Room Love

So I am seriously experiencing designer love right now. These Kelly Hoppen rooms are absolutely gorgeous, like all the other things she has designed. Looking through her site made me feel seriously inspired. I just want to go create a beautiful space right now, but I don’t quite have the time. I guess instead I will just envy the fantastic homes Kelly Hoppen has created. I absolutely adore a good bookcase, and the one below is so wonderful. I also think the bathroom is inviting, fresh, and simply pretty. Love, love, love!

Interesting Sinks

Dornob is a great website to visit for design ideas. I have been browsing through it a lot lately, and I love the Elkay sinks they found. I’m such a fan of the flowing river sinks, I love it when designers use nature as inspiration. Personally, I think  the Elkay designers incorporated nature beautifully into these sink designs. I also adore the geometric sinks, which are completely unique and totally eye catching designs.

Flowing River Sink

Elkay Sinks

Poetry Decor

Brian Andreas is one of my favorite poets and conveniently he turns his poetry into art and home decor, which I also love! You can buy prints, furniture, sculptures, cards and books that all feature Brian Andreas poetry from this website. All of which are very bright, funky, and fun! Just below is one of my favorite poems written by Brian Andreas. Enjoy =)

“I once had a

garden filled

with flowers

that grew only

on dark thoughts

but they

need constant

attention

& one day

I decided I had

better things

to do”

-Brian Andreas

Funky Brian Andreas Vase

Colorful Brian Andreas Trunk

Bathroom Inspiration

I found this picture of a fantastic bathroom on flickr. What I really love about this bathroom is how all the practical bathroom necessities are used as the main decor items. The shelves, jars, pegs, towels, bins, and mirror are all decorative items. It’s also fun because the walls and shelves are in neutral colors so you can change around the vibe of the room depending on what color bathroom accessories you purchase. I get bored easily, so it’s nice to have rooms that are versatile, this bathroom is definitely that. I like it, I like it a lot!

Java Ambiance

I go to school in RI and regularly find myself at the Providence Starbucks spending 4 bucks on a grande latte. I usually grumble as I scramble through my purse to pay for the rich drink in change, thinking about how much cheaper my genuine home-made coffee is. Although, when in desperate need of caffeine, I always make the purchase. I then retreat to a large brown comfy leather chair, or a cushioned window-sill seat and drink my coffee. I find myself at Starbucks over and over again because I really enjoy this time. I’ll spend intervals peering into the lives of others on the street from the safe-haven of the coffee shop, or strike up a conversation with another caffeine addict seated near me, but mostly I just get lost in a book. By the time I leave, I generally feel the 4 dollars I initially fussed over, were actually well spent. Thus, I find myself destined to return the next day or week only to repeat the process.

Occasionally, I wonder why I like Starbucks in particular. Is it the coffee? Yes I enjoy it, but like I said, it’s pricey. So no, that’s not it. Is it the trendy intellectual vibe I perceive myself to be giving off? Probably more than I’d like to admit. Or, is it the activity that accompanies my purchase? Partly, but I can read and people watch from many places. So no, that’s not it either. The one concrete answer I can come up with is the atmosphere. The walls are always painted deep, warm and inviting colors, the seating is consistently comfortable, and the coffee shops are all filled with chic art. Yes, it’s definitely the setting that I love. Although, buying $4 latte’s on a regular basis isn’t the best idea for a broke college student, even for one who is a serious fan of java ambiance. My solution? Coffee investment. I’ll bring the decor I love home with me and create the aura for myself. I found a ton of Starbucks stuff online and below I displayed a few of my favorites. Hope you like them (=

Art Deco Coffee Press

Cast Iron Tea Kettle

Cut-Out Benches

I adore these benches from inmod for many reasons. The first being that I think they are totally cool looking. The second, the shadows they cast are equally cool. Third, I think they would look great in an entry hallway or mudroom. Actually, they would look good in all sorts of rooms. And the last but not least reason why I love these benches, their intricate geometric designs. I can’t stop looking, so cool!

Bold Love

Not much to say, except that I love every single one of these dining rooms from housetohome. They are all incredibly bold and have some sort of ethnic vibe. I’m partial to the first dining room. I love the deep color of the wood in the table and the chairs, especially in conjunction with the beautiful reds. Sigh, all of these rooms are so gorgeous.

Swivel Storage

I feel like teens get left out of the home decor process a lot. I always see designs for kids rooms and adult rooms but rarely the in between. It’s such a shame. Teenagers already feel angsty and unwanted enough, they don’t need to be left out of the interior design process too! To help out, I found a great decor item at PBteen geared towards the younger generation. The swivel design features a full length mirror, bulletin board, pegs for hanging stuff, and shelves for storage. You know what, forget angsty teens. I want this one for myself. I like it because you can completely personalize it depening on the color bins you use, the things you put on the bulletin board, and the stuff you chose to hang from the pegs. Although it’s displayed in a very girly room, it could work well in any other space depending on how you personalize it. All in all, the storage system is functional and looks great!

Exceptionally Ordinary

This morning I was browsing around the Apartment Therapy blog looking for inspiration and I was blown away when I saw the Story Teller shelves by Isabel Quiroga. I was thoroughly intrigued and proceeded to browse the internet for more of her designs and found the Foldable table, which is equally novel. Isabel Quiroga has a unique ability to transform ordinary household necessities into exceptional decor center-pieces. She is truly an inspiration.

Storyteller Shelves

The application of desks as shelves is a wonderful way to reuse old furniture in an exceptional way. I love how functional the design is, you could use the space for storage, work, or decoration. In addition, they look fabulous!

Isabel Quiroga

Foldable Table

Isabel Quiroga also designed the Foldable table. It has legs which fold into the table and a silk-screen print that appears as a table cloth. Also, Isabel Quiroga inventively included a hole in the surface of the table so that it can be hung from a wall and double as a painting. Although these are the best snag-able pictures I could find, thanks to Yanko Design, they do not do the art aspect of the table justice. To see ones that do, visit the Isabel Quiroga website.

Finally!!

I absolutely adore this tree railing. I’ve been stumbling across it online forever, but the link was always just to the image and I didn’t want to post it until I found the designer. Well, I finally did and I am so happy! The railing and bench are from Imagination in Metals. It’s a very cool place, you can send them drawings and ideas and they will turn it into iron art. Even if you don’t want anything, I suggest going to this site. It’s fun to look around at all their beautiful designs and unique creations. I am truly impressed.

Tree Railing

Branches & Birds Bench

West Elm

Below I displayed a picture of a dining room decorated by West Elm. I love their website because they have a shop by room option, which is how I found the chairs that are displayed below. Also, I continued browsing the site and  found day beds in the same styles as the chairs. I think West Elm is a fantastic interior design store with many great pieces of furniture. The items displayed below are just a select few of my favorites. I like them because they are geometrically pleasing and each come in different styles depending on what you need; arm rests, no arm rests, cushions, no cushions, stool version, & different colors. I love the options!

West Elm Dining Room

West Elm Square-Cutout Chairs

West Elm Square-Cutout Day Bed

West Elm Circle-Cutout Chairs

West Elm Circle-Cutout Day Bed

Green Goodies

The products displayed below are all from Greener Grass Design. They include; a wine holder, a pop-up placemat, a melting snowman sugar holder, and wood serving platters. Each item is beautiful, functional, and environmentally friendly. I particularly enjoy the pop-up placemat and melting snowman sugar holder. Both are fun & interesting designs that would be great for children. The placemat is inspired by pop-up  picture books, it’s an old concept used in a new way, I love it! I also love the illusion that the snowman is melting as the sugar empties from the container. I think it’s an adorable design.

DIY Decor

Embroidered Hoop Wall Art

Fun DIY Project!

I was looking through the Desire To Inspire blog, like I often do, and found a great DIY decor project. The idea is to use embroidered hoops as wall art. The best part, it’s so simple! It’s a unique idea that people can personalize to their own taste.

Materials

All you need is a wood embroidery hoop, glue, scissors, and fabric that is at least 2” wider than your hoop of choice in all directions.

Directions

Turn the hoop upside down and then glue around the entire inside of the hoop. Next, pull the fabric tightly over the top side of the hoop and then press the edges inward firmly against the glue. Let it dry, and then trim the extra fabric.

Possible Fabric Choice

Wood Embroidery Hoop

Where To Find The Materials

I found the wood hoop online at JOANN Fabric & Craft store. Some hoops, like the one I displayed, you don’t even have to go through the glueing process. They are made to hold the fabrics. Easy! Also, I found my choice of fabric at fabric.com, they have many more options!

Just Do It!

This project is easy, pretty, and fun! I highly suggest trying it out if you are looking for something to do or an easy way to spice up a room.

I Pick Favorites

I pick favorites, and these are two of my favorite! This patio furniture from Pottery Barn is absolutely fantastic. The wood set is very pretty and has a lovely country feel. The second set is equally gorgeous but a little bit more contemporary. I really enjoy a delicious meal outside in good weather. I would enjoy it even more if I was sitting at one of these patio sets. Of course, just incase these two aren’t your favorites, Pottery Barn has many more.

Country Home Interior

Gorgeous! And just look at the beams! And the fireplace! And the floor! Oh, and the kitchen! Everything is so rustic and pretty, just the way I like it. I don’t know who owns this home, but I’m seriously considering moving in with them. I don’t know when or how, but I’m determined enough to make it happen. Actually, I guess the easiest option would be to get a post & beam home of my own. I guess. For now, I will just lust over other peoples.