Make It

Our New Home...Almost

Over the weekend, Matt and I went to our new house that we'll be moving into on September 1 to coordinate plans for our move with the current tenants - friends of ours who are going abroad for a year. 

It's a super cute little ranch house with mostly hardwood floors but there's carpet in the bedroom. I'm thinking I'd like to put a rug over the carpet because it's kind of blah.

These flat-weave rugs from Wisteria are calling out to me.

We have a bunch of FLOR tiles that are still in great shape and have served us well through three apartments, but I'm ready for a change.

My Dream Office

I had an abnormally social week this past week which consisted of dinners out with friends nearly every night and arriving home either after 10pm or slightly tipsy or just exhuasted from a long day. Not conditions that are conducive to getting much writing or blogging done.

So this weekend I'm camped out on the couch of the suburban home we're housesitting for the next two months, and dreaming of finally moving into our new place in September and setting up a proper home office space.

Truthfully, even after we move, I'll probably still work on the couch or in my favorite wing chair, but if I had the space - and the budget - for a dream office, it'd probably look something like this.

Top to bottom: Room and Board Slim Desk in Ocean, Herman Miller Mirra Office Chair in Blue Fog, 13-inch MacBook Air (My 5+ years-old MacBook, which I inherited from Matt, is dying a very slow and painful death. I'm saving my book, which I've now been working on for over a year, to Dropbox constantly to ensure it doesn't get lost when and if the computer finally gives up.)

Little Image. Big Mat.

I love this photo of Emersonmade's New Hampshire farmhouse. Especially the framed artwork in the background. The little image/large mat combination always looks really chic to me. Below is another fun image from the Emersonmade blog. So many nice details here. The pink stripe on the bedding, the rust velvet upholstery, those shoes.

A Lovely, Airy Bedroom

I really liked this image from the profile of GAP Director of Concept, Jane Herman, on Refinery 29. I was especially drawn to those little half shutters on the tall windows. What a great way to retain privacy but also let lots of light in.

A Whimsical Wing Chair

I had been considering making a slicover for my wing chairs in some leftover cream colored fabric that I have, but after seeing this photo on Lena Corwin's blog, I wonder if I should try something more whimsical.

Loving This Weird Bird at Wayne Pate

I really have to resist posting everything from RIFLE blog. I just adore Anna's style SO much, but I was especially struck by this recent inspiration palette for her apartment re-do, especially this Wayne Pate print (okay, and this Room and Board chair).

Wing Chair Slipcover Tutorial

I've been wanting to make my own DIY slipcover for my wing chairs forever and I've finally found a tutorial via Bibbidi Bobbidi Beautiful that makes it look doable. Starting with a paper pattern makes the whole thing seem alot less intimidating.

(Image via BBB)

What Is This Mystery Chair?

What is this style of chair called? I've been seeing more and more of it lately and I really like its upholstery-y goodness.

(Photo via MFAMB)

New Favorite: Manhattan Nest

Do you love home design before and afters? If you do, Manhattan Nest is one of my new favorite blogs, and soon it will be one of yours, also. Blogger Daniel has been documenting the DIY projects involved in setting up a new apartment in NYC, but things really got amazing this month when he went to Portland to help a friend move into a new place. All of the posts for the month of January follow their progress. Everything from the first IKEA trip to painting the trim is documented and the posts are full of incredible, practical information for design savvy folks who want to spruce up their place on a budget.

I want more of this type of home decor. I want a whole website of this. A new city every week. A new crappy apartment, turned less crappy through liberal use of creativity and thrift stores, not gobs of money. Attention magazine editor and television producers of the world. This is how people really live. This is how a renovation or redesign of a home really works for most people. We rent. We're not knocking out walls and installing granite counters. We're spray painting kitchen hardware and replacing light fixtures. Take note, please.

They've Got Style In Spades

 

A video tour and short interview with Kate and Andy Spade. There's no doubt they have style. And though I found the overall effect a little overwhelming, I see so many little elements here I want to incorporate in my own home. A red painted bookcase. Big floor pillows. The perfect grey paint.

(via MFAMB)