Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Design Notebook: Cherry Blossoms and Empty Walls

I've got a couple of lonely, empty walls that line the staircase of Our Peach.

[caption id="attachment_536" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="My Empty Walls"][/caption]

I just haven't quite figured out what I'd like to dress them with. I've thought of framed art work mixed in with some framed photographs of us and family and friends. I've thought of painting them, but am not quite convinced of a color that will complement the palette we already have. And then I saw this lovely idea from a Young House Love House Crashing post:

[caption id="attachment_535" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Cherry Blossom Mural From Young House Love"][/caption]

Beautiful, eh? And what perfect timing of my find because this past weekend was the official launch of the National Cherry Blossom Festival here in Washington, DC.  The 2010 Cherry Blossom Festival began on March 27 and will run through April 11.  It is an annual celebration of spring in our Nation's Capital.  Thanks to the Japanese, who gave us the beautiful cherry blossom trees that now adorn the Tidal Basin by the Potomac River.

And fantastically, I found other similar ideas of cherry blossom walls.  Looks like I can get a wall decal or "wall tattoo" to place on my walls, just got to find the right one....

[caption id="attachment_539" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="From Uncommon Accents"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_540" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="From IR Korea Deco"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_538" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="From Single Stone Studios"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_542" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="From Red River Interiors"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_544" align="aligncenter" width="261" caption="From Surface Collective"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_545" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="From This Next"][/caption]

And to convince the Hubby of this brilliant idea!

Potential sources for wall decals: Dali Decals, Surface Collective

Friday, March 26, 2010

Dreaming of Del Ray

Del Ray is a quaint little community in Alexandria, Virginia and home to treasure spots like Evening Star Cafe (modern American cuisine), The Dairy Godmother (frozen custard and nostalgic treats),  La Strada (Italian wine and dine), and of course St. Elmo's (coffee and pub).  Del Ray is bounded Braddock Road on the south, Russell Road on the west, East and West Glebe Roads on the north, and Jefferson Davis Highway on the east.  It's main avenue is Mount Vernon.  Hubby and I discovered Del Ray when we were living in South Arlington when we first moved to the DC area in 2003.  We've always enjoyed the neighborhood and have it at the top of our future move-to list.  It is inevitable that the Hubby and I will have to someday leave Our Beloved Peach.  It's a great starter home, but we will at some point be hunting for a home that we can have a family in.  I absolutely love neighborhoods that have a walking community...and Del Ray is certainly that.  I also love that a many of the homes in Del Ray have front porches and large backyards.  So, today, I was dreaming of Del Ray and found these beautiful homes.  Someday....I hope to have one like these...

[caption id="attachment_523" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="I love the vibrant eggplant color and the detail on the trims."][/caption]





[caption id="attachment_522" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Looks so cheerful and cozy at the same time."][/caption]




[caption id="attachment_521" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Beautiful landscaping, and the bungalow style is always a favorite."][/caption]




[caption id="attachment_524" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Love the farmhouse style; this might just be my favorite yet."][/caption]


*All images from Jen Walker.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Color Pairings: Spring Green

Thinking green today.  Wonder why?  Happy St. Patty's Day!  So you should be wearing green or else you might get pinched! Did you know that St. Patrick was originally associated with the color blue? But then he started using the three-leaf shamrock as a way to teach to the Holy Trinity (i.e., Father, Son, Holy Spirit) to the pre-Catholic Irish. After that, it was spring green for St. Pat. So today at Design Palate, we are celebrating green. Religious or not, for those with a passion for design and St. Patrick's Day -- these green decor inspirations are for you!

Create a cozy corner nook with heavy lighter olive green drapes offsetting lime green walls. Soften the palette with a jute rug and pink flowers:

[caption id="attachment_488" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="From Better Homes and Gardens"][/caption]

For a little glam, mix gold and green. Use visual texture to create interest:

[caption id="attachment_493" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="From the Desk of Annie"][/caption]

For a comfortable feel, a light sea green against white:

[caption id="attachment_497" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="From Country Living"][/caption]

Perfect for the coast....complementary to ocean blue -- light browns, reds, and greens:

[caption id="attachment_496" align="aligncenter" width="375" caption="From Completely Coastal"][/caption]

Bring the outside in, mix in wood with green:

[caption id="attachment_499" align="aligncenter" width="420" caption="From DecorGreen"][/caption]

Cottage chic--pinks and greens:

[caption id="attachment_511" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="From Blissfully Domestic"][/caption]

And finally, for a modern touch--blend citrus green with black/grey hues:

[caption id="attachment_506" align="aligncenter" width="325" caption="From Good Housekeeping"][/caption]

Monday, March 15, 2010

A Little Something Tweet

When I was a little girl, we had about 10 or so differently colored lovebirds. Okay - that may be exaggerating...though it seemed like we had a lot. I was only about 5 years old, but I remember how I loved watching them in their cage just hanging out, mostly. I still remember the cage. It was a white, palatial-like cage...beautiful with all the colorful lovebirds in it. I haven't thought about that for a long time. My mother loved loves birds! She often has a bird feeder out on her porch, deck, by the kitchen window (she moves around a lot). Wherever she is, she's got one. I'm not sure that I'm a bird-pet person. But I do enjoy listening to them chirping outside of my window signaling spring time.

Maybe it's my childhood lovebird memories or my mom's love for birds having influenced me, but I've somehow found a way to bring them into my home--well, bird prints anyway (one step at a time, you know!). And I never thought I'd develop a taste for bird prints. But I somehow find myself absolutely adoring them.  There's just something very peaceful and soothing about them for me.  I'd put up as many as I could, if the Hubby would let me! Well, maybe not that much....and he did allow for a few....

[caption id="attachment_478" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="not so much a bird print, but i though i'd share this bird ornament with you anyway!"][/caption]




[caption id="attachment_480" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="gracing my upstairs hallway. beautiful, isn't it? i got two!"][/caption]




[caption id="attachment_479" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="my most recent additions -- from the national gallery of art. had the three prints custom framed. a delight in my home office."][/caption]


So what sparked all this?  Well, I stumbled upon a lovely Etsy shop owner, Geninne, who had a number of lovely bird prints that were just too sweet not to share with you!  Here are a few of my favorites....




[caption id="attachment_469" align="aligncenter" width="430" caption="Lotus by Geninne"][/caption]




[caption id="attachment_472" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="White Flowers by Geninne"][/caption]




[caption id="attachment_473" align="aligncenter" width="375" caption="Bird No. 32 by Geninne"][/caption]




[caption id="attachment_471" align="aligncenter" width="430" caption="Five Sparrows by Geninne"][/caption]




[caption id="attachment_470" align="aligncenter" width="430" caption="Three Little Birds by Geninne"][/caption]

Friday, March 12, 2010

Recipe Redo: How to Reupholster a Chair

Want to turn something like this...



Into this?



Then, watch this!






Oh, I guess -- the video doesn't address how to re-paint a chair. Before you re-attach the seat to the chair frame, here are some quicky re-painting steps:

1. Sand it.
2. Spray paint it with the desired color -- make sure you get the glossy finish or else the imperfections will show through. A couple of coats should do. Remember to spray 6 inches or so away from the chair in a controlled left to right/right to left movement. Be sure to fully cover the areas you want to paint, but try not to go over areas you've done more than a couple of times otherwise the paint will start to run and that's not gonna be pretty. If the paint starts to run, you can use a paint brush to try and blend it all in, but the look won't be uniform throughout the chair, unless you use the paint brush throughout. So, to keep your sanity just try to avoid running the paint altogether! (Believe me on this!)
3. Let it dry.
4. Screw back in the seat onto the chair frame.
5. Enjoy it!

PS. For less fumy, non-toxic, and more environmentally-friendly spray paints look for paints with zero to low [e.g., lower than 150 grams per liter (gm/liter)] Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Avoid paints that contain toxic elements like Toluene, Ammonia, Phthalates, Heavy Metals, and Glycol esters. I wish I had known about this information before buying my spray paint. It's hard to find spray paints that are eco-friendly and non-toxic. After a little bit of research, I just found the Krylon H2O Latex spray paint as one option. For wall paints and stains, there is Safecoat. Does anyone know of other brands? Please do share with us, if so.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Period Piece: Art Nouveau

I'm taking this intro to interior design class at the Corcoran, and it has been an absolute great joy of my week since it started in January! It has been wonderful to learn something new and completely different from what I do for my day job. One of my assignments for the class was to research a design era. I chose Art Nouveau. I knew nothing about it and chose it because it sounded rebellious -- a new way of thinking. Well, it was indeed. The Art Nouveau movement started in the late 1800s and had an unfortunate short life -- cut short by the First World War. It was a movement born in France (of course, a known trendsetter) and was spurred by artists who desired to break free from the structured hierarchy in the art world that placed fine art on a pedestal and left decorative arts biting the dust. They wanted to make art functional and functional pieces works of art. The Art Nouveau style looked to nature for inspiration--very similar to the Arts and Crafts movement, which was also taking place around the same time. Art Nouveau also was a reflection on modernity. The late 1800s, after all, was a time of great change and innovation. The light bulb, typewriter, and automobile were transforming how people lived, interacted, communicated. I found some images that reflected the elements of Art Nouveau style to share with you.

[caption id="attachment_436" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The sensousness of a woman's figure was always a subject for artists. Capturing the female form in Art Nouveau style also provided imagery for erotic theater and pulp pornography. Check out the absinthe ad (middle picture)."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_437" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="A distinctive element of Art Nouveau, often found as iron works or in stain glass like images above. This motif reflects the movement of...you guessed it...a whip. Or some sources refer to roots."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_447" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Art Nouveau breaks away from the linear as well as symmetrical."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_446" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Marquetry is the process of making a picture or patter out of different colors of wood. "][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_445" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Look familiar? One of these (the lamp) is the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany -- yes the founder of Tiffany Jewelry and everything else gorgeous (and expensive). He mastered the use of structuring stained glass on metal. Beautiful, isn't it?"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_444" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="If you look closely, these lamps embody Art Nouveau style..using nature-inspired figures...like a lily pad or frogs."][/caption]

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Tasty Decor: Cleveland Park Studio Updo

A couple of weeks back, I mentioned that a good friend of mine was moving into her first ever solo studio apartment in lovely Cleveland Park in the NW quad of DC.  She asked for ideas from yours truly for a"very urban, very playful" look.  Now, I haven't actually seen the space (yet).  But she did give me some places to start.  She's got a 500 square foot space to work with and wanted to paint one wall hot pink.  I don't know why, but I immediately thought of Dorothy Draper -- the boldest, most amazing interior designer in history (okay -- my history, but who could argue with that??)!  Unable to contain my excitement for this fantastic project, I went straight to work and gathered some design inspirations, which I talked about here and here.

Earlier today, my friend showed me a Picasso that she absolutely adored and couldn't wait to put up in the entryway of her studio.  Now, I had something to start with.  I used the Picasso as the foci of my decor research, and while channeling the Dorothy Draper Effect came up with these (below) set of items for her to consider:  (Now, keep in mind, I haven't seen the space!)


To put it all together:

1. The Dream, by Pablo Picasso -- the room's primary inspiration. I would suggest pairing it with a black contemporary frame.

2. Since she wants to paint one small wall a hot pink shade (and I would suggest on the redder side of hot pink...perhaps a bolder fuschia to balance the Picasso), I would suggest complementing that wall by putting this gorgeous grey/white wallpaper on an adjacent wall or the wall that defines the living space. The grey/white combination will balance the black/white mix of the furniture and rug. And this exudes a little Dorothy Draper for its natural elements print and the visual texture it gives to the room.

3 and 4. To define the living space, I found a this love seat and chair that give out an urban, contemporary feel. I would paint the love seat legs a chrome silver color to match the chair legs.  Actually, I think you can get a silver/chrome colored leg for the love seat selected!  Thanks IKEA!

5. To further define the living space, add bolder visual element to the room, and for just a little funkiness, I suggest placing a textured rug like this one with a black and white striped pattern. The pattern isn't perfectly linear, which gives it a little edge...and would blend well with the "Little Leaves" wallpaper.

6. To maintain continuity in the rug and have an open feel to the living space, I suggest an acrylic coffee table like the one above.

7. A plant like CHRYSALIDOCARPUS LUTESCENS from Ikea will give an urban, contemporary room a natural, warm feel without distracting away from the primary design theme. (And it's a Dorothy Draper design element!)

8. Pillows for a pop of color break up the purely black/white color scheme, bring greater relevance to the Picasso into the rest of the space, and adds a bit of playfulness to the space. (She did say, "very playful" was one of the design-desire descriptors.) I selected a turquoise floor pillow (for added seating), hot pink throw pillow (need 2), and printed grey damask accent (need 2) to tie it all in. I'm thinking she could print a silhouette of two of her fave bands on the hot pink throw pillow. That would be really cool!

9.When in a small space, you've got limited counter space and storage, so you really gotta maximize the furniture you select.  This glass and metal side table would be perfect for the living space (by the side of the love seat) or in the bedroom area of the studio.  The shelving is great for storing (and showcasing) your latest reads or whatever else you wanna put in there.  You also could ditch the acrylic coffee table and get two of these side tables, put them together side-by-side to make a more modular coffee table.  It wouldn't mess up the continuity of the rug too much, since it's a glass top...and you could move it around for a living room dance party or seance, or whatever suits your fancy!

10. My friend did tell me that she had a large kitchen countertop that she planned on using as a prep area, dining area, and office desk. Since she'll be spending time eating and working on this countertop, I made it my mission to find her a couple of counter chairs that would fit well with her space, but also be comfortable. I think I may have achieved success!?! This counter chair/bar stool has a spacious seat (that will be more than enough for her cheeks) and a supportive back. Gotta love it when furniture fits both form and function criteria!

11. Finally, for a little bit of dramatic effect, that striking detail Dorothy-Draper-element, I found this very chic, yet glam black-jeweled chandelier. Depending on how her bed is positioned in the room, I would suggest hanging this over the bed for added lighting, and of course, visual effect. Oh, it would be cool if the hot pink wall was where her headboard would be propped against. The chandelier would definitely give that space a playful feel. Alternatively, she could hang it over the center of her kitchen counter to add some interest and horizontally define the space. An alternative to the chandelier, for the kitchen, would be to get two of this very stylish, mini pendant light or something similar.

Well, there you have it folks!  My take on a very urban, very playful, Dorothy Draper inspired, with a hot pink wall space.  I hope she likes it.... we may do a Tasty Decor redo on this!  But I hope I haven't missed the mark by too too much.  Readers, what do you think?

Thursday, March 4, 2010

The Kitchen Cure



I've just signed up on a for kitchen-clean-up one-month boot camp..."The Kitchen Cure." Hubby and I want to eat healthier, so I figure, if we organize our small kitchen in a way that makes healthier ingredients and foods accessible, we might just eat better. So---

What is the Kitchen Cure?


The site says, "The Kitchen Cure is a four-week program designed to help you get your kitchen in tip-top shape: Clean, healthy and organized. Naturally, your cooking will improve by becoming more nourishing and satisfying. There's something to learn here for every cook."

"The Kitchen Cure has four main assignments. Each is designed to motivate you to de-clutter, clean, and make your kitchen a more fun and healthy place to cook. You follow along at home, and [Kitchn.com] will give you tips, encouragement, and community support."

"This Kitchen Cure [kicked] off on Friday, February 26th, with [the] first assignment. Each Friday there will be an assignment and you'll have the weekend to get it started. During the week [Kitchn.com] will have tips, tricks, good ideas, and other pieces of inspiration to help you work on that week's Cure assignment."

Alright, I'm a little behind.  The first assignment for last weekend was to clean out the fridge and pantry.  As you know, I'm hoping to renovate our kitchen this year (hopefully)...so de-cluttering is definitely a good first step.  I intend on catching up this weekend!  Wish me luck!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Design Notebook: "Home Style" Kitchens

The Hubby and I have been dreaming of renovating our kitchen since we adopted Our Peach three years ago. As you may know, Our Peach is quite old -- built in 1890 and the most recent renovation was in the early 90s. So we're talking about almost 20 years old set of appliances and kitchen decor. It's not so bad, as you see.

[caption id="attachment_138" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The Heart and Soul of Our Peach"][/caption]

Everything is functioning as they should. But we are just counting down the months/days we have left on the life expectancy of our microwave, stove, refrigerator, etc. Add to the fact that the Hubby loves to cook, and we really need more counter space to accommodate all that he wants to be able to do in the kitchen. Three years into our slow updating of our home (we've done a great deal of minor renovations like painting, re-caulking, spackling, etc), I think this year might just be the time for us to take on a larger renovation -- that is our kitchen and really the heart and soul of our home. It's the place where we spend the most time together after work...catching up on the day's events, sharing a couple of glasses of wine, dancing while simmering, and just helping each other make a great meal for us to share. So, it's a special part of our home, and it needs a little more TLC.

[caption id="attachment_391" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="And Sometimes, Our Dance Floor"][/caption]


I'm doing some research on different ways for us to add more counter space, storage, and improve the overall aesthetics of our kitchen. I'm just at the beginning stages, so if you have any ideas for re-organizing appliances or the kitchen space generally...I'd greatly appreciate it. For those who are just starting off like me, I found this excellent resource for matching your kitchen to your home's architectural style. It's not necessary, of course. But may be helpful to you in brainstorming different looks to consider.

[caption id="attachment_392" align="aligncenter" width="446" caption="From Kitchens.com"][/caption]

Do you have a Federal style home? Queen Anne, perhaps? Or Art Deco, Modern? Cape Cod? Arts and Crafts? If you're interested in bringing the outside in, then check out this resource from Kitchens.com.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Color Pairings: Blue-oom into Spring

Happy March!  The birds are chirping, and it's constantly raining -- all signs that spring is near!  And I sure am ready for it.  This spring, I'm really drawn to blue hues.  Maybe it's in anticipation of blue skies after a momentary rain shower. Who knows. I do love blue, generally. It goes with most everything, to me, and can evoke different emotions depending on your hue of choice. Here are a few examples:

Blue and Grey


For a soothing, calm look and feel.

[caption id="attachment_372" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="From House Hunting"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_373" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="From Robyn Karp Interiors"][/caption]

Blue and Brown


Can be natural and warm when a lighter blue shade is paired with brown hues with golden tones, like tan.

[caption id="attachment_375" align="aligncenter" width="460" caption="From Decor Pad"][/caption]

Or contemporary urban when muted blue is paired with deep, rich brown.

[caption id="attachment_376" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="From Manolo Home"][/caption]

Blue and Green


For a bit of vibrance, mix pastel green with denim blue.

[caption id="attachment_378" align="aligncenter" width="310" caption="From Shine Design"][/caption]

Or go all the way into bright turquoise and neon green!

[caption id="attachment_381" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="From Blog The View"][/caption]

Blue and Red


For a little Asian flair, a good alternative to gold and red or black and red is blue and red. Cobalt blue and persian red, that is.

[caption id="attachment_383" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="From Better Homes and Gardens"][/caption]

Or for a more traditional feel, mix in plum red and light slate blue.

[caption id="attachment_384" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="From Better Homes and Gardens"][/caption]

Blue and Orange


Just a hint of orange can add a little funk into your style.

[caption id="attachment_386" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="From Design Manifest"][/caption]

And a little bohemian chicness, too!

[caption id="attachment_387" align="aligncenter" width="356" caption="From Decor Pad"][/caption]

There's also blue and peach; blue and yellow; blue and pink; blue and maroon.... I could go on and on like Pvt. Benjamin Buford 'Bubba' Blue in Forest Gump listing out all the different shrimp dishes he'd make. But I'd rather hear other blue pairings from you! What's your favorite?