Tile Tats

At book club last night, we found ourselves laughing about the tile in my friend Lisa's new (old) house: hand-painted fruits and vegetables in 24 individual designs, scattered about on all four walls of the kitchen.  (Lisa, send me a photo so these folks can truly understand the problem!)

Now, these tiles I'm sure had their day. The problem is, that day is not today, and Lisa and her family are planning to just live with them until they eventually gut the kitchen.

I was reminded of a product I stumbled upon a while back.

here

Tile Tattoos from Mibo in the UK.  So smart, right?  They are waterproof when applied, and removable when you're done (great for renters.)  The drawbacks?  Well, they only come in two designs right now, the slightly Moroccan one above, and a very Atomic 50s look, below.

here

At 12.50 British pounds per set of 8, they aren't super cheap--but way cheaper than replacing the tile, and a lot of look for the dough.

What do you think: would you give your tile a tat?

Craving: Yellow

Source: thehuntedinterior.blogspot.com via Heather on Pinterest

When I was a kid, my mom allowed me to choose the paint color in my room.  At the tender age of 4 or 5, I chose yellow.  I remember how bright that room was when the sun came pouring in, and the good feeling that it gave me.  Over the years, I have used yellow in my own home in many different ways, and it seems to show up as an accent in my client's spaces on the regular, too.

Source: google.com via Heather on Pinterest

But finding items in just the right shade can be tricky, as manufacturers follow trends, and for the last few years we've seen a ton of chartreuse and citron.  (Another favorite of mine, so I am not complaining!)  A client was particularly craving yellow recently but every single throw pillow and lamp seemed to have a green undertone.  As spring catalogs come my way, I'm noticing a reversal: today's yellow is becoming more clear: lemon or sunshine, or even leaning to the orange: marigold.  (Also quite a lot of butter, but that pale shade leaves me a little cold.)

Using all the yellow items I have saved to olioboard, I thought I would make a simple little round up.  But then I did that thing where I took an easy thing and made it hard: I set off on the search for every yellow thing under the sun (pun intended).  It overflowed into, well, LOTS of boards.

Accent Furniture

Lighting

Seating

Textiles

Etc.

So much sunshine for this very grey Minnesota winter day!

Oh, sources, you say?  That might take a little while....stay tuned, or leave me a note if there is something you must know about.

Check out yellow in some of my old design boards for various clients: living room, living room, dining room, girls' shared room, girls' room, 9-year-old girls' room, plus boards just for fun, like the mixed-gender kids rooms or the floral bedspread 2 1/2 ways.

Tell me: do you love yellow, too?

The Elephant in the Room

Camels are having a moment.  Horses were all over our walls (well, Michelle Adams' walls.  And John and Sherry's.  And Thom Filicia's.  You get the idea.).  Owls were pretty huge for a while there.  And of course we can continue to joke about putting a bird on it.

Have you noticed that elephants have quietly taken over?  This trend has been around for a while but man, is it hitting saturation right now.  I have long loved John Robshaw's elephant pillows, and recently spotted this one that sort of kind of reminded me of them, you know, in a "look for less" kind of a way.

Elephants are all over Robshaw's new and excellent fabric collection for Duralee, and Lulu DK is using them in her kids line for Schumacher.  PB Kids has elephant sheets, and 70s throwback elephant wicker is turning up in a couple of places, too.  For your convenience, a round up.

Elephant throw pillows

Sources here

Elephant Sculptural objects

Sources here.

And, Elephant Bedding, wallcoverings, fabrics.

Sources here.

There are TONS of great options out there, if elephants are your thing.  (World Market has THREE PAGES of options if you search for "elephant," and don't even get me started on Jonathan Adler.)  But it can also go wrong, fast.  To see what I mean, just do a search for "elephant" in "home and kitchen" on amazon.com.  You will suddenly appreciate the quiet majesty of the elephants pictured here.

Happy weekend, folks!

Elevating a budget buy: it's all in the details

I often stop to marvel at all the accessible design choices we have nowadays.  When my mom and I did my bedroom in our new house 20 years ago, we had to have custom shams and bedskirts made because there simply weren't retail options.  Can you imagine?  Pre-West Elm, pre-Target "design for all," pre-Home Depot and Lowes in every town.  While I do occasionally lament the effect of big box stores on the mom and pop landscape, it's hard to deny the convenience and low prices that have come from their proliferation.

It also means there is more and more to buy that has the look, but lacks the quality.  While you can't fake actual quality, you can elevate an inexpensive piece.  It's all in the details.

I have been slowly redoing my afore-mentioned bedroom in my parents' house.  We replaced a pair of mismatched bamboo and rattan tables with these little mirrored side tables from Target for $89 each.

The only problem?  Those mass market silver knobs make them look like we paid $89 each.  Crystal knobs to the rescue!

(You can see the old custom bedskirt peeking out.  Amazingly, the color palette of minty green and peach--not to mention the splattery pattern--is making a comeback.  I'm tempted to keep it in the new scheme).

Crystal knobs, about 5 smackeroos at the Brass Handle.

Small change, big change.  Know what I mean?

Parsons

Parsons is a classic style of furniture generally classified by its simple shape and straight legs.  So classic, in fact, that these pieces have been interpreted a million ways.  West Elm even created a series on its blog (and in catalogs) to showcase what designers and bloggers have done with their West Elm parsons tables.


here

I was delighted to see a new parsons collection at Home Decorators, comprised of a coffee tables, console, side table and media stand, in bright orange, pale blue, black and white.



Unlike the classic, these tables have a base that sits on the floor.  As I notice my predilection for leggy upholstery, (there is more and more of it with the love for all things mid-century modern these days), having pieces like these can ground a space without making it too heavy.

Feels a bit like Ikea lack for grownup spaces.

What do you think: have you had a love affair with parsons style?  Did you know you can submit your own "Home Run" to West Elm?  They showcase images featuring any of their products used to express your sense of style--not just the Parsons.  Submission form here.  fun, right?

Schoolhouse Electric

You know those perfect vintage items that you see in magazines, and when you look for the source it was always found "on the side of the road" or in "the sweetest little general store in Maine"?  Those perfect, classic items that YOUR local thrift store never seems to come by?

There's a little shop that can help.

Schoolhouse Electric makes the camp blanket that looks like it might actually come from a camp.  The stoneware cannister that might have been a cookie jar in your friend's grandmother's lake house when you were a kid.  And the light fixtures that might have once graced, yes, a quaint schoolhouse.

Here's the thing, though.  None of this stuff feels "reproduction," though the hardware and lighting, in particular, hearkens back.  Somehow this stuff manages to be "vintagey" and authentic all at once.  Perhaps it has something to do with every glass shade being hand blown in Oregon.

It's funny, this sort of classic American look is not really my thing, but I just suggested the lighting, hardware, or linens to not one but three different clients.

You can check out the board here for shopping info, or just had over to Schoolhouse Electric and browse it all.  They have furniture, too, but it's just a little pricey for me.

Oh, and this company has no idea that I am writing this post, so yes, these opinions are mine and mine alone.

Christian LaCroix

here

Loving this wallpaper from Christian LaCroiz for Designer's Guild.  Reminds me a bit of this paper


via Living Etc.

But a little more haphazard, like a super chic pinboard gone trompe l'oeuil.

Ooh, and while we're on the subject, loving this one, too.  Not for me, but loving nonetheless.


here

It could be a fun DIY to "wallpaper" a small space by decoupaging your own ephemera, and add a clear polycoat over the top.  Add it to the list of things I would do in a crumbling old house, if that's where I lived.

Amazing Stuff in Blogland: new ideas, products, and resources

It struck me, when lots of random people started following me on pinterest, that I look at a LOT of images related to the home and home design.  Probably a little more than most people.

On average, I look at about fifty blogs a day; sometimes that number is double or, dare I admit, triple.  Naturally I encounter a lot of great ideas, inspiration, and resources.  Sometimes when blogs share great ideas they've seen on other blogs, I find myself thinking "duh, saw that."  But you, my readers, may not look at 50-100 blogs a day.  You may not have 400+ pins on pinterest.  You might like to see the great ideas, and be introduced to the great products, that I encounter in my travels.

So maybe I'll round 'em up on occasion.

This week, I was inspired by:

Hand-drawn Schumacher-inspired "wallpaper":



Can you say amazing?  Shannon from Shannon Berry design created her favorite Schumacher wallpaper with a SHARPIE and CRAFT PAINT.  Not sure where I first spotted it, this one is (rightly) making the rounds!  Check out her full tutorial here.

Amazing Photographs of Rickshaws



By Greg Vore, spotted on Elements of Style Blog.  He shoots the rickshaws, with or without drivers, on makeshift seamless to really spotlight the colors and designs.  I would love to add one of these to my art collection, which is growing more "idiosyncratic" by the day!

This week, I discovered some great sources and products:

Awesome silhouette necklaces



From Crafted by Kirsten, via Milk and Honey Home
We know I love silhouettes (my girls, botanicals, animals, painted); if anyone wanted to commission one of these babies with silhouettes of the girls and their initials, just like the one above, that would be okay by me.

The perfect sized pillow for a single large bed bolster





PBTeen via Little Green Notebook

Great, inexpensive Sofas



"Anna" sale price from $549! From Monarch Sofas.  (Save an extra 25% through Sunday using coupon code 7UYC)

Via Caitlin Wilson:



Caitlin says it cost a ton to ship her pink linen sofa from California to the east coast, but that it was still a deal over all.

Eco-Friendly Textiles



From etsy shop Shapes and Colors Textiles via Emily Henderson's Throw Pillow Round up.

Modern Cement Tiles:

From Mosaic USA via Modern 24/7 (check out her round up of inspiration images, here)

Closeout Rugs:



Michaelian and Kohlberg, via Naomi's round up of the NY Gift fair, seen on her blog Design Manifest

I should mention that Namoi highlighted a new product, but when I checked out the site I spotted the outlet.  I never met an outlet I didn't like.

Now, these are not "cheap," but there are some great deals to be had, like gorgeous hand knotted wool and silk tibetan carpets marked from $12,000 down to $3,000.  The one you see above happens to be a 3x12 runner, which I would snap up in a second if only I had $400 to spare just now.  (It would be perfecto in the upstairs hallway, if only I hadn't painted it chartreuse.)

Wow, it was a great week around here.
You know what might be even better than sharing all of this goodness with you?

Cleaning up all the tabs I have open in Chrome.

Enjoy!

On DWR

I remember when I first discovered Design Within Reach years ago and asked the question so many of us ask: how, exactly, is this bazillion dollar [insert item here] "within my reach"?  Gradually I came to understand that the name (and ethos) of the company has nothing to do with affordability, but instead with making select classic design directly accessible to the consumer.  As many of the big names of the last century became more and more popular in this one, I came to appreciate the service that DWR offered, even if it came at a cost.

But then, for several years it felt like the company hit a big slump.  Nothing was new.  Or at least, nothing felt fresh.  My catalog compulsion meant that I looked at every page of every catalog the company put out (and they put them out quarterly, plus special editions), but it all felt like basically more of the same.  So I was thrilled to get the latest catalog this weekend and to feel inspired as I turned the pages.  Not only have they managed to put key pieces of the Vernor Panton collection back in circulation, but they have also introduced new designs, new designers, new textiles, new materials.  The catalog itself is lovely (though I don't understand the more avant garde spreads), and you can check it all out here.  My favorite spread is on page 16-17.  I think you'll see why, but if you take a look, tell me your favorite.

I'm a nerd and like to spot the new collections (just ask my brother, who has, on occasion, quizzed me on the names of sofa styles in the Room and Board catalog and challenged me to pick out everything new, a challenge I happily accepted--and dominated), and today I thought I'd share my favorite new things from the catalog.  I know these are not "within reach" of most of our budgets, but I still find the design integrity of these products exciting and aspirational.

Who's with me?



Nube armchair in Sarah Morris fabric, here



Lancaster Chair, Michael Young for Emeco, here (saw this in person in NY and it's totally fab.)


Drop 1 pendant, group of 6, Peter Bowles for Original BTC, here


Unfold pendant, Form Us With Love for Muuto, here (saw this in NYC, too, and the rubber material is awesome.  Also comes in black and in bright blue)


Bora Da Pillow, Donna Wilson, here.  (Love that this is from a young textile designer and that it is Welsh for "Good Morning" or "Good Day."


Crushed Bowl, JDS Architects for Muuto, here.

Loving this new crop, primarily for its breadth and vision.

Thoughts?