Oh Hello

Image: jaclyn paige via The Beautiful Soup

Other things we can hang on our walls

As we begin to sort through our massive collection of wall art, I am finding myself more and more attracted to non-traditional art that isn't necessarily something framed. Sconces? Metallic Sculptures? Mirrors? So many options! Here's some inspiration culled from the archives of Lonny and Rue:

From Lonny:

I'm a sucker for symmetry! Red flowers omg.

Love how light these sconces look. Also can someone please buy me that desk?

I know, I know: Sunburst Mirrors: So 8 years ago. But still classic!

From Rue:

Love how ornate this sconce is.

Another sunburst mirror. Blorg. But this one is feathery and fun!

*Drama* J'dore.

Sharpie Madness!

Check out this fancy wallpaper pattern drawn using a Sharpie! Britt from A Penny Saved jumped on the Sharpie wallpaper bandwagon and the results are magnificent. Look at the precision in the close up:

I simply adore it. This new trend is making me feel left out. Do I need to start planning a post-holiday art project?

For more inspiration, feast your eyes on this bonkers wallpaper made entirely of stickers! Amazing!

Images: A Penny Saved via High-Heeled Foot in the Door

Wallpaper, Inc.

C'est Magnifique Wallpaper by Anthropologie

I just returned from a short trip to Los Angeles where I visited my friend Amy and spent a lot of time fantasizing about how I would decorate her amazing new house. She is doing a wonderful job on her own but you know how I am...

One of the small victories of my trip was convincing her to wallpaper a wall in her kitchen which then led me to go a little overboard researching sample designs while she was at work one morning.

Blazing Poppies Wallpaper by Anthropologie

I decided to stray from my usual go-to wallpaper sources like Walnut, Ferm Living and Cole & Son, and I am so glad because it led me to Anthropologie's excellent collection. Just like the rest of the store's inventory, their wallpaper is delicate and girlish with a hint of charm. Traditional floral and filigree mix here with Shakespearan scribbles and a pattern of miniature tea cups that mimics penny tiles. My two favorites are the French-themed C'est Magnifique and floral Blazing Poppies designs. Although they aren't necessarily appropriate for a kitchen, I just adore the fun pattern of the former and the bright, saturated colors of the latter. I would love to take a bath surrounded by the Eiffel Tower or wake up to those cheerful poppies in the morning.

I also found some good ideas for Amy's kitchen, which is currently under renovation. She has a Black & White theme and a style that is simple and slightly retro but I know she has a tendency toward floral and nature-inspired patterns. Here are some of my favorites:

McGegan Rose by Timorous Beasties

A Stone's Throw Away by Oh Joy! 

Serious Bokay by Nama Rococo

Images: Anthropologie, Timorous Beasties, Hygge & West and Nama Rococo

Oh and also...

I DIE.

This is tile, people!

I must have this in a bathroom at some point in my life.

I would never leave.

I would make a fort out of deliciously soft white towels and drink spa water and eat assorted crudites all day long.

Image: Jill of The Office (not the tv show) via Design Sponge

Bathing Beauty

It has happened! We have an apartment! After months and months of fantasizing, the time has come to actually plan! I don't even know where to begin!

Ok that's a lie. I know exactly where I want to begin: the smallest room in the apartment.

THE BATHROOM.

The bathroom is very important. It is where we relax. It is where we primp. It is where we spend too many hours examining the size of our pores and (if you were like me in high school) reenacting neutrogena commercials.

Several things must be kept in mind when designing a fashionable yet functional bathroom. *There must be proper storage.

*There must be good lighting

*There must be a cute shower curtain

Our bathroom has white tiles 3/4 of the way up the wall so naturally, we must paint the remaining wall space. Hanna has suggested a pastel yellow or lavender. I have thrown a bright spring green into the mix.

There are already two wooden ikea shelves hung over the toilet, providing ample space for cute baskets and (labeled?) bins of beauty products and cosmetics.

But what's to be done about the shower curtain situation???

I have a thought. It is called: recreate my fantasy entryway in the bathroom setting.

What's this you say? I am genius?

Yes. Yes I am.

Perhaps you need reminding of Rita Konig's awe-inspiring wallpapered entryway?

Here is what I would propose:

1) we paint the walls the yellow, lavender or green.

2) we use a darker, bolder shower curtain similar to this fabric (from ikea):

3) We accessorize with really simple, perhaps metallic toothbrush holders, soap dishes, etc.

I realize this is more than slightly dramatic but hey, that's how I roll!

Okay another idea.

We screw traditional shower curtains all together and buy a regular awesome curtain and use it in conjunction with a simple liner. We could pick a subdued wall color and let the shower curtain do the talking. It would say, 'hi. we are girls. we like girlie things. we are delicate but not dainty. we refuse shower while concealed in vinyl bubbles or some random subway map. ps. we are hot.'

Ok maybe our shower curtain won't be that verbose but it could be pretty nonetheless!

Perhaps something like this:

Or this:

I'd post more but my asshole internet is being its asshole self. Besides, I think you get the idea...

Images: Ikea and Urban Outfitters

I Heart White More Than Ever

I am LOVING Michelle Adams' living room featured on Design Sponge today. The furniture fits the scale of the room perfectly, without looking too cramped. The white walls, curtains and loveseat allow the bright accessories to pop (Who wants that tortoise-shell lamp? I do! I do!) And those shelves! The decorative brackets!  The artful arrangements!

Also, can we please have a moment of silence for the lucite side-table  and white porcelain bust?!?  I die.

Adams is the owner of Rubie Green, an eco-friendly design boutique that serves as an excellent resource for elegant textiles with a quirky twist and an eye towards responsible living. Please check out her website and drool over the beautiful fabrics- I'm partial to Patsy, modern floral that would make a brilliant shower curtain. Check out her blog too!

Image: Design Sponge

Skip to my loo

While we're on the subject of bathroom decor, I'd like to bring everyone's attention to Mibo Tile Tattoos. The perfect answer to plain or discolored bathroom tiles, Mibo tattoos adhere using only water and don't leave a hard-to-clean residue. My favorite is this 4" light blue and black design. These handy decals aren't just for the bathroom either;they would make a great backsplash in the kitchen. At only $16 for a set of six I'd spring for both!

Check out 2Jane for more details, designs and other great products including paint-by-number wallpaper (!!).

Image: 2Jane

Powder Room Chic

Bathrooms sort of baffle me. They are usually small, require little to no furniture, and because I've never really had a large, luxurious tub, I've never really spent much time in them. The fun pretty much ends after I've chosen colors for a bath mat and shower curtain.  

Last night I saw a movie that might have single-handedly changed my opinions re: bathroom design and decoration. The movie is called Lucky Number Slevin and on the whole, is pretty mediocre, but the set decoration throughout is phenomenal. Every wall, floor and ceiling in practically every scene is boldly patterned and at the risk of ruining an important plot point, pretty distracting. The bathroom in question is only featured for about 40 seconds and the only view we see is through the doorway so I'm not even sure what the rest of it looks like but oh. my. gah. is it wonderful!

I couldn't track down any production stills without Josh Hartnett standing in the way in all his half naked (floral toweled) goodness. But basically, the bathroom is tiled in bright white subway tile about 3/4 of the way up the wall and then finished off with this incredibly cool moroccan print wallpaper that is pink and turquoise on a white background. So simple and yet really  stylish. Even though I couldn't see the rest of the room, I have a feeling the shower curtain was probably plain white or clear and the bath mat was probably a lighter sky blue.

C'est Magnifique!

Ps. While trying to track down similar wallpapers, I came across this one from Walnut Wallpaper. It's called Luxury and has diamonds! The whole thing has a rather 70's feel to me but I'm diggin' it! 

Images:Quadrille, Robert Kime, and Walnut Wallpaper