Ribbons Are Fun

Today's Agenda:  Taking photos and measurements for a new project -- very exciting! 

And loving these spools of ribbon that popped out of this month's Sundance catalog.  (That catalog is stealth I tell you -- they have a couple great things, to the point where you close the catalog back to doublecheck you are still reading the one you think you are.)   I love how these ribbons would look on packages wrapped in white or brown craft paper.  In all different sizes and colors. 

 

The last image is of Tokyo tape.  Do you think I could do this with it?  I may try just because I love the designs on this tape...



 

Fluff This

Today's Agenda:  Another day in the office, which is great! 

In this economy, things aren't so disposable anymore, right?  You really can't just switch out a sofa because you feel like it (unless you are super lucky and can swap it on craigslist for something equally amazing).  But a girl's still gotta have some fun!  Lately, I've been stocking up on pillows at the house -- just in case a client needs a couple!  I've found some great deals out there, and a couple splurges (anything over $50 I think is a splurge for a pillow!).  Last night, my husband ventured up to the office and I showed him my new method of storing them (I flipped a couple Ikea stools upside down and they contain them really nicely) and he just started laughing and thinks I officially have a serious pillow problem.  See?

 
I mean, how could you turn this one down for $5 (from Pier One)?

Or this one.  How sweet in a little girl's room at a bright red desk.  Also from Pier One...

These I snapped up at Marshalls with a client in mind.

Another one with a client in mind from Crate & Barrel Outlet.

And I used my 15% off birthday coupon at Anthropologie for this beauty.  If you could have one pillow, this would be the one.

It's a good thing husband doesn't know about the pillow covers stored away...Oops!

Storing Tear Pages

Today's Agenda: Starting this week off right.  Well-rested and ready to take on the week.  At my desk mixing up biz stuff and design stuff, all while having a load of laundry and dishes going and mahi-mahi thawing (b/c that's what working from home is about, right?? And all while I haven't gotten out of my PJs...). 

So, even though magazines seem to be disappearing one by one over the past few years, my tear pages are still ever accumulating!!! Why is that??

I have a couple of bins for them where I can toss them in.

 I have a bulletin board where I put my favorite ones or most current/applicable. 

 

(Aside) This is how I want to do my hair for some fun event...or just an evening in Paris (you really need to be prepared for things like this, you just never know...)...

But what I really want is the ability to categorize them by room -- bathroom ideas, bedroom ideas, etc.

I had been using three ring binders for each type of room and sliding images into clear plastic sleeves (as a former lawyer, I'm *slightly* obsessed with these -- If I could plastic sleeve my life, I would!  And I've tried!)...but it takes a lot of time, and, well, a lot of sleeves.  And those darn Real Simple and UK mag pages are closer to that silly A4 size paper that I actually love than the 8 1/2 x 11 size of the sleeve.

What I was looking for was a fluid, easy to reference and portable solution.  And then I found these.

Thank you, John D. & Target.  This accordion file has just enough files and labels to go with.  It's fun to look at and just leave around the house.  Easy to take to client meetings or on a trip (love car trips for organizing tear pages!).  Nice and large so pages from Real Simple and UK mags fit in easily.  And, I've labeled each tab something equally generic and specific - e.g. BATH - for easy reference.

So, my new system is three part (b/c no system should really be more than three steps...):  (1) tear out inspiration pages, usually on read no. 2 through a magazine, (2) put them in the bin I already had that looks nice in my office and (3) sit and go through the bin and file them in accordion file when I have time or am looking for something.  This way stuff is pretty organized even when I don't have time to be fastidious about filing my awesome tear pages away!  

Today's Agenda:  Checking out whether there are any good sales or design events in DC this weekend...you never know!  Like last weekend - I checked Apartment Therapy's 'sales and events' and  I caught the Tribeca Loft Tour in NYC.  It was amazing.  3500-4000 sqft lofts with the best bathrooms I've ever seen.  Fun ideas too -- like using a vintage fridge for a printer/office supply station and one apartment only had one closet so they used armoires everywhere and it looked great. 

Speaking of bathrooms, I feel like I've mentioned this project I've been working on where there are a few bathrooms being renovated that I was brought in on to pick out the finishings and fixtures.  One is a completely new bathroom (and new 3rd story!) and the other two used to be one big bath that was gutted to be split into two.  Long story short, not everything is in working order and there are still some cosmetic things that need to be addressed (caulk/grout issues) but I'm happy to say that the bathrooms are lookin' good.  I'll post some more complete pictures with better lighting so you can really appreciate the colors of the beautiful tile (I took these at night!) but wanted to give you a peek at how they are coming along...One is the guest bathroom, one is the 7-year old son's bathroom and the other is the master bath.  The design goal was to have each one feel contemporary but different...I am loving how they are turning out! (oh, but if only everything worked...)

 

 

 

Before and After: Reviving the Living Room in Two Hours

Today's Agenda:  Checking out some desks and chairs - I do love a great home office project :)

As I mentioned yesterday -- I finally did what I thought I would never do -- moved the sectional sofa AND changed out the rug in our living room.  I loved where both were in our living room but I just wanted to try something different.  I think of our apartment as a bit of a design lab -- place for me to try out different layouts and materials and color combinations and see what works! 

Here is the before...

 And the after! 

 

 

 

 

I purchased nothing to do this redesign and only took two hours to move things around -- just used what I had, moved things around and pulled a rug from my collection of things I've bought because they were such a great deal and really easy to store.  The rug I used is from Anthropologie and was on sale for $129.95.  Pretty awesome and the blue is a really happy blue. I then moved the gray and white rug into our bedroom under our bed and it looks like a brand new rug!

A few of my favorite details -- I moved the bar to the kitchen counter.  I love a bar cart or tray but this is a good spot for mixing a drink.  The glasses are just above this area and the sink is to the right.  Plus the bottles look really pretty against the Benjamin Moore French Beret paint...that I'm obsessed with. 

 These red chairs I purchased for only $75 each on Craigslist and I love them.  They are easy to clean, and a great red that I've tried to carry through in the kitchen.  I really like red and blue together -- the trick is to keep it from looking too patriotic.  I really like to watch the NBC Nightly News while eating dinner with my husband so this is the perfect spot for us -- chairs are easy to clean, good posture and cute little table for a glass of wine. 

 These lamps are my favorite.  They were a find from Homegoods and were each $30.  I love that they take away from the TV a bit.  And they give off really good light.  I like that the shades are a parchment color against the starck white of the TV console.  These books I keep handy to write down meals that are a hit.  Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc at Home is a great resource -- easy recipes and inspiring photos.

The new layout is really functional too -- I curled up on the chaise lounge last night and went through my magazines instead of turning on the TV, ate dinner in our red chairs and talked about the nightly news and was happy this morning to wake up to the fun blue rug!

Jewelry Display

Today's Agenda:  It happened.  I knew it would.  After three and a half years, I finally moved the only piece of furniture in the house that had not been moved -- the sectional sofa (there was a reason it hadn't been moved :)).  I have been traveling to New York for the past couple of weekends (so much fun! all I have to say is the marimekko store in crate and barrel is awesome) and today was my first full day at the house this week working from home with no errands to run, just computer stuff to do.  I've been really fortunate to have a lot of new design projects coming up so I think I was just inspired and my head full of furniture layout possibilities and I had to act on that so....two hours later my living room is all different!

And all the cupboards reorganized.  I also think I'm getting ready for the holidays and having guests in town -- I always feel a ton better about hosting and am able to really enjoy the holidays and having family and friends in town if things are organized -- you know, the broths and soups in one cabinet, drinks in another, silverware easy to access -- and I carved out little stations around the house so everyone isn't on top of each other when hanging out.  My little secret to organizing too is to adjust the height of the shelves in cabinets depending on what I'm using them for -- I did this today for the lazy susan we have and I'm always amazed at how much better the space is after doing that one little thing!

It's dark outside now but I'll take a photo of the new living room and post tomorrow...here are a couple of before photos for now --  I'm really loving the new layout so am psyched. 

 

Speaking of organizing...as I was unpacking today, I was appreciating how easy it was to put away my jewelry.  I love when my systems actually work!  I have a few little boxes that I love (I did go through a box phase and amassed several) but I was honest with myself and I really need to see all of my jewelry to wear it, put it away where it belongs and create the best combination with an outfit.

This is one way I have had my jewelry.  It worked pretty well.  But things got tangled or lost.  And, the dust was a major issue.  

 I tried to think of another pretty way to display my jewelry but in a way that didn't take over the bedroom since I do have to share it with husband.  What about the corkboard idea? I was hesitant about it but thought why not? Especially since I had all of the materials...

So I took two of these Ikea corkboards.

Remnants of this Graham & Brown wallpaper from our guest bathroom.

Some yellow sewing pins from Michaels.

And leftover Benjamin Moore French Beret paint from our kitchen backsplash (this paint looks as good as the name makes it sound...).  

And turned it into this...

Taking a few steps back (literally), this is what you see when you walk in the bedroom.

And, a close-up...

I have a thing for bangles...and eiffel towers...so it's fitting that the bangles are resting on eiffel tower salt and pepper shakers :)

I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!   And more importantly it's really functional and I feel like I love all of my jewelry!

HeHe

Today's Agenda:  Getting in the Halloween spirit!  Planning to send Halloween cards out this year -- why??  Just because it's fun.  And it's hard to turn down a chance to emboss with this spider web and make some fun spooky envelope liners with these bats :) 

Speaking of spider webs...turns out the picture wall I recently painted black is also a great Wall of Horror!

I actually freak myself out a bit everytime I see one of the little rats on the floor ;)

Yes, Please

Today's Agenda:  A whole day at home to get stuff done.  Lovely!

Just like this picture...I just always get happy when I see this image.

Decor Inspiring Fashion

Today's Agenda: A little returning, a little thinking about design ideas for a couple new projects.

I had a great week last week -- had a houseguest and were ourselves houseguests!  My dad was in town from FL last week and helped my husband and I with some things around the house and with some client projects.  Then we headed to Charlottesville for the night -- what I would do to be able to live there!

Here's a glimpse of my week --

It started out with my dad asking what to pack for the week and saying how he had to make room for the lobster and mahi mahi he had caught and was bringing up from FL.  I believed him, sort of.  Sure enough, he brought the lobster tails and mahi mahi in his carry on.  Here's the delicious dinner we had with the mahi mahi.

Then, remember how my husband's bike had been stolen which meant there was a new "design element" in our house?  Well, here's the space we found for it...I feel a little bit like it might come to life at any moment but it's out of the way, easy to get out of the apartment and not in the living room.  Now, just need to paint the wall a high gloss paint that's easy to clean...for Dad's next trip :)

And, ended the week with a quick trip to AT Loft while waiting for husband.  Found these cute cords and sweater just in time for the weather to change.

 While packing for our Charlottesville trip, I was pulling out my new outfit to wear, and some flats and a scarf to go with.  I really loved the contrast of patterns and colors.  And did actually think -- I could do a room with this outfit!  And guess what would go in there?  My chair!

 

Don't you think these patterns and colors go together nicely?

And, besides topping off the weekend with good friends and great conversation, I found a new source in Charlottesville -- a well edited antiques shop, Artifacts.  Where my friend was so sweet and picked up this little book that I'm diving into and not coming back up for air it's that good.  

 

Thought it was timely given my Chiang Mai meets Ann Taylor Loft moment earlier in the weekend!