Totally Inspiring Room

I’m not sure where I got this pic from but this room calls to the Pacific Northwester in me…

Hope you’re having an awesome low key Tuesday. 🙂

Totally Inspiring Room (+Blog Love)

I love reading other people’s blogs, especially when the writer’s taste coincides with mine. Such is the case with Delight by Design. I found Blair Friedeman’s blog while (I kid you not!) going down the alphabetical blog links on Pink Wallpaper. I LOVE Delight by Design! Seriously, I didn’t get any further down the link list because I’ve spent the last two days going through all the previous entries. There is so much to inspire!

This is one of my favorite rooms from Blair’s blog:

Home library/office designed by Isabel Lopez Quesada. (June 2010 Nuevo Estilo)

Seriously, I think I swooned when I saw this! So many of the posts feature gorgeously decorated rooms that it is really hard to tear yourself away from it all. Please check out Blair’s magnificent blog and the designs of Spanish interior decorator Isabel Lopez Quesada. You wont be disappointed!

Have a happy Tuesday everyone!

Before & After: Mid-Century Dresser

Steph at Birdhouse did a fabulous DIY on a inexpensive, non-designer mid century modern dresser. She took it from shabby and worn to a blingy, mod superstar. Here’s how it started out:

Before:

And…

After!

I love how she removed the fussy, dated gullwing pulls, went for the currently trés popular two tone look, and gave the front some kerpow with those classy ring pulls. All in all a great DIY makeover by Steph! Check out the post on her blog, Birdhouse,  for a complete breakdown of how she did it… in case you want to try it yourself.

Have a great Saturday!

Courting Summer

For my first post back from my mini break, I’d like to share some gorgeous outdoor spaces that I’ve come across during my surfing sessions.

Some are just really lovely backyards but quite a few are interior courtyards. I adore interior courtyards – they’re are honest to goodness “secret gardens”. Here are a few I’ve found:

I hope you’re having a beautiful, sunny Tuesday!

Neutral Territory

Kitchens. I like ’em clean and uncluttered. The sleeker and crisper a kitchen is the better I like it. And nothing says clean like neatness, organization, neutral colors, and no upper cabinets (though open upper cabinets are fine). I’m not against having decorative objects or color in the kitchen as long as they are accents and not the only thing you see. So, today I’m presenting some of my favorite (mostly white) kitchens. The uppers are missing or open, the decor isn’t tacky and over the top, and yet all if them look welcoming and homey.

Currently my very favorite kitchen. Everything about it makes me happy. Not sure of the source but I’d love to know!

There is a lot to love here: open shelves, white dinner and serveware, marble counter tops, rustic-modern cabinets, the wall mounted tap, and art leaning casually on the backsplash. Gorgeous!

A more feminine, traditional take on idea… this is so cute! It’d be perfect in a little cottage.

Technically, I’m cheating a bit here because there are some upper cabinets… but the rest of this kitchen is so perfect (especially the view through the door) that I couldn’t pass it up. And… its a tiny cabinet!

Chalkboard walls are a fun and functional way to bring interest to a kitchen.

Elegant Simplicity

A few simple, yet elegant rooms for this cool spring day. I hope it’s fairer in you part of the world!

A simple, modern living room from MSL.

Warm neutrals and hints of black cozy up this living room from Lonny Magazine.

Cool and serene digs from decorpad.

Calming blues, pale wood, and simple shapes in this living room from House Beautiful.

Clean and modern dining room (Elle Decor?).

A uniquely shaped headboard is simplified by crisp white fabric.

Guest Work

In all honesty, I’ve never had a place that’s big enough for me to have a guest room. I’m still a one bedroom city dweller that offers up a cushy couch and extra blankets to out of town visitors. One day I hope to have an extra room dedicated to making my friends and family a haven during their travels… so today I’m posting a selection of guest bedrooms. I’m a fan of the double twin layout… I think it gives you more options.

Traditonal gray, blue, and white fabrics mix with a sleek modern table.

Bold pattern and classic colors create a serene guest space.

More classic style – crisp black and white!

Bold blue, stripes, and crisp white cheer up this graphic guest space.

Tonal greens with patterns and textures create interest here.

Have a happy Tuesday everyone. Enjoy!

Exquisite Geometries

I’m one of those people that actually goes through all twenty pages of my Etsy recommendations. Sad? Possibly… Still, one can argue that actually taking the time to sift through the dross can actually yield some very interesting things.

The Kiss

Group Hug

One Million Short Stories

The Chrysler Building

Flora

My gem from today’s Etsy cruise is the shop of Melbourne, Australia painter Kristina Sostarko – INALUXE. The colors are mid-century modern, the aesthetic is reminiscent of Rex Ray or Charlie Harper.

I’m in love!

A Favorite Room

It is funny how, sometimes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. This is a room that I clipped out of magazine a few years ago, back when I was still in my more modern, minimalist phase. Back then if it wasn’t black and white, I didn’t usually care… at that time, this was too much color for me but I couldn’t stop looking at it.

I realize now that it’s because even with all the color the room is clean, uncluttered, and lived in looking. A beautiful combination in my book. The beautiful harmony of colors, which I didn’t appreciate once upon a time, are wonderfully delicious icing.

Happy (super late!) Thursday!

(Slightly) Obsessed

Eric Hughes’ living room.

A view of the living area from the fireplace.

View of the rest of the living area and a second set of the fabulous coffee tables.

Who am I kidding? I’m completely obsessed with the coffee tables featured in the living room of Eric Hughes’ Wainscott, NY house. In the spirit of full disclosure – this pic is three years old. The house was featured in the January 2008 issue of Elle Decor. Not that the date matters to me – I want a black lacquer tray on chrome legs coffee table. I want it bad. I mean, just look at them, they’re gorgeous aren’t they?

Once upon time West Elm had them but their model has long since been discontinued. Still, I figure if I knew the name of the table I might be able to find one on Craigslist somewhere. So far my search attempts haven’t yielded any results. Not even any mentions of the table on design blogs from the time period. Maybe I’m using the wrong search terms… which is entirely likely! Oh well, I’m a trooper!  I WILL find my own slice of lacquer table heaven… One of these days!

In the meantime, enjoy the pics of Eric Hughes house… and my dream coffee table!

An all white and very modern kitchen.

Dining room. I love the dome light fixture and the striped rug.

Bedroom.

The all white bath is minimal and clean.

An equally chic outdoor living room.