In My Dreams

So, if you know me, you know that one of my favorite pastimes is to look at houses on and off the market. Via car or internet, I love to dream up what I'd do to make them MINE.
Thought I'd share a few of my most recent crushes and my ideas for their revamping!
Ah, the Preston House... Italian Renaissance in Pemberton. Sad to lose this one. See more (and photo info) at pinterest.com

Hughes Living Room- 1809WESTdesign

Take a peek at my latest living room re-do!
The goal: Unite bold artwork and a streamlined sectional sofa to create a warm and cozy spot in this 1980's condo.
The space: High ceilings, combination living/dining room, big windows and white walls.
The scheme: For the cooler months a warm lodge-like feel--- that easily transitions to a breezy sea-side resort during our hot, hot summer. It's a living room with DRAMA!

Howard Living Room- 1809WESTdesign

I recently took on a new interior design client. Her condo's living room needed a breath of fresh air, and a new floor plan!
The goal: Give "hand-me-downs" a "pick-me-up!"
The space: Hard angles and difficult dimensions made the room a difficult one to lay out. I created a new floor plan that flows and functions.
The scheme: I created two decor schemes- incorporating existing furniture items (saving money!), giving others a new life, and pulling the room together in a sophisticated and interesting manner.
Take a look!

Have I mentioned...

how much I love RUE MAGAZINE!?
It's exclusively on-line, and created by design bloggers. My favorite feature- roll-over almost any object and you will be directed to a site that offers that item for sale. A fantastic time-saver! Rue has the "feel" of a traditional magazine- you can zoom in to read articles and see detail, or just flip through it to your hearts delight.
What a fab spin on traditional media! Congrats on the successful launch, Rue Magazine! (Funny thing, we've kinda got the same color scheme going on...)

Good Read: At Home

I followed Bill Bryson on his Walk in the Woods... and now he's headed back home. Bryson's new book explores the historical significance of our living spaces. I am fascinated by the premise alone. The icing on this literary cake is that Bryson is an entertaining and informed writer. A new addition to my goodreads.com "to-read" list: At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson. (Available on amazon.com)


"Houses aren't refuges from history. They are where history ends up." I like that.

On the Fence (Well, really... On the Wall)

I've been debating (for the last year or so) whether or not to wallpaper our guest/kids' bath. While I am entranced by all the gorgeous patterns and textures available- it's overwhelming... in a good way- it's hard to open the pocketbook to that kind of investment. Especially when the bottom half of the bathroom walls are covered in white epoxy-coated tile original to the house. Original tile can be a gorgeous thing... ours, I assure you, is not.
However, a girl can dream... and these papers are what dreams are made of.
(Above- Carey Lind Riviera Tiles Wallpaper from Wallpapers To Go)

Flower Power Grey Wallpaper by Kenneth James Echo Design from Wallpapers To Go

Fun Floral Blue and Taupe Wallpaper by Kenneth James Echo Design from Wallpapers To Go
Modern Damask Yellow Wallpaper by Kenneth James Echo Design from Wallpapers To Go
Hicks Hexagon in Black and Gold by Cole and Son from Walnut Wallpapers
Elysian Fields by Flavor Paper from Walnut Wallpapers (Yes, those are bats! LOVE IT!)
Awesome bathrooms with wallpaper (from housebeautiful.com):

Sitting Pretty

Inspiration!

Haven't been able to get through the NYT Style Magazine DESIGN issue yet... I've been stuck on the Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams ad. I love this look- and it's helped me hone in on where I'm going with our living room. Here are some accent chairs that could fit the bill:

Manor Wing Chair by Baker 

White Leather Wingback Chair from 1stdibs

British Route Sign Wingback Chair from Home Economics

French Upholstered Wing Chair from Restoration Hardware

La Salle Chair and Ottoman by Flexsteel from Gage Furniture

The State of the Living Room

I took a design risk... and I think it paid off. The Oversized Equator Pendant Light arrived in a gargantuan box- much fun for the little one- and it makes a quiet statement hovering above our cocktail table. With a newly installed dimmer switch, the living room is moving in the right direction. Still some decisions to make- re-painting, another chair to bring our seating capacity back up to six, new art- but I'm just so happy that the light works! (Both aesthetically and functionally...)

So now on to the chair decision...

Illuminating the Living Room

I've been searching for three years for the perfect light fixture for our living room. I never thought I would land on a fixture that a small aircraft could actually land on, but here it is: the oversized equator pendant lamp from CB2. It's as big as our coffee table (35" diameter) and I think it will lend a certain oomph to our oddly proportioned living space. Placing the order today and anxiously awaiting an elephant of a box on our doorstep! Follow-up photos will, um... follow!

Pink or Blue!?

Will Peabody will be dressed in hand-me-downs or frilly gowns? We will find out on September 23rd!
Until then I'll amuse myself with color schemes and design themes...
The present design for the girlie nursery is a "modern granny" look.  Deep rose, quirky olive, gilded details with modern whimsy.
If it's a boy, then H's macaroni orange will be replaced with a more muted grey or aqua.
Here are some nurseries I'm in love with (Images from ohdeedoh.com, dominomagazine:


Sooo, what'll it be, doc!?

H's Big Boy Room!

Big news! In February, our little family will be getting bigger. And our little house will be getting smaller! But, as last month's issue of House Beautiful proclaimed: Small is the new BIG! 

So, we'll make the best of our 1550 feet by moving H to the front bedroom and making way for baby in the nursery. (Where my crafting and creating is going to happen is yet to be determined...) But for now, I am excited to reveal my design for H's Hip and Happening Big Boy Room! 

Somethings old and somethings new,  it will come together to make a space where he can play, read, relax and, hopefully, sleep! I'll keep you posted on the developments- we hare hoping to complete it by the beginning of the new year. (And the arrival of Peabody Hanna!)

Firehouse Design

Met with my office design client in the new space today. It's an amazing art deco building that was originally a firehouse. Let's just say that it was subject to some unsightly re-nos in the 80s and 90s.

 But with a fresh coat of paint and spruced up floors and ceiling, this place is gonna be one amazing workspace. I'm working on drawings and gathering a color palette. But here are some inspiration pics. Simply enough, Office Design Gallery is now my go-to site for innovative workplace design. Loved this office- a good springboard for this project: