post on Oh So Beautiful Paper, I was sold. Laurel Denise it is! I went with the gold version of the planner below. I cannot wait for it to arrive.

Featured image from here.

Décor January 7, 2013

Who, exactly, is Coralie Bickford-Smith?

As I’ve mentioned many times before on the blog, my best friend, McKenzie, is one of the coolest people I know. One day she comes home with a fancy gold and white book, which she excitedly proclaims is one of the Penguin Classics in the Fitzgerald series that Coralie Bickford-Smith designed. I “ooohed” and “ahhhed” appropriately (as it really was gorgeous), then had to ask: “Who, exactly, is Coralie Bickford-Smith?” (I’m so out of the loop) In that moment, my eyes were opened!

Coralie’s clothbound Penguin (where she works) Classics covers have gotten global attention – for the right reasons. I love all of the beautiful books, and naturally, had to order six (for starters) for The Manor. I cannot wait for them to arrive! They will be a great addition to our Sloane bookcases from Crate and Barrel. Eeps! Anxiously awaiting Amazon boxes.

PS Check out her interview on Design Sponge here!

Décor January 4, 2013

The Most Gorgeous Holiday Gathering

My engagement/wedding photographer, Ryan Ray, is so talented. Looking at his blog makes me very excited about the coming months. I am actually obsessed with the festive holiday shoot he did that was featured on Style Me Pretty. The event stylist, Angel, may be the sweetest person I’ve ever emailed with in my entire life. The colors of the shoot are vivid, the food looks amazing (I want those Brussels sprouts!), and I need that dining table! I did my own acorn decorating project earlier this season and ended up with sore hands. They look much better au natural than covered in gold glitter!

Photography: Ryan Ray Photography / Design + Styling: Love & Splendor / Floral Design: Camilla Svensson Burns Couture Floral and Event Design / Catering: Trumpet Vine Catering / Cake + Desserts: Enjoy Cupcakes / Stationery + Calligraphy: Julie Song Ink / Tabletop Rentals: Casa de Perrin / Furniture Rentals: Found Vintage Rentals / Film Processing: Indie Film Lab