Why Don't You?

...add dimension, texture and warmth to your kitchen by displaying your cutting boards?  The ladies of  Dehn Bloom Design created this artful arrangement in the pantry of the SF Decorators Showcase using color blocked cutting boards from Lostine (one of my new favorite finds!) and vintage boards from Big Daddy's Antiques.  I just love the way the painted boards play-off the Spinneybeck leather pulls and the Restoration Hardware Toledo Bar Stools -- it feels very MARCH SF, don't you think?

If you're looking to add to your cutting board collection then I suggest picking up a few of Lostine's leather handle reclaimed wood boards or these vintage beauties from Jayson Home.

(Image by John Merkl)

Hooked

Coat weather is on the way which means we need a place to hang them! I've never been one to actually hang my coat in the closet when I get home, I don't know if I blame it on laziness or the fact that I fear the contents will topple over if I open the door, so I'm definitely a coat hook girl.  I've been on the lookout for the perfect hooks for my entry for quite some time.  The entry is the first thing people see when they enter your home so I wanted something glamorous and fun. 

Enter these lovely Raw Zeolite and Raw Pyrite hooks by artist Melissa Joy Manning. They're handmade in Melissa's Berkeley studio and sold exclusively at Anthropologie. I plan to hang a few in my entry--one for moi and one for my pooch. They're a little pricey but I've convinced myself that they'll act as jewelry for my walls!

Smitten | Waterstone Succulents

 I love plants and the layer of interest and texture they add to a space but I just can't seem to keep them alive.  Does anyone else have this problem? I bought a succulent last year because someone told me they're the "masters of survival"...I proved them wrong and I killed mine in a month.  So when Etsy featured these lovely Waterstone Succulents last week I thought, finally, a beautiful faux plant!  Such a genius concept - a plant you can’t over or under water!  I purchased this gold one but I have a feeling that once it arrives I'm going to want more!  Brown thumbs rejoice!

A House with Soul

I feel like I haven't seen a home with a real soul in a while.  You know, one that really conveys the personality, imagination and style of the person who lives in it...a home that is not perfectly "styled" but is unique and tells the story of the owner, not some shelter mag.  But that all changed today when I came across the Madrid home of former model Laura Ponte.  This place has soul, real soul.  It's an eccentric house, full of treasures, where every detail is a surprise and that, along with its owner, has evolved over the years. You can see images from the home's former life at Nuevo Estilo. I like it's current evolution which was published in the May issue of AD España, it's easily one of the chicest places I've come across.

Why Don't You | Chic Shoe Storage

If the industrial bookcase in the living room were not filled with books, family photographs and a growing collection of knick-knacks, it would be filled with shoes!  One of the great things about growing up and having your own home is that you get to make the rules...and rules are meant to be broken.  Heels in a china cabinet? Sure, why not!  At this point in my life it actually seems more logical to display my shoes than my china, because lets face it, the pair of Jimmy Choo Biker Boots I bought last year probably cost more than my entire collection of Crate and Barrel outlet dishes and Goodwill china! 

So on this lovely Wednesday, why don't you consider using your grandmother's glass front hutch to display all the beautiful items hiding in your closet! And if your grandmother didn't leave you a hutch?  Well fear not...pictured above are a few fabulous Flea finds from Jayson Home. The early 20th century French brass vitrine reminds me of the piece in Aerin Lauder's office.  Très chic.

Vintage Brass Vitrine | Antique Green Vitrine | Antique Black and Blue Vitrine | Industrial Metal Rack | Cerused Oak Cabinet 

(Images 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 )

Vintage Cabinet Envy

Well, I actually envy everything in this gorgeous Brentwood home designed by Estee Stanley (the co-founder of HomeMint) but it's the vintage cabinet in the living room that has me smitten!  I've decided I'm in desperate need of a similar piece for my home.  I absolutely love this late 19th century piece from Jayson Home--It's vintage French perfection and unfortunately for moi, the price reflects it. But fear not, I've found two fabulous alternatives: Restoration Hardware's Printmaker's Sideboard and Pom Pom Interiors' 8 Drawer Dresser.  How about that?  And before I conclude, can we just take a moment to discuss the cabinet's styling?  Leaning artwork makes everything better.

You can read more about this incredible home in the August issue of Lonny.

(images patrick cline for lonny)

Villa Oasis

Today I'm feeling inspired by the 'Menzeh' in the late Yves Saint Laurent's spectacular Marrakech home, Villa Oasis. The stunning Paris meets Moroccan style was created by designers Bill Willis and Jacques Grange. Laurent was quoted saying "It was Bill who coined the design vocabulary of today's Morocco."  You can see more of the home in the books Moroccan Interiors by Lisa Lovatt-Smith and Bill Willis by Marian McEvoy.

My Home | Bedroom Inspiration

I've made it my weekend mission to in incorporate a little yellow into my home.  On Wednesday I mentioned the possibility of yellow curtains in my living room but after mulling it over I decided against it.  So, on the the only other room in my tiny apartment...the bedroom!  I haven't been able to stop thinking about the color palette in this Samantha Tod Hunter designed bedroom since I posted it a few weeks back.  I have always been drawn to lighter colors in the bedroom and the textures, materials and style of Hunter's room is very similar to what I already have going on.

With that said, I'm determined to spend my plan-free weekend cleaning and sprucing up my place.  From the items pictured above I already own the chair, lamp, mirror, grey linen bedding and dresser.  Now I just need to (finally) buy a headboard, make some curry yellow curtains, purchase those insanely gorgeous pink linen towels for my bathroom and attempt to replicate this killer Ross Bleckner painting. I've got two days and not a lot on money...wish me luck!

What are you weekend plans? 

(Images 1 / 2 / 3 )

Hermes Wallpaper

I’ve been on the hunt for interesting wallpaper for my sister's bathroom and though these are surely out of her budget, I can’t help but admire Hermes’ gorgeous new wallpaper collection. Inspired by their iconic silk scarves, these would be perfect for a jewel box powder room or closet!

(images via Vogue)

Curtain Call

Reading about Michelle Adam's large, cold high-rise windows in the August issue of Lonny got me thinking about my own apartment. I live in a very similar space - 10ft windows that, I'm embarrassed to admit, have vertical blinds (gasp!). The first thing I asked before I signed the lease on my place was if I was allowed to take them down, the answer was no. I've done my best to avoid closing the blinds in my living room but even with them open, that big pile of plastic shoved in the corner drives me nuts! So I've been thinking about how to disguise this unfortunate feature in the most cost effective, renter friendly way. The large windows need to be softened up a bit so I plan to hang 2 fake curtain panels on either side of the room. Note the word fake, the panels will not open (I'd need 20+ yards of fabric to cover the entire wall) but will hide vertical blinds.

The curtains will act as the jewelry in my living room ensemble, they'll add a dose of gorgeous color, texture and dimension.  Renters take note, colored curtains look great against white walls! I'm having a moment with canary yellow but I also love the look of tailored linen with trim. Above are some of my favorite looks...let me know which one you like best!
 
(images via 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5)

My Weekend in Pictures

A peek at my weekend visit to Washington DC!  This trip included lots of eating: dinner at Cork, brunch at Belga Café, pizza at 2Amy's; long walks with my love, date night in Georgetown, a glimpse of Darryl Carter's new showroom in Shaw, and the most decadent peanut butter shake from Shake Shack.  Every time I visit I fall more in love with Paul and his new city.  I want to go back...

(images via instagram: kristinkerr)

Question | Neon in the Home

This neutral room feels very now thanks to an incredible oversize, neon green chandelier. It's striking, sure, but in one year will it just be a trendy, expensive mistake?  Will the now feel dated? Neon is everywhere these days so the looming question on my mind: How much do you love it and do you see it being a long term relationship?  I'd love to hear your thoughts below!

(Image Ital Design)

Cornered

Packing a home office and guest room into a 10'x14' room may not be ideal but it can work.  I'm helping a client design a multi-use space right now and as much as she should like to have the full bed centered in the room with a nightstand on either side, it's just not going to happen. The room is small and they have enough paperwork to fill about 10 filing cabinets. Because two full walls are pretty much taken over with the biggest closet doors you have ever seen and awkward windows we are forced to get really creative with how the hell we are going to fit a bed, storage and a double desk in the room AND make it look good.

Enter the corner headboard.  Super chic, right?  Placing the bed in the corner frees us space in the center of the room and the double headboard anchors the bed making it's placement feel purposeful.  Pack it with pillows and you've got yourself a crazy awesome daybed just asking to be lounged on.  I wish Ballard made their Isabella corner bed in a full but they don't so we'll have to do custom.  I'll keep you posted on the progress...I'm thinking nubby linen with Pucci pillows. Oh snap.

(Image Aparat)

Emma Lawrenson

I'm absolutely loving these vibrantly-hued prints by UK artist Emma Lawrenson.  I stumbled upon Emma's Etsy shop, Little Print Press, while working on an interior project and was instantly drawn to her sensibility of color.  The bright colors and abstract shapes have a very 1970s Ellsworth Kelly vibe which I'm totally digging. Any one of these think will look great paired with my more traditional furniture.  I'm thinking yellow for my office.  Which one is your favorite?

The World of Aerin

Last week I received an email inviting me to check out the chic existence that is the "World of Aerin".  One click and I was hooked.  Inspired by her grandmother and role model, Estée, Aerin Lauder's new site provides everything from advice on simple, chic entertaining to shopping and family musings.  In each entry Aerin comes across as modest, thoughtful, family oriented, and effortlessly cool.  Her entries are so personal and genuine you'll feel like you're reading an email from a good (very chic) friend.  I cannot wait for the launch of her brand Aerin--she will unveil small decorative objects, like this sea urchin, for the holiday season, a home line in the spring, and soon thereafter, jewelry and other accessories--but in the meantime, I’ll be heading back to aerin.com for my daily dose of chic!