anthropologie luv.

are you like me? when that anthropologie e-mail comes in to tempt you to their mecca of unusual design heaven, you have to strap yourself to your seat? hmmm...they are little devils aren't they ? :) who can blame them. if i had stores chock full of the worlds' most eclectic, handmade, unique, one of a kind objects and materials, i'd tempt everyone i could too!

how about this cutie? from artist trey speegle, a signed and numbered archival print with a "simply sweet sentiment". ok, that made me smile :)







so today, as i prepare for more snow in my area, grrr...i'll dream away of far off lands, beautiful bedding, shiny sexy lighting, tea cups, comfy throws and lots of beautiful color to get me through! enjoy yourself too!

who dat? ok...i had to say it right?

so, i'm from new england, i'm a new england patriots fan, but since i couldn't shout for the patriots this year, i went with the saints. had to, they were the slight underdog and i'm an underdog kind of girl :) so on that note, let's celebrate black and gold interiors while we're at it. let's have some fun, after we all had our share of fun last night right? :)

super subtle black and gold interior. here.

quiet black and gold interior. here.

black and gold, opposites attract. here.

black and gold with a view. here.

now, that's alot of gold. here.

oh my, quite a different gold, here.

this lampshade alone is divine! here.

clean and crisp. here.

oooh, utterly luxurious. here.

happy monday! whether you celebrated the saints win, or not, the spirit this morning is happy, sparkly, and positive. enjoy your day, enjoy these black and gold super fun interiors! we have snow on the way for this wednesday...urgh. i was just getting used to seeing the ground again! oh well, we'll be getting the sleds out for sure ;)

weekend mood.

what's your mood heading into the weekend? are you ready to whoop it up? or put your feet up? me, i'm somewhere in between all of that.

i definitely have to get outside. via, here.
lighting some candles will be a must. via here.
i'm in the mood to sleep in...via here.
maybe i'll finish a painting that i started, ah, a while ago. via, here.

craving color, here.
warm colors, here.
via marina, via sugar pop tarts.

ah, no comment. delicious setting right ? here.
wherever you go, wherever you land this weekend, have fun. being creative, feeling relaxed or inspired, or even sexy. dress up, dress down, put your hair up and get down to business, but don't forget to let it down and breathe :) oh, and it's superbowl weekend. lots to enjoy! so...enjoy!

getting back to natural.

while we may not have the option of grass covered spaces to keep us fitting into nature and feeling we are being green with our every interior purchase, there are little things we can do when designing in a more natural way. take a look...


keeping the color palette of a space light, natural, without distractions offers a more natural, comforting space. keeping elements such as natural wood flooring, even if painted keep us grounded. found here.

sleek natural interiors such as this one, incorporating raw materials such as concrete add a natural, uninterrupted space focusing on light, comfort and relaxation. here.

decorating naturally with organic candles, found objects, gently worn furniture. all add an aspect of character, personality and energy to spaces full of newer interior objects. here.

from apartment therapy, here.

your interior objects need not all be vintage or found, or just plain antique to add that element of nature. placing a newer piece, utterly organic in form such as this origami table by jo nagasaka is a perfect, natural addition to any space, residential or commercial. found here.

purchasing organic bedding and mattresses will have you diving into a pure natural scene each and every night, while supporting green companies at the same time. :) here.

adding elements of stone and granite don't have to be cold additions to a natural interior, in fact bringing the outdoors in can be comforting and warming. here.

jute rugs and natual white creamy tones. very relaxing natural interior. here.

how about incorporating tile with a fossil-esque design for a primitive feel? find it here.

hope you are having a relaxing thursday thus far! i (again) have more reading, or, ah, catching up on my required reading. waiting for more books to arrive (thank you amazon) and coffee. i'll be drifting off from my reading, dreaming of these natural spaces and the possibilities. enjoy!

mood boards.

hey everyone! i have a confession to make. i never thought mood boards were a necessary piece of the design process. well, let me restate my statement. for me, they really aren't still, meaning that i'm more of a "put together a space" than "design a space" kind of artist and designer. (if you get what i'm saying?) but...i do love the moodboards that so many of my favorite bloggers and designers put together. they intrigue me, they inspire me and they get me thinking!


sultry mood board from paize digital design journal.

super fun moodboard from mirror mirror.

pure photographic inspiration mood boards. from at home with kim vallee.

plunk your mood boards right there in front of you, also adding to interior design. here from apartment therapy.

clip pages from books, magazines, papers, old cards, vintage postcards. you name it. found here.

beauty comma's blog perfectly pairs color palettes, pulls together spaces, connecting every day "things" to your interior for inspiration. love.

purple area's blog also always produces luscious moodboards.

anne at the city sage's blog always inspires me with terrific, completely put together mood boards, from fashion to interior design, she's an expert at the mood board.

from the style files, (image from jeltje fotografie)

do you live by moodboards? are they a necessary piece of your designing process? are you like me? do you love perusing them though? oh, i do! enjoy your wednesday everyone. it's the middle of the week, not far off until the weekend. i have classes tonight and so am off to read, read and read. enjoy!

inspired by photos from owi.

ooh, i'm sleepy this morning after classes in boston last night. but, sipping coffee and perusing the glorious pages of owi for inspiration has given me a needed boost. do you need a boost on this tuesday morning? if so, here you go...









loving the serene spaces, the color palettes with bursts of vibrant energy, the soft lines, the crisp edges, all so lovely. aaaah...there. i'm better already :) enjoy your day everyone. what are you up to? i've got lots and lots of reading for classes, last minute birthday shopping for my son and probably another coffee :) enjoy!

vintage monday.

for some reason, this monday i awoke in a vintage hungry mood. i've been reading about fabulous bloggers like the english muse heading off to paris and others traveling hitting the european flea markets and shops and finding such fun finds. here in our country there are also many great finds, well, just waiting to be found!


ebay is chock full of vintage, like this cutie-pa-tootie owl necklace. love it! here.

vintage tablecloths and napkins from my crafty corner, on our favorite, etsy. i have stacks of vintage, non-matching cloth napkins in my cabinet. i'm always in search of more. how about you?
vintage knoll dining table and nelson bubble light, from modern vintage furniture.


if you're in the market for any original piece, truly vintage, furniture with big or small names, head over to vintage looks. here they feature an original charles eames rocker for $1,250.

how fun is this vintage american motif dress? get it here.

authentic vintage lighting. here.

pretty vintage-esque napkins from sugar and fig, on etsy, where else? :)

do you own anything vintage? funny because we were watching the antiques roadshow last night on t.v. and it makes you start looking around the house and thinking hmmm, what would i bring to that show? fun. for me i have some cherished rugs from my great grandmother who traveled around the world and brought these back. i'm not even sure where they are from but i think maybe they are from turkey. i'll one day have to find out their origin. for now they are safe in my closet awaiting their perfect place. enjoy monday vintage, enjoy monday morning sun (yeah it's sunny here today!) and just enjoy!

fun at 0900.

it's friday everyone, as if you didn't know right? :) well, let's have some fun this friday, this end of a perhaps hectic week, with 0900's designs.

turn heads in your residential or commercial spaces with these intriguing, literally hand held bookshelves. now that's fun.
doesn't everyone need a wall mounted fire place. yeah, that's right!
for the outdoors, these clover chairs will have all of your neighbors talking.

super springy bloom vases.

how fun are these tree branch coat racks? really, really fun!
tons of eclectic dining chairs. here.

new bud lights.

the wind is howling like mad outside my house this morning, and all of last night. i'm talking cold, cold cold. yikes. i may have to put off my run this morning, unless i want to run in a complete snowsuit. yeah...no. so...i'll head to a coffee shop, catch up (or more like start) my reading for classes before next week rolls around and perhaps out for a beer later. yeah for today! what are you up to this fine friday? or this weekend? either way, have fun perusing the pages of 0900! enjoy!

elitis wallpaper.

i stumbled upon elitis wallcoverings and my jaw dropped at their textures, color palettes and graphic designs. super fun, super chic, super super.










based out of france, elitis wallcoverings also offers fabrics and furniture...i know right? yum. again, while you may not want to paper an entire room with any or all of these, picture one wall, any wall, are you kidding me? wowzers. talk about making a statement. whether residential or commercial these elitis wallcoverings could give any space a bit of pizzazz, a facelift, a boost. it's almost friday everyone...enjoy! :)

where we gather.

our dining room or kitchen tables are where we gather, to eat, talk, work on homework, pay bills, create, design, store things, display things and just plain enjoy ourselves.

so...what's around your table? what's above your table? and what's below your table?

rum magazine.



the style files.

bolig magazine.
design shimmer.


house beautiful.



purple area.

house to home.



ok, i'll fess up :) above mine is a pretty and dainty sepia toned glass chandelier. around it are wooden chairs that match (which i'd like to change one day, adding a more eclectic variety of chairs), on top of my table currently sits grape tomatoes and a large pink grapefruit in a wooden bowl my dad sent me from tennessee (it's where he lives), under my table is a pale, pale green rug, and directly under my table (i know it sounds strange) is a tiny leopard print foot stool. (i actually use it and love to put my feet up while i'm eating away!)

just curious about your gathering spaces. mine is definitely used all day long and so then all day long it creates memories and special interactions. i love that. enjoy!

fixtures of fancy.

are you getting tired of the same old, same old? well...have yourself a looksy at some of these inspiring, intriguing, interior accessories. if you are in the market to spruce up your residential or commercial space with some new objects, placing them in new spaces, or accentuating your old spaces, have some fun with these!

for your table, these metal mesh and gold candle-sticks, not your average candle-sticks. that's what's fun! found them here, by ango.


these interior accessories from linteloo are such fun. how about this coffee table, displaying all of your favorite design, art or whatever magazines or books. genius. also loving linteloo's line of poofs. if you're a poof kind of person?


this spectacular glass from glas. here.


loving this unique compact stacked library, perfect in any space. found it here.

found this exceptional mirror from porada, here. you could literally design a space, residential or commercial around this mirror, seriously you could.


tuesday fun and more inspiration to help us all plug away through the winter doldrums. frankly i can vision any of these more modern, eclectic pieces mixed right in amongst vintage pieces, or even going from residential to corporate and back again. for instance, imagine that coffee table above plunked in a beautiful new doctor's office, or dentist's office displaying all of their reading materials just before you head in for an appointment. like me today, i'm off to the dentist (not my favorite place to be by any means) but if they had a coffee table like that one featured today, i might enjoy my stay a bit more, not much, but a bit :) enjoy!

monday color inspiration.

today there is a small nor'easter blowing around my house, i beat the rain this morning with an early run, but the gray layers looming all around me now, have me begging for a color deviation. here goes color, color, color...

cheery citrus tones from a favorite foody blog, cannelle et vanille.

bright blues from beauty comma.

sure sherbert inspiration from design sponge.

color derived from art, from one of my favorite blogs, emmas design blog.

marvelous mauve from malo blogg.

vibrant yellows from 100 layer cake.

being green from skona hem.

luscious greens from purple area.

these 3 color images from style files.



are you surrounded by sun or clouds today? i hope this monday finds you inspired and if not, hoping the color inspiration from all of these creative and super talented bloggers get you motivated like they did me :)

i start a new semester of classes today and will be driving to boston in the pouring rain, but only to become even more inspired. yeah for learning and yeah for designing! enjoy!

new blogs to ponder, this friday.

anne over at the city sage's blog turned me onto a few new blogs, thankfully so. i, like you i'm sure, are always in the market for new reading material, new inspiration, new unadulterated design lust...and just in time for your weekend perusing pleasure.


when you seriously need that injection, that high, that temptation and that adrenalin rush of sexy fashion, hit sugar pop tarts blog, they are the ultimate dealer :) the crispy layout of this blog allows the fashion content to shine, to ooze off of the pages and sometimes well, maybe gets you to blush. i love that.



another new-to-me blog also fun and fabulous is destined to design. "a collection of art, cuisine, fashion, photography and all things design that inspire my day to day." i love their intertwining of interior design, cutting edge design and fashion. one big perfect blog of fun.



another blog full of dreamy photos and color palettes is aubrey road. "from aubrey road, new jersey, to honolulu hawaii, i'm jenny and this is a home for my favorite things."



so, here's to the weekend, here's to new discoveries and here's to you everyone!
watcha' doing this weekend anyway? as for me, more taxes, blogging, drinking of red wine, hanging out with my son (in between his drama club rehearsals)and raking hidden leaves revealed after the melting snow. enjoy yourself!

paintable wallpaper? yeah, that's right.

hold on to your hats, put your thinking caps on and imagine the possibilities my friends! easy peasy, and covers wall imperfections flawlessly according to grandinroad designs, from whence they come :) take a look at these beauties...

curvy swurvy. "a true retro look, finished with a boucle effect". very easy on the eyes.

i'm drawn to this "squares" design too. a very vintage pattern, yet so very mod. just plain ol' fun.

how genius is this? paintable beadboard wallpaper? "a beautiful streamlined effect without all the work". fabulous i say...
eden is this pattern's name and is elegantly decorative. irresistable, get it?

imagine this victorian effect paper, painted with shiny metallic paints! ralph lauren has a metallic line that i've used and is fabulous. just enough shine.

loving this courduroy pattern, for a fresh, crisp wall facelift.

so, which room, residential or commercial can you see a transformation beginning? isn't it fun to get the wheels turning? i love the instant facelift wall treatments can offer and the textural element they add, which as you all know i love. every space needs a variety of texture to mix it up, keep it interesting, and fun. it's almost the weekend everyone! do you have upcoming plans? do tell....enjoy!

today i'm running...

(image here)
have a splendid wednesday everyone, it seems i have a million things to get caught up on today! i'll see you right back here tomorrow with more design temptation and inspiration. enjoy your (splendid) day!

currently liking...

some odds and ends that either stopped me while perusing design magazines or design internet sites. some quirky, some fun, some curious and some just because.

this origami table by anthony dickens. stunning.


this smock seating by patricia urquiola.

the cocoon chiminea by federico otero.

dreamy bedding from aura home.

the many unique screens and partition available from korban flaubert. for commercial or residential spaces, they offer just enough privacy without blocking out light or acting as a traditional wall.

this wire cow head. i'm loving all of the faux animal heads coming into design and imagine a collection on a wall, from every medium such as porcelain to cardboard. light them up, have fun with them. from safari fusion.

this fun, very boy art for children's rooms. love. from gelati art.

this fabulously glam chair, by edit.

happy day after the holiday everyone! hoping your day is off to a great start. i didn't get much sleep last night so i'm in a fog, much like the weather around me at this very moment, uck. but, my son has a half day of school because of midterms, so we are off to the bookstore for browsing and hot chocolates. enjoy your tuesday friends!

alex earl.

well, i know this company, alex earl is in australia (not like we can run right around the corner and pick a piece up, unless of course you live in australia) but i had to feature their precious pieces from furniture to lighting as they are dreamy and unusual to say the least.
like this gorgeous log stool, painted and lovely.



how precious would these butterfly lamps be in a children's room? so fun!





happy holiday today everyone! i hope it offers you relaxation and contentment as you ponder both the holiday and the beautiful pieces by alex earl. enjoy!

facades.

it's the weekend, yeah! my fiance has had an especially, well how do i describe it, case of the, is it still winter?, i'm in a rut, i need warmth and sun and a change of scenery, it's been a long dull week, blues. and so as i've been bopping around, looking at my usual architecture and design inspiration, i came across inspiring facades and picked some from all around the world, to subconsciously cheer him up i suppose. :)

tori-tori restaurant in mexico, here.

tori-tori tea room here.

nomiya restaurant, paris. here by day.

and here by night, amazing.

restaurant located inside a mall in amsterdam, here.


le procope, paris, here.

corton in new york, here.

fabios restaurant, vienna austria, here.

what are your plans for this weekend? so far, i'm meeting my fiance for lunch (to help ease along the end of his very long and dull week:) and then who knows. it's supposed to be milder here, so a run is in store tomorrow morning and perhaps a drive to get our favorite donuts (hence the run, prior:) however you are spending your weekend, (and i'm wishing it is in one of these fabulous restaurants),
enjoy yourself and here's to a better, not so dull, full of winter, i'm in a rut, week ahead!

p.s. this is what i'm feeling for those currently suffering in haiti. everyone spread the love!

image here.

kimberley gundle and color, color color!

"kimberley, born in vibrant south africa, graduated from the michaelis school of fine art, university of cape town. she continued her studies in fine art and completed her post graduate at the slade school of fine art in london, where she has been living and working as an artist since 1988."

"i am a contemporary artist, rug designer, painter and ceramicist. i see my rugs as art on the floor. i am a colourist; each rug is a unique art piece."




as an artist, kimberley also paints and one of her series that i was drawn to was her below the knee series. i would place either a series of them in a line on a large wall or perhaps one, very large on a wall whether a residential or commercial space.




today's post then is about color, during my winter here in new england, we are in need of bright, vibrant, warm color, and thanks to kimberley gundle and her color burst designs, we're getting our fix. i love these rugs!!! enjoy!

more. cupcakes that is...

we all need a design diversion every now and then, and my diversion is now, especially when it's cupcakes. although...this is slightly a design post when you take a look at how more cupcakes displays their product, their sleek, minimalistic design and ethereal materials. the whole company, from product to interior design to packaging is complete eye candy, and stomach candy :)




smores.

bacon and tomato. holy cow.

strawberry balsamic.

lemon meringue.


jessica over at design wonderland's fab blog featured the company more, the cupcake genius's in chicago and my jaw dropped, from their display method to their flavor combinations. more cupcakes are featured on favorite lists from oprah to martha, so not a bad start. reviews of the stranger flavors get rave reviews so we have to be brave and dive in with an open mind!
the shop's sleek look with bamboo woodwork, floating glass and 3-form panels as jessica describes makes for customers to enter into cupcake heaven. enjoy!

pure flickr inspiration.

i can't seem to get specific this tuesday morning so i bopped around flickr and sucked up inspiration which is bountiful on that site.










what are you up to today? it's freezing here, but i'm in need of a good run outside to get my creative juices flowing and to gain some needed energy. then i might entertain the insane process of taxes (yeah, i know...) so as i said, i'll be needing energy and patience:) have a good one everyone, enjoy!

new cool things.

whilst perusing design magazines this weekend, i stumbled upon some cool, new-to-me products from some very cool companies. thought i'd share...

environment furniture, like this bed, made from reclaimed wood. love.

cool lighting from plug lighting.

line drawings by jane bristowe.

oooh, loving swedish stoves.

twiggy furniture from emery & cie.

the jaybird table by stray dog designs.

boskke sky planters, turning the plant world...well...upside down.

canteen utility chairs, too cool for school!

happy cool monday everyone! hoping your weekend was relaxing, fun-filled, and restful all at the same time?!! mine was all of that. enjoy!

design trend...industrial.

i'm noticing a trend these days of a "rather rough around the edges look", very "ecological" and "green", an era of recycling is showing it's face in the design world and while i wouldn't want my home looking like a machinery or factory, these very industrial elements can contribute to an interesting, gritty arrangement in your residential or commercial space, without interrupting your flow and your feel completely...if done right.

a space can begin with one single industrial element, tilting the space towards a different feel than if it otherwise was missing, such as this naked dangling bulb and cord kit. sometimes less is more, and is executed perfectly here.

adding industrial pieces such as this pendant light and chair, bumped up against soft rugs and soft wooden furniture, throws off a space allowing cold and warm to blend in a very satisfying way, here.

gritty, city-esque worn concrete walls highlighted by an very new & industrial lounge chair, all making for a very curious and intriguing setting. here.

industrial side table, here.

industrial accessories are popping up everywhere, from fruit bowls to gadgets to hardware to lighting, to little tables like the one featured in the above photo, here.

here, the soft, yet stark white walls ward off the sharper edges and industrial looking pieces in this space, helping it to be a bit more welcoming.

here. the addition of art, almost alone, does it for this space, the colors warm it, relax it and along with those rounded lamps shades, buffer the sharper edges throughout the space.

well, this friday, it's what i've been noticing as of late. i have to say though, i love incorporating newer, or more vintage and worn industrial pieces, especially metal into spaces when designing. the textural element alone that is contributed is not only fun but sometimes really needed, depending on the space and what it is either lacking or screaming for. thoughts? do you love a punch of industrial? or do you find it trashy and harsh? just curious. hey, either way friends...enjoy your friday and the upcoming weekend. will be cold and snowy where i am, translation: snuggling, winter walks and red wine, oh my! :)

herringbone floors.

i freely admit that currently i have a smitten fascination for herringbone floors. they change in every setting i see them in, from dark woods, to small floors to larger than life floors. i'm not sure why but herringbone floors always stop me and are pleasing to my eyes.

eclectic image, here.

classically beautiful, here.

surrounded by white, here.

pretty sitting area, here.

in the bathroom, here.

image, here.

image, here.

this image, here.

image here.

do any of you have herringbone patterned flooring anywhere in your residential or commercial spaces? do you like it? especially when i see old european homes or apartments that feature the very old flooring, i go mad. love, love, love!
thursday is upon us, almost the weekend everyone :) how is your week going? i'm not getting quite as much done as i thought i would (what else is new right?), but still having a great week. enjoy your day!

dwell & shelf life.

designed by H2o architects, for mathieu vincinguerra, an avid comic book collector and artist himself, this parisian apartment tests the boundaries of organization, display and visual originality.

one thing that sold mathieu on the apartment was the beautiful wood floors and in fact it's one of the things my eye went to first. that herringbone pattern is classically beautiful, interesting and fun. completely amazing.



mathieu's drawing table folds away revealing space for an orderly shoe closet. making use of every inch of space in a somewhat small apartment. genius.



while this apartment design and it's furnishings may not be your style, and actually many aspects are not even my own style, how perfect was the concept? and in some ways...how, out of a comic book, does this space appear. really neat.
“so we developed this box concept, where bits of white space separate all the shelves.” the boxes’ interiors are painted dark colors so when set against the white walls they function like dioramas, or frames in a storyboard." said santiard, the architect on the project.
the entire article is a great read, on how the envisioned the space once they were introduced to it by mathieu and also allows you to see the construction photos, the before and after parts. which are fun too, to see the amount of work involved in getting to the finished project. enjoy your mid-week wednesday everyone!