Pretty

From here. You're welcome. Happy Friday!!

Happy Weekend!

I want to go to there.

Image via Lonny.

Apartment Therapy - Inspiration!

I came across this tour on Apartment Therapy yesterday, and I have been thinking about it ever since. The apartment belongs to Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere. I love these images.  AT House Tours are great, because they show actual homes that people live in, rather than spiffed up show houses (not that I don't love me a show house).  These images are just warmer, homier and more lived in.  And, if you've ever been to my place, you'll notice this gal and I have a little bit in common as far as taste...her Hunter Wellingtons, her Ork Poster, her globes, her brass pig, she's even working an orange-ish scheme in her dining room...a gal after my own heart.  No wonder I like these so much! Enjoy these images and Happy Friday!!

Not loving the pendant, AT ALL, but the rest of the dining room is lovely!

 

Sarah's House

I think I figured it out...I'm obsessed with Sarah's House.  I love watching.  At first, I was like, man this crazy Canadian lady is so high maintenance, can never stay on budget, she's totally OCD, and oh. my. gosh....her rooms are beautiful.  Behold...her orange dining room, which, you may notice, inspired my choices for my own dining room. This lady's got a way with fabrics.  I wish, I wish I could post more photos of the room in all its glory for you, but I can't pull them off the site. Promise you'll go check it out here.

Beautiful Living Rooms

With the big move coming up, it seems I have living rooms on the brain. New living rooms, to be specific!  Can’t help it! I’ve got a bit of a start on a great living room, but I’m continually inspired by new and different layouts, color schemes and accessories, of course. Though I’m committed to the few pieces I own already, I can’t help but make a list of “Living Room Musts” for down the road.

Without a doubt, the first thing I have to have is a fireplace. Seriously. I know it’s not practical, and most cities (mine included) have a burn ban, but there is NOTHING like cozying up in front of a fire, right?  The pictures of living room inspiration I’ve gathered seem kind of all over the place at first glance. I’ve been taking a closer look, however, to try to figure out what it is that I really love about these rooms and what I need to focus on for my own room. There are a couple common threads. Looks like I love plants. That’s no surprise, my house is full of them. I also gravitate toward more symmetrical layouts and neutrals, neutrals, neutrals. What can I say? Guess I’m not exactly the wild type. 

While I don't think I could fit every single beautiful living room I've come across into this one post, here's a healthy representation of what I think best defines the look I'm going for:

What about you all? What do you think makes a living room truly great?

Images via Domino, Lonny, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Apartment Therapy

Dream Dining Room

Luckily, I have a bit of a start on this one. Mr. J and I received 6 beautiful chairs and a buffet as a wedding gift. Unfortunately, this means we have been using a cast off table from his parents for the past 2+ years. While I secretly squirrel away money for the dining table of my dreams, I pulled together some photos for inspiration until that day!

Loving this image from the latest issue of Lonny.  The chairs and buffet we already have are all dark wood. I’d love to get the matching table, someday, someday, someday! I love the way these light slip-covered chairs break up all the dark in the space. Ditto for the curtains and the rug. Pretty much perfect. I think the dining room is one of those places where you can go really bold with color and get away with it. Most of us don’t eat in our dining rooms every evening (um, usually the coffee table is our dining table…guilty!), so when you do actually eat in there, bold colors really make the space dramatic…and perfect for holidays, parties and special occasions where you actually sit down, set the table and DINE!  Personally, I’d go for a deep blue like this or a rich red (the color we currently have in our space).

Now for the table. I’m all about chunky, solid, sturdy wood pieces like these:

And no, the chairs totally don’t have to match. It sure is a lot more fun, and more visually interesting if they don’t! You gotta get a bit of fabric and color in there to break up all that wood!  Once I get my table, I plan to add colorful cushions to the chairs, and add two slip-covered chairs. 

Now, when it really comes down to it, the pieces I currently have can transition easily and become my kitchen table and chairs down the road. You know, when I have such a large and fabulous house that I have both a formal dining room, and a casual, eat in kitchen. Yes?

Man, I am loving the improvised banquette seating in the first shot. Don’t you want to curl up with the paper (or, um, your laptop?) a cup of coffee and eat all your breakfast?? I do. The second banquette shot is no slouch, either. Elegant and cozy...at the same time.  And finally, loving the casual vibe in the last shot. Can totally picture a bunch of kiddos coloring at the table and a couple of dogs running around underneath.  Just perfect.

Images via Lonny, Desire to Inspire, House Beautiful, Domino

Dream Rooms: Library

I love to read, and I love books. Nothing floats my boat like a whole afternoon (um…or entire day) spent reading a book. As a kid, I used to save up all my allowance and beg my mom to take me to the bookstore, where I’d spend hours determining how I’d spend my riches. Every time, I’d come out with a huge stack that would satisfy me until my next “pay day”.  And the LIBRARY, too! Don’t get me started. One of the biggest pickles I ever got into was in the 3rd grade, when I snuck out and rode my bike to the library, without telling anyone where I was going. I returned, hours later, to my frantic mother wondering where I had been. I looked at her like, “So what? I was just at the library. Duh.” That didn’t go over so well.

Anyway, the house we live in does have some sweet built ins where I can stash all my treasures, but in the house of my dreams, I’d have a whole room dedicated to books and reading. A library of my own. Heaven.

Until then, I’ve gathered these photos for some awesome inspiration:

Images via Domino, Elle Decor, Martha Stewart, isuwannee

Dream Bathroom Checklist

There is absolutely nothing like a long, hot bath after a looong day at work. I love relaxing, grabbing magazine (or four), a glass of wine, lighting a candle and just sitting in the tub. Unfortunately, the house Mr. J and I are currently renting lacks a lot in the bath department. It has its strengths, don’t get me wrong, but the bathroom leaves A LOT to be desired. I can’t wait until the day we’ll have a bathroom of our own that we can fix up exactly the way we like. Until then, I’ve come up with my dream bathroom checklist to keep the hope alive!

1. A freestanding claw foot tub. For a gal who likes a good bath as much as I do, there is almost nothing as important as a deep, inviting, luxurious clawfoot tub.  Let the good times roll:

2. A walk in shower. Since I’ll be in the tub most of the time, I’ll need a separate, walk in shower for Mr. J to use (ok, me too, once in a while). It’s pretty much a necessity to have two showerheads, no? As well as a good seat to, well, sit on.

3. Double Vanity. This is an essential, and I’ve heard a few people say it’s the key to a long and happy marriage. For anyone who’s tried to share a bathroom with a husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, or roommate, you know where I’m coming from. Every grown up deserves their own sink…and no one should have to wait to spit while brushing their teeth!!  Though I love the look of the first vanity here, not sure I'm quite organized enough, so I might need to go with a more enclosed style, like in the second photo.

4. Subway tile, Carrera marble and chrome. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. These materials are timeless. I love the cool, calm, clean feeling they lend to a bath. Hexagonal tiles, wainscotting, whatever. Just check out these amazingly classy photos of a couple bathrooms featured on one of my favorite blogs, Brooklyn Limestone:

And finally, just a quick note on the powder room...I don't have one, but I would REALLY love to have one some day.  I envision a little jewel box of a room that you can totally saturate with color, since you won't have to look at it every day.  A room like this will really wow your guests:

However, realistically, I could probably never talk Mr. J into that peacock blue (isn't making joint design decisions the WORST??), but I think I'd have a shot at something like this amazing geometric wallpaper featured in Deborah Needleman's powder room (RIP Domino):

That's a huge MAYBE.

What about you all?  What are your must-haves in the bathroom?  What does your dream bathroom look like??

Images via Apartment Therapy, Living Etc., Pottery Barn, Brooklyn Limestone, Jean Randazzo, Domino

Dream Kitchen Checklist

Though Mr. J and I are still renters, I dream about the day when I will have a kitchen of my very own. That day may be far in the future, but the kitchen really is the heart of the home (especially for us), so I’m already collecting inspiration. I've come up with a short list of my kitchen must haves...so here goes:

White Cabinets. Every kitchen I have in my inspiration folder features some variation of these beautiful babies, and I think that’s a sign. Plus, fashionable wood finishes come and go (blonde vs. espresso vs. walnut, etc.), but white is classic, fresh, and will hold up in the face of fickle trends!

Subway Tile and Carrera Marble. This is another classic look, and, from what I hear, subway tile is pretty cheap, too! Not cheap, but still classic, is carrera marble. I love its cool grey look for a counter top. I’ll take butcher block, stainless, or even zinc(!) if it turns out to be unattainable, but a girl can dream!

Open Shelving. The debate rages on, but I love the look of open shelving. I have too many pretty platters, pitchers and plates to confine them to a dark cupboard. I hear they’re hard to keep looking neat and organized, but I think I may be up to the challenge.

A Comfy Place to Sit. Be it an island, nook or table, this is an essential part of my dream kitchen. A place for friends and family to gather to keep me--well, let’s be honest--Mr. J--company while we whip up tasty treats.

A Chalkboard. This mini trend may have fallen by the wayside by the time I’m ready for a kitchen of my own, but I have to say, I think it’s genius. I envision writing shopping lists, appointments, and even sweet love notes on the board if I can find a place to squeeze it into the design.

What about you all? What’s the best feature in your kitchen? What’s the worst? And what side are you on in the great open shelving debate??

P.S. I've resolved to be better about properly crediting photos, until then, if you see something that's yours, let me know and I'll credit you properly.