Life Made Pretty

Every day on my way to work I pass Ethan Allen, and this beautiful mirrored table stares back at me...

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 09:53:55 -0400

Every day on my way to work I pass Ethan Allen, and this beautiful mirrored table stares back at me in the window. The modern glamour veronica chest would make a really sexy bedside table. Anyone looking to glam up their bedroom?

Happy first day of Fall everyone! While I’m not too...

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:52:45 -0400

Happy first day of Fall everyone! While I’m not too excited about the cooler weather, I am excited about starting school in 10 DAYS!!!! 10 days! I’m so excited. So as I wrap up things at work and transition to my school schedule things may be posted a little more sporadically here - but they will be posted, so keep checking in!

Fun with chevron! I love this funky, bold pattern. And while...

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:32:46 -0400

Fun with chevron! I love this funky, bold pattern. And while this photo is very fun to look at, I definitely think it’s overkill on the pattern in a real life situation. Any of these chevron accents though would be great on their own - and the more color, the better!

Well it’s official, I now want to decorate a retail...

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:41:57 -0400

Well it’s official, I now want to decorate a retail store/boutique. I think this wall would look amazing in the sitting area of a dressing room. So Rachel Zoe-esque.

Restoration Hardware's Fall 2011 Collection

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:45:49 -0400

O. MY. GOD.

Restoration Hardware’s Fall 2011 Collection catalog (or should I say, glossy magazine with the size of this thing) took my breath away. My eyes were popping as I turned the pages, especially starting with the birdcage chandelier. I mean, what’s $3000 when you’re making a statement like THAT?

OR a statement like the Foucault’s Orb Crystal Chandelier. Breath. Taken. Away. It’s just so beautiful. And elegant. And will most likely never be mine, wah wah wah haha.

While the majority of the Restoration Hardware catalog is a little too modern and industrial for my tastes, there were obviously other rooms that jumped out at me. I can absolutely see myself decorating with all of these pieces, especially the Library Leather Chairs, the Mayfair Steamer Double Chest Brushed Steel dresser, and the Subway Sign Art.

The next room belongs to my ideal man. I mean, seriously? Let’s get married.

And finally, you may remember my past attention to a very special room in the house - the man cave. Well talk about the modern man, man cave. How cool is that Polished-Nickel TV Easel?!

You, Restoration Hardware, brought it this season. Congratulations. Can’t wait to see what Spring 2012 brings already!

House Beautiful has it right with this amazing entry way....

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 08:38:01 -0400

House Beautiful has it right with this amazing entry way. Bright, vibrant colors, plenty of storage space, and pillows galore. The weather here in DC has been rainy all week, and I know that if I stepped into my house and was welcome by this, it would wash the crappy weather away.

Talk about a glammed up kitchen with this mirrored back splash.

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 08:20:43 -0400

Talk about a glammed up kitchen with this mirrored back splash.

Weekend inspiration: Whimsical wallpaper

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 10:46:49 -0400

Pinterest pulls through again with great design inspiration - this time in the form of wallpaper. Why not head into the long Labor Day weekend with some design fun on the brain - who knows what creative ideas you may come up with on your extra day off!

Featured here is the whimsical wallpaper by Julia Rothman, an extremely talented Brooklyn artist and designer. It makes me want to design outside of the box!

Not only do I dream of having a chaise lounge just like this in...

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:22:23 -0400

Not only do I dream of having a chaise lounge just like this in my home one day but I also have recently been thinking that one just like it needs to go in my coworker’s new bedroom that I’m going to be helping her redecorate. Hm, now just to find the perfect fit…

P.S. These pillows are pretty fantastic as well.

Check out the new wall in the J.Crew Rockefeller Center store....

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:18:36 -0400

Check out the new wall in the J.Crew Rockefeller Center store. The wall was designed by artist Christopher Bettig, a Los Angeles-based artist and founder of the Mountain Label Design Studio.

Here is what Christopher said about his artwork:

“Djed is the name of my newest permanent installation which is at J Crew / Rockefeller Plaza, in NYC. In Egypt, Djed is a reference to stability, and the installation features a series of diamonds all imploding into each other while hovering in midair.. so, it’s a play on that. The installation is also shaped like half of a heart because one of my oldest friends, James Chard, recently passed away. Hope you guys like it.”

I love the personal meaning behind the installation, it really makes me look at it differently. And now that I see the half heart, well my heart changes. I love it.

Don’t want to do the same old framing project to spruce up...

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 10:13:00 -0400

Don’t want to do the same old framing project to spruce up your walls? Ready to mix things up a bit? How about using multiple frames to cut up your art and give it this great look featured on re-nest.com.

Obviously keep in mind the art that you are using, this look will look better with some pieces then others. I think that this map looks amazing on this golden wall.

I feel like I’m looking into the future when I see Toronto...

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:21:10 -0400

I feel like I’m looking into the future when I see Toronto designer Sabrina Linn’s inspiration corkboard. I want something just like that in my future office! Even clutter can look pretty.

Photo from House and Home

Funky patterned accents are a great way to bring some life to a...

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:36:01 -0400

Funky patterned accents are a great way to bring some life to a room. Matching pillows and curtains bring life to this room designed by Jonathan Rosen.

Glamour done right. Deep gray colors with bright turquoise and...

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:49:00 -0400

Glamour done right. Deep gray colors with bright turquoise and purples. Fit for a queen. Seems very Carrie Bradshaw-esque to me.

These shelves are adorable. And that’s probably not...

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:00:26 -0400

These shelves are adorable. And that’s probably not something you would say if you saw them bare, but the colorful bowls, mugs, glasses and flowers really bring life to them.

Need storage space? Check under your stairs!

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:51:34 -0400

I pinned the above photo on Pinterest awhile ago and since then I’ve been seeing so many cool storage options for under your staircase. So we’ll hit on those here, but first - can I get a swoon over these stair bookcases?!

*SWOON*

The bookcases below are nice if you don’t have the option of creating a built in bookcase. Just hang up some shelves and you’re set!

Now take one of those books from your bookshelf and cozy on up here under your staircase on this bed. Seriously, how great is this. It’s such a nice little nook, and a very functional use of space.

Not everyone has the luxury of having a fully functional and spacious entry way where they can keep coats, boots, bags, all that jazz. So what about using the space under your stairs as storage space? Talk about using your space wisely. I love this idea.

And finally, I can’t help but have a little longing for my dear Harry Potter and his under the stairs room when looking at this photo - although this is a bathroom, and not a bedroom, but you get the idea. A whole room under your staircase?! Genius.

Summer is winding down, so I only have a few more weeks where I...

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:34:05 -0400

Summer is winding down, so I only have a few more weeks where I can really post beach house inspiration photos without you guys thinking I’m completely crazy. So here we go! Beach house inspiration photo one of many until the weather starts to cool down (and no, going from an average of 100 degrees each day, to 85 degrees is not a cool down) - rope stairs! I’ll let them do the speaking themselves, but talk about an amazing detail. Rope stairs for the win.

My amazing co-worker asked me to help her redecorate her...

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:22:00 -0400

My amazing co-worker asked me to help her redecorate her bedroom. Nothing a new paint job, linens, and window treatments can’t fix. The biggest upgrade? A new bed. She really wants a King sized bed, and I really want to get rid of her four poster frame bed because it’s really making the size of the room feel a lot smaller. It’s time to open things up, lighten up the color and make this her sanctuary.

Also, everything needs to be gender neutral, as she shares the room so this duvet cover and these shams are where I want to start. Of course, with her approval first.

What do you think?

This photo was featured in Traditional Home and it caught my eye...

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 08:49:31 -0400

This photo was featured in Traditional Home and it caught my eye immediately. How different is this dining room seat? It’s elegant yet comfortable and it flows with the staircase just perfectly.Not to mention, it makes a statement in this room. I love it.

Home designed by Amy Bergman.

You have to appreciate an artist with a sense of humor. I think...

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 08:18:03 -0400

You have to appreciate an artist with a sense of humor. I think this is hilarious. I hope someday to have a client with this edgy sense of humor because I would love to decorate with something like this in the future.

Check out artist Ian Stevenson’s other work here.