It has been a LONG time since I’ve featured a photographer’s portfolio. I think Janis Nicolay’s speakes for itself. Enjoy!
So pretty – love this dining room
See more at Janis Nicolay
Photographer portfolio: The serene work of Janis Nicolay
Gorgeous images from my favorite blogs
I started this little “favorite images from my favorite blogs” feature to reconnect with what got me started blogging in the first place – other blogs. But with the chaos of running my own blog and being a freelance web designer, I tend to loose touch with my beloved blogosphere. This week I refused to put it off again though, so without further ado – some lovely images from my favorite blogs. Enjoy and happy weekend!
Just discovered this blog. I’m the New Victorian Ruralist’s new biggest fan. A wonderfully edited blog – you don’t have to go far to find lots of luscious pics.
The lovely La La Lovely Things
LOVE the books in the fireplace
*swoon* I could really use a day at the beach. This is heavenly.
Last but not least, some images from Joey and Lana Make a House a Home
I’m liking black and white as a palette more and more everyday.
A month by month plan to get your home storage organized: February is for kitchen organization
So month two of BHG’s month-by-month storage plan is to conquer your kitchen. Here’s the strategy. If you missed month one – January, you can see the home office storage plan in my previous post.
Sort and Label. Evaluate all pantry items. Toss everything that’s expired and give away everything you didn’t use in the last year. (Write today’s date on every item so you’ll know next year if you actually used each item.) Put items back in pantry and label shelves. 
oh…an organized pantry is a BEAUTIFUL thing
via Real Simple
via GharExpert
One cannot have too many jars and canisters. Looks better and keeps food fresher than boxes and bags. I will cut off the label on the box and tape it to the lid of a jar if it’s something I might have trouble identifying later.
via PrettyShabby on Flickr
Keep a clipboard in your pantry to jot down any staples you are running low on.
via Martha Stewart
Outfit a Drawer. Double the storage capacity inside a cabinet by adding freestanding wire shelves. Measure your cabinet interiors before heading to the home center or choose expandable shelves. Include riser-style inserts for small items such as spices or glassware.
Utilize Cabinet Doors. Evaluate the interior of every cabinet door and determine whether you can use the space to store spices, loose recipes, paper towels, or utensils. Add shallow shelves, racks, wall-mount pouches, and magnetic or cork boards.
Living in small NYC kitchens I learned early on to utilize the inside of cabinet doors, closet doors, etc. to store things.
Genius! Use tension rods to separate and divide lids, trays, and baking sheets.
2 above via BHG
Add Hooks. Install a utensil bar or metal grid above or beside your stove. Dangle five to eight frequently used utensils from S-hooks. Include a small wire basket to hold salt, pepper, cooking spray, and oil.
via Martha Stewart
I love the nook for the mixer and toaster!
great use of island space – installing bookshelves on the side. I don’t know what the TV is doing their though.
2 above via BHG
Go to BHG to see the upcoming/past months’ storage plans.
A GORGEOUS Barcelona apartment you don’t want to miss
While searching Apartment Therapy for some eye candy the other night I fell in love with the 2010 Small Cool International Winner. This apartment is small on square feet but big on beauty.
I ADORE this beautiful reading room. Plenty of books, a big comfy couch, what else do you need?
For small bedrooms a bed like this one with under bed storage is the best use of space
So pretty – love the lighting!
Do you agree?
Unique, vintage inspired housewares
I’m really excited to introduce to you guys my news advertiser, Abodent. Their forte is a wide selection of adorable and chic drawer pulls and knobs, but they also have gorgeous tableware, pillows, and other small housewares. If you like shabby chic, vintage, or just unique things – I’m sure they’ll have something you like. And if you use the code from the ad on my sidebar – 10DECO you will save 10%. Another nice perk is they ship to many different countries. Check out all the goodies at Abodent.
Here are some of my favs
A potpourri of modern but cozy interiors
I’ve put together a little collection here of some interiors that I thought were modern, but still felt like home. They are peaceful, light-filled, and lovely. What do you think?
I like the shelf above the bed
a nice, bright work space
very french chic with an industrial twist
the rug is a bit much for me, but I like that this room isn’t over-staged.
A potpourri of modern but cozy interiors
I’ve put together a little collection here of some interiors that I thought were modern, but still felt like home. They are peaceful, light-filled, and lovely. What do you think?
I like the shelf above the bed
a nice, bright work space
very french chic with an industrial twist
the rug is a bit much for me, but I like that this room isn’t over-staged.
The benefits of built-ins and fitted furniture done right
There are many advantages to choosing fitted home furniture. One of the biggest advantages of this type of furniture is the amount of space that you can access compared with free-standing furniture. Many people are increasingly pressed for space in their homes, with items of furniture that are full to the brim. This means that any extra items that need to be stored often end up causing clutter on the floor or being left on the top of wardrobes and desks, getting covered in dust. This is of course impractical, as it leaves you with less surface area and also negatively impacts on the appearance of your home, making it look messy and uninviting.
A Real Transformation
Fitted furniture, however, transforms the look of your home, making use of every inch of your room for storage, unlike free-standing furniture which will almost always leave huge, wasted spaces in comparison. With fitted home furniture, not only do you get to eliminate the excess clutter for a much cleaner, tidier appearance, but the furniture itself also makes your home look more seamless, with wardrobes that stretch from floor to ceiling. You benefit from furniture with smooth lines and no ugly gaps. This can be a particular issue when you are looking for furniture for a room that is of an awkward shape, for example one that has tricky alcoves or that is impeded by a sloping ceiling, the latter obviously a frequent issue for renovated attics.
Since I work from home, a nice home office is a must. When I finally settle down and decide to live somewhere for more than one year, I will definitely be investing in an awesome desk and shelf system. I LOVE built in bookshelves.
What a gorgeous entertainment room – rooms which are often so hard to make gorgeous!
If my closet were half this orderly and efficient I’d be a happy girl.
Versatile Furniture
Fitted furniture can also be incredibly versatile. Remember that this type of furniture can be made to measure, meaning that you do not have to settle for the shape of furniture that you see on the manufacturer’s website! There are many fitted home furniture designers who can create ingenious solutions for your room so that space can be freed up in ways you never thought possible. This allows you to create a solution for each room so that not an inch of space is ever wasted in any part of your house. The space that becomes available as a result actually makes each room look bigger, along with being much more appealing due to the outstanding individual designs you can request on custom-made furniture.
A wide range of fitted furniture can be purchased, meaning that you can make your home look truly seamless by introducing the same style to different areas of your house, from bedrooms and box rooms to loft conversions and guest rooms.
disclosure: this post is sponsored by Neville Johnson
Check out this Chinatown work/live loft.
While I don’t know if I could live in a loft, or in a space this sparse. I can still appreciate the good clean design and serene environment. What do you think?
I love the modern retro, wood furnishings used throughout the loft.
Great workspace, great light
via Loft Life Mag
Using interior design to increase your home’s value
Put simply, yes it can! Interior design projects are great for making your house look the way you want it to and feel like home, but new interior design is also a great way to boost your home’s value.
Obviously a new kitchen or bathroom suite will increase your property value, as modern fixtures and fittings are always more desirable than used, old ones. But the changes don’t have to be as extreme or as costly as this.
Making your home look more appealing can be as simple as adding a fresh coat of paint, cleaning the carpets or just getting new curtains. The more aesthetically pleasing your home is the more interest it will attract from potential buyers and therefore will increase in value.
However, although new decor will usually increase a property’s value there can be cases in which it doesn’t. When prospective buyers view a house they want to see a blank canvas to put their own mark on, so make sure to decorate with natural tones and universally appealing fixtures. You may think bright yellow with orange spots is beautiful but there are those who would disagree!
All of these images demonstrate homes that would show well. Keep personal or quirky items out of sight so potential buyers can see themselves living there.
via LivingEtc.
You should also weigh up the increase in value with the initial design costs. A new kitchen or bathroom may increase the property’s value but the increase could be less than the cost of the new fixtures! What’s more, you will also have to think about the cost of labour and the impact on your home insurance cover.
My advice would be, if you are staying put for a while and will get to enjoy the new decor than go for it! You will get use out of it and in the long term the value of your property will be healthier because of it. If however you are looking for a quick bump up in value before you move, stick to small improvements that won’t cost an arm and a leg but will still have a slight impact.
disclosure: this post is sponsored by fresh! home insurance