Erin Gates has that rarest of qualities in a designer: A style that's approachable and yet unexpected. Behold, for example, her entry stairs, covered in a cheeky yet chic leopard-print carpet.

After building a blogging empire, this fall Gates has released her first design book, Elements of Style: Designing a Home and a Life.

In between anecdotes about her not-quite-Pinterest-perfect life, the book mixes stunning interiors and visuals with real, useful advice. How many pillows do you really need on a bed? How can you turn a rental into a place you love without making big changes? How does one host a dinner party without losing an entire paycheck or your sanity? 

Gates has the answers to these questions and more, and you can give her your own design queries tonight as she celebrates her book launch in Houston at Tootsies with a cocktail party and book signing from 6-8 p.m.