February Lust List

Posted in Lust List, Mood Boards, Product Review by Mallory

February has arrived. And unfortunately for many of you loyal readers, I hear Punxsutawney Phil prescribed a LONG winter yet to be had. (To which my Jefe lovingly asked “who is Punxsutawney Phil?!” and I immediately whipped out Groundhog Day.) So while you’re bearing the inches of snow and blustery wind Mother Nature is still sending your way, cozy up with a cup of hot cocoa and Bailey’s and do a little window shopping with me!

Here are some of my latest design crushes:

1) West Elm Hexagon Mirror – I’ve had my eye on this puppy for my hall entryway for quite some time and it’s now reduced from $149 to $79. I may have to convince Jefe that we need to pull the trigger…

2) West Elm Elton Settee – Although we are not in the market for any sort of love seat, I’m in love with the subtle curved lines, traditional tufting, yet overall modern feel of this piece. And the blue fabric is to die for!

3) Nate Berkus Lamp – I can’t believe this beauty will soon be available at Target. Yet again, Nate Berkus knocks it out of the park with this modern piece of glam. Look at those lines! The inner shade’s lining! GORGEOUS. Also reminds me of the little Land of Nod lamp I used for my Dorm Room Decor Round Up!

4) Lulu & Georgia Print – Is there anything Jenna Lyons isn’t right about when it comes to design?! Now about the $300 price tag of those calf hair leopard flats I want….

5) Nate Berkus Hexagonal Wood Tray – I’ve already seen this piece explode across the blogosphere and I am totally jumping on the band wagon. If it had handles, it would already be in my apartment looking for a permanent place to live and corral things. And after having seen it in person, I honestly was astounded at the quality of the piece for the price. Bravo, Mr. Berkus.

6) Sam Edelman Cheetah Loafers – So about those JCrew shoes… I’ve found your younger sister and my wallet loves her so much more. I happened to see a coworker wearing these with a simple, jersey knit heather grey dress and it was the perfect mix of comfortable chic for the office. I must have.

7) Baublebar Slim Bow Pendant – I’m obsessed with costume jewelry lately. And Baublebar has such fabulous sales (and credit for purchases made) that I never pay full price. This one had me at hello so I snatched it up for $10. It’s the perfect accent against my favorite emerald silk blouse.

8) Magic Carpet Yoga Mat – Yes. Yes. Yes. I’ve been wanting to get back into my yoga practice and this is the PERFECT incentive.

9) Baggu 13″ Polka Dot Laptop Sleeve – Last weekend I was at the Apple Genius bar for a tune up for the old laptop. This adorable case caught the corner of my eye. Five minutes later I was walking out with it. It also happens to PERFECTLY complement the Baggu I got for Christmas (and yes, I actually kept and have been using the iPad case too! It’s a perfect little set, although a little tough to get the iPad in and out).

10) Baggu Small Leather Pouch / Gold – So I’m a little Baggu obsessed right now. But as my wallet won’t fit in my new Kate Spade purse, I need something to corral my cards and (small) amount of cash when I’m on the go. This gold little pouch would be perfect!

Well there you have it, February’s Lust List. What are you lusting after these days?

23Oct2013

Decorating for the Soul

Posted in Before & After, Design Challenges, Design Projects, Mood Boards, Redecorating by Mallory

First and foremost – I’d like to send out a little love in to the universe as we’ve reached Sledgehammer with Style’s 1st BLOGIVERSARY! I can’t believe I’ve been putting my random thoughts out in to the interweb universe and a few of you have actually read them and come back for more! Thank you everyone for keeping me inspired to keep writing and decorating!

Speaking of decorating, today’s post is about how decorating can be therapeutic and great for the soul. Who needs a shrink when you’ve got a 25% off coupon for Crate & Barrel?! Such is the case for today’s “client”. My best friend Harriet recently went through a life change when she and her husband amicably went their separate ways. She kept their place in Boston and in an effort to get a fresh start, decided she wanted to revamp her bedroom.

So here’s where we are starting: a gender neutral space populated mostly with post-college Ikea furniture.

So once the big split happened, the first thing I recommended to her is to rearrange her furniture. It was the quickest and easiest way to get a new perspective on things without spending a dime. So while we planned her new room, she literally flipped her perspective 180 degrees. And what a change! It felt like a whole new room.

Next up, she decided on her point of inspiration for the design: a peacock feather. It holds some serious sentimental value for us as it was part of our sorority in college, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let her plaster the room with feathers and dip everything in peacock blue. So we took the elements we liked such as that deep rich blue as a starting point.

Since it’s such a bold color, we decided that it could be an accent color while we would create a room around it with soft, neutral colors to give her a calming haven to retreat to at night. So here’s my first run at a plan for her room:

This is also the point when, despite her protests, I convinced her to paint. It’s the quickest, cheapest way to totally transform a space. We decided on a pale purple which would accent the peacock blue/teal accents we had been eyeing. But as all designs go, we didn’t quite agree on which purple that was. She’s a bit more of a girlie girl and leaned more towards a shade with pink undertones. I recommended she pick up some test pots of a few colors and try them out before she paint the whole room in a color we (I) weren’t totally convinced was just right. Here’s the tester:

We both agreed that the one on the left was way too pink. The one on the right is a bit more in line with what we were thinking. So a few weeks later, she bit the bullet, bust out the credit card for some new furniture AND tackled painting the whole room herself with one fabulous finished product (I apologize for the photos as we haven’t had a chance to do some serious “after” photos yet):

Now we had some serious momentum to keep rolling. The dresser is the Sorano 6-Drawer Dresser from Crate & Barrel. It reminds me of driftwood; I’m totally in love with it. Harriet and I went through a LOT of rug choices. She was particularly found of this Sonnet Area Rug in turquoise from Home Decorators Collection:

But ultimately, she decided on the Jasper Area Rug in aqua from Crate & Barrel. And to round out her shopping cart, she chose this amazingly comfortable Haven Chaise which she had fallen in love with during a window shopping trip in LA with yours truly.

Then after a long search for non-white bedding that wouldn’t show dog fur (she has an adorable long-haired dachshund named Snickers), Harriet picked some great bedding from West Elm: the Braided Matelasse Duvet Cover.

So after some tweaking thanks to a new paint color and some new design decisions, here’s the updated mood board for the space:

Then thanks to the Red Sox fabulous season and a spot in the playoffs, Jefe and I took off for Boston for a baseball game and some much needed time with my bestie. Unfortunately for her, the West Elm duvet was out of stock online. I, however, live around the corner from the store…. so my carry-on ended up filled to the brim with bedding instead of clothes.

While we were enroute, Harriet had a great bed frame delivered. It’s got storage for those bulky sweaters needed to bear the Boston winters. It’s from a local retailer, Jordan’s.

Once we landed in Boston, Jefe had to take a work call so Harriet and I took a quick jaunt to Home Goods where we made an INCREDIBLE score. We found a pair of AMAZING lamps that matched her new rug exactly. And they were the perfect way to bring some of the pale, minty teal over to the other side of her room on her future beside tables. Check out one of these gorgeous, curvy ladies (note that we ensured that we could fix the crooked shade before she purchased):

What an amazing score. Under $100 for BOTH of them. We were stoked. And Jefe gave us quite the look when we both walked in the front door, arm in arm with our lamps. We looked like little girls with their arms caught in the cookie jar.

So now our search has turned to sheets, nightstands and a side table for her chaise and some artwork. We both love the idea of black and white photos throughout the whole room; we just have to find the right ones.

And while we were there, we discussed a few other areas of her place we’d love to tackle down the road. I love a good project so there will definitely be more to come!

15Aug2013

Dorm Meets Design

Posted in Design Challenges, DIY, Life Stuff, Mood Boards, Redecorating by Mallory

…And Sledge is back with a vengeance!

Let’s talk college. For those of us who have been there, we all remember the grueling late nights of studying (or rehearsing for us theater folk), the horrible cafeteria options and the dorms. Oh the dorms. That ridiculous rite of passage where by you’re forced to live with a perfect stranger for 9-10 months and cram your entire life into a poorly lit space the size of a shoe box.

Well for you new readers, I promise you there’s hope. Your first year does NOT have to consist of you gaining the freshman 15 and sleeping in a drafty room that reminds you of where Martha spent a year in West Virginia.

No matter how many times you’ve scoured your school’s website and Google Image searched, you really have no idea what kind of space you are walking in to. Maybe a little something like this:

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Or worse:

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But there are plenty of tips, tricks and advice towards making this cement block of a space feel like home.

The key to really enjoying your space is making it comfortable. That starts with the piece of furniture you’re going to spend most of your time in: the bed. Let’s start with support – a solid mattress pad and an egg crate are musts. Egg crate you ask? Yes, you can thank me later. Those mattresses are likely very uncomfortable and any extra cushion will be appreciated.

Good sheets are just as important. I’d recommend going a step up in the quality department. Seriously. Those college nights can be long, no matter what you’re doing and you’ll love coming home to a bed that doesn’t like it came out of Van Wilder. Personally, Jefe and I loved our Striped Sheet Set from West Elm. They’re extremely soft and held up really well after 2 years of solid use.

Comforters and duvets should be washable. Trust me. This will be your bed, couch, study spot, dinner table, and dance floor all in one. Spills are bound to happen. In terms of style, I’d pick something that’s uniquely you without screaming “Star Wars is my jam!” Going a little bit more sophisticated never hurt anyone. A moderately priced duvet may be your best best as it’s washable and can be swapped out if you tire of it. This actually was my duvet eons ago, in a bit more a sage color, and it was worth every penny; it got softer with every washing and paired nicely with the buttery yellow walls of my bedroom in our sorority house. To pair with those great striped sheets, you could try a luxurious, yet neutral option from H&M’s new home line:

Now lets talk pillows. As I suggested, that bed is going to get some serious use (wink wink). So besides your usual pillows, I would get a few “decorative” ones that can serve multiple purposes. I’ve found bigger European and body pillows are best and can turn any bed in to a couch or help create an extra seat on the floor.

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Luckily, floor pillows are all the rage so it should be easy to find something in your particular taste. I’m a big fan of these floor cushions that would work great as a backrest on your bed or tossed on the floor for added seating.

Lastly, I would add a throw blanket. It can be folded at the end of the bed, draped over the foot rail or used for extra warmth in cold months (or to cover your new best friend who fell asleep on your floor after a late night out). And it adds a homey touch to an otherwise cold room.

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After move-in day and you’ve had the chance to spend some time in your space, you can always look in to some DIY options for headboards. Is it necessary? No. Will it help make the space feel like it’s more yours and less like a cement cell? Definitely. There are plenty of options from large wall decals to simple pieces of foam and fabric-wrapped wood that would really take your room up a notch. You’d be amazed what batting your eyes at that upper-class man with a pick-up truck will get you. Usually a free trip to Home Depot for the wood for your DIY project AND an invite to his house party later that night ;-). Alternatively, you could go the wall decal route:

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While researching this post, I also came across this great new invention: over the bed storage that can also double as a “headboard”. You can customize the back wall with decorative paper or fabric and a little modge podge. It also gives you some much needed storage above your bed for those photos of your besties from back home.

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Lets talk lighting. Quite possibly the worst part of dorm life – those horrendous overhead fluorescents that make your skin look green. So we are going to TURN. THEM. OFF. Lamps are your best friends. It’s safe to say that you’ll need a minimum of 2 to truly avoid the overhead: one for your desk exclusively and one for the rest of the living space. And your eyes will thank you for that soft white light while you’re cranking away during a marathon study session. It will also give your space a great, homey atmosphere that will be the envy of all your hallmates. I would recommend a style that could easily transition to a first apartment so you’re not buying something as a temporary solution.

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And that rule applies for just about everything other than those extra long twin sheets that you will most certainly never use again: purchase for longevity. My third year of college I bought a queen size duvet for my twin bed; my only regret was not doing it 2 years earlier. I manage to found one that was great quality (without breaking my budget), so I was able to keep it for the long haul and still use it today.

Desk space. Lets get creative. Do you really need that plain mesh pencil cup from Office Depot? How about a pretty monogrammed mug from CWonder instead? It serves the same purpose but gives you a little panache.

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I think the same can be applied for just about anything: why choose a plain notebook when you can get one covered in chevrons that makes you smile every time you look at it? Or how about a cork board covered in fabric? Maybe some DIY bookends (kids still use actual books, right? Or am I that old?!)

These are from CB2 but could EASILY be DIY’ed

The point is, take this as an opportunity to really exercise your imagination in how you can really put your stamp on the space so it’s as inviting as possible.

Storage. You’re gonna need more, no matter who you are. Unless you’re one of those lucky kids that gets an apartment in their first year and are spared this form of mild university-condoned hazing, you will inevitably need some form of storage beyond the blond wood, 30 year old dresser you’re issued. Once you’ve spent some time in your space, figured out what fits where and what still needs a home, plan that trip to your local Target (or if you’re one of the lucky kids near a city, a nearby Ikea). Modern, design savvy storage has come a long way since the standard clear plastic bins of my college years. Below are some suggestions:

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(Drink cart anyone?! For your bottles of Diet Coke…)

Closet storage is pretty straightforward. Just find the things that work for you and your space. 3M hooks can be a lifesaver as are those hangers that can hold 4 pairs of pants at once. I also used to drape my scarves over hangers to save space.

Lastly, let’s talk food. Yes, I know you’ve got a meal plan. But there will inevitebly be those times that you’re just sick of the cafeteria’s chicken parm or you really want a late night snack and don’t feel like leaving the building. For this, I’d recommend one full set of dishware. We’re talking real metal silverware kids. As for the plates, melamine has come a LONG way and there are so many cute options now. Just make sure that yours is microwavable as you never know when you want to heat up some leftovers or make a bowl of soup. Yes, you will have to wash them, but there’s just something nice about having something to call your own that is semi-permanent. And besides – you don’t have the space to hoard stacks of paper plates and cups.

Now for some inspiration of some epic dorm room design:

Boho Glam

This is probably the most shared, epic dorm room design I’ve ever seen.

Minimal Glam

So simple and easy! A rug, some art, a pedestal, a plant and a new bookshelf.

For the bright and bubbly sorority girl

Traditional and masculin. Love the suitcases for some under the bed storage!

As you can see, dorm room decorating has come a long way. So here are two great examples of how to do a blue dorm room, on a budget, in different styles to really make your space your own:

PREPPY FEMININE

MASCULINE ECLECTIC

31May2013

Sand Between My Toes

Posted in Mood Boards, Visual Eye Candy by Mallory

Summer has officially arrived in LA. Between Memorial Day and the onset of 90+ temperatures in LA the last few days, I am ready for sundresses, day trips to Hermosa Beach and evening picnics at the Hollywood Bowl. Although I’m a bigger fan of autumn, there’s always something so exciting about the start of the summer season.

And this year is no exception. I’m already planning my packing list for Jefe and I’s annual trek east for our August vacation with our respective families. His family has been gracious enough to host both Jefe and myself the last few years at the beach in Spring Lake, NJ. It’s a gorgeous, quaint little town on the northern Jersey shore, just an hour train ride for Manhattan.

So today I’m going to share some of the incredible architecture that I get to stare at for a few days every year when we’re making our way 5 blocks from our rental house to the shore. The town actually became super-popular with the uber-wealthy of New York and Philly during the Gilded Age of the 1910’s and 20’s.

(via Spring Lake Historical Society)

Some of those original houses are actually still standing. You’ll notice the second one above is also below, as well as a few others that have been standing since Spring Lake’s hey day:

And here are just a few gorgeous others that I’ve had my eye on. They only run five-figures per weekly rental…. or $1 million PLUS for purchase. I suppose my daydreaming will have to remain just that; but window shopping can’t hurt, right?

The Victorian inspired architecture is really stunning, particularly in person. There’s such detail and so many unique architectural features…. I’m starting to feel like Ted Mosby geeking out on buildings. But there is definitely something to be said for homes whose structure and aesthetic appeal has withstood the test of time, some of whom have lasted over 100 years. I’d love to sneak inside some of these homes. Most of the great ones aren’t available for rental, so I unfortunately can’t do any internet snooping for you all.

In addition to the spectacular homes, Spring Lake has an incredible boardwalk. And we’re not talking about the kind where you fear of running in to Snooki. Spring Lake’s is simple and a perfectly serene place to take a walk or an early evening jog before dinner… which you just so happen to get stuck on during a thunderstorm… (true story – Jefe and I had to hide under the pavilion near a pool to avoid lightening last year. But it looked AWESOME.)

Unfortunately the hurricanes that hit the mid-Atlantic seaboard the last two years took their tolls on the boardwalk, but I have faith that it will look great by the time we arrive this year.

And now that you’re all dreaming of your future beach homes (who knew there were such gorgeous places in Jersey?!), why not deck yourself out like you own the place? Here’s what I’m thinking….

C.Wonder Wicker Picnic Basket
JCrew Panama Hat in Natural
Baggu Weekend Bag in Sailor Stripe
Jack Rogers Hamptons Classic Navajeo Flats in Gold
C.Wonder Colorblock Stripes Boatneck Tee Dress in Palm/Coastal
Tory Burch Sunglasses in Blue/Green

I really can’t wait for summer vacation. Almost makes me want to go back to school just for the summers off 😀

In other news, did anyone catch the new show Renovation Raiders that premiered on HGTV tonight? I am officially obsessed. Amy Matthews basically has my dream job (and has some rocking red hair). It’s home design, renovation, and tv production all under a ticking clock: she leads an awesome crew that completely renovates a space in someone’s home in a few hours while they’re out to dinner. I kind of want to be her. It’s a shame so many HGTV shows shoot outside of LA (or the US for that matter – those Canadian accents are THICK).

29May2013

Q & A: The Great Merge – Part 1

Posted in Design Challenges, Mood Boards, Reader Q & A by Mallory

Today’s reader Q & A comes from my college roomie, Ali. Some of my first true interior design projects occured when she and I moved into a cramped room in our sorority house. It included my first wall paint job (in the perfect buttery yellow) and styling the room with coordinating lamps, bedding and art. Not to mention finding an appropriate place for the all-so-important mini-fridge and bar.

Since those days that suddenly seem too far away, Ali’s done her fair share of trapsing across the globe. As a musician, artist, and all-around bohemian extraordinaire, her style is quite eclectic. Recently she moved in with her boyfriend in Washington, D.C. and she’s encountered the same problem most of us have when taking the plunge into co-habitation with a significant other: the Great Merge of belongings.

Here’s Ali’s request:

Hi Mal!

Here’s some info on a couple of current problem areas (there are several more…) of our new place. As we enter Week 3 of unpacking and merging our belongings, we have most of the big furniture situated and are starting to unearth enough space to hang curtains, and soon some photos/art!

We need help with storage and textiles in particular. Justin likes to keep an extra blanket on the bed when we’re not home to keep it from getting swathed in dog hair, and we’re in the market for a new one because I don’t like the color of the current one. Also, the bench cushion is in really rough shape and I’d love to cover it. I know he’d prefer a solid (in corduroy if possible) and I’d love a muted pattern, even though our bedding has stripes. I’d love for it to be a rougher texture – wooly, or woven, or nubby.

We’re trying to stay responsible and not buy new everything, and that’s tricky since my previous style leanings and Justin’s are pretty different. Thankfully nowadays we both agree that we really like the looks that West Elm has going, it’s modern enough for Justin and fits enough with my funky taste (fair isle navajo more patterns yes!) and plethora of instruments. I have given in to cool colors in the bedroom, although that’s not natural for me.

Here’s a video:

As this is a rather large task, I’ve decided to break this up in to a two-parter. Today I’ll focus on the bedroom and in our next post we’ll take a look at the dressing room area.

For the bedroom, let’s break this down in to each area to tackle:

New throw blanket for their bed
New nightstands & lamps
Fabric to recover bedroom bench
Storage solutions
Add some much needed Ali flair in terms of styling

Let’s start with the bedding. They’re sticking with the above blue-toned striped duvet cover. Adding another pattern in to this mix will be tough; I’d recommend a solid colored blanket with a woven texture for visual interest and to soften up the hard lines of the current bedding. Seeing as Ali always prefers warmer colors, I’d go with a chocolate brown to really give it an inviting feel and coordinate with the stripes of the duvet cover. As this blanket will be used primarily to prevent their dog Dakota from creating his own version of a blanket on the bed, I’d opt for something machine washable.

My recommendation: the LLBean Vintage Matelasse Coverlet in Chocolate Brown. It meets all of the above criteria and although it’s a little more expensive than something at Target or a comparable big box store (this guy clocks in @ $129 for a queen size), it’s made by a company that prides itself on quality so you know this puppy will last. They also sell matching pillow shams so Ali could turn it into a true bedding set if she wanted, instead of it just being a barrier between Dakota and the bed.

Or for a slightly more modern pattern in a lighter brown, I’d go with the West Elm Lexington Quilt + Shams in Clay would be a nice alternative.

To top off the bed, I would finish it with a throw pillow or two. The West Elm Embroidered Dot Pillow Cover in Dusty Blue is a great option that is simple enough to coordinate with the current bedding, the LL Bean or West Elm coverlets and still gives a bit more of an organic feel to the bed. The handsewn embroidery with its slightly uneven lines helps to soften the rest of the lines of the bedding. The blue accent thread will tie in with the blue of the duvet.

Next up are the night stands. For the left side, once they unpack some more boxes, they’ll have a decent amount of space over there. As they’re hurting for storage, I would go the untraditional route. Do NOT buy another nightstand. I would go more with a cabinet or small dresser that sits at the right height. It will give them more storage space and Ali a larger tabletop for things like her stacks of books, the lamp, etc. And by going with something that is more unique, you won’t have to worry about it matching your pre-existing furniture. My biggest pet peeve is quickly becoming bedroom sets that are too matchy matchy, including my own (what can I say, you live and you learn).

The Single Shutter Doors Holbrook Sideboard from World Market is a perfect example of something totally unique but serves all of the purposes Ali needs. And it would add some much-needed eclectic style to the room.

Then above it, you could always hang a mirror, like this bargain – the Threshold Round Captain’s Mirror from Target (I still can’t believe this is $29.99 – I’m dying to get one for our place) to help reflect light from the nearby window and hang hooks on either side because as Ali puts it “We literally need a place to hang our hats. We have so many hats!” Spoken like a true Renaissance woman.

For styling purposes, I’d go with a ridiculously simple lamp on that side of the bed. The BRÅN base and JÄRA shade from Ikea will do just the trick. And because it’s basically clear glass and a white shade, there are a ton of ways to customize it if Ali so chooses, such as adding color to the glass base or sprucing up the shade.

On the other side of the bed, you could go with a coordinating lamp such as the Target Room Essentials Solid Shade Ceramic Silver lamp as Ali and Justin prefer more of a brushed silver look.

But back to the nightstands, if Ali decides to work with what she’s got, I would recommend a little DIY. The easiest trick to perk up those existing pieces is to swap out the knobs. Anthropologie and even World Market have a TON of options to choose from.

Ali could also bust out a can of paint and really customize them to her linking. She and I were never afraid to get a little dirty (or crazy) back in the day. Obligatory college photo here:

Back to the nightstands again – depending on how crafty Ali wanted to get, I’d recommend something a little like this DIY from Megan over at Craft Habit.

Lastly, Ali definitely wants to get crafty with her bench. She’d like to recover it with a durable fabric. I’d recommend something a little heavier weight, such as upholstery fabric. You could go solid, but I’d take the opportunity to bring in some more organic lines with a subtle pattern, such as the Waverly Strands/Sterling fabric from Joann Fabrics.

So there you have part 1 of Ali & Justin’s GREAT MERGE. Check back next week for Part 2! I’ve also included the full mood board below, including a few pieces of art, the curtains, and the run they already own.

So what do you guys think? Anyone else facing the Great Merge these days? I learned a LOT from when Jefe and I did it– namely that I’m a hoarder and he’s a minimalist. Somehow we’ve managed to meet in the middle. For now 😉

Sledgehammer With Style

Hollywood marketer by day, design blogger by night.

Category Archives: Mood Boards

February Lust List

Decorating for the Soul

Dorm Meets Design

Sand Between My Toes

Q & A: The Great Merge – Part 1

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