Erin Wasson + One Kings Lane

Don't you just love the curated style collaborations that One Kings Lane does? I feel like they always pick people who have the best personal style, spirit and esthetic. For a recent home tour collection, they teamed up with bohemian beauty and all around cool lady Erin Wasson, (who is a kindred vintage hunter + collector). The sale of amazing objects is long over, but the pictures of her lovely eclectic space still remain for your viewing pleasure.  It is chalk full of her vintage treasures, collections and just feels cozy, beautifully personal and humble to me. I love how Erin mentioned the process of seeking out and surrounding yourself with the things you love- a buy what you love figure out where to put it later approach. I can totally relate to that statement, being a collector your eye naturally draws towards the things you love first, then the design should work around those things, always. I feel like the creativity always comes when you are in your happiest element. Well said and done Erin! So when can we have a cup of coffee and chat about our latest found treasures?

photos: via

Xx~Syd

Plain White T | Casual Chic

I’m not entirely sure if it’s the heat that is getting to me, or just the lazy vibe of summer itself. Most likely it’s a combination of both, but all I want to wear these days is a white t-shirt and jeans (preferably a loved pair of vintage 501 button down levi’s). This casual chic ensemble is perfect for a Sunday brunch outing, followed by some treasure hunting plans and a little adventurous wandering perhaps?Black leather converse and leather ray ban wayfarer frame sunglasses! I am definitely swooning over the chic spin on these classic pieces. The black leather backpack might even come in handy as a stylish shopping or camera bag. Boom.

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xx~Syd

One Kings Lane + GG of the West | The Vanity Series

Personal style and decor just go hand in hand, and in most presentations, they are often an extension of one another, that display a similar visual aesthetic. Even when I don’t intentionally do it, my personal style and hunted collections of the things I love to keep around me come through. The way I style my wardrobe and my home have that same connection and attention to detail, both united with the things my eye is naturally drawn to. Personal style to me is a form of self-expression and communication if you will….. it paints the story of your life and the things unique to you.  

I was recently asked to collaborate with online home decor retailer One Kings Lane, to design a personal vanity, in a series of collages called the Reflect your Style campaign. I was thrilled to be asked to participate in this project! A. I am a huge fan of OKL and the beautifully curated things on their site (a.k.a- the vintage section) B. I believe your vanity is an extension of your personal style and provides another space to curate within your home, a very personal space. It often houses favorite beauty products, and is accessorized with things that are aesthetically pleasing, give meaning and sentiment, or just plain make you happy to have with you. The statement piece of a vanity might be the mirror, just as the statement piece for my ensemble is a piece of bold jewelry. All of the same ingredients for the way I put together accessories for an outfit. For me, it's those touches of one of a kind treasures that I have hunted and collected over the years. Mixing in a vintage garment, necklace or cuff, can completely make a look become yours.

My vanity selections are both an eclectic mix of my personal style (vintage + new), native southwest surroundings, and love of seeking vintage one of a kind treasures. I often refer to this cultivated style as Desert Chic, I guess my vanity is no exception to the visual inspiration gathered there. The elements are simple and chic, yet entertain the ideas of understated bohemian with the touches of native patterns, materials and texture, and there is always a sprinkle of classic feminine glamour on the surface that refines it. On my vanity, you will also find some of my favorite daily beauty products, my loved pieces of vintage jewelry, a picture of the ones dear to me, and of course- my black glasses. So what's on your vanity?

furniture, décor + jewelry:

vanity | mirror | cowhide chair, similar here | tray, similar here | wall lamps, similar here | brass horse | roses | driftwood candle | malachite jewelry box, similar here | picture frame | turquoise ring, similar here | coral necklace | silver navajo cuff | onyx earrings, similar here | tooled leather clutch purse

beauty products:

nail polish | lipstick | foundation | perfume | hairbrush | bobby pins


If you love the hunt too and haven't yet familiarized yourself with One Kings Lane, I would suggest that be at the top of your to-do list! I constantly find beautiful one of a kind things to add to my collection. They also have a handy Home Decor Handbook to help identify, educate and inspire along the way....

xx~syd

Kelly Wearstler + One Kings Lane

What an incredible match made in heaven this is. Kelly Wearstler has such an incredible eye and her  design skills are just beyond. Can you say #girlcrush? Well, she is one of many incredible women I would love to know personally, but I admire her impeccable taste, her mad business woman skills, love of vintage, personal style, and most importantly her talent for juggling all of her passions and being a mom first (I can relate...), a mom to two boys that is. I have a special place in my heart for the mother and son bond. Raising a boy up to be an incredible well rounded man is not an easy task. I feel like we could have some good conversations about kids, life, vintage treasures, design, etc., you know the important stuff.

Back in February, while in town for Modernism Week. I took a visit to the Viceroy in Palm Springs, the hotel that she designed the interiors and outdoor styling for, and believe me it was nothing short of incredible. Not one attention to detail in that glorious black + yellow desert oasis was left out. Just the way I like it.

poolside at the viceroy hotel: photo by my lovely friend elizabeth from boxhill design

turban + ocelot caftan: vintage

Follow her blog My Life-My Vibe here for almost daily visual treats of inspiration, or add one of her lovely books to your library. My favorite is no doubt Hue, but there is plenty incredible work to look at in every single one of them!

A few of my favorite items from her collaboration sale with One Kings Lane are already sold out (duh!), but there is nothing wrong with pulling a little eye candy for some inspiration right? So…I made this. Now, If I could only get my hands on that chrome serpent stool, so good!

style collage created by sydney ballesteros 

xx~syd

Modern Manners

I’m pretty sure I have mentioned here before, that I've had a girl crush on Liv Tyler for sometime. Well…if you haven’t heard the news yet, she just released her first book in collaboration with her chic grandmother Dorothea Johnson. It is called Modern Manners, and it is a perfect guide for the modern day lady, who likes to keep her bygone etiquette in tact.

If that’s not enough to make you giddy, there is also a style guide put together by Lovely Liv herself, currently up on the One Kings Lane site. I just love all of her picks and am happy to say, that we share a similar decorating aesthetic, and a love for tid-bits of eclectic- one of a kind- vintage pieces spread throughout the home.

Here are just a few of my favorite things from the style guide selections….

equestrian bar tools | mod lighter | portrait | cantilever chair | murano ashtray | malachite paperweight | vanity mirror | geometric abstract | entry table | playboy catch all | blue lacquer boxes | brass peacock letter opener

And the book is on it’s way….

xo~syd

Desert Chic

I recently came across some photos on the domain site, that got me really inspired to put this style board together! As you know, I grew up in the sonoran desert of Tucson Arizona, so the “new southwest” or as I like to call it Desert Chic style (a modern minimalist update on old west traditions) is what rings closest to home for me. Because of my love for collecting, and an eclectic mix of decorating styles, elements and influences. I never like to limit myself to just one style. I would rather incorporate all of the things I love under one roof (so for me, that means decorating each room differently). With that being said….in my own home, I have an entire family room (or Arizona room as we like to call it...) dedicated to the homage of these desert chic elements. Create your own minimalist desert chic home (even if you don’t dwell in the desert) with these favorite picks. Oh yes, I did just purchase that cowhide rug to add to my Arizona room! (pshh..for $199.99, you bet!)

cowhide rug | sofa | copper lamp | saguaro cactus print | chief bookends | vase one | vase two | sunburst coffee table | pillow one | pillow two | turquoise cow skull | storage basket | cactus + pots 


xo~syd