It's too hot out

All this time in doors....makes me want to redecorate!

Cool blue tones seem like a good idea

Love the idea of a bright and cheery library instead of your typical dark and cozy

Nothing makes you exhale "ahhhh" like an all-white room

A Word Of Wisdom To The Fellas

Dear Readers,
If you're a dude, read on. If you're a gal, cut, paste, and send along to your dude. Thanks!

To My Fellow Man,
I know that you're not crazy about Valentine's Day. I know that you think it's a made up holiday. But guess what? You still have to step up. The fact that you're not into it does not mean that she's not into it.

The good news is that I'm here to help. I've got some vital words of wisdom that can help get you through this holiday looking like a champ. And the best part is, you can do it all right in Inman Park.

Step One: Get Your Gift At Jac.
Valentine's Day isn't special without that beautiful, butcher paper wrapped present from Jac. Preview our jewelry selection here, so you can get an idea of what to buy her before you come in. We've got all of her favorites- just ask Jac, and she'll help you find a winner.

Step Two: Get Your Flowers At Adaptation
The coolest flower shop in town. Stop by for a totally unique arrangement, unlike the bla-bla bunch of roses that everyone else is pushing. Seriously, this is a great opportunity to support a fantastic, independently owned business. In years past I've seen a huge line of guys waiting to buy flowers outside of Whole Foods on Ponce... so if you've been on that line before, step it up and think outside the box. You'll be happy that you did. Click here for more.

Step Three: Get Your Chocolate At Cacao
Complete your Valentine's Day holy trinity at Cacao, Inman Park's new little jewel of a chocolate shop. You'll have her saying "You had me at hello..." before you even say hello (with a box of their scintillating truffles). Click here for more.

Step Four: Buy her a house.
Sandwiched in between Jac, Adaptation and Cacao is my office at Sanctuary Real Estate. You've been thinking about buying her a house for a while... isn't it time you pulled the trigger? Click here to check out my site, or here to read my lovely blog.

Whether you buy her the house, the chocolate, the flowers or the jewelry, make sure you have yourself a sweet time with your sweetie. I know I will. With my sweetie, that is.

Cutlery to fawn over.....

We're no droolers, but this silverware from the Netherlands is delicious!
("Putting Out the Good Silver" by Cygalle Shapiro)
Let's Eat!

If Jac were a house......Sigh....

From Swedish Elle Magazine

We Interrupt Our Program

I just had to post this. Sure, I could show you bad images of the books, clothes and gifts I got in today, but I'd much rather feature this incredible floating mattress hammock. I present to you: Le Beanock!

Thursday's Glass Obsessions

And how is it Thursday already???

Let's start it off with this plate wall found in Living Etc. - it's great inspiration! I love that they are all different but all relate. Something new to hunt for at the flea market!

Also newly obsessed with Glassbabies. These votives come in every color under the sun and basically look so good they could be candy. They even have a glassbaby of the month club! YUM.

Water me. Seriously. These glass liters are adorable, and you get four in a set. Napastyle wins me over again, but I have to say, they picked the most nasty colored liquids to fill them. I think they need a new food stylist....

Last but not least, we have these recycled glass vases found at Anthro. Listen, I am all for found objects, but they are charging $38 to $68 for them - and I have to tell you, I have seen ones as cute as these and even better at the flea market. Sorry kids, it's true. But they are cute, so I gave them a shout-out.

Desperately Seeking Seating

I am still on the hunt for a unique seating piece for our dressing area - it's part of our bedroom but slightly sectioned off and I am tired of sitting on the floor to put on shoes! There's nothing that great (which is why we don't own anything yet), but here are a few that I would actually consider:This ottoman is actually my favorite. What a surprise! It's from Brocade Home.

From Urban Outfitters, this seems like a cheap, easy fit....Cute and simple sofa from Anthropologie

I like this combo from West Elm but I would do it in gray

Back in the Game

Sorry guys. I just couldn't pull it together yesterday.
Anyway, I found this great antique storage unit above at Retrouvius. Me thinks it's rad. Here are some other great storage/shelving options:

More vintage. French Mail boxes or something used as prop at Anthropologie.

Trés cool. Curved book shelving with shelved door. I love that it can be like a secret room! Found at Living Etc.

I love these kitchen shelves. Country but modern. Nice, but I forgot where I pulled it from!

Sprucing Up!

Sometimes you just want to add something new to perk up your apartment or house. Here are few cool ideas/pieces that will enhance your home!Slab wood placemats. Great idea! Literally find a trunk of wood and have it cut into slabs. Brilliant!
Another DIY - Have your dresser words of choice cut and then wood glue them to your dresser. This one is by Wary Meyers.Unique take on a bookshelf. By BlankBlank.This will funktify (thanks Car-) any habitat. Mod looking "Papa Bear Chair" by RESIDE.

Kitchen-AID!

I love our new kitchen. We have a wall of windows. We have a chalkboard. We have pot racks. We have lots of plants. We have great black tile. All in all, we love it! But it's always good to consult other designers (or up and coming ones, B!), magazines and books. Here are just three other kitchens that I think are really inspiring:From Fearon Hay Architects - of course I love the whole chalkboard wall, but I think it super how they put the flat screen on it! Also - black walls: They show extreme confidence, and often glamour. I just think using them in a kitchen is brilliant and beautiful.On a total opposite note, this white kitchen (from Domino Magazine) is warmed up with this gorgeous extra-large fireplace. AH-mazing! (that's for you guys - J & RC!) Also, I am a big fan of the glass cannister collection lining the shelves - it adds a simple, modern twist to the space.Okay, so it's just a corner of a kitchen (found in Real Living), but I just love the use of the Train sign - or whatever it is. I think every room needs to have a surprise element. Yesterday I found a picture of a living room with a Juicy Fruit ad painted on the whole wall. Very cool. Maybe we can paint a bag of oreos up on my bedroom ceiling!

Room Envy

Just going through my stash of rooms I covet and thought I would share:Maybe if my kitchen had looked like this I wouldn't have left New York! Kitchen by Alexander Gorlin.I don't know who and I don't know where, but I just love the romantic ambiance of these twig light fixtures!Now on a side note, we just returned from my grandma-in-law's 100th birthday party. Happy B-day Sadie! Well, she has decided to part with a pair of turquoise Foo Dogs that I have always admired of hers and donate them to us. Then today I saw online a whole posting dedicated to Foo Dogs! Seems that the exact dogs have been convered in Elle Decoration (above) and even House & Garden and House Beautiful (both below) this month! So just thought I would share how hip and cool Sadie is, and how lucky we are! Happy Birthday Sadie!

Back to the House Stuff.....

Back on the interior design beat....I found this rod iron three-seater - perfect for any (or my!) patio...find it at Lucullus Antiques which is located in New Orleans.Well, I have been completely obsessed with this vintage apple buffet/console for months now. I forget which magazine originally covered Jay Jeffers house, but the point is, here it is, isn't it beautiful, and I still love it. Jay Jeffers and his design group are somewhat Jonathan Adler-esque, but not quite as kitschy. Loooooving. Saw these planters on another blog today and think it may be a great addition to our porch....They are from Ikea, and I just love the Danish-like shape of these - so clean cut and fabulous....I can just picture the Creeping Fig hanging down.....

Color Me Happy

Stressing over my paint color choices....I wish I could be brave and just go for it. I love the jewel tones, the sorbets colors, the brights...I love it all. Especially if I can wear it. Painting it on my walls seems a bit more permanent.Instead of walls I could do colorful furniture...but it's a little late for that at this point. We own a lot of chocolate colored pieces. I do better with my color in rugs, paintings and vases.Perhaps I can add it in a backsplash...I love the little tiles!And there's always bedding. I am really into quilts right now.

With A Chair-y on Top!

Was considering the Elfa system so I spent a lot of time at the Container Shop. In th process, I became obsessed with this magenta chair there:So I took a look at Moss to see if they had anything similar:And then I remembered seeing a great chair at Ikea:And my pick from Target:

CoLOr ScHeMATicS

Well, I am stuck on hold trying to change over our utilities....what a freakin nightmare. So in the meantime, I have been staring at the Pantone Fashion Color Chart for Fall 2007. Thanks M for sending it over! I really love some of these colors and they are helping me explore some interesting options for painting our new walls....So then I began to look online for some more colorful inspiration....and I came across Wary Meyers - a team of two that have a great Bohemian sense of style - which I love! So here are just a few images of some of their design skills....I have to get back to my phone call!

Pati-Oh!

So I am eagerly awaiting my new copy of Domino, but I got a little anxious and visited their website....and found a whole report on gardens. Well, it just so happens that we have a small patio/garden area at the back of our new house and so I took a look....I hope that one day maybe our backyard will look as good as this:So of course this got me thinking.....and so the hunt for fantastic garden/patio items began!

Well, first of all, it's important to have many decorative items hidden within the leafy greens - but I have to say, I find gnomes a little creepy...how about the following instead?Striped orbs found at Pier One.

I could mix those up with this spheres at Frontgate. Moss lion from Smith & Hawken.Love this mushroom stool I found at Target.

Lanterns at Pottery Barn.

And now for a punch of color:

Pillows from Anthropologie.