Seeing Spots

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Polka dots are a classic, but I’ve been obsessed with irregular spotted prints most recently.  Patterns that are animal-esque.  Almost dalmation-esque.  Cruella DeVille would approve.

Spotted patterns are showing up everywhere, and while Kris thinks I’m on the verge of losing it (what else is new), I feel our house is NEEDING a splash of spots.  
Case in point… this bench?!?!?!
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Jenny Comenda got the memo long ago when she reupholstered this awesome bench…  looks great in every space she puts it.  LOVE.
What about that pillow?!?!?!
This awesome pillow from Furbish – an amazing source for home decor… bedding, pillows, furniture, art, entertaining… the online shop is amazing.  Highly encourage you to check it out.
And this chair?!?!?!
This chair is an Ikea hack if you can believe it or not.  Originally featured on Little Green Notebook, and later picked up by DecorPad, this stylish number cost next to nothing, and it’s a pretty close replica to the ultra pricey Brunschwig and Fils Snowleopard fabric.
Creativity at it’s best!
Holy spotted rug….
How fab is that?  And it’s a free-form cow hide.  I feel like I don’t even need to say any more!
And the grand finale… my favorite wallpaper of all time…
It’s a personal favorite of mine that I’ve blogged about before… the Thibaut Tanzania Animal print – comes in wallpaper and fabric, but I sort of favor the wallpaper.  It’s SO amazing.  And becuase I love it so SOOO much… here is my ALL TIME FAVORITE space that uses it.  It’s like wallpaper porn for me…

Tiffany Richey’s office?!?!  OMG.


So what do you think??  Have I totally changed your mind about what I lovingly refer to as the “dalmation trend”?
After bringing these images together, I’m THISCLOSE to pulling the trigger on the pillow from furbish…

Bamboo Touches

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I love the look of bamboo in home decor.  To me there is something about it that feels very “collected”.  
My Grandmother had a set of nesting tables she brought back from China, and I’ve always loved them.  They are in my parents house now, and while bamboo may not be for everyone, used sparingly, it brings a unique twist to an otherwise very classic space.

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This mirror for example – if I could find something like this to go over our wine hutch, I’d be over the moon. At first glance, I thought it was gold, but it’s hard to tell.  Perhaps natural bamboo?  Eh, who cares… it’s awesome!

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How awesome is this dresser??  The punch of coral is really unique, and I love that the hardware stays true to the far east feeling.  And don’t get me started on the Chippendale with ikat upholstery….

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Of COURSE I had to dedicate one of these photos to a classic Chinese Chippendale.  Love the black lacquer finish, love the Greek Key trim on the curtains, love the bamboo desk… love ALL of it!

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This side table is teeny, so it tucks into this little nook just so.  I’d call this the perfect area to curl up with a cup of coffee and juicy book.

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Lantern pendants are quite popular – especially in kitchen design – but the bamboo makes this lantern really unique.  I could even imagine this painted a bright aqua or yellow.  Wouldn’t that be fun?

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This table is AWESOME.  This is actually the same home as the first photo I posted here with the bamboo mirror – clearly chica has rad taste.  This was a quickie spray paint makeover from a thrift store… I’m thinking I need to branch away from the Goodwill in my neighborhood, since their specialty seems to be more used Tupperware and old Disney T-shirts.

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This pair of bamboo tables together used as a console is genius.  Love the simplicity of the styling, and the raw, organic feel of everything from the lamp, to the pottery, the picture frames that that seriously awesome plant, root, thingy.

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Somehow this lamp is still able to shine in this space (literally, and figuratively) even though it could easily be eclipsed by everything else awesome in this space… that authentic Dorothy Draper chest of drawers??? OMG SWOON!

New Bedding

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I had a very successful trip to HomeGoods yesterday.  VERY successful.  
I went in looking for a chair – something overstuffed and comfy – to replace the wicker chair in the living room.  While I didn’t come out with a chair, I came out with some new bedding, a few rugs, pillows, glass vases… oh the list goes on and on…
Since I’d been looking for bedding without much luck for the past several months, I’d even entertained the idea of making my own bedding.
With the navy and white bold stripe chevron curtains, I wanted something to coordinate, without necessarily “matching” and I’ve been obsessed with deep blues and indigos.  I can fully admit to my trellis pattern obsession, and with a trellis rug in the room, I knew any interlocking, repeating trellis print was out.  

I also wanted to stay away from stripes to avoid anything too matchy-matchy with the curtains.
       
I found it was incredibly hard to find bedding with blue and white – a true white.  There was lots of creme and blue, or tan and blue, so when I found a Queen size set of the blue and white Ralph Lauren paisley sheets in the bin at Homegoods yesterday, I was bound and determined to find them in a King size set.
Patiently I went through bin-by-bin, rummaging through every. single. set. of. sheets.  No luck.  If you’ve been to a Homegoods, you know how disorganized it all is.  I went through each bin and shelf a second time, just to be sure that I hadn’t missed it.  No luck again.  I accepted defeat, and moved on to the bath accessories section.
What did I find hiding behind a stack of sea-horse printed hand towels??  Well, it was the king size set of blue and white paisley Ralph Lauren Sheets that I’d spent the last 30 minutes hunting down!
JACKPOT.
They are great quality – 500 thread count, and the set included the fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two shams… for $50.  
$50 DOLLARS?!  I literally couldn’t believe it.  The set was cheaper than a single flat sheet I’d gotten a few months ago!
In the massive bin of throw pillows, I found a deep blue ikat roll pillow that coordinates with the sheets.  I wish it was down fill, but I can look for an insert later.  I’m still holding out for Euro Sham covers that I love, but so far, the addition of the sheets and roll pillow dramatically improve the bedding situation.
What do you think??

Also, you might also notice our lovely makeshift headboard…

Pretty huh?  Yeah… pretty awful.
It’s only temporary, I assure you.  We pieced it together to determine how high and wide we want the headboard to be.  You also can’t see from this far away, but we’re also trying to determine how large and at what angle we want the side cut-outs to be.
We’re planning on the belgrave headboard shape, like this DIY from Sarah M. Dorsey Designs:
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Can’t wait for more bedroom updates!
xo

Glitter Makes Everything Better

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I need this tape.  Like REALLY need this tape…

Can’t you imagine all the taping needs that this sparkly gold glitter tape will fill?

Giving a plainly wrapped gift some pizzazz…

Sealing an envelope with a bit of flair… oh our rent check will be mailed with so much style next month!!

Is it just me, or is this tape the cats pajamas??  I’m ordering 2 rolls stat.  Do you think that’s enough?

If you’re obsessed like me, you can buy it here.

Happy Saturday!
xo

Nailhead Makes Everything Better

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Nailhead trim is big right now… like HUGE.  It’s not just contained to overstuffed club chairs and headboards anymore.  It’s running wild through the design world, making appearances on everything from side tables to stairwells, and everything in between…

A few of my favorites from around the web…

Isn’t this great inspiration for an Ikea hack??  You could totally recreate this look on this $20 coffee table from Ikea.  And it comes in white so if you’re feeling lazy, there is no painting required… you’re welcome in advance!

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It amazes me how creative people can be.  I would NEVER have thought of applying nail head to trim out the walls in a hallway, and yet, it looks fabulous, and gives this space extra character.  Did you also notice that King Charles Cavalier in the background??  So freaking cute!
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Nailhead on a valance!  I’m not a big “valance” person, but in a room with tall ceilings, this could be awesome.  The nailhead highlights the stair-step detail, and adds a even more glam on top of the already super luxe fabrics.
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Unless you are super patient, super detail oriented, and have a VERY steady hand… a detailed nailhead trim is probably something best left to the professionals, but how awesome is this upholstered chest of drawers?!  No but seriously… raw linen stretched tight across these drawers??  I am having SO MANY ideas now about what I want to do with the dresser that goes in our room to replace the teeny tiny TV stand that’s currently in there… LOVE.
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Nailheads are what is securing this natural fiber runner to these stairs… check this one out!  The stairs did not start off so pretty!
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Have you heard of Home Decorators?  I hadn’t either, but I’m taking note!  This table looks like something from Restoration Hardware, but its under $300.  That’s a steal when you compare it with the several thousand dollar price tag RH slaps on everything!
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Now THIS is unique.  I haven’t really seen a lot of inlaid upholstery on a chair back like this before, but I am loving how it looks.  The chair is as interesting from the back as it is from the front – which is rare!  Wouldn’t this be great in a shabby chic kitchen nook or in a pretty feminine office?
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Nailhead and leather dress these cabinets up… I believe this is someone’s ultra fabulous closet.  A girl can dream….
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And one of my favorites… this site is crazy addicting, featuring tons of great Ikea hacks.  This one is very similar to the first photo inspiration I posted about here, but uses the lack side table… well technically one and a half Lack side tables… use the one full Lack and the top from the other to secure to the bottom.  Pure genius considering these tables are only $9 each!
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Gallery Wall

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Remember how I’d been agonizing over putting up a gallery wall in our living room??  Well it’s happened!  In between my back to back weeks of travel between San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York, I managed to get the gallery wall started , and here’s a little sneak peek…

GOLD.

Sorry for the extremely blurry photo, but I was excited, and wanted to share.  The wall isn’t quite finished, but it’s getting there… we’re still waiting on a few pieces to round out the left side, but I am loving the change and the addition of some much needed color.

I’m also thinking that we need some more solid prints, and less white mattes with the large La Baule vintage poster… just something a bit more solid to balance out the left side.  I’m thinking a dark grey/blue matte on that abstract piece, and a few other colorful prints?  What do you think?

It took me a long time to pull the trigger on the gallery wall.  I’m not entirely sure why… I guess the thought of putting all those haphazard holes in the wall scared me, but I just started eyeing it, and it ended up working out.  I’d put together tons of layouts (remember this post from back in October??) but ironically none of the layouts, and nearly none of those frames made it up on this wall.

I’m so happy with how things are coming together… better quality photos to follow soon – I promise!

Happy Thursday!
xo

A Little Indulgence

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In an effort to improve my eating habits (and shave off some of the winter weight everyone puts on while hibernating) I’ve been trying to come up with healthy alternatives to my favorite snacks.
Case in point… the french fry.  Salty and Delicious… yes, slimming?  Definitely NOT.
My solution?  Homemade sweet potato fries, and they are AMAZING.

One large sweet potato makes two servings, and the easiest way to make these is to prepare them early, and keep them in the fridge until you’re ready to snack.

Directions:
Peel sweet potatotes, and cut them into thin slivers.  I like to do two or three large sweet potatoes at once, and save the extra for another time.  Take what you don’t use and put them in a zip log bag in the refrigerator.

Toss sweet potatoes in olive oil, and liberally season with salt and pepper.  I also add a few sprinkles of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper for heat.  That’s optional, but it’s delish.  Spread out the sweet potatos on a flat cookie sheet, and cook them in a hot 400 degree oven for about 12 minutes.

While those cook, make your dipping sauce.  In lieu of ranch dressing, I make a healthy version using greek yogurt and ranch seasoning.  Make a whole batch at once, and use to dip raw veggies in it all week.  It’s 60 calories for half a cup, so feel free to dip away without guilt.

The combination of sweet potatoes and greek yogurt is high in protein and fiber and low on calories, and I promise you won’t even miss french fries with this little treat.

I know what I’m making tonight!!

Abstract Colors

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One of the best and easiest ways to make a space more unique is through Art.  In the past, I found it hard to choose the “right” piece, but I try to focus on making art decisions based on what I like.  It’s that simple.  For abstracts, I steer towards bright colors, or interesting stroke marks, or scenes that evoke movement or nature (like the sea, or wind).  I also like pop art, vintage posters, and black and white photography.

A few months ago, I had been on Pinterest and saw a fun colorful print that I loved.  Unfortunately for me, the pin didn’t have a source (don’t you just hate that??)  When I’d found the unnamed, un-tagged print on Pinterest, I loved it so much that I’d printed it out and framed it in our living room – where it’s been sitting on the wine hutch ever since. I’d all but given up on finding out who the artist was… until today…

I was randomly combing through a few articles on Houzz, and came across an article about using coffee table books as part of your decor.  This picture was featured in the article, and what did I notice… well that painting looks A LOT like the one I’d fallen in love with!!

Overly excited, I clicked on the photo to see the quoted sources, and quickly learned that Jennifer Latimer is the artist responsible for the fun colorful abstract.  Jackpot!!

A quick Google search later, I was on her site, browsing her collection, and learning that she was recently featured on One Kings Lane as an artist to watch, and that she has a fabulous blog on home decor!  Could I be more excited??

Since I am a person that gravitates towards neutrals in furniture, I love to incorporate bright colors through art and pillows, and her bright fun abstract pieces are sort of perfect for this exact purpose.

A few of my favorites from her collection…

Banff Garden Poppies & Roses which is unfortunately sold…

Falling Petals, a Chanel Inspired Abstract

After a little digging, I discovered that her work is also sold on Etsy (yes, the news just keeps getting better) through a shop called Gilded Mint.  
How much are you loving this quad of gold seaweed paintings for $28 (buy here).
Or this four leaf clover print (buy here) also reasonably priced at $27!
Or… speaking of Flamenco’s yesterday… this little guy is tres chic, and ready to hang!
Don’t be surprised if you see a few more of her pieces popping up around my house… I am loving pretty much every piece in her Etsy shop!

Have you stumbled on any great sources for art recently??  I’d love to hear about it!

Flamenco Fancy

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There is something so fun about hot pink… flamenco pink to be exact.  
I’ve seen some fun flamenco prints floating about in the blog-world, and with that inspiration in mind, I took to collecting some of my favorite things in this hue. It’s a fabulous color that would certainly inject some much needed life into… well… everything.  From fashion to art, fun chairs, pillows, and sofas, it’s a very South Beach, I-don’t-take-myself-too-seriously kind of color.  I’m determined now to incorporate this fun shade into my life.
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I love these french doors that echo the fun pink in the flamenco framed print… and if you love this print, you can find it here.
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How fun are these trousers.  Perfect for spring, and sprucing up an otherwise very simple outfit.  Love the high waist, and love the belt.
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Our bathroom is tiled in what I refer to as “pepto bismol pink”… there is literally nothing left to do but embrace it, and I’m thinking that this flamenco print would be a fun thing to add.
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This fun roll pillow awakens this formal space, and the greek key trim keeps it modern – not girly.
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Now THAT is a pink sofa.  I could not love it more if it tried! 
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I’ve always been a fan of the vintage print… and this one is no exception.  Sunny and fun – this would bring a breath of life into our entryway, or even the gallery wall that has finally made its way up in our living room!!
More to come on that…
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If I could choose one pair of totally non-practical shoes, these would be the ones… the perfect stiletto heel, pink tassles and an ankle strap.  A party for your feet if you will…
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And this fabulous Louis XVI chair – it would make a great DIY with a little fabric paint if you came upon a sad run-town version at a thrift store…

A Park Avenue Princess (in the making)

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My whirlwind week in NYC has come to an end, and I have so much to share!  To say that New York captured my heart is a complete understatement.  It’s a full-blown love affair I’m afraid.
The flight there was a little rocky, but I made it in one piece, and after a HUGE coffee (and a little bit of concealer), I was feeling a bit more like myself, and ready to take on the role of “tourist” for the afternoon.
First stop… my fabulous hotel on Park Avenue.  Sort of the perfect location for my first visit to New York.  My hotel was on Park at 38th – literally one block from my office, just a few blocks from Grand Central Station, a block from Madison Avenue (which for someone in Advertising was VERY cool), and two blocks from the fabulous shopping on 5th.  OMG, don’t even get me started…  back to my hotel….
The rooms were very Hollywood regency – lots of fun splashes of color and mirrors everywhere you turned… LOVE!

LOVED the tear drop shaped lamps, with their crisp white shades, and black trim.  Loved the mirror topped side tables, and the metallic pillow on the all white bed.  The room was small – not at all surprising for New York – but the plethora of mirrors opened it up, giving the illusion that it was much larger than it was.

How fabulous is that pop of hot pink??  And the x-leg parson desk.  That was gold.  I wanted to steal it and take it home with me!

The side table closest to the window had a mirrored top, and leather upholstered drawers with studs.  Nothing I would have ever chosen myself, but I loved it!

And the window treatments were really simple but super impactful – black valences with a crisp white stripe… and you all know how much I love a good stripe.

A cool starburst art installation on one of the walls was very Jonathan Adler, and I’ve actually wanted something like this mini desk lamp to light up one of the dark corners of our living room… it was maybe 13″ tall, and had a blown glass shade.  This picture doesn’t showcase it well, but it was really pretty and unique in person.

Can I go back already???