Interior of the Day

Via BloodandChampagne

Love it. Subway tiles (fav), rustic wood juxtaposed with high gloss red, great textile choices and the attention to detail here make this my interior pick of the day. xo

The Wonderful World of Felt

This post is inspired by my wonderful aunt over in Denmark…one of the only toys I’ve kept from my childhood is a little stuffed doggie she made from black leather back when I was little and she had a shoe shop in Copenhagen. And then there was that pink knit pig that everyone in the family ended up with (not sure who made those, my grandma or my aunt- I know the original was by my grandma, but they started multiplying in the 90′s…) Anyway, point being, I really treasured those handmade items. Now on the island of Bornholm, my aunt is working with felt, so I thought I’d share some  great applications of the handsome material…

West Elm Gray Felt Drum

Via Remodelista, these cushions would be great for yoga practice, too! love...

West Elm Felt Pen Cup

Coffee Sleeves

Other West Elm Accessories

Mini monkey on Etsy

I love the feel and texture felt adds to a room or accessory. Hope this gives you guys some ideas or appreciation for this wonderful material  xo, co

A Sunday Browse

First let me start by saying, I love Sundays…I had a great morning at home, leisurely made a healthy breakfast, walked to get coffee and some fresh air, then settled in on my couch for some catalog browsing before getting down to the laundry and work. Here are my picks from West Elm:

Washed channel stitch quilt in plaster

Andalusia Dhurrie Pouf

Handmade seagrass basket

Variegated stripe tassel hand towel

Earthy tones, stripes and patterns, comfy, clean  and classic. Happy Sunday everyone, xo.

 

Feathers, Hearts and Arrows

Loving them all over the place…

LOVE her arrow tattoo- Via Drops of Jupiter

Via decor8 blog

Lollia Soap, Calm

Max & Chloe Earrings- want bad!

Via tumblr

Wes Elm Tossed Feather Duvet

Happy Wednesday. xo

Apartment (Mini) Makeover Time

The new year is here, SF is unusually warm…spring is on my mind already. The yearning for fresh and renewed is all around, and what better place to start than home? For my studio I want to focus on two things, which are actually the same thing: textiles! New bedding and a rug for the living room area. A crisp color palette, a deep cleaning and I’ll be set. Here are some ideas from West Elm:

West Elm Organic Plisse Blanket in Clay for layering the bed

West Elm Seersucker Duvet

West Elm Chevron Knot Rug

Stay A While…

I really want/ would love to see….a sofa at my/somebody’s dining room table. Like a cozy booth, but better.

And what better way to convey the message “there is no hurry…stay. eat, drink, be merry!” to your guests?

West Elm

But first a dining room…xo, co

Color Fit For A King

In ancient times, purple was the color reserved for the very rich and powerful. Today it suggests luxury and mystery.  In color theory, purple is a non-spectral color, occurring between red and violet- There is no such thing as the “wavelength of purple light”; it only exists as a combination.

In any event, the use of purple in interiors can create a very noble feeling when rich, saturated hues are used. Check out the cover of this month’s Elle Decor. What do you think? I think this room is well done (minus the table) and looks like it would be an enjoyable place to sit- the light ceiling and floor keep it nice and non-claustrophobic. Dark colors can make a space feel smaller than it is, but here that’s a good thing- it makes this large room a little more inviting.

Elle Decor, November 2011

While I am usually a lover of neutrals (gray is my favorite color, if you could call it that…), I  am warming up to the use of bolder color, to the making of bolder statements. No doubt there is a direct correlation between this and my growing confidence as a designer and as a person. However, a lot of what’s out there still makes me cringe and I do not think neutrals, or pastels for that matter, mean weakness. They are peaceful, and I guess those are the kind of interiors I have always been drawn to.

If and when you do decide to use purple in an interior, however, do keep in mind yellow is purple’s complimentary color, so to keep things balanced, it’s good to have a hint of it (gold counts!)  somewhere in the picture, unless you are going for a completely mono-chromatic (can you say intense?!) or analogous harmony. Also, remember since purple is a mix of a warming color (red) and a cooling color (blue), it will have different effects in different contexts (depending on surrounding hues and the lighting). Here are some other examples that work for me– easy does it:

Via Pinterest.com

West Elm Winter Floral Duvet

Via Flickr

Burlap and Blues

Burlap, or “hessian” outside the United States, is a woven fabric made from the skin of the jute plant and may be combined with other vegetable fibers…Hessian has been historically produced as a coarse fabric, but more recently it is being used in a refined state known simply as jute as an ecofriendly material for bags, rugs, and other products. Read more here.

I love seeing burlap in interior design and we can all feel good about this plant derived wonder material! Pair with other neutrals and light blue for a crisp cooling look and a natural feel!

Via design fabulous

Via Etsy, Via Pinterest.com

Grainsack industrial stool via Remodelista.com

West Elm Jute Rug via parkdaleave.blogspot.com

Love this table setting! Via ruffledblog.com

Home Workspaces: Get Creative!

Creating a home workspace that is comfortable and functional can increase productivity and offer an internal sense of peace and inspiration. It’s nice to take the time to get a feel for your space and come up with personalized solutions- especially if you’re working with a small space, like me and so many other city dwellers!  Whatever gets the job done!

Via Bodie and Fou

West Elm

A Corner Worspace, via Remodelista.com

West Elm

This makes me wish I had a garage- I love it! Photo via lostindecoration.tumblr.com

Happy working friends. xo

{Ikat}

Great in the summer, spring, winter or fall, Ikat  (from the Indonesian “cord”, “thread” or “knot”) is fun and adds interest to so many spaces.  From sophisticated to playful, Ikat can be used to incorporate just a little color and pattern, or to create the layered look, while maintaining a harmonious composition.

Photo via: roomenvy.wordpress.com

Photo via: Elle Decor

West Elm Baskets