Small Space Styling | Inspired by The Everygirl

photo: Jennifer Kathryn, styling: Alaina Kaczmarski

When Dan and I first came to look at our loft I knew I was going to have to get creative when it came to kitchen storage. Don't get me wrong, we are so happy to be living here and love the uniqueness and many great qualities in our loft but the kitchen is definitely not one of them. When I found this Everygirl photo on Pinterest of ways to style wire shelves I knew this was what needed to happen! After all, our kitchen just barely fits our food, let alone appliances, dishes, and other counter-top items. I knew the wire shelving would be a great fit for a loft and could easily be used for something else down the road when we move into a house (someday). 

If you are like us and you find yourself living in a small space with very little storage, pull a few items together and get creative with your styling. Look for a mix of similar and different pieces to make your shelves stand out and be a reflection of you. One of my favorite things to do is search Pinterest for photos that give me inspiration and then try to re-create the look or focus on my favorite parts of the photo and make a similar look. It gets me thinking, how did I ever live without Pinterest? Check out the original picture (above) and see how I've re-created a similar look in our place (below). 

There is a great story behind the "Little Kings" bucket. One that I will leave for Dan to share. This was his piece to contribute to the shelves. I love the vintage feel it brings to an overall modern look and the way it reflects both of us. 

Little Black (Faux Leather) Dress | 3 Ways

This recent Target find puts an edgy twist on the classic LBD. After spotting it a few weeks ago, I have yet to stop thinking about it. And coming in under $30, this one can't be beat! Here are three ways I would style the dress: casual, dressy, and boho inspired. Thinking ahead to spring, I would wear Option 01. for a casual date night out with my hubby. I love the Anthropologie elephant scarf and the My Jewel Candy baby snake earrings, which were worn by Rachel Bilson on The Hart of Dixie (style swoon). Option 02. is one way you can incorporate some radiant orchid into your wardrobe (see Winter Mix-up). I would love wearing this option to a mid-winter wedding. It is almost time to make the switch to pastel hues and this statement necklace does just that! Option 03. would be perfect for a weekend trip to the market or brunching with some girl friends. Tell me, how would you style this piece? 

Geo Prints

Sweater: Boo Hoo, Top: exact H&M (unavailable), similar here, Bottoms: Old Navy, Booties: DV 'Mani' Boot, Bag: Kate Spade

The geo print is one that seems to be everywhere you look right now. I loved this sweater when I first found it on ASOS. I do this thing where I see something I really like, then for some reason I wait and wait to purchase it and when I finally go to add it to my shopping cart it's sold out or no longer available in my size. I like to tell myself this is "smart shopping", but I've really got to get better at this! Anyways, as you probably guessed that is exactly what happened to this sweater. I was once again bummed and was determined to start the hunt to find another one similar. I was so pleased when I found this sweater from Boo Hoo that was not only identical, but also just as affordable. These 'Mani' boots were a birthday gift from my hubby and I have been living in them the past few months. I personally love the way the wine colored cardigan compliments the contrast zip on the back of the 'Mani' boots. Good news! This Aztec cardi is still available in five different colors.

Winter Mix-up | 5 Ways

I'm not sure about you, but come January, I am ready for some change in my wardrobe. At this point in the year I am tired of winter clothes and ready for the arrival of spring and warmer temperatures. Not to mention the stores that just play mind games with you by bringing out swimsuits the first of the year. If I had it my way I would live somewhere with warmer temperatures. For those of us who aren't lucky enough to have sunshine and warm weather right now, here are five ways to spice up your winter clothes while we wait patiently for spring to arrive. What I love about all these looks is they can easily be carried over into spring!

source: sorenson dash

01. Wide leg jeans: Although I am a sucker for skinny jeans, this photo made me want to start searching for a wide leg jean that I could incorporate into my winter wear. These could be paired with a slouchy sweater and pumps or heeled boots for an ultra chic look. 

source: Nordstrom

02. Faux leather shorts: If you are craving spring clothes as much as I am this is a perfect way to "cheat". Wear these now with booties and a pair of tights underneath and wear them later with a knit top once it warms up. 

source: Getty / Rommel Demano (via Pinterest)

03. Winter florals: In my opinion, Rachel Bilson can do no wrong (even when it comes to wearing florals in January). Although most people would only wear florals in the spring and summertime, these darker hues make it perfectly okay to wear these year round! They also get us thinking ahead to spring.

source: The Sweetest Thing Blog

04. Oversized plaid: An oversized plaid shirt is the perfect weekend wear for running errands and lounging around. Paired with denim, this multi-seasonal look can be carried right into spring. My budget friendly tip for the fashion-forward gal is to raid her man's closet and sport one of his!  (done and done)

source: Look Linger Love

05. Incorporate radiant orchid: I realize that this photo does not show Pantone's new color of the year, but I absolutely love this classic look. Sometimes in winter all you need is a pop of color. I have never been one to over do it on color, but I am so looking forward to incorporating Radiant Orchid in small ways this year. My two favorite ideas are a bright colored bag and radiant orchid nails paired with a classic denim shirt and black leggings like above. I may even opt for this chunky knit sweater in lilac as a softer hue. 

Meet Lyle

Glasses: Warby Parker Lyle, Sweater: exact Nordstrom Rack (unavailable), similar here and here, Booties: exact Old Navy (unavailable), similar here and here. 

First of all, I want to share how happy my heart is that it's mid-January and Starbucks still has red cups! Seriously loving this. Now moving onto the exciting part about this post. Friends, meet Lyle. The new set of frames that has my heart pounding.

When I recently found out it was time to update my prescription (yes, seven years is way too long to wait), I knew I wanted to purchase my new frames from Warby Parker. I seriously cannot stop telling people about this place. Not only are the glasses to die for, but they are affordable too (under $100 for anti-reflective lenses and frames). For designer glasses you can't beat that price! This is another company that gives back. Just one more reason I love them. For each pair of glasses purchased, Warby Parker provides a pair to someone in need. At first I was a little skeptical about purchasing a pair of frames online. Glasses are something you like to try on to make sure they fit the size of your face. Warby Parker knows this too. That's why they have an "at home try-on" program. Choose five of your favorite frames and WP will send them to you for free. I'll say that one more time. FREE! You get to keep them for five days, try them on, get feedback from friends and family and then send them back. They will even call your doctor to get your prescription when you go to order your first pair. Buying these stylish glasses could not be any easier!

Here are my five favorites frames. All of which were included in my Home Try-On.

1. Lyle in English Oak (the winners!)

2. Welty in Plum Marblewood

3. Preston in Sandlewood Matte

4. Winston in Lunar Fade (worn by Emily Maynard)

5. Chamberlain in Saddle Sage

Winter Whites

Coat: exact, Piperlime (unavailable), similar, here and here, Scarf: ASOS, Pumps: exact, Target (unavailable), similar here and here, Tote: 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target in Taupe 

Thinking back, deciding to start a style blog leading into winter in the mid-west probably wasn't my brightest idea ever. Having said that, I wouldn't have done a thing differently. Why? Winter is hands down my least favorite season and the one I struggle with the most to come up with inspiration for outfits. All winter long I have an ongoing debate with myself...do I want to be warm and cozy or fashionable? However, I am here to tell you it's possible to stay warm yet stylish during the cold winter months. 

I must confess I am guilty of catching the winter blues every year. For me they start January 1st and end when the weather no longer falls belong 78 degrees. I constantly tell my husband that my so called "southern blood" wasn't made for this kind of cold weather. Unfortunately for me, the past week has held record low temperatures in the mid-west. You better believe I was hibernating inside our (somewhat) warm loft for about a week. Although I am not a fan of cold weather, I do think the first snowfall is always the most beautiful and I couldn't help but get out and take some photos in it this year.

It used to be that whites were never aloud after Labor Day. May I also confess that I no longer follow that rule? My younger sister called me earlier this fall and asked if it was alright to wear white pants with a chambray shirt even though Labor Day had come and gone. Apparently her roommates had been giving her a hard time about it, but I reassured her that it indeed was acceptable. If you are going to be brave and rock whites during fall and winter make sure you style them with the right pieces. I'm talking chunky sweaters, scarfs, and chic hats. I love the idea of a totally monochromatic look with a pop of color like the one above. Other go-to neutral colors to pair with white in the wintertime are shades of nude, cognac, and of course, black. And yes, in my opinion, it is perfectly fine to pair whites and creams together. I mean, if you think about it, most brides wear white on their wedding day and many of them carry a bouquet of ivory flowers. No one complains about that do they? So, I challenge you all to take a risk and try this new trend and get creative with the styling. You might be surprised with what you come up with. Best of luck! 

3 Ways to Style an Ottoman

I recently found this Threshold gem at our local Target. I had been looking for the perfect something to fill some of the empty space in our loft and with the help of some gift cards, this was it! I love this piece for a few reasons: it's neutral, tufted, and contains an antique gold finish. If you don't like the idea of using this piece as an ottoman, you can also chose to use it as a bench or accent table. Here are three of my favorite ways to style this piece. 

01. Cozy morning bench: I am in love with this option. This looks like the perfect place to cozy up and enjoy breakfast or some much needed morning quiet time. By adding a pillow and having a blanket basket near by, this accent ottoman is easily turned into the perfect cozy nook for reading or eating. 

02. Chic bedroom library: The foot of the bed is a perfect place for a piece like this! Simply choose a few of your favorite books to display (magazines, antique and decor books are a few of my favorite choices). You can switch out the books once you are done reading them or you are ready for a new look. For those of you with small side tables (like myself) this is a perfect alternative for book storage.  

03. Extend the bed: I don't know about you guys, but every night when it's time for my husband and I to climb into bed, I hate the idea of putting our throw pillows on the floor. This is a perfect solution for that during nighttime and daytime (if you wish). When I was putting this option together I originally wanted somewhere to store pillows and throws while we were sleeping. However, I also loved the idea of sitting down next to a warm blanket while pondering what to wear or putting on my shoes.

Farewell 2013, Hello 2014

It's hard to believe 2013 has come and gone. I am somewhat sad to say goodbye to 2013 because it was such a great year, but I am excited to see what 2014 holds. This past year I celebrated my one year wedding anniversary, traveled to new and old places with family, got my first big girl job, moved into a new place, and started Elementary Style. Last year I made a resolution to launch a blog. Blogging is something I have grown to be very passionate about. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to write about some of the things closest to my heart, but I know that style is not everything in life and I don't want any of my readers to think that. Although I am new at blogging and I am still learning, I hope to somehow inspire readers to take chances, follow their dreams, and do what they love. Throughout the past two and a half years I have been faced with many moments of doubt. What I thought to be my purpose in life took a turn that I didn't quite expect. Through trials and tears I was reminded that my plan is not always the right plan. I don't know what 2014 or beyond holds, but I know that my future is secure and I have learned to be content in life. This blog is not my own. I may write it, but what happens with it is out of my control. As I think ahead to 2014, I thank those of you who have followed along with me these past few months. This is quite a learning experience for me. I hope to learn more about blogging in the new year and inspire more readers to use their gifts and passions in their everyday lives. 

Happy 2014!