Dreamy Eclectic Kitchen Remodel-Before and After

Today is the day! I have posted bits and pieces of this insane remodel when it was still in the process of being finished, so of course, couldn't give away toooo much. It was so good I wanted the full reveal to be a surprise because it's that AMAZING. 

My brother is a general contractor and my sister in law is the most creative person with super fun and eclectic taste. One amazing thing about the two of them together is that Jeff and Kelli are inspired by many of the same things and are into interiors with lots of character that are anything but typical. You can understand why I am so obsessed with their taste and this new remodel! I love modernized versions of eclectic and retro styles. The modern lines paired with eclectic details like colorful marble tiles, unique lighting, and brass details, for example, create an artistic and unique interior that still feels updated and hip.

I could go on and on but I think you just really need to see these before and after pictures because that's why you're here. It truly is nothing short of DREAM INTERIOR AMAZINGNESS!

BEFORE

My brother and sister bought this house from my grandparents and up until this point, this is how it's always looked. Super old school lay out with old appliances and basic finishes. I honestly couldn't even imagine or comprehend how gorgeous and different it could look. 

My brother has this special gift of being able to imagine any layout and really come to conclusions fast about what layouts will look and function best. He has a contractors eye and on top of that, he has impeccable taste and truly is a rennaisance man! He knows how to do EVERYTHING from electrical to tile cutting to furniture building. Every womans dream when it comes to getting crap done around the house, am I right? (Does it sound weird that I am saying that about my brother....I just mean he's super handy to have around!) He did the entire remodel himself and didn't hire any subs (sub contractors) except for the cabinet maker.  My sister in law/ bestie for life designed all the details (not to mention took care of their 3 kids under 5 without a kitchen for two months while Jeff worked day and night!) with him and together they have created the most gorgeous, dreamy, and unique kitchen I have ever seen in person. I know they spent a fraction of the price because Jeff cut his own tile and did so much himself, so if you're thinking this kitchen looks expensive, it would be for you and I!  I'm so impressed with their resourcefulness and drive to get their dream kitchen without shelling out a ton of money. 

Okay, enough talking. Let's see the full reveal!

Drumroll please.....

AFTER

I am loving all this colored marble paired with flat panel wood cabinets that are a modern take on the midcentury cabinets of the past. The brass hardware is so warm and luxe and I'm just dying over the wall of black marble with white veins throughout.

My brother paneled the fridge to match the cabinets. I looooove a paneled refrigerator.

YES, just yes.

WINDOW SILL GOALS....I am dying over the attention to detail. So Kelly Wearstler! I just love so much!

Do you guys see what I mean now when I say it's just GORGEOUS? It is just perfection to me because its so unique and J&K weren't afraid to take risks. There is nothing boring about this kitchen but it's also not all over the place. It is completely styled with a point of view and recurring colors and patterns to pull everything together cohesively. I. LOVE.IT.

I'd love to know what you guys think. Let me know what your thoughts are in the comments below! And, if you have questions or want to contact Jeff for projects, email me for his info. Thanks guys and see you Wednesday!

xo,Kim

Dr. Dennis Gross Giveaway Winner:

Brittany Meadth! Congrats Brittany! Your name was drawn for this awesome giveway! Yay! You will love the products!!!

The 5 Things You Need to Host A Successful Party

Hi Everyone!

So something you may not know about me unless you are one of my friends is that I love to host get-togethers. It can be a girls night with just a couple friends, or a birthday party with 20-30 people. I am no expert on event planning, but I love to welcome people into my home and create a comforting and warm atmosphere so that everyone feels comfortable and has fun.

I also think holding get-togethers (do I sound old saying get- togethers?) or inviting people over is also a great excuse to get those projects for your house or apartment that you have been putting off into action! Just sayin'. Maybe throw a party and you'll finally get those pictures hung or floors redone!

Anyways,I know for many, the idea of hosting something can seem daunting because you might not innately be interested in decor or cooking or presentation. I list these things because we all know someone in our circle that seems to do all of these things well! My twin sister is so good at all the details that it takes to throw a gorgeous and welcoming event. No pressure! Lol. She has taught me so much!

I thought I'd share my little cheat sheet on the short list I created for myself to make things look good, taste good, while still being easy on the prep side as well as share the other aspects like decor that I always go back to to make things easy. Also, I left off alcohol because everyone has their preference. But I have to say, if you love cocktails, Pinterest a fresh cocktail recipe and prep in advance. If you are into wine, a few reds and whites should cover it. I always count on two glasses per person and do the math on how many bottles I need because some people drink more and some don't drink at all. Always have a little more for good measure and if you live in LA, K&L Wines and Silverlake Wine has amazing selections! 

5 things you need to throw a good party:

1. A (Beautiful) Cheeseboard- It goes a long way and if you assemble with care and add a few cute touches like dried fruits, rosemary sprigs, and display on some sort of pretty tray or rustic cheeseboard, it can be a centerpiece to the table! We make huge ones for our parties and I have copied pictures from pinterest and it ends up looking great! My sister is Queen of the cheeseboard. We go to Trader Joes a lot of the time and get all the ingredients there! Sometimes I go to Whole Foods if I want it to be extra fancy but for the most part, Trader Joes or a quality store will have all you need.

2. Candles- I always like to set a mood at my home because I want people to walk in and feel at ease. I do this in the most simple way by lighting candles in the bathrooms, entry, and main room where people will be hanging out. In the entry and bath, I use scented candles (Anthropologie, Diptyque, Trapp, or P.F. Candle Co.  are my faves and are made with good quaity wax so they dont smell too much and give me a headache). I always try and use white non scented near the food or in the main area so the soft light sets a nice mood without overpowering the smell of the food.

shop the post

3. Music- A party without music just tends to feel boring and awkward. I hate to say it because everyone can be having a great time without it, but having the background music creates an atmosphere that feels special, festive, creats fluidity. I sometimes feel stuck in a conversation if its too quiet, even if the conversation has taken its course and ended naturally. For some reason it just makes it or awkward to move on. Music is a welcomed distraction and soundtrack in social settings, so I always love to have it on low in the background. My favorites are Bossa Nova, Classical Jazz, or in the rare occasion people are wanting to get rowdy (which never happens), a playlist of something modern and new from pop artists.

4. Decor- This area tends to be the easiest for me because I love interior design and have eclectic style, so my house usually has some design to it already. When I throw a party though, I like to add twinkly lights for atmosphere, greenery and flowers to soften things and make the house feel finished and pulled together. I literally go to Trader Joes (again) and buy their flowers and greenery to spread across my table, consoles, and put flowers in a few vases. I prefer all green monochromatic plants if possible to look more wild and lush. 

5. Entree Salad- Okay this might seem strange to make this a must, but I swear by entree salads to go a long way when it comes to feeding your guests. I am the QUEEN of salad making. I have been eating healthy for years because I have always wanted to stay in shape for modeling, so I had to get creative. Salads are also easy to make, take very little time and feed lots of people. I always include filling ingredients that have lots of flavor as well so people think they are eating something unhealthy and rich when in reality most of the ingredients are clean and nutritious. Put the salad in a beautiful big bowl, I use a large low and wide white bowl from Crate and barrel with pretty salad utensils to make it look that much prettier.

 P.S. I have a formula for always making popular salads again and again with different ingredients. For that Cheat sheet and grocery list example, just subscribe to the blog below and the pdf. will be sent to your inbox!

I really focus on this clear and easy  list to make any party I hold seem doable and less stressful. As long as I can focus on small tasks, I wont get overwhelmed when I have people over. I hope this helps make hosting a party a little bit easier for you, and if you have any suggestions, I would love to know. Leave them in the comments below! 

xo, Kim

London Look- Plaid x Plaid and the pieces I wore to DEATH in London

When in London, dress as the Londoners do, right?

 I'm not saying that every Londoner dresses like this, but I did notice when I was there the last couple times that people are just more buttoned up and chic. I LOVE IT! LA vibes are more relaxed and casual which is great for getting outta the house,  but its nice to change it up and put a bit more effort in my daily look.

I love plaids for winter and feel they just add a bit more style to an outfit. This plaid hat is super affordable and soooo chic, I am obsessed. I could have 20 of these fisherman style hats. This Zara blazer is my ABSOLUTE favorite. Its long, tailored, warm as a layering piece, but cool enough to wear with a tee. I paired them with these Dolce Vita slate grey suede booties that I wore allll around London and they were so comfy. Such a score! 

These items are all favorites right now and I wear them to death, in LA or London. Do you guys love plaid as much as I do for winter? Let me know in the comments below! 

XO, Kim

Shop the Look

ZARA Plaid Cap

ZARA Plaid Blazer

DOLCE VITA Booties

APC Bag

The Importance of Taking Risks

(So that you can feel happy and satisfied in life.)

One of my first blog posts. I ALWAYS wanted to blog but worried about what people would think for too long. FINALLY taking the risk has felt so good and GRATIFYING.

Risk.

Such a scary word, yet without risk it's pretty difficult to accomplish anything in life. With great risk comes great reward, right?

So why is it so hard to take that risk we have been wanting... desiring to take? Because all people like to be comfortable! Of course. Who doesn't?

Predictability is a large part of comfort, and human beings are wired to pursue comfort and predictability. Its innate and essential in some ways in order to have stability and healthy relationships. For instance, marriage is a good example of ways we should push through, remain committed, and pursue the predictable...staying married (unless of course there are outside influences that warrant a divorce or some sort of abuse but of course I am not referring to that!) Jumping ship because you might be bored or tired of trying would be a negative risk...Not necessarily leading to a fulfilling and life giving experience.

I am talking about positive risk. The type of risk that you have always wanted to take but didn't feel brave enough to try. The kind of risk that would actually feel good because you KNOW you have the chops to succeed in "X" risk...whether it be a new job, starting a business, putting yourself out there with a you tube channel as a creative outlet, finally taking that trip you have been dying to take but didnt feel like figuring out, or even pursuing that person you feel is out of your league.

Heres the thing, if you don't try, you will always wonder if life could have been different.

Here are 5 reasons why you should DEFINITELY take risk:

1. Not taking risk is simply not getting what you want, 100% of the time . If you risk it, your percentage of success automatically goes up.

2. If you don't take that chance, you might always wonder what could have been, and regret is worse than trying and not getting what you want. At least when you take the risk you can sleep easy knowing you took a chance on yourself. 

3. Failure doesnt exist when you risk. Success is relative and taking risk is success in and of itself. Taking the leap is a win from the very beginning!

4. Many people wish they could take the risk they have been wanting to, but dont feel they have the courage. By taking a risk, you are impacting family and friends by showing them that they too can pursue their dream or passion. After all, what's the worst that can happen? You end up right back to where you are right now (unless you put all your money in stock and lose it all...in that case youd be wayyyyy worse off, but I wouldn't suggest that. DEFINITELY don't take that risk!)

5. YOU CAN VERY WELL SUCCEED AND KILL IT, and how amazing would that be?! Risk taking is scary but also totally gratifying. It pays off in more ways than you might even realize in the short term, because it helps you to beleive in yourself! By taking risks, over time you will be able to look back and say 'wow, I took risks and succeeded in some (or all), therefore I know I have it in me to succeed, work hard, and get what I want".  

Before you take risk...

I would not suggest to just anyone to try any old idea. I think its important to take risk when you know you have a skill or passion that you can genuinely seeing yourself work at. Its essential to be realisitic. If you cannot imagine doing annoying things like editing video or pictures but are dying to be a blogger, than I'd say you might hate the day to day of blogging (unless you have the funds to outsource the menial tasks, which most people do not have) . No risk is without hardship or frustration, but the reward in the end can be amazing if you go in with a clear mindset.

I have learned in my own life that risk is super scary and has been hard when I didnt get what I wanted. However, by taking risk I have seen that I am a very capable person. That lesson alone is huge for me! I need that reinforcement in my own life as much as the next person.

You Can Do It.

I hope this post helped to encourage you that you too are capable and have so much more potential than you probably beleive. I encourage you to evaluate what you want out of life, see what is in your control to make that happen, and take positive and thoughtful risk to pursue what you want. 

I'd love to know what you have been wanting to take risk on. Let me know in the comments below if you feel comfortable. xo!

Kim

 

Quality time and Friend Editing

A few days ago, my sisters and mom and I all got together, like we do every year, at The Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills. It is by far one of my favorite Christmas traditions that my mom started with us a few years ago. 

More than anything, it's an opportunity to get together, catch up, and inevitably get vulnerable with each other over things that we might be dealing with. You see, we are a super tight-knit family, probably abnormally so. But, as life gets busier with kids and jobs, it's gotten harder to have uninterrupted times to connect and really get to the bottom of the challenges we might be facing in life..  

As I have gotten farther from my college days (now 9 years out!) where I was "friends with everyone" , I have begun to realize more and more (with the constant reminder and help from my twin sister Karen) that my time is precious and I dont really want to hang out with "everyone". We only have so much time away from work, responsibility, kids, annoying daily duties, etc. So who is going to be the recipient of that time? Your time? For me thats my family and handful of friends that feel like family. The ones that KNOW me, add to my life, teach me, and make me want to be a better more patient and giving person. 

My sisters and mom are among that group that are always a good investment of my time. At times they give and I take, others they take and I give. Advice, love, encouragment, patience... sometimes even each others crap. Thats why our tea once a year is so special. It's our night for uninteruppted adult time to reconnect (with the exception of sweet 4 year old Penny who was an angel), check in, you know, talk about the real stuff...the stuff we are insecure about, hoping for, working towards, dreaming of but are afraid to discuss in the case we dont get exactly what we want and feel like a loser...and need our loved ones to encourage us in once again.

Friendship Musts:

I will still of course make new friends with people who cross my path, but I am just more honest with myself (and picky!) on which friendships are:

1. Lifegiving

2. Honest 

3. Straightforward with good intentions

4. Confidence building (and not in a butt kissing kinda way) and that fill me up.

5. Inspiring or Motivating- Makes you want to strive for more in some way.

6. Founded in some basic shared morals and principles

I think its also important to understand when people suck life from you, make you feel insecure, dont make an effort or care in the same way you do, or just simply, dont quite do it for you. When you figure it out, friend edit. Put effort only into relationships that give back to you in some way, and that make you feel valued.

I felt for many years that it was my responsibility to keep in touch with college friends, church friends, childhood friends, modeling friends, and the list goes onnnn. Its not. As we go through stages of life, friendships either fade out (or get "edited") or stand the test of time. The ones that are tried and true also ebb and flow, and thats okay. The amount of free time that we have to offer our friends and family also ebbs and flows. 

Our night at The Peninsula Hotel, where we sit for a few hours sipping on fancy Black Currant Tea and scarf french fries (we ordered on the side because we dont care if we look like hicks) is a time where conversations and encouragement flow, even if this season is short on quality time.  We laughed, got vulnerable, shared hard stuff, and went out on a limb to express things we would love to try but don't feel confident in just yet. It was a therapeautic and encouraging night, where all of a sudden I felt capable and valued. 

That's what true friendship is all about it my mind. I hope to be a source of encouragement and inspiration in my relationships the way my family and "edited" down friends are to me.

ALSO...

If you love the idea of a Holiday Tea and would love to get some quality time with your family and/or friends, here are 3 awesome options to choose from:

1. The Peninsula Hotel

2. The Getty Villa

3. Hotel Bel Air

Get to Know Me: 18 Facts that Basically Sum Me Up

Hi guys!

I wanted to do this post because I felt it was important to share more about my life than I am able to through pictures on Instagram or snippets of my day on insta story. I LOVE creativity through photos and fashion posts, but that's a very curated version of myself. 

Soooo, I thought it would be great to dive a little deeper so you can get a better idea of what makes me me, and how I got here...

18 Things You Should Know About Me:

1. I am a twin and my twin sister Karen is my best friend and a HUGE part of my life. She lives in Silver Lake, so we get to see each other often...but not as often as I'd like:)

2. I am one of 5 children and grew up in a small but beautiful coastal town, Palos Verdes, in Los Angeles. I'm super close with all my siblings...some might think its weird...it probably is.

3. I am married to the BEST man everrrrrr, Chay. I met him at UCLA where we went to school and both played water polo. He is super duper hot and I don't know how I got so lucky to have him pick me...No really he is super hot. Look him up: Chay Lapin...see what I mean? mmmm

4. My hubby asked me to marry him on WWHL. That's short for Watch What Happens Live on Bravo and it was the best moment of my life! It's a loooong story but basically, Chay knew Andy Cohen, the host, and he convinced Chay to pop the question on Live Tv. IT WAS INSANE!

5. I watch ONLY Bravo shows and am OBSESSED with the Real Housewives franchise.

6. I have been modeling for 8 years now. I started at Wilhelmina where I was signed for 6.5 years and have recently transitioned on to a smaller boutique agency. I model and do commercials, but am focusing most of my energy these days on the blog and building a platform I love that others can relate to.

7. I get super insecure at my job A LOT of the time and have to constantly put on a brave face to get through the pressures I feel day to day. I enjoy the fashion aspect but struggle at times with the unrealistic body image pressures put on me. I try to be as vocal and open as I can be on this subject matter.

8. I struggled with mild but mentally draining eating issues in high school and am passionate about helping young girls avoid the pitfalls and hardships that mentally and physically plague those struggling with eating disorders.

9. I was a youth group leader for 3 years out of college, and felt passionate about mentoring young girls in junior high and high school. I feel its so important to be an encouraging and strong moral presence for youth to lean on because we all remember how difficult childhood could be. I had people come alongside me and I want to do that for young people looking for guidance and acceptance.

10. In my last commercial for Humira, I have plaque psoriasis. Super sexy.

11. One time at an audition (when I was first starting out and didn't have a backbone) I was asked to remove my pants because they wanted to see my legs while dancing... (bc that totally makes sense...like what?) and I didn't have shorts. So I had to dance on camera to some cheesy club song in my holy, old beige thong underwear (it was laundry day and yes I know how disgusting this is) and "woop" it up like I was having a blast. I did not get the job. That tape is floating around the internet somewhere.

12. I won a talent show in college for NCAA athletes called the BIG DANCE. My partner and I did a ribbon dance and duet to the song "Total Eclipse of the Heart". Here it is below for your viewing pleasure. Its embarrasing but whatever.

13. I live in Redondo Beach, but my Husband and I have recently had the opportunity to invest in properties. We are in DTLA a lot because we own a loft there as well as a home in Palm Desert that we rent out. It's confusing since we are all around LA so much so I have to clear this up because I post a lot from all three places and many of you have messaged me via Instagram asking where I actually live. So there you have it!

14. This isn't a secret, but I'm in love with decorating interiors and spaces. I have had a blast redoing all of our past homes and would definitely be an interior designer full time if I didn't do what I do. I LOVE an eclectic and unique but clean space so much! I do contract jobs here and there for friends which is fun to break things up.

15. My faith is super important to me and always has been. I feel so grateful for Gods provision in my life and truly feel God has placed me in the entertainment industry despite the odds to bring a hope and love to what can be a sad place at times.

16. I am the mama of two vizsla puppies and am now "that" dog person. I am obsessed with them and don't care how weird it is that they sleep in bed and go everywhere with us. They are soooo cute!!! 

17. I am a certified Pilates instructor and am super into health and wellness, but it's not my overall passion in life. I need balance. I like to try new things and learn new skills, so got certified 3 years ago and love teaching for fun.

18. I LOVE PEOPLE and connecting with new people. Seriously I'm known for talking to strangers for hours so please say hi and let me know who you are too! 

I hope this gives you guys better insight into who I am and what I am all about. Thank you for reading and following along! I appreciate all the support!

xo, Kim