for dessert

via Lonny

Better than a hot fudge sundae.

bookshelf additions

Perch! Basket Bowl
I picked this much coveted bowl up at The Foundary for $31 (regular price $54). It's a great addition to our newly spruced-up bookshelf.

Air Plant!
I went over to my mom's this weekend & stole a few sprouts from the air plant in her backyard. I had the glass container already, so it was an easy project. It just needs a few rocks added to the bottom. I hope it likes its new home.

tape

So, I tried Jenny's tape project over on Pearl Street Interiors in our entryway & here's how it turned out...

Ta da! I think it adds a little somethin' somethin' to the space. The diamonds are far from perfect (especially towards the bottom), but the imperfection gives it character, right? I put the wall to the test this weekend when my mother-in-law visited & she thought I had painted the lines on, which is exactly what I was hoping for. Who knew tape could be so great?!

I used black Japanese Washi Paper Tape from Happy Tape. It took approximately 4 single rolls at $4.50 a roll + shipping, which brought the total project cost to less than $25 + a sore neck.

Before
Three cheers for tape!
Tape, tape, yaaaaay tape!

air plant dreams

Michael McDowell

Air Plant Globe Terrarium by LBrand

Epiphytic plants (air plants) use photosynthesis for energy and obtain moisture from the air or from dampness on the surface of their hosts. - Wikipedia

1 cup = 16 tbsp

Kitchen Conversions by Sweet Fine Day

r.a.d.

Schoolhouse Electric Co.

Orbit 7

weekend haps

It was a rainy weekend here in So Cal & a long one for me, thanks to the holiday! The sun did peek through on Saturday, just long enough for my good friend Jeannie & I to enjoy the Racquet Club Estates Mid-Century Modern Homes Tour in Palm Springs. It was great fun!

This home was our favorite because of the incredible art collection both inside and outside & the textured wallcovering used in several rooms.

I fell in LOVE with this Frank Lloyd Wright Midway Garden Sprite, welcoming us as we walked up to this home. I've added the smaller version it to my wish list for our house.

I took advantage of the 3-day weekend and tackled our bookshelves. This is the before photo, the after photos are coming soon.

wall inspiration

As much as I am obsessed with wallpaper & really want to use it in our house, there are two obstacles standing in my way. Number one, I have serious commitment issues & number two, the price does not align with my budget.
Luckily, there are so many wallpaper alternatives out there to consider.

Option #1 - Temporary Wallpaper
Takes care of the commitment issue & is more budget friendly. I love Silver Gio from Tempaper and the Sherwin Williams' Easychange line is great. It takes a little searching to find the treasures, but they're there.

Option #2 - Sharpie Stenciled Wallpaper
So cool! Checkout this HGTV how-to.

Option #3 - Contact Paper
Such a great way to add excitement to a wall without the permanence of wallpaper & at a very low cost. Checkout this fantastic chevron wall tutorial via Sabbe.

Option #4 - Stencils
There are so many fantastic stencil options out there. Royal Design Studio has some really great modern patterns and all under $50. I recently picked up the Chainlink Allover stencil with our powder room in mind.

Option #5 - Tape

I never would have thought of using tape to make your own wallpaper, until I saw this tutorial over on Pearl Street Interiors. Brilliant! Happy Tape is just the place to find Japanese Washi Paper Tape in lots of colors for this project. I recently picked up a few rolls of black at $4.50 a roll to try in our entryway.

perch!

Perch! Design makes me swoon.

Made from low impact materials & processes, non-toxic finishes and byproducts, Perch! products are environmentally friendly & beyond fantastic.
Some of my faves...

Stan the Bird and let's not forget about Henrietta.

Plantorb, yum!

Candle Orange

Last, but certainly not least, the Basket Bowl. I am secretly obsessed with this bowl. The basket shape, the design, the glossy white finish, it's just so dreamy.

eco-cuteness

How adorable are these pillows & prints from Ferm Living?!
Sure, they're more for a kid's room, but I would like them for my room too. I can't decide which adorable creature I like best.
100% organic cotton shell with zipper closure & down filling.
And, to make them even more tempting, the pillows are 20% off at Branch Home ($36 ea).
Tres bien!

dining with elle

So fresh & so clean, clean.Elle Decor

exposed bulb love

I love all of the exposed bulb fixtures that are out there, especially the West Elm Cluster Bulb Pendant and my favorite of all time (why don't I own one yet?).

Lonny Mag loves them too.

oo la la

Checkolite Chrome Crystal Sphere

Home Depot isn't known for carrying the most interesting lighting, but this beaut is quite the exception. I love it! The price is on the higher side at $300-$400 depending on size (14" or 21"), but it might just be worth it.

deal of the day

West Elm Cross Dye Basic Napkin

Since we are a paper towel/paper napkin-free house (except for cleaning up the occasional cat barf), I'm always on the lookout for good deals on cloth napkins. I previously tried the Buffet Napkins from Cost Plus, but the quality was really disappointing. Then I found the West Elm Cross Dye Basic Napkin. The fabric is soft, the size is generous at 22" square, and the color choices are great.

At $12 for a set of 4, the best buy is to snatch up the sale colors. I recently bought blue and poinsettia at $2.97 per set plus free shipping. And, to make the deal even sweeter, West Elm was offering an additional 20% off of sale items, which put the total cost at $2.38 per set.

Tres bien!

edison...again

Nicole over at Making it Lovely has the much-dreamed-about Edison Chandelier in her bedroom & it looks fantastic!

via Making it Lovely

for the birds

Alessi Bird Tea Kettle

powder

via decorpad

yellow Baroque mirror + silhouettes = l.o.v.e.

hostess bouquet

My version of a DIY hostess gift winter flower arrangement, via Little House Blog.

We went to several Christmas parties this weekend & a winter flower arrangement was the perfect hostess gift (& so economical). I had a collection of clear vases stashed away in a cabinet, so the only cost was the flowers. I picked them up at Trader Joe's, bringing the total cost per arrangement to approximately $8.

Missy Foo & Betty approved.

tgif

via canadian house & home

Quite fantastic, no? If you think the exterior & sunshine yellow door are great, checkout the inside here. Die.

trees

First, for the good news, the white tree arrived & I like it!

But, the red tree is officially the biggest disappointment of the season and went straight back to Target.

This pathetic little tinsel tree did not even come close to fulfilling my red tree dream. Maybe next year...