Our Midcentury Modern Home Tour
We stumbled upon our house while driving around Lake Worth. We saw an open house sign and went for it. Next thing I knew, we were home owners and I couldn't wait to fill this 1950's gem with unique midcentury modern pieces. After 2 years our home finally feels like a reflection of our style and we were fortunate enough to have Lauren Louise Photography snap a few shots while she was in town.
Photography | Lauren Louise Photography
My whole life I've been surrounded by antiques and taken to antique fairs, thrift stores, auctions, you name it. My mom and grandma would plan family road trips with the sole intention of walking around dusty hillsides in search of treasures to bring home. When Glen and I started looking into buying a home, I knew it needed to be one with history and character. I couldn't imagine living West of 95 in a new build.
We stumbled upon our house while driving around Lake Worth. We saw an open house sign and went for it. It was way out of our price point but I loved it. Following the open house, I received a voicemail letting me know the price of the house had been reduced and that's when shit got real. We put an offer in and after the pain staking process of buying a home, we were first time home owners!
The little sitting area near our front door is my favorite part of our home. It is full of random pieces that we've collected for the past 3 years, and they somehow all work together. It's bright, full of pattern, and classic midcentury shapes. When I first brought home the framed bird print that hangs over the bar cart, Glen looked at me like I was crazy, he was not the biggest fan. He has since embraced it, or he's just leaned to live with my crazy.
Most of our pieces were either found while thrifting and antiquing or handed down to us by my family. One of my favorites is a midcentury china cabinet. It was the first big piece of furniture my grandparents purchased together when they first moved in to their first place and now it is a focal point of our first home.
We recently painted the back wall of our home and our family room a dark blue, and I couldn't be more in love with it. It made everything a bit more cozy and grounds the large and open main living space.
I wanted to make sure that most of our large pieces of furniture had clean modern lines. It allows me to play with funky accents, intricate frames, while keeping in the time period of the home and avoiding a hectic collection of odds and ends.
The framed print of the shoreline was my wedding gift to Glen. I purchased it at a framing and art store in Portsmouth, New Hampshire two days before our wedding. I wanted to make sure we had a piece of Portsmouth when we came back to our Florida home. Artwork and custom framing is an investment, but it'll end up making such an impact no matter how large or small.
When designing for a wedding or for our home I always try to focus on finding a classic thread that will stand the test of time and then mixing in those more trendy pieces. Creating a classic base allows all of the other details to really shine.
See our home tour featured onApartment Therapy!
The Copper Arch | Floral Design
To say our copper arch is our favorite rental item is actually pretty accurate. Take a peek at the weddings and events this metallic beauty has popped up at this past year!
Photo by Lauren Louise Photography
We have some exciting things happening over here. One, we're finally getting around to blogging a few of our favorite moments from this past year - such as this copper arch and all the fun outings it has made this year. We've also had some time to reflect on where we want this crazy/wonderful/always-changing business of ours to go, and we are back from vacation prepping for that wedding season peeking its head out from around the corner.
Photo by Ian Joseph Jones/Floral Design by Flower and Fringe
As some of you may know, Karina and Seth were the ENTIRE reason this gorgeous structure was built in the first place. They were also the first couple I was lucky enough to see celebrate their marriage at my favorite spot: Social House (we have two more weddings at the House coming up! Eek!).
Photo by Coco Prop Shop/Installation by Hayley Sheldon
The next outing wasn't a real wedding, but instead Wedding Meet hosted at Social House and featuring three rooms full of local wedding vendors and their gorgeous work. For this event, our copper arch was dressed up by the talented Hayley Sheldon with her handmade gold bamboo installation.
We love that the arch provides such a blank slate and allows other creatives and couples to play. This February one of our couples has collaborated with Hayley to design strands of paper petals to hang from the arch and act as an escort display at the Boca Resort. Can you say dreamy?
We love to rent to floral designers, other wedding professionals, and couples alike. Feel free to send an email to us and see pricing and reserve your date!
Alex + Sam's Bubbly Romance | Post-Elopement Celebration
When Francesca of Coco Prop Shop asked me if I wanted to help put together a sweet post-elopement celebration for one of her former co-workers, I jumped at the opportunity. The couple had recently tied the knot at the local courthouse and Francesca wanted to do something special for them before the newlywed haze had the chance to fade.
When Francesca of Coco Prop Shop asked me if I wanted to help put together a sweet post-elopement celebration for one of her former co-workers, I jumped at the opportunity. The couple had recently tied the knot at the local courthouse and Francesca wanted to do something special for them before the newlywed haze had the chance to fade.
Keeping it simple, romantic, bubbly, sweet, and local we took a Lake Worth couple and showered them with a little champagne at Social House, with a sweet mini cake from Earth and Sugar, and a photo session with Coco Prop Shop in downtown Lake Worth.
We wanted to keep the floral design simple while maintaining a romantic color palette. We chose minimal blooms while adding a variety of loose greenery in various shades and textures to keep the bouquet interesting and full of movement. We finished the bouquet with a trailing ribbon in a vibrant shade of blue which perfectly complimented the groom's suit and played nicely with the green of the candlesticks.
When styling the bar cart we took most of our inspiration from a found antique book of love stories. From there we pulled in intricate details, greens, and gold tones to compliment the gorgeous details found within the book.
The couple's story is definitely one that has weathered the test of distance and time.
Alex and Sam met in August of 2012 while on a trip in Puerto Rico with a group of mutual friends. Once they connected, Samantha initiated a long distance relationship with Alex until she graduated from college at FGCU. After a few years she eventually returned home to be with Alex, but their time got cut short when he had to relocate for the Marine Corps. The distance and time spent apart only made them appreciate one another more. They share a passion for traveling, experiencing the outdoors and exploring the water, but just being with each other is an exciting adventure in itself. Alex recently graduated as an officer and felt it was the perfect time to ask Samantha to spend the rest of her life with him. She said yes and within two weeks they were married!
Photography + Props | Coco Prop Shop
Floral Design, Styling + Rentals | Port + Palm Co.
Bride's Attire | Wildeflower Boutique
Hair + Makeup | Nina Lares
Venue | Social House
Cake | Earth + Sugar
Location | Lake Worth
Ann Norton Sculpture Garden Elopement | Inspiration Shoot
I remember the first time my mom took me to the Ann Norton Sculpture Garden. Which is pretty phenomenal considering she has dragged me into countless house museums and historic home tours. The woman is obsessed with history and architecture, a love I never quite understood or fully appreciated until recently.
I remember the first time my mom took me to the Ann Norton Sculpture Garden. Which is pretty phenomenal considering she has dragged me into countless house museums and historic home tours. The woman is obsessed with history and architecture, a love I never quite understood or fully appreciated until recently.
So when Chelsea of Chelsea Erwin Photography suggested putting together an inspiration shoot at The Ann Norton Sculpture Garden, I immediately said "yes"!.
Chelsea and I both share a love for small intimate weddings and elopements. We feel weddings should be so much more about the couple and this incredible commitment they are making to one another, rather than throwing a big party with every person you've ever said, "hi" to. Showcasing an elopement style wedding, in a gorgeous intimate location, with a few unique pieces intertwined, was our main focus.
Chelsea wanted to pull in deep rich colors, which gave us a great starting point for the overall design. We created an eclectic tablescape full of unique details including an indigo hand dyed Silk and Willow runner, an assortment of vintage botanical dinner plates, and vintage gold accented glassware, while the floral arrangement featured anemones, peonies, and roses in rich romantic shades of pink and purple.
Our rental inventory is comprised primarily of midcentury modern and art deco pieces, which we felt played nicely against the modern sculptures placed throughout the lush tropical gardens.
Collaborating on this shoot with so many local creatives was such a rewarding experience, and we hope it encourages couples to consider a custom designed elopement complete with vintage and handmade details.
Photography | Chelsea Erwin Photography
Design, Floral Design, and Rentals | Port + Palm Co.
Stationery | Gold Cotton Print
Jewelry and Gem Stones | Kattilac Gems
Hair and Makeup | Palm Beach Makeup Pro
Wedding Dress | Wildeflower Boutique
Venue | Ann Norton Sculpture Garden
Models | Taelor May + Walker Shipley
A Vintage, Modern and Bold Intimate Wedding | Inspiration Shoot
Earlier this year, when I happened upon an abandoned plant nursery in Delray Beach I knew it was time to start pulling a shoot together. Once I found this incredible dress, which fell perfectly in line with the style we were trying to capture - modern vintage with a touch of natural and wild elements, all the pieces came together.
Lauren, of Lauren Louise Photography, and I try to collaborate on styled shoots at least once a year. This year, when I happened upon an abandoned plant nursery in Delray Beach we knew it was time to start pulling the pieces of a shoot together. Next up for inspiration was this incredible dress which seemed to fall perfectly in line with the style we were trying to capture - modern vintage with a touch of natural and wild elements. The dress was a bold statement but offered a lot of possibilities given the variations in color found in the pattern and the brass buttons fastened across the shoulders.
When shoot day came, we loaded the cars and headed out to what was once an abandoned nursery, but was now a construction zone. Womp. Thankfully, we knew of an abandoned golf course right down the street which acted as the overgrown backdrop.
When it came time to design the reception, we knew we wanted to keep blue as the focal point while pulling in warm autumnal tones and bright pops of pink. I love to use brass and gold accents in my designs, and I was able to pull those materials in through the flatware and geometric candle holders.
The black chairs pictured were a labor of love and I'm so happy with how sleek and modern they are. My husband and I spent two days refinishing and reupholstering them and it was well worth the hours spent trying to get black paint out of every nail bed.
We wanted to show couples planning a wedding, elopement, cocktail party, or any intimate gathering that they can have fun with color and vintage pieces, while still keeping the overall style modern and current. I hope this inspires more couples to try something different, and approach vintage details in a new fresh and modern way.
Photography | Lauren Louise Photography
Floral Design, Styling + Rentals | Port + Palm Co.
Cake Design | Chic & Sweet Artisan Cakes
Stationery and Handlettering | Rachel Vanatta
Bridal Hairpiece | Nestina Accessories
Reception Venue | Social House
See the full shoot published on
Floridan Social
A Summer Soirée
Summer may be coming to an end, but my love for strawberries, rosé, and freesia will stay strong right through fall, winter, and spring. Florida summers are H O T. But that doesn't mean we can't revel in the fact that it is the best time to escape the heat with a crisp glass of rosé and a buttery cake topped with strawberries.
Summer may be coming to an end, but my love for strawberries, rosé, and freesia will stay strong right through fall, winter, and spring. Florida summers are H O T. But that doesn't mean we can't revel in the fact that it is the best time to escape the heat with a crisp glass of rosé and a buttery cake topped with strawberries.
Creating a seasonally inspired table design and menu incorporates fresh produce and beautiful flowers, each enjoying their season. I always visit the produce section first before crafting a menu. I look for the items that are organically grown and if they are on sale and look fresh that is normally an indication that there is an abundance of the fruit or vegetable. Strawberries are at their peak during the summer months and pair perfectly with a light rosé. The bright orange tomatoes were the sweetest little bursts of tomato I ever popped in my mouth. To balance the sweet of the tomatoes I selected a mild but peppery goat cheese. The bright pink freesia danced right in to my basket and joined our summer soirée.
Design and Rentals | Port + Palm Co.
Photography | Lauren Louise Photography
Juicing for the Wedding Tips from Alchemy Juice Co. | Health
I LOVE juicing, but often wonder if I'm doing it the right way. I wanted to get to the bottom of the juice trend and get an expert’s advice on the best way to go about it, so I sat down with Jen from Alchemy Juice Co. in West Palm Beach, FL. For all you brides-to-be looking for the best hair, skin and hangover cures, these expert tips are for you.
VEGETABLE-BASED VS FRUIT-BASED
We first asked Jen why a bride might consider juicing before a wedding, and she told us, “We reset our phones, computers and other devices regularly, but our bodies are the most important machines we can control. Often we forget that they need a reset as well.” In Jen’s opinion, “Both fruits and vegetables contain tons of vital phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals. A thoughtful combination that features a two-to-one ratio of vegetables to fruit can both cleanse and rebuild your system, while also tasting delicious without too much sugar.”
Jen tells us that juicing can even keep your immune system strong, pointing out that anything green will do the trick. She also let us in on a little secret. “I am also a huge ginger advocate. It is anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial.”
JUICING FOR CLEAR SKIN
According to Jen, clear skin has everything to do with diet. “Eliminating processed foods and including more whole foods and juices is integral to achieving that youthful glow,” Jen explains. “Our ‘heal juice’ is full of skin superfoods with spinach, parsley and green apple. You can never go wrong with ‘detoxify,’ which contains kale, spinach, cucumber, parsley, lemon and ginger. These all promote radiant skin.” Jen offered a bonus skin tip: “Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and remember that there are no overnight fixes. Start implementing these superfoods into your diet now to reap the rewards on the big day!”
TIPS FOR GETTING SHINY HAIR WITH JUICING
Jen’s got extra tips for brides who are dreaming of shiny, glossy hair. “Dark leafy vegetables contain vitamins A and C and help your body produce sebum, which acts as a natural conditioner for your hair. Carrots also contain vitamin A for a healthy scalp. Cucumber has silica, a mineral that promotes hair growth and nourishes roots. You can also add a beet. Red vegetables promote hair growth with phytochemicals and antioxidants like lycopene.”
THE JUICE ALL BRIDES SHOULD HAVE THE MORNING AFTER
Hangovers are not just a product of too much bubbly. “They happen mainly because of the toxicity of the alcohol and dehydration. By addressing these two issues, you can easily banish the symptoms. Drink a fruit juice that is high in fructose (fruit sugar) before going to bed. Fructose can help metabolize the alcoholic chemicals… remember to sip it before bed, and of course, hydrate! Tons of water!”
HOW TO GET YOUR FIANCÉ ON THE JUICE TRAIN
Jen acknowledged that getting others interested in juicing can be a common struggle. She tells us, “I think consistency is the key. Make one juice and share it. Their taste buds will change and they will begin craving the goodness of the juices. I can’t say I’ve noticed a ‘gateway juice,’ but green juices are all the rage. Beet seems to be tough for some people. I think you should start with things you know you like, and branch out from there. I’m a firm believer in moderation.”
BEAT THOSE HONEYMOON TRAVEL BUGS
We asked Jen to share her tips for beating any honeymoon travel bugs, and she told us, “Anything with ginger and turmeric! Both ingredients are full of anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Try them with carrot or citrus to boost vitamin C intake too.”
THE BEST JUICIER TO PUT ON A REGISTRY
It turns out the Le Creuset of the juicing world might just be the Omega VRT ($330). “That’s what I use at home and I love it! It’s easy to use and clean, and it’s as close to a true cold press as you can get. It runs about $400, which isn’t cheap, but if you plan on juicing every week, it pays for itself in no time. Glowing skin, gorgeous hair and overall well-being will be yours!”
RECIPE: JUICE FOR LONG HAIR
Ingredients:
- 2 carrots
- 1 cucumber
- 1 handful of spinach
- 1 handful kale
- 1 beet
Directions: Wash all ingredients, and then feed into a juicer. Pour into a glass, and enjoy!
RECIPE: JUICE FOR SHINY HAIR
- 4-5 Swiss chard leaves
- 1 lemon, peeled
- 1 orange, peeled
- 1 sweet potato, peeled
- 2 carrots
- 10 strawberries, tops removed
Directions: Wash and prep ingredients, then feed into a juicer. Pour into a glass, and enjoy!
Will you try juicing for the wedding?
(Photos via Babble, Simply Kaylyn and Linda Wagner)
See this blog and more of my wedding tips on Brit + Co.
Onli Beverages Launches The Onli Life | Editorial
When I met Lauren of Onli Beverages it took a lot of guts. I was at my first blog conference in Orlando and was standing in line waiting for lunch when I saw the display Onli Beverages had set up. A table was filled to the brim with bright and inspiring colors, a large hibiscus was splashed across canvas totes, and their branding made the creative marketing girl in me squeal a little. I looked at Glen and said, "I really want to give her my card," to which he responded, "so do it!"
I mustered up the courage and before I knew it Lauren and I had a coffee date, a dinner date, a photo shoot date, and a celebratory dinner date.
When Lauren told me that Onli was planning to launch a blog in March Lauren Louise Photography and I jumped at the opportunity to put together an editorial shoot for their latest adventure in marketing and branding. With Halle of Flower and Fringe on board, we exchanged vintage vessels, popped into Kismet to source a few wardrobe pieces, grabbed 20 macarons, set the studio, played dress up, and got ready for a day of Palm Beach midcentury retro goodness.
Our first set was inspired by cocktail garden parties
Floridians are lucky enough to enjoy in the mild months of the year, while the rest of the country shivers in parkas. I'm a firm believer in the cocktail party. They are intimate and the perfect way to enjoy time with close friends, try new food, and laugh as loud as you want.
The second set was inspired by the late 60's
We wanted to show a modern version of the basement parties my grandparents often and fondly reminisce. From time to time my grandma pulls out the photo albums and I'm told the stories of her wild married days. My grandparents had a group of friends who met on the weekends, put the kids to bed and would sneak down to the basement, play their favorite records, polish off two bottles of scotch and party the week away. All we were missing was the shag rug - but I guess that's where the modern spin comes into play.
Are you ready for The Onli Life?
Set Design and Styling: Jenny Does Weddings | Photography: Lauren Louise Photography | Floral Design: Flower and Fringe | Wardrobe + Jewelry: Kismet Vintage + Jenny Does Weddings | Macarons: Paneterie | Venue: The Jenny Does Weddings Studio | Client: Onli Beverages