NYC's best kept secret

This weekend I bumped into a high school acquaintance that I haven't seen since graduation.  (Trust me, it has been a long time).  We went to high school in Brussels, Belgium.  The kicker - we bumped into each other at the Ikea returns line in New Haven (out of all places)!  Crazy....anyway, she currently lives in NYC and I couldn't help but somewhat envy her.  Oh, how I miss living in NYC.  So, I thought it appropriate to share one of NYC's best kept secrets....a wonderful boutique called Penine Hart Art and Antiques .  Penine, a former gallery owner, has the most amazing things at affordable prices.  She gets a lot of her items from flea markets, estate sales and the french country side.  My favorite part is that her boutique doubles up as an art gallery.  If you're ever in NYC, definitely go to visit.

Artist: Jeanne Hedstrom

Pattern Love

I've always loved Pottery Barn's tile jacquard pattern featured here as shower curtains.  Big fan!  Unfortunately, it is no longer available, but I recently found these frames by Dana Gibson and they remind me of the tile pattern:

While browsing on her site, I also spotted these lamps....did I mention I also like crocodile and cowhide, too?

It's here....

Martha Stewart Living paints at Home Depot.  I couldn't believe it...walked into HD today and BAM....there it was!  

I guess I wasn't expecting the line to debut until March, but hey, I'm not complaining.  Of course, they had Martha's top 12 picks and I took a swatch of each.

Sorry, for the poor picture.  The cool thing about these swatches are that they are idiot proof.  Each swatch has a color symbol (sun, moon, star, flower, etc.) and all you have to do is to match up the symbols to coordinate the colors for your home!  

On the back of each swatch, they show you a suggested ceiling and woodwork color against the main swatch color.  And, the paints are low VOC!  Pretty cool, huh?

Weekend Sewing

Last week I received a very pleasant surprise.  One of my very closest friends sent me this book as a 'Congratulations' for starting a blog.  How sweet is that?  So thoughtful!  If you like to sew, but are strapped for time, this is the best book! 

It comes with patterns, beautiful pictures and it claims that you can complete most of these projects in a weekend. I've yet to test it out, but I will. Heather Ross , the author, has her own fabric line and blog ! 

Last year, I learned how to sew mainly because I can't afford a seamstress and I love fabric too much not to sew.  I also was inspried by some of the crafty sewing blogs out there: Fly through Our Window, Purl Bee , and Habitual. 
So, thank you, Christina!  You're the best!!!!

Spindley Pieces

Are there certain design elements that appeal to you?  There are several elements that appeal to me, but one element that seems to grab my attention is a turned spindle.  I love the look of turned spindles.  Whether it's a floor lamp, bed, desk....I am immediately drawn to it.  This is a departure for me because I usually like classic, simple, and straight lines, but every now and then, I like to throw in a little spindley to keep things interesting.  So, it was no surprise when I snatched up a head and footboard with turned spindles (at a local antique store) for my son's room.  Only $35!

These pics are after we (my husband :)) striped the original paint.  I'll be painting this beauty soon, but more to come on that in a later post.  So, for the fun...I threw in some more spindley pieces:

Ikea's trollsta tray table 

1stdibs 

Zgallerie Mariposa Lamp 

Nathan Egan 

Gateleg table in Darryl Carter's country home

Tired Office

I'm tired of my office and need to spruce it up.  These photos make me very, very happy.

Betsy Burnham 's workspace via Lonny 

Sabrin Linn 

Melissa's Office ruby press 

Ashley Edwards' office space via Domino

image source unknown.  Does anyone know the source?

Anna Kohler via Renovation Style

image source unknown.  Anyone?

Keepsakes: Easy to Assemble Wall Art

I think decorating nurseries and children's rooms can be the most satisfying because there are so many ways to be creative and (more often than not) your little one gets so excited with the changes you make.  I was blown away by a feature done in February's Living magazine which showcased Darcy Miller's, editorial director of Martha Stewart Weddings, scrapboxes.  In her free time, she has takes life's precious moments and turns them into memorable keepsakes.  She calls it "scrapboxing."  Each frame features one idea, often combining a few elements.  These boxes grouped together on shelves can create an impressive wall gallery of art.  Immediately, I thought, I NEED to do this for my son's room.  Take a look at some of her amazing work:

Some outgrown items are worth saving.  Onesie and bikini are mounted onto 1/4" foam board, using double-sided foam tape and straight pins.

If you have a baby book, take out the growth chart and frame it!

Everyday playthings make for colorful, easy to assemble wall art. 

You can see more of Darcy's scrapboxes here and for a behind-the-scenes look at the gallery event, go here .   

The Apprentices

I just finished browsing through the current issue of House Beautiful and this was one of my favorite:

Sasha Adler's bedroom is to DIE for.  That headboard is such a statement and focal point.  I love this color combo: gray, navy and yellow.  She works on Nate Berkus's team along with Lauren Buxbaum.  They are Nate's right hand women.

  Lauren Buxbaum and Sasha Adler

Chicago Home and Garden did a feature on them in January/February 2008 called 'The Apprentices'.  Check it out.

Happy Valentine's Day

image via flickr

Hope everyone had a lovely Valentine's Day.  Made macroons (coconut, that is) and Luke nearly ate them all!

Snowy Days

Enjoy the weekend!

Big Boy Room

My son will be turning three in a couple of months and I am in the process of re-decorating his room. Inspired by these images (in no particular order)...

image via Caitlin Creer Interiors 

One of Luke's favorites

image via Grace Happens 

image via Pure Style Home 

image via Absolutely Beautiful Things 

image via Amie Corley 

image via Domino (Sunrise Ruffalo)

Family-friendly Home

My first house is technically my husband's house, which I moved into after we married (3 1/2 years ago).   When I was single, I lived in apartments both in Manhattan (8 years) and Philadelphia (3 years).  I never really decorated either place because I was a workaholic and used my humble abodes strictly for crashing.  How things have changed...

Now, I live to turn our house into a home.  It's like this passion that came out of nowhere.  

I remember seeing the Rucci's home published in BHG in March 2008 thinking this home screams 'casual, family-friendly and fun'.  I like that style (especially when you have kids).  Barbara Rucci, the owner, owns b.rucci studio - a graphic design business and another business that makes eco-friendly quilts (created out of pieces of old clothes).  Her designs are amazing and the quilts are beautiful!  Let's look at her lovely home....

Slipcovers are a great option for a family with small children.  A matelasse slipcover from Calico Corners.

A jute rug, a boot bench coffee table (offers storage inside), and a children's chair create the perfect neutral backdrop for pops of red.  The walls are painted BM's Revere Pewter - a great neutral paint color.  

Need ideas for a mudroom?  Love the shelves above the hooks for family photos.  This is so easy to re-create.  The bench is perfect for little tots to sit on and put on their shoes.

  How fantastic - an art room for the kids!  Love how the children's artwork provides the color against again a neutral background.  And, love the utility sink and the sliding doors!

Her office - love the skirted desk (with the turquoise ric rac trim) and the collage of photos on the wall.

The zinnia motif is repeated throughout the house and I also noticed it in her graphic designs.

Love the exterior of the house and of course, I love the green door and adirondack chairs.  Would love to know the paint color used on the doors and chairs.