What I already miss about the weekend

Even though there is zero space left on my apartment walls to cover, I can't help but pine away for this adorable print. It's part of the new Kate Spade Saturday home collaboration with West Elm and I love it! It's such a pretty reminder of my favorite weekend activity: sleeping in. 

Everyone ready for Monday?! ;)

Check out the full Saturday and West Elm collection here.

PS: More apartment wall art here and here.

(Images via West Elm) 

Honeycomb mirror decor

In my Brooklyn apartment, there's a narrow indented corner in our living room. I moved into this place almost two years ago, but I still haven't figured out how to use the space—until now. I discovered this honeycomb mirror idea on Pinterest and love it. How cool would it be to create my own hexagon arrangement? Plus, mirrors are always a great way to make a room feel larger, a trick that's ideal in a New York-sized apartment. :) Here, a couple more examples of this fun idea...

This pattern is lots of fun—and I love how the honeycombs are placed right next to a full size mirror. Double the reflection!

The play on metallics is great in this pic. The copper and silver look beautiful together and add an elegant and modern touch to this all-white room.

OK, so what do you think? Have you ever experimented with a honeycomb mirror design?

PS: Where to buy cheap honeycomb mirrors. Hint: It's the store that has it all.

(Image 1, 2, and 3)

Jars dinnerware

When Matt and I were in Paris, we splurged on a fancy night out at Le Chateaubriand. The food was unreal (in case you're wondering, the top image is their cheese plate; the bottom image is part of the dessert course, strawberries served with a mix of Indian spices that tasted like anise)—but I couldn't leave without asking about their dinnerware. Every course came out on a different color plate! The waiter explained: They use Jars, a brand founded in 1857 in the South of France. The plates and bowls are all hand-crafted—and beautiful. It was such a cool part of the dining experience to curiously wait to see which plate color would be next. Can you imagine being the person in the kitchen coordinating that part of the meal?

The good news: I thought it would be impossible to find Jars back in the U.S., but the brand is sold at Williams Sonoma. 

Do you pay attention to restaurant details like this? Or is all about the food? :)

Office envy

Ever since I got back from my trip, I've been on an organization tear. My current project: Updating my work space at home. For the last several months, my desk has become a receptacle for everything except office-related things. Books and knick-knacks, photos and jewelry, not to mention a massive printer that I've had for years, but never use. With a city-sized apartment, it seems like such an under-utilized space! So, I'm stream-lining: I tossed my printer, and I'm being ruthless about the things that deserve prime desk real-estate—and the things that don't. I'm also drawing inspiration from the work space ideas above. 

What do you think? Do you own (and actually use) your desk?

Will post before and after pics of my work space soon!

(Image 1, 2, and 3)

City maps by Archie's Press

A couple of weekends ago, Matt and I stopped by the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn on a whim. Three hours later, we emerged, carrying the three letterpress maps above, beautifully designed and handmade by Archie's Press, out of Portland, Oregon. I've always loved the idea of hanging up maps that represent the cities I've lived in—and love. Boston, San Francisco, and Brooklyn are a blend of the locations Matt and I have lived and still consider home. 

Now, we were immediately sold on the look of these maps, but the deal was sealed when Archie himself explained: "My maps are made to fit Ikea frames." Done and done. :)

Do you have any maps hanging in your home?

Visit Archie's Etsy shop here.

PS—How cool is his Solar System print?

(Images via Archie's Press)

Coffee table reads

What's on the coffee table in your apartment? Unintentionally, Matt and I have started to curate our own mix of hard cover books to put on display. You can easily tell which books are his, and which are mine. The mix ranges from the gorgeous Paris Vu Par Hollywood, which I picked up at an exhibit in Paris last year, to Flip Flop Fly Ball, a clever collection of baseball infographics. I look at our coffee table book collection as instant-pretty for our apartment. It's something that, with a fresh bouquet of flowers, gussies the whole place up.

What do you think? Do you have any coffee table books?

(Image 1, 2, and 3)

French-inspired tea towels

I discovered these tea towels while searching around Artsy Modern, and thought they were a hoot! It would be so fun to cook in the kitchen with these instead of the boring, plaid towels I currently have. Although, I will say, I'd be scared to spill on these—they're too cute!

(Images via Artsy Modern)

Wall of art

As we continue to make updates to our Brooklyn apartment, Matt and I recently picked up a rather large frame for the living room wall. Now, the fun part: deciding what to put in it! We've been emailing links back and forth to each other with ideas, but it's a tough decision. Whatever we choose will be so huge, and the focal point of the room. The three options above are a few ideas we're considering. What do you think? Do we go black and white and keep it New York-y? Or bright and bold?

Would love to hear your opinion on this!

(Image 1, 2, and 3)

Pretty paper

I've blogged about wallpaper before, but I recently discovered this gorgeous Manhattan print over at Bodie and Fou, and I had to bring it up again. The design is so interesting—on the website, I couldn't help but zoom in to see and every city scene up close. 

I also love this Paris paper, too. And this super cute penguin design.

What do you think? Would you hang wallpaper like this?

(Images via Bodie and Fou) 

Home office redo

Recently, I decided that it's time for a mini-makeover of the office set-up I have in my apartment. Truthfully, I'm long overdue. I don't think I've updated this part of my home since I moved to New York nearly five years ago! The photos on my pinboard are dated, the majority of my contacts are filed in a rolodex, and quite simply, I'm running out of space. Yes, it's time for a mini-makeover, but where to start? I'm taking my cue from the home offices above. I love the minimalistic approach to each look, and how the fresh, colorful flowers brighten the entire room.

What personal touches do you have to make your home office feel like you? Would love to hear any tips that you have!

(Image 1, Image 2)

World view

A world map as art — what do you think? When I first stumbled upon this idea, I couldn't believe the range of options (and color schemes) that open up just by hanging the world on your walls. If this was on display in my home, I know I’d spend all day dreaming about the many places I want to go. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon, right?

What do you think? Would you try this design idea?

(Images via A Pair and A Spare) 

Reinventing my fridge

Do you decorate your refrigerator door? After seeing the ideas above on PureWow and A Cup of Jo, I started to think about my own fridge's decor. Right now, mine is covered with lots of magnets collected from over the years — some from the Guggenheim and the Met, others that I made myself using old movie stubs and Red Sox tickets. Each magnet holds up something important like a friend's wedding invite, or a baby announcement or clever postcard I want to save. 

But the ideas above are inspiring — I love the chalkboard, and the penguins, too. And Joanna's fridge with classic pics of JFK and Audrey Hepburn? How sweet!

Tell me — what's on your fridge at home? 

Framed shopping bags

What do you do with the limited edition (or classic) shopping bags you take home after purchasing something at your favorite stores or boutiques? I always hold onto mine, but this brilliant idea gave me a new and creative way to feature every artful design. After all, most shopping experiences are usually marking an occasion. To me, framing each bag is a lovely reminder of that outfit, that memory, that style.

What do you think? Would you try this design idea at home?

(Image 1, 2 via Style Redux and Pinterest)

Christmas time is here

As soon as I was old enough to count down the days until Christmas, my parents (and grandmother) introduced me to an advent calendar as a way to make the waiting game all the more fun. I could spend hours staring at the glitter-covered Christmas scenes, summoning up all the patience I had as I waited each night to open the next day's door. Based on this, I can't imagine being a kid with this hand-made advent calendar hanging up in my home. The creator — Bleubird — explains on her blog that all but five of the packages contain a candy treat. The ones that don't come filled with the first clue to a special scavenger hunt for the whole family to enjoy. So creative and fun!

Another good idea? Gift someone an online advent calendar, like these designs by Jacquie Lawson. The London-themed one is my favorite. (Thanks Mom!)

(Images via Bleubird)

A starry starry night

How clever is this design idea from Color Me Katie? She was looking for a way to let natural light into her bathroom without creating a peep show for her neighbors and voila! A brilliant solution to the problem. I especially love how the stars look at night — what a peaceful room to unwind in at the end of a long day.

(Images via Color Me Katie)

Magazine covers to keep

When it comes to magazines, are you more likely to save or toss an issue after you finish reading it? Natali over at Narrylikes raised this question last week and it got me thinking. I'm definitely a girl that likes to hold onto copies of magazines I've read. Why? I love the thought that one day I'll frame each one and get to see the design and style changes that took place over the years. That said, my New York-sized apartment is forcing me to be a bit more selective about the issues I keep!

It seems there is one other way to save the magazine covers I love — knit a replica of each one! At least that's what Inge Jacobsen decided to do with her favorite issues of Vogue. Pretty clever idea, no? I'm so impressed by the detail of her work! 

(Via Narrylikes)

East versus West Coast

I'm an East Coast girl born and raised, but I love these two prints—especially when placed side by side. Originally seen in the home of Annemarie Buckley of Scout's Honor Co., there was such a high demand for the coast to coast prints, she is now selling them online. I love the lyrics from this classic Beach Boys' song. And with my little sister now living on the West Coast, I think this would be a perfect gift idea for her. What about you — are you an East Coast or California girl? 

(Images via Scouts Honor Co.)

Chalkboard notes

There's something so inviting about a chalkboard in the home. I love that it's a guaranteed spot to jot down handwritten notes, to-do lists, and colorful doodles while you're on the phone. My roommate and I use the chalkboard outside our kitchen to write down recipe notes, and track how many trips we make to the gym each week. There's nothing like a public guilt trip on a chalkboard to whip you into shape! But truly, there's something sweet and artistic about soon-to-be erased words. It would be cool to keep a photo record of what is written there each week! What do you think – would you hang a chalkboard in your home? 

(Images via Plush Palate)

Something fishy

I'm totally digging these ocean-inspired pillows from West Elm's new summer collection. Designed by Cuban-born artist and textile designer Lourdes Sanchez, each pillow gives off a cozy, beachy feel — the perfect decorative accent for your summer cottage or outdoor porch. I particularly love the look of the blue whales, but the black zebra fish is pretty cool too. Now, I'm day dreaming about a vacation by the water. I bet you are too! 

(Via West Elm)

Localize your art

The best way to add a personal touch to your art collection? Localize it of course! Thanks to designer Laura Belle from Oh Hi Shop, it's fairly easy to do. Simply send her 20-25 words of your choice and she will work her magic to create a custom design of your piece. The words can be anything you want — names, places, addresses, phrases — if it has meaning to you, it goes in! Only you will appreciate the story and interpretation of it all. Isn't that what art is all about? 

(Via Etsy and Urban Scarlet)