From the monthly archives:

October 2011

A (Very Stylish) Home On The Road

October 31, 2011

in Design & Decor,Travel

Happy Halloween, friends! Are you doing anything fun today? Honestly, this year I feel like a total slacker Mom. Bix’s costume (while very cute!) is from the used kids store in our neighborhood, not handmade with care as I sometimes feel is like, my duty as a blogger to craft. Ah well. There will be plenty of insanely time-consuming costumes made by Mama in his future, I am sure! Moving on, allow me to introduce the topic of conversation today: Jessica’s super cute vintage motorhome.

Yes, I said motorhome and super cute in the same sentence…and it is! Sweet Jessica of Volume 25, along with her husband and two adorable little girls, has been busy revamping a vintage 70′s motorhome, transforming it from dark and seriously outdated to…well, frankly, to something much cuter than many people’s apartments!

From updating the mini kitchen and bath to covering the fridge with chalkboard decals and customizing chevron print roman blinds, Jessica and family have really put their personal stamp on this little home on wheels. And all of their careful planning and hard work has been paying off with camping trips and weekend guests.

I showed Ben these pictures and we both agree: it would be totally awesome to fix up a vintage motorhome like this and hit the road. What about you? Does this sort of travel tempt you at all? While traveling in an old, funky motorhome sounds kind of depressing, throw in some chevron curtains, fresh flowers on the table (in a cute mod vase!), handmade art, and everything neat-as-a-pin, and I am there. :)

There are so many details to love. See in that picture above, what looks like wallpaper? Actually, Jessica painted that on, freehand – gorgeous! And I adore the little woodland-themed cushions and tightly edited color palette of gray, yellow, and white. Let’s take a look at another before-and-after…

Wow, right? You can see more before-and-after pictures here, and if you enjoyed this, you will certainly want to check out the rest of Jessica’s blog, Volume 25, as well as her art, digital templates, and more. Oh, and for those of you wondering, yes Bixby is due for his monthly photo – but I left my camera at my in-law’s house after our toddler + pumpkin photo op yesterday, so that will have to wait. Know why we were taking a photo of him with their pumpkin? Because we didn’t even buy a pumpkin this year. I told you I was a slacker!

Psst: Today is the last day to grab an ad spot and still be a part of the holiday penny-pinching special which includes 9 weeks of advertising + a post introducing your business to my readers AND a second “Shop Owner Q&A” post in December for $45 bucks. Email me to sign up. xo Laura

(all images: Jessica of Volume 25)

{ 5 comments }

Weekend Style

October 29, 2011

in Sweet Obsessions

Happy weekend, dearies! I am so ridiculously happy for the weekend – I am planning on filling these cold days with hot baths, good music, chai lattes, chats on the phone with friends, and a visit to the in-laws to show off Bixby in his costume (hint: rawr!). Things are off to a good start so far, with a mug of hot tea + Pinterest. Here are a few things I have my eye on:

1. The Frankie Calendar for 2012 is full of amazing art. Via Seventy Tree.
2. & 3. The home of Finnish photographer/designer Riikka Kantinkoski is exactly what I am craving in my own home right now. Featured on decor8 and pinned by me. :)
4. The most beautiful leather mouse pads.
5. I’ve been listening to a lot of Amy Seeley again; something about the weather turning cold is perfect for her quiet, haunting melodies.
6. This hand-quilted bedding is so beautiful. Via Tracey Galloway.

And because I thought we could use a little soundtrack to today’s post, and to tempt you further with Ms. Seeley’s music, here is one of her most recent works for your listening pleasure:

Enjoy your weekend! xoxo Laura

(images: linked to sources above; music: Amy Seeley)

{ 2 comments }

5 Chic Home Decor DIYs

October 27, 2011

in Craft & DIY,Design & Decor

Hello friends! Thanks so much for your sweet comments and emails, Bix’s cold is much better today and my ankle is getting there slowly but surely. Today I have a few projects to share, found on the Norway-based Stylizimo blog – I hope they inspire you as much as they did me. Enjoy!

DIY #1: SCRABBLE ART

Nina Holst, who authors Stylizimo is constantly changing things up in her home, so it always feels fresh and inspiring. Whether it is a seasonal arrangement of branches and berries brought in from outdoors, a simple DIY project, or something as big as painting her floors white, I know when I visit her lovely place there will always be something new to feast my eyes on. Lately she has been on a black and white kick, and I am loving it! Above you will see DIY idea #1: a sweet little art print made from scrabble pieces and stamps on paper.

Here is a view of the office she recently redecorated, all crisp and cool in black and white. She did this one for her fiancé, though her own office is all black and white now, too. I told you she was on a roll!

DIY #2: CHALKBOARD CALENDAR

Back in Nina’s own office is one of my favorite DIY ideas, it is her own version of the Ferm Living calendar wall sticker. Instead of a sticker, Nina created hers using chalkboard paint which I think is total genius. Don’t you want one of these now? I think it would be perfect for a busy household with kids.

DIY #3: BUTTERFLY TREE

Another beautiful DIY inspired by a Ferm Living product is this beautiful butterfly tree. So pretty, right? Nina insists it’s not as difficult to do as it seems. Ahem. I think it’s perfect how she incorporated the two floating shelves – this is definitely going into my idea file for the future!

DIY #4: WASHI TAPE ANTLERS

If you’re looking for a really quick and simple yet creative DIY project, why not try your hand at these cute little antlers made from washi tape? Yes, yet another way to use this wonderfully addictive product: wall art!

DIY #5: BIRCH BARK PLACECARDS

I really adore this sweet DIY idea for marking places or leaving other kind messages at the table. The rustic birch bark hearts combined with clean modern label stickers is so unexpected and cool, and the tiny pine cones and natural twine are just the right finishing touch. If I were hosting Thanksgiving I would give it a shot!

Well, that wraps it up for now. I’d love to hear which project was your favorite – I’m itching to try all five! :)

(all images: Nina Holst for Stylizimo)

{ 2 comments }

Using Rich Color

October 26, 2011

in Design & Decor

Good morning! How are you today? I admit I’ve been having a rough week so far (sprained ankle, sick baby, hubby working late), and I am already looking forward to this weekend. When I came across the Vermont home of Deirdre Heekin and Caleb Barber it lifted my spirits, so I immediately knew I would want to share it with you. Their home is cozy, personal, and displays a wonderful use of rich, saturated color. Come on, let’s peek inside!

My own home is mostly white (which I usually love) but seeing a home like this makes me crave richer color. I did paint my kitchen a deep gray similar to the gray above, and I like it so much I kind of wish I had painted a bigger room! White objets like the deer sculpture hanging above the door stand out so crisply against a rich gray like this. For those of you who are color-shy, a warm neutral gray is a great place to start as it plays well with so many colors, so you really don’t have to worry about making a bad choice. Another tip: use an enfilade (rooms that open onto one another) to full advantage by thinking about the use of color. Here they painted the hallway in the background a vibrant shade of blue, which really draws the eye through to the rest of the home.

Care to go bolder? What about painting just the wall your headboard rests on in the bedroom? I like this idea, and you could do the same thing with wallpaper. One little pet peeve though: I would never hang a big mirror directly over my bed! Just paranoia? Bad feng shui? Leftover fears of California earthquakes? I don’t know, I just don’t want anything hanging over my head while I’m sleeping! One last note on the bedroom above: love the monogrammed pillow cases! Using shams with a crisp border is an easy way to make your bed look “finished”.

And in the home office? Oh my. A workstation built for two? Yes please! Note that the symmetry of this arrangement helps rein in the clutter so that it appears creative and not simply chaotic.

Liked this? Go see the entire home tour right here. Is this your style at all? Do you use rich color in your own home? I’d love to hear what you think. And p.s., if you are interested in holiday advertising (plus TWO dedicated posts) you still have time to sign up for my penny-pinching package. :) xo Laura

(all images: Photographer Ditte Isager for House Beautiful)

{ 4 comments }

A Stylist’s Abode

October 25, 2011

in Craft & DIY,Design & Decor

I absolutely adore Sania Pell. You’ve undoubtedly seen her work in some of your favorite magazines where she has styled decorating stories (Elle Decoration and Easy Living, among them), or perhaps you have her book, The Homemade Home? It’s been on my wish list for some time, it is so full of richly creative projects for the home. Well, I was checking in on Sania’s website to see what she’s been up to lately, and I was pleased as punch to find out that she has started a blog – the most beautiful blog! Through her blog she shares glimpses into her home and work process, small, easy projects, and inspirations from her vintage-hunting treks and other adventures. You will love it.

As you may know, I have a bit of an obsession with stylists. I view stylists as the poets of the interiors world, creating stories and vignettes from the most everyday bits of our lives. Sania is one of my favorites, so I am literally jumping up and down with joy that she is blogging now – hooray!! She’s been blogging for about six months now, so there is plenty of goodness to go back and read – I admit I read the entire archive in one sitting with a few cups of tea. :) Her home is lovely (of course), and I especially love seeking out the special-yet-simple details that might work in my own home. For instance, I love the way she’s placed fairy lights over a simple worn wood panel painted white, above. Beautiful, yes?

One of my favorite projects she shared recently were these driftwood display ideas – including painting on driftwood panels and crafting toys to display. This seems like the perfect goodbye-summer activity: sitting inside crafting and painting on a cool, rainy autumn day, putting all of those beach-combing finds to good use.

She has also done a beautiful job of painting thrifted furniture in lovely, chalky tones so that it all blends seamlessly. And look to any shelf or tabletop in her home and you will gain a mini-lesson in the art of arrangement. Who else could make a single rosemary branch look so artful?

If you would like to incorporate more vintage finds into your home, Sania’s blog is also a great reference and source of inspiration. I know I found myself getting tons of ideas bouncing through my head as I scrolled through the pages.

More simple ideas: a sweet embellished lamp, fabric-wrapped vases, vintage matchboxes as gifts, silver sequins in a glass vase…Don’t you want to try these projects right this very minute? I know I do. Sania has such an artistic soul – isn’t it a joy to watch someone work who is so obviously following their passion in life? If you are as inspired as I am, run over right now and visit Sania Pell at her website + blog, and purchase a copy of her beautiful book, The Homemade Home. xo Laura

(images: Sania Pell; also photographer Penny Wincer for Cico Books)

Related Posts with Thumbnails

{ 4 comments }

← Previous Entries