Lost in Decoration

Do Your Shelves Look This Good?

When I came across this photograph on FFFFOUND! an image bookmarking blog, I couldn’t help but do a little research on this artist and feature him here.  James Hopkins, and London based artist, creates sophisticated and engaging visual illusions made from every day objects.  Check out his website here for more installations. 

A Modern "Swinging Sixties" Inspired Pad →

It’s time for another video from Canadian House and Home!  This episode features the modernist sixties inspired home of stylist Arren Williams.  I just love the way he has decorated the space with flea-market finds, and re-upholstered or refinished items to fit his taste.  I also love the funky fireplace tile, and his wallpaper choices, especially in the bathroom!  You can hear in Williams’ voice how much he loves his home, and I personally support his philosophy that your home should have a bit of a sense of humor.  I hope you enjoy!

This Apartment is in Williamsburg?

So I know this is totally cliché, but I always think of apartments in Williamsburg as being loft like and covered in rock posters, dirty dishes, and furniture bought at the Salvation Army.  This is probably because I’ve spent time in apartments like this; they belong to a handful of my friends.  That’s why I was so amused to come across this stunningly grown up apartment featured in Working Class Magazine.  This home belongs to Mike Mabes, a Brooklyn based photographer, who seems to have a real eye for rustic and masculine decor, with a sophisticated and charming aesthetic.  I especially love the deep teal color on the bathroom walls!

100 Layer Cake: Michonne and Mike

I love this vintage steam-punk inspired wedding from the Arizona Desert.  And I came across it on a great new blog that I intend to add to my blogroll right now!  It’s called 100 Layer Cake, and I’m particularly fond of their DIY wedding section where I found this little gem.  Everything from the vintage Plymouth, to her elegant dress and the groomsmen in Converse sneakers says elegant but fun.  You can really get a sense of this couple’s personality.  For the full article from 100 Layer Cake, click here.

I love… Coralie Bickford-Smith

Coralie Bickford-Smith is a senior cover designer at Penguin Books, and I love coming across her colorful and unique designs.  I think it would be so fun to own her entire collection!  She is a regular feature on Grace Bonney’s Design*Sponge, where I came across this article on her newest collection: a series of Art Deco inspired metallic covers for six F. Scott Fitzgerald titles.  For the full article click here.

It’s Ok My Dear…

fromme-toyou:

Oil well dresses, ruby slippers, a southern belle living and designing in Brooklyn New York. 

Welcome to the designer Ashley Cheeks’s Brooklyn shop & work studio “Its Ok My Dear”

She BLOGS, She TWEETS, She SALES!

You can read about her store in this month’s issue of Working Class Magazine as they profile designers and shops on Brooklyn’s Grand Street!

Dressing Rooms

Photo above: thedecorista

It’s every girl’s dream to have a beautiful closet, but a dressing room is a closet on steroids, and something that not many of us in New York City can have.  I love these photos of beautiful dressing rooms, because they make me thing of how glamorous one’s life can really be.  I imagine them filled with Prada, Chloe, DVF and more of my favorites, with shoes lined up in perfect rows.  Many of these rooms also have vanity tables: the perfect place to powder ones nose and add that last piece of jewelry.  Maybe someday I’ll be able to pull my vanity out of my parents garage and put it a room like these!

Mast Brothers Chocolate

A few weeks ago my sister Meredith suggested to me that I blog about this Brooklyn based chocolate company called Mast Brothers Chocolate.  I did a little research, and found out quite a lot that I liked about this company.  The two brothers come from interesting backgrounds: Rick Mast has worked in the kitchens of SoHo House and Gramercy Tavern, as well as under Jacques Torres at his Manhattan factory; Michael Mast comes from the world of finance, but has enjoyed the hobby of chocolate making for years.  Their factory is in a 100 year old building in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where the brothers personally craft each bar on chocolate, and hand print the papers in which they are wrapped.  Still, I couldn’t bring myself to write about them until I had tried their chocolate!  

Last week, Mike and I were on our typical weekend trip to Central Park where we bring out quite the spread.  (I’m always saying how lucky I am to be dating a former chef, and a man who shares my love for cheese and wine.)  On our way, we stopped at Murray’s Cheese to pick up a few double creams, and I happened to spot their collection of chocolate bars.  We picked up a Mast Brothers bar that was dark chocolate with almonds, olive oil, and sea salt.  It was amazing!  The perfect chocolate bar to enjoy with cheese and wine… and I imagine many other things.  I found myself imagining smores made from their chocolate!

Their chocolate can be found at well known locations all over the city, such as:  Whole Foods, Dean and Deluca, and Williams Sonoma, and of course Murray’s Cheese.

The Power of Books

designismymuse:

sombreboite:Karl Lagerfeld’s library 

I came across this photo today and couldn’t help but be inspired.  So many of my favorite photos are of people’s libraries.  I think you can really tell a lot about a person by their books, and also by the way they organize them.  Most importantly I love the quote at the bottom of this photo:

“Books are a hard-bound drug with no danger of an overdose.  I am the happy victim of books.” - Karl Lagerfeld

The World’s Most Spectacular Pools

Summer is not quite over yet… although here in New York we seem to have finally broken that awful heat wave!  It’s been really beautiful the last two days, a perfect 85 degrees and sunny.  In the spirit of truly enjoying great weather, I couldn’t help but re-blog this post from Architectural Digest about the worlds most spectacular pools.  I’ve only grabbed a few of my favorites, and then added a few of my own.  For the full article, click here.

I’ve added a couple from my own collection below:

Tamara de Lempicka’s Former Workshop

loftylovin:

Artsy Parisian home has an interesting provenance, it was artist Tamara de Lempicka’s former workshop. The home is in a listed building built by Mallet-Stevens and has four levels that open onto co-owners’ gardens and view on gardens of Cluny’s Convent. The property includes a workshop with high ceilings, study, three bedrooms and more.There are also two staff bedrooms, two cellars and a pair of terraces. A wet bar is tucked into a sleek burled wood-paneled area on the mezzanine level overlooking the main space below. A small bathroom is covered with tile that looks like a disco ball exploded and a black kitchen makes for a very dramatic space to grab morning coffee.

The World of Madeline Weinrib

Ok… there are more than a few things I drool over when I visit ABC Carpet and Home, but none holds the same place in my heart than the sections set aside for Madeline Weinrib Carpets.  Today I opened up this month’s edition of Traditional Home to find that she also makes handbags!  This find sent me on a tour of her website, which spawned an entire internet stalking.  I found these great photos of her home from Elle Decor (check out the full article here), and have grabbed a few of my favorite items from her line below.  

These last few photos are some I’ve collected over time from various blogs and magazines. They feature my favorite of her carpets, the Zig Zag.  It sure is popular, and I can see why.

Get Well Soon

Today after work I am finally taking my computer to the doctor!  I’m hoping it’s good news and I can be back to regularly posting soon.

A Colorful Teen’s Room

Via: High Street Market

I love this colorful teen’s room by Betsy Burnham Design.  It’s fun and playful, but still designed for even the most mature connoisseur of design.  The way she mixes patterns and colors really works, and is somewhat unconventional.  I think my favorite part is the bathroom with that fun wallpaper and the snakeskin mirror!

Stunning Spiral Staircases

I’m not sure if anyone else has noticed, but spiral staircases seem to be popping up all over the design blogging world this week.  I have always loved them, they are so romantic.  Someday I would like to have home with my very own.