It's a theme!

Yesterday I posted about an Alice in Wonderland themed bedroom and today we're on to rabbit shaped trash cans! In an effort to promote city-wide cleanliness AND increase their already off the charts cool-factor, the Super Contemporary Commissions Show will install these receptacles around Covent Garden and Holland Park. The five-foot bunnies are designed by Paul Smith and their ears light up when trash is thrown in.

This is yet another reason why I should just drop everything and move to London.

Ps. I want Paul Smith to design my wedding.

That is all.

Image: WWD via Fashionista

Mellow Yellow

I am deep into a yellow phase right now. I love yellow like whoa. When I was in high school, I painted my room yellow and then promptly filled it with red and blue accessories. When my friends came over, they would marvel at how brave I was- choosing primary colors for my bedroom as opposed to the pastel paired with brown look that was au courant.

These days I am into a fresher, crisper yellow. A bright shade paired with black, white, grey, navy and fuchsia. More sophisticated than the primary colors of my youth but more plucky and modern than a grandmother's 'canary yellow kitchen' which supposedly represents her funky taste.

I found this on Design is Mine today and am already trying to figure out where I can find such a large frame. I love how clean the yellow and white looks. I am also gaga over the wallpaper. It's so easy to overpower a whole room with a bold print but this tones it down quite a bit. It also helps that the print itself is quite delicate. I could see this working well in a dining room with a nice wood table and a deep barrel pendant lamp. It would also be cute to hang two matching panels in a corner with a low bookcase and a comfy armchair.

Image: Design is Mine

Come Sail Away

Usually I am wary of mobiles and sculptures that hang from the ceiling because sometimes they seems rahther childlike but then I saw these ridiculously awesome hanging ships and now I must have one STAT!

Artist Ann Wood lives and works in Parks Slope (holla!) and uses found objects and recycled materials. Her DIY project, featured on DesignSponge this morning, is already bookmarked as a future project for our new apartment!

I want these ships for several reasons:
1) They are colorful but not TOO colorful
2) They are delicate but also kind of badass in that 'I'm made of recycled materials but ALSO remind you of pirates sort of way)
3) They could hang perfectly from a hook in my ceiling that is actually for a hanging plant that would die in about a week and then dry up, forgotten in the corner until we move out of the apartment years from now.

Check out Ann's website to see some of her other work and read her blog!

Images: Ann Wood via Design Sponge

Stamp of Approval

Since the Keep Calm & Carry On Poster clearly won't work for me, this would be a fabulous alternative that is bold yet simple!

Image: Decorno

Next up: hookah-smoking caterpillar!

As they so cleverly pointed out over a Poppytalk, this room is a delightful nod to Alice in Wonderland. Therefore, I am totally obsessed with it. FACT: For Halloween, I was the Queen of Hearts. FACT: I was also the white rabbit in the school play in 4th grade. FACT: I watch The Office way too much....

(hehe)

Anyhoo, I wouldn't actually have the guts to have this chandelier in my bedroom and the bedspread looks sorta uncomfortable but nevertheless, I die. I adore the vanity and the arm chair and lord knows I am a sucker for black picture frames!

This is the exact room I would have wanted when I was, say, eight. I would have dressed up in my mother's old bridesmaid dresses and spent hours sitting in front of the mirror speaking in a fake British accent.

FACT: Occasionally, I still spend hours sitting in front of the mirror speaking in a fake British accent...

Image: Chatelaine Magazine via Poppytalk

like a kid in a candy shop

I always forget how awesome the Marie Claire Maison website is for a glimpse into spaces that have the kind of European grandeur we rarely see in New York. (Or at least in Brooklyn) It's a blend of elegant minimalism with hints of drama and whimsy. Take this living room, for example. The stark white walls and ceiling blend into each other while the small patterns mingle with basically every color under the sun. I love the light pink beadboard and the floral floor cushion and pouffe on top of the floral rug. If I were ever going to have children, this is basically what my house would look like. Except they wouldn't be allowed to touch anything. Or sit on anything. Or come in this particular room at any point. At least until they are 15 and don't run the risk of spilling any Tang or anything.

But yeah, love this room! Vivat Marie Claire Maison!

Image: Marie Claire Maison

Animals

I was never terribly big on animals as a child but whoa Nelly am I into them now! As decorative objects! As lamps! As baked goods! Wait, that sounded gross!

Anyhoo, I found two things today that I absolutely have to have either in this lifetime or the next.

This Elephant Pouffe is from Essentials, an incredibly fun and chic store in Northampton Massachussettes. (Northampton is also home of the best pasta I have ever had as well as my friend and former roommate Mia.)


This Elephant is perfect. It's a pouffe. It's an elephant. It's sliver. I would put it in the corner of a room and just stare at it for hours and hours. What more could a girl ask for??

What is that you say?

CRYSTAL HORSE SCULPTURE!


Done and done.

Courtesy of Stella McCartney, animal lover/activist extraordinaire, "Lucky Spot" is currently on exhibition at Belsay Castle in England through Good Friday. I'm not even sure what I'd do with this in my house. I just know I want it. Hard.

Images: Essentials and CasaSugar.

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

Angels in the Outfitters

I'd like to say I despise Urban Outfitters for its prescribed hipster aesthetic, unrealistic sizing and snobby, mullet-sporting sales associates. I'd like to pretend I don't deign to set one foot on the over styled sales floor nor would I ever be caught dead wearing one of their dresses that look more like my grandmother's slip than a $200 mass produced crime. But sadly, I every once in a while I find myself drawn in to their sick little game. Once inside, I cannot stop hovering over the sales rack. Who cares if this grey t-shirt is XXL. It's tissue thin and ONLY $50! Down from $88! And once I go near the home section, it's all over. Long story short, I had some time to kill before a movie this week. Below is a list. I won't go into details because I've already shamed myself a little bit.

I want it. I want it ALL.

Images: Urban Outfitters

**Disclaimer: I am NOT a hipster. I couldn't bear to purposely look unattractive. **

Color me Happy

I'm not sure why it is that my first impulse is to repaint every piece of furniture I find in some bright color. I should really stop that before I wind up living in the rainbow room or worse, Barbie's dream house...

Nevertheless, I was perusing The Company Store's new website and I found these neat wire stools and my immediate thought was 'I should paint these a shiny red. What's wrong with basic black? Nothing at all but sometimes you have to follow your instincts you know? Paint or no paint, my instincts tell me that for a mere $40, some extra seating isn't so bad!

Other clearance finds:

This ornate jute rug. It would look awesome in an entryway or even a larger kitchen (oh and also dyed pink....)

I like these ottomans a lot. I think I like the turquoise best but the plain white is also really elegant.

This Tall Boy reminds me of an old library. I'm not even sure what I would do with it but I know I want it.

                                                  These nesting tables: they are just cute.

Last but not least:

An upholstered bench! It provides tons of storage space PLUS extra seating AND would be reasonably comfortable to sit on or against. (I spend a lot of my time sitting on the floor.) I think I like it best in olive green but that could because I saw a FABULOUS living room in Domino as some point (sniffles) that featured a lot of olive green velour with deep magenta accessories, lots of bookshelves and silver lamps and I fell in LOVE.

If only finding and moving into an apartment would be as fun as decorating it.....


Images: The Company Store

Oh hello lover

In a perfect world, I would be able to carry this off. In this world, I would look ridiculous. And pale. And dumpy.

 Image: Hayden-Harnett

Lazy Saturday

I love lazy Saturdays. I work on Sundays so I have to somehow squeeze an entire weekend's worth of activities, errands and laziness all in one day. I tend to concentrate mostly on the laziness. Here is what I have done so far today:

*consumed a yummy eclair

* watched an episode of The Office

*apartment hunted online

*ate a sandwich

*talked to my mother on the phone

*apartment hunted online

*fantasy decorated the apartments I found online

Busy day and it's not even 2pm!

While trolling the internet on a break from apartment hunting (wow is it harder than I thought!) I found this great post on Constanca's apartment, which was also featured in the Ikea Family Live magazine.  As usual, Design Sponge has the scoop and a ton of wonderful before and afters. 

As usual, I am in love with all things shelving. The kitchens shelves! I die. Everything is color-coordinated, super organized and still functional. I would pretty much kill for enough space to include a wall like this in my next kitchen. 

I am also crazy about the shelves in the living room. A lot of people are so hesitant to use large shelving units in a small room because they think it will be overpowering but I think it's a great idea. It makes the room cozy, gives you space to store all the things that might otherwise crowd or clutter the room and also, it just looks good. I would probably swap out the white rug and couch for something with a bit more color and add a ton of colorful pillows. 

Speaking of pillows, I just found an old silk scarf I bought years ago and have never worn. I tied it around my neck but it looked stupid. I wore it as a headband for all of five minutes before it gave me a headache and then it occurred to me: I'll make a pillow out of it! 

Note to self: Start stocking up on vintage scarves...

Images: Constanca via Design Sponge

I must have a lot of time on my hands.

So I used to be all obsessed with that 'Keep Calm and Carry On' poster. You know, the one that's basically in every Domino spread and every sneak peak on AT and Design Sponge. I loved it mostly because it was so simple and came in a variety of colors. Plus, I have a thing for crowns. Of course, it was culturally and economically relevant as well but yeah I mostly just liked the design of it.

The other day I was staring at my walls (it's what I do best) when my mind wandered to that poster and upon further reflection I realized that it just isn't for me. First of all, I'm not really a 'keep calm' type of person. I'm prone to dramatic fits (big surprise). Second of all, rather than 'carry on', I am more likely to wallow in a pit of doom until something more glittery catches my attention- like my roommate's new green spatula. 

Sorry Miss Jackson but I need a different poster. 

Perhaps one that says:  STOP NOW AND FREAK OUT 

Quick, who can make this for me??

Image: Pressureless on Etsy

Best. Picture. Ever.

Basically, this is heaven. Isn't this just gorgeous though? There's something about the color and texture of the flowers next to the dark matte chalkboard that is so obscenely fascinating to me.

Ps. I have no idea why I am suddenly so freaking obsessed with chalkboards right now. It's not a THING I promise. 

Image: Wild at Heart's Shop via {frolic!}

It's not easy being green

My adoration of all things jewel-toned has been well documented on this blog. As has my tendency to go overboard with the color grey (evidence = my grey wall and the two grey blankets, grey shirt AND grey jacket currently spread out on my bed).  Yet somehow when I look around my room, everything is suddenly green. I have nothing against the color green. I find it quite nice actually. I like green eyeliner. I like green tea. I like green apple jolly ranchers. J'dore the color green. Just don't particularly think to use it much in my living spaces. As a nice accent color, sure. Who doesn't love a kelly green cushion against a glossy white chair? Now I look around my room and I have an olive green dresser inherited from my roommate, TWO army green lamps (non-matching), a turquoise green rug and an old print that uses turquoise, lime green and olive green quite liberally. How did this happen?

Anyhoo. Despite my impulse to scale back my greenosity, I am still in love with this living room, featured in an Apartment Therapy post on shades. Contributed by Jenny of The Little Green Notebook, the furniture is large without being too dramatic or fussy and I love love love the couch. It looks so comfortable and perfect for a Sunday afternoon of reading and drinking coffee. (Is there anything else to do on a Sunday afternoon??)  

Also, I am obsessed with the idea of placing a small desk in front of a bookshelf. I have seen this in numerous Domino spreads and the idea of having a random desk creating a small work area in the living room is so much fun.  That way, when I'm pretending to do work while really watching 30 Rock, I will be that much more convincing.

Image: Little Green Notebook via Apartment Therapy

Stick it to me

Remember this post about chalkboards and this post about my love of entryways? Well these adorable chalkboard decals are the best of both worlds! It would be so amazing in a small entryway over a compact console or cabinet with a bud vase and a classy tray for keys. Best of all, they're under $20!! ShaZAM!

The only question is, which one do I like better?

Images: SpellitOutdesigns on Etsy

Tick Tock

This year my friends and I decided to exchange home-made gifts and it was basically the most fun any one has ever had ever.  I decided to make clocks because they are versatile and easy to construct. I wish I had seen this one from Dutch By Design because I would have copied the crap out of it!

An easy concept with room for variation, I love how large it is without being too much of a 'statement'.  I would collect vintage frames from tag sales and antiques stores and fill them with postcards, old movie tickets and other sentimental souvenirs. Or perhaps I would just be lazy at buy this one. 

Image: Dutch By Design via Decor8

Caramels anyone?

My current roommate is studying to be a pastry chef at the French Culinary Institute.  This means I get to eat pastries like everyday. Literally, every damn day. I walk in the door and there is a tart on my countertop. Or cookies on my desk. Or a freaking pie in my refrigerator with a giant sign that says 'Mia you will eat me or you will DIE'. By the time she gets her certificate, I will have an extra five inches of ass thanks to her delectable delights. What I love most about said roommate is the fact that when I ask her what she is going to be making next she gives me not only the name of the tasty treat but also the French translation, every single ingredient and sometimes she will recite the whole recipe from memory. My favorite is when she shows me the little recipe cards.

Recipe cards look like a foreign language to me. They are like Will Hunting's complex chalkboard equations. They have strange sounding ingredients like 'cream of tartar' (wtf?) and 'trimoline' (sounds like a diet pill.) They challenge me not to mix up 'Tbsp' with 'tsp'. Also, cracking eggs scare me.  But I digress...

I like the look of recipes on this matte chalkboard wall. I'd like to think I'd write very complicated recipes in bright colors so my guests would think I am an expert baker but in reality I'm pretty sure I'd write notes to myself like the post it that was stuck to my wall a few days ago.

It read:    BUY MORE LICORICE YOU LAZY SLUT

Sigh. I am so classy. 

In other news, I also love the chair rail, the simple dining set, the open shelves and (big surprise) the pink hydrangea. So basically I love everything about this picture and want it all. 

Image: SFgirlbybay

Willkommen

There's something very luxurious about a decked out entryway. Perhaps this is because I have not had an apartment big enough to accommodate a space that can't also serve as a dining room or makeshift seating area. I suppose these spaces are more common in real houses and not in the tiny apartments of urban dwellers. I have always wanted  a hyper-organized foyer with an elegant console and room to store mittens, mail and muddy shoes. A foyer says 'Welcome to my charming abode. I am an adult. May I take your coat?'. Well, that's what it says to me.

While reading Design Sponge this week, I was inspired by their sneak peak into Cathy and Erik's apartment in Williamsburg. I love the simple black console (from Target no less. Score!) that has been spruced up with decorative knobs from Anthropologie. As if their place couldn't be any more awesome, it also used to be a bakery. {swoon}

Also on my list of awesome entryways?  Rita Konig's small entry modeled after an english country estate. Oh how I love Rita Konig and eveything she does...

Check out her adorable New York apartment via Apartment Therapy.

Images: (1&2) Design Sponge and (3) Apartment Therapy

R.I.P.

It is a sad, sad day. Conde Nast announced today that Domino Magazine will cease production. Conde Nast CEO Chuck Townsend said, "This decision to cease publication of the magazine and its website is driven entirely by the economy. Although readership and advertising response was encouraging in the early years, we have concluded that this economic market will not support our business expectations."

I am considering painting my bedroom walls black.

Visit the Domino Magazine Website while you can.

Image: Domino Magazine

Ottoman Empire

Even though I live in New York, land of living spaces fit for hamsters and guinea pigs, I constantly dream of large, lavish apartments that have room for furniture that doesn't have to have multiple uses. Take, for example, the silver cart that currently serves as my bedside table. In the last year it has also served me at tea and cocktail parties and made a brief excursion into my roommate's bedroom to hold snacks on a movie night. As much as I love my silver cart, sometimes I just want something ridiculous that might serve no other function than to look pretty freaking awesome.

Something like this large silver ottoman. Is it awesome? Hell yeah!  Would it serve me tea? Maybe not. 

Let's be honest: it would look pretty ridiculous as a real ottoman in front of a couch. What couch matches with silver leather? One could use it as spare seating but then one would risk distorting its shape from too much use. (Our current much smaller ottoman is now shaped like a trapezoid. I take full responsibility.) That means, this silver object of my affections must be a coffee table which means it will promptly be covered in magazines and indian food. 

Basically, if I were to buy it, I would have to have a space large enough where it can hang out in a corner for all to enjoy but not necessarily touch. Is it worth it??!!??

Image: West Elm

swoon.

In my bedroom I have a grey wall. I love my grey wall more than words can properly express. I frequently contemplate hanging something on it but then I cannot bear to interrupt its vast beauty. Once in a while I write on it with chalk even though it is not meant to be a chalkboard. On my bed is not one but two grey blankets. Our cat, which coincidentally is also grey, loves to lounge on top of them. That is, until I try to pet her. Then she walks away to go sniff a corner or hide in my roommate's closet where I cannot disturb her.

I tell you all this not because it is especially interesting but to really emphasize the fact that I truly love grey. Which is why I basically fell out of my chair when I saw Selina Lake's photographs of this amazing living room. Grey! Purple! Something gold! Something sparkly! Is there a more perfect room in the universe?!?!?! 

No. No there isn't. Oh WAIT! There's also this amazing pink living room with Moroccan leather pouffes! My life is so hard. 

Check out Selina Lake's Portfolio here.

Images: Selina Lake via Decor8

It's been far too long...

We haven't fallen in love over some newly discovered wallpaper patterns in a while so this one has me all hot and bothered. It's feminine and modern but not necessarily frilly. I think it would look wonderful in a bathroom or entryway. I'd pair it with a honey-colored oak side table and a velvet chair in a deep moss green.

Also on her website? This fantastic metallic leaf print I'd use instead of a headboard.

Swoon.

Image: Jocelyn Warner

OMFG

I die. I DIE.

Image: Spruce Home via sfgirlbybay

If I could find and afford a spacious, brightly lit garden apartment in, say, Carroll Gardens it would pretty much look like this. Owners Tobias Mikkelsen and Hanne Scheel Andersen, a graphic designer and architecture student respectively, have infused their house with an eclectic mix of highly saturated colors and multiple patterns. The room feels simple and comfortable. It has a lived-in feel and a distinct design. Two thumbs up!  

Check out their awesome blog What We Do featuring more photos of their home (in Copenhagen! how cool is that?!?) and their beautiful daughter Silke.

Images: What We Do 

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

Open Letter

Dear World,

Please bring these cookies into my life. I would be ever so grateful.

Sincerely,

*Mia

Image: Sweet Paul

Mirror, Mirror on the, er, stairs?!?

I like mirrors. I like them everywhere. I like big ones and small ones. I like framed and beveled and bejeweled mirrors. I would kill for almost any piece of furniture that is finished using mirrors.  When I was younger, I took dance classes specifically for those mirrored walls. (Ok this is not entirely true. However, I would consider installing a dance studio in my living room purely for the decorative aspect)

Today I saw THIS. 

And it blew my freaking mind.

How awesome is this idea! (answer: very awesome. very awesome indeed)

Image: Polly Wreford via ApartmentTherapy

Extreme Home Makeover: Blog Edition

I know I know I know. I'm horrible. Terrible. The world's worst blogger ever. But I have a good excuse! Oh wait, no I don't. I'm just lazy. Lazy and tired. Lazy and tired and working on too many projects at once. 

BUT.  Big news. Big. Huge. Next week there will be some BIG CHANGES AROUND HERE!!!

Ok so that wasn't really news. More like, the promise of news.  We're all about the tease.

Stay tuned...

AAAAAAND WE'RE BACK!

So sorry for the long break dearies. Things got a bit out of control with the state of my internet connection. Plus, all the premieres had me very busy indeed. (OMFG Kath & Kim have animal print EVERYTHING)

Now that we are back on track, I want to point out the brilliant blue carpet in Andrew Beer's home. I love it. I want RIGHT NOW.  In fact, the more I stare at the photograph, there isn't much that I don't love in this room. An entrant in Point Click Home's Happy Chic Home Contest, Beer's bold use of color is pure genius--the room somehow still seems understated despite the bright carpet, pink chair and fur throw. 

I love how the pink in the windows echos the chair nearby, the blue carpet is reflected in the steel legs of the desk as well as the  glass vase and books on the mantle, and the dark plum color in the fireplace is matched with the large vase above. All this is balanced out by the strikingly delicate mirror above the mantle and the quietly neutral books on the two bookcases. 

Fabulous!

Check out the winners of the contest, judged by my secret boyfriend Jonathan Adler here.

Image: Point Click Home.

Oh Dear

I'm terribly sorry for the lack of posting lately- we've had a horrible time dealing with the scumbags at Time Warner and will hopefully be up and running again within the next few days.

In the meantime, feast your eyes on these fried apple pies! Fall = Apples. Therefore it is my personal goal to eat apples in some form at least 5 times a week for the duration of the season. Probably until early March when I get sick of them and switch to pears. Mostly, I intend the apples to be in a baked good, so these yummy delights are just what the doctor ordered. Portable and fried! What is better? Also, they look like a more authentic version of the apple pies at McDonalds, which I pretend to snub but secretly adore.

The recipe, courtesy of Gourmet, can be found here.

Image: Epicurious