Frame Project

I managed to keep a few antique/vintage frames that I found prior to our move and lugged them over to the new house. They are in a huge stack of artwork that we have yet to place on our walls. The confidence involved in nailing holes into our brand new walls is lacking, so I wait and procrastinate.

However, I've been brainstorming about how to use at least one of them --- and saw the following on SimplyGrove. Brilliant idea! I can't wait to get a chance to transform them from shabby to chic & practical:

New House - New Inspiration

I have an official fresh dwelling to inspire me - three months ago we moved from our 1919 Craftsman in Seattle to the 'burbs and a 2010 house. What a change! Certainly less of the old-world charm that the other house provided, but a clean, bright, brand-spanking new canvas to decorate and design.

As this is a house for the long-term, I have to pace myself.

Here are my current inspirations:

Powder Room Wallpaper






I'm stuck in limbo between loving the serenity and safety of the silver sage blue with pops of color and the crisp sunny contrast of the yellow (the yellow is actually wrapping paper from Snow and Graham).


Dining Room:

I finally was able to figure out a nice compromise between the look I wanted and the expensive price tag I needed to avoid.



I purchased these fantastic Tolix chairs from Sundance and then found a beautiful french country dining table on consignment. A little sanding, little primer and then 3 coats of Martha Stewart's Tilled Soil. Voila. A nice marriage between old and new, industrial and country.

With the rugrats emerging from their rooms, my time is up, but glad to be done moving and to start this inspiration design blog in earnest.

ps - can't forget this one

One other thing that I've been swooning over - the magical and delectable Amy Atlas designs. Check out her website for a portfolio of past events that's absolutely amazing!

Return from the Land of Busy

The last two months have been a big change from warm, laid-back, outdoorsy summer days to structured weeks of mostly indoor, child-centric activities and obligations. A welcomed change at first, but it left little time for becoming inspired.

Here are a few things that have caught my eye and I actually remembered to post on the blog:

Restoration Hardware's Flatiron Table - I saw it yesterday at our local store and I think that it looks far better in person than in this photo. Loving the use of the recycled door! I'd love to set this rustic tabletop with my Vera Wang china.



Anthropologie's various wallpaper options - especially this one called Avian Apartment. Wallpaper is certainly making a comeback. Perhaps I should jump on this train?!



The decor and architecture of a somewhat new restaurant in my neck of the woods - Bastille and Bar. My first visit there was with the small fry, so obviously a return trip is necessary to sufficiently absorb the ambiance. Much of it inspired from century old train stations in Paris.


Clean and simple design of this lovely home via House of Turquoise



More to come as I embrace this colder, darker, more regimented season of the year.

Two favorite things

In the last week, I employed two of my favorite kitchen items:

First, the legendary Cupcake Courier that I purchased just prior to having my first child, knowing that this phase of life would require an easy and efficient way to transport muffins and cupcakes (and cakes for that matter)


Second, the inaugural use of my cupcake stand that my hubby gave me for my birthday. I can't believe that it took me this long to pull it out and fill up the tiers with frosting slathered cakes

*these cupcakes are coconut cake with coconut frosting & yellow cake with chocolate frosting, made for my daughter's first birthday a week ago. Instead of making a full two dozen so that I didn't have many tempting leftovers, I made small pink paper flowers to fill the empty spaces.

Dressing Room

Along with the squeaky floors mentioned in an earlier post, one of my other main complaints about my 1919 house happens to be the lack of closet space. They're non-existent. Thus the pile of clothing on the floor of my minuscule "master" bedroom.


I saw the above dressing room in the September 09 issue of Living, Etc and just fell in love with it. Imagine - to have an entire room to organize one's clothing!

Then I ran across another dressing room on Decorpad - what a fun and playful space! I'm dreaming of a day when it could be mine...even on a small scale...

The perfect home fragrance

This morning I found my nose wrinkling in disgust as I was surrounded by the typical, offensive smells that are so common when one has a 1 year old infant and a 3 year old toddler. Blah. Thinking about which smells transport me to my happy place, I thought that it'd be wonderful to somehow create a candle with the following scents:

Shoe leather,



a lovely perfume like my current favorite, Viktor & Rolf's Flowerbomb,

and add a dash of one of my favorite coffee blends, Kenya from Starbucks.


Serenity Now!