Punctuated

Intern Appropriate

I started a new internship last week.  I get to intern with a fabulous interior designer (site, here).  Her clients are amazing, her staff is incredible, and I feel so energized being surrounded by so many intelligent, passionate women.

My only problem - I've been wearing jeans to work (almost exclusively) for the past 4 years.

My Mantle

Current Corkboard

Blame my amazon.com delivery for this one...if you only pick up one book...pick up Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers and Poets (worth the $8, shop here).  Happy weekend!

Coveting Cobalt

Really, this is not new.  But I thought I would share the visual love.  Above, a work on paper by Serena Mitnik-Miller.  Below, the most beautiful painted accent chairs...

But It's Only a Dollar: Corkboard

Okay, so I discovered an amazing invention this weekend: corkboard contact paper.

For the Pair

I love finding furniture that feels a little un-loved, but is full of potential.  I found these chairs ($60 for the pair) at the local thrift store.  The caning is in great shape, and the wood had a great finish.

Papered Goods

I have a tendency to shy away from wallpapers.  They seem so overwhelming.  Even in smaller spaces, they can often look gaudy, overpowering or simply tacky.  So, I was on a mission to find modern wallpapers that met my aesthetic.

Decorating is in Fashion

While researching some visual proof of my concepts for my newest client, I stumbled across this apartment feature on Refinery29.  This fashion editor found a brilliant way to create corners and clusters of personal treasures, without seeming kitsch or gaudy.

Classy, young, fun and modern.  Exactly what I think my current client is looking for.

For more photos, check out the entire article, here.

Client Inspiration

So, I gained a new client this week.  She is very excited about making her year-old apartment a true home.  Between a growing business and a puppy, decorating has just sort of remained at the bottom of her list, naturally.

And that's where I come in.  I spent a day with her, gathering information, taking photos and cataloging her current pieces.  She actually has remarkable taste and great pieces to work with.  Between parental hand-me-downs and brilliant flea market finds, this client is more concerned with making it all work together.

Soft Reveal

So, this past week I had the pleasure of decorating an apartment.  Super-short time crunch, and a budget of $500 or less (yikes!).  But with a lot of thrifting, re-purposing and creativity, I was able to make a major dent to this rental.  While we are not one-hundred-percent to where I'd like to end up - we are far closer than an empty apartment with a borrowed couch.

Client knew he wanted a bar.  Period.  Between his love for whiskey and his spontaneous house-guests, we knew that was a priority.  Grabbed the old cabinet from the bathroom and a few accessories from the flea market, dollar store and Goodwill.

This bar tray was actually an old soda crate found at the Rose Bowl Flea market for under $30.  The glass hurricane (Goodwill find for $3) was a perfect place to store his collection of belts (vintage and ones in current rotation).  The apartment was a compromise for this client, with its small square-footage but perfect location to walk to everything. 

Having grown up in California, beach culture was well within this clients' design aesthetic.  A vintage Endless Summer poster created a great splash of color, while also punctuating the design scheme with a laidback, kid-at-heart reference.  The desk was a magical Craigslist find; stored Crate&Barrel desk (of my dreams, really) that we snagged for $100.  The entire thing slides open to reveal a workspace without disrupting the shelves or drawers underneath.

(more photos after the jump)

But it's Only a Dollar

This is a new segment I think should pop up every week or so.  I tend to love the idea of dollar-store bargains.  Here's to hoping you do too!!

When in Doubt, Paint it

I am trying to get an apartment decorated by the end of the week, and on the smallest budget possible.  This has led to a lot of thrifting, a lot of imagination, and crazy levels of crafty.

I found this tutorial (full article, here) and resonated with the aesthetic.  Will it work for this apartment?  Maybe, maybe not.  But I have to at least try, noting that the supplies came from the dollar store.  Be sure to check back later this week to see how i faired.

Decor Without a Trace of Lady

So, the BF just moved.  He's got a pretty sweet pad (manly fixtures, finishes and such).  My task: decorate without the presence of my hand in the mix.  This means, no white spray paint, no flora or fauna, and no dusting off the sewing machine.

However, this does mean: bust out the power tools, invest in chalkboard paint, and give thanks for a two-week long design project to keep me busy.  Current musings to keep me inspired.  Feel free to weigh in (unless, of course, you are the BF...we all know you get very little say in all this).

*photos: esty.com, countryliving.com

Renovation Envy

I'm in no position to afford a house.  My girlfriend, however, bought a house last year and has spent a huge chunk of her time renovating, room by room. Knowing how grueling this task can be (I used to work at an architecture firm), the second task is keeping the costs low.

I stumbled upon this blog and was astounded at the $200 price tag this woman had on her entire kitchen re-model.  Through clever re-purposing (or simply leaving cabinet doors off), she was able to re-work her kitchen into her own design aesthetic without blowing her budget.  And you can see (above) how dated her original kitchen was.  Eeek!

To see the entire remodel in photo documentation, check out Harbour Breeze (here).

Coming Home

I've gotten a few requests for photos of my own apartment.  Whether it's my interest in interior design, or my love of do-it-yourself projects, I wave a huge flag in the camp of "design can make all the difference".  My apartment is nothing spectacular, and it's located in a small building in a less-than-desirable part of town.

But...the bones were great!  Lots of natural light, super high ceilings and large, uninterrupted walls.  Two bathrooms and a rooftop deck don't hurt either.

My sewn-in-the-middle-of-the-night curtains (19 feet long!).  My dream rug, found online for one-third of the price.  And a row of cheap-y plants from IKEA.

Twenty-plus-foot ceilings left some struggles when trying to add color.  I opted, instead for an accent wall, and gave it a 9-foot snap line to draw some warmth and coziness to the reading corner.

Perhaps the worlds' smallest bathroom.  My girlie nonsense can't ever be as spread out as I would like, but I think the cabinet doors would tell a different story, altogether.

Amazing what crisp, white sheets can do to freshen a room.  Plus (not that you could tell), I used a blue-toned white for the main wall to tie together all the cooler tones and add some calm to the bedroom.

Just a Bit, Just a Bit

Perhaps the image that started my bedroom, found here.

 

I prefer a subtle approach to most things in life.  Interior design schemes are no exception.  While I will argue to the death that white is a color, I do like bright colors in home design situations.  In small doses.  Strategically.  Here are a few done well.

*photos: apartmentTherapy.com, archived article from LuckyMag.com

Where I Want to Be

I know this should probably be a collection of far-away destinations and crystal-clear waters, but I have a confession: I am a hopeless home-body.  Yes, as I hang my head in shame…I like inviting people over and making food, and laughing and lounging on familiar couches.  Wait.  That’s awesome.  I’m awesome!

So, here are a few magical places I wish I could visit, eat a hamburger at, or simply hang out with good friends and a bucket of beers.  Have a great weekend!

* photos: wanelo.com, google.com, houseofturquoise.com, architecturaldigest.com

Teeny Tiny Tidy

I love this house for three reasons: the square-footage actually puts this house in my price-range; it gives the illusion of more volume while using a tranquil, not-too-feminine white-wash; and everything has its place behind a closed cabinet.  I never imagined 500 square feet could look so spacious and inviting.  Quite possibly, my realistic dream house...

Entire floorplan and more photos seen on ApartmentTherapy.com (here).