Marcus Design

{furniture friday: vintage-inspired chaise}

2012-01-27T02:00:00.000-08:00

I'm loving the look of an ultra-curvy vintage chaise lounge. Now that's a conversation piece! House of Hackney has some fabulous new pieces that reference the old-world seamlessly:

How fun are those pieces? It's amazing when tradition & whimsy meet somewhere in the middle. Happy Friday to you!

{longing for spring: kate spade spring 2012}

2012-01-26T00:05:00.000-08:00

Ok I'm kinda feeling done with winter now. The passed few days have been SO rainy here in Vancouver and it feels like it's dark the entire day. Plus I'm ready to pull out my spring clothing too :) I'm longing for a punch of color! Enter Kate Spade's Spring 2012 collaborative collection with Florence Broadhurst, it's full of fabulousness:

Kate Spade Creative Director Deborah Lloyd and brand stylist Brad Goreski in center

The Home Accessories:

Lovely! Here are a few of my fav looks from the collection that I paired with my favorite "Kate Spade-isms"

This last one I've got sitting on my desk in a frame, to remind myself as I am working away:

And YES to that coat. Ok Spring, we're waiting for you!

{house tour: the house of windsor}

2012-01-25T03:11:00.000-08:00

Do you feel like these days, with the bombardment of amazing interiors via magazines, blogs, pinterest etc., it's hard for any space to really wow you? Let alone a whole HOUSE? I've felt this way lately, but then last night I stumbled upon the House of Windsor and my socks were knocked off. Completely.

Now, I think I've been living under a rock ... this was a show home in LA last year, and I have seen various rooms before but I didn't even know they were from the same HOME! This was a collaborative concept-house created by Veranda and Windsor Smith, and they had help from designers Candace Barnes, Stephen Block, Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Peter Dunham, Richard Hallberg, Kathryn M. Ireland, Paul Robbins, Richard Shapiro and Tara Shaw. My FAV part is that on the project's website there is a way to experience it through an amazing 360-degree video tour that allows you to scan and “move” through each tiny detail of every room. Amazing, you MUST check it out.

Here are some images and screen shots while I was enjoying the 360 tours late last night :), you should click each image to make them ginormous, the details are exquisite:

entry - Windsor Smith

Great room - Richard Shapiro

Had to include a good shot of the amazing herringbone floors:

Kitchen - Windsor Smith

Now THAT is a kitchen:

Family Room - Windsor Smith

If you haven't noticed yet, everything in this home seems to be of EPIC proportions {hard to capture that in pictures}. Here is a photo of people in this sitting room, look how large the artwork and shelves are! Can you imagine getting to walk through this home in person? I'd die. I simply would not live.

And this family room was in my dream home file, I never knew it belonged to this house. You may recognize this angle of the room shown below more than those above. What a neat concept for a family room: a place where everyone can hang out but do their own thing! Those brass chairs! And the view!! Windsor is my hero.

Office/Bedroom - Peter Dunham

Screening room - Martyn Lawrence Bullard

Master bedroom - Candace Barnes

Master bath - Candace Barnes

A pink Hermes throw? Deary me.

Bedroom - Tara Shaw

The Courtyard

And that's not even the whole place!! If you're like me and hadn't seen this amazing home before, run over and take the virtual tours, serious eye candy & SO worth your time. Any one actually get to visit this concept home? Do tell! Happy Wednesday friends!

{eye poetry & a few things ...}

2012-01-24T00:33:00.000-08:00

Hi friends! A few things to share today ... first I am over the moon to have received this fabulous camera for Christmas this year from my parents ... I just wish I had the time to get reading and practicing, that camera is sitting staring me in the face and taunting me as I write my thesis {don't get distracted Nancy! Focus!!}. Soon enough, soon enough.

Canon Rebel T3i {blog pics should get a whole lot prettier soon!}

And speaking of pretty photography, I am SOOO happy to have discovered the amazing photographer Irene Suchocki from Montreal. Her work is just incredible. I've never seen anything like it! Ok so maybe my skills won't reach this status but it's wonderful inspiration. I was particularly inspired by her images of France ...

And lucky for all of us Irene sells her prints on Etsy!! Her shop is rather appropriately name Eye Poetry. I'm obsessed, a few of these lovelies must be framed and included in my gallery wall. Speaking of FRAMES, it's time to announce the winners of the wonderful frames from Poppy Tree Frames!

Congrats to Kerry of First Time Fancy and alsanderson! I'll be contacting you both via email shortly. A huge thanks goes out the the fabulous people over at Poppy Tree Frames for hosting, and thank you to everyone who entered!

Finally, I managed to squeeze in a guest post over at the lovely Vanessa's blog Decor Happy today. I'm sharing an organizing tip that I am currently working on in my own home, hop over to take a peek. Thank you to Vanessa for having me!

{layering with glam little side tables}

2012-01-23T02:00:00.000-08:00

Lonny

I love the look of a well layered room, and I adore the versatility a glamorous little side table can bring to the mix. You can move it here and there, in front of a bookcase, fireplace or chair. I love accordian style, greek key motifs, or a classic twig table. Make it brass or gold and my heart sings :) What's my favorite way to sport this look, you ask? Plonked right in front of a sofa. That's right, not sitting beside the sofa, not off and out of the way ... right in front of the sofa. Like it's ready be used by guests for a session of tea and biscuits ...

House & Home

Suzanne Kasler

Colleen McGill

left source unknown; right Sarah Richardson

Fresh Home Ideas

Metal Accordion side table - Gold Leaf Circle side table - Gold Accordion table - Gold Twig table

I need an accordion or twig table asap. Don't they just add the perfect layer to these rooms??

Don't forget, last chance to enter to win one of TWO fabulous frames from Poppy Tree Frames! Contest closes at midnight and I'll announce the winners tomorrow.

{me in the next few weeks ...}

2012-01-20T00:10:00.000-08:00

First off, happy end of the work week friends! I wanted to let you all know that I'll be working towards a pretty scary deadline in the next 3 weeks ... I'm writing my thesis and the due date is making my stomach turn :(

But not to worry, I will still be posting regularly here, blogging is my stress relief and I don't think I could live without it! However, I'll probably become WAY behind on emails etc {which is crummy cause that was one of my resolutions}, and I'll be pretty MIA on the comment-front on all my favorite blogs. Another resolution broken! I've been wanting to be better at commenting back to those who take the time to comment here {I so appreciate you!}, and I ALWAYS try to comment on any blog I read. I feel like it is important to let those bloggers know that I appreciate the time they take in putting together a post, and I'm kinda against "free-grazing" - if I enjoyed the content it's only fair to leave a comment. I'm by no means perfect, but I try my best. But I'm going to have to majorly break the rules I have for myself, just for a while - please forgive me!

I'll be reading and writing, studying, and writing some more. And while I wish I could tell you that I'll be looking this glamorous while doing it:

Amanda Ware {photo by Cara Stricker}

Matchbook Mag

In actuality I will look something like this, but with messier stacks of books and papers flying in the air around me:

So please pray for me as I plough through! And speaking of papers flying about, did you catch this fab DIY secret storage box on Design Sponge? I think I need this in my life:

Love it! To see the full how-to go here. I'll see you back here on Monday, and don't forget to enter to win one of TWO frames from Poppy Tree Frames! Contest closes Tuesday January 24th.

{mounting mirrors in front of windows}

2012-01-19T00:10:00.000-08:00

Have a perfect spot for the bathroom sink, but there's a window in the way of where the mirror should be? No problem! I am loving this look of window-mounted mirrors. It's light, bright and airy and can overcome any awkward layout issues. And talk about good make-up lighting! You couldn't get more natural lighting unless you stood outside.

I first fell in love with this look after seeing it in a bathroom designed by the fabulous Kelly Wearstler:

KWID

Amazing! Not to mention the campaign hardware, wow. Here are a few more lovely examples:

via Houzz

via Splendid Sass

via Brooke Giannetti

Metropolitan Home

via Kitchen and Bath People

How about this idea: if you have enough floor space, and windows all around, place your vanity as a center console in the room. A free-standing double sided mirror will complele the look! LOVE!

Jeffrey Alan Marks

Any one used these ideas for a client or in their own home? Would you try it if the opportunity arose? I'd love to hear!

Don't forget to enter to win one of TWO frames the lovely peeps over at Poppy Tree Frames are giving away!

{poppy tree frames giveaway!}

2012-01-17T00:10:00.000-08:00

Since we were on the topic of frames yesterday ... why not stay on course today? I love the look of a gallery wall with different shapes, colors, and sizes of frames. The frames can set off the pictures perfectly, don't you think? Well we are in for a treat, as the wonderful people over at Poppy Tree Frames are kindly giving away not one but TWO frames from their fabulous and unique collection. Poppy Tree Frames offers custom, hand-made picture frames in 18 styles, 42 colors and 49 prints. Here's just a little sample:

Such unique and interesting shapes! They'll be sure to add a layer of interest to your photos or art. Speaking of layers, they've got a fab line of STACKED frames {called the Strata frames} that can be customized to any two colors you like, this could be the perfect opportunity for a pop of color in a room:

Aren't they lovely? And these are only a handful of the designs!! I always love seeing a different shape amongst a gallery wall to add a little bit of quirk for good measure, like this oval one in a wall of straight lines:

via Kohler

I could see an all-white clover-shaped frame perched atop styled shelves like these:

via The Decorista

I love to think outside the box too, these fun and fanciful shapes don't have to be limited to displaying your family photos, consider placing a sheet of cork in for a bulletin board, a mirrored tile to create a mirror, or a board painted in chalk-board paint would be delightful! The possibilities are endless ...

source unknown

left via designsponge; right via houzz

Here's how to enter::

1} Be a follower here via Google Friends Connect + visit Poppy Tree Frames and leave a comment with the name of the frame design & colors you would choose if you win, that's it! {Any size 11x14 or smaller}

Additional ways to enter:: {please leave a separate comment for each}

2} like Poppy Tree Frames on Facebook

3} follow Poppy Tree Frames on Twitter

4} tweet about this giveaway {including @PoppyTreeFrames in your tweet}

Two lucky winners will be announced on Tuesday, January 24th. Bonne chance!

{trendspotting: layering frames}

2012-01-16T01:00:00.000-08:00

I usually say, if I see something twice, it's a coincidence ... if I see it three times it's a trend. I've always loved the look of layered frames on shelves and mantles, it adds so much interest:

via The Decorista

But have you ever seen frames overlapping when hung on the wall? It's a new concept for me! I don't even know the logistics of how to hang pictures in this manner, but I kinda like it.

David Jimenez

via Habitually Chic

What do you think? It seems to work extra well when done with an amazing art collection and black & white photography. Do you think this is a trend we will see more of, and would you ever try this?

{current fabric & wallpaper obsessions}

2012-01-13T00:05:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday all! Hope your week is ending well. I've got a few fabrics and wallcoverings I've been lusting over lately, probably too many to list here so I'll just share the ones that have been on the top of my current list {subject to change, weekly :) }.

First up, dreamy wallpapers:

Okay - so you think I've lost my marbles right? Why am I showing you a tufted headboard? Yep, this is in fact wallpaper! I spotted it over on This is Glamorous, and was quite smitten with this padded linen beige leather wallcovering. Apparently it's so realistic - with wrinkles and shadows and all - that people will touch the wall just to see if it is real.

Next a fresh take on toile:

Pierre-Yves Rochon

I am taken with this whole powder room, but especially with the toile print, which normally seems uber traditional to me, but is this a fresh example or what?? Anyone happen to know the name of this particular paper? {PS. do you die over the 'HOT' and 'COLD' faucet hardware in french? I die}.

Fabrics:

I am head-over-heels for Schumacher's Shantung Silhouette. Pretty sure I need this fabric in my life.

Style for Living

The uber stylish Marianne over at Style for Living is using it for a roman shade in her kitchen, and I cannot wait to see how amazing it looks! At minimum I need at least a pillow or two somewhere ...

etsy

the home of Christine {of Bijou and Boheme}

Finally, a fabric of sorts, these gorgeous bathroom towels from Anthropologie:

Angie Hranowksy

Do they not look perfectly luxe, plush and inviting? They are even better in person. I'd love to have a set of those hung up for guests. Only problem is hubby doesn't get that guest towels aren't hung up for him to actually USE, they are just there to be pretty for guests. These puppies may not last that long at my house :)

Any of these fabrics & papers tickle your fancy? Happy weekend to you!

{look up ... way up: ceiling fretwork}

2012-01-12T03:00:00.000-08:00

I'm in love with architectural details in a room, panelling makes me weak in the knees! But we don't have to limit our thinking to our vertical walls, what about the ceiling? In a room that lacks architectural details, consider an intricate plaster ceiling installation. Gorgeous, aren't they?

Sarah Richardson

Look into the mirror below to see the full effect in the room:

Sarah Richardson

Elle Decor

Michael Abrams via Veranda Interiors

right: Sarah Richardson left: Michael Abrams

I just adore the effect of this type of delicate molding detail. Sarah Richardson called it 'wedding cake' plaster fretwork on her show, but whatever you call it, it's stunning. I'd love to have the chance to do this in a room one day!

{an eclectic living room + a guest post}

2012-01-11T03:30:00.000-08:00

Here's a living room that left an impression on me this week. I love the mix of colors, patterns, styles. From the entry, you can see into the living room, love those patterned floors! {images via Nuevo Estilo}

The collection of art, the dentil crown moldings, and the two separately grouped sitting areas really appeals to me. And the ottoman below? Heaven.

Lovely! And speaking of living rooms, I'm guest posting over at Sadie & Stella sharing my favorite room to decorate in my own home. Hop over if you get the chance!

{art inspiration: coming full circle}

2012-01-10T03:00:00.000-08:00

I love simple works of art. Especially in a gallery wall, sometimes the more simple pieces are the ones that can really stand out and hold their own in a group. What is more simple and classic than a circle? These pieces have been attracting my eye lately:

Jennifer Ferreira

the home of Meredith Heron

the home of Kate Spade

the home of Jennifer Ferreira

Christina Murphy

And thank you to Colleen at Vintage Home for her comment this morning reminding me of this fine example in the latest issue of Style at Home:

Atmosphere Interior Design

Are you digging this look? Bold and dramatic, yet simple. I think a piece like these could be accomplished with a canvas, a pencil, and a bottle of India Ink. I may just have to wip up one or two for my own gallery wall!

{musings on a monday ...}

2012-01-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

Happy second week of the year friends! How was your weekend? Mine was good, got a few things done, plus had a bit of time to be lazy ... always a great combination! I'm sharing a few random musings I've have on my mind for this week ...

1 Hopes & wishes for 2012 - There is a possibility brewing amongst my family, talks of a trip to Europe this summer. I would DIE! I've never been to London, Paris, Rome, and let's just say they are on the absolute TOP of my 'places to travel' list. What better way to celebrate graduating, turning 30, and reaching 5 years of marriage? This could be the icing on my 2012 cake ... I'm going to be praying from now that it happens! And if it does, best be sure I'll be asking all of you where I MUST go and what I MUST see!

via Katie Armour

2 On that note, I have one other giant wish for 2012. We all know a home isn't truly a home without a fur baby ... I'm hoping for 2 new little one's sometime this year. So far we think one of our choices may be a Boston Terrier. We are still taking our time reading up about breeds that would fit well into our home and our family, and I only just learned about the Tibetan Spaniel! They are right up my alley, great attitude, small size ... and I'm so happy to have come across this breed, do any of you have one? I'd love to learn more about them. Any other breeds you think I should be looking into?? I could be missing something else I hadn't considered!

Boston Terrier

Tibetan Spaniel

3 Boxing week continues - There are still so many deals to be had out there right now! I'm not sure if it's a sign of tough times, but it is great for the consumer. I bought this little print dress before Christmas from Jacob, and now it's on sale for only $39.99. It's comfy and cute, everything a casual dress should be. Yes I paid way more than that ... bitter? Maybe. But I did where mine at Christmas so oh well. I paired it with hot pink tights from H&M.

Jacob & H&M

4 I've started the purging and organizing this weekend, starting with my bathroom ... those cupboards have been driving me crazy! Boy do I love the feeling of everything in it's place. I've got to head to Ikea in the coming week for a few of those fab drawer organizers. Have you got a start on tackling the clutter? I'm also trying to tackle mental clutter, went out and bought a pretty agenda from Chapters, and it was on sale too! All part of the plan to keep on track and make it happen!

Ikea

via daily candy

5 Another thing I have to keep track of: what I am eating! Christmas was a week of feasts around here, and I am feeling it. I am usually pretty careful with what I eat overall {though I am far from a calorie counter!!} but desserts and particularly baked good are my major weakness. I found a bit of a secret weapon to wean myself off of all the holiday goodies ... these dark chocolate sweets surrounding real fruit pieces. They are DELISH and only 180 calories per 1/4 cup! You can find Mangosteen, Blueberry, and Pomegranate centers - and I found mine at Costco.

my weakness

my new-found best friend :)

6 One last random note - I always love to organize wrapping, especially after the holidays. I've decided that this year I want to keep the craziness of bags, rolls of paper etc. to a minimum, I'm going ALL brown paper. All year long, for every occasion. I'll just have fun getting creative with the ribbons and bows and all that jazz - there is TONS of inspiration out there right now, especially on Pinterest of course!

via Katie Armour

via this is glamorous

Phew! Thanks for reading through to the end of that list of random musings on a monday. Hope you have a fantastic start to your week!

{6 tips to toss, restore, organize ... }

2012-01-05T01:15:00.000-08:00

Now I know you have probably been reading 'resolution' posts all over the blogosphere this week, but I just had to share a little something of my own. There are so many great and helpful lists and posts my fellow bloggers have put out there, especially in regards to clutter clearing. I particularly enjoyed Arianna's closet Do's & Don'ts post here, Nicole's closet re-do here and Meg's helpful tips posts here and here.

via Reasons to Breathe

On that note, have you read The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin? I read it this passed summer all in one go, and it is fantastic {a MUST read!}.

BUT I'm re-reading it now, as the book is actually divided into chapters for every month of the year. The idea is that each month, you attempt a different set of resolutions. For the first month, you attempt only January's resolutions; in February, you add the next set of resolutions to the January set, and so on. I just finished January yesterday - which tackles physical and mental aspects of energy - and it's got me ready to GO! The topics at hand for this first month include: go to sleep earlier, exercise better, tackle a nagging task, act more energetic, and toss, restore, organize! Sounds simple enough but it's actually hard! However it's a perfect way to start the year as it will give energy to accomplish resolutions in the following months. And I love the idea of focusing on a few improvements at a time.

The one that gets me the most excited is toss, restore, organize. This is one of the MOST common resolutions, isn't it? Nothing feels better then a fresh & clean start, and household disorder can really drain our energy. Here are 6 fabulous tips I learned from The Happiness Project:

via Arianna Belle on La Dolce Vita

Categories include:

1. Nostalgic clutter - relics from our earlier lives that we cling to

2. Conservation clutter - things we keep because they are useful ... like those twenty-three glass florist shop vases ....

3. Freebie clutter - gifts, hand me downs, giveaways that we don't use

4. Crutch clutter - The things we use but know we shouldn't, like that comfy t-shirt with holes in it

5. Aspirational clutter - things we own but only aspire to use ... that glue gun or pair of super high heels

6. Buyers remorse clutter - rather than admit that we make a bad purchase, we hang on to something till we feel it's been 'used up' by sitting in the closet

via Blue Velvet Chair

via Arianna Belle

via Apartment Therapy

via Milk Magazine

There are too many wonderful tips in this book to share here, these are 6 that stuck with me and I wrote down in my notebook. I'll try to give a short high light of each month as I go along, but I definitely recommend grabbing a copy of your own. I'm excited to get started! I am always stunned by what a dramatic boost of mental & physical energy comes from purging, cleaning and organizing. Who knew that something so mundane could give such a rush? Will organizing be one of your resolutions this month?

{nooks & crannies ...}

2012-01-04T01:00:00.000-08:00

left: Sarah Richardson right: Summer Thornton

Call it a nook, and alcove, or even a hideaway ... most houses have one somewhere. A spot with an awkward roof line or undefined use perhaps. A nook is defined as a small and out of the way location in a room, and can be a very sweet spot to do something fun and interesting! From hidden storage, to shelving, to a desk, the possibilities are endless ... but for today let's focus on pretty places to perch & lounge around ...

Or sleep, for that matter!

left: source unknown right; via this is glamorous

How about a dark and cozy feel:

left; Style at Home right; via The Decorista

Or bright and unabashedly feminine? Yum.

left; source unknown right; via The Inspired Room

Or maybe you have just enough space to pull up a stool, or a chair and enjoy the view?

left; Fieldstone Hill Design right; via this is glamorous

Loving these Boho-chic examples, how inviting are they!

left; via Centsational Girl right; via Belle Maison

You could even tuck a soft & restful spot right under the stairs!

left; Centsational Girl right; source unknown

Do you have an alcove in your own home? What do you have placed there?

{fashion meets decor: hot pink & navy}

2012-01-03T01:55:00.000-08:00

Love, love, loving this beautiful color combo ... in the rooms and on the outfits. I'm in NEED of a dash of hot pink & navy in my wardrobe pronto!! I think we will see more of this wonderful combination in 2012!

left; betsywhite, right; Peacock Pavilions, edited by me

left; source unknown right; via the decorista

left; via susan currie right; via the glitter guide

top left; via la dolce vita, bottom left via slumber designs, right via cooking love and life

left; via HGTV right via atlantic pacific

left; Mary McDonald right; via google

Do you die? I do. Would you add a dash of hot pink & navy to your closet??

{7 house tours that rocked my year}

2012-01-02T03:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! It's 2012, time to start fresh, attempt all those resolutions, & get going on that list of projects ... but for now, how about a little look back at 2011? I've listed 7 house tours that I posted throughout the year that left such an impression on me. Here are my favorites ... you can click the links to see the entire home for each:

7. Toronto Chic

The downtown Toronto apartment of Phillip Mitchell; such a lovely Parisian/New York feel with perfect panelling and artwork galore.

Phillip Mitchell

6. Peppermint Bliss

Bailey of Peppermint Bliss' home was featured on the pages of Rue, and boy was it a show-stopper! I fell for all the fabulous quirks & especially this wallpaper:

Peppermint bliss via Rue

5. Bold & Glamorous

The home of Jessica Claire was featured in Style at Home magazine, love the unabashedly feminine feel & the black and white palette.

Jessica Claire via Style at Home

4. Glam in NY

Loved the home of Nicole Cohen of sketch42! First, the fact that it is located in the Upper East Side of NY, second all the glam touches & all in a gorgeous palette of black and white!

sketch42 via Rue

3. Classy in color

Victoria Webster's home says classy and traditional yet trendy and bold all in one! I just love the use of bright color, black trim in the entry, and giant artwork {Massimo Vitali} in the living room.

House & Home

2. Lovely Details

Jennifer Dyer had her beautiful home featured in Lonny and Apartment Therapy. It's got the most fabulous attention to details, every piece looks as though it was chosen with great care. And the kitchen knocked my socks off!

Lonny

1. Victorian with a Twist

And my #1 home that rocked my world this passed year: the Victorian gem that Tommy Smythe recently renovated. The mix of old and new, feminine and masculine, bold & subdued, all in one home ... amazing!

House and Home

So there you have it, some fabulous spaces that left a real impression on me this year. Which was your favorite?

{a very happy new year ...}

2011-12-30T03:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! Do you have big plans for the weekend? I'll be spending time with family & friends and soaking up the last moments of the holiday. I cannot believe 2011 has come to an end. I look forward to all that 2012 has in store ... it's a very big year for me in my life, I'm turning 30 in 6 months, graduating with a PhD in Biochemistry this spring {I know ... pretty far from interior decor right??}, hoping to travel to Europe for the first time, starting a career and chasing my dreams. I've got a laundry list of things I've written out that I'd like to accomplish before turning 30, some are small - like reading 5 books for fun, or making a point to accessorize more - some are large, like delving into my artwork more seriously and traveling to at least one new place. To mark this important year I've treated myself to a little gift - Kate Spade's 'This is the Year to' Idiom bracelet - cleverly engraved with cheeky resolutions to keep close at hand!

The inside is engraved with 'This is the Year to ...' while the outside reads ... 'play your cards right, lose yourself in a good book, add a twist, make sparks fly.' Cute right? I'm hoping to add a couple of my own phrases engraved to the inside to make it even more personal :) I'll be taking a few moments to reflect on what 2011 meant to me and what I wish to accomplish in the New Year, I hope you will too! Wishing you all the best as you celebrate, xo

{lusting: sofas with contrasting details}

2011-12-29T03:00:00.000-08:00

I am a lover of piping on a sofa. The way that it outlines and emphasizes the shape of the piece is amazing. Currently I am swooning over those sofas with the contrasting square details on the backs ... no idea what to call them so here are a few examples:

source unknown

Style at Home

Any one know what these lovely square details are called or the source of these sofas? I know that the sofa in the last image is a William Birch piece, but I have no idea about the others and can't seem to find much info in my searching! Either way they are all lovely, I'd place a sofa like this on my dream home list for sure :)

{fashion meets decor: kelly green & leopard pt 3}

2011-12-28T03:00:00.000-08:00

This is my third kelly green & leopard post ... can anyone say obsessed? {See previous posts here and here}. I've got a pretty kelly green blouse that I have been wearing with a leopard print pom pom scarf and I love the combo!

Christine's {of Bijou and Boheme} fab pillows

J. Crew

etsy

Zhush.com

Love it all!

PS. If you have the chance, pop by Rambling Renovators to check out my favorite posts from 2011!

{trends of 2012: bathrooms & doorknobs}

2011-12-27T03:00:00.000-08:00

Today I've got the final two picks for my list of predicted trends of 2012: bathrooms that don't immediately scream 'BATHROOM!' and centered doorknobs. I posted about the concept of bathrooms in disguise a while back, and have been seeing it everywhere lately. Incorporating artwork, lighting, and furniture you wouldn't normally think to place in the bathroom is all the rage!

And secondly, centered doorknobs are making their way from Europe to North America. I posted earlier this month about circular moldings on doors, but the centered doorknob can be present with or without the millwork. Let's take a look at these two trends:

via La Dolce Vita

House Beautiful

Kohler

Love it! Now let's take a peek at those centered doorknobs. Apparently some are cosmetic, while others have a mechanism running the width of the door to allow them to function. Either way they are chic!

via House & Home and Pinterest

House & Home

Ok, so now that I've shared 5 trends I predict for this upcoming year {warm metals in the kitchen, watercolors, tangerine tango, and the two listed in this post}, I want to get some dialogue going and hear what all of YOU think! What did I miss? Something you feel like you've been seeing everywhere??

Let's give this a try, here are a few Q's you can copy and paste into the comments below to get the conversation started, I'd love to hear what you think!!

What was your favorite trend of 2011?:

What trend was over-done this year?:

What trends do you expect to see in the New Year?:

What's the next project you're tackling at home?:

Here are my own answers:

What was your favorite trend of 2011?: Warm metals! I added a touch of gold to my home & my wardrobe :)

What trend was over-done this year?: Toss up between ikat and chevron, I like both but we sure saw them a lot!

What trends do you expect to see in the New Year?: Pretty watercolors in fabrics, wallpapers, and art.

What's the next project you're tackling at home?: Finally painting all my interior doors black! I don't know what took me so long to decide.

{and the winner is ...}

2011-12-26T23:38:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delayed post today! I've been having too much fun with family & friends, enjoying laughter and food, movies and music .... I could go on! I hope you had a most wonderful holiday and are enjoying the last fleeting moments of 2011. I didn't brave the shops for Boxing Day, but I'm sure I'll venture out later this week ... was anyone brave enough to attempt it? Any exciting finds?

As promised, here is the winner of my art print giveaway:

Hope you enjoy this print Sheila! Be sure to email me with your mailing address. Thanks soooo much to all who entered!! And a big thank you to Ashlina over at The Decorista for posting my artwork as displayed in her bathroom this weekend ...

{from my home to yours ...}

2011-12-23T03:00:00.000-08:00

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were so afraid. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'"
- Luke 2:8-11

Merry Christmas everyone! Have a wonderful weekend with those you love, and stay safe! I'll see you back here on Monday to announce the winner of my art print giveaway - you can still enter here until then. Happy Holidays and hugs to all of you!

{trends of 2012: pantone's color of the year}

2011-12-22T03:00:00.000-08:00

Pantone has presented their pick for the 2012 color of the year: Pantone 17-1463 Tangerine Tango! This deep shade of orange has red undertones - I would almost call it a blood orange. Last year's hue was a deep pink - Honeysuckle - it seems we are following the same trend of a bright & cheerful, feel-good color ...

Massucco Warner Miller and J. Crew

Christian Siriano Spring 2012 collection

Domicile ID

via hanneli and source unknown

Derek Lam Spring 2012 collection

Caitlin Wilson

So what do you think, could you see this color filtering into homes, fashions, and marketing this year? I think it would make a lovely addition to my 2012 spring wardrobe!! Funny to think ahead to spring on the first official day of winter :)

Don't forget to enter my art print GIVEAWAY here!! Contest ends Monday December 26th.

{a christmas giveaway ...}

2011-12-21T00:05:00.000-08:00

Happy mid-week! Only a few sleeps till Christmas, and on my to-do list for today is a heap of baking for all of our neighbours & friends. Are you feeling crazy busy too?

Well in the midst of the hustle and bustle I wanted to be sure that I did not forget to thank each and every one of you for taking the time during this year to pass by and visit my little corner of the blogosphere. I know it sounds corny, but I really do appreciate it. Thank you for making my year special in so many ways. It's hard to show my appreciation for how wonderful you all are to me, so here is my measly attempt at it ... I'm hosting a giveaway of one of my own art prints from my etsy shop! The winner will recieve a large {16"x20"} professional print of one of my own original pieces, which I've titled 'Postmodernity.'

{detail shot of the professional print on satin matte finish archival paper, original is a contig chalk pastel drawing}

Here's how to enter::

1} Simply become a follower via Google Friends Connect + leave a comment here, that's it!

Additional ways to enter:: {please leave a separate comment for each}

2} follow along on twitter

3} like Marcus Design on Facebook

4} tweet about this giveaway {including @marcusdesign in your tweet}

Winner will be announced on Monday, December 26th and this giveaway is open to domestic and international entries. Merry Christmas & Bonne chance!

{trends of 2012: watercolors}

2011-12-20T00:39:00.000-08:00

Have you noticed the beautiful watercolors everywhere? Whether it's wallpaper, artwork, clothing, or fabrics, they are hot hot hot! I love the organic & fluid sense watercolors give, and this is one trend I think we will see more of into the New Year. I'm even hoping to try my hand at a few watercolor paintings for fun!

{a selection of wallpapers via January's issue of House & Home}

via The Embellishment

Inslee Haynes

via Dilly Dallas

via this is glamorous

Etsy

A gorgeous hallway in this year's Maison de Luxe designed by Wendy Schwartz:

via So Haute

via Dilly Dallas

iPhone cover via Society6 and Chair via Anthropologie

via Effortless Style

Will watercolors be entering your home or wardrobe this year?

{trends of 2012: warm metals in the kitchen}

2011-12-19T02:53:00.000-08:00

Happy Christmas week everyone! I hope your week is off to a great start. I'm planning to share a few of the trends popping up for the New Year, which I still cannot believe is only days away! I've scoured all of our favorite mags, and I'll share what I've found throughout this week in this trend report series. First up:

I shared in my top 5 trends of 2011 post that warm metals were back in full force, and this year more specifically I think we will continue to see gold and brass embraced in the kitchen! This is a traditional, somewhat European look that has made it's way back into many homes despite the fact that many still cringe at the thought of their 1980's fixtures. Classic designs and mixing together warm and cool metals like gold & silver will be sure to keep this look current & clean. And if you are weary of permanent fixtures, simply stock up on accessories!

via Amber Interiors

via Plush Palate

via 4inspireddesign

House Beautiful

House & Home

via La Dolce Vita

Tommy Smythe via House & Home

Amy Meier Design

Any one already embracing warm metals in their kitchen?

{all i want for christmas | № 06}

2011-12-16T03:00:00.000-08:00

Only a little over a week until Christmas! This week, a little list for your decor-savvy friends ...

via this is glamorous

1. DVF round tray 2. Non je ne regrette rien print 3. Pen cup 4. Frenchie dog bank 5. Polygon object 6. Agate stacking boxes

{lusting: the secretary desk}

2011-12-15T00:05:00.000-08:00

Lonny

After seeing this lovely post over at my friend Arianna's blog, I was convinced I needed a secretary desk. Charming and functional, these pretty pieces can fit into a little corner of a living room or guest bedroom and hide messes when not in use. Then I spotted the gorgeous black & red beauty below and I fell in love:

Style at Home

Each piece I come across is unique and beautiful!

via arianna belle

via Niagra Novice

Eddie Ross

Lonny

via French By Design and Simply Seleta

Tobi Fairley and source unknown

I love this look! I'd love to find a vintage piece, but if I don't, there is a lovely and budget-friendly version from Ikea!

Any one have a secretary desk in their own home?

{it's beginning to look a lot like ...}

2011-12-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

The forecast here in Vancouver calls for snow this week, and it's truly beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Hope you are staying warm & cozy wherever you are!

{images via pinterest, & gif animations via Good Life of Design}.

{decking my halls ...}

2011-12-13T19:40:00.000-08:00

Here's a little look at the Christmasy-goodness happening in my home ... I love this time of year!! {click each image to enlarge}

{meredith heron's holiday delight}

2011-12-12T03:00:00.000-08:00

I just love to see how others decorate their homes for Christmas! Enter talented designer Meredith Heron: she wowed us last year with her gorgeous holiday decor and she has out done herself again! I love the bold and glamorous feel her home gives and I know you will too {all images via HGTV}:

Oh I just adore Meredith's style! To see her home decked out for the Holiday's last year go here and to read a fabulous q & a with the talented designer behind these rooms go here.

{house tour: a victorian by tommy smythe}

2011-12-11T13:02:00.000-08:00

Wowzers. This Victorian home below is featured on the cover of the January issue of House & Home {a fantastic issue by the way...} and was designed by one of my favorite designers Tommy Smythe. I linked to the video tour of the kitchen last week, but now we can have a view of all the gorgeous glamour of the entire home. High gloss black walls, bold colors, floor to ceiling books, oversized light fixtures, brass accents, I am in decor heaven! I can't wait to see more and more from Tommy, I adore his work when he has free rein!

You may be wiping drool off of your keyboard by now ... I know I sure am!! I find I keep going back to each image to soak up all the lovely details. Enjoy your Sunday!

{itching to paint some walls ...}

2011-12-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday everyone! Boy the days of December are just flying by aren't they? Well, I've got a gift card for 1 can of paint that I received a while back, and it expires in a matter of days!!! I'm itching to paint something and I'm kinda having a hard time deciding what. This office/den below has been a room that has been circling in my mind for at least a month:

I just LOVE everything about it,the rug, the shelves with wood inserts, those directors chairs, and I especially LOVE those inky blue walls. Could my home office sport this look? I'm tempted to try. I was excited to come across a couple of other angles of this room:

Chicago Home

Makes my heart flutter. Another office space with a similar feel:

Lonny

That sort of jewel-tone teal/peacock blue is to die for! What do you guys think, should I try it?

{all i want for christmas | № 05}

2011-12-08T03:00:00.000-08:00

Another week closer to Christmas, and I've personally still got TONS to do. But I'm not going to let myself panic about it, that isn't what Christmas should be about right? I've got to continually remind myself of that :) Me & my hubby are trying to take the pressure off of each other by skipping our gift exchange this year: instead we are spending this weekend in a fancy-shmancy hotel downtown and treating ourselves to a much-needed break at the spa! I cannot wait!

Here are a few ideas of what I would pick for my guy, though I think I will wait till the after Christmas sales this time around!

1.Campsite Popcorn popper 2. Hand-carved Eyeglasses holder 3. iPad + Walnut iPad skin 4. Leather Satchel 5. Grey Cardigan 6. Hermes leather belt

{a few links & musings}

2011-12-07T00:05:00.000-08:00

Happy mid-week! I've got a few fun links and images that caught my eye this week ...

First up ... we all love Tommy Smythe. We all fell for that gorgeous kitchen of his, it is probably in many-a-bloggers "Dream Home File," am I right? Well just in case you missed it ... feast your eyes on a new Victorian kitchen reno project from the talented designer featured in this video on House & Home's website. Marble, two-tone cabinets, classic subway tile from floor to ceiling, gorgeous appliances & mixing of metals ... need I say more?

He can do no wrong. A must watch!

Second, lots of linky love for all the fab e-mags and their Holiday issues. Rue hit stands yesterday, and there are tons of goodies in the latest Matchbook & Adore Home mags too!

My favorite picture I came across this week: nothing feels more true than this quote to me right now. I'm still missing my dog, and not mentioning it just to receive sympathy, but to admit I think about dogs A LOT. My hubby and I are actually thinking that 2 puppies rather than one may be the way to go next time around :)

via La Dolce Vita

And lastly ... an attractive tissue box cover?? Can it be possible? I came across the line of linen holders from Matouk and fell in love! My favorite of all is the cute & classic blue and white vase.

Hope your week is well xo

{dreaming of a white christmas}

2011-12-06T00:05:00.000-08:00

A little bit of Christmas pretty for you today, for no other reason than the fact that it's just that ... pretty. Christmas is my most favorite time of year!

Colleen McGill

via Home Styling

Yes it's true, Paris is beautiful no matter the season! No snow here in Vancouver right now, and I don't mind that because I hate the driving! BUT on Christmas, when you can stay home warm & safe, snow is the most magical touch to a magical day!

{circular moldings on doors}

2011-12-05T01:29:00.000-08:00

I am still in love with my freshly made-over high-gloss black front door & brass lion head knocker ... BUT if I could have ANYTHING I'd have black double doors sporting circular molding details. And actually, these moldings don't just have to be on exterior doors, they are gorgeous on interior doors and closets too! Case in point:

Tim Tanz via House & Home

left unknown; right Jennifer Ferreira

House Beautiful

Arianna Belle

Delight by Design

via Margot Austin pinterest

Appropriately all decked out for Christmas!!

Good Life of Design

Black doors with white moldings really makes the details pop!

via Kerrisdale Design pinterest

Habitually Chic

How about octagons?? Yes please!

Because it's Awesome

How about you, are you crushing over these door details? Dream home file here I come!

{rearranging for holiday decor}

2011-12-02T03:00:00.000-08:00

One of the things I love most about putting up the tree and all the Christmas decorations is the chance it gives us to rearrange other pieces in our home and mix it up a bit! I have a white mirrored console in my living in the only spot the Christmas tree will fit ... so this year I opted to place the cabinet in a corner of my kitchen. Little things like that can breath new life into a space. During the spring and summer months I had this console styled like this:

But now that it is Christmas and I've moved the table I took the opportunity to do things a little differently. My challenge to myself was to re-arrange things and only use items I already own rather than going out & buying new trinkets. Here's what I came up with:

Okay, so I lied ... I did just recently purchase the cute little spruce for $5 at the grocery store. Other than that these items were placed elsewhere around my home. The books {always a must} and lamp I had on here before, but I changed up the artwork and included my own architectural rendering, added a vase from the local antique mall and a wooden box I got last year in Egypt, and it gives a totally different vibe!

Change is fun isn't it? Do you change things up for Christmas? Now I have to give a huge thank you to Laura, a reader who took the time to send me a photo of 2 of my architectural prints she purchased and hung up in her bathroom. I've never hung the 2 different prints together so I loved seeing them this way. And don't those frames she bought from Chapters Indigo look shiny and gorgeous??

This Etsy thing is still all so new to me so I really appreciate the support! On that same note, I have to thank Roseline over at This is Glamorous for including the same print in a gorgeous fall decor inspiration post here.

Happy Friday everyone!

{sarah's house 4: season wrap up}

2011-12-01T00:07:00.000-08:00

via Sense and Simplicity

So, Sarah's House season 4 has already come and gone! This last week included bits of the home's exterior and the final weigh-in from 3 real estate agents. Truth be told, Sarah had a lot more flexibility to change things up with regards to the building process than I think any average home-owner working with a builder would have been allowed. And I very highly doubt that many owners would be able to fork out over $100,000 in upgrades! However, I really appreciated the ideas she shared with us, and we can definitely take things from it that we could implement in our own homes - new build or not. To me it's kind of like couture runway fashions, if you take them with a grain of salt, they can translate into our own wardrobes in a more practical and affordable way!

The total costs came down to $886,720 - and I learned through Jen at Rambling Renovators that the home was actually listed at $1,050, 000 - no word on how much it sold for but it is SOLD and I'm sure Sarah did much more than break even! And apparently furnishings, custom mirrors and custom drapery were not included in the sale which was surprising to me. Oh how I'd LOVE to see what the new homeowners do with this place! What do you think? Was this home worth more than $1 million? Would you buy it and what would you change if you did? I would panel the lower half of those dining room walls faster than you could say turquoise!

All in all, I enjoyed this season, and I'm happy to learn that Sarah 101 is currently filming so we know we'll get our Sarah & Tommy fix again shortly :) By far I'd say the kitchen was my favorite space in this home, however a few of the other rooms didn't entirely do it for me. I'll never forget the very first season of Sarah's House - I'd move into that place without changing a darn thing. Since we've already looked through all the rooms on season 4, shall we take a trip down memory lane and take a peek at my personal favorite Sarah's House?

I've thoroughly enjoyed following every season of Sarah's House but this one above will still remain my ultimate fav! And I already can't wait to see what they've got cooking for Sarah 101 season 2 :) We are spoiled, aren't we??

{designer profile: phillip mitchell}

2011-11-30T03:00:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things to post about on this blog is the work of designers that I admire most. What makes me even more happy? When the designers are fellow Canadians, I get a little swell of pride that our country is loaded with fabulous design talent. Enter Phillip Mitchell, a Toronto-based designer with sophisticated & elegant style that is right up my alley! Think timeless details like fluting, panelling, antique mixed seamlessly with new, herringbone & marble ... it's like a list of all my favorite things combined ...

Here is a look at some of his work:

Look at that lush path of hydrangeas!

What had me nearly falling out of my chair last week was the video house tour of Phillip's own downtown Toronto apartment on House & Home's web site! When you have a free moment you must click the image below to watch, it's utterly gorgeous.

Here are a few images from the apartment, but if you watch the video you will notice that artwork, light fixtures, furnishings etc. have been changed or moved around {I love to see the changes designers make to their own homes over time}. And the dining room is now sporting a lovely grey-blue coat of high-gloss paint.

Just look at those fabulous details!

I love how details like the fluting on the vanity below are repeated throughout the home {it's all in the details}:

Gosh I just adore every teensy-weensy detail. To see even more of Phillip's wonderful work go here.

{10 ideas for your hallway}

2011-11-29T08:03:00.000-08:00

The hallway is an often forgotten space, a place where people just rush by without paying attention to their surroundings. Why not take this unused space and create something special and memorable? Here are 10 ideas to do just that ...

Placing wainscotting on the lower half of the walls will break up the long space and create interest. And isn't that grasscloth perfect for adding texture to the above portion?

Don't have the time/money to spend on panelling? In a simple weekend project you could place a strip of chair rail and paint the lower half a contrasting color {huge impact for next to nothing!}:

Repeating the same fixture along the length of the hallway will bring your eyes up, and hanging them down into the space {if height allows} will also break up the space.

What can I say ... now that's a bold statement!

Arches add such fabulous architectural detail, but for those of us who are not in the building stage per se, I've seen this look accomplished using corbels. What a great idea!

Why not stop and rest a while? Also a perfect spot to perch and put on shoes!

If you are blessed to have such large & bright windows in a hallway, adding dramatic drapes emphasizes the height and frames the windows perfectly!

I'd personally love to sport this look in a future home one day, a library within the hallway!

A gallery wall, or any special pieces of artwork for that matter, will be sure to stop guests in their tracks.

A rug will add pattern, carry your eye through the space, soften it & make it cozy!

If there's no space for furniture, but enough for a small vignette, how about a floating shelf? It is less heavy visually and won't appear to take up space.

Have you employed any of these ideas in your own home? Did I miss any that you love? I'd love to hear. I've repeated sconces down my own hall, which is too skinny for furniture ... but I'd love to also add wainscotting in the future!

{dream home at la dolce vita}

2011-11-29T08:02:00.000-08:00

Today I am thrilled to be visiting Paloma over at La Dolce Vita where I am sharing a tour of my 'dream home.' If you have the chance, pop over to see what it looks like, I had a blast putting it together! Here's a little peek to entice you. A big thank you to Paloma for having me!!

{a bathroom in disguise?}

2011-11-28T03:00:00.000-08:00

I'm loving the trend of treating the bathroom as a room: placing furniture, lighting, accessories, and artwork in this space as you would any other part of your home!

via My First Little Place

Using unique design details, the bathroom no longer has to scream BATHROOM at first glance, I love that!!

via Design Darling

Here are a few examples from the latest ads from Kohler that really caught my eye, they take the concept of the 'bathroom-disguised-as-a-room' to the next level!

To many things to love! The chevron floor, the panelling, the gallery wall, it's all very charming. Not to mention the room is ginormous ...

Another example, with inky blue paint on the back of the shelving, what's not to love?

Ooh! A settee and books, lovely! Do you almost not even notice the toilet?

These images totally grabbed me, have you been noticing this look?

{the power of pinterest ...}

2011-11-27T03:00:00.000-08:00

Now, I'm sure most of you don't need any coaxing, you've already discovered the wonders of Pinterest and are hooked like me! This year blogging has changed in terms of our ability to scour the internet for the perfect images, and much of that is thanks to Pinterest. And it's not just for bloggers! It's a wonderful place to collect your inspirations in an organized way. If by chance, you haven't yet hopped over to the other side ... here's a fun little example of the powers of Pinterest.

I 'googled' vs. searched on pinterest the same exact terms and compared the results side by side. Here goes ... googling 'vignette':

What the??

And Pinterest:

Now we're talking! That's more like it :)

Googling 'sparkle':

And now Pinterest:

What a difference!

Gold on Google:

Versus Pinterest:

That was fun! You should try it some time.

Now if anything was still holding you back, I hope you are convinced!! If you are already signed up on Pinterest you can follow me here. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and happy pinning :)

{all i want for christmas | № 04}

2011-11-25T03:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday everyone! I hope all of my friends south of the border had a lovely Thanksgiving yesterday. I have to admit that all the pictures & posts online had me craving turkey in a bad way :) I took a break for my American readers, so here is my regular All I want for Christmas Thursday post one day late. A few ideas for the Holiday Hostess:

Style at Home

All gifts from $8-50 dollars {1 - Olive wood paddle boards, West Elm} {2 - Striped throw, Ikea} {3 - Cook book page holder, OK Store} {4 - Brass bottle opener, OK Stores} {5 - Wine decanter, Trudeau} {6 - The Bay Point blanket throw, The Bay} {7 - Kate Spade tidbits plates, set of 4} {8 - Bamboo dish, Ikea}

{sarah's house 4: master ensuite & basement}

2011-11-23T17:45:00.000-08:00

I loved both rooms that Sarah & Tommy tackled this week; the master ensuite and the basement. Sarah does bathrooms well, and this was no exception! They had lots of room to play with, and included a freestanding sculptural tub, giant shower, water closet, 2 lovely re-done chairs, and a double vanity:

It's calming and dreamy isn't it? And I think it's the size of my Master bedroom! One thing I love that Sarah has been known to do in previous projects is the 'rug' look created with a border of mosaic tiles in the floor. I'd love to sport this look one day!

And it's all in the details, isn't it? Sarah took a simple shaker style vanity and brought the glam factor up a notch by having mirror cut to the size of each cabinet door, and topped it with a gorgeous glass knob. Great idea!

It reminded me of this lovely vanity in a bathroom designed by Christina Murphy, but I'll bet Sarah's was a fraction of the price:

On to the bright & cozy basement, two words that wouldn't normally be used to describe a basement!

The jumping off point was the Persian rug below ($1400): lovely reds, grey and a touch of blue. Layering a rug over the carpet adds to the comfy cozy vibe and would definitely hold up against wear & tear more than the off white broadloom!

Love that grey patterened throw on the sofa, it's from Ikea!

I'd hang out and watch movies here! So what did you think of this weeks rooms? Only one more week of Sarah's House 4 left!!

{lusting: the ebony anglo table}

2011-11-22T03:00:00.000-08:00

Lonny

I came across the image below from High Point Market last month over at Habitually Chic. It reminded me how much I love the look of Bunny Williams' Ebony Anglo coffee table: the touch of art deco, the two tone woods, and faux bone inlay is so interesting!

High Point Market via Habitually Chic

This table is part of the BeeLine Home collection and is surely out of my price range {for prices you have to phone a special number - scary}. I will definitely continue to admire it though :)

Beeline

Lonny

I could see the inlay being nice inspiration for a DIY couldn't you? And the pretty inspiration doesn't stop there: Bunny Williams BeeLine collection is full of lust-worthy items ...

Lovely, the lines of that sofa are to die for! Go here to see more. Do you have an pieces you are lusting over lately?

Happy Tuesday :)

{on the market: jenna lyons brownstone}

2011-11-21T00:20:00.000-08:00

Now I am quite sure you have seen the rooms above on countless blogs in the passed couple of years. It's the home of J. Crew's President and Creative Director Jenna Lyons and it has been published in Domino and LivingEtc, and I'm guessing many other places as well! She purchased this 1880's charming Brooklyn brownstone in 2004 for a mere $1.3 million and it is now on the market {unfortunately prompted by her and husband's divorce} for a cool $3.75. Not bad.

This 4-story beauty has been renovated to the nines: 7 restored limestone mantels, aged wood floors, gorgeous millwork and medallions throughout, I could go on! So if you have that kind of money laying around please buy it and invite me over to see it in person :) I loved that the listing included some shots and angles that I hadn't seen before:

Oh those doors are magnificent...

The bathroom that made everyone want black walls and brass hardware. Not to mention the herringbone floors:

Remember this dressing room? It was famously shot with a settee placed in the middle, guess they swapped it out for dressers.

Is a perfectly renovated, 7 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath, 4,400 sq ft Brooklyn brownstone on my dream home wish list, you ask?? Um, yes. This is the stuff that dreams are made of!

{another look at kate spade's home}

2011-11-18T00:59:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday all! Last week I was delightfully flipping through the latest issue of Matchbook mag, and was happy to see a few new shots of the gorgeous apartment of Kate and Andy Spade. I've posted a full tour of their home before, but to see a few new nooks and crannies was fun. The artwork displayed in their home just makes me swoon. The whole place is so whimsical and classic at once, so glam, and so New York!

Boy, they sure prove that it's all in the details! Can you imagine getting the chance to walk around this apartment? It would take such a long time to soak it all in! And speaking of Ms Kate Spade, hubby surprised me with a little early Christmas present this week! He ordered the Le Pavillion iPhone case for me {he's paying attention!} and I am just loving the touch of gold ...

And yes, that is the ever-popular Sephora by OPI 'Only gold for me' glitter top coat ... those little flecks have been making me smile all week! It's like jewelry for your nails :)

Hope you have a fantastic and restful weekend!

{all i want for christmas | № 03}

2011-11-17T01:00:00.000-08:00

It's mid-November! How did that happen? We are expecting snow at the end of this week, and things are starting to feel really Christmas-y around here :) I am planning to put up the tree this weekend - I know it may sound early but I like to enjoy the Christmas decor as long as possible, especially because it takes so much effort to put it up and take it down!

This week I've listed a few choices for the book worm in your life ...

1 - Holly Becker's Decorate is a lovely read, 2 - The Penguin Classics are perfect for all ages, 3 - How glam is this quilted leather Chanel 3-book special edition by Assouline? 4 - This Little Piggy went to Prada is a charming nursery-rhyme book filled with gorgeous watercolors, 5 - The BookBook case for iPad disguises your gadget as a vintage book! 6 - Celerie Kemble's latest book includes drool-worthy black & white spaces, my fav! 7 - Fancy Nancy is a girl after my own heart, this series is perfect for little one's. I just happen to be collecting them as well :) 8 - For the organizer in your life, a Kate Spade leather planner in gold, 9 - Grace Bonney's Design Sponge at Home will be on every DIYer's list.

{sarah's house 4: boy's bedroom & master bedroom}

2011-11-16T20:06:00.000-08:00

I was excited to find out that the Master bedroom was up this week on Sarah's House. That is typically one of my favorite episodes so I was curious to see what Sarah & Tommy would do this time around.

First, I'll give you a look at the boy's bedroom which was also completed, in a lovely grey, black & white palette. Everything they did in the boy's room looked clean, classic and simple to me and it's a room I would imagine to stand the test of time:

To me the concept and color scheme are not trendy and that is actually what I love about it! With kids rooms I think it's a bonus if you can design a space they aren't going to 'out-grow' in 1-2 years! The adjoining bathroom is fit for a king: marble counter, beautiful hardware, and lovely swing-arm lamps:

Now on to the Master suite: a serene palette of green and apricot {pulled from 4 botanical prints} create a very calming effect:

Pretty right? I am digging Sarah's own headboard design, and I love that there are defined spaces within the room. One thing that made me cringe was the fact that Sarah took a lovely desk with brass legs {only $105} and had them replaced with walnut, I loved the desk the way it was much more! Regardless, she created a very pretty vignette which included a fab chair they found in perfect condition for only $51 dollars!

All in all, a very classic and appealing room! I wish I had that much space, with a total of 354 sq. feet they had the opportunity to create such lovely domains within one room. That kind of large space is definitely on my dream home wish list :)