editing a room

You could say that I've had a strong sense of personal style since I was a child.  This was highly influenced by my two older sisters...but despite growing up with zero clothing budget, I managed to carve out a signature style.  I have no problem putting together an outfit and relish any chance to express myself in that regard.

That being said, it wasn't until probably 3 years ago that I started trying to really discover my personal aesthetic as it related to interior design and decor.  My husband is a devoted minimalist mixed with vintage, and our home reflected that alone, which I was fine with until I wanted something a bit more  "me."  Which, by the way, is simply NOT minimal (well, I am minimal but I've defined it as not NOTHING, but a small amount of things I love).   I started following design blogs and asking friends (two of which used to be in interior design) about feng shui, decor, and various stylistc choices in order to find out what I loved.  

My voice began to ring clear, so I started acquiring peices that were very me.  I like to call it Victorian/Modern.  Joel was a very good sport about it all, but now we are realizing that my editing eye is really rather underdevelped.  I now have WAY too much of what I love and no talent at arranging it.  SOOO, I am back to the drawing board of design.  I'm trying to collect images of edited rooms that I still really love.  The key is to express myself (and my husband) as best we can while still leaving enough space for the eyes to rest and for the energy to flow.

Phew.

That was a really long way to say that
I love this room.

via Candace Morris on Pinterest

The bookshelves are awesome, and I love the way the living room contains darker (heavy even) pieces, but because of the editing and arrangement, really cozify all the white walls.

Have you figured out how to edit your things?
crm

( image originally viewed here )

Book Lamp

Alrighty, here's another design conundrum for me.  My sister sent me the link to this book lamp, and at first, I thought "OUI!!!" but upon further investigation, I discovered a catch.  The house stays illuminated once the book is placed on top.  What kind of person can sleep with such light?  Hmmmm.

Thoughts?

Austrian Hotel of Fairy Tales

No effing way, right?  

That's what I said when I saw it too.
Go HERE to see more.

:: via black eiffel ::

Lamp Love

Entranced at all the geometric inspiration in this room.  And that LIGHT...what the what?

I love it.

Bird Cork-board

Look how darn cute this sustainable cork-board is!  There is also a bear shape and a frog shape.  Boring squares, be gone!

spied in the July LUCKY (which also incidentally features Milla Jovovich on the cover wearing the Aldo heels I purchased last month!) 

Chandelier

Just spied this amazing chandelier in the May Elle Decor.

So mossy and wild!!!

House Lust: Half Moon Bay, California

Today, I'm spending the morning escaping into this 20-acre ranch in Half Moon Bay, California.  

Just a cool 3 million, anyone wanna go in?

Thanks, Jess, for sending it my way.

Elle Decor Review

My April Elle Decor just arrived so if you don't have the time to leaf through it,

 here's a brief synopsis of my favorite parts!

The newly opened Banyan Tree Hotel in Mexico looks like a PERFECT Acapulco retreat.  

Each villa comes with a personal pool.
 SIGH.

The Lotus side table from Baker Furniture...love nature-inspired pieces for the home.

Would LOVE to stay at the Dean Street Townhouse in historic London. 

 I am completely swayed by the bathtub in the room.

A few of my picks from the website 1stdibs.com.  

It was mentioned several times throughout the magazine as a great 

resource to designers for antique furniture.  

As always, you can find more at their website.  

BOOK-INSPIRED CAFE

(see more here)

I'm in book cafe infatuation.  I especially adore the ceiling and those pull-down tables.  

In the words of Liz Lemon, "I want to go to there."  If I make it to NYC this year, you can bet I plan to.

The architect's responsible for designing this cafe for McNally Jackson Books is NY based  Front Studio.

Purple On My Mind

( *** )

I've been immensely attracted to purple things lately.  Purple lipstick (in pinstripe plumb), purple carpets, and now...I've been admiring this purple room ever since I first saw it on sfgirlbybay.  I especially love the contrasting textures of purple (one is obviously wall paper) and color pop of that turquoise.  

It got me wandering around for more purple interiors:

( *** )

I would just love to have this much space for a dining room, then to add that luxury of purple velvet?  Oui!

( *** )

I've never loved lighter purples, but this feels so inviting and clean.

( *** )

Love the mustard accents! 

(And that bench? OMG.)

( *** )

Or this purple which has a bit more grey to it...very soothing.

P.S.....

And wouldn't this chair be PERFECT in any of these rooms.

Swoon.

Penguin Postcards

These were the hot item on the internet last week, and I just simply had to share them here too!  

Yep, ladies and gents, these are penguin-edition book cover postcards!  

It looks like they're available for purchase HERE

 ( just in case someone is looking for a Vday present for little 'ol me.)

( "But she hates Valentine's day," he says)

("Well yeah, but I LOVE PRESENTS," she quips back)

(I mean, I could cast aside my hatred of the day just once, if I had to.)

(I'm just sayin'.)

I gasp!

As I was perusing my (very full) google reader Monday morning, I scrolled through these pictures at Design Sponge, each with a gasp!

Those bird houses!!!

That entire ROOOOOM! (but esp the couch)

This bistro nook thingy!

(and the books?! PAH-LEAZE!)

Well, I am just smitten with this work by designer Emily Henson!  She seems to embody just the right balance of clean and chaos, white and color...for both my hubby and I.  I must hire her post haste!

Room for Color

I know I am supposed to be adding more color to my life, but I cannot help but feel the exact right amount of January simplicity in these black and white rooms.

 

 

I am in Florida this week!  I am just now off to the beach and hope to post some inspiring "hold on for spring!" posts as I can't help but feel lighter while I shed my heavy coat and leather boots for sandals and light cardigans. 

~MME.

{ seen here }

Chirp Chirp

 

I think these bird sculptures are just darling placed on books, credenzas, liquor cabinets...I'm just sayin.  Would these be useful to you, or do you think it's just another thing to collect dust?  January has been all about pairing down, so unless Pottery Barn can come design my house to look minimal and clean, I guess I won't be adding these cute little guys...such a shame!

(all images courtesy of Pottery Barn)

Dreaming of this desk...

I am absolutely in love with the idea of sitting at my desk with a cozy chair...side by side with lover.   It is the fine work of designer Bobo Olsson. 

What do you all think?  Could you work right next to your partner?

(originally espied here)

Bookclub...

I am an avid reader of Down and Out Chic, a great little blog by a friend Christina, and she's recently gotten behind a new bookclub.  Since I never read anything non-classic, I've decided this may be just the ticket I need to branch out and do something I would not otherwise do.  It's a great idea, and I would love for you to join as well!!

The first book is entitled Half Broke Horses.   Send Christina a note at downandoutchic@gmail.com and tell her I sent ya!

Looking forward to a year of new things!

~MME.

My kind of living room...

Apparently I need to find this Todd Yoggy, as everything I've seen seems to be exactly how I would want a room.  Victorian and traditional with hints of irreverence and modernity.  Wait, did I just describe me?

~MME.


Found via the always inspiring Desire to Inspire.

My kind of living room...

Apparently I need to find this Todd Yoggy, as everything I've seen seems to be exactly how I would want a room.  Victorian and traditional with hints of irreverence and modernity.  Wait, did I just describe me?

~MME.


Found via the always inspiring Desire to Inspire.

My favorite dog on Desire To Inspire!

I am so excited!  My photography and my favorite dog made it to one of my favorite design blogs, Desire To Inspire.  I love this blog because it's really consitently showing the design world new things, not just the popular pictures that most design blogs just seem to swap back and forth.  If you subscribe to only one design blog this year, I seriously suggest Desire To Inspire.

Yay for Clarence!!

My brother, his owner..."Great, now he's going to want us to find him an agent:)"  Hah!