Yellow Before, Purple After

I've had this yellow buffet for awhile, and I had been wanting to paint it for sometime. I was inspired by these pretty little purple flowers to paint it purple. It was definitely an impulse thing, but 'm happy I did it. I went to Anthropologie and found these gaudy drawer pulls on sale! Thank goodness because I had to buy eight of them.



I love how it turned out.. . it's not forever, but it's fun for now.

Paper Pillow

This origami pillow from Urban Outfitters really strikes my paper-loving chord. I'm update the new home's look with some pillows, but it's just not in the cards at the moment.

We're all settled in, except for the massive amount of junk I have to throw out. Isn't it embarrassing/depressing to physically see how much JUNK you own? I keep repeating the Tyler Durden mantra in my head, "The things you own end up owning you." Not this girl!

Fast/Slow Small/Cool

It's been a hectic, crazy real-life week, therefore it's been a slow blogging week. Which is OKAY.

BF and I are in the middle of looking for a new apartment. Somewhere inside the loop. That's Houston-speak for cool. We're also downsizing--not by much, but.... here's a few inspiring, very small apartments that work (all from apartment therapy).

First one, 412-square feet in LA, California:



400-Square feet in Chelsea, New York:



595-square feet from Dallas, Texas:

Nadine Blake

My absolute favorite shop in New Orleans was Nadine Blake's design shop. There is a good mix of local art, letterpress stationery, home textiles, etc. She also had an awesome Union Jack inspiration board.

I stocked-up on some cute letterpress cards, of which I cannot show because some of my readers might be receiving them soon.

The interesting thing about New Orleans was that EVERY SINGLE TIME I bought something, the owner sincerely thanked me for buying local and supporting New Orleans. I've got to admit, all the southern charm they laid on me made me not feel guilty about spending.

Pixel Bathroom

Bisazza Pixelized Bathroom from The New Museum in NYC. Bisazza makes all the tiles for the New York subway system. Cha-Ching.

Year of the Mimosa

Pantone selected Mimosa as the Color of The Year for 2009. Their press release says, "In a time of economic uncertainty and political change, optimism is paramount and no other color expresses hope and reassurance more than yellow. "

Okay. Fotunately, I've been expressing hope and reassurance through the brightest yellow comforter since 2004.

Images via Domino Magazine

Obscene Interiors

Here's a funny book-- Obscene Interiors: Hardcore Amateur Decor by Justin Jorgenson.

Justin dutifuly trolls through photos posted on male personal ads, grays out the men and then analyzes their awful decor choices. It's so so so hilarious. I urge you to check out this preview immediately.

He'll educate you with design tips too --

If you’re stumped for wall decoration maps are a safe stand by. They give a smart vibe without being turn-off smart like displaying the periodic table. That is, if used correctly, as in framed. When a map is crookedly pinned to the wall it says, “I’m lost. And I need to be reminded where I am. Every day.”

And It Was Love

A couple week ago when Chelsey was in town, we stepped into Kuhl-Linscomb, the amazing lifestyle store in Houston that will have everything you could ever want to put into your home, kitchen, office, etc. There was this gorgeous desk that we pretty much died over.

You're probably thinking it looks like an air-hockey table but it's quite divine. It can be found at Herman Miller which means it's expensive but worth it and not in my near future.

Purple Prep

Just watched my latest Netflix selection, Secretary (2002) with Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader (my unexplained, Boston Legal crush). Yowza. How did I miss the boat on this one? The visuals are so pretty and they had the sexy/nerdy secretary look pegged way before it caught on at the Gap. Exactly, when was that? 2004, 2005? I don't know. Irrelevant. I still appreciate a good pencil skirt when I see one.

Anyway, I liked this movie. It was a genuine love story, not just a cheap chance to show some nakedness. I loved how her character's wardrobe matures throughout but still keeps it real with all the purple. And all the wallpaper, orchids, carpet.. the whole set was overloaded with color and patterns. Pretty pretty.

I looked at the credits to see what other projects the set directors and art directors were involved in and basically their only other claim to fame was something involving the Cheetah Girls. Boo! P.S. Cheetah Girls just got nixed from the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade because one of them was showing their business on the internet. Ha!

Grandma's Kitchen

Here's some images of my grandmother's kitchen in San Miguel. She went a little nuts with a single tile pattern, but it worked out nicely. I should mention that our camera went on the fritz so all the pictures were taken with a camera phone.

Mexican Tile..such a delight

It's everywhere.. no need for too many words. Most of the tile is made in Delores Hidalgo-- a city 45 minutes north of San Miguel de Allende. We were lucky enough to visit one of the tile factories, a much appreciated journey after seeing gorgeous kitchens and bathrooms all week.

2007 San Miguel Interiors

I should be in San Miguel. I don't know if I'll be blogging from Mexico, but I set up a few posts for the this week. Here's a peek from my trip to SMA last year...



I went to San Miguel for Spring Break with two of good friends from college. My grandmother, who dabbles in real estate down there, was asked by friend if she could house sit while she was in the states. It was great timing, because the week this lady needed a house sitter, three poor college students arrived by bus and saved the day. We got to stay at this amazing casita for free:) TRES ANGELITAS!

I'm going to try to walk you through the house.. Here's the front.... We pretty much died when we fund out our house was green and purple.


Walk into a nice outdoor courtyard, loved the cobalt blue chairs.


Looking up from the courtyard...


Step inside the first room: view to courtyard & fireplace...


Look to the other side of the room and see the interior courtyard with fountain...


Next room: adorable, tiled kitchen...


Kitchen table with skylights...



Going upstairs with cheerful walls...


Master bedroom, where we all slept and sometimes watched weird television ....



View from the roof...



and there you have it! I'm going to try to get some good pictures of my gramndmother's house. It's much more muted and mature, without losing its Mexican flavor. Adios chicos.

Barnacles

Last week I was frustrated with my living room and decided to "make art." I usually lose interest in my projects before they're finished, but this time I was determined because I really wanted to see it happen.

I started making little fabric flowers out of some super soft, creamy ribbed cotton. I arranged them on more this lovely green avacado fabric to look like barnacles. What do you think? Could be a little too "crafty" for my taste.

A few days after I started my project I found John Paul Planche's industrial barnacles and this simple DIY doilies+thumbtack project found on flickr.

Thrifty Fleur Find

Last Monday I hit up Goodwill during my lunch break and found this lovely picture of a citrus flower in a heinous faux gold/marble and toile matte. I couldn't pass it up for $4.99, so I purchased it. A quick matte change and a coat of basil spraypaint, I had a brand new botanical print for my apartment.Easy-Peasy-Japanesey.