Friday, March 30, 2012

Everywhere I look...

I've been spotting these tie-dyed pillows.  This weekend I plan to do a little Spring cleaning around my apartment...and with that comes the inevitable Spring spruce up.  One of the perks of buying a neutral sofa is that you can easily change out your accessories and decor from season to season.  I love velvet pillows and fur throws in the winter but worn in cotton pillows like these seem more appropriate for the sunfilled, warm Spring days that lie ahead.  These pillows are available in a variety of colors at Jayson Home....they're a little trendy but hey, a new pillow costs less than a new sofa, right?

Happy weekend! 

(Images 1, 2,3)

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Smitten | Eskayel

What do you see? These watery prints by Brooklyn design studio Eskayel remind me of a Rorschach inkblot.  I ran upon this amazing company while obsessing over Moda Operandi’s Artistic Director Taylor Tomasi Hill’s Chelsea loft feature on Vogue.com.  Designer Shanan Campanaro of Eskayel digitally manipulates sections of her paintings to make wallpaper, fabrics, pillows, carpets and ceramics. While a roll of wallpaper will set you back about $500, the fabric and pillows pack the same punch for a fraction of the price. If I had my way, I'd upholster an antique gilt Louis XVI armchair in the graphic Madagascar fabric then top it with a solid cashmere throw and a textured pillow.  What would you do?

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Leopard People

In the fall of 2010 The New York Times released a series of images from their 100+ year old archive. To celebrate the occasion they asked interior designers Laura Kirar, Kelly Wearstler, Vicente Wolf, Jonathan Adler and Thom Filicia to each selection of 10 photos from the archive that best reflected their design aesthetic and appreciation for the use of photography in interiors. The collection, called 50 Photographs, was available for purchase at The New York Times Store.  

So where am I going with this?  Well the entire collection was great but my hands-down favorite was one of Adler's selections: "Leopard People, 1966" by Larry C. Morris (first image). It's hilarious, glam, and bizarre all at the same time and it kind of makes me want to makes me want to dress up in head to toe leopard!  The moment I saw it I knew I needed it BUT I decided to wait.  What a mistake.  The collection is no longer available and I just can't seem to get this quirky snapshot out of my mind.  I'm trying to decide if the second image pictured above is a worthy alternative or if I should just hold out and hope that my beloved Leopard People will reappear on the NYT Store website sometime soon.  Thoughts?

Better yet,  if someone could find me a copy I'd love them forever! ;)

Monday, March 26, 2012

My Weekend in Pictures

 It was a weekend of great finds....I found time to finish this painting for my sister
 I found out that I actually do like some things at CB2
 I found these cute vintage lucite side tables at Jayson
 I found the perfect heel
 and the perfect chair for a client
 I found out that I'm obsessed with this Moroccan Weave fabric by Kathryn Ireland and that I want to use it in every project...
literally
 I found this Ikat clutch in the back of my closet (don't you love when that happens?) and wore it to a friend's Birthday dinner at Lan's
 where I found out that I should not be allowed to sing in public...
 but that Chinese food and karaoke make for a fun Saturday night
and last but certainly not least, I found out that I'm obsessed with Downton Abbey.  Anyone else?

How was your weekend?

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Get the Look...



I'm pretty sure if Isabel López-Quesada's bedroom (posted earlier today) was an outfit this would be it.  See the resemblance?  It's funny how my taste in interiors and apparel really seems to overlap...I saved this By Malene Birger dress to my desktop a few weeks ago with the tag line "need it now" (I must be having a vibrant violet/raspberry moment).  The color is perfection but really it's the modern mix of materials and styles that make this outfit work -- just like the bedroom it incorporates both glamorous and rustic elements and uses classic neutrals to balance out the vibrant hue. Pictured above are two ways to incorporate Isabel's modern mix into either your closet or your casa.  Which do you prefer?

Isabel López-Quesada

If you haven't already visited Spanish interior designer Isabel López-Quesada's website, then I suggest you to do so immediately!  I just spent a solid hour admiring her work because it is filled is spaces that look collected rather than decorated with a theme.  Her portfolio is filled with gorgeous country estates but my favorite space by far is her own home which is featured in the April issue of Architectural Digest.  The moment I saw her bedroom, pictured above, I was instantly drawn to the vibrant violet chaise and eclectic mix of accessories.   Every room in Isabel's home is unique and perfectly balances antiques with modern elements -- something I strive to do in my own work.    Isabel has been decorating homes across Europe for over 20 years and in that time she has mastered the mix.   Take a look, there are some seriously major moments happening within the walls of this beautiful Madrid home...
  In the entrance hall a colorful Günther Förg painting mingles with an 18th century bench covered in black raffia. The neutral walls let the artwork and antiques take center stage. 
A modern Jose Davila photograph is displayed above an 18th century French demilune console.  I just love the colorful stemware on the table...anyone know who makes it?
One day I will have a closet big enough to house a chaise lounge and vanity!
You can check out the rest of Isabel's gorgeous home here.  Let me know what your think!

(Images Simon Watson for Architectural Digest)

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Currently Coveting


ONE craving these Carven coral suede heels -- the sling-back bow detail is just too cute / TWO these black iron bowls are simple and elegant / THREE I'm all about the playsuit for spring and this structured satin number by 3.1 Phillip Lim is at the top of my list / FOUR eat your food in style with this eco-chic bamboo cutlery /  FIVE  I love the color of this go-go table by Dransfield and Ross / SIX making a difference never looked so good, money from the purchase of this dip dyed pillow helps support women artisans in Guatemala / SEVEN I found this necklace and many other cool accessories at Weltenbuerger.org

Monday, March 19, 2012

My Weekend in Pictures

  Exhausted is the only word I can think of to describe how I feel right now.  I woke up at 4:30 AM today to say goodbye to my bf before he headed back to DC.  I can't keep my eyes open but it was well worth it because we had an amazing weekend!  And obviously an amazing weekend calls for an amazing new dress.  I picked up this minty number at Zara
 and wore it to date night at the Pump Room. 
 While there I decided that the lobby of the Public Hotel would be my ideal wedding location.  I'm not usually one for hotel weddings but this space is perfection.  Just look at those intricate moldings and antique mirror filled arches.  le sigh.
 On Saturday we celebrated St. Patty's Day and, well, that's all I'm going to say about that.
 Sunday was spent enjoying the ridiculously warm weather.  Is anyone else freaked out by the 80+ degree temps that Chicago is experiencing? 
I feel like something bad is going to happen...but until then, I'm going to keep enjoying wearing sandals and taking walks along the lake!
(I can't wait to read this post next March!)
After the walk my mom stopped by and gave me this brass bird she found while sorting through my grandparent's house...
then we went to Whole Foods (my favorite Sunday pastime) and made a little feast to celebrate a great weekend and Paulie's 'last supper' before heading back to DC.

How was your weekend? This week I plan on wrapping up my Ikea Malm table (posted about on Friday)...if all goes well I'll post a tutorial later in the week so be sure to check back!

Friday, March 16, 2012

Wrap it Up!

Fabric wrapped furniture is nothing new, in the 1970s design greats like Albert Hadley and Billy Baldwin wrapped simple laminated forms like the Parsons table in printed cloth.  They were so chic!  Inspired by Albert, Billy, and the images below, I've decided to try my hand at wrapping it up.  My victim?  The Ikea Malm Dressing Table -- it's the perfect console table, generous in proportion and simple in design, great complement to my traditional sofa and modern Saarinen table. I still need to decided if I'm going to wrap the table in grasscloth, faux ostrich or linen -- what do you think?
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