Thursday, February 28, 2013

Take me to Barcelona...

I just about died when I stumbled upon this glamorous apartment located in Barcelona, Spain in photographer Enrique Menossi's portfolio. The rich color scheme of light and dark between rooms as well as the chic fusion of classic architectural features blended with modern furniture and fixtures is right up my alley. One of my favorite features has to be the sisal carpet -- it's crisp and clean and is the perfect base for layering a hide or a plush, white Flokati Rug like this one from Serena & Lily. The art and lighting are also divine.  What's your favorite feature?

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Winter White Flowers

Inspired by the white rose seen in fashion designer Katie Ermilio's Upper West Side apartment, I picked up two bundles of white tulips from Trader Joe's and made myself a similar arrangement.  I cut about 4 inches off the bottom of flowers and then tightly packed them in this simple footed hurricane from West Elm - it's the perfect container for creating an elegant, modern arrangement. There's something about white flowers in the winter that I simply love. What's your favorite winter flower?

images rue magazine and kristin kerr luber

Monday, February 25, 2013

Smitten | Grey Furniture

I came across these stunning tables by Sarah Atkinson of Grey Furniture and can't stop staring at them. This Atlanta based company's designs are fresh, unexpected, and fiercely stylish. But the best part has to be that all of these fairly reasonably priced pieces are made to order so the size, base color and table top material can all be customized to fit your needs. Seriously, what's not to love? I'm completely smitten with the Jax table - the dramatic powder coated steel legs and inset mirror top are sure to add a bit of edgy sophistication, dimension and drama to any room!

Friday, February 22, 2013

I'm Loving. . .

The perfect home?  I think so!  My chin seriously dropped when I opened up the March issue of Elle and saw these pictures of Sasha Adler's chic Chicago apartment.  There's not one thing I don't love about this design -- it feels collected, inviting, thoughtful and most importantly trend-free.  A few of my favorite features; the giant Lynette Shaw painting in the foyer (notice the black wall), the raw oak floors, and the high gloss black bookcase with brass clad doors.  Sasha's fashion background is effortlessly infused into the home -- the pops of color, layers of texture and vintage brass accessories and lighting all reflect sartorial approach to interior design. I mean, just look at that 1970s Milo Baughman sofa recovered in a Chanel-inspired white bouclĂ©. To die for.  Oh and the things I would do to cozy up with that giant fur pillow on this snowy Chicago morning? No words.  Such a talented lady!

photographs by paul elledge for elle

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Double Duty



It's no secret that I adore Diptyque candles but, honestly, I do not discriminate Cire Trudor, Le Labo, Byredo are also a few of my favorites.  Yes these brands are expensive but their scents are heavenly and their packaging is divine.  When they are finished burning I clean them out and use them for pencils or as simple bud vases.  It seems I'm not the only one who thinks it's a shame to get rid of my empty containers...pictured above are my favorite ideas that I came across for upcycling candle jars.  The steep price tag on some of my favorite brands seems a little less jarring (hehe) when you factor in the double duty jar, right? I think this gives me all the more reason to go out and buy the Diptyque Baies colored candle I've been lusting after! Done.

cup of joe / grant k gibson / matchbook / katie armour

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Baked | Banana Walnut Cake

Why hello there!  Long time no see.  If feels good to be back after my week-long stint with the stomach flu.  Seven days of jello, applesauce and ginger ale left me craving something sweet....banana cake with chocolate frosting to be exact.  I actually hate bananas and most other fruits (more on that another time) but add a little sugar, butter and chocolate and I'm a happy camper! I have the post flu I can eat anything I want mentality right now so I'm pretty sure I'll be considering this my daily dose of fruit for the next few days. Yummy.

CAKE
21/2 cups all-purpose flour
11/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
11/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
11/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon instant espresso or coffee powder
2 large eggs, at room temperature
6 tablespoons buttermilk, at room temperature
2 cups banana puree (3 to 4 very ripe bananas)
11/4 cups walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
FROSTING
10 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup strong brewed coffee or espresso
10 tablespoons unsalted or salted butter, cut into pieces, at room temperature

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottom and sides of two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with circles of parchment paper.

To make the cake, in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, 11/2 teaspoons cinnamon, the baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a bowl by hand), beat together the 1 cup butter and 11/2 cups  sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the vanilla and instant espresso or coffee powder, then beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing until completely incorporated. Mix in half of the flour mixture, followed by the buttermilk and banana puree. Stir in the remaining flour mixture, then stir in the pecans or walnuts just until combined. Don't overmix. Divide the batter evenly among the 2 prepared pans. Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.

To make the frosting, combine the chocolate and coffee in a medium heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove the bowl from the heat and whisk in the 10 tablespoons butter until combined.

To assemble the cake, invert one cake onto a serving plate and peel off the parchment. Spread about 3/4 cup of the mocha frosting over the surface of the cake. Invert the second cake layer out of its pan, peel off the parchment, and place it over the frosted cake layer. Spread the remaining frosting evenly over the top and sides of the cake.

recipe from bon appetite / photography by kristin kerr luber

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Totes Adorbs

Now that Kristin Kerr Interiors is in full swing I feel like not a day goes by that I don't have a random notebook, paint swatch or fabric memo poking out of my purse.  Enter my need for the perfect tote to corral my finds. The requirements?  Extra large, black, durable, and affordable aka no name-brand needed. I thought about this one from The Gap but it wasn't big enough so I continued the search and stumbled upon this super chic black ostrich bag by Patkas on Etsy.  This European shop carries a ton of affordable leather goods and accessories.  I haven't pulled the trigger on the purchase yet but if I do I'll most likely HAVE to sneak this faux fox fur scarf into my shopping bag.  Totes adorbs, right?

Monday, February 11, 2013

Smitten | Delpozo

It's Monday and I'm in need to a pick me up!  My 28th Birthday was on Friday and I was locked inside all weekend with the stomach flu!  Well, actually, I did leave my apartment for an hour on Saturday and in that short time I managed to get in a car accident.  Oy.  Luckily Birthdays are yearly so I have plenty more to make up for this one.

If you've had the stomach flu you know that it's like the plague and you can pretty much guarantee no one will want to hang out with you if you tell them you have it so...I spent a good amount of time this weekend searching through the #nyfw hashtag on Instagram.  Party!  But seriously, it kept me entertained and introduced me to my new obsession, Madrid-based label Delpozo.  Creative director Josep Font created what I believe to be one of the most beautiful collections of the season.  I mean just look at the images above, the seamless lineup of voluminous, sculptural dresses are perfectly complemented by delightful color combinations of emerald green, burgundy, cinnamon and fuchsia.  And nature-themed metallic embroidery?  To die for.  I could see this collection inspiring a living room design or beautiful pillows.  I seriously love it all!

Have you been following NYFW?  What's your favorite collection so far?

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Kristin Kerr Interiors | Portland Guest Bathroom

I realize that I haven't shared a lot of my design work up to this point but I plan to change that.  I'm a bit of a perfectionist so I was waiting to get professional pictures taken of this Portland, Maine project I've been working on but I realized that probably won't happen for a while. You may remember this post?  If you clicked the link you'll see that I first posted about this project back in 2011 right after the home was built.  We had plans to start decorating right away but life happened and things got delayed.  Now, almost a year and a half later Project Portland has resumed.

Above are a few shots I snapped of the guest bathroom during my last visit.  Why I'm just now sharing these, I'm not sure but I guess it stems back to the perfectionist thing and the fact that the mirrors were not hung when I visited.  Oh well!  Mirrors or not, I love this bathroom.  The black and white thassos marble basket weave floor works well with the modern farmhouse feel that we are trying to achieve throughout the house.  Simple lines and unexpected details, like the black shower enclosure, make the space feel special. Simplicity is going to be a key factor in this project and I hope to share the trials and tribulations with everyone right here on the blog!

Monday, February 4, 2013

Life | Recently

There have been lots of changes going on in my life recently--some good, some not so much--and they've all made me realize one thing, nothing is forever.  It sounds so pessimistic but I mean it in the best way possible.  I started working from home two months ago and in that time I've had a lot of time to focus on what it is that I really want and my priorities.  A year ago I thought I had my whole life figured out--I was living in my dream apartment with the love of my life and working towards quitting a job that I was less than thrilled to go to everyday--and now I feel like I'm back at square one.  It's scary but this sense of unknown has forced me to break out of my sometimes shy shell and do things I never would have done before.  I'm working toward a new normal and it's quite exciting...I've been spending more time with friends, reaching out to other bloggers and small business owners and trying new things (like working out).  Some highlights include painting my office, chopping off my hair (new me, new look...I call this the Rose Byrne), client work and exploring Chicago.  Everyday has been different and that scares the crap out of me but that's what makes life exciting, right?

It's all so very exciting and I truly appreciate everyone's kind words of encouragement on the Kristin Kerr Interiors post that I shared last month!  I have some exciting things in the works...including my big apartment reveal, so stay tuned! 

What have you been up to recently?