Peacock Blue

I must be in a blue mood right now, but am currently obsessed with painting my bedroom a deep peacock blue.

The latest issues of Lonny magazine featured a family room with turquoise walls and silver grey furniture rugs with a few pops of bright red for accent.

I also just saw the French film Le Havre which was shot like an old movie or a play and most of the backdrops were this same color of turquoise with small accents of red.

I think I may just tackle this over the holidays.  Stay tuned for before and after pics.

Flea Market Style

I just discovered Flea Market Style magazine, a new magazine chock full of ideas for using flea market finds in conventional and unconventional ways.

I was so inspired by this outdoor table setting from the latest issue.  Soup tureens stand in for vases and a simple burlap runner dresses up a plain white tablecloth.

I love the mix of antique plates and goblets with new wine glasses too. The whole effect is feminine and festive, but unfussy.

Paint it Black

I wouldn't think to paint a small space black, but I love the effect of this bathroom painted in black in the June/July issue of Lonny Magazine.

The bright spots of color from the towels and Chinese stool as well as the vintage photos that line the walls give it such a posh and cozy feel.

The contrast of the white tile shower and white pedastal sink are spectacular against the glossy black paint.

I Heart Montreal

Montreal is one of my favorite cities and I love this I Heart Montreal print ($35) by artist LakeJane which celebrates many of the amazing Montreal neighborhoods in cool graphic style. The poster is 11 x 17" and available on the LakeJane Etsy shop or in Montreal at Unicorn.

Beach House

As the weather turns warmer bring elements of the beach into your home with these beachy accessories. I love this octopus hook ($45) from anthropologie.com. Total size is 8.75"H x 8"W and projects 1.5" from the wall.

This weathered driftwood mirror ($128) from West Elm brings beach style for a great price! This mirror would be great over a bathroom sink like in my blog post from June, 2008.

I love these seashell measuring spoons ($12) also from Anthropologie. These stoneware scallop shells come in a set of two double-sided spoons and are dishwasher safe.

I also love this rope and jute chandelier ($798) although it's a bit pricey. Even the shades of this light fixture are made of rope. This fixture would be a great in breakfast nook or in-kithchen eating area.

Kitchen of My Dreams

I absolutely love this loft-like farmhouse set in an apple grove in Sebastopol, California that was featured in the April issue of Dwell Magazine (Fertile Grounds).

The house is made of concrete which was built via a series of C-shaped modules from the same system used to compose the structural system. I love that it is so light an airy and blends in with the country surroundings.

However, what I really love the most is the kitchen/dining area. This is truly the kitchen of my dreams. The porportions are huge! I love the the two islands--one concrete and the other made out of a giant slap of cypress and held up with sawhorses.

I also love the light fixtures which were made by the one of the owners of out branches, crystal pieces and strung bulbs. The whole effect is a bit rustic and casual while still modern.

Fire it Up!

I've been wanting a firepit for our patio for those cool northern california evenings for some time now. I've seen some really expensive ones that I love, but I think I've finally found a good balance between design and cost.

The Design Within Reach cast iron bowl ($375) is shaped like a cone so that the lower bowl collects ash and elevates the flames off the ground to better dissipate heat. The cone grate in the upper bowl creates an air pocket and also f0cuses the fire in the center for a more efficient burn.

There is an optional grill that you can buy for those beach bonfire/BBQ's as well!

DIY Rustic Bench

Although I love DIY projects, I'm rarely that satisfied with the results. However, in the Feb/March 2010 issue of ReadyMade magazine there is a DIY project that I think is pretty foolproof and it looks incredible.

The project takes a thick piece of floor joist and attaches metal legs to it to form a bench. The wood can be found in a salvage yard and the legs can either be found or can be ordered from hairpinlegs.com ($14-$30 per leg)

I love the combination of rustic with modern. This bench would look great by our front door for putting on shoes and boots or around a low table on the patio.

I will post my results after I try this one!

Om from India

In the February/March 2010 edition of ReadyMade magazine there is a feature story about El Cosmico which is a luxury hotel where you stay in these super hip airstream trailers.


The design of these trailers is amazing and is the subject for a whole separate blog post, but I was really taken with a vintage painting of the Garuda on the wall of one of the trailers.


That lead me on a search for these vintage Hindu god posters and I discovered Om from India your "friendly neighborhood god print dealer".


They have an amazing collection of vintage prints that you can browse through online. Unfortunately they are not available for sale online. However, if I am ever in New York I am definitely going to look them up.

Wall Art for Less

I don't normally to decorate my walls with stuff you can buy at a chain store, but have to say that CB2's limited edition prints and "one of a finds" are pretty cool and very reasonably priced.

Cypress Row Print
I'm loving Photographer Brian Everett's cypress row print ($249) which was shot with a Holga camera in b/w and then colored.

This is large-size print on canvas at 48" square. For the size the price is extremely reasonable. I think I've spent almost as much trying to blow up one of my own photos to not even half this size.

Madhubani Painting

This "one of a find" hand-painted Madhubani painting ($149) was originally $199, but has now been marked down so I doubt it will last much longer. Each painting is hand-painted by Indian artist Lalita Devi who is paralyzed, but paints with help of family and friends. The art form of Madhubani paintings is passed down from mother to daughter in a remote region of northern India and now helps support the village.

Urban Outfitters sometimes has some interesting finds too. Right now I'm liking this giant cardboard stag head ($52) which could look very modern and simple in the right space. The deer measures 12"w, 9"d, 16"h.

Lonny

I am still mourning the loss of Domino Magazine and Blueprint. However, I am now somewhat mollified by the launch of the new online magazine Lonny.

Created by some of the former staff members from Domino this online mag offer a similar experience with pages that turn and loads of beautiful images and photos. An added benefit is that you can click on something that interests you and get taken right to the website.

I was especially drawn to the country house spread. Love the use of antlers as a towel rack in the bathroom and the old skirted sink--a great mix of rustic and refined.

There's plenty of content to dig into in the first issue and lots of inspiration for the house as well as personal style. Look for the next issue out in December!

Hot Line

What is old is new again with these amazing vintage rotary phones ($198) that have been restored and painted in vibrant primary colors.

Perfect for that retro 70's vibe. These phones are available in red, orange, yellow and green from anthropologie.com. Get 'em while they're hot!

Note: these phones will only work with standard land lines. They will not work with internet phone lines. Small price to pay!

By the Numbers

Our house is tucked away in a grove of oak trees down a steep and curvy driveway so we've been looking for big house numbers to better identify our house for guests or delivery people. Here's a few options I've found that would be great for house numbers even if your house is in plain sight.

Gas Station Numbers

Vintage gas station signs are great for being able to see numbers at a distance. There are actually quite a few different fonts and colors available. I happen to like red numbers on a cream background, but you can also find red and white, black and white and navy and white.

Etsy is a good source for these vintage signs and you can find them from $10-$40. There are quite a few sellers that have them if you do a search on the site. Here are some sellers with these numbers for sale at the time of this posting: 26 Olive Street, Cousinm's Shop and Blue Bell Bazaar.

Marquee Numbers

Another great source of large numbers are numbers from old theater marquee signs. You can find these in metal or plastic in all different fonts, sizes and colors.

Ebay is a good source to find these or you can also find them on Etsy if you do a search or at flea markets and antique fairs.

DIY Headboard

Right now my bed is just on a metal bed frame. I've been looking at various options from purchasing an entire bed to just a headboard, but new beds or headboards can be really pricey.

Lately I've been leaning towards making my own headboard. First I was thinking about turning an old door sideways, but now I think will use an old fireplace mantel as a headboard.

What's great about a fireplace mantel is that you can upholster a piece of plywood to fit in the opening to give you a softer place to rest your head. Plus you have a ledge for photos or knick-knacks.

I've been scouting craigslist and will also try Omega Salvage in Berkeley to see if I can find one that's not too expensive. Will post a picture once I find something.

Shower in Style

Patyka

I was excited to see that these all organic French bath and body products by Patyka are now available in the US. This company grows and extract all of the materials from it's products. I just bought the lime scrub ($14) and rosemary shampoo ($14). I love the bright and simple packaging. I purchased mine at Reform School, but you can also purchase through Patyka's online store.

Izola Shower

Izola has some of the coolest shower curtains. I love the artist series like this David Foote shower curtain ($60) I picked out for my daughter's bathroom. I also like their photo shower curtains featuring destinations like Vegas, Paris, or Venice (Italy).

Learn & Shower

Target carries great foreign language vocabulary shower curtains like this French version ($20). Also available in Spanish.

Or, if you are more science-minded check out the periodic table shower curtain ($29.99) available from ThinkGeek.

Stylish Storage

Let's face it, plastic bins may be functional, but they are certainly not very attractive for use inside the house. Here are a few storage choices I'm considering for those places where your storage container needs to be visible.

Wicker Hampers

I love these wicker hampers ($20-$26) from Bell'occhio which have flat tops so they can be stacked on top of each other. These would be great for paperwork in the office, or sewing/knitting stuff or craft stupplies.

Green Boxes

Another item from Bell'occhio, these green foil covered boxes ($18-$32) have that Parisian flair. I am thinking these would be great for photographs and mementos, or perhaps as sweater or shoe boxes in the closet.

Locker Room Baskets

These steel locker room baskets ($48) from Napa Style are salvaged from schools across the USA. Some date back to the early 1960s, and all show patina and wear. These would be great in the kitchen or maybe in a teenager's room.

April Showers Bring...

Okay, so it's only March. Still, after the weeks of rain we've been having in Northern California I am ready for Spring sunshine to break through. Here are some cute accessories to bring May's flowers into your home without waiting for mother nature to cooperate.

Flower Measuring Cups

This set of adorable flower measuring cup bowls ($36) from Anthropologie will bring a spot of sunshine to any kitchen. In fact, I think they are too charming to be stuck in a drawer. Set includes one cup, half cup, third cup and quarter cup. They are dishwasher and microwave safe.

Floral Apron

Cook in style with this super stylish Stockholm apron ($28)also from Anthropologie. Available in turquoise, lime and sunshine yellow all with contrasting tie and button. 100% cotton and machine washable. Why stick with a boring white apron?

Vintage Floral Decals

Customize furniture, walls floors, windows, just about anything with these vinyl decals. The great thing is that these decals are easy to remove so you don't have to commit forever. Availble in black, turquoise, orange, and lime green. From urbanoutfitters.com.

Instructional Art

Maybe it's because I am a huge fan education and learning anyway, but I am loving the asethetic of educational materials as art. I love vintage maps, medical charts and models, taxidermy examples, you name it! Here's a few of my latest acquisitions and current obsessions.

Paint-by-Numbers Jesus

From Factory 20 comes this amazing paint by numbers Jesus, on canvas ($675). An Untitled Concepts original Monumental Art Exclusive. Limited to an edition if 12. Canvas Size- W: 44 x H: 62 in.

Palmistry Poster

This poster ($4) is provides a useful reference for palmistry fans in addition to being a great piece of art. Comes folded. Unfolded, it measures 11.75" x 20". From Curiosity Shoppe.

Botanical Scrolls

I love these vintage (or reproduction) detailed botanical scrolls. Maison Reve in Mill Valley has a couple reproductions right now ($150) or you can find them online at The Evolution Store for ($98).

Large Face Parts

These plastic models are for art and drawing classes, but make for great wall or sculptural art as well. They are approximately three times life-size and matte white in color. Only $28 from http://www.dickblick.com/.

Launch of DOM online store

I am so excited that hip German accessories and home store DOM, now has an online outpost! I visited the Paris store recently and was an instant fan. Doesn't look like there is an English version of the item descriptions yet, but with pictures you can get by in German, right? Visit: http://www.dom-ck.com/.

Here's a good finds from the online store:

Snake Armband

This snake bracelet/armband (19.95 EUR) is available in silver, gold or bronze. Would be great with a sleevless jumpsuit or halter dress for that 1970's vibe. The site also feature a belt in the same style.

Embroidered Pouf

I love this embroidered turquoise pouf (49.95 EUR) which has a vintage Mexican look to it. Also available in a bright fuschia that I like as well.

Aluminum Hanging Lamp

This perforated hanging lamp (119 EUR) looks like something from Morocco or the Far East. Love the way the light shines through the little holes.

Vintage Industrial

I am loving the simplicity, large scale, and rustic look of vintage industrial furniture right now. There are a few vendors that carry this style at the Alameda Antique Fair or you can find examples on line at sites like Get Back, Inc, Big Daddy Antiques, Factory 20 or Cleveland Art.

Right now I'm looking for some metal dressers as well as industrial shelving to divide the living room and dining room of our new place. Here's a few great examples of this style. I've found during my hunt.

Industrial Wood & Steel Shelving Unit

This shelving unit from Get Back Inc. ($2,800) stands over 6 feet tall (see photo above). It would be great as a baker's rack in the kitchen or in a library or living room.

Perforated Bookcase

This perforated bookcase from Cleveland Art has the look of an old locker room. Standing over 6 feet tall with nice deep shelves. Way better than the Ikea bookshelves we have now!

Metal Dresser

I wish I could find a couple of these metal dressers from Twenty Gauge or else one big longer version.

Vintage Chalkboard

I love the idea of chalkboards as art. This 1970's school chalkboard ($885) would be amazing in a loft leaning against a wall. Not something I need right now, I but love it!