Note to self:

The pad needs some plants!

via

My future ex

My imaginary boyfriend's apt, take a look... it's lovely! He's like a less grubby version of Citizen Cope, with killer style and a can-do attitude. But seriously tho, every inch of his pad is so on point he's probably gay (is that bad of me to say?). Check out more ultra cool small spaces at Apartment Therapy.

A pad to call my own

I recently visited the bachelorette pad of one of my girlfriends and it made me miss when I had one of my own. Not that I don't enjoy where I'm at now, but there is no replacing the feeling of coming home to a domain that is entirely yours. Every fork, every towel, every piece of art, every book... is all yours and displayed in a way that is 100% YOU! No need for compromise. You can shabby chic it up, add hot pink accents and glitter, if that’s your thing. Sometimes it wouldn’t necessarily be “my thing”, but I’d add pink to my pad just cuz I could. Sharing can be overrated sometimes. Plus, hello! Look at her view! I’d def love to wake up and fall to sleep to that sight.

Ha, one thing I don't miss too much... Total responsibility for feeding myself! Her fridge is quite a bare site.

Memory lane...

West Elm Holiday Inspiration

I took some holiday decorating notes last weekend at the West Elm store. They had a variety of styles represented... crafty, glitzy, lumberjacky (don't quote me on that). I just know that I prefer the style of the first couple photos that combine rustic elements with ones that are more polished. A more casual, informal, "take your shoes off" kinda feel.

––––––––––– And that squirrel is a must have! –––––––––––

Dream House

Clean lines, archways, pops of color, exposed beams, subtle old world feel... yup, this is ME!

Or at least who and where I want to be.

This chic has amazing work! Via

Hip Hop for the Home (or Office)

So many good quotes, it's hard to choose just one. Maybe I'll do "Don't sweat the technique" for the office and "Everyday I'm Hustlin'" or "Thinkin of a master plan" for the studio. Decisions/decisions...

These wood type prints are brought to you by Paper Jam Press.

Brooklyn Flea Purchases

Quite possibly the best money spent in 2011 so far... this Aaaamazing school house roll-down map!  As soon as I saw it, I knew it had to be mine. Well after eyeing it up several times and circling round it like prey. Like who's going to have a retro map of Mexico, Central America and the West Indies ($65) in their house... Like who???

Also picked up an antique seltzer bottle ($25) and an "M" ring ($5) that reminds me of a class ring (currently on the hunt for a real one).

More on the flea here.

Movin' on...

I've been living in Sweet Lips' place (now OUR place) for almost 2 months and I'm finally beginning to see myself in it. My style, my arrangement, my personality, although he did make it easy on me... His furniture was sparse, his walls were bare and he had only painted two rooms, which he's now letting me paint over :) I think we see eye2eye on most interior decisions (as long as I keep hot pink to my studio), but  I do miss my old bachelorette pad a bit. That place will always have a special place in my heart. It has seen me through all kinds of highs and lows. It was the first place I ever lived on my own... all MY forks, all MY pots, all MY books... It's a pretty fantastic feeling to have ownership and responsibility for your own domain. No one to restrict any of your interior decisions, no one to give you the stink eye when you throw a sock and no one to pass judgement on when you come and go. It was a fabulous almost 4 years and I grew stronger because of it. Note: True badasses can entertain themselves by themselves.
Below are a couple of pics in homage to my old place:

Fauxidermy

has been popular for a while now... Anthropologie still has their version available, but these white resin versions from Z Gallerie might have me dipping into my tax return.

Interior image seen via

Bohemian Swagger... takin' notes.

I was sifting through old inspiration folders today and came across this image. I'm still in love with it. It's somewhat simple yet embodies perfectly the look and feel I'd like for my home.

I want great sources of natural light.

I want breezy/casual arrangements.

I want to mix low and high brow art and not take any piece too seriously.

I want to mix patterns from all different regions.

I want to gild stuff in gold.

I want flowers around me... the live ones.

I want pops of bold color. Hot pink? Sure... Why? Because I can.

I want to show off my favorite fashion pieces.

I want to fill my home with music at all times (Can't you hear the music? I can.)

I want to mix textures and reflective surfaces.

Non-creepy Gnomes

Gnomes creep me out. It probably comes from watching too many B-rate horror movies, but I just know there are lil demons living inside. Sweet Lips has one that he actually kept in his Living Room–twice as creepy. I insisted "that thing" has to go... at least outside, where it belongs. Yesterday, I came across a post on Apartment Therapy about fashionable Gnomes and I must admit, these are pretty cool! Check out the Zombie Gnomes (cuz Zombies are so having a moment right now ;)

I took the liberty of incorporating some in to an ideal patio set-up.

Links at Polyvore

Fornasetti Plate Art

I've seen these plates many times before and always thought they were cool, but after viewing Michael & Paul's House Tour today, I had the sudden urge to do research. I want, I want, I want! I need them all (!) or maybe just one (after seeing their pricey price tag).

According to several sources: Piero Fornasetti was born in Milan in 1913. He was a painter, interior decorator and designer. He is most famously known for this series (themes and variations). The series is based off of an image he found in a 19th century French magazine. The image is of Lina Cavalieri, an operatic soprano. "What inspired me to create more than 500 variations on the face of a woman?" asks Italian designer, Piero Fornasetti of himself. "I don't know," he admits, "I began to make them and I never stopped."

****************************I love obsessive people!*****************************

Below are a few of my favorites:

It's not easy to find your favorites to purchase, but some are available here and here.

Fakin' the Swank

With my limited funds and desire for a swanky barcart, this is what I've come up with...... Nice, huh? :)
My home bar set-up consists of:
-an unfinished wood shelf spray painted black (purchased at ikea)
-a metal tray spray painted chrome (purchased at ikea)
-two metal racks to hang glasses spray painted black (purchased at ikea)
-a wood wine rack cart (purchased at target)
-silver upholstery tacks
I hammered the tacks onto the edge of the shelf (very therapeutic) and added the metal racks underneath. My final touch will be to add a handle to the side of the cart, so I can hang cocktail linens (monogrammed of course!).

Some elements to assemble your own swanky/economical barcart:

Passive-Aggressive Pillows

Just in time for Vday.

via, purchase @

When I grow up...

Someday... I will have a swank barcart in my swank home, stockfull of swank liquors and rare aperitifs. A spirit to fullfill every possible spirit. A liquor to fancy any possible fancy guest that might drop by on a whim.

Aren't they lovely?

More barcart inspiration Here and Here.

I want. I need. I must recreate.

and I'll add it to the long list of ongoing projects. Actually, I've already been unknowingly collecting animals for this project... dinosaurs to be exact! I just gotta find a way to saw them in half and screw them to a piece of wood. Purchase here if you choose to go that route.

seem via swiss miss

Craving a piece of the pie...

Or at least a slice of outdoor leisure space to call my own.

Since I don't plan on giving up city life anytime soon, this is as big as I'm dreaming... a lil patio/balcony sanctuary to flip through mags, immerse myself in juicy books, sketch, write, concept genius ideas, nap, pet my imaginary dog, play gin rummy, plant a container garden, inhale city scents, share coffee/wine with friends, ponder deep questions like: Which Charlie Brown character am I?, look out into the starless/infinite sky.