This week has been all about breathing and reminding myself of what matters. I shared most of the unexpected plot twists with you last week, and just to make sure I got the memo, a few more doozies showed up to round out the storyline this week. But  I’ve decided I’m not going to give them any more air time because I am here, things are progressing, and life is good.

It’s at this point in any project that I am reminded of the reality of the business of design: Schtuff happens. Always. No one is immune to it. Whether you are decorating one room, renovating or creating an addition, or designing and building a brand new home, the safest bet is to expect the unexpected.

The truth is, it’s our expectations that can get us into (or out of) hot water in just about everything in life. Expect everything to go perfectly and you’re setting yourself up for major disappointment. You’re also slowing your own ability to be flexible and meet the plot twists with strategic thinking and innovative solutions. Expect that things won’t be perfect and you’ll be ready to deke left or right as needed, dodging the punches life throws at you like a designer Mohamed Ali. I for one am working on being lighter on my feet in life. Float like a butterfly, right?

Butterflies are beautiful, and so are the details that have taken shape this week! First off, take a gander at the gorgy-gorgeous accessories that have been trickling in over the last few days.

I’m totally in love with this horn handled tray from AllModern. It’s modern and classic with a bit of an edge and I love the beveled rim, because simple details make me happy. The vase is one I actually borrowed to style my last ORC space and I’ve been coveting it ever since, so I’m beyond thrilled that it is finally coming to make itself a permanent home here Chez Walker.

I’m also thrilled to finally share the unusual project I have been scheming with the gorgeous new Thibaut Panthera wallpaper. This paper is a part of the newly released Bridgehampton Collection of both wallpapers and fabrics, and the entire collection is STUNNING. I cannot wait to find a project for Demetrius, but in the meantime, here’s how I snuck Panthera into this project.

After lining the kitchen bookcase in that stunning faux leather alligator paper, I couldn’t bear to just put plain old regular cookbooks back on the shelf. They needed to up their game a bit. Enter Panthera to wrap the cookbooks and elevate them to absolute edgy elegance. To label them, I just used this chalkboard contact paper, a liquid gold pen and my developing calligraphy skills. Not quite true calligraphy when just using a pen instead of a proper calligraphy nib, but the pen worked like magic on the contact paper and the whole thing was gratefully way easier than I anticipated.

I have to admit that I love styling. Many of my interior designer friends (if not most) hire a stylist for all of their photo shoots, but I could never do that. As I always say, details are a love language, and for me they are such an important way to make sure that your space tells your story. In this case, it’s a story that involves being obsessed with hand lettering since I was a little girl. Not a big deal, but a little, lovely detail that matters to me.

More styling details in the mix include these two Dwell Studio numbers that arrived this week from AllModern.

I get asked quite often both by fellow designers and design enthusiasts for my tips on styling, so I’m sharing my Secrets To Styling Like a Pro in this lovely little downloadable below. If you’re facing a bare bookcase or vignette waiting to happen and don’t know where to start, click on the image below to get started!

In other VERY exciting news, our gorgeous and super tech-savvy new Brizo Solna faucet and soap dispenser have been installed and I’m in germaphobe, touchless technology heaven.

Please excuse my iPhone photo (I cannot wait for the professional reveal images, including the new faux roman valance that is on its way in the gorgeous Groundworks for Lee Jofa Kelly Wearstler Channels!).

You’ll notice two things in the photo above that make me VERY happy. First, you’ll see that the faucet handle is open but there’s no water flowing. This is because the Solna is equipped with Smart Touch technology, so all we have to do is touch it anywhere on the faucet or handle to turn it on and off. No getting raw chicken goup on my faucet ever again! All I do is use my wrist instead and voila! Happiest. Cook. Ever.

The second extremely happy detail in this image is barely visible, but it is the not-yet-paneled but super-incredibly-thrilling-because-it-is-finally-here-and-works-like-a-dream Bosch dishwasher to the right of the sink that was installed today! Friends, if you ever want to be grateful for this now-standard luxury appliance, live without it for four months. You’ll never complain about loading or unloading your dishwasher again. This baby is particularly exciting because it is one of the most silent dishwashers on the market and tricked out with extra racking at the top to allow us to max out the capacity. I also love that Bosch forgoes the food grinders that ALWAYS die in dishwashers (hello reason our old one is headed for the dump!) and use a food strainer system instead that is way smarter and more functional. Here’s a peek at the interior of this baby.

I don’t generally want to get an appliance as a gift, but this beauty is the happiest present to arrive at my door in a long time.

In other news, I have a couple of fun art projects on the go. One is top secret and will no doubt be the showstopper of the reveal (though I’ll let you in on it next week and spoil my own surprise).

The second one represents my always-necessary dose of quirk for this project in the form of a dipped portrait inspired by one of my favourite artists and illustrators, Oliver Jeffers, and I need you to weigh in. I’m working with this lovely lady from Anewall and feel her demure demeanour will only be highlighted by receiving the Oliver Jeffers treatment by way of a gorgeous historical paint colour from Farrow & Ball. The question is, which colour to choose? The options are a delicious, classic red called Blazer or an energizing blue called Drawing Room Blue. Let me know which one you think I should use in the comments!

Also on the art front, if you follow me on Instagram you’ll know there have been some very exciting arrivals this week. First up, this evocative limited edition image by Jeremy & Claire Weiss via ArtStar which looks amazing all framed up in its picture-perfect Framed & Matted frame.

Also on the exciting art arrivals list from this week is this gorgeous signed, limited-edition Jaime Derringer print from Minted. I have wanted one of Jaime’s pieces in my collection for years now, and I love the dynamic energy this piece brings to the space, especially in its simple but modern Minted copper frame.

As you can see, this week has been all about the styling details and art coming together. I still have the gallery wall for the hallway to complete (see the before below),

not to mention that top secret art project yet to finish and share with you all, and of course there’s the drapery to pick up and install, the rug still to be installed, LOTS more styling to be done, the sofa and chair replacements to confirm, more pillows yet to arrive, the gorgeous Essex chairs from Whittington to pick up, the kitchen to style, the whole house to clean because it’s basically turned upside down right now, and a whole lot more on my never-ending to-do list!

I know I’m not the only one beating back my to-do list with a stick! Be sure to check out what my fellow ORC design daredevils have been up to this week as there is some serious magic happening out there, friends.

Claire Brody | The Curated House | Design Manifest  | Driven by Decor  | Honey We’re Home  | Hunted Interior  | The Makerista | Making it Lovely | My Sweet Savannah | Pencil and Paper Co. | The Pink Clutch | Savvy Home  | Simplified Bee | Sketch 42 | Jill Sorensen | Orlando Soria | Thou Swell  | The Vault Files  | Waiting on Martha | The Zhush | Media Partner House Beautiful | TM by CIH 

Until next week, I’m off to git er done one to-do list item at a time.