Closet Overhaul

It's all fine and good to clean out your closet. I've done it more times than I care to count. But what about turning you closet into something different altogether? Real Simple featured three closets that did just that...

If you can't use bright, funky wallpaper in a closet, you can't use it anywhere! What a perfect little work nook, complete with DIY wrapping paper storage and a light drape to hide it away when guests come!

I can't get enough of book nooks. What a charming alternative to a library! I love the step ladder that folds into a little reading chair.

And I've been spending all of this time looking for a small table on which to perch a bar, when all I needed was an empty closet. Okay, there is a touch of sarcasm there, because I don't have any empty closets with which to recreate any of these transformations, but I won't be living in my apartment forever, and these are lovely transformations, indeed. I love how they mirrored the closet to make it appear huge! Also, a lot of the drawers and such came from IKEA. Great storage, low price!

Superbed

Lately, I've been seeing headboards paired with canopy beds everywhere! It's amazing how trends pop up so suddenly and then, Poof!, they're replaced with something else. Observe:

I spied this one in one of my magazines not too long ago. Great mix of modern and vintage.

Then, last month, I saw this one in Elle Decor, and a few pages later there was...

... this one! Love 'em both. I also like the two nightstands used in the photo above. Very creative.

Shaded Chandeliers

I need to inject a little bit of pretty into my day. I've been eyeing chandeliers with shades for a while. I love the look. It's cool and modern. Maybe I'll get one. Like the simple Rittenhouse Chandelier that we carry at the store. Nice and neutral. Interesting shape. It's a winner.

Rittenhouse Fabric Pendant at High Fashion Home, $599.

I like how these chandeliers are all of the sparkle this restaurant needs. Everything else is simple and neutral.

I cannot remember where I found this one, but it's striking having the shaded chandelier in a virtually outdoor setting. P.S. Love the little bar set up at the bottom of the photo!

In My Mailbox

Whoever does the styling for Anthropologie is a sartorial genius! Every issue of the catalog is such a great source of inspiration for me, and this month's was no exception. Some very lovely things caught my eye...

Bespeckled tights for chilly days on page 27...

A vibrantly colored rug on page 24...

Plates to bring out your inner Picasso on page 21...

Perfectly ladylike boots with a bow on page 6...

Thank you, Anthropologie. I had an inspiring morning!

These Boots Were Made For Walkin'

I've been on the search for a tall flat boot practically since I came to be. The day after I started walking was when I started looking for that boot. Needless to say, it's been a long, tough road. This year, I am determined to find that perfect pair.

I like the distressing on these Vintage Tall Roadster Boots from J. Crew, but I wish it had a couple more buckles to make things interesting.

The Thebna Boot from Nine West has the details I desire, but I'm not sure I'm sold on the color.

I absolutely LOVE this boot from Chloe. Refined gold buckle, great leather, cool heel, but $1,100?! I'd prefer to stay married, thankyouverymuch.

Another classic boot, this time the Isabelline Riding Boot by Ralph Lauren, but it's a bit too classic for my taste. Oh, and it's close to $1000, too. Let's see... Boots or food for two months?

These Jenny Boots from Piperlime are a close competitor. I like the style and the buckles and the color, but I wish they were more distressed.

I think I found a winner! They Cranberry Bog Boots from Anthropologie are nicely worn in (but not worn out). The color is nice and neutral but interesting. The toggle makes for a cool detail. They'd look fantastic with jeans. And the price? I won't be buying them for myself, but maybe I'll put them on my Christmas list. And if I don't get them, I know what I'll be writing about next year!

Furniture vs. Fashion: Naptime

We spent one-third of our lives in bed, so surely the piece of furniture on which we rest says something about us. And wouldn't you know it, a bed screams your style as much as, well, you.

Call me crazy, but I fell in love with this simple silhouette as soon as it arrived in our store. The Paul Bed is a perfectly tailored shape paired with a luxurious fabric, and that equals simple style. And who else knows simple? Calvin Klein, hands down. I also love Doo.Ri's elegant, simple shift.

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Ever long to be from another time? Remember the days when ladies dressed up to do errands? Behnaz Sarafpour and Rachel Roy do. And Anthropologie is making antique style new again with their Italian Campaign Canopy Bed. Bellissima.

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Nothing Martha Stewart does is ever sloppy. She is the Queen of Put-Together and the Irvington Nickel Bed is no exception. The same is true of Michael Kors (King of the Jet-Setters) and Ralph Lauren (King of the Ivy Leaguers).

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Just because you're a girl doesn't mean you want to parade around in ruffles and flowers all the time. Masculine touches counter your sweet temperament. Casamidy's Altavista Leather Headboard is just the right amount of masculine with woven leather in a boxy shape. For your wardrobe, there's a leather trench from 3.1 Phillip Lim or a trendier boyfriend jacket from Antonio Berardi.

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Or perhaps you shun all things manly, preferring to look the part of the girly-girl you are. Hey, it's your life. In that case, I'd curl up on the Helena Bed from Oly Studio with its carved, whitewashed wood frame, raffia upholstery, and antiqued nailheads. Throw on, what else?, a dress from Derek Lam or Christopher Kane and take on the world.

Low Rider

I always like an easy-to-duplicate look, and this one is no exception...

The low shelf makes the ceilings seem sky-high-er. I'd love to place some large framed pieces along that ledge. Photo via Coco + Kelley.

I like how the ledge is a continuation of one of the bookshelves. I'll be keeping this photo handy for the future. Photo via Apartment Therapy.

Since I'm always in favor of the DIY option, I might pick up a few shelves from IKEA and get to work! The Lack wall shelf comes in sizes from to 12" to 75", so it can fit into a wide range of spaces.

Good Books

Apartment Therapy is holding a Design Showcase, and the above photo is the Good Books Shelf by Jason Neufeld. I really love this design. Incredibly simple, yet stunning. Another lovely item to put in my inspiration book for when the Mister and I get a house. It'll be happening sooner than I originally thought and the thought of it makes my stomach turn slightly!

Shakespeare in Love

First there was this:

Lines from A Midsummer Night's Dream was transplanted onto wallpaper by Tracy Kendall. (P.S. It's now sold at Anthropologie for $698 per roll. Pricey, yes, but it's all handstitched.)

Then I ran into this while perusing Apartment Therapy:

The entire script to Romeo and Juliet is printed on these sheets. Unfortunately, they're no longer available as Caban, the former home division to Club Monaco (which I <3),>

Inbox Love

I get a ton of junk mail. My morning routine includes hitting the delete button about 50 times because I HATE having mail stack up in my inbox. Something made me open this email and when I did, I was happy. Look at what I found!

Zipper Pencil Skirt, $89

It's RACHEL Rachel Roy, a bridge line of very cool, reasonably priced designer duds! I am in big trouble...

Transfourmer Coat, $189

Nothing will ship until early October, but think of it this way: When it arrives, it'll feel like an unexpected present!

Short Sleeve Corset Dress, $99

I think this is my favorite. It's sexy, but not grotesque. It'd be perfect for a fashionista party!

One Shoulder Dress, $109

Seriously! All of the prices are SO GOOD! The most expensive thing is $249 for a leather jacket. Not. Too. Shabby.

Chains Blazer, $149

Tres Balmain without the exorbitant price tag. Well played. Anyways, you can get your hands on this stuff at RachelRoy.com or Macy's. So, um, hop to it!

It's Serendipity!

I love it when I stumble upon something amazing completely unexpectedly. I've always loved the work of Hella Jongerius. Every time I find something new from her, I get so ridiculously excited. Well, this is one of those times.

Layers by Hella Jongerius for Maharam

While looking for a fabric, I found that she collaborated with Maharam to create the MOST AWESOME FABRIC EVER! Yes, all of those capital letters were essential.

Layers in Ash/Quartz/Grass

Then I saw it made up in an ottoman, and I MUST HAVE IT!

Layers in Earth/Chocolate/Coral

Then, I popped over to Moss to, again, look for the fabric that brought me on this search, and what did I see?

A Nike shoe MADE FROM LAYERS!!! This day is too good to be true.

Getting Dress-ed

I'm obsessed with finding cute dresses right now. (Oddly, I wasn't obsessed with it at the beginning of the summer, which is prime dress season!) There's the "Throw-it-on-and-go" appeal, and also the "Looking-dressy-with-little-effort" aspect. My main qualifications are as follows: 1. It must be comfortable 2. It must look dressier than it is 3. It must have sleeves because with the A/C on full blast everywhere you go, it can get a bit chilly here. Here are my finds for every occasion:

For shopping in the Heights: This dress is the perfect mixture of boho and polish. Silk Paisley Dress in True Navy, $98 @ Banana Republic.

For a fancy dinner (or for one of the thousand weddings coming up!): J. Crew has the BEST chic cocktail dresses for good prices. I bought a black strapless number a few years ago and it has served me well, but I keep ogling this adorable wrap dress. Fun fact: I let my bridesmaids pick out their own J. Crew dresses for my wedding and big sis was thisclose to getting this one, but, alas, when she went to order it, they didn't have her size in stock! Boo. Okay, that was a lot of commentary for one dress, but, what can I say? I really like it. Silk Taffeta Ruffle Wrap Dress in Light Pewter, $175 @ J. Crew.

For days when I'm feeling particularly High-Fashion-y: I love mixing prints on dresses. It makes me look creative, even if I'm not. Orpheous Dress in Orange Multi, $1,395 by Duro Olowu @ Barneys Co-op.

For work: Simple is always practical for work and the sash flatters waists. Button Duo Dress in Blue, $168 @ Anthropologie.

For a party! Dare I say, this is my favorite? For one, it looks incredibly comfortable and universally flattering. Also, the chain detail is awesomely tough because I'm a closeted biker chick. Bowery Dress in Shadow, $595 by Catherine Malandrino @ ShopBop.

Art Education: Group Therapy

If you, like me, aren't fortunate enough to be able to walk into an art gallery and purchase a large $10,000 painting for your home, then consider the inspirations below your Fairy Artmother. I have lots of little things framed all over my house- drawings by friends, wedding photos, and several attempts at needlework- but I am stumped as to how to arrange them. Now I have ideas for every room...

Going up the stairs...


Over the sofa...

In the Hallway...

Over my desk...

Around the fireplace...

In the dining room...

Over a table...

In the bedroom...

In the bathroom!

*all photos via Domino

Art Education: Working with Patterns

Part of what I love about wallpaper is that it can negate the need for art. It can be visually dynamic enough to run the whole show. That said, some well=placed clusters of art on a busy, patterned wall can look fantastic.

It's important to start with a strong base. In the photo above, the black-framed pieces provide a base on which the other pieces can build.

The pattern of the wallpaper is also important. All of these are relatively small prints. Small frames would get lost in a larger print.

I think the most important factor is unity. There has to be some unifying characteristic in the art. This is perfect, because the frames are all the same and the color red unites the entire room.

I also like how the placement of the art seems intentional, but also somewhat random. They aren't placed in a perfect square or rectangle. Some stick out at the bottom and some are placed farther apart that others. In this photo, it even seems to incorporate the sconce and the intercom.

The first photo is via Vogue, and the rest are via Domino.

Chemistry Cocktail Madness!

Chemistry Cocktail Set, $33.95.

This incredible endeavor began in mid-March, when we officially ran out-of-stock on our Chemistry Cocktail Set. It's our best selling item online, and customers have been placing special orders by the dozens since then. Our original ETA was suppose to be in early April. Then it was late April. Late April turned into May, June, and finally late July.

So fate has it that the day our truck was suppose to arrive, the delivery gets delayed to the late afternoon. Which happens to be just in time for a torrential downpour the likes we haven't seen since Hurricane Ike came roaring through. We have video to prove our harrowing tale:

Part 1:

And to prove how committed we are to our customer's happiness, our staff braved the weather to help unload our big shipment of Chemistry Cocktail Sets (broken toes and all). We managed to unload, package, and ship out over 30 sets in less than an hour. Our systems aren't exactly automated. We have to actually put a lot of manual labor with a splash of TLC to get these orders processed.

Part 2:

Now, we are fully stocked with enough inventory to hopefully last a while. We try to price our items lower than our competitors. Anytime we can sell an item like the Sun and Moon Jar for almost half the price at Target, you know you are doing a good job saving your customers money. And that is a recipe for a happy ending.

Getting It Together

Just because it says "Assembly Required" doesn't mean you should run the other way. Ikea built a whole business on that principle, but this is not Ikea. The Cuppa end table, by Vincent Reardon, arrives in a single shipping tube, and transforms into a cool, magazine holding, modern end table. Simple and easy.

So Charming

Pile it on! Get your hands on them at Generate Design

It's about time! I can't think of a more perfect designer to create dainty 18 karat gold charms than the legendary Tord Boontje! Here's the cool part- the charms are packaged in three's. Once they're in your greedy little hands, you can do anything you desire with them. Turn them into earrings, get all four sets and make a killer necklace, or just wear one at a time. And, at only $39 per set, they make a great gift for that design junkie friend of yours (i.e. me).

From left: Package One, Three, Four, and Two and a stylish serving suggestion.

This is more my style. Package Two is my favorite. The deer reminds me of the ones I see on morning runs when the weather is cooler.

This is NOT Your Church's Stained Glass

I've spotted a couple of cool, geometric stained glass inspirations lately that I thought I could share with you. What do you think? Tres chic or am I off my rocker?

I found this one in Lucky magazine. It's a surf shop in San Francisco called Mollusk (love the name, too). I love how the arches cut through the window panes. Very cool.

I found this one over at Coco+Kelley (love to read that blog!). The colors could go kinda 70's (not that that would be a bad thing), but the mostly white interior keeps it fresh and modern.

Technology Bites

Sihna-Stanic Spring 2009 Show... Even the backdrop is pixelated!

Is low-res the new high fashion? Pixelated patterns are everywhere and, if you ask me, the geometry is so sweet.

Casly Tank by Miss Sixty (via Lucky's April 09 issue)

Pixelated patriotism at the BET Inauguration Ball.

Mike & Maaike "Stolen Jewels" (Read about their process... it's wicked!)

Rug designed by ADAM by Adam Lippes for the Fashion Underfoot Collection @ Elson & Company.

Is it just me, or is Dries Van Noten always on point?

A Beautiful Monday

Nothing like a dose of inspiration to get your week going. I spied these Lizzie Thomas pop-ups in a magazine and was instantly smitten! Imagine the skill and patience that went into creating these miniatures worlds of wood and paper. I think I'm in love...

Hidden Winter, £315

Hidden Forest, £315

Hidden Etching, £350

Hidden Autumn, £315

Hand Written

You know that feeling when you get a handwritten note in the mail? It feels good, like someone took that little bit of extra time to say hello. Handwriting is undeniably warmer than the cold text of Times New Roman. That's why I love the ways that designers are incorporating handwriting into their pieces...

Shakespeare gets ushered into a new medium- wallpaper! By Tracy Kendall.

If rugs could talk, I imagine they wouldn't appreciate being walked all over. Negative Rug by Kasthall.

Shabby chic tea time... by Claire Coles.

A Touch of Goth

I figure anytime a new Twilight trailer comes out, people will embrace their inner vampire and goth it up a bit. I'm liking the loads of black lace in fashion and design right now. It's just enough to make Edward Cullen do a double-take...

...Especially if you were sporting Stella McCartney like Liv Tyler at the Time 100 or Kate Bosworth at the Met Ball!

Now, that's what one would call "Sex on Legs". Lace Stilettos by Coppelia Pique.

Goth for beginners: Free People "Lacey Insert Blouse", $98 at 80's Purple.

Throw a midnight party with this as the centerpiece. Come Rain, Come Shine Chandelier in Black by Tord Boontje.

Chanel always nails the look... even for Spring.

Add a dash of goth to your packages with Lace Tape in black, $10 at Matter.

Got Storage?

If you're anything like me, you have a lot of, for lack of a better term, crap hanging around. This is probably the chief complaint my husband has with our small, one-bedroom apartment. I have too much stuff and not enough places to hide it all. That's why I find myself dreaming of these cabinets that I pulled from an issue of Domino...

Literally, a place for everything! Store the kids' stuff on the lower shelves. Leave some door-less to display your good-lookin' books and knick-knacks. Then, when the threat of visitors looms, hide it all behind closed doors. I think my favorite thing about this is that the family made this themselves! Now, that's impressive. I'll be sure to add this to the honey-do list...

Tiers of Joy!

Ruffles and Summer go together like me and Starbucks: best of friends. Ever since I blogged about this jacket from Anthropologie...

...back in January, I've been hooked on tiered sleeves. Since then, it seems like I've seen them all over the place.

For instance, Daniella whipped up this tiered coat for The Fashion Show (I am hooked.)...

Then, I spied this Moschino trench within the pages of Marie Claire...

What a shame! It's 2900 bucks. Oh well, scrap that one. I also spied this Anna Sui jacket with little mini ruffled sleeved at ShopBop.

On sale for $300?! Still pricey, but more my speed.

Please, oh please, say that tiers are here to stay!

Mood Lighting

I love nothing more than to sit on a back patio with a chilled glass of Riesling and a plate of cheese and fruit and chat with friends and family until the mosquitoes chase us indoors. Sometimes, when the weather is cool enough, the mosquitoes don't make an appearance and we can hang out well into the night. That's when I would want a setup like the one above (from a Grange ad). Strands of fairy lights and mismatched paper lanterns are such a better alternative to tiki torches and citronella candles.

Since Martha Stewart could never leave anything plain, hers have pretty paper butterflies affixed. I like these for a sweet outdoor chandelier at a dinner party.

The Nuevo Star lanterns have a little more punch and I love them in small doses. I would have never thought to place one in front of a cabinet/bar, but it's cute and quirky! BTW: We carry these at the store in lots of vibrant colors!

This Is What Heaven Looks Like...

via Elle Decor May '09

I recently uploaded some new finds to the Rooms We Love section (to your right!), and was particularly fond of these two finds. Okay, "fond" is an understatement. I think they're heavenly. I love how to bed above combines modern and vintage so literally. The mismatched nightstands are the perfect complement to the traditional/modern/eclectic style.

via Domino's final issue :(

I've been salivating over this photo for a while. I absolutely love the drapes! They add softness to the windows without blocking the light, and the calm neutral fabric doesn't overpower the rest of the peaceful room. The cowhide stool add a touch of rustic cool to the traditional (with funky, modern pillows) settee. I don't know what your version of Heaven looks like, but this is mine!

P.S. Happy 30th Birthday, hubby! I love you!

One!

I stored these images a while ago, but for whatever reason, I am only now coming back to them. These are photographs of the home of Lee Radziwill in the April '09 issue of Elle Decor.

I wrote a similar blog about using one pattern in a room, but that was one room in a house and these are multiple single-patterned rooms within one house! On the one hand, it's a little traditional for my taste (But for someone born in 1933, that's to be expected.), but on the other hand, it works. The patterns are busy, but not gaudy. They grab your eye and lead it around the room. I think they're stunning. Who's with me?

Open Sesame!

I was totally inspired by this page from Traditional Home! My main complaint about my small apartment is that it literally has no entryway of which to speak. Insanity, I tell you! Someday, I'll get my hands on a spacious entryway and jazz it up my way. My first step will be to wallpaper it in a vivacious, colorful print!

This one feels very gardenish to me, but not quite in the literal sense. The walls are floral, yes, but the legs on the table add an organic, surreal quality. From House Beautiful.

I just noticed that the wallpaper picks up the teal tile below. What a prime example of exploding pattern into a small space. From Domino: The Book of Decorating.

How hard is it to pull off neon wallpaper in a home? I don't really know. But this works. All subsequent photos from Domino.

Compared to some of these entryways, this one almost seems tame, but there's just enough pattern to not make it just another house.

I love the very thrown together quality of this. The geometric paper is very precise and linear, while to stacks of magazines muss it up just enough.

I would use elements of this in my own decorating, like the shabby chair. It's a very rustic, eclectic look.

I love that she used the pattern on three walls instead of the usual two. I really grabs your attention!

And then you see this and it commands your attention! Although this feels a bit clubby to me, it is a very cool look and the other elements in the room are subdued enough to keep it from going off the deep end.

This one is so sweet and serene. The pattern isn't overwhelming, keeping the spaces light and airy, but saving it from being blah.

Cool Nurseries! (Is That An Oxymoron?)

First of all, let me preface this blog by saying that I am neither pregnant, nor intend to be in the near future. I say this for the sake of my mom and sisters who faithfully read this blog.

While perusing through pictures pulled from the Domino website before they took it down (still upset about that, by the way. Sniff!), I noticed a lot of really cool nurseries. As in, I would decorate my adult bedroom the way they decorated their kids' room. Each photo had its own little inspiration...

The very pale aqua offsets the awesome wallpapered ceiling wonderfully. What a novel idea! Wallpaper on the ceiling!

These ebony-stained wood walls are breathtaking! And not a pastel in sight!

If I was to do pink, this is how I want to do it- fiery, in your face, unapologetic! That Amanda Peet sure does have style...

I like this one solely for its space saving ideas. The fuzzy throw rug is fun, too!

Obviously, I'm on a linen kick lately (see my last blog!) Wrinkly linen drapes are pretty for baby.

I love the idea of using a blown up picture of the kids as their own work of art. The fairy light chandelier is a playful light fixture.

Flip-Flopping

Well, the weather is officially getting warm, which means only one thing: It's time to break out the flip-flops! To be honest, I pretty much wear them year-round. It doesn't get very cold here and they're oh-so-comfy. The only difference is that now, people don't tell me I'm going to get frostbite.

In hot climates, flip-flops are the go-to shoe. You need them for day, night, weekend, casual, dressy, you name it. I absolutely live in them! I've been scouting out new pairs to add to my collection...

Here are my top picks, some realistic, some only in my dreams!

Row One: Loeffler Randall "Sydney" in Dark Navy, $450 at Barney's Co-op; Tory Burch "Logo Flat Thong" in Hibiscus Pink, $195 at Neiman Marcus; Bandolino "Claribell" in Dark Green, $59.

Row Two: Por la Victoire "Ella" in Rose, $215 at Piperlime; J. Crew "Dauphine" in Neon Yellow, $88; Old Navy "Beaded Thong Sandals" in Multi, $14.50.

World's Most Stunning Skylines: FT

Guess who is on the list? Houston.

If you are like me, I have a great affinity for downtown skylines. Some people prefer great parks or beautiful ocean views. I happen to enjoy staring out onto towering concrete and steel structures. The Forbes Traveler came up with a list of world's most stunning city skylines. Check out eight of the great urban silhouettes.



Chicago: From modern skyscrapers like the John Hancock Center and the Sears Tower—the world’s tallest high-rise building for more than 23 years ending in 1997—to earlier icons such as the 1895 Reliance Tower and 463-foot-tall Chicago Tribune Tower, completed in 1925, Chicago boasts a skyline of monumental proportions.


Sydney: More people recognize the glorious Sydney Opera House than have probably ever been to an opera.


Dubai: It was clear with the erection of the 1,053-foot-tall Burj al Arab Hotel in 1999 that the sheikdom of Dubai was bent on stealing the global skyline spotlight. Lest there be any doubt, consider that this year Dubai will be home to the tallest skyscraper in the world: the 1,900-foot Burj Dubai tower.


Seattle: Seattle’s location between Puget Sound and Lake Washington lends an impressive backdrop to its central skyline, of which the Space Needle has been the most recognizable feature since its completion in 1962.


Paris: It’s an absence of skyscrapers that defines the French capital’s skyline (with no usable surfaces, the Eiffel Tower doesn’t count). Thanks to its concentration of historic slate gray-roofed six and seven-story buildings, many of which date from the mid-19th century and before, Paris has a remarkably uniform skyline for a city of its size.



London: London’s Parliament and Big Ben “were skyscrapers in their time,” say architects Peter Stamberg and Paul Aferiat. “And today London has some amazing modern buildings, such as The London Eye and the Norman Foster-designed ‘Gherkin’ building, which looks like a giant pickle.


Houston: “Houston has the Transco Tower and also Pennzoil Place, two towers that kiss,” say New York architects Peter Stamberg and Paul Aferiat, “and all three are Philip Johnson buildings.”


Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh has one of America’s great unsung skylines.

Across the Threshold

Doorways are, in general, a spectacular disappointment. I mean, they're usually quite boring- off-white trim, standard molding, blah, blah, blah. That's why I've fallen in love with the two looks below. They've taken an area that most people neglect, and given it purpose. They've made it the focal point. Doorways across the world, rejoice. You have a calling.

via House Beautiful


via Elle Decor

Green Roofs in NYC: Inhabitat

The Next Big Architecture Trend...

We looked at doing a green roof for High Fashion Home. It's not in the budget currently, but it's definitely in the cards when our roof needs to be replaced. A green roof helps reduce maintenance and energy costs, provides sound insulation and amenity space, and improves air quality.

Ten Arquitectos is designing a mixed use project called Clinton Park, which will incorporate an elaborate green roof design. New York is an incredibly dense city, so any additional green space helps soften their urban grid. In case you never been to the NYC in the summer, it's pretty hot with all the concrete trapping the heat.

Check out the spectactular pictures courtesy of Inhabitat:

Every city is looking to add more green space.

The green roof adds a different dimension to the usual urban skyline.

The step down architectural feature adds to the drama.

Sweep Me Off To Paris!

via Elle Decor

Something about a summer in Paris is really appealing to me right now. Maybe it's the dreary, rainy weather we're having in Houston. Maybe it's the small and architecture-free apartment I've been in for close to two years. Maybe it's the constant reminder of our declining economy from TV to radio and magazines that's finally getting me down. Either way, I need a vacation, and a trip to Paris would be just lover-ly.

via Domino

Of course, that involves quite a bit of funding that I just don't have at the moment. I'll have to make do with these Parisian (and faux- Parisian) interiors which are tickling my French fancy.

via Domino

Apparently, the ingredients for a Parisian interior are as follows: 3 parts chevron patterned wooden floor, 1 part ornate fireplace with large mirror overhead, 2 parts French doors with balcony and iron railing, 1 part simple floor-to-ceiling drapes. Voila!

via Domino

Until I can cross the pond and get over there, I'll be dreaming of French architecture, French fashion, and (my favorite) French crepes! Au revoir!

Window Treatment

My husband and I are soon to begin a few home improvement projects to spruce up the apartment, and it's got me thinking about drapes. We attended a wedding in Acapulco this weekend and the look of sheer drapes on the balcony overlooking the ocean was breathtaking.


Alas, no ocean which we can overlook at the apartment. Something along the lines of these could be beautiful when we open up the sliding glass doors on a cool Spring day...

via Domino

Though we don't really have the ceilings to pull off a look this dramatic. Maybe something a little more Parisian?

via Domino

Gorgeous, no? But unfortunately, we use our balcony too much to block it off with a daybed. Though it is glamorous. I can just imagine laying out in front of the window with a good book and a mojito. I think I've found my solution...

via House Beautiful

The perfect combination of airy, simple, but with an interesting detail. Love it! Now I just have to pick out my fabrics and get to work!

COLOR! Part Two!

Here we go again! More brights paired with the fashion and home pieces they inspired. I hope you enjoy!

The new V-neck sweater in Mineral Green, $39 @ Gap and Medina Glass Jars, $14-49 @ West Elm.

Slub Silk Penelope Dress in Sweet Lavender, $285 @ J. Crew and Zia Bed Linens, $199-219 @ Crate & Barrel.

Tiered Dress by MINT Jodi Arnold and Andy Warhol Butterfly Appetizer Plate, $1 @ CB2.

Twist Ribbed Tank in Aqua Mint, $24 @ Banana Republic and Effervescent Chandelier, $1998 @ Anthropologie.

Rachael Cover-Up by Diane von Furstenberg, $325 @ ShopBop and Bridget Rug in Blue, $129-519 @ Pottery Barn.

A Little Escape

Growing up, I was always a little jealous of my older sister because she had a window seat. I love window seats. They're so cozy and warm and away from everything else. My dream house will definintely have a window seat or two. I put together this little collection of ones that inspire me, so that you can, hopefully, get inspired as well!

An absence of shades lets the light pour in. This photo and the next three via Domino.

An intimate little nook in which to have a cup of tea on a rainy day.

Even though it's out of the way, the shelves are still accessorized daintily.

Bright white allows for statement pillows.

Technically not a window seat, but a clever use of space nonetheless. This photo and the next via PointClickHome.

Keep plenty of reading material close at hand.

A rustic and homey place to rest. This photo and the next via House Beautiful.

This one might just be my favorite. A tiny little nook for bites to eat and good conversation.

Brilliant Book of the Week: uh-oh Domino!

Yay for the new Domino: Book of Decorating!! I bought it for Sarah's birthday and now I want one for moi. Oh well. I can't rave about this book enough.

Check it out!

"Domino: The Book of Decorating," by Deborah Needleman, Sara Ruffin Costello, and Dara Caponigro.

First of all, it's hard enough finding decorating books that present their ideas in an organized way. The editors of Domino magazine have done a fabulous job laying this book out by rooms and how to go about decorating spaces no matter how big or small.

I especially love the first chapter because it helps light a fire under your toush. As a design student, our professors always tell us we can't dive right into a project--we have to plan and organize how we are going to execute the big picture. Finding inspiration, deciding your style, determining how the room is used, what items you'll need to keep, drawing a floor plan, planning on a budget, doing research, and last, but not least, starting the room you want to decorate. There's much more to decorating than picking out paint swatches and light fixtures, as you can see.

So, if you'd like to add a book to your library that gives great tips and looks good on your coffee table, then I'd hit the bookstore and get it hot off the press!!

Happy Reading!

Getting My Hooks In

Photo from Domino

In my ongoing closet revamping project for the new year, I wanted to cover a blank wall in an eclectic variety of hooks to hang incidentals like hats, jewelry, and the occasional pair of jeans. The picture above is my inspiration. All that is left is to buy the hooks and install them. Here are some of my favorite hardware choices:

Row One: My Best China Hook at Anthropologie, $18; Dragonfly Patina Hook at Restoration Hardware, $14; Coral Hook at Anthropologie, $18.

Row Two: Carat Wall Hook at Anthropologie, $18; Flyaway Hook at Anthropologie, $24; Black & White Wall Hook at Anthopologie, $18.

Row Three: Letter Hooks at Anthropologie (These would be really cute in a kid's room or entryway spelling a name or word!), $16; Traditional Amber Glass Hook at Restoration Hardware, $24; Branch Hanger at Container Store, $20.

Wrap Star

Perfect wrapping is a snap. Heidi offers everything you need in one package for your package. It's impossible to mess up! My favorite part is the ombre ribbon.

I know, I know... It's what's on the inside that counts, right? But nice wrapping never hurts either! Part of the fun of giving gifts is making the wrapping cool and artistic- a package that the receiver almost doesn't want to open because it's so pretty. It all starts with the right paper, and you can't go wrong with these:

Inject a little street cred into your wrapping with Monster Doodle paper by Jon Burgerman at Nineteen Seventy Three.

For the "Oh crap! I forgot to wrap your present" moment. Though, you'd better know someone in the UK if you want this, because they don't yet ship to the US. Wavy Stripe Shoe Box by Paperchase.

This would really pop with a bright red ribbon tied around it! Baubles in Blu by Pikku.

For a gift with a side of cheek. You're Welcome by Fish Lips at Verde Paperie.

I love mixing different colors of the same pattern when there are multiple boxes. Play by Eieio Studio.

Now that you have the paper, what do you do with it? Count on Kate's Paperie to tutor you in the art of gift wrap. Now go forth and wrap!

Resolution: Organize

My goal? Not quite, but it is a beauty! Photos via Domino unless otherwise noted.

Who hasn't let out a sigh of frustration at the sight of their closet? I recently took a look at the state of mine and wanted to throw everything out and start over! Though on my budget, that's not an option. Since adding all of my new husband's clothes to my large, but full, closet, we haven't done any organizing. But now it's a new year, and I am determined to make the time. Often, we have an idea of what we'd like the end result to be: A copy of the impossibly perfect closets we see in Martha Stewart Living, but usually I can't get there because I piddle out halfway through the process lacking the necessary inspiration and direction. This time, though, I'm going in with a game plan with a little help from the masters: Domino, House Beautiful, and Martha Stewart.

A mirror or framed picture can spruce up an otherwise bland space.

Step One: Where to begin? House Beautiful had a great tip for that question (and a fantastic article that must be read in full): "Ask yourself: If all of this were gone tomorrow, what would I miss?" Refer to that answer as you clean out the overworn, the ill-fitting, and the uncomfortable pieces. It amazes me that I probably only wear about one-third of the things I own. Every time I purge I still hang on to some things that should have been donated ages ago. With that thought in mind, I can get rid of the things that are just taking up valuable space and make room for some shiny, new things I'll really wear!

Labelled baskets are a closet's best friend!

Step Two: Prepare for the New! Out with the old, in with the new, but not before the closet is prepped and ready for some much needed additions. This is the part where you get inspiration from photos and magazines! I've come up with a few goals I'd like to accomplish: First, to add shelving to the floor space for our shoes and boots. They're closer to my feet that way and easier to see, as opposed to using the over the door rack I have now. Second, I want to use baskets on the top shelf to group items like purses, gloves, hats, etc. keeping them out of sight. Third, I want to remove the extra rod we have and install several hooks to hang belts and bags. Martha Stewart has an article on her website that gives lots more great closet outfitting ideas.

Utilize floor space, because what else will you do with it?

Step Three: Get what you need. For this task, I took some guidance from The Lucky Shopping Manual, tailoring it to my needs. For instance, my job does not require me to wear suits, and I rarely don a cocktail dress, but I do need lots of comfortable flats and dressy jeans. Take a look at what you have and fill in the blanks, but be tough. Don't just buy something to fill a wardrobe hole. Buy it because it looks good on you and makes you feel great. Of course, this can't get done in one weekend. It's an ongoing process. Keeping a list of your needed items handy will make shopping easier when you can get around to it.

The shoes! Oh! The shoes!

Step Four: Organize what you have. Everyone agrees: group your clothes by item, season, and color. My husband's side will be a breeze. Dress shirts, sweaters, slacks, jackets. My wardrobe will pose more of a challenge. I figure I'll begin by separating by season, then item, then arranging by color. I love the look of a color organized closet!

A good wardrobe doesn't have to be big, just versatile.

Step Five: Maintain it! All that hard work will be for naught if I let it fall by the wayside once again. So step five is to clean, reorganize, and, if need be, purge every couple of months. The result? A beautiful closet, an easier morning routine, and a happy husband!

A Holiday Tidbit

Sweet little birds and tiny vintage ornaments on a wiry tabletop tree...

I know it's a bit late for holiday stuff, but I just wanted to share a little something from my Christmas with my family. On Christmas Eve, I went to my parents' house for a pre-Church meal. My mom had, once again, decorated the house simply, but beautifully. One thing in particular caught my eye. She's always puts this little Christmas tree out on a table with some of her smaller ornaments, but this year, she added some gorgeous bird ornaments that I fell in love with! She always does a fresh tree as well, embellished with her huge collection of blown glass ornaments (I love looking at them all!), but the small tree is another burst of color in an otherwise neutral hallway. It's a great idea for small apartment dwellers without room for a large tree, or if you just need a space for tiny ornaments. Well played, Mom! Thanks for passing on your style genes!

Shell House: The World's Most Stunning Home!

The Shell House is quite possibly the most breathtaking, architecturally design house that I've ever seen. The house was designed by Artechnic. Designboom recently highlighted this icon, which balances the "futuristic man-made structure and the environment which surrounds it."

How the shell-like structure just bends and surrounds the tree is a sight to behold.

I can read on that patio all day long.

I would host more barbecues if I lived in a house like that.

Yes, those are two skylights there.

Does anyone know where I can find some interior photos showing the home decor in this place? If it looks half as good as the exterior, I would probably be speechless....

Valley of the Dolls

Designs by Sonia Rykiel, Gucci, Giles, and Dolce & Gabbana.

For the 10th birthday of Russian Vogue, 31 magnificent designers lent their talent to create custom Matryoshkas- traditional Russian nesting dolls. On November 20th, the dolls will be auctioned off for charity. It's high fashion for a good cause... Happy birthday, Russian Vogue!

Designs by Versace, Roberto Cavalli, Marc Jacobs, and Antonio Marras.

Designs by Yves Saint Laurent, Moschino, Blumarine, and Dries van Noten.

Posters are Cool Again! Part Three

And now, to complete the trilogy, part three:

For the younger sister:

Poster for The Museum of Childhood.

For the Domino Magazine reader:

Modern Romance poster featured on the cover of Domino's Sept. 2006 issue, by Village.

For the pensive pirate in your life:

Pirate Posters by 826 Valencia.

For the girl who looooooves pink:

I Make Things poster by Samantha Hahn.

For those times when all you need is:

Love Candy poster by Made by Girl.

For the anglophile:

Keep Calm poster from Keep Calm Gallery.

Well, that's all folks. I hope you found some of these picks to be inspiring, because if not, I need to work a bit harder at doing my job! If you've found any cool posters you'd like to share, leave me a comment. I'm always up for a part four!

Posters are Cool Again! Part Two

I hope you enjoyed part one of my foray into posters. It's time for part two- posters for the kiddos and the music lovers, and a little DIY action...

For the hip eco-kid room...

Orange Animal ABC poster by Branch.

For the totally customized kid room...

ABC Kids poster by Made By Girl. It can be totally customized- color scheme and all!

For the music LOVER...

Mates of State silkscreen by The Small Stakes.

For the MUSIC lover...

The National Tour Poster by Spike Press.

For the Do-It-Yourselfer...

Try out the Rasterbator to create your own, giant poster. Mount on canvas or frame the pages, and hang. Cheap and chic.

Posters are Cool Again! Part One

Remember the posters you used to have in high school? I used to tack mine up with ticky-tack so I could frequently rearrange them. I had all the cool pop stars plastered on my walls. Then came college, and I couldn't find a single dorm room without the requisite Dave Matthews Band poster on the wall. Posters have a bad rap, but there are lots of artists and graphic designers and general cool people out there trying to change that. You just have to know where to look. I'm going to tell you.

When you need a little motivation...

Alternative Motivational Posters from Right Brain Terrain.

When you need a LOT of motivation...

Limited edition screen prints by Orange Beautiful.

For the design addict...

Chair Exam poster by Blue Art Studio.

For the cinema addict...

Polish "African Queen" poster by Polish Poster Gallery.

For a simply cool graphic...

Poster by Ugmonk.

Book Madness: Day 1

Our team was inspired by the September issue of Metropolitan Home. In it, they highlighted the interior decor from the Showtime hit show, Californication. We decided to take on the task of building one ourselves, book by book.


11-15-08: Lady S' knees are hurting! Task seems daunting. Morale low. Hope to finish by the 2012 Olympics in London. But we will press on..a slave to our craft...

You might even find some surprises hidden within our book tower... No, your eyes do not decieve you. That's JK Rowling's wildly popular Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in there! Who knows what other classics we'll stumble upon in this journey...

Here's our inspiration photo and our goal. We think David Duchovny would be proud of our efforts.

Our fearless leader also got the grand idea to follow suit with a 3 row by 4 row stacked book coffee table:

This table was the talk of the of the town in its completion, catching lots of HFH customer's attention. (I've also heard the DaVinci Code is located within base.)




Til' next time..

When Ya Gotta Go...

This one is my favorite! The signs on the side read from top to bottom: "No tooting in the presence of the Queen!", "No peasants were harmed in the making of this Thunderbox", and "A man's throne is his castle" By David Querbach of Boerne, Texas.

When we began writing this blog, I thought of a lot of things I'd like to write about- fashion, interior design, cool findings, general stylish goodies. It's safe to say that outhouses did not top my style list. And yet, here I am, blogging about outhouses. On day two of the honeymoon, John and I went to Grape Creek Vineyard to sample some delicious wines (try the Black Label Port!).

A hot rod outhouse, flames and all. Love the wings! By Nancy McGalliard of Comfort, Texas.

Imagine our surprise when we encountered a plethora of outhouses. No, they were not functional, just totally pimped out- outside and in.

The inside view of an underwater outhouse. Note the algae green velvet seat cushion. The front view is the the photo above. By Dotti Brundrett of Kerrville, Texas.

The decorated outhouses are part of a traveling exhibit called Thunderbox Road. Local artists we invited to participate in the contest for cash prizes and, of course, bragging rights.

A front view of the hot rod outhouse.

Check out the Thunderbox Road website to see all of the Thunderboxes and get more information on the artists that participated. You can also vote for your favorite on the website. The winners will be announced on May 9th, 2009. Afterward, the Tunderboxes will be auctioned off at the Museum of Western Art in Kerrville, Texas.

Outhouses by Rex Hausmann of Boerne, Tami and Charles Kegley of Boerne, and Betty Rhodes and Greg Glowka of Wimberley and Fischer.

Enjoy the pictures and make sure you check out the website. If you're in the Hill Country between now and May, look up the exhibit's location and see them in person!

A closeup of Rex Hausmann's Thunderbox.

And the inside view.

My wishy wishy list.

It's almost that time. I know this for a fact because I work retail and that means that when Santa rolls on through at the end of the Macy's parade it is officially the holiday season no holds barred. By last month, I had my holiday window display fully formulated and plan of action in place. I have more magazines in my mailbox and email inbox alerts singing the praises of the how to's for the fastest/ juiciest/ healthiest etc. turkey preparation. Brine, don't brine, breasts only, infuse, citrus, stuff, don't stuff... And please do not get me started on the best cookies of the season. I have my own tried and true recipe, but I try all the new ones every time. I am a holiday sucker. Growing up in NYC, my Mom and Grandma would pick my little sister and me up from school the Friday before holiday vacation, layer us in thermals, lacquer our faces in Vaseline to prevent chapping and we would make our pilgrimage on the subway from Flushing, Queens into Manhattan to see the windows and the tree in Rockefeller Center. The day would not have been complete without the ubiquitous pretzels from the street vendor and some hot chocolate. New York holiday bliss!
But I digress... It seems that the last ten years working in retail display, attacking holiday merchandising plans in August and installing all week prior to Thanksgiving (no rest for the weary ha ha) has not made me the Grinch you might suspect, but quite frankly the opposite. In fact, I am working on my indie holiday music mix now to play on my ipod while I apply vinyl lettering to our windows. Call it a whistle while you work approach.
So, in the spirit of the season (and I do work retail, soooo a bit consumeristic in my approach today) may I present my wish list part one. And yes, I did say part one. And yes, it is random because it is after all a wish list!

The Tall Sapien Bookshelf from Design Within Reach has an amazingly small footprint which would be fabulous for my studio apartment. In fact, I have a space set out already just waiting for this bookshelf to come home. I just can't decide whether I want white or gray. I did request this for my birthday but alas, no one took me up on it. So it remains on the list hint hint!

The Loeffler Randall Olivia D-ring flat boot and the Tashkent by Cheyenne Florent Hidden Platform Bootie are both available at ShopBop. (Two pairs of black boots are not unreasonable... One is a flat, and the other is a heeled bootie! So obviously different!) And while on ShopBop, check out the scalloped leather LAMB booties with the peep toe. I would be happy with these as well. (size 7.5 fyi)

The Alexander Girard Wooden Dolls available at DWR are actually on the top of my list. I have been obsessed with the quirky dolls for years and would live to have one (or preferably 2) on my bookshelf. I do have my favorites, but I promise not to be picky and adore whatever one you wish to bestow upon me!

This Charcoal Water Pitcher from DWR filters water using Iouseki stones and Binchotan charcoal to create filtered, mineral-rich water! Stones! I will have the coolest water filter pitcher around. And eco friendly! My ongoing quest to impress my jaded "been there, done that" friends continues! Onward... (please pause to insert evil genius laugh here) Besides it just looks so chic. I am smitten with the Beam Coffee Table from High Fashion Home. It's clean lines and juxtaposition of polished metal and reclaimed peroba wood is eye catching and stylish.

A Domino Love Affair...

I couldn't help it when I saw the cover of this month's Domino- I fell in love. Then, when I flipped through the pages, that sealed the deal. I saw dark, nearly black walls everywhere and it's a look I know I love! It may be a lot of deep color at first, but it looks so chic, so antique. Charcoal grey paired with white trim or accents is very elegant, and every bright color is multiplied by a thousand against a dark wall. A dramatic commitment? Yes, but totally worth it. Check out the inspiration pictures I gathered, all via Domino, of course.

Wallpaper, Wow!

Until designers stop coming out with amazingly innovative wallpapers (glow in the dark, light up, and heat sensitive, oh my!), I am just going to have to keep writing about them. Just when I think I've found the coolest wallpaper possibly imagined, someone else swoops in with an even cooler concept. I last wrote about wallpaper technology at the end of August, so I think it's time for another venture into the wide world of wallpaper technology. Yes, technology.

Phosphowall by day and by night.

It's never fun stubbing your toe on the way to the bathroom at 3 am, but "Phosphowall" by Ich&Kar will make that history. By day, the perky stripes soak up any light they can get their hands on, be it natural or artificial. Then, once every light has been extinguished, they cast a gentle glow on the room.

I love a good combination of light and design. The Nature Ray Charles wallpaper by Camilla Diedrich is a perfect example of beautiful technology. It also comes in a few gorgeous colors to enliven your decor. The first thing that came to mind, when I saw the green version, was the room designed by Andrea in the Swarovski challenge in Top Design. Wouldn't the Glitterbox Vertical Chandelier she used look breathtaking in front of this wallpaper?!

The green version of Nature Ray Charles wallpaper and Andrea's room from Top Design

A closeup of the Glitterbox Chandelier. Whoa.

Life is busy. This we know. If your looking for a way to multitask better, I love PixelNotes wallpaper by Duncan Wilson. The entire wall is made up of little post-it notes in four layers, all in different grey tones until you reach the bright red base layer. That takes the notepad by the telephone to a whole new level. I wonder if you could line your office with this...

This may seem low tech at first glance, but there's a whole lotta tech that goes into it. Every last detail of your wall is measured to create custom warping wallpaper by Surrealien. Subtle, yes, but so, so cool as well.

I've saved my favorite for last. It doesn't light up or make pancakes or anything like that, but it's really neato. Basic white wallpaper by Samantha Johnson, complete with a zipper, so that you can layer the incognito wallpaper over something bold, and unzip your zipper to reveal the bright paper beneath it. Let your imagination run wild!

Pumpkin Panache

Painstakingly detailed work via Martha Stewart.

I've never been a big Halloween celebrator myself, but I do love a good pumpkin carving session. You can't be squeamish when it's time to pull the pumpkin-ey guts out! The things some people can do with a pumpkin and a knife- it's amazing! I'm sure I'll see lots more creepy creations after Halloween is over, but to get you (and myself) in the ghoulish spirit, here are some good ones I've found:

Only one problem- your pumpkin will be completely naked by the end of the night. It's still awesome, though. Via Extreme Pumpkins (yes, there are entire websites devoted to the art of pumpkin carving!).

Great pumpkin concept- unfortunately it was made with Photoshop and not a knife. If anyone is willing to give it a shot, send me a photo and I'll post your effort! Via Worth1000.

It takes a very steady hand to make a skull this perfect from a pumpkin. Via Extreme Pumpkins.

I want to try another Martha Stewart idea this year- painting my jack-o-lanterns with black paint to up the spooky factor!

Another Photoshop design that I would love to see done! Via Worth1000.

A filigreed jack-o-lantern face. That's quite a practice in patience! Via Martha Stewart.

A Different World

A full view of The Great Indoors by Aurora Robson.

I apologize in advance for telling you this on such late notice. There is an amazing exhibit at the Rice Gallery and I've only just seen it. Aurora Robson has created a new world inside the Rice Gallery. You might remember the blog I wrote about another exhibit entitled Dans la Lune by Kirsten Hassenfeld. This was another one of those experiences- the kind where every direction I turned there was something new and beautiful to look at. The artist literally transformed the small gallery space into, what I would describe as, a colorful planet in outer space.

Every piece of the 15,000 plastic bottles she collected was used to create something beautiful.

At first, you walk in through a vibrant tunnel, with each section looking unique from the one before. In the center of the tunnel, you come to a small cave, centered around a solar-powered, LED-lit, vivid red ornament resembling the heart of the world. Outside the tunnel are free-hanging configurations that conjure images of alien creatures.

I couldn't get enough of the free-hanging heart within the center of the tunnel.

One of the lavish creatures hanging outside of the tunnel.

According to the artist, her landscape was based on the human body, explaining the warm color palette used. Perhaps the coolest part of the exhibit is the materials she used: recycled plastic bottles. Any green you see is a Sprite bottle. For the ribs of the tunnel, she used only Poland Spring brand water. Most of the plastic is airbrushed with water-based paint giving it an impossibly consistent, tinted look.

A closeup of one of the hanging ornaments. I can only imagine how much time it took to create just one of these detailed masterpieces.

See the Rice Gallery website for more information, but keep in mind that pictures don't do this exhibit justice! If you have time to check it out before it closes on Sunday, October 26th, prepare to be amazed!

Typographical Content

We write all the time. We jot down phone messages, pen thank you's to our friends and family, and maybe even do a little Dear Diary-ing from time to time. Our penmanship can identify us to coworkers, siblings, possibly (yikes!) the crime lab. The way we cross our t's and dot our i's (I've finally outgrown the heart-over-the-i stage!) is a part of who we are, like our face or voice. That being said, some artists take it to a whole new level. Peruse NotCot and you'll find countless entries on typography (well, okay, only 109 posts, but that a lot!), and some of the findings are nothing less than magnificent! Here are some of my favorites for your viewing pleasure...

Customised Fruit by Sarah King @ Evening Tweed

Crop Circle Typography

Ink and Water by Craig Ward

Typography for GQ Russia by Yehrin Tong

Neon Typography

Letter E by Dan Tobin Smith

I [heart] Milton by Oded Ezer

Fashion vs. Furniture: Project Runway Style

Bravo posted the final collections of the final SIX contestants weeks ago (is this a new thing?) so it was then that I began scheming to make a Fashion vs. Furniture out of it. I picked a favorite look from each designer's collection and paired it with a room that fits the style. The results are all over the map (and some just plain went off of the map).

Jerell's Design:

This dress, by Jerell, is a whole lotta busy- but it really works. The patterns and textures complement each other rather than fighting. A girl who wears this must have an apartment that is just as eclectic as her wardrobe. A vibrant mix of colors, patterns, and accessories make this place wild, but visually enchanting! Photo by Annie Schlechter.

Suede's Design

Suede designed a look that is clean cut and preppy. A girl in that dress would want an elegant and clean home that plays with proportions. Stripes are the ultimate in prepster chic and the room above makes good use of them. Photo by Max Kim-Bee.

Joe's Design:

Going for a rustic look doesn't necessarily condemn you to Wranglers and plaid shirts. Joe's design is rustic and girly at the same time- a breezy summertime frock. For home, take an otherwise sweet and feminine room and add cowboy touches like cowhide pillows. The rest of the room is urban lofty. It's the definition of eclectic. Photo by John Granen.

Korto's Design:

Young women always look lovely in color. Korto was very liberal in her bright color use for her collection. The apartment above looks like a young woman's dream home. Vibrant and playful- there isn't a single color of the rainbow you won't find in here- it's super feminine and perfect for a bubbly girl. Photo by Melanie Acevedo.

Kenley's Design:

Kenley is undisputedly the queen of retro on Project Runway and her final collection was no different. While she usually went for eyecatching floral prints for her frocks, I was more drawn to this sleek, black number. It's old school glamour, very ladylike, and stunningly sophisticated, like this room is also. Classic animal print along with sexy sixties inspired chair bring that retro feel. Dark wood brings to mind a dim martini bar. Photo by Brandon Barre.

Leanne's Design:

Leanne's impeccable designs are all about structure and morphing a two-dimensional material in a fabric scultupe that wraps are a body. For her final collection, she employed cool, airy colors to allow the designs to take the lead. This room is equally ladylike and mixes shapes and lines- curvy baroque chairs mesh with straight edges. Each piece is different, but they are all unified by their cohesive color scheme. Photo by Francois Dischinger.

One Sofa, Four Ways

I've been pondering something: Why do people with already fantastic style hire stylists? Why do people with impeccable taste hire designers? I think I know the answer (and no, it's not for a lack of time, though that could be a reason as well). Sometimes you need a second opinion. I see things from my own perspective and it can be hard to look beyond that. But I could bring in another opinion (a stylish sister, perhaps) and an idea that never occurred to me comes to life!

I thought about the way we accessorize new arrivals in our store. No two people design vignettes the same way, but can get equally dazzling results. With that in mind, I gathered two of my fellow bloggers to help me in accessorizing a plain jane sofa for the benefit of you- the reader. Who knows, maybe you'll take our second, third, and fourth opinions as the inspiration for your redesigned living room!

First, our plain jane sofa, ready for action:

The Aiden Sofa makes a perfect blank canvas with which to begin our work, $1849.

And, here are the results:

Sarah's Idea

Elliot Chair, $2699; Organic Cocktail Table, $1209; Arden Side Table, $389; Jet Set Black Silk Pillows, $50 each; Carmine Persimmon Velvet Pillow $68; Bamboo Vase, $189; Pomegranate Room Diffuser, $40.

Stephanie's Idea:

Cedric Cocktail Table, $695; Cedric End Table, $450; Remington Adjustable Stool, $369 each; Wilton Antique Rust Table Lamp, $89.95; Horse Drawn Wagon, $59; Caswell Red Pepper Pillow, $110; Caswell Fudge Pillow, $90; Guava Wood Pedestal Medium, $19.95; Guava Wood Pedestal Small, $13.95.

Brian's Idea:

Leather Earl Chair, $1589; Copenhagen Coffee Table, $609; Carioca End Table, call for pricing; Skyler Lamp, $209; Cowhide Pillow, $99; Sage Mohair Pillow, $140; Zecar Flywheel Car, $12; Awika Wind-Up, $12; Newton's Cradle, $6.50.

Jennifer's Idea:

Exposition Chair, $1429: Sukiya Coffee Table, $999; Soriano Side Table, $199; Whirl Bronze Pillow, $110; Plaza Aqua Pillow, $75.

All items are available at High Fashion Home.

HF Weekly Obsession: I'm In Love With A Sofa...

This is a recent addition to the High Fashion floor and I'm in love. So modern! So cozy! So... tufted! It would definitely be a stand out piece wherever it goes. My favorite feature is that it can be uber-modern (shown here with super low stainless steel coffee tables) or tres-eclectic (I'm seeing white laquered baroque tables with jewel tone accessories). And, if black leather isn't your thing, it also comes in white. Three words: Fab U Lous.

For more info about the Diamond Sofa, click here.

Met Home/Showtime House Tour: Weeds

If you've never seen Weeds, I suggest you give it a shot. A suburban mother dealing pot is not your average plot line, but Mary Louise Parker is great in the role. No doubt to the reason why they made her home look so, ahem, organic.

Lots of muted colors and materials bring nature indoors.

This freeform Vladimir Kagan piece is fits in seasmlessly. Check out the huge beach ball pillow!

The fabric and the style makes the chair a true standout! I love the simple drawings displayed above.

How To: DIY Flower Arrangements

Everyone wants their home to look impeccable to the last detail when they have guests over. It's also nice to come home after a long day at work and have your home look clean and welcoming. When you desire that extra little bit, it helps to have some flowers around. They'll make an imperfect room look that much better. Don't just grab a prearranged bouquet from the grocery store. It's easy and prettier to do it yourself. I've collected lots of inspiration pictures to get you going.

From top left: 1,2,3: Domino magazine. 4: Elle magazine. 5: The Knot. 6: Cynthia Mosser. 7: Vogue magazine. 8-16: Domino Mag.com.

1. A single bright bloom amongst leaves and grapevines suits a wine party.
2. Arrangements aren't limited to flowers- try large, colorful leaves from the garden for a quick bunch.
3. Small cream blooms wrapped in black paper and ribbon make a statement as a hostess gift.
4. Nothing is easier than one big bloom in a tiny bud vase.
5. Anemones are a beautiful flower when used just by themselves.
6. Try monochromatic blooms in a retro teacup for a feminine feel.
7. Flowers don't have to cost a fortune! Red carnations in a silver cup or pitcher are breathtaking. Use liberally.
8. For a larger grouping, use different containers with one type of flowers per container.
9. Traditional flowers, like red roses, look eclectic in a vase with edge.
10. For your next barbecue, float bright flowers in a clear container filled with water.
11. Hydrangeas are an easy choice- one stems covers a lot of territory.
12. Cute, retro aluminum cans make a perfect vase- place a plastic cup inside to prevent rusting!
13. Mimic the shape of a round vase with a packed in bunch of mums.
14. Gold vase + Pink blooms = Chic guest room arrangement.
15. If there is one color you'd like to focus on, find a flower in that color and just use one stem in a clear vase.
16. Redbud branches are beautiful when they bloom! Bring some indoors and use them everywhere!

Met Home/Showtime House Tour: The L Word

Another stop on the Met Home/Showtime House Tour brings us to The L Word. When the show is about women, you expect the decor to be feminine and sensual- and that's what we got.

There is so much texture mixing in here- velvet, satin, leather... It jumps out of the picture!

How many women do I know that would kill for a shoe closet like this one? Let's just say, more than one.

Huge mirrors look great leaning against a rough tiled wall, and bathtubs like this one are so sexy!

The silver legs add modern edge to what would be a traditional chair.

Boys & Girls

A girly girl's paradise. Photo by Wesley Rose.

It's never easy to compromise- especially on something as important as decorating your home. Whether you are working with a roommate, a spouse, or a sibling, you have to find a middle ground.

I'll be taking on my own decorating project at home when I get married in one month. My husband, and all of his "man stuff" will be invading my feminine space. Gone will be the days of leaving my stuff on the coffee table and cleaning it up when I feel like it. No more shoes strewn across every room of the apartment. It's time to make room for another.

Classic man-zone. Photo by Brandon Barre.

I'm more of a visual learner (as I know many of y'all are), so I went in search of some inspiration for my gender-neutral decor. My fiance gave them the thumbs up, so what about you? Did I hit the nail on the head or am I too biased by my own style to find a true combination of masculine and feminine? Take a look...

The intricate shape of the chaise and chair adds femininity to the room while the neutral and textural elements ground the room and keep it masculine. There isn't a lot of embellishment to the vignette, instead letting the view outside take the lead. Photo by Gray Crawford.

I could envision a young couple entertaining here. Nothing about it screams "Guy!" or "Girl!", but the room as a whole is very stylish and simple. Little accessories placed around the room (like a bud vase of flowers) add that woman's touch. Photo by Melanie Acevedo.

Every piece in here is an example of balance. The color scheme of the room is perfectly neutral. The accessorizing is brilliantly executed and mixed well. My favorite part is the anchor of the room: the daybed-ish sofa. Feminine in shape, masculine in color and texture. Photo by Douglas Friedman.

Met Home/Showtime House Tour: United States of Tara

Moving right along, we have the designs from United States of Tara. The purposely disjointed decor feels like falling into a Salvador Dali painting. It is dreamlike and surreal (perhaps like the title character's life as a woman with multiple personalities).

My eye is drawn instantly to the art on the walls. It's hard to look away from them! Notice the eye above the fireplace?

The furniture is very minimalist, but it's accessorized well, so that it feels like a home- not a museum.

This could almost be an entirely different room! I love the shape of the legs on the console table.

The art is provocative, but I'm more interested in the sexy chair. Unique shape, and I always love a button tufted cushion.

Pre-Fab(ulous) and Mod(ular)!

I'd have to say that my new obsession would be the process of prefabrication and modular design. It's definately becoming a new trend that people are beginning to realize is more important than it sounds. Pre-fabricated and modular homes are the "new" up-and-coming thing in home building which is surprising since they've been around a little over a century. A little history lesson is in order here...

Pre-fabricated homes came about mostly because of the housing boom in the early 1900's. Because Ford was manufacturing hundreds of cars in a matter of days, homes were about to be mass produced thanks to assembly lines and conveyor belts. If you can believe it, Sears used to sell house kits in which the home was constructed at another location and was transported in about 30,000 different pieces. This allowed more Americans to purchase and build homes without a long wait or costing a pretty penny.

Today we have a similar system but now we're leaning more towards a "green" advantage to these lovely, piece-able abodes. Many companies, such as New World Home, are focusing the design and construction in a way that will save the consumer mega bucks in the long run. Between energy-star appliances and Hardiplank that doesn't have to be painted for fifty years you're sure to love the idea. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in Louisiana, thousands of people were left homeless and without any hope of rebuilding their lives. Brad Pitt is a perfect example as an angel of hope for those thousands of people. He is one of the many that are encouraging non-profit organizations and various companies to invest in designing and building pre-fab(ulous) and mod(ular) homes.

My co-worker, SarahwithStyle, also pointed out that modular homes are being built from old shipping containers. You know, the ones that are on the back of 18-wheelers, trains, or stacked upon thousands of each other in the Port of Houston--yeah, those! How awesome is that!?

I've come in contact with various individuals who don't think that the idea of pre-fabrication is a result of the green movement and cannot be aesthetically pleasing or practical when in which I completely disagree. For example, MoMA (the Museum of Modern Art in New York City) recently had an exhibition called Home Delivery. This exhibition focuses on exactly this topic but not without the creators of these homes proving to be extradinary artists and designers. Even IKEA is into this pre-fab thing. Can you imagine purchasing one of these babies and having it completely furnished? Too cool of an idea. Let's just hope that you have a Home Owner's Association that thinks the same thing!

Kelly Wearstler On The Prowl For Design Books!

The New York Times did a little article last month about Kelly Wearstler's passion for out of print art and design books. They serve as inspiration for her uncanny ability to decorate with unusual themes and colors. Check out some of the books below to see some of Kelly's muses:

"Vogue Living: Houses, Gardens, People", by Harnish Bowles, amazon.com

"Horst: Interiors", by Barbara Plumb, 1993, amazon.com

"Goodbye Picasso", by David Douglas Duncan, amazon.com, $25

"The Shell: 500 Million Years of Inspired Design", amazon.com, $20

"The Bathroom: A New Interior", antiqbook.com, $100

Met Home/Showtime House Tour: The Tudors

As a continuation of Metropolitan Home's tour of Showtime's biggest shows, we have moved on to The Tudors. The half of episode that I've seen was pretty intense, and the set design is no different.

I just love the chandeliers, sofas, and the rug that just happens to be the size of my house.

This chandelier is remarkably transcendant. It's both contemporary and very traditional at the same time.

The shape and size of the sofas is great. Bold print, cross red pillows, and the punch of gold just screams royalty.

I'm Falling for Fall!

Autumn is my favorite time of year. We get a much needed respite from the harsh Houston heat, the fashion is crisper and more ladylike than the lazy clothes of summer, and I'm getting married! Okay, so that's only this Fall, but I still get to celebrate it every year! There is a reason why people flock to the East Coast to watch leaves change color and everyone starts to wander outdoors- Fall is beautiful. And I've found so pretty things for myself and my home for the Fall...

From top left: Cashmere lined lambskin gloves from Coach, $98. Leather pillow covers from Pottery Barn, $99 each. Colorful Foliage scarf from Echo Design, $36. Cotton silk voile ombre blouse from Charles and Victoria, $298. Irish Coast Carved Chair from Ralph Lauren Home, $4245. Fiona Jacket from J. Crew, $198. Pumpkin Pie candle from Yankee Candle, $22. Kink Boot from Geox at Piperlime, $230. Lutz & Patmos Cable Throw from West Elm, $89 each.

Met Home/Showtime House Tour: Californication

Metropolitan Home has the insider scoop with a home tour of Showtime's biggest shows. I've never seen Californication, but the home decor alone might be enough to make me a loyal viewer. The interior design just oozes a laid back, yet hip vibe. Check out the photos below:

The high back blue chair is just crazy. Love it.

The colors are so soothing. The mosaic tiling that looks like burlap is awesome.



Don't you feel at ease from this picture.



This has automatically become my favorite bookshelf.

How cool is that? Who thinks of these things?

Making Space for Wine

How many of you homeowners out there have an unused space underneath your stairs? I love what this designer did with hers- wine storage. I adore the minimalist shelving that holds, what looks like, a healthy dose of vino, and almost invisible glass doors keep the wine at the right temp. It's stylish, it's practical, it's a wine-lover's dream.

The (Black and) White Stripes

I love watching trends just explode. Case in point: Black and white stripes are everywhere. Open any decorating or fashion magazine and you're bound the see prison stripes covering the pages. Yes, it can easily get busy and dizzy, but sometimes the result is hypnotizing...

A striped hallway via Domino.

Striped marble floors at the Mark Hotel.

Neutral stripes ground a bold red headboard via Domino.

Nate Berkus's stripes made the cover at Elle Decor.

Maximum impact stripes via Domino.

Okay, so Domino really likes their black and white stripes.

Your Chair is Hairy!

Rather than the requisite throw pillow on a chair, people are getting hairy by throwing fur throws on seats. My findings began here...

...at the Absolut Icebar in Copenhagen. These fur covered seats serve a purpose- prevent frostbitten drinkers...

I spied this furry little pillow in our store- I can pick one up after work!

I wouldn't mind being Julianne Moore's stylist- she got this almost $2000 chair as a gift from the actress. Photo via Domino.

The cream fur is a striking contrast to a vibrant plum chair. Photo via Domino.

Chartreuse deuce (or should I say, Two stool with chartreuse fur cushions). Wild.
Photo via Elle Decor.

With winter coming up, now is the perfect time to move your decor into cold weather mode. And a fur throw is the purr-fect place to start.

I Love This House...

I am in love with the Dairy House by Charlotte Skene-Catling. The light coming in during the day (an exiting at night) must be incredible! Really, there isn't a whole lot to say about it- the pictures speak for themselves.

The HF List: Summer Vacation for Grown-Ups

If you're a parent, more than likely your summer vacations will be limited to kid-friendly locales like beaches, theme parks, and the occasional zoo. If you are not a parent, more than likely you don't want to spend your summer vacation with other people's kids. Maybe you're looking for a romantic spot in which to cozy up with your love, or a relaxing vineyard to enliven your wine palette, or you could just need some peace and quiet. Italy and France are both fine and good for those purposes, but it's not always feasible to jump across the pond. Money, family, and vacation time all prohibit big trips. So when you need to get away, just for a weekend, it's easy to do so by just jumping in your car. Better yet, rent a Prius and save on gas (even more relaxing!). There are great spots all over Texas where one can wine, dine, and chill.

The Hill Country: Magnolia House Bed & Breakfast
Nestled in Fredericksburg, the Magnolia House is in close proximity to tons of shopping- antiques are a big part of the city. The Hill Country is also a great place to visit if you enjoy wine- there are several vineyards to visit and taste at. The B&B itself is charming and quiet and serves a MEAN breakfast. I promise you won't be disappointed!

West Texas: Thunderbird Motel
You may or may not be familiar with Marfa, TX, it's great art scene, or the Mystery Lights. When driving up to El Paso, you won't find a lot on the way. I know this as I've made countless road trips there to visit grandparents. If only, as a kid, I had enough sway with my parents to make a quick detour off of I-10 to explore Marfa. We could have stayed at the design lovers paradise, Thunderbird Motel. The minimalist space is nonetheless luxurious and perfect for a desert getaway.

The Gulf Coast: Hoopes House
If water and sun is what you crave, drive down to Rockport. You can lay on the beach, catch up on your reading, and sip on something fruity. Then, when the sun has wreaked havoc on your energy level and skin, head back to Hoopes House for some much deserved R&R indoors. The restored 1890's home offers casual, spacious rooms that don't evoke feeling of staying in a museum, but a beachy summer villa.


South Texas Plains: Inn on the Riverwalk
Enjoying a nightlife somewhere doesn't require you to stay at a Holiday Inn. You can enjoy a quiet stay in the middle of downtown if you know where to look. If exploring the Riverwalk in San Antonio is your thing, try Inn on the Riverwalk. You'll be close to all of the action of the Riverwalk- the clubs, shopping, dining, etc- but instead of coming back to a generic hotel room, you get a sweeter place to rest your head.


The Big City: Modern B&B
For an anniversary or birthday, it's nice to get out of the house and try someplace new without even leaving town. I know where I'm heading: Modern B&B. Just to be clear, this isn't your mama's B&B. This place is sleek, modern, cool. You'll still be close to all of the hip things going on in the city. You'll come back to an amazingly designed room, a view of the city, and a good night's sleep.