Life | Recently

Client's vintage Master Craft mirror

My new headboard and fur pillow!

Vintage brass table by Broncz

Suede and brass vintage buffet

Studded trestle table

Ebonized Vintage French Louis XVI Table w/ Tooled Leather Top (on hold for Darryl Carter)

Wow, what a week!  I was so busy running around town that I had zero time to blog.  Well that's a lie, I did have some free time but that was spent catching up on emails, hanging out with friends, going to yoga (I'm officially obsessed) and watching both seasons of Homeland in less than a week!  Am I the only one that thinks Brody is a babe?  

Anywho, pictured above are some of the lovely things I came across this week; a vintage brass Master Craft mirror hung in a client's entry, my new tufted headboard and vintage fur pillow, lots of vintage goodies at Old Plank including a French brass table with pyramid fasteners by Broncz, a fabulous black suede and brass 1960s French buffet,  a gorgeous studded trestle table that I would give my left arm for, and an ebonized vintage French Louis VXI table.  While I may not be able to afford any of these pieces they will definitely serve as inspiration for future projects.  Inspiration is everywhere so keep your eyes peeled this weekend!  See you Monday.

images by kristin kerr luber

Life | Recently

There have been lots of changes going on in my life recently--some good, some not so much--and they've all made me realize one thing, nothing is forever.  It sounds so pessimistic but I mean it in the best way possible.  I started working from home two months ago and in that time I've had a lot of time to focus on what it is that I really want and my priorities.  A year ago I thought I had my whole life figured out--I was living in my dream apartment with the love of my life and working towards quitting a job that I was less than thrilled to go to everyday--and now I feel like I'm back at square one.  It's scary but this sense of unknown has forced me to break out of my sometimes shy shell and do things I never would have done before.  I'm working toward a new normal and it's quite exciting...I've been spending more time with friends, reaching out to other bloggers and small business owners and trying new things (like working out).  Some highlights include painting my office, chopping off my hair (new me, new look...I call this the Rose Byrne), client work and exploring Chicago.  Everyday has been different and that scares the crap out of me but that's what makes life exciting, right?

It's all so very exciting and I truly appreciate everyone's kind words of encouragement on the Kristin Kerr Interiors post that I shared last month!  I have some exciting things in the works...including my big apartment reveal, so stay tuned! 

What have you been up to recently?

Kristin Kerr Interiors | Office Space

Happy Friday!  I've been meaning to write this post since November but the timing never felt right.  Why you ask?  Well, I needed to figure out some of the logistics before screaming from the rooftops but now, two months and one can of chalkboard paint later, I feel proud to share the news that I am officially self employed and the proud owner of Kristin Kerr Interiors!

Yikes, right? In November I stopped working at my full-time finance job and finally took the plunge into the world of self employment.  The timing felt right but to be honest the reality of my current situation didn't really sink in until after the holidays.  I am so thrilled to be starting this new adventure but at the same time I am completely overwhelmed.  At my old job, everyday would crawl by but now I feel like there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done.

Where am I going with this?  This week I decided to make Kristin Kerr Interiors feel a bit more official so I cleared out my den and set up shop.  I already owned pretty much everything in the inspiration board pictured above I just needed to get organized and make the space look pretty.  My all white walls were killing me so I bought a $9 can of chalkboard paint and went to town on one of the walls.  I don't know if I will actually write on the wall with chalk (I feel like it gets too messy) but I like the contrast of the black vs white walls and the way my Ikea pendant pops against it (first picture above). I'll photography the space as soon as I clean up the piles of paper but for now I leave you with some of the spaces that inspired my design.

The office is just the beginning of the good things to come so I hope you will follow along on my journey and, of course, pass along my information to anyone you know who is in need of a designer!

images kristin kerr // habitually chic // home dsgn // carlyle designs // dvf desk via instyle

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  The last few weeks of December were jam-packed with celebrations, decorations, and tasty treats!  A few festive highlights – finding thoughtful gifts for my family and making sure the wrapping was as perfect as the present inside, baking sweet treats like tree-shaped coconut macaroons and peppermint bark, setting the table and making the floral arrangements for my family's Christmas dinner table, inheriting a few more pieces of silver service ware from my great aunt, having a Margot Tenenbaum moment for a night out on the town with my love, Paulie, and so much more.  The month flew by and I can hardly believe it's already 2013.  Here's to a new year and the adventures ahead!

Many Thanks!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I did a little rearranging around my apartment this weekend and snapped this picture of a vignette I set up on my bedside table.  One of my goals is to start sharing more original content on the blog so please bare with me as I try to perfect my photography skills!  I'm so thankful for the comments you leave on my posts so I would love it if you'd let me know what you would like to see more of here on Simply Smitten.  Any and all feedback is welcome!  See you Monday!

(Image by Kristin Kerr for Simply Smitten)

My Weekend in Pictures

I was thrilled to see these Lulie Wallace paintings hanging in Anthroplogie! I had seen Lulie's work online but now after seeing it in person I can say I'm completely obsessed. From the vibrant color palettes to the bold brush­strokes and geomet­ric forms, they are just perfection!

I have not taken off these Gap loafers since I bought them.  I love the way they look with my Cabernet toothpick cords.  Can you say Fall uniform?

My vintage credenza was finally delivered!  I can't find a good "before" picture but image a very unattractive brown wood.  I had the piece stripped then stained ebony--I wanted it to have a Jacques Adnet feel so I added some blinging brass ring pulls in the center of the doors.

Business on the outside and party on the inside!  The interior was painted a shocking citron yellow.  Oh and have I mentioned that I'm a magazine hoarder?

I took this picture of the Chicago Botanic Gardens when I was a junior in high school...10 years later I finally framed it and hung it up next to my new credenza.

And on Sunday I celebrated Thanksgiving with all of my best friends.  I am so very lucky to have such a close knit group of friends here in Chicago.  We have been celebrating Thanksgiving every year since we graduated college and although people have moved away and relationships have changed it's the once day a year we all make an concerted effort to attend and catch up.  I love it.  Thanks for hosting Lynch!  Oh and that's just a small glimpse at her fabulous apartment!

How was your weekend?  I feel like I have so much to do before Thanksgiving on Thursday but I like to think I work better under pressure!  What do you have planned for this short holiday week?

Happy Friday!

Wow, what a week!  Can you believe it's almost Thanksgiving?  I had planned on sharing a Turkey Day tablescape post today but life got in the way.  I'm rushing out the door to go check on my newly refinished credenza (I posted about it here and it's finally being delivered tomorrow!) so be sure to check back on Monday to see some before and after shots!  And if time is on my side, I'm going to try my very hardest to post my last-minute Thanksgiving tablescape ideas later today or tomorrow.  In the mean time, here is a lovely little vignette that I recently snapped a picture of while shopping for a client.  The green malachite, yellow, and black and white color palette is a nice little follow-up to yesterday's post, right?  TGIF!

Life | Risk Aversion

Happy New Year!  Ok, I know it's not January first but in my mind August will always represent the beginning of a new year.  Resolutions are usually associated with a new year so it's funny that the events that happened in the last week in July left me questioning my future. This past year has been a difficult one...my boyfriend of 9 years moved to DC in October, I graduated from interior design school and started my own business...all of this while continuing to work full-time as a financial analyst.   I've spread myself thin for fear of making the wrong choice. 

You see, when I graduated from school I interviewed for several interior design internships where they basically wanted me to work for free for 6 months and at the end of that there would be no guarantee that I would be offered a full-time position.  Seriously?  I have a B.S. in Finance, 5 years work experience and an A.A.S in Interior Design and you want me to work for free? I know that the experience is invaluable but I'm 27, my parents do not/will not financially support me and I have rent and bills to pay!  So how do you step away from a full-time job that pays extremely well, matches your 401k and has amazing benefit? I still don't know.

So when Sara posted this quote on Instagram a few weeks ago it immediately struck a chord with me and got me thinking.  Over the past year I have been my own worst enemy.  I have held myself back from experiencing amazing opportunities because I'm a perfectionist.  Several major websites have asked to feature my apartment but for some odd reason I continually put it off because I fear it won't be good enough.  Ah, seriously Kristin, wtf.  I know if I had the time I could do great things and grow my business but I'm risk averse (catch that finance lingo?) and fear not knowing the future.

I'm telling you this because I constantly receive emails from people asking for career advice and telling me that they're inspired by my story (read my About section).  I don't feel qualified to give advice but I hope that by sharing my story and struggles in this new year I can continue to carve my own path because, honestly, I need to stop waiting and start doing!

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday dear readers!  I've been a bad, bad blogger this week so please accept these flowers as a token of my appreciation for all of you that take the time to pop in every day and check out my ramblings.  I love hearing from each and every one of you so thank you, your comments mean the world to me.

I have a some great adventures planned for this weekend so be sure to check back on Monday to see My Weekend in Pictures!  

Hugs,

KKL

(Image KKL for Simply Smitten)