May 23, 2012 0

ICFF 2012

By in Furniture, Roundup, Trends, Want

The ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) and the NSS (National Stationery Show) are my favorite trade-shows/fairs. I had the opportunity to attend the show again this year (see last year’s post) and really enjoyed it. Although ICFF is typically a showcase for new and upcoming trends, I was really happy to see existing trends like bright colors, geometric shapes, walnut, and brass still growing strong; I am not even close to being tired of any of them. Copper made a strong showing this year on everything from table bases to tiffins. Get ready to see tons of it popping up everywhere in the next year.

I snapped a few pictures of my show favorites to share with you, take a look!


[Debra Folz Design Studio | Søren Rose Studio]


[Jonathan Adler]


[Bend]


[Areaware]


[Slade Architecture]



[Blu Dot]


[Lindsey Adelman Studio]

I want all of these things in my home, don’t you?

May 15, 2012 7

Dining Room

By in Apartment, Furniture

For a long time, our dining room went largely unused. It was an empty room with only one little boring rug. We ate our meals in the living room on the coffee table in front of the television like true Americans.

But we wanted to be better. I hunted Craiglist and all the usual thrift and consignment stores, searching for that elusive Danish Modern set I was sure I would find. And really, the selection out there is pretty good if you’ve got an extra $1,000 burning a hole in your pocket. Anyone? Anyone?

Then I found this:

For $80. I know. So it isn’t Danish and it’s not that Kent Coffey set it might pretend to be at a distance. And the table isn’t great, it has a laminate top and the legs are uggo. But c’mon. It looks good.

You may have noticed that gorgeous kilim hanging out under the table. In fact, you may not have been able to look at the dining set, completely distracted by Turkish woven beauty.

It was my first eBay purchase in a long time and I couldn’t be happier. I had hoped to find something wider but am perfectly happy with how well it works in the room. I love the border most of all – bright triangles on black, like colorful farfalle dancing around us while we eat.

The dining room has become my favorite place in the apartment. Andy and I feel like real grown-ups now, sitting down to dinner at our table, talking about how our days went with Penelope curled up at our feet.

May 1, 2012 2

Patience and Coats

By in Apartment

I don’t really like coat racks. There’s something about coats hanging out in the open in an entryway that makes me uncomfortable. It’s a type of clutter I don’t know how to deal with, unlike books or vases or vintage knick-knackery. I have, however, remained open to the idea of open-air coat hanging, pending the selection of the perfect rack.

And so, for the nearly three years I’ve lived in this apartment, coats have been hung in closets (occasionally) or piled on chairs (all of the time.) When Marne lived here with me, she begged for a coat rack. When Andy moved in, he begged for a coat rack. But I said no. No, because I hadn’t found the perfect one yet. You may wonder how a mess of coats piled on a chair was acceptable to someone so concerned with coat clutter or maybe how such a person could find such patient roommates: denial and charm.

What I’ve really wanted all along was the limited edition Eames Hang-it-All. I love the classic design, all grown up with black metal and walnut. But at around $250, it was always just too much.
And then, like magic, after years of waiting, Morgan of The Brick House saved the day. I read her post about her Hang-it-All knock-off and immediately clicked over to Simply Benches and ordered one of my very own for $99.

It’s here and it’s fabulous and I don’t even feel bad about buying a knock-off because Morgan did it first. I’m such a fan girl.

April 28, 2012 9

It’s a Hit

By in Trends, Vanity

This month, my little Dipped SVALBO table became super popular on Pinterest (so many pins!). Thanks to everyone who pinned and repinned and repinned!

And this week, my table was featured on Apartment Therapy (!!!) in a post about the dipped furniture trend. This brings me one step closer to my one of my life goals: having my very own house tour on Apartment Therapy.

I’m extremely honored that my table has also been featured on Centsational Girl, Miss Moss, and The Huffington Post’s Stylelist Home. I’m 100% living the ‘new phonebook’ scene from The Jerk.

So to everyone who has stumbled upon my little blog one way or another, welcome! I’m so glad you’re here.

April 16, 2012 7

Nails: Facets, Colorblock, & Clouds

By in Nails, Trends

My nail art abilities have progressed since my last nails post. If you follow me on Instagram (you do, don’t you?) then you see me showin’ off my manis all the time. I’m in the habit of painting my nails at least once a week, usually twice, and sometimes thrice. And yes, it takes forever. But like all things meticulous, it soothes me.

My favorite nail blog is Nailside. I can’t get over her Abstract 80s nails, frequently repeat her Freehand Clouds look, and am still perfecting her Explosion Mani.

Do you have a favorite nail blog? Please share!

April 13, 2012 5

Sofa Craving

By in Furniture, I'm Obsessed, Roundup, Want

I want a grown-up fancy sofa. I want a tufted sofa with nice legs. What kind of sofa do I have now? A tufted sofa with nice legs, of course (you can see it here). I need a new sofa as much as I need to buy another chair that can’t be sat in because it needs new cushions or needs to be totally re-glued. I want. I don’t need.

But I can look, right?

1) CB2‘s Avec Tweed Sofa caught my eye in the most recent catalog. I love the tweedy grey upholstery but the more I look at this sofa, it feels unbalanced and top heavy. It looks like it’s going to wake up and talk to me like Pee-Wee’s talking chair.

2) I’ve been a fan of the Reese Sofa from Room & Board for awhile. The Tatum fabric is my favorite, a wonderful red/pink micro-boucle that doesn’t come across as too feminine.

3) West Elm‘s take on the classic Chesterfield, the Chester, looks completely amazing in deep turquoise Lagoon. It’s my favorite and it’s totally gorgeous. But would it be comfortable? I need to meet this sofa in person. Dear West Elm, please come to Pittsburgh. Pottery Barn is already here. And tell Crate and Barrel to invite CB2.

4) And then there’s the Atwood Sofa from Gus Modern. So dreamy, so handsome. Look. At. That. Base. Walnut perfection. This is my second favorite, all dressed up in Urban Tweed with all those stately tufts. I wanna be friends with it.

What’s your dream sofa?

March 22, 2012 7

Tell Me About Your Dress

By in Fashion, I have an opinion, Wedding

The thing about being an engaged woman who’s set a date for her wedding is that everyone wants to hear about your dress. They say things like “SO, tell me about the dress,” and “What does your dress look like?”, and “I can’t wait to hear about your dress!” These inquiries started rolling at me the week after I got engaged. Since September, I’ve been telling all interested parties that no, I don’t have my dress yet, and I’m really not that worried about it.

For the first few months, this was an acceptable answer. But here we are, just under 6 months until the wedding (holy. shit.) and I don’t have a dress. I really wasn’t worried about it. And I don’t think I would have been if not for the looks of terror, shock, and panic that wash over the faces of each and every dress-asker-abouter. “Oh no! Aren’t you worried?” they all ask, having done the math in their heads. Ok, guys. You’ve worn me down, I’m worrying.

I wasn’t in a hurry to find a dress for several reasons: I have no intention of setting foot inside a bridal boutique, I’m not looking for a gown, I’m not spending more than $500 or $600 dollars, and most importantly, I have no idea what size I’ll be in September.

Under pressure, I’ve started looking. I’ve known what kind of dress I want all along but what I want is hard to find. I’ve amassed a small list of wedding dress criteria: not stark white, has a bit of a sleeve, not more than 50% lace, knee length, less than $600, preferably belted. Basically I want something that looks a bit like these:

wedding dresses

1.) This dress by Orla Kiely is perfection. It meets all of my criteria. However, it is last year’s dress and it’s sold out and no longer available.

2.) I love the neckline on this vintage dress from DearGolden. It would be lovely in a pale gold or champagne.

3.) Another beautiful dress from DearGolden. If I could have someone remake this one for me in a wedding-appropriate hue, everything would be perfect.

4.) I saw this Honor dress in the Spring 2012 Martha Stewart Weddings. It’s $7,600. I don’t like it as much as I thought I did.

Even though I still haven’t picked a caterer, I feel like I need to at least have a lead on a dress. So please, if you’re holding on to some great secret about where they keep all the good wedding dresses, please, please, share.

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