What does the back of your sofa look like?

Today's Agenda:  Working with client and electrician to hang these lights,

in this space! (this is the before picture -- everything is cleared out now except for the art on the wall)

Pretty exciting! 

So, I have two current projects that require me to take into consideration how pretty the backs of sofas are.  In addition to being just the right size, the right color, the right fabric and the right level of comfiness.  The backs of sofas have never been this critical in a project before to be honest.  But it really does matter.  And in either space there is no room for a console table to style.  The back of the sofa will just be out there on its own.  I've narrowed it down to a couple of options that will work well.

This is my set of criteria:
- Fabric that is either colorful or textured
- No seams
- A lower back so you see the rest of the room with the sofa (almost like you are looking at the front of it)
- Pretty legs that prop the sofa up just the right little bit.  

Here are some good looking backs of sofas...

 Image via Michelle Workman

Image via Angie Hranowsky

Sunday Morning Flea Market Finds

Today's Agenda:  It's nice outside for a DC summer day -- must break free from the computer and get out for a workout!

On Sundays, I like to head up to the Georgetown Flea Market in DC.  It's hit or miss, but it's always fun to use my imagination for how to use certain pieces and where to put them and nice to see familiar faces who I am getting to know and getting to know more about what they sell. 

Best part is the walk from my home over the Key Bridge to the Market.  It's a great workout with hills on both sides of the bridge and an amazing view of DC, which I still never tire of and reminds me of why I love it here. 

 Here are some of the finds at this week's market.  So many fun ideas for these pieces...

 

 Painting this white would really make it shine.

 This was a super sweet set that had one for nouns, verbs, adverbs, etc.

 Pretty lamp in an all white modern space.

 I just loved this table.  I'm a sucker for small tables and trays though...

 This was beautiful.  In a 1950s mid century home, it would be a great statement piece.

 Fantastic outdoor lights! 

 Fun organizing cart.  {I actually bought this for me to organize client work/ideas/tear pages!}

 Fun art.

 More fun art.

 Loved these chairs.  Husband loved them too.

 Kelly green!!

 A lucite stand!  What everyone one needs...no, I've actually been thinking about getting one to have in the kitchen to use as a cookbook/recipe holder. 

 Sort of cute elephant.  Weird, creepy eyes though.

Cute trays!  And there were three of them.  Great for wall art in a kitchen or dining area.

A fun way to spend a Sunday morning. 

New @ Crate & Barrel

Today's Agenda:  Present a staging plan for the sale of an amazing large 1 bedroom apartment in Dupont Circle -- anyone interested??!!

I popped into the Crate & Barrel that is just down the street from us to do a loop to see if there were any interesting floor samples and/or new pieces.  No floor samples I couldn't live without but these new items caught my eye on the showroom floor and I think would look really interesting in a home.

French Dining Table

 

 Petrie Chair

Bedford Chest

Tailor Sofa

Allerton Twin Sofa Bed

Trace Apartment Sofa

One in, One out

Today's Agenda: Post my "one out" item to Craigslist.

In my new life {post-lawyer} I am trying harder to follow the "one in, one out" method.  For example, if I buy a pair of shoes, they should replace a pair that I have which should then be donated to goodwill.   I successfully followed the one in, one out method when I purchased my full length mirror. 

But what happens when, say, just hypothetically, I go into one of those design stores that smells delicious and that you "ooh" and "aah" over the gorgeous light fixtures hanging everywhere and I stumble upon two trays/stands that are regularly $340 each in just the perfect color with a sweet pattern on the tray and now just happen to be 80% off and perfect for my newly designed dining room space.  Well, clearly, I had to {quickly} find something that they would replace!  It's a good thing I came up with something {our old bar from Crate and Barrel - sort of like this} because I wasn't sure how I was going to pass these up...

 

 

I am in the process of moving our dining room from what is technically our second bedroom into what I was using as a sitting area.  {I seem to not get enough of trying out different configurations of our furniture/rooms, which is what drew me to our open loft space in the first place -- the idea that each room could have more than one purpose and I could change it up based on our needs -- or just my need to move furniture around!} And these were just the perfect depth and height to snuggle nicely under the wall of pictures we already had up and the perfect spot for a little bar area {which can easily be transformed into a sideboard for serving food}.

 

I was able to pull a couple of lamps that I had in our bedroom that are glass and thin so they don't cover up the design on the tray -- and now they can be displayed properly. 

Then grabbed a few of the amber colored wine glasses that I didn't use in a project {but had to keep...oops}.

Edited our liquor selections and am using the perfect silver tray on loan from my mother-in-law.

Added some of my favorite napkins from West Elm.

And a few toothpicks and cocktail straws resting in two of my glasses from last year's Rountop market in Texas.

And, now, I have my perfect new bar area {view from the kitchen}!

{View of entire dining room - which is to the right of this area - to come soon once I'm a little bit more mobile and move my computer and printer back upstairs to the office!}

Before and After: Updated Rolling Drawer File!

Today's Agenda:  Organizing the office a bit. You know, trying to keep the stamps, embossers, colored pencils, tracing paper all in a check. Pretty fun, when I think about it!  

Over the weekend I mentioned I was rearranging/reorganizing. Well, I did and I'm pretty happy with how things are turning out -- full pictures soon, I promise!

I'm working with one of my smaller (literally) projects today.  I have had this red metal drawer system for years now. 

It was one of my earlier Ikea purchases and they used to be close to $80 but I found it in the "As Is" section for only $50.  I was psyched (and clearly remember this from maybe 7 years ago!).  It is a really functional piece -- fits full 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of paper so you could have each drawer be a different type of paper.  It also fits shallow bowls/organizing trays so you could also use it to organize binders, clips, pens, etc.

But our upstairs loft is black/white/yellow/gray.   And while I tried to just ignore the red and put it under the desk or in the corner, it was a shame because it wasn't as functional and then it just looked like I had stuffed things away! 

No longer! I thought about spray painting it a white, yellow, black or gray.  But THEN thought about chalkboard paint! 

There isn't a ton of room to take advantage of its chalkboardness but it is a great, stylish way to label each drawer instead of a label (which just ends up being crooked or not exactly right).  Bonus is that husband can now find all of our stuff a little bit easier!.  And if I reorganize or repurpose, I can just erase the label and not have to worry about taking off any sticky residue from a label.  

This project is easy and inexpensive.  Here is what I did:

1.  Lightly sand the metal surface and wipe with a wet rag.  Dry the surface.

2.  Lay a drop cloth down and if you are spraying near other items or over a railing I would prop up a large piece of cardboard over the item or railing to keep the spray from getting on it (it does tend to have a far misty reach!!)

3.  Spray the paint in even strokes with a pretty quick tempo so that it doesn't gather in one place. 

4.  Let dry fully for 24 hours before using it -- just to be safe!

I used the Rust-Oleum Chalkboard Spray Paint in Black (but you could do green as well!). 

Why Am I Being Drawn to This Color?

Today's Agenda:  Figure out why I was drawn to this vintage pink color during my recent sourcing trips!  I mean, it just called out to me! If only I had an extra room to decorate...

I do realize that this color could go terribly wrong -- a little too retro or too sherberty (if that's a word...).  But it could be just the right amount of happiness in a room or that perfect Palm Beach pink effect.  

Here are the inspiration items I saw during my outlet/bargain hunting trips to Leesburg Outlets and Marshalls this week...

Fluffy bathmat from Restoration Hardware outlet ($14.99)

Picture frames from Marshalls (from $5.99) High-gloss bookshelf from Pottery Barn Outlet

Coverlet from Marshalls ($29.99)

I loved all of these!  Though, I think alone (and when looking at multiple pics of the same pink/salmon color -- if only this color had a different name for it!) it can be too much...but think about this color with other colors, textures and patterns...it could be really beautiful and fun.

I just happened to see some of those different colors, textures and patterns while I was out.  Let's see what I can come up with from what I saw on my recent sourcing trips...

 

What about navy + white + pink/salmon + gray?

  A navy greek key bed skirt...(also the best deal I saw at Leesburg Outlets for $14.99 instead of $129!)

....With the bookshelf next to the bed...

...With this gorgeous gray lamp on the bookshelf...

 

Just add some fluffy white linens for the bed + silver picture frames on the bookshelf + books covered with white textured paper and labeled with calligraphy stacked on the bookshelf...

Or how about a forest green + pink/salmon + hints of black & gold?

A luxe forest green bar stool...

...With the pink/salmon frames with black and white pictures in each on a glass shelf...

  ...With this silverware...

Pull up the barstools to a white marble island + square clear glass plates + vintage wine goblets + glass shelves to place the frames on

Or a striking combination of pink/salmon + black + white?

A beautiful cane-backed high gloss bed frame...

...with this coverlet...

...with this storage bench at the end of the bed...

...With these picture frames on the wall...

Add white embroidered shams + colorful picture in the frame + sisal rug + Parisian chandelier

Or with stainless steel and a vintage worn brown leather?

A classic stainless steel medicine cabinet...

...with a nice and worn round brown ottoman...

...and the pink/peach fluffy rug!

Just add a long white marble vanity with two sinks + two stainless steel cabinets + two pink/peach rugs + the brown ottoman to lay your spa robe on in the fabulous dressing area!