Chesterfield Sofa

HAPPY 2011 everybody! I hope you were all able to ring in the new year with family, friends, and lots of fun! We went to a minute-to-win-it party again this year- and it is ALWAYS a good time! (and a double bounus that we didnt have either kid with us!)

Lately I have been both busy and lacking inspiration, so today I am posting in response to a friends question. She recently bought a beautiful new house, and they have this living room/front room that she needs help with. She has bought two beautiful chesterfield sofas that right now are facing eachother pushed all the way against the walls. There is probably about 7-8 feet between the sofas. A catch to the room...the far wall has double doors to go out to the outdoor patio/fireplace space and it gets used quite a bit. So there must be a flow to the room.

A couple of options:

1. Place a console behind the sofa poushed back to the front window....this will create interest to the room and depth as well as functionality (surface area for drinks). I would put two lamps, picture frames, books or other fun design elements.

2. Instead of one big coffee table, which will blog the flow to the outside, split them up. Two square table off balanced would be functional as well as stylish. I'm thinking nothing too heavy. Simple thin legs and either a thin wooden top or glass.

3. The high arms present a bit of an akward dilemna with side tables. If you have a really large space with tall ceilings, you could be creative and use something like a wine barrell or stool that will match the height of the arms (or close to it). Otherwise, you might not really need a side table. Fill the space with something else, like a cool magazine rack, a floor lamps, a basket of blankets (since it's right by the outdoor patio space).

4. It would be great to 'bring the outdoors in' in this space and play with different materials- wood, linen, metals, etc. I also love the garen (Palmers) stools. In the entryway corner, my friend is going to put a chair, so next to the chair it would be perfect to have one of these stools as a side table....or next to one of the sofas.

5. Definitely a big beautiful rug with a pattern to tie the space in.

I'm excited to see the space finished. Here are a few more inspiring pics related to these types of ideas. Enjoy!

Last Minute Gifts

Just a few days to go until Christmas, and if you are like me, no matter how prepared you try to be, there is always SOMEBODY you still need to buy a gift for. I usually go for practical gifts that people will use or need, so this year I have been trying really hard to think our of the box this year and give something fun. Here are a few things I've stumbled upon to help you brainstorm some last minute gift ideas.....

For those living in rain in the winter like myself:

Hunter Wellies

Burke Decor carries these industrial and whimsical ABC coasters:

Thomas Paul glasses case....only $15

For all you letter writers out there.... A Wax Seal from Katrina Alana

Book and Design Lovers: American Fashion Designers At Home

For the Green-lover:

Water Carafe made from recycled glass

For Him:

what would a list be without the I-Pad?

Kiehls Ultimate Man Collection
I feel like I could go on, but my 3 year old rerally wants to play games on the computer, and I've got some more shopping to do!

Decorating with Tiffany Blue

I was browing Canada's Style At Home website and found this fresh and beautiful Christmas inspiration photo.




I love the deterant from typical a Christmas color scheme: reds, whites, greens and golds. Tiffany blue, silver and white are the perfect combination for modernity, class and sparkle to add that special "Christmas Magic" (as my niece calls it).



Here are a few more WHITE inspired Christmas trees:

What Holiday color scheme are you into these days?

Stocking Round-up

We are heading out of town next week to go to my parents home for 10 days at Thanksgiving....I couldn't be more excited! I just love being on the East Coast during the holiday season. Then we will be back in Berkeley for about 2 weeks, then off to Southern California for up to a month :) I'm telling you all this so that you can understand why I am going to start decorating for Christmas next week. Christmas has my favorite holiday decorations, and I just love making my home feel like a magical wonderland! I even started listening to Christmas music. Normally I have a rule (and my husband has the rule for me) no Christmas music and no decorations until after Thanksgiving. But with all of our traveling on the horizon, I want to squeeze out every ounce of this holiday season.

So today, I want to do a Christmas stocking round-up. I love Christmas stockings and love fireplaces and mantles to hang them on. We had a fireplace in our first apartment, but never since. So here's to Santa's chimney :)

Ballard Designs

horchow

MacKenzie-Childs

Bloomingdales ...reminds me of my childhood

Pottery Barn

My Living Room

Living in student housing is definitely not the most glamorous place to live! Not to mention living on a student budget. But, it is my home. So over the next few posts, I am going to share some of that space with you. Today I'm presenting my family room. It's where we hang out the most. We were going to get ride of the love seat and add a chair....but we found that we really use that extra seating. That'll be one of the first projects once my husband completes his MBA and we move into a new place. This room is filled with simple modern design, bold and graphic patterns, personal photos, kid-friendly space and items, all with a touch of glam.

We have had the sofas and side table pretty much since we were first married. Other things in the room have been rotated in and out.

I have been slowly fading out of browns and warm colors, and into black and white and yellow. The lamp was from Z gallerie and was originally bronze with a brown shade. I spray painted the base in a high-gloss white, added some inexpensive white fabric and black ribbon for trim.

The rug and throw are from Ikea. My friend helped me make the chevron pillow and thomas paul canary pillow ( I bought the fabric but am still lacking a sewing machine). The black and white pillow I bought off etsy.

My amazingly talented brother in law made the painting for me one year as a Christmas present....and it is pretty much the inspiration for the room. The butterfly print is from etsy.

As always, it is a work in progress :)

Rustic Charm

With it being November (where has the time gone?!?) I am really feeling the coziness of the season. I am currently loving all things rustic, warm and nature-inspired...think Ralph Lauren, Restoration Hardware, vintage finds, worn leather chairs.... This doesn't necessarily mean turning your home into a log cabin (although I wouldn't mind being holed up in one for a bit); You can add rustic elements to your current living scheme or just be inspired by these beauties. Enjoy!

Ikea

We all have a love/hate relationship with Ikea. While the products are not meant for longevity, they are stylish, affordable, and work great in a pinch. I went the other day to get a few random things for my home, and had to snap some pictures of some noteworthy products and displays.

Love this room...love that clock bookshelf! I'm always looking for new places to store/display books! Love the pops of color and of course love the rug (since I have it!)

This is not typical Ikea style....it looks more expensive and traditional. I'm digging it though...love the persian-style rug and the library feel.

Love this glass front cabinet and the neutral color....sort of a muddy grey. They have it in other colors as well.