Harvest 2016

August 22, 2016

It’s official! Tomorrow marks the beginning of our 2016 harvest at the ONEHOPE vineyard! It’s the first time I’ve ever witnessed a harvest in person, and I’ve been getting butterflies with excitement since finding out last week. It seems so silly… grapes are just fruit and I’m not sure that any other fruits or vegetables get so much attention when they’re harvested, but there’s something so symbolic and historic about a great growing season coming to a close and the mystery of wondering how this final wine is going to taste when we get barrel samples next year.

Additionally, things on the construction site at the vineyard are really starting to take shape! Framing is almost complete for the two guest wings (4 bathrooms on either side) and has started to go up on the center of the house (the great room, kitchen, man cave, laundry and car barn). Our HUGE great room and car barn trusses are being delivered next week and we’ll have plumbers on site in the coming two weeks to rough in plumbing. It’s getting REALLY exciting to see, spaces are finally making sense and it’s also made me incredibly busy on the design side that I’ve been sharing a few sneak peeks of on my Instagram story. Selecting tile and finishes for 11 bathrooms has proven to be WAY harder than I anticipated, but I’m loving ~~almost~~ every minute of the ride. I promise to share some content on the interior design side soon! In the meantime, be sure to tune in to Instagram tomorrow morning (@onehope and @megrobins) for a few exciting peeks 🙂

Living Small in Stockholm

July 14, 2016

I have such an affinity for small spaces! Having lived in what can be considered a small space since my dorm room in college, I love the idea of a well designed small space, free of clutter and chaos. When we were house hunting, the idea of anything over 1,500 square feet really freaked me out. As the primary caretaker of any home we’ve ever lived in together, how the heck was I going to take care of that much space on my own, coming from a 600 square foot apartment? Our little 950-ish square foot bungalow that we now call home, while small, is just the right, cozy size for us and I love ~~almost~~ every little inch of it.

Minimalist, Scandinavian design is my ultimate favorite so when we had a 4 hour layover in Copenhagen last year on our way back home to the states, I was crushed that we weren’t staying in Denmark for at least a few days. I’ve been dying to get back to Scandinavia since so when I came across this tiny Swedish abode online, it solidified my need to get back there AND my love for small spaces. How darling is this one room apartment, flooded with light, a neutral palette and pretty finishes? Steel doors and windows get me every time and this space is proof that splurging on a few key design elements will always pay off in the long run. Take a look at some of my favorite images below.

All images via HusmanHagberg.

SFD11C60FDFE30047ED9519BE4CFB6ED758_x

Steel Doors and Windows

September 9, 2015

{Image via}

I’m currently in the middle of a big design project for work in Napa as we bring our brand north to wine country. I can’t share specifics on the project yet, but it’s going to be big and beautiful and an overall amazing experience! To pay homage to the land, the history of Napa Valley and the design aesthetic of our brand, the architecture falls pretty perfectly in line with the modern farmhouse and I can’t wait to see it all come to fruition. Since I haven’t practiced a ton on the interior design side since graduating, I’ve been doing endless research and I’m constantly on the hunt for inspiration everywhere to contribute to this project. When scouring Pinterest and Houzz for ideas, I realized that there were a few major architectural elements that were exciting me and eventually finding their way to my inspiration boards. I don’t know that I’d ever consciously sought out images of steel doors and windows, yet there they were – on every. single. board. I just couldn’t get enough. There are a few main reasons for my obsession.

You’re able to achieve really thin mullions and muntins with steel doors which makes them look so elegant while also allowing for more transfer of light. With wood framed doors, it simply isn’t possible to achieve those lines.
They’re timeless! Some of my favorite images are at least 10 years old and the only way you’d ever be able to tell are by other finishes in the room pictured, or the pixelation of the image itself.
Steel is just such a cool, solid material that adds such depth and texture to a space. Black wood or aluminum windows can definitely come close to achieving the look of steel on a budget, but nothing compares to that patina, texture and weight of a steel door. I’m all about texture in a space and this is a wonderful way to achieve that.

Here are a few more favorites!

{Clean lines! Notice the black piping on the chairs that accentuates their curved, classic shape while playing off the muntins of the doors and windows. Image via}

{A small bathroom turned grand with beautiful finishes. The steel shower door simply make this space. Image via.}

{Indoor/outdoor love! How chic is this color palette?! Also loving the French bistro feel with the topiaries and climbing vines. Image via}

{There are no words for how much I love this kitchen. Dream space. Imaga via}

{I used to shake my head at dark grout with white tile, but in certain applications it can really be a game changer and I find myself loving it more and more. Image via}

{I love a cozy L shaped banquette and a set of Parisian bistro chairs… This little nook is perfect. Image via}

{Industrial kitchen envy! Look at that daylight! Image via}

{Same kitchen, different view 😉 via }

{Closed off kitchens are a thing of the past, but I know that the prep mess, noise and ventilation concerns are definitely warranted from people hesitant about an overly open floor plan. I love that this space has that open flow, but that the prep can be concealed with these sliding glass and steel doors. Image via}

{HUGE arched window #ftw. Image via}

Green & Gray

August 26, 2015

There’s a huge discussion happening on the web about whether the gray trend is phasing out or if it’s here to stay. As a lover of bright white, clean, airy spaces which has also taken the design world by storm, gray is a nice alternative to those worried about a white space being too stark and for other spaces that simply can’t pull off the all-white look. I personally think gray is going nowhere anytime soon. Embrace it, people!

On our way back from Italy, Jake and I had a layover in Copenhagen that was just long enough for me to fall in love with it, but short enough to leave us longing for more and anxious to plan a trip back. While I’ve fallen harder for Danish/Scandinavian design over the past few years than I ever knew possible, being in the epicenter of said design was exhilarating. When our trip ended and I realized I’d been bitten by the travel bug, I immediately started scoping our out interesting places to potentially visit if we were to ever head back to Denmark, Sweden or another Scandinavian country. I stumbled upon a real estate firm in Sweden that only lists higher end, beautifully designed properties and spent far too much time scoping out every single property on their site. One of their featured listings in Gothenburg, Sweden was an almost entirely gray space that was still bright, airy and clean – proof that you don’t need an ALL white space to pull off that look and feel. I was surprised that I could love this much gray so much! To achieve the look, it’s important to throw some green into the mix to bring life to the space (potted herbs, ferns, fiddle leaf figs), add some texture (woven baskets, chairs, rugs, light fixtures, a butcher block counter top, exposed brick, etc.) and keep furniture pieces visually light with clean lines and simply design (nothing clunky, heavy or ornate here!). Scroll down to check out the rest of the space!

All images by Anders Bergstedt via Stadshem.

Thanksgiving Week

November 26, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving week! Jake and I took the red eye to New Orleans on Monday night to be here with his family for the holiday and it’s a little different than what we normally do, but I’m happy to be in such an amazing city with loved ones. I just wanted to pass along the Fall / Winter Entertaining Guide I put together for ONEHOPE in case you were looking for any more recipe ideas for tomorrow. There are definitely some yummy ones in there so check it out. All of the images from that shoot can be seen here so be sure to visit there for some more decor tips and ideas.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Meg

Images by Brian Tropiano.

Fall Entertaining

October 1, 2014

Hip hip hooray! It’s October 1st and I’m so excited to finally get to share the shoot I styled for ONEHOPE’s 2014 Fall Entertaining Guide perfectly captured by Brian Tropiano Photography. At work, I feel like we’re always flying by the seat of our pants and putting together content like this ahead of time has been a struggle. This year, however, we managed to stay ahead of the game and shot everything in July to use for the remainder of the year. Trying to determine what is going to be “in” before anything holiday related is even advertised or released in store is tough so instead I just decided to stick with my gut and curate items and elements that I really, truly love. I wanted the room to feel like a forest so I incorporated a lot of wood textures, ferns, (faux) antlers, geodes and quartz tea lights down the center of the table. On the wood backdrop behind the wine, was a wreath with an antler to tie the look together with an additional leather fern garland with bistro lights strung above the table. We brainstormed for days on what to do instead of traditional place cards before we finally decided on stones – gold calligraphy on stones – to keep with the forest theme while adding a touch of elegance to each setting. The overall messaging behind the day was “Hope, Thanks and Dreams” so Beth hand crafted an amazing dream catcher where guests’ thanks, hopes for the future and dreams were shared and attached with tiny clothes pins. Menus were printed on archival matte paper with hope, dream or thanks hand inscribed on the top and florals were kept to a minimum with wooden vessels and a casual/handpicked mixture of dahlias, garden roses, viburnum berries, artichokes and greens.

Since the entire purpose of the shoot was to show how to integrate wine into your fall, Thanksgiving or holiday gathering, the day wouldn’t have been complete without some absolutely delicious and gorgeous fare crafted by 24 Carrots Catering. 24 Carrots is one of the biggest catering companies in the business and their food has never, ever disappointed at any event I’ve ever attended. I was so impressed that they took our direction (a classic Thanksgiving meal) and creatively modernized it a bit while still staying in theme. For example, I loved the juxtaposition of a modern beet dish served on a raw wood platter that you’ll see below. Lastly, each of their dishes paired perfectly with one or more of our wines so find pairing suggestions and a few wonderful recipes below! CHEERS!

DECOR TIP: Chairs can make or break a look. This shoot took place in our conference room and it’s usually filled with white task chairs that are functional for work, but we opted to replace them for this shoot and I’m so happy we did. Using these metal industrial chairs from Found Rentals kept the look casual, but also uniform, which I loved.

DECOR TIP: When designing a table on a budget, not only are garlands beautiful and always on trend, but they’re also the best bang for your buck. Seeded eucalyptus, lemon leaf, leather fern and bay leaf are all great options to consider. Contact a flower mart or district in your area for bids, but depending on the greens you go with, garlands can run as little as $2.50-$7.00 per foot!

DECOR TIP: Menus aren’t always necessary, but they really add to a place setting and are so simple to create. We whipped this one up Illustrator (but can easily be replicated in MS Word), printed it on nice paper and applied it to a piece of recycled kraft/corrugate paper that we picked up at Michael’s to tie in with the rest of the theme. Menus are not only great for making pairing suggestions, but they are also the perfect place to tie in your theme or messaging of the evening. Beth hand wrote thanks, hope or dream at the top of each menu to reiterate why we were all gathered that day.

DELICIOUS Sauvignon Blanc can be found here.

PAIRING NOTES: Pinot Noir and Turkey are a natural pairing. The savory herbs and spices on the roasted turkey are complimented by the spice-infused influences of the French oak in our Pinot Noir.

DECOR TIP: Since turkey is usually the main food element during Thanksgiving meals, I love that 24 Carrots used this legged platter to give it some height. Pieces like this are readily available at Cost Plus, Pottery Barn or can be rented for the day from Found Rentals.

PAIRING NOTES: The creamy texture and toasted oak notes of our Santa Barbara Reserve Chardonnay pair perfectly with the rich butter and cheddar cheese of this twice baked potato.

PAIRING NOTES: Eggs and Pinot Noir are a guilty pleasure not to be missed and Pinot is the perfect partner in crime for ham.

PAIRING NOTES (recipe below): The rich fruit and lively spice of our Pinot Noir adds some brightness to the earthy quality of these savory vegetables.

Thyme Infused Roasted Root Vegetables by 24 Carrots Catering

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

2 lbs mixed root vegetables (we use baby carrots, the smallest parsnips you can find and a mix of yellow and red beets)
Olive oil, to taste
Salt + pepper, to taste

Balsamic Thyme Vinaigrette Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
6 tablespoons thyme minced
2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons minced parsley
1 teaspoon cumin, toasted and ground
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons miso paste

Directions

Gently peel the carrots and parsnips. Leave them whole if they are all the same size – if not, chop the larger veggies to equal the size of the smaller ones. Peel and chop the beets into rough cubes, about 1-inch all around.

Place all the vegetables onto a baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle lightly with olive oil. Place in a 400°F degree oven and bake for about 20-25 minutes, shaking them periodically for even cooking. Remove from oven when soft, slightly brown and caramelized.

Meanwhile, prepare the balsamic thyme vinaigrette. Place all the ingredients aside from the oil in a mixing bowl. Drizzle in the oil while whisking to combine. Season to taste.

Drizzle dressing all over the vegetables to coat, return to the oven and caramelize for five more minutes.

PAIRING NOTES: The savory, meaty essence of the sausage pairs perfectly with spicy and herbal characteristics of our Zinfandel.

Apple Sage Cornbread Stuffing by 24 Carrots Catering

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

Cornbread, recipe follows
10 slices oven-dried country white bread
8 tablespoons butter
2 cups celery, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 granny smith apples ¼ inch, diced
1 lb apple sausage
7 cups chicken stock
1 cup Heavy cream
1 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons sage
1 tablespoon thyme
5 eggs, beaten

Cornbread Ingredients

1 cup self-rising cornmeal
1/2 cup self-rising flour
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

In a large bowl, combine crumbled cornbread, dried white bread slices and set aside.

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and brown, then add the celery, onions and apples and cook until transparent, approximately 5 to 10 minutes.

Pour the mixture over cornbread mixture. Add the stock and cream, mix well, taste, and add salt, pepper to taste, sage, and thyme.

Add beaten eggs and mix well. Pour mixture into a greased pan and bake until dressing is cooked through, about 45 minutes. Serve with turkey as a side dish.

Cornbread Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Pour batter into a greased shallow baking dish. Bake for approximately 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.

Cranberry Lemon Herb Butter by 24 Carrots Catering

Ingredients

1/4 cup mixed herbs, such as flat-leaf parsley, chervil, tarragon, and chives, chopped
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup cranberries, dried
1 teaspoon cranberry sauce
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

Directions

Chop cranberries then add herbs on a work surface. Add butter cranberry sauce and lemon zest. Finely chop together until well combined. Season with salt.

Transfer to a sheet of parchment paper, placing on edge closest to you. Fold paper over and roll into a cylinder, twisting the ends; wrap airtight in foil. Chill until solid.

DECOR TIP: Use as many potted plants as possible to achieve your look. Mixing in small potted ferns, rosemary plants or succulents to your tablescape will keep the look interesting and will also make great favors to your guests. While fresh cut flowers are always beautiful, they’ll also perish a few days later while a potted plant will flourish and will serve as a happy reminder of your gathering with loved ones. While not for everyone, trees also make a huge statement. The cedar tree pictured behind me in the photo below was purchased from a local nursery for $20!

PAIRING NOTES: The earthy tones of the beets and the tartness of the goat cheese are complemented by the lush, dark berry fruit of our Cabernet Sauvignon.

PAIRING NOTES: The candied red fruit characteristics and the bright acidity of our Merlot help cut through some of the richness of this luxurious pie. The bright acidity and zesty citrus notes of our Sparkling Brut would be a fantastic match for the rich, sweet character of the pie.

DECOR TIP: To keep your look interesting and “collected” opt for pieces that still fit your aesthetic, but aren’t too “matchy matchy”. I love this vintage galvanized pie/cake stand 24 Carrots used for their Pecan Pie. That tiny hint of metal tied in perfectly with the iron chairs we selected from Found Rentals.

Photography: Brian Tropiano Photography
Calligraphy & Dream Catcher: Beth Phillips
Rentals: Found Rentals
Linen: La Tavola
Styling, Florals & Decor: Yours truly 🙂

First Weekend of Fall

September 29, 2014

{image via}

Happy Monday! I hope you had a wonderful first weekend of fall! This was actually our first cooler weekend in LA and I was thrilled to not be scorching for once! I worked on a few projects around our place, installed a new screen door (!!!) and had a pretty mellow two days to play catchup after coming back from Michigan last week. This week, I can’t wait to share a few projects that I’ve been working on! Get ready for some exciting stuff and hopefully a few entertaining tricks/decor to inspire your next fall party.

PS: How cozy does that living space look? I love that it’s still minimalist with lots of warm textures – perfect for fall 🙂

Good things come…

August 14, 2014

…hopefully! Right?! After a ton of CAD, a glass of wine and taking a leap of faith by moving some desks around at the office last night, I’ve come to realize that my original configuration for the third floor of our space just isn’t going to cut it. WORST. And after waking up at 2:30 this morning with a light bulb moment, trying it in CAD and seeing the new idea successfully come together (YES!), I’m too excited to go back to sleep. So, indeed – if good things could please come to those who are up late, that would be fantastic 😉

Hope you have a great day and more updates to come! xo

{Lettering by Jasmine Dowling}

Apartment 34 – Office Inspiration

August 13, 2014

At work, we’re growing crazy fast right now, which is awesome, but it also means that we’re experiencing some growing pains – space being one of them. Our LA office is BEAUTIFUL architecturally with three floors, tons of natural light and an amazing screened in patio/conference room/studio, (all white!) kitchen and glass executive office. What I’m not thrilled with though, is our serious lack of storage. We have 1 (ONE!) 6×7′ “closet” space downstairs that also houses all of our utilities including our electrical box and we therefore can’t store ANYTHING within 36″ of it or it’s deemed a fire hazard. We’re also not allowed to build out a storage unit under our stairs unless we install a sprinkler system because storing anything “combustable” (did you know that IKEA furniture is a “combustable”?!) under stairs is prohibited. EFF!

That being said, we’re now cramming way too much stuff and way too many people on the third floor of our office which is where everyone seems to prefer sitting. It’s also where our marketing team needs to be and almost our entire LA office is comprised of marketing people so we have to figure out a way to make it work. Over the course of the next week, we’ll be re-arranging our current furniture and getting some new pieces to hopefully configure everyone comfortably and in a space they can love 🙂 Until now, I’ve been totally stumped, but the Apartment 34 office reveal came at just the right time and has me really excited. I mean, how beautiful is this space?! Super light and airy, but with just enough color and warmth without feeling busy or overwhelming to work from. I’m feeling totally inspired to hop on CAD and figure this whole thing out. Take a look at some of my favorites shots below.

All images by Aubrie Pick on VSCO film for Apartment 34.

Missing Michigan

August 7, 2014

For whatever reason, around this time of the year, I get really nostalgic for Michigan. I will stand firmly next to the claim that there is no place more beautiful in the summertime and will forever miss the Mitten during the warmest months of the year. Last week in LA we had rain (rain!) in the summer which is so rare. I honestly can not remember the last time we had rain in July or August and it’s been at least 5 months since I’ve seen a drop fall in our little beach town. Hearing thunder made me ache to the core for home in all of its summer lush with endless rolling hills of emerald green. If you follow Sarah Sherman Samuel of Smitten Studio, you already know of her cabin project on the shores of Lake Michigan. If you don’t, prepare to fall in love. Anytime she posts about Michigan, I get so homesick yet excited about the thought of Jake and I maybe having our own cabin one day in my home state. Regardless of whether that ever happens, I’ll still look to her little cabin renovation for inspiration for my own home in the future.

PS: These are just a few favorites from Smitten Studio. Sarah’s entire renovation process is INSANE and you have to check it out here. Her line of products is pretty amazing too and can be found here.

Follow Along!