Our new living room is quite small and so the major challenge will be to find a way to incorporate all our styles into one tiny space without sacrificing comfort. I still have to work out the details of our little dining room area, which is essentially one corner of the living room, but in the meantime I thought I would share some basic ideas for the living room section.
Three things I want to keep in mind when designing this space:
1) There is now a boy living with us
2) We can't afford to replace our orange couch so the color scheme will have to work with it
3) We will need to incorporate a rug (finally!) as stipulated in our new lease.
My roommates claim they are going to give me free reign, which is very brave of them as they are well acquainted with my enduring passion for sequins and the color pink. Overall, I want the room to feel casual but tailored with clean lines and a few mid-century accents. My roommates have a lot of Brooklyn pride and so I want to figure out a way to incorporate that without relying on maps or other paraphernalia that feels tired or overused. Also we have a giant old TV that will need a sturdy media console, at least until we can trade it in for something sleek and flat-screened.
Here's what I've come up with so far:
Make your own mood board over at mydeco.com!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Big News
We're Moving!!
Trying to find a new apartment in NYC (or Brooklyn for that matter) is about as fun as going to the lady doctor and yet, like going to the lady doctor, I somehow wind up having to deal with it without fail every year. Last year I delayed the move at the last minute by finding another roommate but after two years in our current apartment, enough is enough. There is too much water damage and too little water pressure. And also my roommate got engaged and that, as we all know, is a game changer.
Now there are three of us! The goal was to find a two bedroom in a nicer part of Park Slope with a decent landlord who won't claim to not speak English whenever we have a problem in the apartment.
I will spare you the ensuing drama.
No, I won't. What else is a blog for? Here's the abbreviated version: We found an apartment, we got excited, we put in the application and were assured it was ours, I started fantasizing about wallpaper....and then we got denied. After looking at another nine apartments in two days, we finally found one that was even better than the first and it's ours! The lease is signed, the keys are safely on a Lego keychain in my purse and we have even gone over to measure every nook and cranny of the place for furniture placement purposes.
Huzzah!
Packing up our apartment feels like the most daunting thing ever but the idea of starting over feels nice, especially if it gives me an excuse to try out a new style or two. Now my mind is all aflutter with wallpaper and floor lamps and upholstery and patterned vs. striped throw pillows, etc.
The big move is scheduled for Saturday the 30th so I'll spend every waking moment between now and then making floor plans and mood boards.
Image: Apartment Therapy
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Words to live by
In response to my intense love of this clutch, my friend Jessica noted the following:
You could never be a spy with that clutch.So true, Jessica. So true.
Image: Charlotte Olympia Pandora Plexiglas Clutch on Net-A-Porter.com
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Spring
I'm sick of cold weather and so until Spring decides to grace us with its presence I'm just gonna go live here, ok?
Image: Marks & Spencer/Sally Cullen via Bright Bazaar
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Living Room Love
I'll have to keep it in mind for my next apartment, which might be on the horizon...
For more of Emily's fun designs, check out her blog and watch Secrets from a Stylist on HGTV, Saturdays at 9pm/8c.
Image: Emily Henderson
Friday, March 18, 2011
Tea Time
Spring is finally in the air! Huzzah! It's time to break out the pastel colors and start obsessing over self-tanners! It is also time, in my opinion, to dress up and host a tea party!
Tea Parties are the perfect opportunity to act super fancy and ladylike without have to spend a ton of money. The awesome thing about tea parties? There is no expensive alcohol and it is perfectly acceptable to cheat and buy your baked goods from a fancy bakery nearby. You can make your own sandwiches for about $.20/sandwich and cut them out into pretty shapes using cookie cutters. (Stick with classic shapes though. Your tea party won't be so classy if they are dinosaur-shaped. Just sayin'.)
The first rule of throwing a tea party is to make sure you have a proper tea set. Sitting around drinking tea in mugs is simply not acceptable. Other necessary accoutrements?
*Cake Stands
*Sugar and Creamer
*Flowers
*Table linens
*Finger Sandwiches and Scones
See below for some ideas!
Tea Parties are the perfect opportunity to act super fancy and ladylike without have to spend a ton of money. The awesome thing about tea parties? There is no expensive alcohol and it is perfectly acceptable to cheat and buy your baked goods from a fancy bakery nearby. You can make your own sandwiches for about $.20/sandwich and cut them out into pretty shapes using cookie cutters. (Stick with classic shapes though. Your tea party won't be so classy if they are dinosaur-shaped. Just sayin'.)
The first rule of throwing a tea party is to make sure you have a proper tea set. Sitting around drinking tea in mugs is simply not acceptable. Other necessary accoutrements?
*Cake Stands
*Sugar and Creamer
*Flowers
*Table linens
*Finger Sandwiches and Scones
See below for some ideas!
 |
| Royal Albert "Polka Rose" Tea & Dessert Set |
 |
| Staccato Teapot |
 |
| Rediscovered Flatware |
 |
| Vintage Linen Napkins |
 |
| Cow Creamer |
 |
| Decor Bon Bon Cake Stands |
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| Rose, Peony and Viburnum centerpieces |
 |
| Assorted Tea Sandwhiches and Petit Fours |
 |
| Confetti System Garland |
Friday, March 11, 2011
I would wear these every day.
I am having an all-consuming love affair with Kimberly Baker's beautiful rose-gold plated astrological sign necklaces. They are so gorgeous and delicate without seeming too gimmicky and I honestly thing I could wear it every day without getting sick of it (unlike my locket or other necklace staples). At $110, its well worth the price!
My other favorite (and trust me, it's hard to choose!) is the Maggie necklace made with two small unicorn horns. So cool, right?
You can buy yours online HERE.
Images: Kimberly Baker
And for my next trick...
...I will make my living room look like THIS!!
Seriously though, how amazingly fun and awesome is this room? Plaid and floral and stripes! Oh my!
I'm lovin it.
Image: Bright Bazaar
Color Conundrum
Lately I have been fretting that my bedroom is too girlie. Sure, a little frill is delightful and a few pops of pink are good for the soul, just ask Diana Vreeland. But do I really need the pink floral duvet cover? Or the giant mass of gold and crystal necklaces hanging on my wall? How about the sequined shirt hanging next to my dresser or the pile of (rarely worn) high heels lining one whole wall? Kids, it might be time for a change. Big time. It might be time to embrace neutrals and an altogether more tailored look.
Paul's studio was featured over on Apartment Therapy last week and I have bookmarked several photos for my inspiration board. It's the perfect blend of sophistication and style yet is reasonably unisex. Little accents like flowers and candles soften the tones and his well-edited art and accessories tie the entire space together. Paul also restricted himself to a simple neutral color scheme-with the exception of one bright red wall- and that's a very simple way to automatically ensure the room looks intentionally put together and elegant.
Check out the rest of his studio HERE.
Images: Apartment Therapy
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Like.
 |
| This wallpaper/tile combination is ridiculously awesome. I would dance all over those floors... |
Image: Coco + Kelley via cococozy
Friday, March 4, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Office Space Part Deux
By golly I've found it! This is the perfect space for a home office and writing space! Now if only I can convince my writing partner to paint her home office black....
And also to move her whole house from LA to NYC....
Image: Atlanta Homes & Lifestyle Mag via The Decorista
Lamp Obsession
I NEED THIS LAMP. PREFERABLY TWO OF THEM.
In white? Dove gray? Peony pink? For the living room? Bedroom? Entryway?
So many options. So little money.
Geometric Ceramic Table Lamp $159
Image: Shades of Light
Friday, February 18, 2011
February.
Oh February. You are such a fickle month. You always feel so much longer than you actually are. I would prefer to spend all 28 days in bed with the shades drawn, a hot mug of tea and several piles of books and magazines to read. Instead, my job dictates that I slave away under mountains of paperwork and spend my days pretending to tolerate the masses when in reality a string of inaudible curses escape my mouth every time the phone rings.
"BRRRRRING!"
"You ass hat. I hate you."
"BRRRRRRRINGGG!"
Stop asking questions! Don't you understand the internet was invented so you can find your answer online instead of bothering me?!?"
"BRRRRRRRRRRRRINNGGGGG!!!"
"I curse the day you were born. Shit Bucket."
That's pretty much how my day goes.
All I really want to do is fly far far way to the magical world of Palm Springs where I would spend my days lounging by the pool wearing vintage '50s-style bathing suits with red lipstick and my nights parked at the bar wearing sequined mini-dresses and unbearably high platforms.
Images: Pottery Barn and The Parker Palm Springs
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Get thee to a Joann's Fabrics!
Image: Elle Decor
Monday, February 7, 2011
Project Desk
My desk is by far the biggest eyesore in my bedroom. I try to clean it off about once a month but because I tend to use my laptop on my bed, my desk is usually hidden under a mountain of books and old mail. Case in point:
Sad right? Well today I'd had enough. It was time to organize, rearrange and take on a small craft project!
See that wooden box on the floor? It's actually the FIRA drawer unit from IKEA. I bought it two years ago and only put together 2 of the 3 drawers before I gave up and stored old beauty products in it. While dusting it off, I realized I might as well go to town with some acrylic paints:
Not so shabby, eh? After I put away the paint, I got to work reorganizing my desk which was quite a feat because as it turns out, I have A LOT of junk! Books went back onto my bookcase, notebooks are stored in the sad blue bins under my bed and old mail went into the shredder. The result is much more conducive to actually being productive!
Photos Courtesy of: Mia G for w*ink
(Please excuse their poor quality, I am clearly not a professional photographer.)
Sad right? Well today I'd had enough. It was time to organize, rearrange and take on a small craft project!See that wooden box on the floor? It's actually the FIRA drawer unit from IKEA. I bought it two years ago and only put together 2 of the 3 drawers before I gave up and stored old beauty products in it. While dusting it off, I realized I might as well go to town with some acrylic paints:
Not so shabby, eh? After I put away the paint, I got to work reorganizing my desk which was quite a feat because as it turns out, I have A LOT of junk! Books went back onto my bookcase, notebooks are stored in the sad blue bins under my bed and old mail went into the shredder. The result is much more conducive to actually being productive!
Photos Courtesy of: Mia G for w*ink
(Please excuse their poor quality, I am clearly not a professional photographer.)
Bedroom Ideas
I am *LOVING* this ethnic chic bedroom featured over at The Decorista last week. The quilt has all my favorite colors and I adore the pheasant pillow and the symmetrical nightstand/lamp combos. I'm also really digging how the artwork over the bed echos the texture of the whitewashed brick wall nearby.Classy! I'm definitely filing this one away for future reference.
Image: The Decorista
February Obsessions
Last month was wrought with of small miseries- snow storms, heating problems and ailments galore. I realize this is the East Coast and so these aren't exactly atypical for this time of year but for some reason my tolerance for winter in general is at an all-time low. What better way to cure the melancholy mood of January than with some gorgeous, glamorous interiors? I hereby dedicate February to laid back glamor, black & white and, randomly, rams.
Images: Lonny Magazine
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| Ram 1: bookends! Or are those gazelles? I can't tell. |
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| Ram 2: I want this coffee table so hard. |
Images: Lonny Magazine
Friday, February 4, 2011
Red is the new Grey
Oh my goodness this bold red eating nook is so decadent and cozy. If it were mine I would spend every spare minute nestled amongst those black & white pillows, pouring over shelter magazines with a giant mug of tea. Ms. Vreeland would be proud!
Image: Apartment Therapy
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Who needs Cinnabon?
Le Sigh.
Yesterday I spent a few hours scouring the internet for recipes and when I came upon this delectable batch of Sticky Lemon Rolls, I almost fell over. Sticky rolls laced with nutmeg and lemon zest! Lemon cream cheese glaze! Lemon filling! Be still my heart! It's a lemon extravaganza! A lemon sensation! A lemon spectacular!
HERE is the recipe, which looks way more time consuming if you do not have a Kitchen Aid mixer.
Just sayin'.
Images: The Kitchn
My Favourite Things
Winter Blues (Also ROYGV)
Images: Bright Bazaar via sfgirlbybay
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