Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Lauren Moffatt inspired room



My friend and amazing designer Lauren Moffatt has a fabulous Fall line out!!..
Her inspiration was a grandmother's closet.. I love it! I have such nice memories of going to my grandmother's house and just wanting to dive into the chests of clothes she had and transport myself to a different time and a glamorous place.
Using inspiration from Lauren's designs and her theme, I put together a room that I think grandma would approve of.
1. lamp- Lamp Store
2. Cirrus chandelier shade- Anthropologie
3. Treillage gold leaf mirror- Layla Grayce
4. rust pillow- The Home Centric- etsy
5. sand ruffle pillow- Pier 1
6. carved chair in vintage grey - Layla Grayce
7. curtain fabric- no resource
8. ottoman- no longer available
9. couch- Wisteria
10. tartan throw blanket- The Good Gift Company

xx
Elena

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Living Room

The living room has been pretty much just simple and functional since we moved in. We painted the whole downstairs Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace, bought these simple full length linen curtains, had the built in TV space redone which was a fabulous job. We bought this very comfy cozy Comfort Sectional from Pottery Barn, threw down a zebra rug and got a few yummy pillows in a bolder zebra print and a faux sheepskin. I put my floor lamps and Nantucket cube end tables from the city in here and hung up my favorite For Like Ever Limited Edition gold poster by Vllg.
It's pretty much stayed this way while we've been well living and doing other bits around the house..



This is a rough sketch I did of the floorplan of the room:

As you can see it was functional (especially functional with the wet bar on hand) but has that "space I couldn't figure out to do with" and also needs a little vavoom.

Here are some pictures of the room before we moved in. The previous owner styled the house really well I think.. very clean look.. This built in was redone in December to fit a larger flat screen and to update the cabinets a bit.

Yesterday I was in Pier 1 Imports, a store I rarely go in, and found the wicker chair in the mood board below on a serious markdown, like to good to pass when you have "a space you don't know what to do with but was thinking 2 occasional chairs for cocktails" This chair was $63 down from $300. Now I'm not a huge wicker fan, it has to be the right kind or I think it can look not so cute, but I liked this chair. So I bought the chair and the next day, went back for the pillows and found a second matching one so I have them home set up in the space and I like them a lot. It has got me motivated to give the living room some love so I've hung my 20 martinis are plenty print by Stephen Pitliuk and I'm eyeing this Apothecary Floor Lamp from Ballard Designs for reading on said chairs. I think this Sheepskin Pouf/Ottoman from West Elm would be fun, continue the texture from the throw pillows on the sectional to this end of the room and I like texture especially when it doubles as a kid friendly piece. The Henriette table from Ballard Designs is what I had in mind to place between the chairs. I'll post the final look when it gets there!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Michael Kors

We went to a wedding on Friday night at Tribeca rooftop. It was a gorgeous venue and fabulous night for Paul Barry and Gemma Burgess, the author of The Dating Detox. The unfortunate free hour I had before my hair appointment at my friend's fab salon Whittemore House led my into one of my favorites, Michael Kors. A couple of these lovely items above have a new owner.. moi.
Wouldn't it be fun to turn this outfit into a room?.. Aren't you lucky? I did...

1. Michael Kors Vertical Zebra-Print Dress
2. Michael Kors Charlton Tote, Gold
3. Michael Kors Two-Tone Jet Set Watch, Horn/Gold
4. Michael Kors Perky Wedge Sandal, Camel


Combining textures, prints and shades of the same color creates a fun and interesting room that is still easy on the eye..
1. Yummy tan zebra cowhide pillows
2. A glamorous square horn mirror
3. The chic Sofia settee at Ballard Designs
4. A textured sisal rug
5. Bit o' bling in the gold pouf from Lillie a shop

6. A fun Jamie Young classic drum shade in cork on a glass jar lamp, both from from Layla Grayce.
.. and that my friends is an outfit made into a room. It was a fun exercise. It reminded my of the thinking out of the box projects we did at F.I.T. in my college days.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

pretty little page


Just back from a long weekend in Ireland and I picked up one of the yummiest interiors magazine, Country Homes and Interiors.. Here's a pretty little page.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

hoppity hop!! I better get hoppin!

Trying to not go OTT with sweets in the baskets!.. Martha

Just gorgeous! Family Circle

I love this! Super simple and nice bold colors on my favorite.. white. Family Circle

The kids and I will do this tomorrow on their day off. Family Circle


The kids are counting down the days until Easter.. umm this Easter Bunny better get hoppin!!

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Dining Alfresco

There is a buzz about this drizzly week in Spring that cries Summer is nearly here! One of the best things about summer is dining alfresco!! The summer air, the sound of the crickets, the stars above you and meals that are fresh, light and lot's of beautiful bright colors.
The daffodils are just desperate to burst into colorful life. My new outdoor dining set is being delivered sometime today (you know, sometime between 8am and 11pm). The kids and I are watching our homegrown vegetables and herbs sprout and grow super fast in their little greenhouse trays. Jamie Oliver is inspiring the country to eat right in Jamie's Food Revolution on ABC on Friday nights and in his cookbook Jamie's America. I am starting my P90X workout and we are transitioning into an organic and whole foods household. There is something about the sweet air of Spring that inspires all these wonderful things; life, health and new growth. Do ya dig it? Check out that awesome lighthouse lantern that hubby picked up at Crate and Barrel this weekend and loads more fun shatterproof dinnerware at French Bull.
The sun is coming out and there's a pep in my step!
xo
Elena

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Stunning bathroom design!



Our friend Oli, and as you can see very talented builder of Oliver Wilson Construction just finished this fabulous bathroom so I just had to share with you! oliverwilsonconstruction@yahoo.com

Monday, March 29, 2010

Feel Good Monday

It is raining. It is cold. It is Monday. Sunday was hugely unproductive which had nothing to do with the goings on on Saturday night (big lie..huge). There is a lot of laundry. There is a very long to do list on my desk. So let's go to our happy place and enjoy these Feel Good finds:
This Zia shag rug from Crate and Barrel to tickle my toes into. A Sugar scented candle from Fresh that is on my wish list. Earl Grey tea from Bamboo Tea Company, because we can't drink Savingnon Blanc all the time. My Wedgwood "Nantucket Basket" cup that I use every day. The fabulous Ektorp chair from Ikea that I have to find a spot for because really you just can't afford not to have it. This kimono from Etsy is just gorgeous and it has "take me away" written all over it.

Happy Monday! xo Elena

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Family wall

via BHG

via Pottery Barn

We have a debate going on here.. Whether to do a "family wall" or just display out pictures randomly around the house. I'd like to do a wall on upstairs landing (do we it call it that here? I grew up in London until I was 12 so I forget sometimes what is correct here) Maybe we call it upstairs hall. OK, annnnyway, I have a selection of pictures old and new, candid and professional that I want to display. I need to get some printed and then get some framed.. So OK, see you here in a year when I get this project underway! Here are some ideas and inspiration.
xo
Elena

Monday, March 22, 2010

Spring Gardening..

Spring is in the air! (or at least is was this weekend.. it's wet, foggy and miserable today) We were the merriest little family of suburbanites all weekend long raking, weeding, moving over-sized shrubbery, and overall doing a great job looking like we knew what we were doing. I know the ones with bulbs and petals in pretty colors are most likely not weeds and my fingers are crossed that paring down long straggly branches and things is the way to go. A Friday road trip to Home Depot for packets of seeds that the kids were pulling off the shelves like they were gummy bears and sour patch kids (wait until they see them full grown and ready to eat.. can't see quite the same enthusiasm) and then a Target trip for all the pretty little gardening tool must haves.
In our little Spring Gardening selection above, we have:
A crocus:
(plural: crocuses, croci) is a perennial flowering plant placed botanically in the iris family. The plants grow from cormshrdy perennials, and are found in a wide range of habitats, including woodland, scrub and meadows. There are about eighty species of crocus (of which approximately 30 are cultivated). Their cup-shaped, solitary, salverform flowers taper off into a narrow tube. Their color varies enormously, although lilac, mauve, yellow and white are predominant. from Wikipedia.
A Cynthia Rowley pink gardening hose: You can longer get this so I hope you didn't fall in love already, but it is pretty hot right? (She is a friend of a friend so if you're desperate for it, I'll see what I can do ah)
A blue OXO watering can: This you can actually get. They have it at Kmart, so knock yourself out!
Purple gardening gloves: From West County Gloves and you don't have to get purple, I just liked the way they looked with the pink hose (which you can't get)
Buzzy gardening tools: from Target, beats the usual boring green they come in.
You Grow Girl: A book I so need to get so I can actually figure out what I'm doing back there.
I'm making some gardening worksheets! I'll post them next week.
xo
Elena


Thursday, March 18, 2010

portrait of me on day 4 of no school..

OK, not really me but isn't this an awesome painting? I love love it. See more here Kelly Reemtsen. And the reference in the title is in regard to it being the 4th day this week that my kids school has been canceled due to the storm that hit last Saturday night knocking down trees all over town and causing power outages everywhere. We got lucky but a lot of people were without power for days!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Leo's room

Leo's love of Buzz and Toy Story shows in his room. We think we kept it still pretty classy and versatile if the admiration should someday dwindle!..

He has quite a collection of Buzz's so I used these box displays to show them off.

Our neighbor/babysitter surprised Leo with these Toy Story 3 posters straight from the movie theater.

Blue and green sheets accent the Toy Story colors.

A Toy Story 2 poster next to his real clock and his learning clock.

Toy Story the original movie poster next Leo's reward chart. The purple frame lists his daily jobs that he checks off with a wipe off marker and each night he gets a big blue star on the blue board. 5 stars gets a little reward toy. It works really well and encourages good behavior!

The man himself.

Sun, sea and sand..


Last week i was doing a whole lot of this in Turks and Caicos.. ahh.. beautiful beautiful place!!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

I heart Rachel Ashwell.. (as if you didn't know!)


Back in November, I met the lovely Rachel Ashwell of Shabby Chic when she was on her book tour for Shabby Chic Interiors. The last year has thrown a lot at her and yet she has spun it around to be something even better than before!.. After Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic stores closed last year, months later, Rachel relaunched the brand Shabby Chic Couture in Santa Monica, New York and now London too. She is truly amazing.

Here are some images from the gorgeous book..







She is so inspiring in her laid back and serene style. There is something about lovely pale linens, squishy couches, sweet smelling candles, and beat up furniture that just says "flop down and enjoy"

Rachel shared her home with SFgirlbybay back in December. Lot's of lovely pictures here.. behind the scenes with Rachel Ashwell

Rachel's kitchen via SFgirlbybay

One question SFgirlbybay asked Rachel:

Q. What is your biggest interior design nightmare?
A. People want things, too much, too fast, too perfect.

I just love that!.. It's true. Less is more, slow down and see the lovely in the unmade bed!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Ikea stop...

Ikea is in the last 45 minute stretch home from my parents house, where we were for the kids winter break last week, so with Ikea fro yo promises, off we went.. We got rock star parking, speed shopped and left with a few fun bits and pieces...

cute cacti

little ceramic pots for the cute cacti


always a home for a basket that will make clutter look better

yummy sheepskin rugs for either side of our bed

and deep frames so I can do some Darcy Miller scrapboxing!