Inspired by Cynthia Frank

.01 Abstract painting | .02 Regent demilune table | .03 Orange chair | .04 Horn accent table | .05 Casa Bello Sofa | .06 White floor lamp | .07 Rope coffee table | .08 Seagrass table |.09 Grey velvet pillow

I know, I know....I took a very long break from the blog - But let me say this: When one steps away from the internet for a bit and focuses on business, one gets a whole lot accomplished and finds new sources of inspiration!  One also ends up swooning over other people's homes and contemplating selling everything you own and starting over!

One such home is that of Elle Decor contributing editor, Cynthia Frank!  I've loved Cynthia's style for a while now and didn't even realize it - turns out photographer Claiborne Swanson Frank consulted Cynthia, her mother-in-law, while decorating her lovely New York apartment (blogged about here).  Now I'm being a little exaggerated when I say I now want to sell everything I own and start over - I just really love this home.  Those vintage plaster lamps made me sigh and the black and white marble floor! This inspired me to add a little bit more color to my home for summer and was the overall style inspiration for my "Girl on a Budget" project (which I share more on later) - think lots of white and pops of color!

I put together a Cynthia inspired board above with some great pieces from Horchow (they're having an incredible sale right now), West Elm and Etsy.  That rope coffee table has my name written all over it!   Granny chic, what?

Where do you get decor inspiration from?

Smitten | Vintage Vanity Accessories

I was cleaning out my makeup drawer yesterday and I got to thinking that my bathroom could seriously use a little spruce up.  I started looking through some of the pictures on my Bathrooms pinterest board and realized that a lot of the bathrooms I like have vintage vanity accessories on display.  I'm a sucker for an unexpected, opulent moment and sterling and cut crystal vanity jars that were once used for powder and perfume or brightly colored opaline jewelry boxes add the perfect amount of vintage charm to a modern bath or bedroom.  I also love the idea of putting daily vitamins and other medications in vintage apothecary jars and displaying them on the counter - I figure if they're out in the open I'll be more likely to take my daily vitamins daily! Corral everything on a beautiful tray to avoid clutter and maybe add a little piece of coral and you'll have the chicest bathroom around!

So, do tell, what's on your bathroom counter?

images T Magazine / Nate Berkus / Good Things for Life

Inspired by Cy Twombly

I really loved the colors in this painting, Untitled, 2001, so last week I decided to pick up a paint brush and try my hand at reinterpreting the work of one of my favorite artists, Cy Twombly.  I'm really happy with how the piece turned out - it adds the perfect pop of color to my neutral bedroom!  Next up, creating a piece for over my sofa...yes, that canvas is still blank.  I'll share my inspiration for that project later in the week.

Why Don't You...

Why don't you hang a few panels of fabric behind your bed to add interest and height to your bedroom walls?  My friend Liz and I were recently discussing how she's having a hard time deciding what to hang over her bed. There are a medley of options available from mirrors to artwork and sculptures to nothing at all but finding the perfect piece for that awkward space can be tricky when you're on a budget because the scale has to be just right - that's why I love this option!  It's a simple and elegant way to soften the walls and is a great option is you don't have a headboard. You could easily whip up a few reversible panels for under $100 then flip them over depending on your mood or the season.

So, do tell, what's hanging above your bed?  Still on the hunt?

Image Antony Todd's Manhattan Apartment 

Family Photographs

My sister and I have had the "where to display family photographs"debate several times so I thought I would get my dear readers opinions.  I have no problem displaying a picture of my grandmother on my bedroom dresser and for some reason my sister thinks that it's beyond weird.  So I must ask, do you display your family photos and memories through out your home or do you keep them tucked away in an album?

I know I just posted about my love/hate relationship with salon walls but when I saw this photograph of magazine editor Darcy Miller Nussbaum's breakfast nook in Architectural Digest I was quite taken with the gallery arrangement of family photographs.  What I think I really like is that the photos are hung in an area where the family probably gathers daily for meals so they can really enjoy the pictures and be surrounded by memories why making new ones.  I also like that all of the black and white images are displayed in simple box frames because it's a great juxtaposition to that stunning light fixture!   This photo actually has me thinking maybe I should take the family photos out of my bedroom and arrange a cluster of them in a more neutral territory.  Thoughts?

Right Round, Baby

Clarendon mirror $249 | White Mosaic Mirror $595 | Palazzo Antiqued-Glass Mirror $519 | Bistro Antiqued Brass Mirror $500 | Tork Brass Dripped Mirror $229

So to follow up to yesterday's post, today I bring you a wee little sneak peek at my bedroom. For as long as I can remember I have wanted my very own vanity so since my bedroom is very long and narrow I decided to forgo matching nightstands and set up my own little makeup station using an Ikea Malm console which I painted high-gloss gray, a stool topped with homemade fur cushion and a lovely round brass mirror from CB2.  I was attempting to channel the look and feel of lovely vanity in the second picture above.  I already had the console, stool, and vintage lamps but it took me forever to source an affordable large round mirror.  Big round mirrors are tricky to find, but as luck would have it, I stumbled across the perfect piece in the most recent CB2 catalog.  I had tried using a rectangular mirror that I already owned in the space but the images above convinced me that round was the way to go! So in case you too are on the hunt for a round mirror, above is my round-up (catch that?) of reasonably priced large round mirrors. Which one is your favorite?

Images: one kristin kerr interiors / two / three / four / five / six / seven

Decorating with Texture

My bedroom is finally complete and I can't wait to share it with everyone!  I was trying to describe the design to one of my friends and as the words monochromatic, gray, tan, and white came out of my mouth I thought, wow that seems kind of boring and flat.  But the more I though about it and looked at the space I realized that the layers of textures are what make the room interesting.  Instead of accent colors or patterns I used textures and surfaces to add depth; a natural jute rug, silk curtains, fur pillows, linen bedding, shiny vintage mercury glass lamps, a high gloss vanity and warm wood dresser.  It's all about striking the perfect balance with texture and I think the rooms pictured above do just that.  Below are my tips and tricks for decorating with texture:

+ Flooring A textured natural fiber rug, like this jute boucle one from West Elm, will ground a space and makes the perfect base for layering a smaller vintage kilim or Flokati rug.  

+Walls Vertical surfaces and ceilings are a great places to play up texture. If you want a cozy look try  grasscloth, raffia or leather.  If you're more of a modernist try high-gloss paint or a lacquered wallcovering for an ultra sleek look. 

+ Furniture I think every room needs at least one piece of textured furniture.  Tweed, boucle, linen and velvet can all be mixed and matched to add depth and interest. Let this fantastic pair of vintage Italian chairs newly upholstered in creamy white wool boucle fabric serve as inspiration for your next thrift store furniture find.

+ Pillows No need to rely on trendy prints, add interest to your sofa with textured pillows.  I made a pillow for my bedroom using a vintage fur shawl but this nubby handwoven llama wool pillow from Jayson Home or black fringe pillow from Belkina would've also done the trick!

+ Accessories Mix objects found in nature like geodes, coral, horns and feathers with shiny brass figures and vintage pottery.

images one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight

Hats Off

Why don't you pull your hats out of your closet and stack them on a bust or hang them on your wall so they act as art when not in use?  In my home closet space is at a premium so I'm always on the lookout for clever ways to clear up space and artfully display my collections.  I hate clutter but in this case it doesn't hurt that hats themselves are so beautiful.  I haven't quite decided how I'm going to display my evergrowing collection but I do plan to look at the above examples for inspiration.

images one-five / seven

Lean Back

To hang or not to hang, that is the question: I personally got sick of the whole gallery wall trend pretty much as soon as I had the last picture hung above my sofa.  So, with that said, I quickly dissembled it and found myself with a surplus of art.  Instead randomly hanging it else where in my apartment I decided to take my deconstructed gallery wall and create an overlapping and leaning group on the floor in my office.  I liked the look so much that when it came time to decorate the area over my credenza I decided to go nail-free and just layer a few of my favorite pieces.

Some notes for creating this laid-back chic look...well it's all about the mix.  Mix mediums, frames and heights - place taller pieces in the back then lean smaller pieces in front.  And if you don't have a large art collection don't fret...you can get the same low-key look with a single piece.  Whether displayed along the floor, on a mantle or atop a dresser or credenza, this effortless look is perfect for commitment-phobes renters and makes switching things around easy peasy!

images one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine / ten / eleven