Painting the Roses Red

Words cannot describe how much I love Helen Amy Murray's furniture and art. It's glamorous and elegant and dramatic and I just want it all. Murray is a recent addition to The Rug Company's designer collection but it's the British artist's chairs and wall hangings that get this girl's panties in a bunch. (yeah, that happened.)

This red chair makes me want to die of happiness. I wouldn't even sit in it. I'd just turn it around and stare at it all day instead of getting anything done. It would complement the pendant lamp I just bought for my bedroom! 

I could stare at this hypnotic black peony print all day as well. It makes me want to wear velvet and read Edgar Allen Poe stories. It would be nice above a simple, monochromatic bed.

Please buy it for me? K thx. 

Images: Helen Amy Murray via Decorated Life

EnVogue

One of my embarrassing secret habits is reading Teen Vogue. There. I said it. I READ TEEN VOGUE.

That felt good.

Now, I know I'm supposed to read legitimate magazines like the New Yorker but I can't help it. Sometimes I just need to feel like a spoiled teenager with a disposable income and an ardent love of Marc Jacobs and boys with overly floppy hair.

I like Teen Vogue for several reasons:

1) It fits in my smaller purses.

2) It's cheaper than other magazines.

3) The clothing is sometimes cheaper and more accessible than regular Vogue. (Although still frequently out of my price range)

4) The spreads are more playful.

This month's issue features Emma Watson, child star-turned ingenue-turned fashionista extraordinaire, styled in jewel tones and lounging around an English estate. Yes people, it is exactly my dream life. Bitch.

The other day one of my friends asked me to describe my aesthetic and I had no idea what to say. My tastes tend to vary with my mood but there is always an underlying penchant for bold hues and glamorous accents. I wish I had been able to shove this spread in her face. Jewel Tones! Anglomania! Ponies! Opulent fabrics! Layers! Drama! Ahhhhh!

Question: Should I be worried that Teen Vogue is currently dictating and defining my creative style?

Images: Teen Vogue

Ps. I love it.

Back when I was searching for a jewelry box, I briefly considered a safari-themed make- up case. This is way out of character for several reasons:

1) I hate nature
2) I hate khaki
3) I hate things that are even remotely sporty looking.

And yet.

This safari-themed dresser feels vaguely romantic. It looks like the sort of furniture you'd find on a preppy cruise ship in the late 1920's. Or in a luxurious tent in the middle of the desert. I love the vanity too but feel like it should come equipped with elephant themed stationary- which isn't necessarily a bad thing! In fact, the set reminds me of the spread Keira Knightly did for Vogue a few years back where she wore lots of Ralph Lauren and schmoozed with baby elephants.

I could get into this.

Image: Graham & Greene via AT: San Francisco

When I am an old women I will live in pink.

This is basically what I envision my future to look like. I will be an old woman (if I don't die young in a tragic yacht accident first) with hair piled high on top of my head and held in place by lacquered chopsticks. I will spend much of my time catching up on my correspondence and eating strange small meals at odd hours of the day. I will host cocktail parties in caftans and devote whole closets to gifts and gift wrap.

It will be a lovely life.

This room was designed by Miles Redd, who is currently a Style Compass feature over at 1stDibs. Check out his swoon-worthy work stat!

Image: Tim Street-Porter via 1stDibs and AT: San Francisco

Transitions

We are finally starting our major apartment overhaul! The first step was painting the living room (more on that debacle later) and the second step will be tackling our wall art situation. Last night we discussed the pig sty that is currently our kitchen.

Our kitchen poses many problems. It is a large room with a big open space in the middle. We have reserved one short wall for a wide kitchen cart to hold our toaster oven and other small appliances. Our round kitchen table resides in a dark corner that is in desperate need of a wall-sconce or lamp. I am considering an open bookcase for the other corner, which would house our cookbooks and pretty bake ware. The problem with our kitchen is the one long wall that leads to the door. Theoretically, we should be able to separate the space into the 'entryway' and the 'kitchen area'. But that is easier said than done, especially since the fridge is right next to the door. The trick, I think, is to figure out a way to separate the two spaces without interrupting the flow of the room. (Sorry to be all 'zen' but it cannot be helped.)

I was perusing the Design*Sponge offerings today and I think this new line by Lene Toni Kjeld would be a perfect way to transition from entryway to eatery while still maintaining two distinct areas. A colorful console/umbrella stand combo could brighten the white while the delicate silver design would soften our bulky wood table. It also looks great with bright yellow, which is a color I am considering painting our dining room chairs!

Image: Lene Toni Kjeld via Design*Sponge

Livin la vida boho

I've been so busy watching marathons of Weeds and seeing certain Johnny Depp movies that I haven't had much time to plan our upcoming living room makeover. It's pretty hard to plan a 'makeover' when said 'makeover' basically involves painting the walls and the paint has already been picked out anyway. Nevertheless inspired by a recent jaunt though the Anthropologie website, I'm simply going to post a few things I would love to have in our new and improved living room.

Actual before and after pictures of the room are coming soon! *Promise*


Guess I'm going though a bit of an ikat phase. I was so resistant at first but now I am all over ikat. Unfortunately, ikat is SO 2008.

This pillow reminds me of Hanna's tattoo!

I love this stacked dresser. It would be so perfect for storing extra linens for our house guests!

This pillow matches our couch. I like the zigzag and the delicate black and white pattern that is balanced by mini silver sequins! This might be a necessity.

Hanna suggested hanging a curtain in the doorway between the kitchen and living room. I wouldn't ever want to close it, but I think a long drape would be a dramatic flourish and migh enliven an otherwise drab corner.

Images: Anthropologie

Accessories rule my life.

We have been making plans to paint the living and bathroom and I suddenly realized despite all my talk of saturated color and bold wallpapers, my first impulse has always been to paint everything white. I blame it all on my ardent love of accessories- if everything else is white the artwork, vases, lamps, etc. are the main focal point of the room! This could also be due to the fact that I can never afford really nice furniture and so I must rely on the little things to draw all attention away from the sagging couch or faded armchair.

I saw this living room designed by Jonathan Berger over at Decorno today and I immediately fell in love (admittedly, mostly because I have have have to own that ikat chair!). The room is light and airy and that makes the bright flowers and bold patters on the furniture stand out that much more.

Image: House Beautiful via Decorno