Stripes!

This duvet set from Dwell Studio has just the right mix of modern and classic - I'm completely sold.  Often, there are times where I have to take a deep breath and contemplate the purchase, to avoid reckless impulse buys.  This might not be one of those times.....

Dwell Studio Draper Striped Ash Duvet Set.

 

Eating off the floor

So, with the whole "nesting" thing going on we've been crazy busy.  We rearranged our living room at least 5 times (poor husband), got new bedroom furniture and a new sideboard, cleaned out our closets and donated a ton of stuff to Goodwill, painted the hardware in the kitchen, diy'd a couple of giant mirrors, finished the baby's nursery, and decided to start dining more ethnically.  That last one is a little strange, I know, but on a whim we put some smaller legs on our dining table, so now we are essentially eating off the floor.  I guess if I wanted to sound a bit more hip, I could claim that we are having a Bohemian Chic moment.  Not really, but kind of....  We bought a few floor stools from Ikea and it has been so much fun changing things up a bit.  I'm still surprised my husband agreed to this hormonal urge!   

Low table

Our new midcentury sideboard is in the back and in the photo below - we love it!  It's the perfect stand for our giant espresso maker, and a great organizer for office & craft supplies, kitchen overflow, and all of those other odds & ends you can never find an actual place for.  Think of it as a giant junk drawer, but much more organized!

Here are the banana leaf Ikea Alseda Stools (only $29.99 each!) we bought that bring you up to the perfect dining height - they were stacked up on the other side of the room from when I was cleaning, but they look perfect around the table.  Trust me, really!

What is your take on this?  Good idea or hormonal craziness??  Don't worry - we kept the regular legs and can always go back to our high top table when elderly relatives come to visit or when we feel the need to teach the baby some serious table manners.  For now, we're diggin' it!     

What? A silver leaf table tutorial?

Holy crap.  I pretty much need to create this bedside table.  Well, I don't really need to since I don't have anywhere to put it, but I really want to.  There is a tutorial.  Seriously.  A side table silver leaf tutuorial.  I love that Little Green Notebook.  

Osborne & Little inspiration

Maharani by Osborne & Little.

I have a small obsession with Osborne & Little's collection of wallpaper, and it continues with my discovery of this one - the Maharani!  I know!  It's amazing, isn't it!  I love the shades of purple & gray with the pops orange and persimmon - gorgeous!  I've been totally inspired!

Anthropologie Reed Shirt Dress.

Banana Republic Royal Jewel Ring (on sale now!).

Anthropologie On the fold.

Nooni Jewelry Frolic Earrings - vintage crystal tassells.

Modcloth Morisot skirt.

Seababe's Last Light of Evening.

Mandarin orange garnet & natural african amethyst gold filled necklace.

Sarah Seven Wine Country Dress.

I love a dress with cowboy boots - this one is gorgeous!

(thanks for introducing me to this designer Elizabeth!)

I also just hand-dyed a couple of slips in purple and the brightest burnt orange - I promise to post some pics - they came out great.  This is a super easy & cheap way to replicate some of the beautiful vintage dyed slips in fancy boutiques.  I use a vegetable dye (feels less chemically) and you can make that as saturated or pastel-y as you like.  Perfect for under your favorite dress! 

I love Lonny!

Thanks so much to everyone for their sympathy and the great suggestions yesterday.  I am going to take a serious look at the grain substitute for coffee.  Very interesting, chemical free and potentially heartburn friendly.  Anyway, as I sit here completely & ridiculously caffeine deprived, I discovered that the new Lonny Magazine is out.  Yeah!

Like most of you, I was slightly depressed when Domino Magazine announced that they were closing their doors.  That magazine made me so happy when it was dropped in my mailbox!  They always had the best, most stylish and fun home decor ideas.  They had great articles featuring creative folks with inspiring stories of ingenuity.  It was wonderful!  

For those of you who haven't heard about Lonny (I just discovered it myself): Lonny is an online magazine created by former Domino editor and blogger Michelle Adams, and it is very Domino-esque - completely fab!  Go take a peek!

The Lonny mission.

I love plastic

I hate the mall.  I literally do everything I can to avoid stepping foot in one, especially this time of year.  I shop handmade, order on-line, visit boutiques, and peruse the web for fun DIY ideas.  I was just online and found the perfect all-in-one shop - they sell clothes, shoes, home goods, fun beauty products, craft items, and more.  Plasticland is amazing and here are some great gift ideas I found in the shop:

Wall mount rabbit bottle opener. $22.

Art deco girl bookends. $34.

Git and Titonic ice cube tray.  $11.50

Foot in the door shoe doorstop.  $8.50.

Dumpling Dynasty shoe shine kit.  $21.

And, of course, I couldn't help but find a few cute things for myself.......

2-tone spat button platform bootie pumps.  $42. 

ps. They're vegan friendly!

Polka dot retro cropped jacket.  On sale (yeah!) for $68.40.

Happy shopping! 

My favorite little green notebook

Yesterday, my friend Andi said the reason that she gets so crafty around this time of year, is that creativity is in her star sign during the months of November and December.  We're both Virgos so I am beginning to think my affinity for all things DIY might be in my cosmic make-up, too. 

I recently hit the crafty jackpot.  I discovered the most amazing blog through Jordan Ferney's Oh Happy Day.  It is called Little Green Notebook, and I can't get enough.  The stuff that Jenny comes up with is insane, and always looks gorgeous when she is finished.  Did I mention that she has two little girls, and a third one on the way?  I don't know where she finds the time to get to everything.  She posts great tutorials, and tons of interior design ideas, too.  You have to check it out - you will be truly inspired to use the coming long weekend to make over your house!  Here are just a few of my favorite projects... 

This photo features a couple of her projects - a revamped lamp, and a custom frame knockoff - enhanced with some inexpensive molding. 

Another photo featuring multiple projects: Updated Mattes, Lamp shades, and a refurbished orange shelf!

She made this ottoman out of a coffee table....seriously!  Doesn't it look amazing!

Gorgeous updated red credenza. 

She makes these pelmet boxes out of foam core board.  Super easy!

There are amazing tutorials for these and more on the site.  If you want to find some more DIY projects, just go onto Jenny's blog and search "DIY".  Tons of great ideas will pop up! 

Chandeliers make me drool, part 1

I have been wanting a chandelier for a really long time.  There is something so romantic about them & the light they cast throughout a room.  They also add some serious glamour to any space.  Unfortunately, in my current home, the traditional chandelier would look completely out of place.  On the plus side, a great chandelier could be pretty spendy, so maybe it is lucky that I can't spend loads and loads of money on a serious piece of crystal.  Who knows. 

Still, every time I see one I can't help but feel like it has to be mine.  I just have to wait to buy the house to go with it!  These are some of the beautiful shots that make me drool.....

~an all purple room with an extra special sparkle via plush palate~

~dining room bling via design sponge~

~fantasy via dustjacket attic~

~rustic & gorgeous.  I need to take a bath here.  via plush palate~

~shabby chic via coco & kelly~

Lighting options are so amazing and can transform a space in a matter of seconds.  For the midcentury lovers out there (me, included!), I found this one on apartment therapy.  It's DIY - yeah!  If I find some serious motivation in the coming weeks, I might just try to put it together.  

 

Check out the step by step instructions here. 

Hope you are all having a lovely week!  Happy Wednesday! 

Who needs paint?

I live in a rented townhouse, so have a very limited amount of creative juice I can pour into the color on the walls, etc.  If I remember correctly, which I think that I do (?), putting paint on the walls is completely off limits.  I don't know about you guys, but sometimes living in the world of white walls gets a bit depressing.  Lately, I have had the urge to mix things up a bit, and look for some alternative options to regular wall art & paint.   

Loving these Mandala Wall Decals in red-orange from Design Fruit.  $70 for all three.  Such an inexpensive & non-committal way to transform a room.

Frame art.....hmmmmm..definite food for thought.

~via Plush Palate~

Plate walls - mixing it up with colors, shapes and patterns makes it so much fun! 

~via down and out chic~

Birds around the cherry blossom branch - wall decal from Decor Designs.  This is so lovely, isn't it?

Fabric!  Seriously endless possibilities and totally customizable.  There is a great tutorial here, which involves only the fabric of your choice and some starch.  Genius!

Tape wall - another amazingly genius idea.  I'm not so sure I have the patience to keep all of these lines straight, but it is worth a try.  All of these stripes are made with Permacel paper tape - tutorial located here.

~via Jonathan Fong~

When looking on Jonathan Fong's site, I also came across this insane aluminum panel wall.  Can you believe this is just a roll of handyman coil?  I need to go to the bookstore and check out the entire wall book!  Tutorial here.

I know that this a little more along the lines of standard wall art, but I love this photo of a cut up and framed map.  A great alternative to framing the map as one whole piece.  Break it apart and cover the entire wall with it!

~via Trouvais~

Wall of mirrors - another great idea - opens a room up and makes a small space feel so much bigger.  I bought a couple of these at a little antique shop earlier this year and spraypainted the frames a glossy black - they look amazing! 

~via Jill Seidner~

Have you guys used any creative methods for covering your walls and making your house a bit more cozy?  I would love any suggestions! 

James, what are you wearing?

Central Park James.

I don't actually remember how I happened upon this site, but it is amazing.  You have to check it out.  James Andrew lives out an insanely dreamy life.  He is a NY based interior designer that might be the best dressed man I have ever seen.  I know, I know....I live in Portland, Oregon so that might not be the most impressive statement, but I would pretty much bet my whole bank account on it! It's way metro and slightly costume-y, but he totally rocks it.  Not many people could pull this off. 

His blog What is James Wearing is a compilation of all things uber-luxurious - Paris, Milan, Gucci, Hermes, runways, cocktail parties, gallery openings, etc., etc., as well as photos of his ridiculously glamourous ensembles.  The photos of his interiors and his inspirations are pretty great, and the design advice is a nice, extra bonus!  

Big blue door James.

"Night at the MET" James.  Yep, the awesome Gucci tweed top coat.

 Dominican Republic & Casa Kimball James.

Do me a favor and check out this hotel...insane!

Scalamandre James.  Blue velvet & purple suede - awesome!

Miami James.

 

Chic chalet

On my way back to the house yesterday, I got a amazing glimpse of Mt. Hood.  Between all of the gray clouds I got to sneak a peak at the newly adorned snowy peak.  The husband and I are due for a little weekend away and we were debating about heading to the coast or taking a trip into the mountains.  We ultimately booked a little cottage overlooking the sea (yay!) for Thanksgiving, but I still have cozy, snowy cabin dreams....maybe Christmas?!?  I was looking around online today and found some stunning winter retreats which only fed the dream more - A-framed houses tucked in the woods, gorgeous exposed beams, inviting fireplaces with big stone hearths, windows with amazing views, hot tubs in the snow with a glass of wine - sounds dreamy, doesn't it? I probably won't be headed much further away than the mountain here in Oregon, but a girl can dream.... 

 Don't you just want to wake up here?  And to have a morning cup of tea on that balcony....aaaagggghhh.  I feel more relaxed already! 

www.shidzidzi.com

This looks like the home of a hunter.  I'm a meat eater, but am not really into going out and getting the little guys myself.  I guess I could just forage for berries during the day or maybe a Christmas tree, and come back and enjoy the lovely view of my chandelier.   

www.enchantinghideaways.com

Looks like you could sleep for days in here, doesn't it?

www.marieclairemaison.com

I need one of these for my next family gatherings.  This just screams "big family dinner" to me.  All we would have to do is fill those decanters up with some yummy vino goodness and light a fire! 

www.dailymail.co.uk

Thg ultimate ski retreat.  You can check out the conditions in your pajamas!  Just head out on the slopes all day and then come back for some hot toddys and an amazing view...

www.luxuo.com

While the couch doesn't look overly comfortable (the stylish ones rarely do!), that fireplace sure does!  I think I could probably devour a few books right here.

www.melbournerewards.com

Hope you had a lovely weekend!  Any good ideas for vacation?  Once the lovely fall weather leaves us, we'll all be ready for one!