aramava's Profile

I love this tour! I think it takes way more creativity to make an unexpected decor choice work in a very particular space. Shabby chic is not my style at all, but I loved seeing it here instead of the styles that one would expect. So refreshing to see a house tour without an Eames rocker!

It looks like your place is really nice, and that you have some great pieces already! Some awesome advice has already been given, so I'll throw some random thoughts on top of all that.

-Firstly, don't feel pressured to decorate it all at once. Come up with ideas, brainstorm a lot, and then let them germinate. Your ideas and your space will evolve. Let inspiration strike you when you're on vacation, at the museum, visiting a flea market, at an art gallery, thrifting, etc.
-If you want to make the place feel more feminine, I think a great way to do that is to incorporate more organic elements...through fabrics, woods, paper, flowers, etc.
-I love the blue accent. Would you consider a second accent color for variety? Maybe an orange to be funky. A turquoise to be random. Or keep some of the purple decor you already have to be thrifty.
-From the links you shared, it seems like you have money to spend on nice things. If you can, use that money on unique pieces. Pieces with a history. Pieces that are meaningful. Pieces that feel so YOU that you smile every time you look at them.
-Not everything has to be new, and some variety in that regard is what makes a space interesting. If you're in Chicago, you're not far from some really awesome vintage furniture stores. Lucky you!
-And if you have the time and inclination, invest some elbow grease in some DIY projects -- whether it's finding an old piece of furniture and painting it your favorite blue, creating some artwork for your walls, or just cleaning up some random accessories that you found at a flea market. You'll feel a sense of pride and ownership that no store purchase can give you.

HAVE FUN!