sigh

again, work is messing with my hobby. Also a allergy induced cold has moved into my throat and head, and I'm trying to pretend like its not there.

I don't have much time, but I wanted to post something happy.

Mati McDonough's paintings and digital collages have been making the blog rounds, but I don't care. I love her work.

Especially her "There is nothing wrong with you." piece. I think it's the perfect little piece of pretty inspiration, and I feel like I know a lot of people who would be soothed by it.

I also love her series of tiger kitty paintings that feature some pretty rad 70's tube socks.

fall.

I've haven't been able to post often this week, I'll pick it up next week!

Love this fall stationary by little brown pen on etsy.

Le Wall

I have to admit. I am not really that into the wall sticker craze. I can't really put my finger on why, but I just know I'm not. Anyway, I ran into one that i didn't mind that much, Coat Tree by ferm LIVING. But at $127.00 it isn't really making me itch to run out the door and buy it anytime soon.

You could just as easily paint the same shape on your wall, and attach hooks. And you can do it in any color you want! Viola!

Pop goes my heart....

I can't help it. Sometimes I get sucked into the dangerous spiral known as the pop culture blogosphere. I almost emerged unscathed this morning, but barely.

Thank Goodness I have my favorite design blogs to come back to and set my head straight.

Now completely unrelated... I've been getting Cookie Magazine. I don't know why. In fact I get a whole heap of magazines that I never recalled ordering, least of all one regarding parenting. So I send it to my sister. Looking over briefly, I realized it's actually really cool, and focuses on some pretty rad design for the home with child. My heart is definitely Popping over these reader designs below.

I was definately inspired by these from Benita in Sweden:


They're not currently on her etsy shop, but Benita created those adorable bird banners above the sofa.


Benita etched the glass herself with her son's name on his bedroom door.


I love Wille's bottle cap collection, and how Benita displayed it for him in shadowboxes so everyone can appreciate it.


Another great collection of maps.

I'm also diggin' Lisa's digs from Venice Beach, CA. Clean, modern, kid friendly & Scandinavian with a touch of beach. Just what I love...

she works hard for her money...

Back in the office after swimming in allergy medication I finally realized were making me drowsy!
So, finally now at my desk and giving it a once over, am realizing it needs a little tsjuzing! Oy!
I love me some "Working Girl", fall, back to school, and most of all, a clean, beautiful working space. Here are my affordable, style-with-humor finds le desktop.

West Elm gets me every time. I love these canvas magazine butlers and storage bins in pushpins and pens.



I am awful about birthdays. I have no capacity to remember them, and they're scrawled all over random notebooks. I'd love to have them all in one place, like this leather bound, compact Birthday organizer. $25 is well worth the price instead of having to buy Belated B day cards in bulk.



Um, Swoon! Oilcloth, check. Accordion File Folder, check. Envy from office mates, check! Tell me you don't want this right now. By Anna Griffin and available in florals and vintage French textiles.


Sigourney Weaver would have been a much more laid back high powered woman exec with Smencils! You can get a set of ten, various smells! Sharpens like a regular pencil, and are totally environmentally friendly!



Of course you'll need to put your Smencils in something. Why not a super chic Garden Urn Pencil Cup? Tres Chic!


And I couldn't resist adding a few more fabulous finds.



Clockwise from top left:

1. Umbra Bronze Metalla Can $14.99
2. Orla Kiely Pear Notebook $17.00
3. Linen Bulletin Boards $29.99 - $34.99
4. Magnetic Birdie $16.00

Hi Ho, it's off to work you go.....

Ebay Hunter: Fabric Boutique

Just milling arround, trying to decide on a fabric to reupholster my Louis chair.
I came across a great eBay boutique, Tonic Living, that has modern retro upholstery fabrics that are VERY affordable.

Some great swatches below.

Ikea, You old so and so....

Sometimes I forget about Ikea. There are a few annoying things about it.
1. An amazing website, with seemingly every item listed as something they can't ship. SO ANNOYING.
2. It's not Ikea's fault, but I associate it with every post college apartment that sports a really hodge podge look.
3. Everyone has it.
4. I have to go to either Elizabeth, NJ or Brooklyn... which is fine, but everyone else in the tri-state area is there too. And we're all caught in that tricky hamster cage together.

Reasons why I love it:
1. Streamlined modern Scandinavian design.
2. Absurdly affordable prices.
3. Free breakfast before 10:30am.
4. Swedish meatballs.

In honor of my "love" for Ikea, I've decided to swap Sale-a-Ganza with Ikea-Ganza, because they're so dirt cheap anyhow....



Clockwise from bottom left

1. Bram Baskets (set of three) $6.99
2. Rens Sheepskin Rug!!!! $19.99
3. Bild Poster $12.00
4. Brod Horses $12.99
5. Ovation Vase $12.99
6. Stockholm Chair $299.00
7. Blomster Vases $9.99
8. Pjas Basket (Basket with Base) $12.99
9. Bastant Chest $59.99
10. Salong Vase $9.99

Shut Up: I'm Flor-ed

Most of the time, when my Flor catalog comes in, I just chuck in the recycle bin. But last night I popped it in my bag to take a peek at on my morning Path ride.

I don't have any use for Flor's products at the moment, but I really do love the idea of the consciousnesses of the product, as well as the versatility and afford ability. But mostly, I love how they've styled their catalog. Some great inspiration on every page. Lots of Scandinavian influence (their's something Ikea on every page), mixing mid-centch pieces with something worn and loved. My favorite is the dining room staging.

danke flor!

Ebay Hunter: Say Cheese!

I love cheese. If I had my way, and Gisele Buncheon's body I would put friggin' cheese on everything that goes in my mouth. It's the most amazing natural occurance via coagulation, EVER. (probably the only, actually.)

So, with that, I devote my ebay hunt to that which diplays and transports cheese.

Cheese serving platters and cutting boards are one of my favorite things. It's a family cornerstone, and must be served in a spread at every gathering.

I came across this really cool one (above) sold on VivaTerra, but for $69!!! Are you kidding me? I mean I know its eco friendly and all, but shoot.

Well, you know what's also eco friendly? Ebaying. Happens to be friendly on the wallet, too.

Tell me you don't just love these groovy 70's cheese platters? A beautiful unused Cutter and Buck marble board, and a slate Williams Sonoma cheese borad, with slate! All between starting bids of $4 - $19.99!!!


Cheese Boxes have been collectible forever. Probably the one rustic looking collectible that is still available for pennies, and in great abundance. Knock on wood.

These cheese boxes are avail at starting bids from $.99 - $4.99. Think of the all the possibilities!!!

DIYeah!

I'm making good on some of my DIYeah promises.
This one isn't huge, but it still has made quite a difference for making my home more happy.
A little old cafe table crying out for help. It's jz's from apartments past, and although its scale is perfect for our terrace balcony, it's been looking a little beat up.

I sanded, wiped down, primed, spray painted, and viola! Ready for enjoyment for the last dog days of summer.

This process was actually really enjoyable. I think it would have been more so, if I didn't live in an apartment building that is reminiscent of Melrose Place (see pool courtyard in background). I tried to do this during work hours, when I had less of a chance of people staring out their windows, wondering who the crazy spray paint girl is (I did like 3 coats...)

Shut Up

I don't typically like to repost from other blogs, but I couldn't help myself on this one.
It's such a nice little nugget of inspiration. Angela Adam's home sneak peek from design*sponge.
I love this collection of buoys hanging by the door. Neon and pink. I will never tire of buoy decor, but I love this fresh take on it.

I also love the little basket on the floor that is a home for moss and succulents....

West Elm - You old so and so...

Yea, I know. An underused phrase.
I use it because of my love hate relationship with mass-marketed, style in a snap, production houses.

Love, because my design junkie brain was first nursed on their endless supply of catalog mailings. As a young girl, I would flip through Pottery Barn, fantasizing and trying to come up with ways to convince my mother to redecorate the dining room. Endless, almost hypnotic inspiration, page for page, for furniture coordination and color schemes. Sucking you in, and making you realize if you go one more day without your Montego Dining Collection, you could potentially suffer from hypothermia.

Hate, because of it's tendency to spurn such crazy trends. Suddenly, your mail-ordered-personality-defining candle wall hanging is, surprisingly, also personality defining for Jan and George down the block.

But I digress... West Elm is definately one of my obsessions. I still thumb carefully through each delivered catalog, totally redundant from the last, dog-earring every little whim or inspiration. Even from that burn, when I bought 5 pillows, of which I later learned would be double the price, since I was buying a "pillow cover" and "pillow insert." Tricksters.

Anyhow, my latest obessions, a la West Elm

Of course, seems like the whole world is obessed with the Parsons Collection. Myself, I like the desk in white lacquer.


This Cut Glass lamp is less opaque looking and really stunning in person. I bid on one on ebay, but I couldn't keep up :(


Eh. Their newest home accent, that is self-proclaimed whimsy. Narrative Animals. I think I'll pass on the shadow puppet turtle, but I would go in for the Top Hat Bunny. And at $19 a pop, and used in the right context, could be great.


Love these raw wood trays.

And a new found obsession with sheepskin and flotaki rugs. Try to tell me rollin around on this puppy wouldn't be a slice of fun....