Interior of the Week

I still imagine that one day I will have an all white room, especially when I come across images like this one.  This space looks so peaceful and serene.  

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The Beauty Department

Lauren Conrad has launched a new blog with her hairstylist and make up artist called, The Beauty Department.  I am an instant fan.  There are tons of great tutorials and posts like 'hair tools for every hair type' and a breakdown on hair brushes and what you need them for.  This is a daily must read!

Travel by Design - 25 Hours Hotels

This week we're traveling through Europe to the super hip and funky 25 Hours hotel chain with hotels scattered throughout Germany, Vienna, and Switzerland.  Each of their hotels are themed to fit the respective cities they are located in.  They even have a hotel collaboration with Levi's jeans in Frankfurt.  I'm definitely checking this place out the next time I'm in Germany!

Things that make me smile...

Maybe it's because of Easter or the onset of Spring, but this week I am loving and feeling totally inspired by the color pink...What's making you smile this week?

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Found - Amazing light fixture for our dining room

Last week I spotted the most amazing light fixture hanging over Gwenyth Paltrow's head in a photo shoot she did for Remodelista.  The lantern is from Rose Uniacke's furniture and lighting line and I gather a bit out of my price range.  I did a little research and found a beautiful alternative at a very reasonable price.  I'm putting this into my 'maybe' files for our dining room light fixture.  We picked something up in a salvage shop for very cheap but I'm keeping my eye open for pieces like this as an alternative. 

Interior of the Week

Mike and I are considering concrete floors for our house. We have discussed hardwood but really don't know if it's in our budget right now. I like the idea of concrete but I constantly waver back and forth about the idea. I wonder if they are too cold, too sterile, too modern, too industrial, too something. Then I come across a room that stops me dead in my tracks and makes me suddenly think that concrete is a genius idea.  Tell me these floors aren't gorgeous...

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Travel by Design - Hotel Básico

I'm booking my next beach vacation here at Hotel Básico in Playa del Carmen. The hotel has a laid back bohemian vibe in a very cool industrial chic beach setting.   I visited Playa del Carmen a couple of years ago and it was heavenly. I can imagine sipping margaritas at the bar and relaxing in a cabana on the beach with not a care in the world...sounds amazing!

Fashion Files - Tote Bags

I'm in the market for a new bag...I've been carrying mine around for over a year now and I'm ready for a new look. I am really into navy and gray right now and these are some of my favorite options.  The Wood and Faulk bag is amazing and I've been coveting it for ever now, it looks like he's added some new colors to the collection but I still think the navy is the prettiest.  What do you think?

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Things that make me smile...

I've been craving a day at the beach ever since the weather turned warm...sipping margaritas under a large umbrella with my feet in the sand.  I have to book myself a beach vacation soon.

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DIY Project for Easter

I haven't dyed Easter eggs since I was a kid but I found this great tutorial via To Be Charmed using natural ingredients.  I love the vibrant and deep color results.  I'm adding this to my pre-Easter to-do list.

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Pigeon Toe Ceramics

Isn't this etsy shop lovely? I LOVE those string lights....they would look amazing on an outdoor patio, don't you think?

Hanging Art

Mike and I finally got around to having all of the prints framed that we've been collecting over the last few years.  We used pictureframes.com which I highly recommend.  The quality is great and they are a fraction of the cost of having them professionally framed.  Now we are dealing with the challenge of hanging the art.  We have sort of been fumbling through it....we have a lot of large empty walls in our house which makes it even more challenging because the options are endless.  I found this diagram online which has been a very helpful guide and I've been using my 'art and display' pinboard for inspiration and ideas.  Anyone have any tips for hanging art work?

Things that make me smile...

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Weekend plans...

We are throwing a little dinner party tonight for some close friends. We haven't entertained in forever, mainly because our house has turned into one giant project. I'm excited to pop open a couple of bottles of wine and relax with good friends. What are your plans for the weekend?

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Kitchen Inspiration Files

A kitchen reno is still a very far off plan for our little house but I am collecting tons of inspiration and ideas for my someday dream kitchen. When I spotted this kitchen I instantly fell in love.  It's just the right mix of industrial and modern but it still manages to feel warm and inviting and super functional which is basically everything I want my kitchen to be.  What do you think?

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Travel by Design - Hotel d'Hallwyl

You'll have to forgive me for having Paris on the brain these days. In addition to our upcoming trip, I have also been reading several books about French life and I'm secretly daydreaming about taking a sabbatical to live in the countryside of France for a year or so. This hotel/apartment caught my eye when I spotted it on Remodelista and had to share because it looks simply amazing, if we were spending any more time in Paris I would definitely be checking myself into this pied-à-terre.

Things that make me smile...

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A new look

Hopefully you noticed the updated new look, created by Kristen of Ahoy Graphics. Kristen helped me to create the logo and design for Apt22 and I was so happy with her work I instantly hired her for a little blog makeover as well. I am so pleased with the new design. I am still in the process of working out the little kinks and mapping destinations for all the new buttons so if you notice a button doesn't lead to anything, I'm working on it!

Chevron

I'm considering a chevron pattern for the curtains in our living room.  The walls are freshly painted a light gray, the furniture is mostly gray and now I am badly in need of a little color, texture, and pattern to bring the room to life.  I instantly thought of chevron because I love the pattern and I know the color range is endless but is it too trendy?  Something that will feel dated in a few years?  I suppose curtains and pillows are an easy thing to switch up if I get bored or they become a fleeting trend.  I really love this West Elm option which is very subtle but then I also love the impact the larger pattern makes.  What do you think?  Are you a fan of the Chevron pattern?

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