Moving on up...

Well...goodbye to our little studio and hello to our first one bedroom. There is so much to do...clean, clean and clean. I am looking so forward to decorating and sharing all our new ideas with you. Stay tuned...

Black and White

Former Domino Decorating Editor,Tori Mellott has shown us how chic a 450 sq. ft apartment can be. Tori has made the space feel so big while using such bold and strong pieces of art and furniture. I always feel inspired when I see how others can make it work in there small spaces. Because we all know.. living in new york is not easy! In conclusion...I have decided I need stripes and Hugo Guiness in my life. Stripes are easy but I may need to start saving for a Guiness.
A wall of Hugo Guiness....Which one do you love?

West Coast...

I finally ventured out of Manhattan for the summer and took a trip west. Driving down the Pacific Coast was one of the most beautiful views!! We ran into a field of Hereford cows grazing the fields along the coast...??? Is this normal? The farmhouse sat atop a huge hill overlooking the ocean. Forget New York!...I'm moving in with the cows.
Oh Napa...Do I need to say anything else?
A white chocolate truffle filled with red wine.

Stopping for lunch in between wineries... A delicious BLT.

Set Sail...

How great is this map collage featured in House Beautiful... I am now on the hunt for anything that I can create a great a collage out of. We have been hunting through old books and prints to put together our own. Newest obsession...birds and maps. I'll keep you posted when we find the perfect prints!

John Derian...

John Derian's 1789 Provincetown house is so dreamy...everything about it feels good... So clean and pure. The space is a great way for Derian to showcase his design aesthetic.Everything from the smallest trinket to his greatest treasure has a special charm.

Derian has striped some of the 80 year old wallpaper to display the horsehair and seashell plaster walls...would you expect anything less?

Ready for Brunch...

Who doesn't love a great table?? I went to my parents home over the weekend to celebrate Father's Day... and my mom was pulling out all the bells and whistles. Her Sunday brunch table setting was so beautiful! Of course it wouldn't of been perfect without the bloody marys!

I have made a point to be next in line to receive this celery dish... This was my great grandmothers dish that she purchased on a trip in England.

New Finds and Great Gifts...

We have updated our wall collage once again... I received this "B" John Derian plate as a gift from Dana for my birthday...she couldn't resist to get herself one also. We decided to hang them in our floral collage to give it a few more pops of orange. I have been staring at the wall all day...we love moving things around. How do you like our little Aztec man?
Favorite things in May: 1. John Derian table coaster ( gift from Dana) 2.My new vintage chandelier earrings 3. Inspired Interiors by Suzanne Kasler
New Addition: Our little friend who sits in the bookcase... Carved from a block of wood this man has so much character. His wife resides on a different shelf.

Chalkboard

One of my close friends is in the middle of decorating her new home and she has chosen to put a chalkboard in her kitchen...how fun! It is such a great idea to make any space have more personality. I don't have a picture of her chalkboard yet, but here are a few of my favorite displays using the same concept. (1. Carolina Herrera, Jr's chalkboard for Domino, 2. Domino Magazine, 3. Country Living)

Southern Hospitality

A weekend in the South will make you feel relaxed and refreshed. When I entered the Losh's I instantly remembered all the great antique finds that filled their home. Exhausted from traveling... I brought my luggage to the room where I would be staying. Fresh Flowers and an antique water decanter were sitting by the bedside. Ahhhhh...so nice!
Antique salt dishes... They were so tiny and delicate.
A hutch full of antique plates and green depression glass. The color is so beautiful and fresh. If I were able to have a garden party I imagine that I would want to use these plates...I love them for spring!
A collection of antique oil lamps. I loved looking at all the different shapes, sizes and colors they were able to find.

A New Chair...

My Grandmother gave me this chair almost a year ago and I have been dying to bring it back to my apartment. Instead...it has been collecting dust at my parents (my mini storage). The chair had to undergo a few small surgeries but she is now ready for her debut. So...here she is!! Beautiful!

Sunday Brunch

Virginia Johnson...

Virginia Johnson is a Canadian textile designer who creates colorful prints on accessories, clothes, home and children's wear. Her collection is carried worldwide including Barney's, Net-a-Porter, Takashimaya and many more. Virginia paints all her prints with watercolors and then they are silkscreened onto fabric. Beautiful!!

Dana debuted her mariachi print Virginia Johnson scarf on Easter Sunday... how perfect!

Sunrise Bistro

I received this bistro table as a gift for Christmas and it has finally made its way to our new york apartment. The stand was found in a pile of mud by an old farmhouse and was said to be from the turn of the twentieth century. The table top was handcrafted for this "sewing stand" and took three months to complete and refurbish. Thanks so much Nick...We love it!

This milk glass lamp from the 1940's is a great size for our table. Just a little light lets us enjoy the table after dark. In the background I have featured a chic John Derian paper mache candle holder that was hand painted in France...A gift from Dana!

Mood Board...

I noticed on style.com that many designers were sharing there mood boards from there recent collections. This inspired me to share mine with you... I began adding these boards to my portfolio after interning for a company that does them also. I felt inspired to create my own to add more interest to my design process.
I wanted this board to be a combination of different textures...tweeds, sequins, fur and lace. I used Lillian Bassman (photographer) as my inspiration for glamour and feminine touches. I wanted to mix that with a classic menswear inspiration of tweeds and leather.

I think when you are trying to find inspiration for something these mood boards can be really helpful. For Example...If your looking to design or decorate any aspect of your home you could find multiple images of what kind of space you would like to create. Fabric swatches, color chips and images can be so helpful to organize your thoughts!

Lonny Magazine

I know many of us were obsessed with Domino magazine...and I along with others were devastated when it went out of business. No worries because we now have an alternative. If you haven't already heard... former Domino editor and blogger Michelle Adams have launched Lonny Magazine, an online- home magazine. It is so wonderful!! I am so in love and you have to check it out at lonnymag.com.

Lonny Magazine...
"OUR MISSION is to reopen the doors of accessible design. By embracing an online platform we provide inspiration at the click of a finger, directly connecting our readers to their favorite products and resources. Our freedom from page limits means that we can share more content in each issue, delivering an intimate look into the way people really live.
At Lonny, we value independent thinking and believe not in following trends but rather in making choices that lead to happiness. We believe that good design and affordable design can coexist and that true inspiration can be found in the teeniest of homes or in the grandest of spaces."

House Beautiful

So...I am reading House Beautiful February 2010 and fall completely in love with this home. This ranch house is the home of photographer Amy Neunsinger. The picture above is one of my favorites... the concrete walls, crystal chandelier, farmhouse table and white metal chairs come together to make this room so unique. The play of hard and soft elements work so nicely in this space. I just love it!
I really enjoy all this natural light. The walk in shower is so appealing in this space because it makes the bathroom feel so open and airy.
I love the pickled white floors.