Design Happens

If you’ve perused HGTV.com’s entertaining and holiday sections, then you certainly know who Camille Styles is. And if not, then you need to get to know her because she’s fabulous. And to be honest, I’m not quite sure how she manages to do it all. (There are only 24 hours in a day!) As the owner and creative director of Camille Styles Events, Camille runs her Austin-based event planning company with the help of a top-notch team. She’s also a lifestyle expert and the founder of CamilleStyles.com, where she shares daily entertaining ideas, DIY projects, recipes and inspirational design ideas to hundreds of thousands of readers each month. Plus, she’s the host of HGTV’s upcoming mobile party planning app. This girl does it all.

Camille Styles of Camille Styles Events :: Photography by Paige Newton

Camille is all about stress-free party planning and stress-free style, and those qualities are evident right when you click into her blog, CamilleStyles.com. It’s inspirational, light and feels completely natural. The blog is made up of a team of nine writers, including Camille, who all contribute through various features or specialties. And most of what you’ll find is brand-new, original projects, recipes and designs created  by the team, and that’s what I love most. I know I’m seeing fresh ideas I won’t find anywhere else. (You’ll go Pinterest-crazy after visiting Camille’s blog — guaranteed.)

Speaking of Pinterest, Camille’s page is chock-full of more than 2,000 food, party and decorating ideas. So, start following and pin away.

When I come to Camille’s blog, there are certain features I immediately check out and bookmark. With summer right around the corner (or practically here), I’m constantly on the search for delicious summer recipes and cocktails, plus easy DIY projects I can do on a rainy day. Here are my favorite Camille Styles’ features and some ideas you can enjoy, too.

Tuesday Tastings, The Perfect Bite + Bottoms Up

Pear, Chevre and Honey Flatbread Recipe :: Ginger-Plum Sangria Recipe

I think we can all agree that one of the best Pinterest categories is “food.” If you love to cook or are a novice chef like me, check out “Tuesday Tastings” and “The Perfect Bite” where Camille and blogger Jess Simpson share recipes and mouth-watering photography. I’m dying to try this pear, chevre and honey flatbread recipe (above, left). Remember the bohemian-style wedding we shared with you last week? This yummy dish was featured there, too. It would be the perfect addition to an outdoor summer soiree, don’t you think?

Don’t forget those poolside cocktails! Camille shared this ginger-plum sangria recipe just before Cinco de Mayo in her new weekly feature, “Bottoms Up.” This is the perfect place to pick up delectable cocktail (and mocktail) concoctions for small and large gatherings alike.

DIY + Transformed

Camille’s blog features some creative and original DIY projects, from home decor to entertaining. Bonus: Most of them can be completed in just a few hours. Here are a few of my favorites:

DIY: Pop-Up Place Cards

I first saw these pop-up place cards on Pinterest and thought, “I could never hold a craft knife that steady to make those cuts.” Then I thought, “Practice makes perfect, I’m totally making those.” First of all, I absolutely love the navy-and-white striped napkin with the hot-pink on top. What a color combo! Then, the pop-up design. These would be the perfect accessories for my upcoming birthday shindig.

Transformed: Antler Coat Rack

Deer sheds have recently become a hot trend in the design world, especially if they’ve been taped off and given a clean splash of paint in various hues. Claire Zinnecker gave these antlers a mod makeover and turned them into the perfect storage solutions for jewelry, scarves and coats.

Transformed: Mason Jar Herb Garden

I’ve been dying to give my not-so-green thumb a try again with this indoor Mason jar herb garden (even though it’s a tad late in the season). The jars are the perfect little containers for sprouting herbs. And by mounting them on an old wooden board, you can instantly spice up the kitchen with some green “artwork.”

Monochromatic Monday

Monochromatic Monday: Ocean, Water, Sky

It’s all about color and pattern this season, so I love when Camille spices up my Mondays with a big, happy, inspirational color board. A few weeks ago, she even hit our Color of the Month pick for May before we even picked it. That dreamy collage is the perfect start to a week, wouldn’t you agree?

Do You Dare

Do You Dare: Worldly Walls :: Photo via ELLE DECOR

“Do You Dare” is perfect for those of us looking to stretch out of our design comfort zones. Michelle Sereno shares some of the edgiest and questionable design trends of the moment and then gets feedback from readers. Would you do it? Yes? No? For the first installment, Michelle pulled in the world map trend. My response: YES. I’d put a map in any room of the house with ease. I particularly love the contemporary, oversized map in this eclectic kitchen. Perfection!

Bring It Home

Workspace Inspiration :: Photo via Skonahem

Recreate the Look :: Bring It Home: Redefined Workspace

If you’re anything like me, as soon as you find an incredible space that has completely won you over, you’re immediately trying to figure out how you can recreate the look in your own home. Well, look no further. Christina Cleveland does just that with her feature “Bring It Home” where she pulls a high-end designer room and mimics the look with items you can find and buy on the Internet. One of my favorite posts is this monochromatic workspace recreation. I think I’m pulled in by the art display on the back wall and the retro, chrome chairs. To recreate the look, Christina found most of the artwork on Etsy, the frames on Ikea and the other furniture and accessories from places like Z Gallerie and Bassett Furniture. Looks like an award-winning space to me!

So, are you new to Camille Styles’ blog, or have you been following her for years? What are some of your favorite weekly features or posts from the site? Tell us in the comments below.