While I’m on this summer kick going into the holiday weekend, I had to share the latest images from H&M for their summer 2013 campaign. Being photographed in the Riviera Maya doesn’t hurt, but Terry Richardson and Doutzen Kroes together could make any collection a stunning standout, even a budget-friendly one. H&M definitely brought in the big guns for this sultry shoot…

Are we ready for summer or what?

Shop the H&M summer collection here >

Photography by Terry Richardson for H&M

The post H&M SUMMER 2013
Doutzen Kroes by Terry Richardson appeared first on small shop by Erika Brechtel.

I could pretend that the upcoming Memorial Day weekend has me in summer mode, but let’s be honest, I could be in summer mode all year long. Lucky for me, some of the newest arrivals over at Spanish retailer Zara Home are sustaining my sunkissed delusions with tropical touches for my warmer weather decor. Let’s go travel-destination-style today, shall we?

 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14

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Are we feeling it?

The post SPANISH STYLE
Zara Home for Summer appeared first on small shop by Erika Brechtel.

My two favorite looks from Coachella were from models Alessandra Ambrosio and Miranda Kerr — these moms rocked it! I especially love the way Ms. Kerr punked out a palm tree tee with black leather shorts and biker boots. Being a Hawaii/Cali girl, the palm tree holds a special place in my heart, so it’s no wonder I’ve got a soft spot for this new trend taking over my favorite shopping sites. Get the look for yourself in just about any colorway, a little or a lot…

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12

Will you be sporting the palm tree trend this summer too?

The post SHOP THE TREND
Palm Tree Photo Real appeared first on small shop by Erika Brechtel.

It’s a long time coming, but hopefully worth the wait! If you’ve been following me for at least (ahem) a year, you know I’ve been slowly but surely working on transitioning my daughter’s nursery to a big girl room. While I didn’t want to have to get new of everything, I definitely wanted to tie in a “cute bohemian” theme somehow, some way. Lo and behold, with the help of an elephant lamp, a vintage peacock headboard, a D.I.Y. canopy, John Robshaw, Jonathan Adler, and a last-minute kantha ikat quilt purchase*, I was actually able to pull it off! My FIRLs Irene and Sabra came to the rescue to style and photograph the space, and I am THRILLED with the result, as is Leighton (clearly!). I hope you are too! Sources below…

Sources:

BED
My D.I.Y. canopy tutorial
John Robshaw bedding
kantha ikat quilt
Jonathan Adler heart pillow
For Like Ever poster
peacock headboard: vintage

WINDOW SEAT
Celerie Kemble “Bleecker” fabric in Absinthe for seat and bolsters
John Robshaw “Mahout” fabric for back pillows
Jonathan Adler pink letter pillow

DRESSER
elephant lamp
 flamingo watercolors
acrylic tray
mirror originally from Z Gallerie

ETC.
navy pineapples
blabla dolls
pink herringbone hamper basket
bookshelf originally from IKEA
acrylic/hot pink lamp, white horse, pink box: Target, in-store
giraffe, butterfly stool, ruffle pillow, globe: HomeGoods (*thank you Irene!)
nightstand: vintage, refurbished (a $25 score!)
wall color: “Silver Bells” by Benjamin Moore
…all artwork not listed above by Leighton Brechtel 

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 A million thank you’s to Irene and Sabra for helping me pull it together and making it look so pretty for you all! These immensely talented ladies are posting Leighton’s room today too — can’t wait to see what pics they chose. Go check them out!

Design by Erika Brechtel; photo styling by Irene Lovett; photography by Sabra Lattos

The post L’s BIG GIRL ROOM REVEAL!
“Cute Bohemian” appeared first on small shop by Erika Brechtel.

Show me an open-back dress — especially in a bright solid hue — and I just can’t help myself. Loving all the easy breezy options for summer, for a warm night out on the town or a day strolling around town. Loose fitting and showing just enough skin is my preference, but there’s an abundance of cuts and colors for every excuse and occasion…

1 / 2 / 3 (also in black) / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 (also in yellow & coral) / 11 / 12

I just realized I have one in blush, orange, pink, green and black!  I need a blue to round it out, right?

The post SUMMER DRESSING
Back It Up appeared first on small shop by Erika Brechtel.

There are some people in this world that you meet, you click, you heart…even virtually. Client Sabra Lattos (previously of The Lonely Wife Project) and I met through our blogs, but we quickly became FIRLs and I adore her both personally and professionally. So when this clever, talented, wonderful woman decided to go for it and branch out on her own, I was so honored that she reached out to me to help her create a visual foundation upon which to build her budding photography business. Out of this successful collaboration came a logo, brand and website of which I am so proud. Introducing Sabra Lattos Photography…

The logo is always the first step, and it’s important for photographers to have an icon they can use for watermarking. For Sabra’s business cards (above), we went with a black foil stamp on a pale mauve solid printed card. Next up, the website and blog — we chose to keep it simple and uncluttered to ensure her photography really shines through.

It’s one of my most favorite-est types of projects in the world: helping a friend I admire create a new brand for herself as she starts a new life. I feel so fortunate that I could help Sabra enter the photography world with a brand that complements her stunning work. I have no doubt that we are just seeing the beginning of a beautiful career!

Do go check out more of Sabra’s work and her fab blog! 

And many thanks to Zoe Rooney for her expert development, as always!

The post PROJECT LAUNCH
Sabra Lattos Photography appeared first on small shop by Erika Brechtel.

For those that don’t follow me on Instagram (say what?!) you may not know that I share snippets from around my house every so often that I don’t share here. I work from home so it’s fun and easy for me to take a quick snapshot during my day when a little something catches my eye. It can be a welcome distraction in that Monday thru Friday, 9 to 5 grind sometimes too…

SHOP THE LOOK:
1. faux gazelle horns, “Domestic Art” book / 2. “bonsoir” pillowcases / 3. Leigh Viner photograph / 4. crystal block lamp / 5. brass cocktail table, Louis Vuitton Marc Jacobs book / 6. colored pencils with brass holder, Diptyque Baies candle, urchin

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Are you on Instagram too? Share your handle!

The post VIGNETTE VIEW
My House via Instagram appeared first on small shop by Erika Brechtel.

Although my body this week has been under the weather, my mind has definitely been traveling to warmer weather. My girlfriends and I are planning our next escape (Vegas? Cabo? Miami again? Oooh, Miami!) and after seeing such stunning swimwear spreads featuring the one-piece, I gotta say: I could definitely rekindle that flame, especially the deep plunge or crochet. But what do we think: too cougar, or sexy kitten?

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And Happy Mother’s Day to all you hot mamas out there!

Images: 1. Free People / 2. Koray Birand for Bal Harbour / 3. Branislav Simoncik for Elle Czech / 4. Koray Birand for Net-a-Porter / 5. Hannah Khymych for Elle Mexico / 6. Xavi Gordo for Elle Spain / 7 & 8. Jenny Gage and Tom Betterton for Elle France / 9. Della Bass for Fashion Gone Rogue

The post HOT SUMMER TREND
The One-Piece appeared first on small shop by Erika Brechtel.

I apologize for the brief (but beautiful!) post today — swamped with deadlines, meetings and illness. But I wanted to be sure to share this space that keeps me going whenever I get to steal a glance at it. A living room by designer Catherine Kwong for the San Francisco Decorator Showcase House 2013, it’s a 1970′s sophisticate’s dream. The Cy Twombly-inspired floor and the Milo Baughman-like chairs are leaving me dizzy with delight!

“The design was inspired by Mick and Bianca Jagger in the 1970’s – the young and wild, traipsing-to-Saint Tropez years. I was doing research for a client and discovered all of these beautiful old photos of Mick and Bianca that depicted a wild romance. They were impossibly stylish and full of excitement, with a bit of scandal, of course. So I designed this room for them; a place for late-night parties with rock royalty and the jet-set. I wanted the room to be just like Mick and Bianca: luxe and decadent, but with a rock ‘n roll edge.”  ~ Catherine Kwong

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I have a soft spot for all the above. You may remember I have this photo in my dining room:

I think I’ll take a little more inspiration from this past power couple too!/

interior design by Catherine Kwong; images 1, 4, 6 by Bess Friday (via); images 2, 3, 5 by Patricia Chang (via)

The post 70′S EURO GLAM
à la Mick & Bianca Jagger appeared first on small shop by Erika Brechtel.

I haven’t done an “E List” in quite a while, but what better reason than upcoming Mother’s Day? You know me though, my version is gonna be about putting the sexy in this mama’s day, both in her home and closet, with 10 ideas to take it to the next level…

 Take her to dinner, but surprise her with a shiny new clutch before stepping out on the town.
Inge Christopher clutch, $168

 Give her a day spa gift certificate, and a hot little number to soak up some sun.
Melissa Odabash python one-piece, $250

 Jewelry is an easy go-to, but make your gem sparkle with stones as unique as she is.
Heather Hawkins black geode stud earrings, $99

 On a budget? Take the kids out for a movie and surprise her with a bubble bath surrounded by votives of candlelight.
Ombre hurricane, $11.89 ea.

 Alexander McQueen. ‘Nuff said.
Alexander McQueen skull-embellished iPhone sleeve, $260

 Demure, fresh, mysterious, and lasting…just like her.
Balenciaga Paris eau de parfum, $100

 Add a little “wild” west to the bedroom (wink wink).
Cowhide pillows, set of 2, $127.90

 Treat her to a weekend getaway, and sneak this slinky low-back number into her overnight bag.
Tara Matthews ombre embellished dress, $250

 Keep it simple, stay at home, but make her a fancy dinner and set the table fancy-like with napkin rings.
Raw agate napkin rings, set of 4, $15.96 

 Send her off on a girls’ night out in these shimmering sandals. You = the man.
Rebecca Minkoff “Barista” sandals, $325

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Note to moms: feel free to forward these ideas to the hubs. We all know they need help. ;0)

The post THE E LIST
Mama’s Day Edition appeared first on small shop by Erika Brechtel.