picture this

Picture This: Bringing Fall Inside

by Alexis L. on October 30, 2009

We’re well into fall and hopefully you’ve now picked your cold weather bedding and have started to embrace the change of the season. Here are few things to bring home the essence of autumn.

Bringing Fall Inside (click for larger image)

Bringing Fall Inside (click for larger image)

1. Canteen Double Wall Porcelain Cup by Bodum. This will keep hot beverages  warm and is more interesting than a mug. The colored ribs offer a non-slip grip.Buy a set of two for $30.
2. Spiral-Etched Hurricane & Votive Holders. Buy it for $14+ from Williams-Sonoma Home.
3. CB I Hate Perfume Room Sprays in Burning Leaves, In The Library, Russian Caravan Tea, Gathering Apples. Gorgeous, complex scents that are more abstract than prissy. Ideal for those who don’t like typical home fragrance options.Buy them for $40 in sprays or $12 as perfume absolutes.
4. Element Throw in Wool/Silk. Buy it for $80 from CB2.
5. Eva Zeisel Teakettle in Chili Red. This teakettle isn’t exactly inexpensive but my experience is that Chantal quality is worth it. This should last you a long time.Buy it for $95 from MoMA Store.
6. Hand Poured Lacquered Wastebasket in Orange. Buy it for $24 from Jonathan Adler.
7. Sketched Birds Printed Linen Pillow. Buy it for $80 from Williams-Sonoma Home.

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Tagged as: accessories, fall, i bought it, little luxuries, under $100

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Picture This: Anna Wintour Needs a New Office

by Alexis L. on September 15, 2009

I‘ll just come out and say it–I am taken aback by the state of Anna Wintour’s office. Yes, I expected it to be artfully messy and all that. And I expected the Queen of All Sylphs to have a seat that sacrificed comfort for aesthetics. But really–this?

via Apartment Therapy

Anna Wintour's office as shown on 60 Minutes, via Apartment Therapy

‘Shocked and saddened’, those press release buzzword staples, would be the best description of my reaction. The household name arbiter of style is seated behind a desk that reminds us all of the worst excesses of deco and of the ’80s on a French galvanized steel cafe chair that matches absolutely nothing and is rustic country chic, if chic at all. Unforgivably, the walls are white and Apartment Therapy describes the carpet color as ‘dusty rose.’

I’m stunned. The room, such as it is, is spinning.

So Anna Wintour needs a desk. And a chair. And because I care so deeply about the state of interior design in what I always assumed were the gorgeous halls of Vogue, I’d like to suggest this fashionable pairing: a $300 Kartell Papyrus chair and a $700 Blu Dot Strut desk.

anna

An instant prescription for a fashionable workspace: a Kartell Papyrus chair and a Blu Dot Strut desk

The Papyrus is like the bell of a woman’s sleeve or a flapper girl’s curves. The desk is all strong lines and high gloss. Steel and polycarbonate restraint offered in a wide range of colors that can be in almost any way by the discerning eye. Fashionably uncomfortable, lest anyone question your self-sacrificial devotion to style. All for precisely $1000, which passes for luxury in these parts. And why should someone who has dedicated herself to fashions for the body give one whit about the look of the room? Because no one can look good in a pitiful space, Anna.

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Tagged as: decor as comedy, decor in the city, rants, when decor sucks

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Picture this Modern Nursery for Under $1K

by Alexis L. on September 2, 2009

For parents who love clean lines and serene spaces, pulling together a nursery can be a hair-tearing experience. Everyone‘s mother-in-law wants to buy them an ugly glider. Most things are bedecked with frills or bears. And when you do find out that there is a whole universe of exquisitely minimalist baby furniture, you find that a nice crib can cost $2,400. Worry not. Answering an e-mail request from Opal, I have put together an inspiration board for a modern nursery, suitable for a boy or a girl. You’ll find all sources and prices below to keep the nursery organized, soothing and even smelling great.

Let me know what you think and please, post YOUR best tips / leads for affordable, modern nursery goods?

nurseryfor1Klong

Modern, Affordable Nursery and Haven for Baby (click for larger image)


room colors

Nursery Paint Colors (Click for larger image)

1. Curtain Option A. Repurposed Number Striped Shower Curtain by Alexander Girard from Urban Outfitters.
It’s super-easy to turn this fabulous cotton shower curtain into a pair of distinctive drapes; just cut in half and hem.
Buy it for $19 per 72″x72″panel.

Curtain Option B. Silk dupioni window panels from West Elm in blue or auburn.
Buy it for $19+.

2. Black & White Sheep Mobile by Flenstead from EarthBaby.
Buy it for $28.

3. Lamp Option A. Black Kulla Floor Lamp from Ikea.
Buy it for $90.

Lamp Option B. Hem Floor Lamp from CB2.
Buy it for $50.

4. Letterpress Alphabet Poster in Graphite/Tangerine from Sycamore St. Press on Etsy.
Buy it for $30.

5. Orchard Park 4-Piece Crib Bedding Set from Walmart.
Buy it for $40.

6. Diaper Pail. Repurposed locking trash can from Simple Human.
Many parents complain that they are disappointed with the efficacy of tradition diaper pails–they’re small and many don’t keep out odors as promised. I recommend this nicely sized locking trash can which holds in odors well when paired with the Simple Human charcoal tablets and can be used for garbage and recycling later on.
Buy it for $40.

7. Essential Oil Diffuserfrom California Baby.
Diffused tea tree oil and citrus oils combat bad smells while lavender, vanilla and rosemary soothe. Be sure to consult with your pediatrician to determine which scents are okay for your newborn.
Buy it for $20.

8. Gulliver Crib from Ikea.
Buy it for $99.
Paint is a great and easy way to achieve a custom look on this widely adored crib. While these colors can be matched by most brands, I am recommending Mythic because it is low odor, zero voc and non-toxic.

Though it is not included in the $1K budget, consider these Crib Paint Options from Mythic Paint (r-l): Royal Orchid, Antique Sage, Garrison, Blue Luster, Intermezzo Blue.
Buy it for $19.50 per quart.

9. Baby Mod ParkLane 3-Drawer Changer in Amber and White from Walmart.
A note about changing tables: While I wanted to include this beautiful piece, many parents find that changing stations are a needless purchase. A baby can be safely changed on any solid, horizontal surface. This item consumed 1/4th of our modest budget and you may want to consider alternatives like a lacquered desk which can hold a few supplies and has a lot of functionality for adults or wide, low-ish dresser.
Buy it for $250.

10. Vinnie Cradle Chair from Overstock.com in white or blue.
Buy it for $160.

11. Bookcase, Expedit in white from Ikea.
Buy it for $160.

Though it is not included in the $1K budget, consider these Bookcase Paint Color Options from Mythic (top-bottom): Canton Court, Cloudless Sky, Three Part Harmony.
I think this would look fabulous in a two-tone paint scheme.
Buy it for $19.50 per quart.

12. Wooden Puzzle, Narrow to Wide Puzzle by Kid O from Oompa Toys.

Buy it for $14.50.
Beautiful as wall art, please keep out of reach of tiny hands until they are 3 years old and up.

13. Rug Option A. Nina Rug from Crate & Barrel Outlet.
While it seems as though everyone is putting down carpet tiles in the nursery, you cannot beat the price or quality of these natural fiber rugs. With their variegated colors they disguise dirt and spills and when you are ready to clean, you can spot-spray or put the 100% cotton rug in the washer.
Buy for $30+ for a 5′x8′ rug.

Rug Option B. Murphy Yellow Rug from Crate & Barrel Outlet.
Buy for $50+ for a 4′x6′ rug.


Though it is not included in the $1K budget, consider these Wall Color Options from Mythic Paints (r-l): Golden Touch, Magic Wand, Santa Fe Sun, Primeval Forest, Kiwi Breeze, Dried Grass, Blue Luster.
Buy it for $50/gallon.

TOTAL: Depending on options and not including paint, $980

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Tagged as: affordable eco-friendly, book storage, letterpress, nursery, picture this, rugs, seating, storage

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Picture this Primary Colored Bedroom

by Alexis L. on April 18, 2009

I’ve been thinking a lot about unusual color combinations and decided to push the boundaries by tackling the basics…Red, yellow and blue usually bring to mind nothing more sophisticated than a daycare center. But by choosing interesting prints and muted tones, I think that the primary colors can absolutely sing in a room and provide a really lovely balance of cool and warm tones, particularly against the backdrop of clean white walls. Put together, the affordable items pictured make for a beautiful and all grown-up bedroom. It works through a synergy of good materials (100% cotton and linen, particularly), interesting shapes and grounded natural materials.

And of course it all comes together for less than $1,000.

The Bed in white, $199: Brocade Home metal bedframe

The Duvet Set in ochre yellow, $137: Dwell Essex on sale at Bluefly.com

The Ikat Throw Pillow in blue, $10: Sabi Pillow from Pottery Barn
The Low Side Table in yellow, $15: Repurposed Update–Sold OutPause Stool from CB2
The Tray Side Table in yellow, $50: Formosa Tray Table from CB2
The Art, $44: PaperWeb by Traci French through UrbanOutfitters
The Rug in blue, $40: 5×7 Indigo Leaves Cotton Rug from UrbanOutfitters
The Lamp, $20: Crate and Barrel black desk lamp
The Ottoman, $40: Rattan Ottoman from Crate and Barrel
The Drapes in red, $80: 84″ Opaque Linen Window Panels from West Elm
The Wastebasket, $15: Bankuan-Weave catchall from West Elm
Lidded Box in blue, $18: The Madison Lidded Box from Ballard Designs

TOTAL: $668

I think it works but what are your thoughts?

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Tagged as: bedroom, picture this, rugs

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