Chinoiserie for me, Chinoiserie for you

For the last two weeks I have spent every free minute working on my term paper for the class I'm taking right now.  We had to pick an interior design style and write about it, I chose Chinoiserie.  So its only natural that it has been on my mind for weeks now- and still is.  I just love the look, and it fits so well with other styles, what do you think?

 

Ashley Whittaker

de Gournay

Katie Ridder

Mary McDonald

Ashley Whittaker

de Gournay

Massicco Warner Miller

Michael Smith

 

Veranda

Inspired by great

To me there is no question that Dorothy Draper was/is one of the greatest.  Some people may disagree solely based on the fact that they don't like her style.  I get that everyone is entitled to their opinion on style and hers takes a special person to appreciate that bold style.  But style aside, she paved the way for designers today and built an empire in a time where women and business didn't often go in the same sentence.  She took her passion and talent and turned it into company that is still around today. 

(These photos are all from The Greenbrier, while she did a lot more than just this hotel it is the one space of hers that is the most photographed and available in color)

I often refer to her work and love to read about her.  Her confidence inspires me.  Her ability to pair color, pattern, and a little bling is something I will always admire.  Last semester one quick homework assignment was to pick a designer that inspired me and write a quick bio, pick a color pallet and turn it into a modern day design (no budget, time schedule or specific clients needs to meet, this was solely inspiration based) Of course I picked Dorothy Draper and her eclectic style.

Here are the fabrics I pulled together

 

And here is the space I pulled together based on the inspired fabrics

 

Tell me, what inspires you?

 

 

Modern Monet

Sometimes I focus on the things I cant have, rather than the things I have.  I'm only human. Everyone has those feelings sometimes, right?  After this post I am going back to being grateful for all the things I do have, but first I want to discuss this wallpaper that I'm in love with.

Now, I suppose I could have wallpaper in my apartment.  But for what this stuff costs, I think I'll wait till I own a place.  There is just something that grabs me about how from far away these all look like traditional patterns, but up close they a crazy, funky party on wallpaper.

Up first is my favorite, favorite!  This is going on my MUST have list because I love it that much.  

Its called City Park and its just so fun!!  I think the rats are my favorite part.  I'd take rats on wallpaper over real life any day!

How pretty is this bathroom??  At first glance you dont even notice the rats, do you?

Next up, another one from Flavor Paper

It's called Brooklyn Toile and it was designed by Mike Diamond from the Beastie Boys.  So hipster cool.

This one is so cheeky.  Each little story on the paper makes me smile.  Its called Chinatown Toile and also might be my husbands favorite, he LOVES Chinatown.

via Design Sponge

I keep saying I love them all, but I really do.  This one has skeletons and its great! Its called Dia de Dumbo, a fun take on Dia de los muertos. 

Being from New England horse rodeos aren't something that happen everyday around here.  Or crazy college football or oil drilling for that matter.  But, I still think this paper is really fun.  It was love at first site since the day I saw it in Baileys bar area

So what do you think, are they as fun as I think they are?  Would you ever put them in your own home?

Brush with fame

On Tuesday night my good friend & fellow blogger Stephanie and I had the opportunity to attend the newest Kohler Showroom opening here in Boston.  While I do love Kohler products, what sold me on the event was the fact that Thom Filicia would be there signing his book, American Beauty. Now I love me some design books, but I love me some Thom Filicia a little more.  I mean HELLO, look how darn cute he is

I mean, that hair. Come on! 

Once we stopped staring at Thom we enjoyed the showroom and a few of the snacks they were serving.  The tiny homemade oreos and vanilla milkshakes were delish!

It wasn't until I got home that I realized what an amazing book that Thom had written (and signed personally to only me with a Big Kiss. OK yes, I know this is how he signs all his books but I'm pretending he only did it for me. Just go with it here).  The book follows his journey of turning his once sad lake house into a serious show stopper. 

If you've been following my blog for awhile you know my obsession with lake houses and the lake I spent my summers at as a child.  So this book really struck a cord with me, I wanted to BE Thom in this book renovating and decorating my own lake house on my own lake in Maine.  Ah, one day.

I mean look at this view. I die.

If you think that view is a stunner, just look at the rest of the house


There are a lot more photos in the book , and it documents his journey from start to finish.  It really is my new favorite book and I will keep it on my coffee table as motivation to be able to have my own lake house one day.

Dream big, right?

Green in low places

Every time I see another blogger or designer posting about their pretty new fiddle leaf fig tree I get a little pang of jealousy.  They really are pretty, add height to a space and who doesn't love having a tree inside?  I certainly do!

When I first moved into my apartment I wanted one so bad I went right out to the store and got one for the corner of my living room. It was perfect, exactly what the space needed.  Except it was not the perfect space for the tree.  The tree wanted more light and my dark living room corner was not cutting it.  The tree got mad at me and died within 2 short months.  I thought about getting another one, but it would just be a waste of money seeing that there would be no window going in as well. 

That's when I realized I would need to look for plants that can survive with low light.  They might not be as cool as the coveted fiddle leaf fig tree, but they still bring life to a space.  Plus my Grandma told me they have health benefits too, like taking toxins out of the air. Yes please.

So my search was on for plants that could survive in the less than ideal light situation I had going on in my apartment.

Now you may be saying but Lindsay, "these don't look like fiddle leaf fig tree!" Of course they don't, because they aren't.  I had to get over that love affair real quick, unless I want to spend $80+ every few months to replace my dead trees.  Which I don't.  Enter the low light solutions above.  I swear the pothos plants I have can NOT be killed.  Even if I stick them in a dark bathroom and don't water them for weeks on end, they still show me love. They make me feel like I really have a green thumb. (warning these plants can get leggy, and I don't like that look on them.  I keep mine tight and bushy like the picture here)

I think with the right planter (cachepot), these plants can be cool too!  Here are my current favorites.

1. Blue and White from The Pink Pagoda   2. Black Zig Zag   3. Rose Clay Planter   4. Zinc Tall Square Planter   5. Aerin Round Woven Cachepot (if only I could afford this one, crazy for a planter right?) 6. Well Appointed House Blue Studded Planters   7. Galvanized Planter    8. Aged Copper Round Planter   9. Bataan Planter

So tell me, what low light plants do you like (and have kept alive longer than 2 months)?  I'd love a reason to head to the garden center this weekend.

Have a good weekend everyone!

They Floored Me

Being in Italy was like having a full time IV of inspiration flowing through my veins.  Everywhere I looked there was beautiful works of art, stunning gardens, one of a kind building facades, marble EVERYWHERE, color, culture and food!  I soaked up every detail I could and used my iphone to take photos like a crazy person.

One place that sticks out in my mind like no other was the Cathedral of Siena.  It was like no building I have ever laid my eyes on. The pictures don't do this Cathedral justice and it's beauty is something I can never put into words, it just has to be seen for itself.

The marble floors date back to to the early 13th century, that's over 780 years old (550 years before Paul Revere even thought about his midnight ride). Anyway, the floors are only a tiny part of it's beauty- but I just couldn't help myself from snapping a million photos of the marble patterns.

The designs and patterns were breathtaking and I wanted to scoop up the floors and take them home with me.  But not wanting to end up in an Italian jail cell for the rest of my life I started to think how I could create my own patterned floors. 

Obvi marble is the first choice, but when my bank account doesnt allow for Italian marble paint could be used.  Always looking for more inspiration here are some pretty awesome painted floors

Bridget Beari Design

Christinia Murphy

Suzanne Rheinstein design via Elle Decor, photo by Roger Davies

Ashley Whittaker design via House Beautiful, photo by Eric Piasecki

Lindsey Coral Harper design via House Beautiful, photo by Ngoc Minh Ngo

Mary McDonald

Mary McDonald

Nick Olsen design via New York Social Diary, photo by Jeff Hirsch

Nick Olsen design via New York Social Diary, photo by Jeff Hirsch

Thom Filicia

Traditional Home designed by Grant K. Gibson

Ty Larkins

I know paint isnt the same as Italian marble, but you have to admit they are pretty to look at!