Looking for pretty, inexpensive, brass drawer pulls?
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Furniture image by Paige Lewin. Furniture design by Paige Lewin in collaboration with Bill Jones of Fresh Air Millworks.
Archive for the ‘Interiors’ Category
Great Brass Drawer Pulls
Posted in Décor, Furniture, Inspiration, Interiors, Reinvent It, Shop It, Styling, What Do You Want to Change?, What Do You Want To Do? on April 1, 2013| Leave a Comment »
10-Minute Styling: Mantel
Posted in Art, Décor, Inspiration, Interiors, Reinvent It, Styling, What Do You Want to Change?, What Do You Want To Do? on March 29, 2013| Leave a Comment »
On the way to a friend’s house this morning, I received an urgent text from her.
“I have a mantel that needs editing. HELP!”
She was right.
I understand why my friend had a challenging time styling the mantel since it’s very shallow and quite long.
The fishing pole, particularly special to her angler husband, wasn’t going anywhere.
It’s hard to see, but the round vase is a total showstopper. It has these beautiful abstract horses all over it, perfect for my friend who spends a few evenings each week riding, so I knew that needed to stay. Front and center.
I cleared everything off and we went hunting around her house using the vase as a launching point. When we came back and assessed the options, I found that there was nice collection of pottery and wooden objects.
Using the vase as the focal point, I created groupings that followed the line of the pole. I weighted the center, and left the right side of the asymmetrical mantel empty, letting it sort of recede visually.
Not bad for 10 minutes and zero dollars.
Do you have a 10-minute, use-what-you’ve-got styling that you want to share? Send images to mudroomboston@gmail.com and you might be featured in an upcoming 10-Minute Styling post!
My Favorite Blues
Posted in Color, Inspiration, Interiors, Reinvent It, Shop It, Walls, What Do You Want to Change?, What Do You Want To Do? on March 28, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Who doesn’t love blue? Not me, that’s for sure. I think I’ve had at least one blue room in every house in which I’ve lived and loved every single one. Contrary to conventional color theory, not all blues are soothing, as is the case with one of my favorite paint colors — Benjamin Moore’s Peacock Blue. I used it in a dining room, and it hardly put my dinner guests to sleep. See?
Right? No sleeping allowed in those funny paper hats.
You can’t go wrong with blue walls, but you can choose the wrong blue paint. The six blues below — my Ain’t-Got-No-Blues Blues — seem to work for me every time.
Do you love blue, and if so, what’s your favorite shade?
All images by Paige Lewin. Dinner guests include isabelka and A Philosopher Who Practices Architecture. All paint colors by Ben Moore, natch.
Vintage Hobnail Glasses
Posted in Interiors, Reinvent It, Shop It, Tabletop on March 26, 2013| 4 Comments »
Last week, I spent a few days with my mom at her home in North Carolina. Although I didn’t grow up there, it seemed that every time I opened a closet or cabinet, some object behind the door reminded me of my childhood. These great hobnail goblets — my grandmother’s originally — were such objects.
I have loved these goblets for as long as I can remember, sparkly and fancy, filled with memories of my mom’s unsweetened iced tea with two lemons. In fact, if you were to say the word “goblet” to me (does anyone even say goblet anymore?), these glasses are what would spring to mind. When I became old enough to use such fancy glassware — twelve, maybe — I drank my milk out them each night at dinner. And even when I came home for breaks during college, they were the first glasses I reached for when I wanted to throw back an iced Coke with a bag of chips while watching a 90210 marathon (ah, youth).
Lucky for me, my mom decided that she’d had enough years enjoying the glasses and sent them home with me this time. Now I’m hoping my boys love them as much as I do.
So, dear readers, is there tableware from your childhood that conjures up memories for you? And have you gotten to hold on to some pieces for your generation or the next?
All images by Paige Lewin. For similar hobnail lovelies, visit Etsy or ebay.
SHOP FOR A CAUSE! Macy’s + March of Dimes
Posted in Art, Décor, Floors, Furniture, Inside the Mudroom, Inspiration, Interiors, Kids' Stuff, Lighting, Linens, Organization, Outside, Shop It, Tabletop, Walls, What Do You Want to Change?, What Do You Want To Do?, Windows on August 22, 2012| Leave a Comment »
As a mother of two who has dedicated nearly my entire professional life to aligning large organizations with causes, I am excited to be a part of Macy’s Shop for a Cause fundraiser supporting the March of Dimes!
Did you know that the March of Dimes was established in 1938 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, inspired by his own battle with polio? In fact, March of Dimes funded research for vaccines developed by Dr. Jonas Salk and Dr. Albert Sabin — the vaccines that ended childhood polio. In 1958, having addressed its primary mission to end the polio epidemic, the March of Dimes shifted its focus toward birth defect prevention. Today, the organization is focused on preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality, as well as advancing maternal and health research. For those of you who have had babies in the last decade or so, you’re probably well aware of both their folic acid and prematurity awareness campaigns, both of which have worked toward healthy, full-term pregnancies for all women.
Now’s your chance to support March of Dimes and get up to 25% off your purchases at Macy’s — all for $5.
Simply buy a $5 Macy’s saving pass that will provide 25% off on regular, sale & clearance items, including home items (please note that you will receive 10% off electronics, watches, furniture, mattresses, rugs/floor coverings), and Macy’s will donate 100% of the $5 cost of the savings pass to the March of Dimes to help give more babies a healthy start in life.
So you want to know the details?
From now until August 25: buy passes in-store (good for in-store purchases only)
August 25 only: buy a $5 savings pass online at macys.com (good for online purchases only)
SHOP, SHOP, SHOP on August 25! Use your passes online or in stores (depending on where you bought them). Two stores in Massachusetts will hold Shop for a Cause on Friday, August 24 AND Saturday, August 25 — Boston (450 Washington Street, Boston) and Berkshire (170 Old State Road, Lanesboro). So if you want to get shopping early, you can go on August 24 to either of these two stores, buy a pass, and shop.
Want to see my Shop for a Cause wish list?
Gold is having a moment throughout the house, and I’m LOVING this Marchesa by Lenox hostess set!
The shape, shade, and color of this table lamp from Pacific Coast are perfect.
My husband and I were given a single glass cake stand for our wedding 12 years ago, but I could find many uses for this one from The Cellar collection. Great for displaying baked goods or using as a tiered centerpiece filled with fruit and flowers.
Add texture to your living room with these faux bois vinyl coasters from Chilewich. (psst – they’re a bargain closeout!)
These Sandpiper tidbit plates from Kate Spade would be a great hostess gift, or framed out in shadow boxes and hung on the wall.
On a trip to Atlanta last year, I fell in love with a natural fiber cocktail table, but decided against it because the shape didn’t work with our sectional. This cocktail table is perfect!
With two boys and a mountain biking-husband, I use indoor/outdoor rugs throughout our home. This runner from Couristan is a beauty! (Please note that rugs are excluded from Shop for a Cause online purchasing, but are eligible for the discount in-store!)
Inspired? Purchase your pass, help babies, and get shopping!
Image credit: all images from macys.com
Complete details about Macy’s Shop for a Cause fundraiser can be found here.
This post (+ my sharing on social media) was inspired by my participation in a compensated program initiated by Women Online/The Mission List to raise awareness about the March of Dimes/Macy’s charitable fundraiser. All commentary, opinions, and fabulous finds are, of course, my own.
Madcap Cottage: A Visual Antidepressant
Posted in Inspiration, Interiors, Reinvent It, What Do You Want To Do? on May 11, 2012| 1 Comment »
It is cold, rainy, and desperately depressing here in Boston right now.
After a spring-tease in April, we’ve been treated to nearly nothing but clouds since May started.
Out went the kelly green shorts, coral blouses and peep-toe espadrilles from three weeks ago. Back in came the black cashmere and boots of fall.
And I am SO over fall clothes.
I didn’t think anything could jolt me out of my precipitation-induced coma, until I saw the designs of Madcap Cottage today.
Have you seen? They’re like visual antidepressants.
Candy colors! Stripes! Florals!
John Loecke and Jason Oliver Nixon, the talents behind Madcap Cottage, might as well have their M.D.s, ’cause I feel a whole lot better after an hour in their world.
Image credits: Madcap Cottage
Leslie Graff: Artist, Mother, and More.
Posted in Art, Fashion, Inspiration, Interiors, Kids' Stuff, Shop It, Walls, What Do You Want to Change?, What Do You Want To Do? on October 6, 2011| 1 Comment »
When I first heard about Boston-based artist Leslie Graff from Design Mom, I instantly fell in love with her work. Tuesday night, while at Pivot Boston (an amazing event that brought together women who want to make or have made a change in their careers that bring them more joy/fulfillment/peace of mind/etc.), I squealed a little when I realized she was a panelist (actually it was more of loud WOOT! followed by a burst of clapping). After hearing her speak about the journey to her “pivot,” owning an original Leslie Graff shot to the top of my wish list.
I’m particularly fond of Leslie’s Domestic Series, a collection of paintings that features an unidentified woman (turns out they’re self-portraits) in fabulous heels running her household and raising her children. While the scenes could be straight out of the 50s or 60s, the clothes are just modern and sexy enough that I feel like Leslie has captured today’s working mom and honored her in acrylic.
Learn more about Leslie’s background, see her portfolio, and buy her notecards and prints here.
Image credits: Leslie painting from her blog Smart Mama; “Ironing it out” notecard from the Pivot Boston goodie bag
Currently Coveting
Posted in Art, Décor, Floors, Furniture, Interiors, Lighting, Shop It, Tabletop, Walls on February 7, 2011| 2 Comments »
I know it’s a sin, but I’m just not that religious. Here’s what I’m coveting for my home this month…how about you?
Casually elegant stemware that can serve up milk or mimosas equally well,
simply beautiful turned wood lamps,
Michael A. Palmer’s view of the world,
and perfect flatware for parties, picnics or pasta.
Image credits: Hartland Stemware, Simon Pearce; Fish Design Rug, Landry & Arcari, White Turned Table Lamp, Hudson; ch24 Wishbone Chair, Hive Modern; Boat House by Michael A. Palmer, Van Ward Gallery; Seaborne Flatware, Anthropologie
DIY Paint Can Lights
Posted in Décor, Inside the Mudroom, Interiors, Kids' Stuff, Lighting, Make It, Reinvent It, Shop It on February 2, 2011| 2 Comments »
And while we’re on the subject of new lighting…
This image, from the Style At Home booth at the Interior Design Show in Toronto, has been floating around the web for the past couple of days. The painted floor is amazing, as is the fabulous bright springy styling — a sign of things to come for those of us being socked by winter weather right now. But what’s really terrific is the use of paint cans as lighting fixtures.
It reminded me that I had recently snapped an equally cool use of paint cans as light fixtures…except this one was a little less sleek.
Just as inventive though, don’t you think?
These fixtures — using brand new paint cans or well-worn ones or any other vessel entirely — are super-easy to make on your own. All you need is the object of your choice and one of these:
And if you want to hardwire it rather than plugging it in and hanging it from a hook, pick up one of these:
Have you ever created your own lighting? Pendant? Chandelier? Lamp? Please share!
Image credits: Re-nest (originally from Poppytalk, similar image can also be seen on Aubrey+Lindsay’s Blog); Paige Lewin; West Elm Pendant Cord Set; West Elm Industrial Pendant Conversion Kit
Catalog Living
Posted in Art, Décor, Floors, Furniture, Inside the Mudroom, Interiors, Kids' Stuff, Organization, Outside, Reinvent It, Shop It, Tabletop, Walls, Windows on January 28, 2011| 2 Comments »
Logic quiz:
Poor self-image is to fashion magazines as WHAT is to home decor catalogs?
I don’t know either, but sometimes I feel like I have it, whatever IT is. Occasionally I get sort of taken over by staging my house…rolling up the throw blankets and storing them just-so in a gorgeous basket (you’re cold? grab one of these!), propping the white ceramic fish platter in a plate holder on my kitchen counter (look, it’s art!), stacking up a pretty set of books by my bedside (who has time to read?). Maybe it’s some form of OCD, or maybe it comes from buying and selling multiple houses in the past five years (never know when you’re gonna have to put it on the market!), but I suspect that some of the obsession comes from looking through too many home design catalogs and shelter pubs.
Luckily, my little brother pointed me to a hilarious site that reminds me how idiotic some of those scenes from Pottery Barn (and others) are. Catalog Living follows the fictional life of Gary and Elaine, the passive-aggressive, accessory-obsessed couple who live in your catalogs. Created by actor and Tufts graduate Molly Erdman, Catalog Living now serves as my daily reminder that I shouldn’t worry if my throws aren’t just-so.
{But really, a little staging never hurt anyone.}
Image credit: Catalog Living, January 20, 2011
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