The perfect niche...

(Designed by David Lawrence, featured in Domino March '06)

is all I've wanted for my bedroom. I would build an alcove just for the purpose of having a cozy spot for my bed. I don't know why this really appeals to me, maybe it's some link to my childhood...the canopy bed I had most of my life, all those huts made of boxes, and just the feeling of having a private spot (I sound like I grew up with 10 siblings instead of 2). Either way, anyone lucky enough to do so, should try this...so, here's a little inspiration for you!

(Photo by Justin Bernhaut, May 2006, featured on Domino website)

(Designers Diamond Baratta, featured in Elle Decor, May '06)

(Designer Adrienne Neff, featured in Domino, Oct. '06)

(Featured in Elle Decor Home book byFilipacchi publishing)

(Bedroom featured on Inside Avenue blog)

I'm just curious...

(A vintage glass collection, via Metropolitan Home, Jan/Feb. '04)

What do you collect? I don't mean to pry...it's just that ever since reading last weeks post by House of Beauty and Culture on collecting antique taxidermy, well I've just been so curious as to what, other interesting collections people might have. So, if you don't mind, do tell!!!

It could just be a collection of antique botanical prints of ferns. (via House Beautiful, Nov. '91)

Maybe you collect plates?!?! (The famous Viceroy Hotel designed by Kelly Wearstler, via Jane d' Avril blog)

What about splints?!?! Come on...tell me. (Home of Steven Sclaroff, via Domino, Dec./Jan '07)

Back to taxidermy, what kind of creatures do you have? (A bedside treasure in Scarloff's home, via Domino Dec/Jan '07)

It could be clocks...like these George Nelson pieces. (Via Metropolitan Home, Jan/Feb '03)

Or vintage hubs, shown here suspended on wire (Home designed by Thom Filicia, via House and Garden, Aug. '07)

Ebay friday...I think I will!

It's Friday...and I couldn't be happier! To keep up my black and white obsession ( I call it so, because I've posted now 3 times on it in the past week or so.), I found these newly restored lounge chairs on Ebay, the pair's starting bid is $100, ending : Aug-19-07 21:06:56 PDT. So, there's plently of time to figure out if you love them enough to make them yours.

On another note, I hope you have a great weekend!!!

My subscription addiction.

Well, what can I say...my other half dreads every year, when I have to renew my many magazine subscriptions. I can understand where he's coming from, but I just don't care enough to seek help.


So, last weekend I was visiting with some friends (both of whom are landscape architects)...and I came across this magazine Garden Design in their mail pile (it was on top, I swear). I knew at that point I wasn't leaving their house with out it. After a few glasses of wine, food, more wine...I convinced them to let me permanently barrow it! SO, sorry to say honey...we will have one more magazine subscription coming to our home :)


I'm so impressed with this publication...it covers everything! Above is an image of a royal purple sage flower, native to Mexico.


It features some of the most beautiful landscaping and design, like this hillside home in central Texas (designed by Selena Souders and Dylan Robertson).


Who knew ferns looked so great! Here is a feature on a variety of ferns and how they can be used as centerpieces.


For those urban folks...dress up your terrace!! Here is a highlight from exterior designer Julie Milligan and her lovely outdoor room.

*All images from Garden Design, Aug/Sept. 2007*

** For a great garden inspired blog, visit Robyn over at Garden Rooms**

Go ahead...break the rules

A wonderful slideshow on House and Garden website, explains why in design, rules are meant to be broken....here are a few highlights, you must visit the site to see the rest!

"Mixing styles is the mainstay of 21st-century interiors." -- Miles Redd. Here ornate 17th-century-style chandeliers are combined with countrified checks in Carlos de Beistegui's dining room.

"Clashing color combinations—yellow and purple, red and blue, coral and turquoise—always make a bold statement."--Hutton Wilkinson

It's okay to turn it inside...Le Corbusier and Carlos de Beistegui decorated this terrace to look like a living room!

Go ahead...play with scale, like decorators Michael Coorengel and Jean-Pierre Calvagrac have done in this room.

It's okay to fake it and add a little humor to a scene, like what was created here by Hubert Le Gall.

The lil house that could...

I know I've mentioned my home before and the facelift it's about to receive...maybe I spoke about the fact that it is a real interesting experience fixing this home, or the fact that we had to move out of one half of the house, and are now living in our kitchen, basically.

But, I thought it was time to show a few pics of what really sold us on the purchase of our first home :)


We bought this lovely house knowing it would need a lot of work...no, really (we thought, wow what a great learning experience this will be, and a quick one too)! I guess what really sold us, is that underneath all this lovely shade o' brown carpet is hardwood floors, and that the space plan isn't all that bad and won't require us to move any walls.


People come over and take the "before" tour, and say things like: "Are you going to keep the carpet?"--with a confused look on their face. Or, "What's with the color scheme in the bathroom?" -- the one we haven't even started remodeling yet!!!


When we got the keys to the house, all this lovely furniture you see in these pics was still here our first night!!! And our realtor looked at us and said..."well, you're welcome to keep any of it, if you like." And I thought: "well, you're welcome to give us back your commission, if you like". But, I ended up having the furniture hauled away instead of her :)


So far, the process hasn't been all that bad. It took us a while to build up momentum...but we are steadily making progress every day. We are both learning a lot...of patience that is!


And the gem of the house...our peach, teal, and white spare bathroom. We'd be crazy not to keep this scheme, right?

Does this make me look fat?!?!

(Kenneth Alpert, featured in Interior Design, Feb. '03)

I know you've heard people say that horizontal stripes aren't that flattering to wear...but on your walls, it's perfectly okay...in fact, brilliant! To continue a black and white kick I've been on since last week, I thought I'd share of my favorite scenarios of where black and white stripes look oh so good together. Hope you enjoy!!! **Sorry if these images combined give you vertigo :)**

(Alessandra Branca, featured in Elle Decor, Dec. '06)

(Miles Redd, featured in Domino, Oct. '05)

(Anne Coyle, featured in Elle Decor, March '05)

(Mary McDonald, featured in Domino, Jan/Feb '06)

(Charles Allem, via Desire to Inspire blog)

Sittin pretty...

I just found this French Provincial bench on Ebay...I think with the right fabric it would be perfect in a foyer or maybe at the foot of the bed. Its current bid price is $200 and the bidding ends: Aug-12-07 18:17:57 PDT . I couldn't pass up blogging this one, in case it's the piece you've been looking for all these years :)

really, that's vinyl?

Vinyl wallcovering is really coming a long ways!!! I was pretty impressed when Wolf Gordon sent me some samples from their new collection...that I thought I'd do a post on them and show off some of the patterns I found: new and old. Tell me what you think?

Style name: Boxed-in

Style name: Solistice

Style name: Macao

Style name: India

Style name: Casbah

Have a good weekend!!!

Black and White sale....

While wondering through the blog world I came across a site called Chicmuse, which clued me in on the summer sale happening right now at Gumps...I was impressed with the selection of black and white items and the sale prices, so much that I thought I should spread the word. Here are a few things I found, that I thought you'd enjoy...

Cloissonne Tea Jars: $299-$99

Pagoda wrought iron armchair: $149.99

Sulu Canopy Daybed $999.99

Crescent Table Lamp, stitched black leather and polished nickel: $179.99

Lacquered Pagoda Mirror: $199.99

One of my favorites...

You may already know how I feel about Todd Romano...really, just look at the above image and tell me if don't feel the same way...I know, how could you not! This tasteful apartment of Robert Burke, was featured in Elle Decor/Sept. 2005 issue, and decorated by Todd Romano...fit for a gentleman, but any woman would be crazy not to love it as well! See for yourself, and do enjoy!