Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...

I know, mirrored walls often get a bad rap but their reflective surface instantly opens up a room adding a touch of glamour. I especially like the way smaller antiqued square mirrors look when hung in a grid. The smoky mirrored wall in Todd Romano's old apartment above is one of my all-time favorites! The tiles provide an enchanting background and help define this seating area as separate from the rest of his living room.

Antiqued mirror tiles anchor this chic vignette and create the illusion of another room behind the table. Just look at the way those red chairs pop against the wall. Love it!

This weekend I might just channel Versailles!  With a pack of Ikea tiles, a few decorative pewter stars and this genius tutorial I'll have my very own "hall of mirror" in no time!  What's your plan for the weekend?

(Images via Elle Decor and Nuevo Estilo)

The Perfect Pantry

Yes, you read that right...this is a pantry, a pantry that is larger than my parent's kitchen and perfect because it's covered in a wonderful wallpaper designed by David Hicks for Clarence House called The Vase. I love this wallpaper in all of it's colorways but especially the yellow and white combination seen here. I'm using it in the guestroom/possible nursery of the house I'm designing in Maine. I mean really, who wouldn't love to wake up to this cheery paper every morning!?! 
The guest room "before" shots...I'll share the rest of the design soon!

(Image via At Home in Arkansas) 

X-tra Seating

Hello, hello!  I'm feeling refreshed after an amazing 4 day weekend!  It was a productive yet fun weekend, I hung out with friends and managed to squeeze in a little work.

So now the topic at hand.  Extra seating.  I'm working on a project for a couple that recently purchased an average size condo in Chicago.  One of the first things they told me was that a sectional sofa was on the top of their wish list.  Obviously I want to make my client happy but after drawing up the floor plan a sectional sofa just doesn't seem doable - it would take up the entire living room leaving no room for additional seating or side tables. 

Designing a small condo can be tricky, you have to consider scale and hiding the TV.  Don't get me wrong, I love TV and watch a lot of it but a big sofa just staring at it is just plain ugly.  When you're designing a home with an open floor plan (and not extra tv room) the trick is to create a space that is formal enough to entertain yet cozy enough to kick up your feet and watch TV.  Enter the x-bench.  It's the chicest, most versatile alternative to a sectional sofa.  You can use it as a foot reset when watching TV or as extra seating for guests then just tuck it under a console table when not in use. Genius.  Just genius I tell you! 

Julie Massucco Kleiner

Todd Romano

Antony Todd

Nate Berkus

Sig Bergamin

X Bench by Ballard Designs | Chloe X Bench by Kindel | X Bench by Kindel | X Base Stool by Wisteria | Woven X Bench by Baker | Raffia X Bench by Vanguard