The Idea of Suspension

The idea of suspension, the fight against gravity, is an act in itself that is pretty cool. Now apply that to the decor for your wedding or reception, and it's a beautiful thing. Give your guests a visual focal point whether it's from the fabric drapes or lights framing the ceremony hall. The black and white photo is from my wedding reception. Look at how the drapes glow and frame our first dance. It's one of my favorite pictures from my wedding day.

These small glass orbs filled with individual succulents hang from a piece of driftwood centerpiece. Rustic and magic all-in-one.

You can suspend practically anything as long as you have a piece of string. The line up of these glass bottles with colorful flowers create a wonderful backdrop for this food spread table.

For glitz and glam, suspend crystals from branches that will shimmer into the night. Even buds of individual flowers like an orchid would be a fantastic floral sensation for the eyes. Have fun and make something float for your special event.

Bold Tips for the Home

Here are a few good and bold ideas for the home, and some won't break the bank, but it will certainly transform a space in your home.

#1 - Make your ceiling the focal point.
Paint it a non-white shade, and find a cool light fixture to showcase against it. But be sure your main side walls are a brighter shade to really make it stand out and balance the overall space.

#2 - Don't be afraid of a bold rug.
You would think a bold rug would overwhelm the space, but look how it compliments the soft pink hues and citron yellows here. It's a dining room with a statement — classic, modern and chic-sophistication all in one.

#3 - Go Dark!
Everyone has heard the phrase, "If you paint a room a dark color, it will make the room smaller." It's FALSE! What makes a room smaller is the incorrect size of furniture. Most individuals tend to buy oversized furniture for a space, and the fact that it is cluttered, too, makes it worse. Darker paint on walls actually makes it cozier, and it adds more depth and dimension to a room.

#4 - The unconventional find works.
I love this sawhorse table used as a bathroom stand for a sink. It's so shabby chic. The rugged wood against the really high-polished, modern bowl sink. This bathroom is perfectly composed from the colors to all the accessories. You never know, you may have something lying around your garage, or home that can be a substitute for something else. If you love it, and don't want to toss it, see if you can find another place it can have in your home. See tip #5 as another clear example of this.

#5 - (Re)Purpose your textiles.
Do you have a fun scarf, shawl, throw pillows, or even an area rug that you don't use anymore? And does it have a great artistic design to it? I say frame it, and make it art for your walls! Invest in a nice frame, and showcase it somewhere in your home as a focal point, or as an accent.

#6 - Gotta have one funky item in your home.
Have a look at Michael Arras custom coffee and side tables. I love the grouping of the pebble-like circles into a table surface. Very fun and sleek. I am keeping an eye on this furniture designer for a possible coffee table for my basement living space. You can select your custom wood stain, and he has great customer feedback. Whether it's an unusual lamp, vase, art, or a piece of furniture, you have to have one funky, designer looking item in your home. It makes your space — you. It reflects your personality, and it makes your home not-so-cookie-cutter. Combining the eclectic with modern actually makes your home more timeless, because it doesn't follow the trends that fade in time. And who has the money, or time, to keep refreshing the look of their homes to keep up with trends. The key to home decor that will last is balancing the Old with the New.

{Image via Etsy.com/shop/michaelarras}

Featured Photography: Mastin Studio

Happy Friday everyone! The weather isn't the best today and neither is the temperature. Well at least we have these summery, warm images that we can look at and dream about. Isn't this a sensational engagement shoot? Simple, casual, but very romantic. The shoot location can really set the tone of your photo shoot.

These photos were shot by Mastin Studio, a Seattle-based photographer, and there work can arguably be seen as fine art. Every image they shoot is artfully composed from composition, lighting and taking into account their subjects. His portfolio of work is just beautiful.

{Photography via MastinStudio.com}

Design w/Chon: Fabulous Victorian-Inspired Invite

Here's a sneak peak to a wedding invite that is in the works. I get more and more excited as I work on it, because I continually get new ideas on how to improve upon the design and make it truly unique for this soon-to-be wedding couple. Can you believe this invite cover design has taken me over 6 hours, and it's not even done... well, it's true. Everything you see here is custom, from the illustrated portraits of the couple to the placement of each letter, word and spacing. The act of balancing all these elements is an art form, and it takes a trained eye. Yes I know, tedious, but well worth it for the end result.

My inspiration for this invite design is based on the Classic, Bold European Moodboard. My client loves the Victorian Era and tradition, but we didn't want it to feel old, but reflect their young, fun personalities. I discussed with her cameo portraits and calligraphy that will bring the Victorian era that she seeks; however, I had to bring my design flair with bold patterns, graphic-artsy typography, and break the mold of tradition with this not-so-standard invite cover design. I also brought in other iconic elements of this genre with an old key and an abstract heart locket. It's a blend of sophistication and whimsy with a nod to past influences. Who knew an invite can say so much? To read the whole back story and inspiration for this design, click here.

Invite Cover Design (pt. 1)

Classic, Bold European Moodboard

{Invite & Moodboard designed by Chon}

I plan to make this whole wedding invite into a zig zag fold with 3 main panels. The top panel is going to feature the cover design with probably some more modifications, but the general look and design is set in stone. The middle panel will contain all the introductory, pertinent info from the bride's parents names along with wedding location and time. And the last 3rd panel will include a custom map with a perforated RSVP postcard. The printing technique that I want to use is black foil stamping onto an uncoated, light grey letterpress paper. I still need to incorporate an Emerald Green color into the overall design, and the presentation of the invite, but I think it's coming along nicely for now.