Daily Read: Monika Hibbs

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For those of you who have read blogs since the late 2000s, you know the veterans out there.  Monika Hibbs of Vancouver is one of those trailblazers many bloggers have followed since discovery.  She has a curated sense of style you just drool over, and it's easy to enjoy watching her picturesque adventures, most recently a trip to Vegas with her husband.  Her tasteful home decor DIYs and recommendations are my personal favorite piece of her strong brand.  I could definitely stare at her home tour all the livelong day!

It is not surprising she has been all over the press from Boston-local Style Me Pretty to HGTV to Glitter Guide, just to name a few.  Don't forget about Monika's shop, too, which we hope is replenishing soon before we start rolling out our gift guides in the coming weeks, it's definitely one of my go-to resources.  If Monika is what Vancouver is about, we better get there sooner than later!

- Meredith

Ain't Nothin' Wrong With Feelin' Blue

Yesterday a friend of mine Instagramed a picture of her new home office with the most gorgeous bright blue walls...and now I'm totally jealous! I can't get this vibrant color off my mind! It feels so cozy and adds such a dynamic pop to a room, don't you think? 

Would you or have you painted a room bright blue? What do you think?

- Suzanne

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5

Apartment Envy: Dreams + Jeans

How adorable is this East Village apartment? It belongs to Alex Yeske, blogger behind Dreams+Jeans and graphic designer for Madewell. As her first shared apartment with her boyfriend, I think they do an excellent job of creating a clean and open gender neutral living space, don't you? Check out the full apartment tour on Design*Sponge here.

- Suzanne

Latest Obsessions: Jungalow Planters

1. Himmeli Hanging Planter, $57
2. Kati Von Lehman Etched Planter, $65
3. 4 Tier Rope Planter, $125
4. Delphi Blue Hanging Planter, $80

• Inspiration
• Inspiration

After drooling over these two inspiration rooms on pinterest, I've decided to take matters into my own hands and use a few hanging planters to give my North End apartment a modern jungalow vibe! The good news is that if these planters are too expensive for ya, there are tons of DIY tutorials on pinterest too....maybe a good craft night idea?!

- Cameron

Daily Read: House of Turquoise

Cape Cod, MA

Great Island, RI

Great Island, RI

Great Island, RI

Portland, ME

Portland, ME

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CC, MA

CC, MA

CC, MA

I have been waiting in anticipation for a while to post about one of my favorite daily reads, House of Turquoise, by turquoise-lover Erin Moser out of Minnesota.  As a fellow admirer of home decor and also one somewhat turquoise-obsessed, I am constantly bookmarking Erin's posts that feature various homes and design projects across the globe.  She offers some serious inspiration and the oceanic theme is one that always draws me in.  Too much of a good thing is a great thing in this case!

It sure doesn't hurt that a good amount of posts are in New England and/or have that New England influence.  Call me sheltered (no pun intended), but I will swoon over shingled siding any day!  To boot, Erin's Pinterest page welcomes countless visual candy, with a full dose of turquoise, just the way I prefer it to be!

- Meredith

Hustlin'

It's hard to compete with some of the "dream desks" shown on Pinterest as not everyone works from home, has an unlimited budget or has a cute office. In fact many of us have budgets or other common constrictions like close proximity to others and maybe even a really ugly cubicle. But no matter the desk set up or the location, we can all admit that work can take a toll on oneself and we all need to create our personal "happy zones" in order to get through the day. 

I think some of the best remedies to uplift an exhausted work spirit is some perspective, organization and spunk. Perspective can remind you that whatever your latest work drama, it is not the end of the world, organization can make it easier to tackle the next task and a little spunk can make you smile through even the most mundane tasks. 

Here are some of my top picks as of late towards achieving a clean, organized, peaceful and uplifting work spirit:

1 // Be Present Print from shopampersand $40

2 // Rifle Paper Co Botanical Desk Calendar $16

3 // Poppin Desktop Set $51

4 // Poppins Signature Ballpoint Pens $12 

5 // Just Sayin' Post It's $4

6 // All Seeing Eye Hand Amulet from mudpuppy $48

7 // Metallic mason jars with succulents $17

8 // Arrow file folders $10

- Suzanne

Giveaway: The $50 Home Makeover

Win this book!

Just Us Gals is giving away Shaunna West's new book, The $50 Home Makeover. West is the writer and designer behind one of my favorite DIY and decor blogs, Perfectly Imperfect, a blog full of tutorials and decorating tips for creating the perfect and livable home.

Shaunna also writes for Country Living and for Houzz.com. She and her blog have been featured on The Nate Berkus Show, as well as in  Flea Market Style, HouseBeautiful, Apartment Therapy, and Design Sponge.

The $50 Home Makeover offers 75 fun and creative projects (all under $50) that will help give any space a stylish, modern look—without having to blow your budget, including:
• Step-by-step instructions with full-color photographs.
• A key to denote how long a project takes, how much it costs, and the level of difficulty.
• Before-and-after photos of the finished product.

From an Antique Door Table to Reclaimed Wood Wall Art, each DIY project will beautify your space in unexpected ways, and you'll finally get to make those big improvements that you've wanting to.

H O W   T O   W I N

• Follow JustUsGals on Instagram and Twitter.
• Leave a comment below! Tell us what your latest DIY home makeover project was.

Good luck!
The contest winner will be announced via Twitter on Tuesday, July 22 at noon.

Where to Find Custom Upholstery in Boston

I first heard Upholstery on Broadway through a google search of Boston-area upholstery shops. I had two benches that had terrible floral patterned fabric with a dated skirting style that I just couldn’t fix myself. I needed professional help and after three months of trying to do it myself, I finally gave in and decided to find an expert.

When comparing UOB them to other shops, I ultimately knew they were the right fit because of their Yelp reviews. Every review reflected high satisfaction with their skill level and even better, each review raved about how helpful the owners, Kevin and Pamela, were. As someone who generally likes do all my DIY projects myself, this type of collaboration was very important to me. I loved how each review gave detailed reports of their consultation options, willingness to drop by clients homes to pick up furniture, help pick the best fabrics, instruct on technique and process, execute with attention to detail and quick turn arounds, and the list went on.

Within two weeks of dropping off my two parson benches and having my first and only consultation with Kevin, my gorgeous newly upholstered masterpieces were complete. I couldn’t be more thrilled with the results and highly recommend anyone looking for upholstery to pay a visit to Kevin and Pamela.

For more information visit their site: Upholstery on Broadway

Perk: They also offer classes, so you really can do it yourself!

- Suzanne

Craigslist Hidden Treasures

As you can see I am obsessed with finding the perfect bamboo or faux bamboo accent piece for my next DIY project. Here are some gems I found over the weekend on Boston's Craigslist listings:

B A M B O O   B U F F E T

Item Description: This is a lovely bamboo design 1960s console buffet. It has great rattan woven drawer fronts, bamboo style accents and bamboo styled legs. Two drawers, two cabinet doors and a shelf below. The center door does not open. Would also make a great tv stand. Measures 44l x 16 1/2 d x 31 h.

While this is out of my current budget and furniture size requirements, I had to share this piece since it is such a gorgeous item. It'd be the perfect piece to pull together any living room or entry way, with little to no refurbishing required.

B A M B O O   C O F F E E   T A B L E 

Item Description: Bamboo wicker coffee table has a glass top. Table has never been used and is in excellent condition. Dimensions are 50"L x 16.5"H x 24"W

For $65 this coffee table is a steal. It appears in great condition and is sturdy enough to handle the usual wear and tear of apartment living (we all know that coffee tables become your kitchen table, foot rest, junk pile holder, etc). Paint a metallic gold to get a hollywood regency look - perfect for any modern gals living room!

M A T C H I N G   R A T T A N   C H A I R S (5th image in)

Item Description: Great variety of chairs including matching leather arm chairs, wingback, parlor, bamboo, caned ladder back and more!

First off, these are amazing. And yes I know the sale was for last Saturday, but I just had to share with your for two reasons. First, from now on I will be on the lookout for chairs like these (when I get a bigger apartment), and you should be too. If you have room and are looking to get a high-end bohemian look in your apartment, these chairs will do just that for you. Second, I am sharing these chairs in hopes that someone out there appreciates these as much as me and calls the owner to find out if they are still available. If they didn't sell at Saturday's sale, chances are you could get a knockout deal. Similar chairs sold on One Kings Lane for $595. 

Keywords used in my bamboo  Craigslist search: bamboo, faux bamboo, rattan, rattan accent chair, bohemian.

Inspiration Images: buffet, coffee table, rattan chairs

- Good luck and happy Craigslist hunting! 

Suzanne

Daily Read: I Suwannee

Unlike other blogs, I can't go a day without checking up on the Southern gem that is Jamie Mears, an interior designer, blogger, and owner of the online retail shop, Furbish Studio. All three exhibit not only her unique, ecclectic style but her daring flair for life. Mixing multiple bold patterns with bright colors, Jamie takes a fun spin on tradition items and accomplishes some of the most gorgeous rooms and pieces that one would previously have thought unthinkable. Don't beileve me or in need of some flair in your life? Check out Jamie's blog I Suwannee for yourself!

After you've decided you must live more like Jamie, hop on over to Furbish Studio, where you'll find no shortage of great decor items or gifts, one of a kind pop up shops and some great deals on refurbished vintage items. A new pop up shop with Sarah Martinez launched yesterday and I'm sure there will be a Memorial Day Sale on the horizon as well...

M U S T   H A V E S (from left to right)

Neon Watercolo Pillow  //  Turquoise Foo Dog Lamps  //  Natural Frame  //  Bling Ring Dish  //  Kilim Throw  //  Sahara Basket  //  Gold Luxe Rock Glasses   //  Safari Pillow  //  Hot Pink Otomi Print

Images: Jamie Mears, Pink Paisley Bedroom, Dalla Living Room

- Suzanne

Interior Obsession: Gray Malin's House Makeover

How adorable is Gray Malin's newly renovated 1930's house?! With his own impeccable sense of style and the help of One King's Lane (a favorite online source of mine for decor items), Malin and his husband have put together one of the most stylish and cheery abodes I've seen thus far. 

Check out the story here and shop his style on One Kings Lane here and here.

- Suzanne

Amber Valletta's Santa Monica Home

What can I say, this spring weather has us saturating you with some of our favorite home decor (check out posts from Wednesday and Thursday for more)!  In perusing InStyle, one of my favorite celebrities, Amber Valletta, has featured her boho-chic Santa Monica home as some serious eye candy. 

I especially love her bedroom, designed by her friend and star of Bravo's Million Dollar Decorators (hoping that show continues!), Ross Cassidy.  Doesn't this home give you ideas of how to bring the beachy Cali vibe to your east coast abode?  Which room in Amber's home is your favorite?

- Meredith

all photos from InStyle