Things I love today

I saw this glass drink pitcher and thought I owed it to you to share. Isn't it awesome? I love the spigot. You can get it right now at Target for only $9.99 (or $11.99, I forget, but it's still cheap)

I love these built-ins. I recently watched an episode of HGTV's Moving Up and the first thing the new owners did was tear out the same built-in cabinets. I thought they were out of their freaking minds. My great aunt had the same ones, with the insides painted a very pretty aqua blue and to this day I still think of them.

See that chandelier that appears to be a bunch of twigs held together? Well I love it, and I want to make one. I mean, I am going to make one. Somehow.

images via A Life's Design

It really makes me sad that this woman doesn't appear to be happy wearing this dress. Because you know if I was wearing it? Yeah, I'd be grinning my fool little face off. I.love.it.

SWOONS:

Of course these are Monique Lhuillier, which explains why I love them.

 images via Beautiful Things To Share

Perhaps now that I have a sewing machine I can hit paydirt making this thing, because, is it not just the best? 

To shop Artlab's Etsy store Click Me

I'm really into Kelly green these days. 

Pillow(s) from Jessica Nielsen from Envelope, via Bloesem

I can't figure out how to make it work in my own home right now though, because I really only have 3 rooms. Even though the kitchen, dining, living room and office have their own rather distinct space, they're still in the same room as far as visual congruency is concerned.

I pretty much have to have this aqua pillow with the birdies on it. If I don't get it, I might cry or die and that would be sad.

Pillows by Skinny Laminx

WANT:

via Caitlin Creer Interiors

This week is crazy busy with projects, painting and the usual stuff that I can't seem to get enough of. What's inspiring you these days? Feel free to answer with a link to your favorite blog or image. We love blogs and images around here.

Wishing you vintage white chippy paint

via A Beach Cottage

xo

Obsessed with yellow

Your emails have been so sweet and encouraging! Thank you so much. I'm still working on my bedroom redesign project,  but since it's not done, I figured I'd share some eye candy inspired by my "new" bedroom's colors. I can't wait to show you guys.

via A Life's Design

via A Life's Design from House Beautiful

This room shouldn't be a shocker. I saw it on a few blogs now and each time I see it I smile as I would seeing an old friend. I love the brightness of this room and how the space just invites clear and creative thinking. Oh, and I don't hate the yellow either ;)

I also blame this lamp:

via Absolutely Beautiful Things

(My obsession with mixing in splashes of hot pink might be traced back to this post as well)

image via The Designer's Attic

How happy and calm is this room? It's missing a lot of color that I need, and I would prefer aqua to the beige, but not everyone is into such dramatic colors. This is a nice way to take a very relaxing and safe room, and pop in with this bold splashes of yellow . I love the fabric on the linen shades and how lovely it contrasts with the bold stripes of the pillows.

Man, if I only has $150 (a yard!) for that fabric on the windows. Hah!

image via The Designer's Attic

I don't think there's anyone here (that knows me anyway) that doesn't know what I am in love with in this photo. Like, holy crap my pants I love it so much!

I'm also going to have to have one or two of these:

images via Casasugar

image from Shirae's Shop on Etsy

Does she remind you of anyone? ;)

xo, 

Chrissa

Okay, Okay, I'll give you a hint: A glimpse into my new living room

I have been working on how/what to do with my living room (well, all the rooms, but I'm starting there). Although I have been getting some private furniture commission work coming in (Yay!), I'm really not doing too much in the way of design jobs. And really, what do I have to show anyone in respect to my work anyway? So I thought I should start at home. Besides, after I saw this certain episode of Color Splash in which David turned this dark, ugly, nearly unfinished basement den into a "Yaht Club Themed Sensation", I've wanted to come close to the same thing.

I was just going to wait until I was completely finished to even talk about it, then post before and afters and include some inspiration photos. But you know me, I can't keep a secret very well. I get too damn excited. I was so happy with how my bedside table came out, I just HAD to blab about it. But seriously now, I'm keep the rest under wraps. Really. I mean it this time. (Hahaha...)

For lack of better photos to show you of my living room, I share these with you but keep the judgy down to a dull roar. Yes, my Christmas decorations are too busy. Yes the window treatments need an overhaul-it's on the list, and I could list 20 other flaws that I instantly see, we're going to ignore all that. The only thing you're taking away from these photos:

My couch is white
My dog is black
My kid is active
My yard is 3 acres with dirt in it
My garden is massive (which means dirt)
My house has sand dunes across the road

You do the math.

The before living room:

(You get the idea)

For those of you that aren't in the white slip cover club, you're going to want to ask me why I didn't think that white would be hard to keep clean. Well, don't do that. It's not even necessary because I already have the sane reasoning on the ready:

Because I could just take the slipcovers off and wash them! (Every other freaking day)
Because white is so pretty and refreshing! (Sure, when it's white. And even then it gets old)
Because I'm so smart and won't listen to anyone (We've hit the zinger here folks)

Then enters David Bromstad into my life.--->

Dear Lord, 

Why does David Bromstad have to be gay? I mean, first Nate Berkus, now David, can't you let me fall in love with a straight guy that loves interior design?

Lovelorn, Chrissa



Dear Chrissa, 


Hahahahahaah. You're cute.


Peaceout, God.



I totally fell in love with this one room he did. Well, okay, it wasn't a room, it was an entire lower-level den. Navy walls, white wing back chairs, mirrored coffee tables, yellow lucite chairs, navy couch, yellow flowers, ottomans and lamps. It was just crazy inspiring. After searching for days on the web, I finally got off my lazy butt and snatched up screen shots by pausing frames on Hulu. I know, so original, right? ::rolls eyes::

Don't you just love it?

I'm putting my own spin on things. Which means turquoise, duh. The table that I finished isn't even for this room, it's for my bedroom, but I'll share it anyway, you know, to keep you coming back for more.

I think there was a 110% improvement, but then again, I am hella biased because I dig this yellow in such a yoooj way.

Unlike my kid:

B: "So I've noticed a lot of yellow trim and accents lately. I take it your about to redo everything?"
Me: "Very observant. Yes, I'm redesigning my bedroom and the living room and using a lot of yellow accents. It's my new second favorite color"
B: "Yeah, I noticed, about that. Yellow is the color of the glare in a monster's eye. Which means I think it's ugly. Can you not keep using so much of it?"

Alright, that's all I got for now. I'll keep you posted.

Waiting and wishing...

(Or wishing while waiting, depending on how you choose to look at it)

How have you all been?

I've been quite busy, though, I suspect no busier than anyone else these days. It seems that's just the trend, or at least in my inner circle it is anyway. More often than not I find myself saying to my best friend, "I'm finding it hard to concentrate on most things because I'm so obsessed with all of the projects I could be making at home right now", to which I usually get an enthusiastic, "I know, right?!". I am surrounded by people with giant-sized ideas, gargantuan buckets of creativity and motivation that rivals Texas. I have often wondered if it's just a shocking coincidence that we're all drawn to each other, or if we just pick up on one another's creative energy making us all more thought-productive as a whole? Because I'll tell you what, the ideas? They've been a poppin'.

I have a few blogs I've been working on (finally!!) as I've gotten quite a few furniture projects finished, even a few private commissions under my belt (like a REAL designer!) and lately I have developed a lamp obsession. As a brief kinda-but-not-really sidebar, I have wanted a mantle (real fireplace optional) since, well, my last condo two years ago that had one. I want one pretty much like this:

image via Country Living

I really.really.really want one. I think that not only do they add character, but also give depth, dimension and I love the 3D aspect of design in a room. It tells a story. Not to mention, depending on the time of year, it can give you so many more options when it comes to decorating. 

This Winter I found this mantle that had serious potential at the Ann Arbor Habitat for Humanity ReStore. It was sitting there for at least a month or so beckoning to me from it's $200 sticker price. Now, normally I have no problem begging a lower price out of someone, even a charitable organization. Heck, I'm not exactly a non-charity at this point myself, not to mention, I'm a scoundrel. I have no shame. So finally, I broke down and asked if they would consider dropping the price -which was pretty ballsy considering they flat-out tell you prices aren't negotiable. Literally. See what I mean:

But I did. And hell if Jackie (The ReStore's Queen Bee) didn't counter offer me my mantle for $100. Stupid.Stupid.Stupid. I shake my head at myself as I type this. You can guess where this story is going. 

I never bought it. I was broke (which is more my constant than Desmond Hume) and made excuses about what a frivolous purchase it was, that a large decoration shouldn't cost that much unless it incorporated some form of necessary utility and various other dumb things we say when we talk ourselves our out of something we really want. In retrospect, it totally would've been worth my eating Ramen for a month. By now that overly salty nastiness would be just a vague memory and I'd be staring at my mantle with it's well preserved Hydrangea Snowball arrangement nestled in the hearth. But no. 

However, thanks to the glory hole that is Facebook, you can see what I missed out on. As luck would have it, when I added A2 HFHR, they had a photo of it. So now, there's photographic evidence of how stupid I can be:

::: Siiiiigh :::

I've been really digging a blog I found through (House of Turquoise?) called The Magic Brush. She's far more daring and expressive with finishes and darker colors than I am, but it's been very educational and I need to know a lot of the techniques she uses for future commissions. This woman seems to follow my rule of thumb for the most part, if it's brown, sand it down.

See what I mean?

Whereas, my other new stalk, Life in the Fun Lane (again, I'll blame HOT for this-in fact, when in doubt, assume pretty much everything I'm obsessed with is Erin's fault), seems to live by the rule, "If it's not white, then it should be". She has an extensive before and after section of her blog that I ogled for quite some time. To those of you that mock my white obsession, you'll be pleased to know that I'm now in a yellow phase. More on that laters.

Check out this awesomeness:

I love the look of this. I have been obsessed with card catalogs lately, and if I could afford them, I'd be cranking em' out like it was my job. Wait. I totally wish cranking them out was my job. I love the idea of the drawer labels. What a classy way for me to label Blake's dresser drawers. My next goal is to replicate this as soon as possible.

I love this image from A Life's Design:

That painting is to die for. I want one just like it only of a characture of myself. Yes, I said myself. Wha? (Sharri-Bean, can I has it?!)

And the table? Oh, for the love of goodness.

I love this window over the kitchen sink in the Souther Living post. The rest of the kitchen is pretty snazzy as well. 

oooh....ahhhhh...

Waking up and making tea or coffee in front of such a light, sunny space? Heck, I might even be compelled to do dishes in it. (Yeah, yeah,  who am I kidding? BUT-I would totally load a dishwasher).

If you've hiding under a large set of fluffy pillows for the past six months, you might've missed the onslaught of some really great typography posters that have followed in the footsteps of our "KEEP CALM & CARRY ON" friends. I have several favorites but topping that list:

Live What You Love print by one of my favorite Etsy Letterpress stores, Hijirik Studios . 

Ineedsit. If you think I need it before I can get around to buying it, feel free to ask me for my address. Hah! I kill me, I really do.

Annnnd...I've been busy with my own photos and design projects. 

After countless supportive emails from friends demanding that I do so, I finally began adding my photographs to my Etsy account. I've been showcased in a few treasuries already, entered some contests and I have to admit, it's an exciting and surprising rush every time. The idea that someone would like my stuff, things that I see with my own eyes and just fall in love with, well, it's pretty neat.

As for what else I have going on, I'll give you some hints: Yellow, Turquoise, Navy, Gray and White :)

For some clues:

  

I have a hot date with tomorrow. I'm inviting over my friend, Gorilla Glue, who is such a sexy beast, and some other hotties that can be rather abrasive, but I still love them anyway. I really know how to party. I can't WAIT

xo, Chrissa