Blog Page 316

Awesome furniture sale at Rue La La – great rugs!

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Rue La La doesn’t often have furniture/home decor sales, so I thought I had to share this one with you, as it has some good steals in it. The sale features Safavieh furnishing, and best of all, some really glam rugs. If you like what you see – click on the following link to log in to Rue La La, or if you aren’t a member , sign up for free and get great discounts. Stuff sells out fast!

Click here to shop – http://www.ruelala.com/invite/decorology


I love this blue rug – reminds me of the rugs in Morocco. The rug prices vary, this one, at 3’9″ by 5’9″, is $129





The settee’s on sale for $1,499

This set of tables is $139

Check out this gorgeous vintage tablescape…

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In Nesting Newbies, a shiny new online mag – lifestyle, food, entertaining, decor, etc. – they featured interior designer Jennifer Rowland Clapp and the magic she whipped up in the form of this gorgeous dining room. She shows – and tells- how to take the chintzy stuff you probably already have in your basement and turn it to a modern, glam set up. First – lets get your attention…


pretty right?


Jennifer’s favorite shopping resource is Etsy, and one of her tips is that “contrast is key, and her rules for achieving it: ‘reuse, repurpose, and have fun- balance, clean, modern pieces with ornate, vintage items; and don’t overload the table’.”


What I love about this look is that your stuff doesn’t need to match – in fact, it is the variety which creates a modern spin on the look.

Like what you see? There’s tons more in their online 2010 issue. Go to the Nesting Newbies site to see it! The beautiful photos are by Natalie Wi, Allure West Studios

Morocco Series: A tour of my favorite Moroccan guest house

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In between hostel stays, Chris and I treated ourselves to a night in the Riad Lalla Mogador, in the city Essaouira. It’s actually priced really reasonably and just feels like a treat!

*please be patient during photo upload – I’ve specially uploaded higher-res images so you guys get extra detail! 🙂


Our room was very authentic and the furnishings reflected the craft/artisan trade that flourishes in Essaouira

Outside our room


Traditional Moroccan homes have no roof in the center, and an open courtyard area in the middle.


The second floor halls


Looking up from the second floor


Plenty of nooks to relax


You take your brunch on the roof, which has some great views – see the beach in the back?

See lots more gorgeous photos at their site, http://www.riadlalla-essaouira.com/

*All photos taken by my boyfriend, Chris

** I am by no means an expert and after 7 days of running around Morocco please feel free to correct me if any information I give in the Morocco Series is incorrect!

A really simple, gorgeous way to decorate for Spring

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I know …Spring? Who am I kidding? It’s snowing outside right now as I’m typing. Maybe one day Spring will come, and when it does, you should try this really cute idea. It’s from Southern Living Feb. 2010, which revamped their look a few months ago, and I’m really liking all the issues so far!

These two photos are so pretty. If you have woods or trees on your property you could even create your own bouquets.

Click on the image above for a larger version with the names of the flowers. From top left: star magnolia, saucer magnolia, yoshino flowering cherry, flowering quince, forsythia, and eastern redbud (You can get these giant glass vases at vivaterra)


Click on each image above for a larger version of the instructions

This is a good idea- use strands of grapevine to support the stems. I like the look
Images via Southern Living Feb. 2010

Yummy treats from my weekend in Boston

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After being in Spain, the land of gorgeous architecture, I stopped for a weekend in the land of comfort food -Boston. And at a hunger inducing 14 degrees, I was more than open to the idea of stopping in every cafe we walked by. Comfort was found in the form of cannolis, the foamiest chocolate drizzled cappuccinos one can find, and savory morning dim sum.

I was in Boston visiting my good friend from RISD, Liz – who is a very talented illustrator – see here, and has just started a great food blog. So if you’re ever in Boston, or live there, and need a restaurant recommendation – go to her blog, Chomp Chow Chew, for some great ideas- and a little appetite stimulus.

The pictures below are from my trip and can be found on Chomp Chow Chew.


Check out the cappuccino to the top left.
Read about our stop at Mike’s Pastry here.

I also had my first taste of Dim Sum! Read about it on the Dim Sum Sunday post.



mmmm…those dumplings would really hit the spot right now. Thanks for a wonderful time Liz!

Sneaky – but pretty ways to organize your kitchen

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Need I go into a lot of explanation? Very few people have enough kitchen space and we can all use a few new tricks to put up our sleeve.

I like this cabinet door that drops down and hides the mixer and/or toaster. Once those things (small kitchen appliances) go in a cupboard or in a drawer they aren’t coming back…

I like these floor to ceiling cabinets. They’re sleek with frosted glass – and the u-shaped shelves create even more space


organization is beautiful – beautiful is organization

If you are thinking or re-modeling – consider this sweet little coffee nook..

images above via BHG
tupperware is a nightmare – if you have a deep enough drawer, partition it if you can and create a “filing system” if you can. Put super small lids in their own little baskets.

Small kitchens cannot have enough hooks, bars, shelves – any device which lets you hang things or take items off the counter will not go unused.

Keep like items grouped – oils in their own container/basket, small bagged dry goods in another container/basket, etc.

An organizers dream cupboard…ahhh
via Real Simple

The blizzard at Chestnut Creek Farm

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Since Maryland has experience record snowfall this year (more than Buffalo, Maine, and all the normal record makers), I thought it warranted some pics. My parent’s farm, where I’m living this year, is about 65 acres, located in Westminster. I don’t know the official accumulations – but once both blizzards passed through we were around 40″.

Poor Remi could only go where we had cleared a path. It meant it was harder for him to run off, though… hehe

A lot of snow had accumulated on one side of our roof, because there were strong winds, you can see at the top of the kitchen window all the snow!

From the top of the lane

Here’s the lane after the second round of snow and with all drifts created by the wind. You can see my mom at the very end.

The veggie garden and the chicken coop behind it.

A shot of our road after it was plowed.

Help a reader with a decorate a condo-to-sell question! Pretty-please!

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I have a tough question for you guys!
“I’m decorating our friends condo that he just purchased…for resale purpose. My decorating style is modern but has to be comfortable, uncluttered especially for resale. He has to tear out the old drywall because Florida had a problem with Chinese drywall. He wants to add architectural detail to the living room before hanging the drywall. What can be done to a typical condo living room to add interest but without closing it off? How can he make his condo look different than the other condos in the complex so that when a buyer walks in it screams, buy me.”

This one is tough as I have very little (okay – no experience), with this sort of thing. Below are some ideas I have dug up that I think might work.

A. This would be for after the drywall is rehung, but “Another way to play up (or fake) architectural detailing in a room is with light. It’s a good idea to incorporate a mix of light sources, so if possible, try to bring in overhead lighting as well as floor and table lamps. If you’ve got a focal wall, washing that wall with downlight can add a lot of drama to the room, as can picture lights or lighting installed inside cabinetry. If you can switch out flush-mounted ceiling lights for a pendant or chandelier, do. Adding sconces might require some electrical work, but if you’re able to add the proper wiring, it can be worth the trouble. ” – via ehow (click to read the whole article)

B. “Don’t forget to look up. It’s common to leave ceilings white and paint or paper the walls, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But why not think beyond the walls and brighten up your ceiling with paint or wallpaper? Use the same color as the walls for a seamless look, or try something different; I like a glossy ceiling or a contrasting color or pattern. Depending on the style of your home, metal ceiling tiles can be a great, classic, yet modern look. They come in a range of styles, from simple to more ornate designs.” –via ehow (click to read the whole article) With this tip, remember to pick a “buyer friendly” paint color.

C. Since you’re style is modern – you may want to avoid moldings, wainscoting, and/or bead boards. One thing that really works for me is shelving – you can get very affordable modern shelving from places like Ikea, West Elm, and Crate & Barrel. Artfully adorn them with beautiful objects – nothing too large and distracting.

This image also shows another treatment – adorning one wall with wallpaper. Just make sure it’s a wallpaper design that is not too extreme in anyway – modern – but clean, as you want all potential buyers to like it.
via House to Home

This is a great overall example of modern, but still livable decorating. Also keep in mind window treatments! I don’t know what your living room has in the way of windows – but treatments (hard/and or soft) can make a huge impact.
via Domino Book of Decorating

I love the modern but cozy look of this room – the lighting and spine bookcase are very memorable.

via BHG

The two above images show how shelving and built-in nooks with lighting and make a big impact.
via From plus Function

I really hope this helps – please don’t hesitate to click on the “comments” link below and leave your ideas. PS: If you get your updates via email click here – http://decorology.blogspot.com/2010/02/help-reader-with-decorate-condo-to-sell.html and scroll down to the very bottom past all the other comments, and you’ll see a link to “Post A Comment”

Thanks!

Have a great weekend!

A coastal retreat form this harsh winter

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I’m definitely experiencing cabin fever being cooped up in the house for 7 days now. Luckily I have a big stack of design mags to get through. I found this tropical gem in the February issue of Coastal Living, and thought maybe you guys could use some eye candy as well. This property is on a small Grenadines island called Bequia.

The neighborhood is called “moonhole” because of this arch, from which one can see the moon set twice a year.
Images above via Coastal Living Feb. 2010 issue

The two homes on the property
image via Burke House



I’d love to be able to sleep with the windows open

Coastal Living Feb. 2010 issue




images via Burke House

I could spend all day out here
Coastal Living Feb. 2010 issue

You can actually stay at one of these houses on your next vaca! Go to Burke House or Tranquility Villa to see/read more!

A very cool new kitchen product – especially for tiny kitchens

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I got the privilege of testing out a new kitchen product, which I can attest is very cool and would be very beneficial in an apartment like those in NYC where one only has 1-2 cabinets. You can check out the site here, but I’ve also copied a synopsis:


“An Innovative Product”

FoldTuk is actually the first and only collapsible bakeware that can be used in conventional, convection, infrared, and microwave ovens due to its Green and petroleum free Ceramber material. It is airtight, stackable, dishwasher safe, and naturally nonstick (No non-stick coating applied), making it your most functional bakeware and cold storage container.

Ceramber heats up and cools down faster than silicone bakeware products. Unlike Corningware containers, the FoldTuk can collapse to a one-inch in height, saving valuable shelf space in your kitchen cabinet. The FoldTuk is very durable yet sturdy and has all the function benefits of Pyrex or Corningware. FoldTuks Ceramber construction allows it to transfer from deep freeze directly into a hot baking oven eliminating any risk of thermal impact…and it is 100% shatter proof. If the FoldTuk slips out of your hands as you empty the dishwasher, not to worry, FoldTuk is unbreakable and no damage will be done to you or your kitchen investments!

Want to be Green and have a giant savings on your utility costs? You can bake a meal, serve it directly to the mealtime table and save your leftovers all in the very same FoldTuk! In one meal preparation alone, you have contributed to the protection of our environment by reducing your use of electricity, soap and water.”


The cranberry apple crisp ready for the oven

Fresh out of the oven – and yes, it tasted delicious

I sealed up the leftovers (what little there were), and saved them in the fridge for the next night.

It cleaned up pretty easy, and as you can see, collapses for easy storage.

Again, you can see their other products and read more about it here – foldtukbakeware.com

Is this something you could use in your kitchen?