Category: home library

Cozy Cottages: Light or Dark?

Cozy Cottages

Just the word cottages makes one think of being curled up by the fire with a great book, or of lazy mornings at the beach front. How do you prefer your cozy cottages – in light or dark? Beach breeze coming through an open window or thick wool blankets and crackling bacon?

Light Cottages

Light cottages often feature rustic charms like white walls, often shiplap, and bare time-worn floors. Window treatments are kept to a minimal to let as much light in as possible.

Nothing in a cottage like this screams “new.” Woods have an aged patina and everything is full of character and charm.

images above via Southern Living

Dark Cottages

Snow and wind outside your door? If you are in a dark cottage that won’t bother you. Layers of warmth in the means of blankets, deep cushioned armchairs, and firelight abound.

In dark cottages walls are usually painted in moody blues or grays.

Lots of wood tones.

Heavier upholstery and textiles are also a mainstay of dark cottages.

images above via Apartment Therapy

image above via Tumblr

So – which way do you lean? Light cottage or dark cottage?

Craving more cottage eye candy? Check out a past post featuring beautiful cottages and little escapes.

February 10, 2020
Decorating with books

Books as decor and for function

I wouldn’t say I have a ton of books, but I do have a decent mix of your standard novels, and larger art books. Luckily all the colors and sizes means I can do a lot in terms of decorating shelves with them. I can’t really decorate tables with them anymore with a 1-year-old and 3-year-old.

via The Honeycomb Home

If you’re new at styling bookshelves, setting something up in a limited palette can always help. It give you less options and therefore less potential to make a mistake.

Similarly, grouping like-colors is another fail-proof way (if you like the look), to style your shelves. I do a very loose version of this. I tend to group similar colors with similar colors, ie, blues and greens, pinks and reds, etc. You can start stretching your styling muscles by sprinkling in some objects or accessories that are of a different color.

via Wonderful Engineering

Below is a successful example where books and items are displayed by “collection” . For example, a group of trays is clustered together, artbooks are all stacked horizontally, etc. I also utilize this technique when I decorate my shelves. Artbooks tend to be big and a lot of time my only choice is to stack them horizontally.

via ?

Shelf styling inspiration

via One Kings Lane

The shelves above feature an technique for decorating with books that I had never thought of before. Maybe because my shelves are rather deep and it would work better with shallow shelves. Display your books cover facing out. You can also stack shorter and smaller books in front of the larger ones. This is a nice alternative to stacking large books horizontally. Gonna put this one in my pocket…

An example by the master, Emily Henderson.

Via styledbyemilyhenderson

Want more shelf styling ideas?

February 11, 2019
Cozy Cottages: Light or Dark?

Cozy Cottages

Just the word cottages makes one think of being curled up by the fire with a great book, or of lazy mornings at the beach front. How do you prefer your cozy cottages – in light or dark? Beach breeze coming through an open window or thick wool blankets and crackling bacon?

Light Cottages

Light cottages often feature rustic charms like white walls, often shiplap, and bare time-worn floors. Window treatments are kept to a minimal to let as much light in as possible.

Nothing in a cottage like this screams “new.” Woods have an aged patina and everything is full of character and charm.

images above via Southern Living

Dark Cottages

Snow and wind outside your door? If you are in a dark cottage that won’t bother you. Layers of warmth in the means of blankets, deep cushioned armchairs, and firelight abound.

In dark cottages walls are usually painted in moody blues or grays.

Lots of wood tones.

Heavier upholstery and textiles are also a mainstay of dark cottages.

images above via Apartment Therapy

image above via Tumblr

So – which way do you lean? Light cottage or dark cottage?

Craving more cottage eye candy? Check out a past post featuring beautiful cottages and little escapes.

December 20, 2018
An amazing industrial chic New York City apartment

Okay, so this apartment isn’t technically in New York, it’s in Hoboken. I actually worked in Hoboken years ago when I lived in Brooklyn, and it’s a really cool city with great views and great food. I also recently discovered the work of John B. Murray Architect and have been binging on the portfolio. Here is just one of the amazing homes the firm has worked on.

Huge windows make for amazing natural right. And what about that fawn-spotted rug?

There is just something about bookshelves with a ladder isn’t there?

This kitchen is so dreamy. The subway tile backsplash, the rough hewn wide plank floors.

This home is full of amazing details and impeccable taste.

September 21, 2018
Outside In: The Gardens and Houses of Tichenor & Thorp

One of my favorite books from 2017, hands down – Outside In by M. Brian Tichenor and Raun Thorp with Judith Nasatir. Outside In combines two loves of mine, interiors and gardens.

A little teaser before we begin?

From Vendome Press (the lesser quality images are from me)

From the publisher

“Deeply fluent in the Mediterranean and American vernaculars and the modern forms of the California Tradition, Tichenor & Thorp design exceptional properties that integrate large-scale residences and luxurious gardens and landscapes into a singular, unified vision: house and landscape imagined as one complete expression for a given site and particular client. The duo traverses the spectrum of periods and styles to craft beautifully realized, finely choreographed, highly appropriate living environments that resonate with individuality and precedent. Featured projects include a Spanish-inflected courtyard house and garden in Las Palmas that spectacularly frames the palm trees and the mountains; a Bel Air estate and grounds tinged with English and French influences; a Newport Beach hilltop hideaway that evokes a Portuguese quinta; a Provençal bastide and surrounding gardens transplanted to the côte sud that is Rancho Santa Fe; a Pasadena retreat inflected with John Soane–inspired details; a renovated Harwell Hamilton Harris house in Holmby Hills with a cruciform plan and corresponding gardens of individual character; two luxe contemporary Manhattan apartments; and a modern mountain getaway at the foot of the Tetons in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.”

Dreamy right? I just realized Leo snuck his hand in this photo!

The image above is from my favorite home that is featured, a “modern mountain getaway at the foot of the Tetons in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.” I have come to that section of the book over and over again.

I always love a good home library, and there are many in Outside In

One day I hope to have a studio where I can paint again, as I majored in illustration.

Outside In is a magical book that I can’t recommend enough – it will surely be one of your favorites!

*disclosure: I received a copy of Outside In courtesy of the publisher to review, but the opinions above are my own and genuine!

January 9, 2018
Romantic Interiors Inspiration

Romantic Interiors

Romantic interiors probably mean something different to everyone, but to me they tend to always have a foot in the past, wether because they were designed to look old and have a story to tell or because they really are. I also find that they tend to be slightly “imperfect,” and full of layers of texture and ever so slightly indulgent.

Okay, so this isn’t an interior, but isn’t this one romantic exterior? How could you not want to see the inside of this house?

Old wood floors, and iron chandelier, the space to be able to diagonally position one’s desk!

How amazing is this intricately carved and beautifully styled console?

Hope you don’t mind another exterior thrown into the mix. I grew up with Dutch doors so they’ll always be nostalgic and romantic to me.

Open shelves to show off a beautiful cream ceramics collection.

This iron canopy is what inspired this post. The molding and flowy drapes pooling on the floor clinched it too!

What makes an interior romantic in your opinion?

Want to see more romantic interiors? Check out this earlier post of a romantic white loft.

All images via Dering Hall

October 5, 2017
Cozy Cottages: Light or Dark?

Cozy Cottages

Just the word cottages makes one think of being curled up by the fire with a great book, or of lazy mornings at the beach front. How do you prefer your cozy cottages – in light or dark? Beach breeze coming through an open window or thick wool blankets and crackling bacon?

Light Cottages

Light cottages often feature rustic charms like white walls, often shiplap, and bare time-worn floors. Window treatments are kept to a minimal to let as much light in as possible.

Nothing in a cottage like this screams “new.” Woods have an aged patina and everything is full of character and charm.

images above via Southern Living

Dark Cottages

Snow and wind outside your door? If you are in a dark cottage that won’t bother you. Layers of warmth in the means of blankets, deep cushioned armchairs, and firelight abound.

In dark cottages walls are usually painted in moody blues or grays.

Lots of wood tones.

Heavier upholstery and textiles are also a mainstay of dark cottages.

images above via Apartment Therapy

image above via Tumblr

So – which way do you lean? Light cottage or dark cottage?

Craving more cottage eye candy? Check out a past post featuring beautiful cottages and little escapes.

August 16, 2017
Interior designer house tour: Mark Sikes’ elegant Southern California Home

Interior Designer House Tour

Interior designer Mark Sikes’ and partner Michael Griffin’s home is full of unexpected and wonderful moments of old world Hollywood glam, while still maintaining an open and organic feel. Check it out below:

Couch in the kitchen? How genius is that for entertainers. Just make sure it’s a stain proof, easily washed material. Not as crazy about the pendant lights though…

Super comfy looking daybed in a super serene home library.

All the below pictures are of their devine guest bedroom and bathroom.

I would love for a bed half as dreamy as this to be in my master!

The black and white striped awning outside, as well as the black and white palette in the room makes me think of the book “The Night Circus”

Great mix of eclectic (armoire) and elegant (chair)

How unreal is this bathroom – check out the chandeliers!

Love the shower curtain that looks like drapes. I can’t figure out if that framed black and white photograph is in the shower of just a reflection…

What do you think of this Southern California home?See and read the entire story at Lonny Mag

July 12, 2017
House Tour: Interior designer Mark Sikes’ Southern California Home

House Tour!

Interior designer Mark Sikes’ and partner Michael Griffin’s house tour is full of unexpected and wonderful moments of old world Hollywood glam, while still maintaining an open and organic feel. Check it out below:

Couch in the kitchen? How genius is that for entertainers. Just make sure it’s a stain proof, easily washed material. Not as crazy about the pendant lights though…

Super comfy looking daybed in a super serene home library.

All the below pictures are of their devine guest bedroom and bathroom.

I would love for a bed half as dreamy as this to be in my master!

The black and white striped awning outside, as well as the black and white palette in the room makes me think of the book “The Night Circus”

Great mix of eclectic (armoire) and elegant (chair)

How unreal is this bathroom – check out the chandeliers!

Love the shower curtain that looks like drapes. I can’t figure out if that framed black and white photograph is in the shower of just a reflection…

What do you think of this Southern California home?See and read the entire story at Lonny Mag

May 4, 2017
A touch of vintage: Rooms full of history, beauty and character.

So I discovered a new (to me) blog, The Vintaquarian, that I love. I cannot stop looking. Below is just a taste of the beauty to behold there.

A gallery wall of mirrors, a daybed sofa with tassel fringe. swoon.

What an amazing view from a cozy window seat.

I really like the large windows in this dining room.

A little vignette of succulents and crystals.

This chair is a work of art.

The mirror and rug are my favorite part of this room, but I like all of it.

A cozy home library.

October 18, 2016