Shopping: I’m not a major thrifter, but I was blown away by Pretty People Vintage in Alexandria; it’s amazing. I also love WINK boutique in Georgetown. I could probably outfit my entire closet from there. I also love poking around the Hour Shop on King Street in Alexandria. It’s a whole boutique dedicated to outfitting a magnificent bar, with everything from funky cocktail napkins to vintage high balls. It’s a gold mine for gifts!
Trend watch: In fashion, I’m loving neon, tribal prints and color blocking for spring. For interiors, I’m really into brass accessories. Kelly Wearstler’s brass leg table sculptures are so timeless and unexpected. They’re a great way to add an element of surprise to a space. And on the walls, I’m loving dark, bold colors like deep grays, matte blacks and navy.
(Meg Biram/MEG BIRAM) - At Biram’s online art shop, she lists the music that she listened to while painting her abstract pieces. “I see you and me” (8 by 10 inches) was inspired by Foster the People’s “Torches.”
(Kelly Wearstler) - Biram says Brass Legs sculptures, below, by Kelly Wearstler ($1,495 at www.kellywearstler.com) are a great way to spice up a desk or end table.
What’s next: I’m speaking at the Altitude Design Summit in Salt Lake City, a huge conference for lifestyle bloggers. I’m hosting a panel on up-and-coming blogs and can’t wait to talk about Art Hound, a site dedicated to showcasing and buying art. I’m obsessed with the presentation on her site because it looks like a gallery. It focuses on what’s important.
New Year’s resolution: In 2011, I made a list of 10 regular features to help set my blog on a schedule. In 2012, I want to expand on them. There’s a show on Bravo called “Work of Art” that I’m obsessed with. It’s a lot like “Project Runway,” only the contestants are judged on their art. So I’m going to host a monthly art competition on my blog called Gallery M, with sponsors and judges, the whole bit. And the beauty of it? No casting sessions. Because it’s on a blog, anyone can participate.
Top three de-cluttering tips: (1) Set aside an afternoon for big spaces like an office or closet and make three piles: keep, donate and sell. (2) Only buy things you really love. I believe that when we open our closets, we reach for the same few signature pieces. The things we don’t like just sit on the hangers taking up space. (3) Constantly edit. If you find something that you haven’t worn six months after a massive clean-out, toss it!
Advice to new bloggers: Ask yourself if it’s something you truly have time for. Then write a plan. Think about the subjects you want to cover, brainstorm ideas and compose an editorial calendar for when you plan to post. Find the purpose and point of view of your blog beforehand.
Living Well is a series introducing Washingtonians who live stylishly.
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