"I Want To Go To There" Wednesday

I need to be wherever something like this is happening. Amazing.
(via P is for Party)

Grandma Pumpkin

Using a doilie and some black paint. This looks like it might be a little time consuming, but so pretty that it might be worth it. But first, I might have to actually go out and get my pumpkin...
(via Better Homes and Gardens)

No, YOU are awesome, Yellowgoat

Yellowgoat is definitely one of my best Etsy discoveries to date.

I love that she calls this a "social necklace" because of all of the comments and conversations this piece is sure to strike up.

This bangle modeled after a mens shirt collar is a fun take on the menswear trend.



This guy is just flat out stunning. Such a unique piece with a creative inspiration.



For the forgetful one in your life....I think I might need this myself. So genius.


Check out the blog, too, for some eye candy and the occasional giveaway.

"I'll eat you up, I love you so."

This past weekend was on of the best I've had in a long time, and for no big special reason. Just a bunch of little things that made me happy. Starting with an amazing fall day in Newburyport with the little brother...

I'm not sure how many other early 20-something brother/sister duos usually take scenic drives around New England towns for fun, but we're dorks like that. Our road trip loving dad was very proud.

We decided that this was definitely one of the most adorable little towns in Massachusetts. We ate lunch at The Purple Onion and watched the little kids play at the park across the street. Almost too cute.

Oh, and then we bumped into the "Avenging" (!!) Andy Pratt. If any of you are in the market for a combination musician/spiritual healer, he is your man.

*sigh* I looooove New England in the fall. Matty and I decided there is no place else we'd rather live. Ever.

And then there were BURRITOS! at Anna's. We opted not to get the ginormous SUPERBURRITOS!, as we recalled the not-so-great feeling we had after making that mistake the last time. They are the best, but ordering here reminds me a lot of The Soup Nazi. I get a little nervous.

(Sidenote: I did not take the above picture, I found it on Google, but I had to post it for obvious hilariously ironic reasons)

An amazing/sad/beautiful/fun/crazy movie followed. Really, go see it.

In true design dork fashion, I couldn't help but pay attention to the colors and mood of the whole film. Everything felt neutral and dirty, but in this curiously appealing way. I want to design an entire room around this picture.

And then there was the lovely lady (sorry I didn't get your name!) at Helena's who said she liked my blog. If you're reading this - you absolutely made my day! My weekend actually, so THANKS! :)

Good times.

*Just realized this is my 100th post! WOOHOO!*

Monday Music

The "Beautiful Movie" Edition



This was in the trailer for Where the Wild Things Are. Such an amazing movie. Not ashamed to say I shed a few tears at the end. You must go see it immediately.

Expect the Unexpected

So cool to spot my favorite Cellula Chandelier fitting in perfectly in this country space. I love it when rustic and modern can blend seamlessly to add a little visual interest.
(Country Living via Shelter)

Larger Than Life

An installation like this looks fit for a modern museum, but to find out that it's part of an office interior makes it even cooler. The illustration is of Leo Burnett, founder of the eponymous advertising agency for which Ministry of Design created these incredible spaces. I love their concept of separating the project into the distinct environments - Space to Impress, Space to Interact, and Space to Create. Office interiors can sometimes get a little stale and obvious, so it's refreshing to see something this modern and creative.

This "anamorphic art feature" is strategically painted on different planes to trick the eye from afar. So crazy, but so cool. I don't know what the significance of 7+ is, but whoever thought to apply it in this manner is an absolute genius.

(via Dezeen)

"I Want To Go To There" Wednesday

I love Boston in the fall...

Don't You Just Love A Bargain?*

Anthropologie is hands down my favorite store ever, but there is no way I could afford to shop there for real. I will admit, I am that girl who walks in and makes a beeline for the sale section every time. It takes some digging, but I've ended up with some pretty great pieces at major discounts. Case in point - there was this one dress I had been obsessing over all summer, and in the back of my mind I was hoping maybe I'd get lucky and find one. Well, I had to stop myself from squealing with excitement when I found it in my size...

It was the very last one and I nearly took out some poor woman when I practically jumped over her to grab it, but it was totally worth it. Originally $128, I took it home for $40!!!! I obviously can't wear it til next summer, but I know I'll wear the crap out of it when the time comes. This just goes to show that shopping off season is a great way to save some major money on the pieces that are normally out of reach. Even though I didn't get a single thing I went to the mall for, I have to say I got a huge kick out of this purchase. Consider me a bargain shopper!

*Yep, I totally stole that title from the Christmas Tree Shop jingle...I bet it's stuck in your head now, right?

Monday Music

The "Holy Crap" Edition



This guy went to my high school and dates my friends stepsister - not gonna lie, kinda makes me feel cool to be quasi-connected to someone this talented. Cannot wait to see/meet him at Club Passim on Nov. 20

Always Go With Straight Lasers

Related to my last post, I'm pretty sure having a drawing by Marc Johns in my house would mean a guaranteed smile every single day.

The cover of his book is so awesome. This might have to be added to the Christmas list.

Gotta love Etsy

Last night I finally pulled the trigger and bought a few of the amazing art pieces that had been languishing in my Etsy shopping cart for the past few weeks. In addition to being a great place for adorable handmade gifts and cool vintage pieces, it's a great place to buy original artwork on the cheap. One thing I'm really excited about for the new house (among many things) is that I'll finally have the opportunity to buy original pieces to fill the space, picking and choosing only those that I really love and am drawn to. Here's the loot I scored from a couple of my favorite Etsy peeps:

This photo from opart just makes me smile. I love the ocean, I love the colors, I love the carefree easy feeling this image has. It's a little girly, but I plan on integrating it into a gallery wall with all sorts of other styles.

JKLDesign is by far one of my favorite Etsy shops. I really don't know what it is about this photo that I love so much, but as soon as I saw it I was completely enamored. Something about the color, the lines, the contradiction of "Little City".... I lovelovelove it.

Make It Work

You gotta love Sneak Peeks from Design*Sponge. I look forward to these posts every week because they are always full of inspiration. This week, the home of Casey Green was definitely my favorite. As soon as I saw this first image, I breathed a sigh of relief. I've been going back and forth wondering if I could combine my grandmother's old traditional wing back chair with some more modern pieces without having it look completely incompatible. But in this room, a traditional chair works beautifully next to the sleek Parsons desk without any one item sticking out. I love to see a room like this, with that certain je ne sais quoi that just makes it work.

"I Want To Go To There" Wednesday

It's coooooold*....can I go back to bed, please?

*I realize that this is relative term when you live in the Northeast....if it were January, I would consider this balmy...

Picture in Picture

Trippy, man.

(via The Architecture Blog)

Show and Tell

You know how much I love rendering...This one is old - I definitely want to start practicing more.

Thinking about...

...turning the Hi-Fi into a buffet/bar...



...sort of like this...

This project probably won't be happening for awhile, but I can't stop thinking about it....I LOVE the blue inside! The record player is actually broken, so once I figure out a way to take all that stuff out (much easier said than done, I'm sure) I'll add fabric, paint, and some new hardware...cannot wait to do this! I should mention that I have never done anything like this ever before, so there's a chance it could be a disaster. But I just love the idea that I can take something that has been in my family and in the house for so long and completely give it a new life and purpose. I'll have something that's totally original, inexpensive, and that has personal meaning. Can't get much better than that.

Monday Music

The "October" Edition

Color Inspiration: Shades of Grey

I am so intruiged by these moody, soft interiors. I've been seeing shades of grey everywhere lately, and while I think a lot of them are so gorgeous, I'm still a bit weary of the color. When done well, grey can evoke many different feelings in a space. But choose the wrong shade and you might end up with something a little drab. I think the key is be very specific when choosing your shade and then commit to the look. The shade of grey you choose really dictates the overall feeling of the room. If you want that moody feeling, then really embrace it with dark charcoal, dramatic mood lighting, and minimal contrast. If you want a soft, feminine feeling, choose an ash tone, then add lots of white and soft texture. I think my personal favorite is to choose a warm grey and inject shots of deeply saturated color throughout the space for contrast. This keeps your eye from completely sinking into the grey and softens super bold colors. This is definitely a challenge to consider...