To Fiddle Or Not To Fiddle

My apartment is great, and I feel lucky to have the space we have, but there is one eyesore I can’t get past. We have a large AC unit on our TV wall and I don’t think I can stand looking at it anymore! I’ve never been an indoor plant person (with the exception of my beloved terrarium air plant) but fiddle leaf fig trees are so commonly used in interiors these days, I’m considering giving it a try. Who needs a puppy when you can have a fiddle who, research shows, can require just as much maintenance. These apartment photos are quick photoshop doodads, just to help me get an idea of the effect. Inspiration images below…

Chair, Serena & Lily | Stools, Serena & Lily | Floating Shelves, West Elm & Container Store | TV Cabinet, Ikea

Top left | Top right | Bottom left | Bottom right

DIY: Embroidered YUM

I found this YUM sign at Target and it hung unadorned for quite some time until I felt it needed some capricious love.

Before

Yarn found at Michaels

After

Making Chicago Home

Hatch Show Print picked up on a fun trip to Nashville

Randolph Street Market flea

Some of my favorite items found and received along the way

Re-post from The Zoe Report. An inspiring woman with an inspiring message.

I’ve been in Chicago for six weeks now and I just spent my first weekend in the city since moving here – with weddings, graduations and weekends away with friends, it was nice to finally wake up in my bed with nowhere to be. We spent the weekend making the apartment feel like home and filling it with memories, visiting the local flea, and seeing friends. I’ve started a “to eat” list and it grows daily. This city loves to eat, making me feel right at home.

The Makings Of…

Happy Friday! A few of my favorite pieces. A great way to break up wall-to-wall carpet common in rentals is to lay a cow hide over the carpet to accent the area around the sofa.

Mirror | Bed | Nightstand | Stools | Cabinet | Sofa | Coffee Table| Leather Poof | Sisal Rug | Hide Rug

Elle Decor

Better Home and Garden

Taylor Hoff via Desire to Inspire

Jenna Lyons’ Apartment

The Makings of…

Enjoy these wallet-friendly pieces and check back later to see what I’ve found for some of my other favorite styles!

west elm sofa | ikea mirror | ikea sideboard | west elm table lamp | all modern coffee table | dash & albert area rug | “x” book case | rove concepts dining table | ikea dining chair | ikea bed |  west elm nightstand | ikea sheep skin (only available in stores)

The Word Around Town

Rings at the Brooklyn Flea (similar here)

Leg detail at Jonathan Adler

Living Room coming together at my parents (see brainstorming here)

Tufting at RH Gallery (more of my tufting obsession here)

One of the most beautiful weddings at Tower Hill Botanical Garden

Apartment progress at KPE’s

Low Risk. High Reward.

I’ve been a fan of Blu Dot for a while, especially these chairs, which my friend introduced me to. While Blu Dot is already well priced for the unique quality and artful form of its pieces, Target has a line, TOO by Blu Dot (find it here) that is even more affordable, so that good design can truly be possessed by all. This is something I am always in support of and love finding affordable options like these. So take a look around and maybe you’ll welcome a modern moment into your home!

A Facet A Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Anthropologie

Kelly Wearstler

Pieces Inc.

Nuage Tables

Chic Shop

Charles Spada

A Jeweled Facet

Emerald Faceted Sideboard by Marco Costa

 

While this piece is extremely project-specific, I love the geometric quality and emerald green (color of the year!). It is very Kelly Wearstler-esque. And anything marked with gold is always better.

TENNESSEE: a bakery cafe in arlington

this semester of school has by far been my favorite. we’ve moved into a realm where designing everything from the layout of the space to the wall materials to the light fixtures really count. looking to my past and being inspired by the coffee shops i loved in nashville, i took a spin on an empty space in arlington, massachusetts and recreated a bakery cafe with a nashville feel.

I began with pulling inspiration images, wanting the space to feel rustic yet welcoming. a place where one felt comfortable pulling their feet up on the sofa.

Restoration Hardware – chalkboard wall, reclaimed wood floors, light fixtures

Reclaimed wood stairs

Marble display cases

creative signage

we were given the empty floor plan and the requirements (number of display cases, kitchen square footage, handicap accessible bathroom, etc.) and had free range from there.

i wanted the space to be one in which people could learn and share knowledge between sips of coffee. a large chalkboard wall, comfy leather sofa and lighting worthy of an art gallery lit the stage. hatchprint, a signature style of nashville, led customers from the front of the space to the back. and my love of geometrics shaped my kitchen.

Because furniture was limited, each piece had to make an impact

Arteriors ziggy pendant Arteriors Wyndham Swivel StoolJayson Home leather sofa

Arteriors Adele Pendant

many drawings later, the space came to life. boston is in need of more off-brand coffee shops, and i wouldn’t mind one that marks my lattes with a heart.