Keaton Interiors

Color Saturation

2011-08-19T01:57:00.001-04:00

With literally billions of paint names to choose from and multitudes of color combinations, what is the simplest way to narrow down your favorites? Pantone so kindly forecasts the season's color trends years in advance. In the same way you see repeat fashion and movie remakes, colors cycle through a pattern. As a designer, it's evident which trends are timeless and which are fads.

I guarantee you will not be able to guess which of the below photos are more than 10 years old....don't peek! Color can be timeless.

I am continually "wowed" by Alan Campbell & China Seas prints. Below, I paired each of Pantone's Fall 2011 top 10 shades with a Quadrille fabric. Best of all? Most of these are available in both textile & wallpaper!!

Island Ikat in "Magenta"

Prague in "Salmon on Tan", as seen in Veranda

Island Ikat in "Zibby Blue on White", found in Veranda

Nairobi in "Inca Gold" & "French Blue", designer Christina Murphy

Petit Zig Zag in "Navy", as seen in House Beautiful

Zig Zag in "Leaf on Tint", design found in Elle Decor

Paradise Background in "Taupe on Tint", designed by Meg Braff

Henroit Floral in "Pinks on Ecru", designed by Judy Cormier

also, Saya Gata wallpaper in "Pink Lines on Tint"

Quadrille discontinued pattern, by Timothy Whealon

Paradise Background, colorway discontinued, designed by the fabulous Elizabeth Martin

Did you figure out which one was oldest? Meg Braff's "Nougat' and blue room from 2000.

Shelving with a Twist

2010-10-01T00:58:00.002-04:00

One of my dear, sweet clients has a love for built-ins, as do I. We're in the process of choosing the icing on the cake for the space....a pop of color or pattern in the shelving via wallpaper! I see this everywhere from famous designers' projects, to DIY afternoons, from reputable design magazines, to.....your truely! Here's some visual inspiration for your weekend.

Love you guys! Happy weekend :)

If you need a good cry...

2010-09-10T20:49:00.000-04:00

...this might do it! So precious :)

I've been spending too much time working in the baby store, apparently....have a great weekend!

Wash, Rinse, Repeat....

2010-09-08T21:16:00.000-04:00

My day off consisted of laundry, laundry, cooking, and more laundry! I heard some clips on the radio and tv recently about bed bugs & it totally had freaked me out. I was laundering everything that would let me with my homemade detergent!

The room that we have for this activity is embarrassing. A catch-all for.....ALL. A dust bunny haven. A black hole...? 10 square feet plus washer/dryer. THE WALLS ARE CLOSING IN! I began to wonder....couldn't this be more pleasant?

Here's a truck load of photos of laundry & mud rooms done right, with some basic rules of thumb.

1.) Unify your containers.

2.) Make it homey. This laundry room is adjoined to the kitchen. This drape will serve as a sound buffer and a clean slate when guests come to visit. A clock, pendant light, and whimsical shelf make folding clothes a more pleasant task. Even the dang laundry basket is precious.

3.) Keep clutter minimized & hidden. (See how much better these stacked rolls of toilet paper look than the tacky plastic wrap they come in?)

4.) A glimpse of the outdoors. Do you think our landlord would like me sawing through the drywall?

5.) Make the space work for YOU. Consider other items this space can hold for you. For us, we need a place to store our dog food (all 80 lbs. of it), patio pillows, and tool kit.

Have any of you mastered the 'pretty' laundry room?

Musical Chairs

2010-09-06T23:02:00.000-04:00

I keep noticing dining tables set with alternating chair types! Most common, are the traditional winged-back style duo at the heads of the table. I also love the look of one (or two) benches flanking the sides of a long table. Fluff them up with coordinating pillows, and it's a little unexpected twist! But lately, designers & homeowners have mixed it up in these homes...check it out!

This table incorporates the winged-backs with one side bench and a few chairs. It's works beautifully, no? The slatted chairs keep the space airier between dining and living rooms, whereas the bench solidifies a window wall.

Lucite, how we love thee!

These classic Loop chairs never get old! I am failing at photo credits these days, but this one I think was in Traditional Home or Elle Decor(??) Oops. And the design is Suzanne Kasler.

These selections are my favorite of this post...what an excellent use of radial symmetry! The cantilevered, molded plastic chairs work perfectly with the traditional gray slipper chairs.

A little retro for your evening. Brave!

This reminds me of something Sixx Design might create. A little vintage-mod. A little overdone. A little awesome.

So I randomly met a local designer today who came into our store! I've been reading her blog for the past year & checking out her portfolio...take a look at Laura's blog :) It's so crazy to me that the blogosphere is full of really cool people just like you...who you might very well run into in the real world.

This also happened to me 3 weeks ago in our store! The mother of Laurie from Rhoney Designs, was talking to me about mobiles, when somehow we figured out that I have read about her granddaughter's nursery featured on Apartment Therapy! Confusing? :) I love small worlds!

Please drop me a line! It would totally motivate me to write more often...

Secrets from a Stylist

2010-08-26T18:46:00.001-04:00

Whew, my fingers are a little rusty from taking my blogging summer hiatus! Where the heck have I been?! Highlights were starting my own interior design business based from Charlotte, NC, took an anniversary trip to Seattle with hubby, a couple mini vacays, and starting an additional job at a local shop designing nurseries and children's rooms! Oh and one more thing I've been following was HGTV's Design Star.

HGTV and I have a love/hate relationship. Being, I am super supportive of the educated designers, yet slightly disgusted with programs that lead viewers to believe they can make their home look like a million bucks with a ball of string and a can of paint.

My favorite show thus far, has been Dear Genevieve, who is adorable, and a smart cookie. Candice Olson has created a literal empire for design with her own business, show, and various product lines. I also respect Mr. Vern Yip as a designer, even though his education was in architecture, it's still an extremely valuable asset with structural interiors. He definitely has what it takes. And all the flack he caught for being 'critical' of the Design Star contestant? BRING IT! They deserved every bit of the constructive criticism. A great designer will not make it if they cannot generate multiple solutions and evolve their style.

However....a NEW show with this season's Design Star winner Emily Henderson will begin THIS Sunday at 10 P.M. I might have a new favorite. Here was the second to last challenge's space she designed.

I've read her blog before she made it on the show, which inevitably made me pull for her...and what do you know! What I like about Emily is she is humble, real, discerning, and clever. I mean...you can't get any more real than this: her wedding invitation...ADORABLE.

Her branch of design is styling. You know how pretty photos are in magazines? From Martha Stewart displays to fluffing a home before a photo shoot...this is right up her alley. This is her own desk at home:

Her show is all about making your home look like you by finding inspiration in the clients' wardrobe. The best part? She is a big fan of flea markets...boy, we should be friends!

"Secrets of a Stylist" Don't miss it!

A July Endeavor

2010-07-02T12:34:00.000-04:00

We're going camping at the lake with some friends.

I am an indoor girl.

The last time I went, I was 8, and a bear circled our tent.

If only I had a little camper to decorate like these from Decor Maison!

What are your plans for the 4th? Wish us luck!

Straight Ownin' Bake Sales wit my Cupcake Skillz.

2010-06-30T23:26:00.000-04:00

This has nothing to do with design, but it might make you pee yourself!

Oh P.S. I'll stick with an SUV, thank you.

Gather 'Round

2010-06-30T22:06:00.000-04:00

Know what I love? Plate clusters. Not the tacky froo froo clusters, but theeeeese....

Vintage Seattle

2010-06-28T23:38:00.001-04:00

In Seattle, one thing I wanted to do was compare an antique store in the south to the west coast. I had this insane itinerary for our trip that included a few mapped out. My poor husband! The first one was near the Space Needle. We were going to walk, but there was an interstate in the way! The store sucked. The next antique store had shut down. The next was kind of neat, but it was mostly furniture. I should have gone where Erika kindly suggested, but hubby wasn't keen on the cab fare. Then finally on our last afternoon, I hit the jackpot. Unfortunately, every thing was marked up to retail, so I didn't buy anything. It was really fun to look though! Again....poor husband :)

I'm on the hunt for vintage coat hangers! They would be great to display pieces of heirloom baby clothes on a nursery wall.

Old photographs in a cool piece with lots of little drawers, like my post office boxes! My sweet friend Emily collects old family photos...from other people's families. She feels sorry for them being abandoned in stores. Hilarious.

I looooooove Bakelite. It's a resin popular in the 50's typically made into colorful bracelets & other special trinkets. I'll be adding a black bracelet & another in army green to my ESTY shop soon!

A little old radio.

Should have splurged on one of these little guys!

Norman Rockwell

Neat tool box! See the glove mold in the background? I totally have one for sale....another shameless plug :)

I found the world's largest frog!

Gray Love

2010-06-28T23:03:00.001-04:00

One of my new favorite color combos is gray & yellow. Up until recently I wouldn't even wear gray...now I'm struggling to put together an outfit without it & looking for ways to incorporate it into our house. What's going on?!

Here are a couple favorite inspiration photos...enjoy! I think this bedroom was from
Southern Living...? I can't get enough of it!

Incredible barn door into the bathroom.

Thanks, Martha.

Nicely staged bathroom, some literal penny-rounds, & a perfect wallpaper.

Domino archived bedroom.

I'm designing a home library now for a client, where this color scheme blends in beautifully to their home. The space will feature built-ins, a window seat, wallpaper, & custom window treatments. I decided to 'golden up' the yellow & accent with black, as well.

*To respect this client, I can't give sources.

The ETSY Shop has arrived!

2010-06-14T21:55:00.000-04:00

Just a shameless plug for my antiquing endeavors :)

What are you waiting for? Check her out!

LEED in Real Life

2010-06-14T01:30:00.000-04:00

What's up faithful readers, did you miss me?! I'm back from the break.

I'll just jump right in....hubby & I went to Seattle last week to celebrate our 1 year anniversary!

We saw A LOT on the trip, which I'll write more about later. The most beautiful part of our trip [apart from the Puget Sound, skyscrapers, & indigenous plants] was the hotel!!!

I was enamored by the interior design, so I wanted to share it with you.

It was awarded LEED Silver certification by the USGBC. In layman's terms: it's a green building. The first Seattle hotel to be LEED, actually. One of my career goals is to attain this accreditation as a designer. I know it's not impossible, because 2 of my good friends have done so, but I need to spot putting it off.

Hubby bought this gorgeous bouquet for me at the Pike Place Market. The hotel staff went out of their way to help me preserve them on the trip home, as well.

And they looked perfect in our cute little room. I was totally trying to figure out who the textiles were manufactured by... Our room had a recycling bin. And the bathroom had a 1/2 flush option, if that's not TMI....go green?

Did you know Seattle is HILLY?! We did not prior to arriving. Therefore, this pool was the only form of relaxation we found during the trip. Thank God. The tile was an iridescent, neutral mosaic. You see this often in homes, but I had not yet seen it applied in commercial use. It was a lot more subtle there & just perfect.

I tried to take pictures of the restaurant, but we were there late at night in dim lighting...Hubby was slightly mortified by my amateur photography insistence. Instead, I'll show you the lobby.

And lastly, the coffee shop & lounge. All of the restaurant & coffee shop's products are biodegradable, to comply with the LEED certification.

xoxoxoxo

The Paper Exchange

2010-04-29T12:00:00.001-04:00

For you guys who don't know me, personally, I'm starting a new job next week. I hinted around with some vaguery here, like my friend here does, but it's official! I have been digging up all sorts of new & old inspiration, resources, and knowledge.

In doing so, I found a senior project that was my favorite. It was for a competition sponsored by IDEC [Interior Design Educators Council] and my team partner was Jena, who I have mentioned here.

Our challenge was to create a commercial space in a renovated bank building, while preserving its historical integrity. We wanted to restore the terrazzo flooring and detailed ceiling moldings. We accomplished this by creating an eco-friendly paper store. Customers can take educational classes [pictured above] and receive a discount for bringing in their paper products to recycle.

One of the most obvious challenges was ensuring that traffic patterns flowed smoothly. There were several existing columns that were awkward. By creating a unique check-out counter and wrapping station and wrapping freestanding columns in shelving, this was resolved. The wooden tables were to be salvaged from vintage stores for product display.

Would you ever shop here? :)

Check out this sweet giveaway over at Frilly Details!

Speed Designing

2010-04-25T22:48:00.000-04:00

Are any of you perfectionists? Usually in my job it's a good thing to catch mistakes & have a critical eye. I have that going for me, but I'm trying to teach myself to speed things up, slow poke!

Selecting design materials from thousands of sources can seem like an ominous task. I visited 1st Dibs [it's the best online antique resource, have you heard?] tonight and challenged myself to select a few things for a hypothetical office in just a few minutes! Here's what I came up with, so don't laugh :)

The zebra rug looks like it's surrendering in a episode of COPS...sorry about that.

Confection Perfection

2010-04-24T13:57:00.000-04:00

Ok, I'll admit...sometimes the wedding planning bug comes back to bite me! Cake decorating has turned into an art form in recent years. 'Cake artists' can create almost anything their clients can dream up. Just look at Chef Duff!

Without further ado, here are a few gorgeous creations for you to enjoy!

[Love Street Cakes, NY]

[no baker noted]

[Bijoux Doux, NY]

[Gateaux Inc, MN]

[I Dream of Cake, CA]

[Bijoux Doux, NY]

[Lovin Sullivan, NY]

[Mark Joseph Cakes, NY]

[The Pastry Garden, NY]

My wedding cake!!!!!! Designed by Asheville baker, Karen Neal. I dreamed it up, she went to work. Perfect & delicious!

Last, but not least...I wanted to throw in my bachelorette cake, also designed by the fabulous Karen Neal. Isn't it awesome? My bridesmaids Lauren & Shannon surprised me with this one :)

Happy Saturday!

To Market to Market...

2010-04-22T23:08:00.000-04:00

Where was Waldo? I've been at the Furniture Market! The chest of drawers in the post below is known as the 'bureau of information' [haha!] The socks symbolize the textile industry native to the Carolinas.

Thursday I was so excited to visit the biannual High Point Furniture Market. For the South, High Point, NC is THE furniture capital. Thousands of international and local vendors flock to rent booths and showrooms to display their newest and latest goods for the design industry. I can't fathom the chaos that must ensue prior to opening day! Walls are painted, furniture moved in [to the 14th floor in some cases!], accessories are hand-places, and salespersons hired. After a week, they either sell their samples or just move it all out.

Buyers have special passes to get in through their design company or retail establishment. It is a zoo, but one of my favorite times of the year!! I've been bombarded [in a good way] with new information, ideas, contacts, & inspiration. Did I mention there are thousands of exhibitors? Thank goodness for free shuttles, but my feet hurt!

No. 1 Mirrored Furniture Pieces

[Photos taken at Lillian August, Tozai, Noir, & Oly]

No. 2 Clocks as Artwork

[Photos taken at Eloquence, Randall Tysinger, can't remember, & BoBo]

No. 3 Detailed Pendants

[Photos taken at Eloquence, can't remember, Shiner, & BoBo]

No. 4 Vintage References

[recognize the seltzer bottles?]

Here's a fun fact: while chatting with the rep, I learned that Anthropologie buys items from Two's Company to resale [notice the block stamp frames?] I'll be writing my 2 cents about Anthropologie in a upcoming post, by the way!

[Photos taken at Noir, Aidan Gray Home, & Two's Company]

No. 5 Texture, Texture, Texture

[tons of linen, velvet, wallpaper, natural fibers, etc]

[Photos taken at Haute House, Global Views, & Nuevo]

I'll be writing more about Market in the next post, so keep checking back or Follow :)

Where's Waldo?

2010-04-21T02:12:00.000-04:00

I'll give you a little hint as to where I have been this week. Any guesses?

I'll give you the answer Friday :)

Watch your step!

2010-04-20T00:31:00.000-04:00

A big 'thank you' to my friend Kelly, who filled me in about these crazy rugs!

The Type A gal who prefers spotless floors needs this rug. Tapistongs by Lise El Sayed.

Bring the outdoors in, why don't you? The Moss Carpet by Nguyen La Chanh is made with a 'plastazote' base that perpetually nurtures live foliage along with the bathroom's natural moisture.

This Puzzle Persian could be perfect for the creative soul who is always evolving their interiors. And also one who has a great deal of time...needed to throw that in there. The designer, Katrin Sonnleitner, created a black & white version and green, as well.

Tired of stubbing your toe at night? Try the Light Carpet by Johanna Hyrkas.

Egg Rug by Valentina Audrito. White shag base with 2 leather pillows as yolks.

You can see the 25 others here. Have a great day, sweet readers!

Moooo

2010-04-17T11:23:00.000-04:00

Down at the farm.

Where Miss Daisy lives.

And the grass is sweet & cows are plentiful.

Nellie.

And the inbred felines play....anyone need a kitty? Sampson loves kitties. Kitties hate Sampson.

Happy weekend!!!

Nature versus Nurture

2010-04-12T01:07:00.000-04:00

Was your career predestined? Not in a religious sense, but through developing talents & personality. Maybe so.

Although I am suited for a handful of occupations, I'm certain that interior design was a choice that makes me happy, able to unleash creativity, and connect interpersonally with others.

As a child, did the neighborhood lawyer intently make a case for his parents to stay up past bedtime? Did your airline pilot ever gaze up to the contrails in fascination as a 6 year old? Has your veterinarian always been bringing home stray pets? Did any of you teachers line up & 'teach' your stuffed animals while playing school? Did Frank Lloyd Wright's mother give him Froebel's Blocks as a child? Yes. The answer is yes!

I found 4 toys that would foster an aspiring designer's [or architect's] sense of spatial depth, visual judgement, & creativity. This first one is an oldy, but a goody. I personally played with Duplos first, which are at a larger scale.

LEGOS!!! As a kid, I would sit for hours...content to make LEGO houses. When I went over to my friends' houses to play...I'd really be trying to memorize their floor plans! Then I would go home & build it out of the blocks [furniture, too].

Oh, and those prefabricated kits? CHEATERS! This is an original found on the internet.

They even make LEGO candy [in gummy & sweet tart form]. Oh baby.

This next toy is for kids & grownups alike. Bloxes are made from cardboard, mailed flat, & the end user forms them into mini cubes that attach to one another! They cost $44.95 for a package of 20.

For corporate usage, they make great economical room dividers. What would YOU do with 300 Bloxes? I would probably make a fort....and then disassemble it into a fancy coffee table. With cup holders.

The 3rd toy is Blokus. My favorite board game. Although, I have trouble finding friends to play with me....wonder why :) Want to try it online?? My apologies, if it become addictive.

Last, but not least...computer software for home design. We had this quirky little program called 3D Walkaround. I wore that thing out. Here's my floor plan designed at age 11. Can't find the upstairs, but I'm sure it was laughable, too! The plan below was actually redrawn in AutoCAD for a high school project, but you get the idea.

For my favorite readers [this is you] what toys or games did you play with that influenced your career? Any other occupations...or similarities in design?

The Saga Continues

2010-04-10T11:38:00.000-04:00

This is an addendum from yesterday's chair post! I discovered Mini Moderns between then and now & it's just too good to pass up for chair lovers.

Chair wallpaper cleverly entitled "Sitting Comfortably?" Cost is $58/double roll, which is competitive considering Mini Moderns is headquartered in England.

If you're wallpapering in chair paraphernalia, you'd might as well get the pillow. Around $55

Last but not least, there's also a chair tote bag for all your grocery shopping needs & chair obsessions.

Classically Chic

2010-04-09T14:20:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite parts of interior design school was studying chairs by famous designers. I am such a sucker for some Eames, Mies, Rennie, & Corbu. See? I've even dubbed them some nicknames. Some good sources for the real McCoy pieces are Knoll, Design Within Reach, and Herman Miller. I have been lucky to see a few in antique stores, which is really an education! There are countless knock-offs and con artists who want you to buy their fakes. Will classic chairs go up in value? Yes. Are the reproductions cheaper? Usually. It's really just a personal decision. For me, it's on my bucket list to own at least one.

Here are some of the more popular chairs that we see a lot of in residential and commercial spaces. Even my grandmother has some bentwood Thonet chairs in her dining room. Lately, I've noticed the Eames molded plywood rocker (RAR) in nurseries.

These little gems make great collectables. For the seating in the pictures below, I linked them to miniature chairs you can purchase! So far I have a West Elm Overlapping Squares Chair miniature. That doesn't really count!

# 14 Chair by Michael Thonet

Marshmellow Sofa by George Nelson

Hill House Chair by Charles Rennie Mackintosh

RAR by Charles & Ray Eames

Chaise Lounge by Le Corbusier

Tulip Chair by Eero Saarinen

Plywood Elephant Stool by Charles & Ray Eames

Wassily Chair by Marcel Breuer

Barcelona Chair by Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe

Egg Chair by Arne Jacobsen

Poster by Design Within Reach

Hee hee....

Tutorial for a Sweet Gum Ball Wreath

2010-04-07T16:43:00.001-04:00

What is wrong with me? I haven't written a post in 2 weeks!! Hope you all had a great Easter in celebration of Christ's resurrection & springtime!

Did you ever see Dana's awesome acorn wreath at MADE? She was inspired by a lady in Alaska, of all places, who came up with the idea, but didn't have any indigenous acorns! She enlisted the help of her blog readers...and someone actually mailed her a box. Awww, how cute. Anyways, Dana made a wreath & keeps spray painting it for the seasons.

Here's a little DIY that I did back at Christmas, inspired by Jena. Here is her SWEET GUM BALL wreath [a material that is abundant in the south!] White was perfect for the winter.

[Beware: this is a painful project if you don't wear gloves!]

Materials: check!

Assistant: check! [note: please check assistant's mouth for sweet gum balls]

Not the cleanest craft I've ever done.

The first time I spray painted, I used gray. It practically got soaked up by the gum balls. The photo below is with black spray paint.

If you make this, please link back to me & show me your creation!

It's official. I am a Granola.

2010-03-30T00:28:00.000-04:00

That's right, I brewed up my own laundry detergent tonight

It's not as hard as it sounds. Actually, it is really cheap, quick to make, and cleans effectively. I got the initial idea from Maureen, who is awesome. Lots of folks make there own, and I watched a couple of You Tube tutorials before coming up with my own recipe. For instance, I chose powder over liquid.

Ingredients:

2 cups Washing Soda
2 cups Borax
1 bar Ivory Soap (grated...it looks like mozzerella)
1/4 cup Baking Powder

Combine in a food processor. Mine is smaller, so I halved the recipe. Put the powder into a sealable container & use 2 Tablespoons per load of laundry.

And I diluted some fabric softener while I was at it. Combine 1 part softener to 5 parts water in a spray bottle. Spray generously onto clothes after washing & before drying.

So just how cheap is this actually?

Washing Soda $3.75

Ivory Soap $0.50/bar

Borax $6.00

Baking Soda: already in my kitchen

Fabric Softener: free thanks to my sister-in-law's couponing!

My 5 cups will last for 40 loads of laundry. And the Washing Soda & Borax should last all year.

Cheaper. I win. Try it!

Baby nest

2010-03-29T00:03:00.000-04:00

Let me preface this entire post by saying, "There is no Southern Baby on the way in our nest." But let's face it, what girl doesn't daydream about babies & nurseries & cuteness? Umm...that's right...we all have.

Having a design background, I'm a tad opinionated about nursery design. The matchy-matchy theme everything works for most folks, but doesn't float my own boat. My own nursery was primary colored bears & I turned out just fine :) Mom even got me a flea market find armoire that is currently used as functional storage our living room! It's undergone a few paint jobs, but it's that type of transitional piece that can really benefit you financially. Many new parents want their baby's room to be an extension of their own home & style.

So if I were to decorate my own nursery tomorrow, here are a few cheerful spaces I'd like to blend together for a inspiration board.

Fabric hoops, yellow & blue, wood floors, modern crib. Very cute. A cream-colored shaggy rug was added later. Drapes or black-out shades would be more practical, but lots of light is good for the photo :) This sweet nursery belongs to Megan at Me & Wee.

This is Abbey Goes Design Scouting's nursery. I never would have thought to go with white walls, but the color pops are impacting....in a good way! The rug is from Anthropologie. See those little flag banners? Love.

Having a sideboard [typically for an entryway or dining room] is an incredibly practical solution for a changing table. I will definitely be hunting for one to refurbish in the future! This mommy blogger at Kommunicated framed her own childhood books in shadow boxes. She says they inspired the nursery's color palette. Boy, I love a good design concept.

This ceiling makes my mouth drop. Can you see what they have hanging? 100+ fabric hoops were painstakingly coordinated to form a mobile illusion. If that was not enough, the graphic designer father screen printed little animals on most of them with glow-in-the-dark paint....by hand. You can see the parent's entire creative process right here. Caution....not that I am ever overly emotional....but this is so sweet, you may tear up.

Here's another view. Incredible.

This is my current color-scheme obsession...light blue & red. My living room is these colors. Other than that, I am torn between this Jenny Lind cribs & an uber modern crib. Good thing I don't have to choose right now, or I may wish for twins. Jade at Chik Austin pulled off the Jenny Lind very very well. I am also loving the dahlias on the wall. The framed poster is from an ETSY artist. You can get all of this nursery's details via her blog.

These parents are an interior designer & graphic designer. They created a great example of a vintage-inspired nursery with more muted tones for their little one. Recognize Jonathan Adler's giraffe lamps? Here's a sneak peak, because there are so many good photos on their website!

I am personally not a fan of stark white decor...but this is fabulous! Holly at Life in the Fun Lane pulled this off by contrasting with espresso floors, adding bead board, and popping the blue & aqua tones tastefully. I can't get enough of the Martha Stewart pom-poms. The changing table before & after, alone, is worth clicking on her profile.

Last, but not least. I must be partial to fabric hoops, blue & yellow, and Jenny Linds. Well done Caroline! Check out more photos here.

One last thought. My nursery will have elephants. Lots and lots of elephants.

Spring!

2010-03-27T19:49:00.000-04:00

Sorry to be MIA for a few days; life gets busy sometimes!
Check out these spring finds I've gotten recently, to tide us over :)

Old Navy "Embroidered Eyelet Tunic" in Cobalt Ink

I wasn't sure about this one at first, purchased from GoJane.com. But recently, I've seen a ton of zipper shoes on the market! These are called Zipper Ruffle, Closed-Toed Flat in Fushia.

Old Navy "Arty Cardi" in Blue Bonnet

Erin Embraces Etsy

2010-03-22T12:34:00.000-04:00

This sea coral print is from Hirondelle Rustique's Etsy shop, who sells primarily printed goods.

Lust.

2010-03-20T11:18:00.000-04:00

The Stone Stool by Kartell.

Beezus & Ramona

2010-03-19T16:46:00.000-04:00

I'll admit: my heart skipped a beat when I heard about this movie. I was introverted in middle school, so I've read my share of Beverly Cleary. Aaaaahhhh...nostalgia :)

1st Dibs, please!

2010-03-17T21:09:00.000-04:00

Most of the 'vintage finds' I get are accessories or the occasional splurge. We are obviously newlyweds and will be building our nest for awhile. So a lot of my blog posts are champagne taste on a beer budget. My true love is deeply rooted in antiques, however! 1st Dibs is my favorite source to drool over these luxuries and buy for future clients :) You can search by item, key word, dealer, or category....and drool right along with me! The site is ever-changing with additions and purchases, so here are a few of my quick finds of the evening.

When was the last time you saw outdoor seating this cool? 1960's aluminum conversation set for $1,500 via Pariscope Design in Illinois.

I am speechless. This is a triptych turquoise mirror from the 1950's sold by Sjae Alexandre of Los Angeles. My living room says it would LOVE to have this.

The Scandinavian style of ashen furniture and clean lines is really growing on me. I especially like their signature grandfather clocks. This is a 19th Century wooden settee of Swedish descent. It's going for $6,800 from heather & company in San Francisco.

I can't get over these gorgeous Italian 1940's lamps. They were designed by Barovier & Toso and have 24 ct gold glazing the bases for [only] $5,400. Located at Swank Lighting in Dallas, Texas.

Check out this sweet umbrella stand. I love the geometry of this piece by Josef Hoffmann of Austria. I would assume that this artisan drew inspiration from colleagues like Le Corbusier and the Bauhaus designers who were famous during the early 1900's and known for their clean lines. This modernistic approach didn't catch on in the States until later but has clearly withstood the test of time. Sold by Tom Thomas in New York City, and he does not list the price.

Iris Apfel likes 1st Dibs, too.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Ikat love

2010-03-17T00:16:00.000-04:00

I'm dedicating this post to the 'Other Erin' who motivated me to end my almost 5 day blogging hiatus! We have a ridiculous amount in common. Same name, same college, same city, same degree, same elephant & big dog obsession, & same birth month. I'm sure there's more, but that would be freaky. She was a year ahead of me in design school and totally saved my butt with interiors projects on more than one occasion. So 'Other Erin' & faithful blog reader, this one's for you!

Is it possible to have an interior design degree and never heard of the Ikat print until recently? I mean, what the heck...hasn't it been around the block? At first glance, I really thought the Art Deco era had barfed on some fabric. But no...this stuff is everywhere! I've noticed a surplus of purple Ikat, in particular. With a little research, I found that this trend rooted in early 2009. Like they say, trends begin in Europe [in flux of decade rotations]...and trickle down to the U.S. I know I'm late, but purple Ikat has finally grown on me :)

The queen of colorful prints [and a hefty Ikat selection] in my opinion, is Madeline Weinrib. She designs everything from carpet to furniture to bath towels. She's been featured literally hundreds of times in trade publications and decorating magazines and comes from a long line of textile artists. Here are some of her Ikat creations:

Doesn't she rock?

The yellow, magenta, and gray palette is so unexpected and perfect. I was never a purple fan until I laid eyes upon this space.

Charleston, SC interior & graphic designer Angie Hranowsky is based here in the South. Her style and cleverly-design spaces inspire me to be better. These are 2 photos from her Lakeshore Drive project for a young family.

Designer, Nathan Turner has created a West Hollywood shop to encompass his loves for traveling, food, interiors, and even event planning. What does this guy not do? You'll be hearing more about him in my future blog topic, so stay-tuned! This photo is from his Greystone Mansion project.

How much longer do you think this craze will stick around? Will this be a trend to stay?

Erin Go Bragh!

2010-03-12T20:05:00.000-05:00

I'm Irish. I like green. Why not add some March to our house? Sometimes it's best to avoid most of the cheesy decor on the market & get creatively tasteful.

If this door hanger was meant for anyone...it was meant for me! Erin translates to 'Ireland' in Gaelic. 'Erin go bragh' means 'Ireland forever'.

Pottery Barn table runner with greek fretwork, vintage silver-plated tray, & connected glass bud vases holding silk flowers from our wedding.

I have a slew of contract memo samples...that make perfect shamrocks! Something anyone can do is gather all your green-hued books for a color pop. This can work for any season, really.

I laid a couple of extra green fabrics under these items to add color. See the little green object beneath our photo? It's called a frog. They are very collectable vintage finds, originally intended to hold a cut flower stem. You also see a lot in glass...here's more info. And some used in a wedding.

I made baby shamrocks to hang on our pine tree. The stamps letters spell out 'luck'!

And a close-up.

Do you decorate for St. Patty's Day?

A crossroads

2010-03-11T00:15:00.001-05:00

This week, this month, and this year can be summed up in one picture for me. I have a new college degree, moved to a new city, married a new husband & have new challenges. Finally, I see a new chapter on the horizon for my career during this recession. So much is going through my head tonight.

Excitement.

Curiosity.

Ambition.

Fear.

Encouragement.

Creativity.

Naivety.

Hope.

I'm still holding firm that God is in total control of my life. Teaching me new lessons, bringing people into my life in His timing, opening doors & closing others. It is all for a reason, for a purpose, whether understood or not.

I'll keep you posted as to where I'm headed!

[no, I'm not pregnant]

This might not make any sense to you, or perhaps you can relate? When was the last time you felt so full of decisions? Share some wisdom! :)

Oh bless it

2010-03-10T01:20:00.000-05:00

Both my hubby's and my credit cards have 'reward' incentives for usage & paying promptly [ahem...Discover is better...cough]. When this first dawned on me last summer, I was like a kid in a candy store! I picked a Banana Republic gift card during my last cash-in. Hubby was so sweet to split his free dough with me last month. This time I'm leaning towards the Container Store deliciousness....

It must be the spring fever & newlywed nester that craves pretty organization. Ya'll can relate to one or both of those, right? Another criterion is....I don't want to buy anything online that I can't buy in a store for less [i.e. their random household items that aren't any cooler than Target's]

Since I've been trying....soooo trying to ditch my magazine hoarding habit stash...why not reward myself by keeping the Real Simple favorites in these? On sale for $9.99/each.

This past Christmas I realized how much fun I had wrapping gifts. It thrills me to wrap a present so nicely & creatively, the recipient doesn't want to ruin it by opening! One of my 'love languages' is Gifts...maybe that has something to do with it. Without further ado...did you know the Container Store has an entire section of for gift wrapping?! Oh. My. Goodness.

Eventually in my own domain that I wrote about, I'd like a gift wrapping closet. Currently I sit in our 5'x7' hallway in front of the linen closet & spread out to wrap presents. This little guy might help.

My ribbons are all smushed into a grocery bag. They probably think I don't love them. Solution:

I first caught wind of these lace baskets from Nicole, as used for toys. Casa Sugar also has one, except she paid more for it from another source. The originals are going for $89 at Relish......GAG me! Now $24.99/basket doesn't sound so bad.

Gaaaaah...this is SO my style.

Some decisions are really just a blessing :)

Halfpint

2010-03-08T15:55:00.000-05:00

Our downstair half bath is hardly big enough to turn around in. 4 tall white walls, white ceiling, & a beige linoleum floor....AHH! If we owned our home, I would have busted out a paint bucket months ago. We've lived in our house 9 months...and it's just now 'complete'.

The rug has a warm color palette, and the longer wall need some artwork. I found a cheap little Monet book & defaced it to get some prints :) That was fun. We have a ton of pewter/silver-toned picture frames left over from the wedding. You can make your own inexpensive art with a thrift store book, too.

The historic home where we had our wedding reception had a few fireplaces we utilized for photos. In the library, I framed pictures of our parents and grandparents on their wedding days, as a way to show our history & gratitude. Anyways, these are all the frames I have leftover now!

Here's the finished product!

The itty bitty space was a little hard to photograph.

The trash can is actually a flower pot. That, the towel, & rug are all from Target....a diverse one, I am :)

The first thing I added was an IKEA shelf to draw the eye upwards. If fell on hubby's head! I finally purchased a drill & fixed it.

This iron magazine holder was an antique find in Charlotte. Initially, it held toilet paper, but we've got too many magazines around here.

What do you think?? Is this a total fail? I'm out of ideas!

Daydreams

2010-03-04T13:08:00.000-05:00

Even though it's still 50˚, I'm daydreaming about summer in the south.

Do you remember in 'Catch and Release' when the granola Californian Maureen cooks up a Vegan meal outside? Their meal is candlelit outside in the garden with lanterns....ooooh it was so whimsical. I couldn't find a picture, but I wanted to show you some neat outdoor dining options.

Wouldn't it be romantic if someone set up a dining room for you at dusk in the middle of a field? Of course there has to be a big oak tree nearby to hang the lanterns in. I can just smell the wildflowers.

This is my husband's family farm in August.

I want to be here.

Love the lanterns. Event planner Colin Cowie.

Spanish moss on a farm by Salt Harbor Designs.

Sweet 16?

Love the vintage-looking gliders by Zonal & Pottery Barn toss pillows featured on House Beautiful.

Can you smell the wisteria? via House Beautiful

This is perfect. Mismatched chairs!

Yaaaa hoooo!

2010-03-03T23:20:00.002-05:00

10 followers in 2 months! Let's party, invite your friends!!

I love my readers; thanks so much for appreciating my thoughts :) There will be great things to come.

[Photo credit]

It's a small world

2010-03-02T23:52:00.000-05:00

Vintage trend alert? Globes. Intended to educate little ones about geography & students alike, these colorful orbs are now serving as accessories. I haven't noticed a lot of them in salvage stores, but I'll be on the lookout from now on! They are growing on me.

In a window.

This home belongs to Pie Bird Press' owner. Her letterpress stamps & ideas are adorable!

This office space [believe it or not!] was team-designed by Christine Dalsass & Ashley deVries. Isn't it unique? I would love to tour this space.

I vote for these over a common console with picture frames.

See the globe hiding in the corner? This designer's home is soooo nicely designed [lots of vintage]. Elizabeth was the owner of the Savannah shop Vintage General that sadly closed a few weeks back. You can still see some fantastic wedding & event planning of hers at the new blog. Can you tell I am a fan? Oh, if I haven't written enough here...see the card catalog-looking piece to the left? And the blueprint drawers as a coffee table? Sure reminds me of my project & drawer obsession fascination :)

Last but not least...ok maybe. This is what NOT to do with your globes!

WHOOOA. Too much. Thanks, Apartment Therapy for the pic.

The clients from hell

2010-03-01T19:49:00.002-05:00

Here in Blogland we drool over impeccably designed spaces and interior design can seem like a glamorous profession. True. It has its perks. But how many designers would publicly risk their reputations to spout off about their worst clients or most embarrassing skeletons?

One did.

Who the brave soul is, we'll never know, thanks to her talented ghost writer Jennifer Sergent.

I laughed until I cried...then I giggled some more. My Design Story, which was launched in January 2010, shells out all that is expensive, embarrassing, and gleeful about a residential designer's work.

Here's an excerpt from my favorite tale:

"Nothing was ever good enough. When I measured for drapes, she'd measure the fabric once it arrived to make sure I didn't overestimate. Later, she (bizarrely) insisted my seamstress was deliberately withholding 'vital' fabric scraps that she had wanted saved, I don't know for what.

'Yes, Eunice. It's a conspiracy. My seamstress and I stole your scraps!' "

Happy reading!

A little spring in my step

2010-02-24T21:58:00.000-05:00

Today it rained again, so I retaliated by buying some Spring flowers! The buckets at Trader Joe's always call my name, but I've never caved until now.

I'm also a fan of not 'tackifying' St. Patrick's Day decor. My heart was set on Bells of Ireland [hmmm...so maybe the flowers were premeditated]. But I found some Green Button Mums & White Hyacinth. It's amazing how far $9.00 can go! This is the first time I've ever arranged flowers, so don't laugh :)

Which vase? Which place?

Mantle.

End table. [New vase & box: glad my Mama still thinks of me for Valentine's...even though I'm a 'grown up']

Kitchen loveliness in a goblet.

Don't forget to chop off the little buds...they'll be prettier next week!

Oh P.S. this was my toss bouquet at our wedding...perhaps I have a little green flower obsession?

Grand Central Station

2010-02-23T23:57:00.001-05:00

I am admittedly a pack rat of sentimental nature. However, at a young age I have realized this tendency and am taking small steps to simplify my life. I clean like a nut on frequent occasions, but in the mean time my husband & I live 'comfortably' in our stuff.

One obvious root of clutter starts the second we walk through the door. To begin to remedy this, I created a 'catch all' welcome place in a chifforobe door. My parents bought this piece of furniture for me as a baby....my mom refinished it....I refinished it....I'll probably refinish it again! The 4 drawers hold other necessities, and there's a bookcase behind the open, vertical door.

In the first step I cleared out the clutter, organized, and determined which items would best streamline the entry. Women use purses to hold their keys, wallet, etc. I noticed that my hubby's sunglasses, wallet, & pocket knife were getting abandoned and forgotten all over tarnation. Then we would run around frantically to find his keys before he heads to work. No good. Also, the incoming mail, flyers, & crap that comes in the door is mostly unnecessary or can be dealt with immediately. I've gotten more ruthless about tossing papers, thank God.

From a college project with my best friend Jena, we divided up a cork roll we had left over. I finally found a use for it! There is a mirror on the door's reverse side & a layer of cardboard, so the cork stayed nicely with some household staples.

A cheerful paper covers the cork backing. Leftover green & white ribbon outline the board & provide a paper holder. I attached the Post-Its, along with a hanging pen, so we can write each other notes & messages.

This little green basket serves as a great initial filing station before papers make their way to the trash or larger filing cabinet.

1) Receipts

2) Incoming Mail

3) To File

4) To Discuss

The whicker basket holds a few spare keys out of the way.

How many of use have Rubbermaid oozing from our kitchen cabinets? [raises hand!] I snagged a couple of those creatures, covered them in paper, and hubby's 'catch-all's' were born. [picture to left] To avoid painting the inside, I lined 3 sides with 99c IKEA place mats. It also helped to reflect some light into the cubby.

Cleverly disguised by the mirror.

Sampson, you were useless during this DIY. Thanks a lot.

Texture

2010-02-20T13:42:00.000-05:00

West Elm's Pebble Rug

Cable knit coffee sleeve from Wayside Violet's ETSY shop. I need to try making one of these from the gray cable knit sweater Sampson just tore up.

Link Side Table formerly sold at C2B

Why use penny-round tiles, when you can tile in pennies?

Love this Meri Side Table by Oly...it reminds me of nautical coral

Have a little faith

2010-02-16T14:40:00.000-05:00

Oh my goodness, I am excited, and I'll tell you why.

We had already set up the house/moved furniture in before our wedding. Hubby's parents bought us part of a dining set from West Elm for Christmas, so next to my red lacquered Chinese sideboard & new sofa, they were pretty much my favorite.

Then. The sad day came, when we returned from after the wedding festivities and Hubby had to let me in on a little misfortune. He & his groomsmen stayed at our place the night before the big day, one of the fellows, who will go unmentioned, cracked my poor little oval-backed chair. Twas an unhappy bride who learned of this. She tried not to shoot the messenger.

I assumed that since I didn't have my receipt from Atlanta that the company wouldn't fix it. Wrong!

When I stopped in to our local store today, they said they would REPLACE my little friend since it was a manufacturing error if I just bring it in....YAY, thank you God!

Goes to show that you never know until you ask. And don't let football player-ish friends lean back in your chairs.

You can afford to be picky

2010-02-16T01:03:00.000-05:00

Unless you have a silly interesting husband who introduces your designy-girly self to old fogey different TV networks, you may not have heard about my new favorite show!

Sorry to disappoint, but it's not my usual line up of Desperate Housewives, That 70's Show, or Grey's.

This show is about 2 guys who own a vintage antique store. And they are like male versions of myself in regards to antique shopping.

Meet Michael Wolfe

and Frank Fritz.

They have only one other employee, Danielle. She helps them set up appointments to scope out farms, estate sales, or personal collections to find lucrative vintage treasures for a fair deal. That is their job; doesn't it sound fun?! This show is called American Pickers on the History Channel, Mondays at 9:00 PM.

They live in Iowa [so it may be a stretch to talk them down for a Charlotte for a pick, even though I know the single most awesome place they need to visit, where I bought My Nemesis that I annoyingly refer to a lot]. It's okay, I'd rather antique there all by myself :) Or with a friend, of course!

When they go for a 'pick', they typically find unexpected, awesome items. They get really excited about it, which make the show interesting. However, they each have their own little collections and items in mind that they search for. Some of their preferences are architectural elements, old signs, bicycles, small cars, & oil cans. Upon buying an item, they haggle with the owner & try to 'break the ice'. They also keep their clients at the forefront of their minds in order to get a great return on investment.

Blah, blah, blah. Bottom line is, you should check out the show if you like this kind of thing :) It's highly amusing.

Will you be my Valentine?

2010-02-14T12:53:00.001-05:00

I wanted to begin this post with a little shout out to my Hunny. I dug out a couple of my first Valentine's to him and vice versa...que romantica!

On our first Valentine's I painstakingly lovingly cut this baby out with an X-Acto in my dorm room. Must have been in love.

Year #2 I utilized my inner corny-ness.

I must have expressed my love for HANDMADE cards, because hubby pulled off a sweet little presentation of his own. [He is also quite a good little poet, but looked a little mortified when I asked for his permission to post a sample.]

A little handmade ETSY love for Valentine's Day. Enjoy.

silly lab ETSY shop

Dean Penn & Paper ETSY shop

two guitars ETSY shop

Camellia Cottage ETSY shop

Charrow Illustration ETSY shop

Glademade ETSY shop

meander ETSY shop

[MY FAVORITE!!!] 3 Bears Studio ETSY shop

A pastel baby shower

2010-02-11T18:17:00.001-05:00

Here's a different type of craft for a change. I got to do the games & favors for my cousin's baby shower! Having never even been to one before, I did a heck of a lot of brainstorming. I wanted to do everything homemade and cute, so here's what I came up with.

I made a spa [exfoliator] scrub with 2 parts sugar to 1 part olive oil. I added vanilla for a scent, but you can add anything you'd like [even lotion].

I packaged this as baby shower favors in baby food jars some friends saved for me. To hide the removed label 'sticky' I put coordinating ribbon around the glass and a circle of pretty paper on top.

For an easy game, I counted pastel M&M's into a jar & asked the guest to guess the number. Use any candy you want. The winner got the whole jar. To make the game self-explanatory, I unified it on a cake stand. The yellow sugar/creamer jars belong to our grandmother.

The icebreaker game I'm not including pictures of, but it was great! I made an index card for each guest and wrote children's TV & movie characters on them. [You could use baby terminology/gear, also.] I had each guest hold their 'character' facing outward to their foreheads. They had to ask 'yes or no' questions to figure out who they were. This helped us to mingle, since we didn't know everyone.

This game you can really cater to the mom-to-be. I typed up a questionnaire about Chelsea & her baby, combining them with baby facts. My inspiration came from this little ETSY shop. I also stole borrowed little pencils from IKEA :) If you want my template or more specific instructions, please ask me!!!

This is a meaningful, yet easy way to decorate for a baby shower. These are my childhood blocks I hot-glued together (the glue should peel off).

Get it?

Chelsea's mom & aunt made the food, and it was GREAT (very photo-worthy)!

The perfect pastel gift-opening love seat.

My mom made a couple of these for the nursery with that SOFT dotted baby fabric :) She can make you something, too!

Chelsea & I

I'll take one monsoon, with a side of raindrops, please

2010-02-05T20:30:00.000-05:00

If you live in a 100 mile radius of me, your yard is probably flooded, your dog refuses to leave the front porch, and you just waved at Noah's ark floating down your street. As much as I don't care for the dampness of downpour, these little rainy finds have brightened up my day.

An art installation by Steven Haulenbeek

Hello little lady.

Installation in Shanghai

A cute little monster trying to use a streetlamp as his umbrella.

Dylan's Candy Bar...sells rain boots? Reminds me of the Eric Carle children's books.

Don't think this peacock would exactly blend in downtown. Love the monochromatic palette & organic radial symmetry.

"Bloom" by Goldsmith's art student, Sam Spenser in London. [137 umbrellas in Pantone 137C]

I feel like I need to tone down my wardrobe with more neutral [easily matchable] colors. If you know me well [really well] you may know my secret. I lack fashion sense. I can decorate the [pardon my french] hell out of your house or business, but I often catch myself gawking with confusion at my wardrobe options. So. Now that you know everything about my clothing hang-ups...I think these rain boots are a good option for me...whatcha think?

Last, but not least, for the artist in me: "Poppy Field" by Monet

It's baaaack

2010-02-04T21:18:00.000-05:00

Unless your elder generations are full of divas and award-winning design stars, you might have a problem you don't even realize. I had a problem I didn't readily admit, also. For many many many years (the 80's) I have disliked wallpaper. Is 'abhor' too strong of a word? ICK.

Stick with me now. Inhale....picture the peeling wallpaper in your grandma's bathroom....exhale. And POOF! Erase that decorating sin from your memory. And once again, for my own sake....inhale....I have the Colonial home I grew up in in mind, 'twas a beautiful place, but its mistake was the poo-brown, grass-stitched, horizontally layered wall covering in my daddy's office. Poor Daddio, it wasn't his fault. I'd like to place blame on the original owner....exhale. POOF! That one's gone, too.

Wasn't that fun? Check.

Now. Open your pretty eyes and learn how the new generation of wallpaper design can help heal your design wounds.

Hello spa. I'm glad this homeowner doesn't have to leave the neighborhood to retreat.

The muted color & subtle pattern of this paper allowed for the girlie pink & green palette without being offensive. This is from Country Living, although it doesn't look very country to me.

Don't care for the rug, it's a little much, but the wallpaper....one word. Beautiful. It's also neat how it's the accent wall [cheaper, too!]

Gingko leaves...hmm. I like.

Drumroll please!! This rocks. [How unexpected] When we buy our fixer-upper, this has GOT to happen.

Wow. This room will be on high priority for my future [FUTURE] nursery inspiration.

Fly away with me

2010-02-04T01:37:00.000-05:00

My husband wants a 'man room' [a place for menfolk to retreat that is comfortable, messy, hideously orange and camo, loud video games, and where i put our dog Sampson when he is bad]. Oh. I forgot the mini refrigerator, he is reminding me, and antlers on the wall. Mmmmm, sorry...double reminder for a gun safe. Do we live in the south or what?

I, on the other hand, have a different room in mind. A place where I can blow my budget on a little lady haven of my own. It will be functional, orderly, chic, and a great place to take naps for dreaming about the next wall I will demolish and room to remodel in this new home. Every book, design dream, idea, and pretty thing I happen to own will unite in my project room. No cell phones. With windows open on a breezy spring day. Bring it on.

Well, here's a little glimpse of organized project rooms I've found from the creative world.

I could get some serious blogging in here. Or coffee drinking.

Very tastefully done with unified furniture. The cheery color and natural light make this space inviting. I really like the vintage green flower pot that holds her wrapping paper. The source I couldn't identify...resembles Pottery Barn?

A little more deja vu for you...found a lovely storage solution with a card catalog from Bits + Bobbins. I need to tone down my drawer obsession...whoa.

This cozy desk is located in Maine, written about by Coastal Living, and blogged about here. A great use for an alcove. I might have added some floating shelves on at least one side of the window.

Well, somebody's got it made. Love the yellow & black. She has a bed in her craft room, as well as, a desk facing outdoors.

Sure, why not? This is easy, even for those who aren't typically DIYers!

Just a little country done up right, y'all. Found this in a Country Living ages ago. Maybe it's the cabinet's florentine glass that I'm so taken with...

Heck yes!!! A little typography never hurt anyone.

Get it, girl! The creation station for Heather Bailey.

The dream job.

2010-01-29T01:10:00.000-05:00

Ok, I am freaking out here. Why didn't I find Salt Harbor Designs' blog BEFORE my wedding? This team has amazing creativity...especially for a vintage lover obsessor, like myself.

Does this look familiar? Just a little bit?

And the coolness factor rises.....

I thought my guest book idea was really cool until today! [Don't worry coffee table guest book, I still love you.]

Deja vous. Do you remember my letterpress alphabet stamps? They utilized a few in this centerpiece.

My creative juices are pumping....I may have to go find a project. Now.

Love is in the Air...

2010-01-26T22:57:00.000-05:00

Here's a fun little early paper craft for February. Go ahead and soak up the cheesiness of Valentine's Day.

All you need is coordinating card stock or scrapbook paper of your choice, a ruler, stapler, scissors & a little string.

Cut 6 strips that are 2"W and 11"L. 2 of those will be cut down to 8"L and the last 2 need to be 4".

Stack the 6 so the shortest are in the center & longest are on either side. Staple the bases together once.

Form the short strips into a heart shape and hold...add the medium lengths into the heart...then bend the longest ones into the heart shape.

Staple those 6 ends together. Tie 12" of string around the center & hang.

Pretty? :-)

My Nemesis

2010-01-18T01:43:00.004-05:00

Have you seen the overpriced vintage lockers used in mud rooms? Did you drool over this piece from Sweden? Do you long for an architect's old blueprint cabinet to file away all your craftiness? Here's a locker set seen in Scandinavian Design:

Aaahhhh....organization is a beautiful thing. I found this from the UGA library a few weeks back, but it had already been sold. It was on the ugly side, but each drawer was stuffed with stamps...way cool. I didn't have my forklift on hand anyways. Joking.

Here are some lockers actually used within a wedding's design!

I've always wanted a one-of-a-kind furniture piece with lots of drawers, nooks, crannies to repurpose. I came across a set of 130 post office boxes last week. Ooooh the possibilities!!!! After much thought (ok, not much), my sweet Mister agreed to my crazy idea. Clearly, the perfect place for 250 lbs of mailboxes is our dining room. And luckily we have strong neighbors!

Because it's been exposed to the elements for who knows how long, it's a little on the green side. I called my best friend who specializes in Historic Preservation to figure out how to clean my monstrosity.

I sanded down about 20 box fronts, carefully unlocking the padlocks with a flashlight from behind...green flakes of crud tumbling to the carpet. At this rate I might have been done by August! Ultimately, a little bald man in Home Depot demonstrated the miracle of Brasso metal polish for me in the paint isle. I also put a fresh coat of paint on the top and sides to coordinate with the rest of the house.

We're having company tomorrow, so my nemesis will have to wait, even though it looks like a swamp monster. Taaa-ddaaaaa!!! Just what the dining area needed...wine storage. And if you are incapable of unlocking the correct P.O. box, you probably don't need to be wine tasting.

These are a Few of my Favorite Things

2010-01-13T20:02:00.001-05:00

Some of my fondest gifts and purchases of 2009.

Aren't these hilarious?! My mother-in-law got us the little green Butter Boy as a stocking stuffer [or Santa did?]

From West Elm, I got one of these Overlapping Square Chair ornaments for each of my interior design classmates for Christmas. Precious. Can't find these online anymore.

This Mario Batali dutch oven was a wedding gift...you won't hear a cooking whine from me!

Meet Henry, our trusty Punk-u-pine Scrubber. Got ours for less at Marshall's.

DIY Paper Wreath

2010-01-12T23:52:00.000-05:00

If you're like me...you have a magazine stack the size of the Great Wall of China collecting cobwebs in the corner. I couldn't seem to part with my Knot Wedding, Real Simple, Contract, hand-me-downs, and dearly beloved Domino...until today!

I set out to accomplish a 'winter craft' due to post-Christmas withdrawls...and got really excited when I saw her magazine wreath. But my intended door wreath has turned into a living room matchy-matchy piece of art.

Supplies:

1.) A heap of magazines

2.) Scissors

3.) Glue gun [or strong glue]

4.) Cardboard for wreath base

5.) Stapler for simplicity

I cut a fat circle out of a cardboard box that was abandoned in our hall closet. Leave a >3" diameter for gluing surface, then cut a smaller circle within.

Have a color palette in mind for your creation...mine was light blue/white...but the red was irresistible [hence the matchy-matchy wreath]. Start ripping those schemed pages from their bindings, and cut rectangles [approx. 4"x7"]. The 4" helps hide the cardboard base.

I put mine in little color family stacks and stapled sets of 4 together for quicker assembly, while folding their bases slightly for the glue placement.

Space the clusters around your cardboard, glue, and voila!

Now my wall is no longer naked!

Happy crafting!

Seltzer Bottle Beauties

2010-01-07T23:58:00.000-05:00

I had noticed some odd bottle beauties in a salvage shop last year. What caught my eye were the blue & green glass shades and variations of etching. VvvvooooP! Into my 'future must-haves list' it went. Seltzer Bottle.

TODAY was my day, folks.

[After cleaning]

At a marvelous landfill-esque antique establishment, I found a pile [literally] that were priced to steal. Did you hear me? They are practically giving these suckers away. I shall not reveal my sources, but I can mail you your very own for a deal, if you too have a gorgeous Seltzer Bottle hankering. What's really going to get you: the comparable pricing around $100. Yikes. I can mail you one for a flat $30 via comment inquiry and hand select your piece.

Now what on earth is a Seltzer Bottle?? With a tad of internet searches, I'm proud to present my faithful readers with the facts. 2 of mine are embossed with 'APA GAZOASA' on the bases. This translates to 'mineral fuzzy water'...isn't that funny? My third bottle is bound with a wire mesh which is significant to prevent exploding. Mine seems to be circa the 1920's. Many of them originated in Czechoslovakia. Their siphons were typically made of pewter, though I saw plastic, as well. I could not pry any of mine off, so the Seltzer is probably still inside! Seltzer water is plain tap water that has been filtered and carbonated. [Club soda is seltzer water with the addition of mineral salts.]

[Kudos to Sampson for helping me research]

Anyone thirsty?

Impressionable Marketing

2010-01-05T20:01:00.000-05:00

Anyone who thinks commercial design is boring...honey, you are sadly mistaken. Check out some of these creative marketing [strategies, if you will] from some neat manufacturers.

How about a game of Maharam Memory with historic textile images. Even better? You can play this online!!! I am hooked.

This is a Haji Bag made with 3form eco resin combined with suede/leather and hardware. The company collaborated with designers Stacie and Jeffery Hojnacki to creatively display their unique paneling. As if it weren't pretty enough by itself.

Herman Miller carries a good quantity of classic furniture pieces from notable designers of the earlier decades. One famous duo is Charles & Ray Eames. HM combined their passions of furniture and toys to create a top set, designed for them by KleinReid .

Pretty inspiring, if you ask me.

3 Stoplights

2010-01-03T23:23:00.002-05:00

Sometimes the best towns to shop vintage have 3 stoplights...maybe less! Antiquing, you say? BLALAHAHAHAHA!!! Having patience, curiosity to 'dig', and the ability to repurpose the old amongst the new...makes antiquing a reallllly fun hobby of mine. My vintage-y posts, I hope will inspire you to think outside the box and learn what sorts of things to search for. I don't know about other areas, but you can typically haggle prices in the south, too.

Walnut Cove, NC = 3 stoplights. The shops aren't exactly prime, but I've found some great loot!

I took a sweet printmaking class in college so was tickled to find these alphabet letterpress stamps (!!!) Much and many cards, tags, and craftiness is sure to follow these beauties.

Globes are a great thing to add to a bookshelf, office, or kid's playroom.

Use the old bird cage to make a neat lantern or to hold a plant. Remember, spray paint goes a long ways

I'd been looking for some old children's letter books to make gift tags/cards from the graphics...easy find!

A coordinating coat of paint for a gilt mirror can do modern wonders for a bare wall.

The one I found could also be painted as a chalkboard like this one.

I'm in charge of games at a February baby shower [pictures to follow] This jar of blocks made me think of having the guests guess the number, in lieu of candy

See? Vintage isn't so bad!

Dear Future Loyal Readers,

2010-01-01T11:33:00.002-05:00

What better time to begin a chapter in blogging than a new year? This little piece of me is the result of

too much time on my hands, creativity oozing from my brain, and the desire to share.

1.1.2010

Last night I rang in the new year like all the rest of you [night owls] with glimmers of hope for the future. Having some time to reflect, I made a list of pros [ignoring the cons] from 2009....here goes it!

+ Graduated with a B.A. in Art & Interior Design [on left]

+ Married my best friend [The Mister] on 6.6.2009

+ Moved into our first 'nest' together

+ Made lots of new friends & kept our dear ones

+ We adopted our first furry child from the Humane Society, Sampson

It's been quite a year for our family, as I'm sure it's been interesting for you, too! Now if you're a good southerner, go eat some collard greens for prosperity and black eyed peas for good luck. Happy New Year!