Thursday, September 30, 2010

Fresh flowers and a flea market find...

I picked up some dahlias over the weekend while at Whole Foods. I really love fresh flowers around the house and I picked up this blue ball jar at the flea market last weekend for $3 and I was dying to put something in it.  We've been collecting these blue jars for our kitchen remodel.  We are planning on open shelving and want to use them for display/storage.  This one is so small that it makes a perfect flower vase and it's been making me smile every time I walk into the kitchen and see these beautiful dahlias in it. 

Photo: The Design Boards

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Retail Therapy and a little early Christmas wish list...

These are some of the items I am loving right now in home accessories, all of which are going on my wish list for Christmas (hint, hint family and friends).  I can't get over the enamel milk pot, I think it would be perfect for heating and frothing milk for chai teas.  I also adore the vintage laundry cart.  I had originally wanted one of these for laundry but now I'm torn.  What are you currently obsessing over in home accessories right now?

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Things that make me smile...

We started our little garden about a month ago and I love walking outside every day to see the progress each little plant has made.  It fascinates me the way you can put such tiny seeds into the ground and watch as they grow into these beautiful, abundant plants that can feed and nourish you.  When we design our kitchen, I'm hoping to create a windowed herb garden or even something like Victoria has would be beautiful.  I love the idea of bringing the outdoors in...







Mid Century Moment

I am so adding this poster to my wish list. I think it would look great in our office (which is getting a complete overhaul by the way, details to come soon).

Monday, September 27, 2010

Behind the Design - Reclaim the Throne

Good morning! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  We're starting the week off with a Behind the Design featuring the very talented Christyn of Reclaim the Throne.  Since I'm in the middle of tackling my very first re-upholstery project  love seeing all the beautiful work that Christyn creates, very inspiring!

Where does your inspiration come from?
Things that I see in art, design and nature that have nothing to do with furniture!


Where do you do most of your work?
When I started the business my husband and I were newlyweds in a tiny one-bedroom apartment with chairs stacked on either side of our bed and upholstery tacks and fabric strewn over the whole living room. Now we have a small home and I do all my work in the den with the air compressor in the other room to stifle the noise!


How did you come up with the name for your business?
I love funny puns, the name came to me very quickly and made me laugh so I figured go for it!


Your favorite thing to make?
I love smaller decorative side chairs with diamond tufting on the seat and back.


What is your all time favorite design from past or current collections?
Probably my Sophia chair, it sold many months ago and now lives in New York, it was just so sweet.


What advice do you wish someone had given you when you first started your business?
Give it time and think of who you're making these pieces for!


coffee or tea?
Neither actually, can't handle the caffeine :)

Favorite magazine/blog/daily read?
The Lettered Cottage blog, Country living magazine

If you could follow one person around for a day, who would it be?
Cheryl Burke (I am a ballroom dance instructor)

If you could travel anywhere in the world, money and time being no object, where would you go and why?
Ireland, no question. I want to stay in a stone cottage in the countryside near the coast and just walk all day taking in the scenery and homes!

If you had to spend a year on a deserted island, what 5 things would you take with you?
My blanket (seriously can't sleep without it :), dog, husband, lobster trap and pocket knife!

Thank you Christyn for participating in this week's Behind the Design.

Photos courtesy of Christyn, Reclaim the Throne.

Christyn can be found at:
Etsy shop
Blog
Facebook

Friday, September 24, 2010

The Fashion Files

Here are some of my favorite looks from my fashion and style inspiration boards. I am absolutely obsessed with the glasses in the second photo, the whole look is just amazing but it has me really wanting to find a pair of vintage frames.  I keep looking but no luck so far.  What looks are you obsessing over these days?
 

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Chandeliers in Berlin

I was going through my iphone photos and saw a pic I took at the Michelberger hotel in Berlin that I had totally forgot about.  In the lobby of the hotel there is a large library of books and comfy couches everywhere and all the chandeliers are actually made from old hardback books.  I loved the concept and snapped a couple of quick photos with my iphone to share with you.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Retail Therapy - Olive Manna

I love it when I stumble upon a pretty little shop, full of beautiful things like this one. Olive Manna has a wonderful selection of paper and packaging goods, perfect for the nearing holidays. I am already filling my shopping cart with many of the items in her shop...

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Things that make me smile...

I have a love affair with Paris, with all of France really, but Paris especially.  I've never been but it's near the top of my list for dream destinations.  Mike unfortunately, does not share this affinity for Paris that I have so a trip there will probably have to be done with my mom or with girlfriends but I imagine sitting at outdoor cafes, drinking red wine and fresh croissants.  Gawking at the amazing street fashion.  Walking everywhere.  Shopping at the famous flea markets.  Today, Paris is really making me smile...







source unknown

Mid Century Moment

I wish my apartment in New York had looked half as cool as this. What an amazing amount of light coming in.  I just love everything about this space.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Hello everyone!  How was your weekend?  Mine was great, one of the best I've had in a long time.

My parents stopped by on Saturday to give us some guidance on a few big house renovations we want to do and then we did a little shopping and I got some supplies for a few future blog diy projects I hope to share soon.  On Sunday we took a road trip to Mt. Dora and went to the flea market and antique fair where we picked up a few items for the house.  Little by little we are starting to make small changes to the house and really make it feel like our home. 

Friday, September 17, 2010

A road trip kind of weekend...

I am so glad the weekend is here.  This week at work has been a rough one and I am so looking forward to a couple of days off.  Of course, my to-do list is long but Mike and I are planning a little day trip up to Mt. Dora to go to the flea market.  With our schedules being so crazy we haven't much time do fun stuff together so I'm excited for a short road trip and a day spent scouring the market looking for great finds for the house and the shop.  What are your plans for the weekend?

Martyn Thompson - an amazing portfolio

Being a lover of interior design, I have an appreciation for many different aesthetics.  I don't think I could even tell you what my favorite design style is, I love so many.  While I usually lean towards light, bright, and airy, I can also really appreciate a darker more masculine style. These images are from the portfolio of Martyn Thompson, a New York based photographer.  I could not stop staring at these beautiful spaces.  There is such a warmth and coziness about each one of them.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Vintage kitchen

I have kitchens on the brain lately since I spent the weekend designing ours. I want to do a mix of modern and industrial and know I want to incorporate some vintage into the design. I was browsing some of my favorite vintage sellers on etsy looking for ideas and inspiration.  Here are some of my favorite vintage finds for the kitchen...

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

This made my whole week...

After my two favorite shelter magazines went under, I thought I would never find anything to replace them.  I love online magazines but they just aren't the same.   Now, we are getting an addition to the print magazine world that looks like it is going to be amazing!  Anthology, founded by Anh-Minh Le and Meg Mateo Ilasco (of Craft, Inc.), is a new quarterly shelter and lifestyle mag.  You can read more about the magazine here and get a preview of the first issue here.  I already requested a subscription and absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on the first issue.

Right now I'm in love with....

Kelly over at High Street Market turned me onto Man Shops Globe (I don't know how I did not know about that show) and ever since I have become obsessed with ethnic textiles.  I downloaded the first season to my iphone to watch while we were traveling to Germany and at one point I seriously wanted to re-route the plane to Morocco or Turkey so we could bring back some gorgeous and colorful rug or throw.  Just look at these rooms centered around beautiful ethnic textiles...