Chevron Pattern Everywhere

I have been seeing the chevron pattern or patterns similar to it everywhere lately and it is definitely one of my favorites!  I particularly love it in a hardwood floor layout.  Check out some ideas below.

Dress by one of my favorite interior designers, Kelly Westler, who has branched out into fashion.  This is a feather dress with the chevron pattern.

You could easily paint this pattern onto a dresser to spuce it up and make it more interesting. 

My favorite flooring

Zig Zag rug but it reminds me of the same pattern

Simply paint your wall this way to add so much interest to a boring space.  It is certainly less expensive than wallpaper.

Entries and Foyers....

If you are lucky enough to have a foyer you may be inspired by the ones pictured below done by Julia Buckingham Edelman and Summer Thornton both for Dream Home at the Merchandise Mart.  They were both my favorite spaces within dream home for the past two years.  Although we may not all be lucky enough to have a foyer in our home we all have some type of entryway even if you're a renter like myself.  The best thing about an entryway is you can make it as out there as you want.  It is the 1st impression someone gets as they walk into your home but it's not a space they're going to hang out in for long, so I say go as crazy as you want here.  Below are just a few of my favorites.

You can take inspiration from this foyer even if you have just a small entryway.  1st of all the vibrant modern artwork and interesting wallpaper can be done anywhere.  Or you may be able to fit in a narrow console table with sculptures as Julia Buckingham Edelman did here.

This foyer I posted about a year ago because I love it!  I love that it is inspired by Alice and Wonderland.  Again the walls are made incredibly interesting with wallpaper.  There is fascinating artwork and don't forget about the lighting here.  Check out the amazing vintage chandelier.

This picture is actually a dressing room, but I think the set up would work well for an entry.  A cute little side table and bench to pull out when you need something to sit on to pull on your chic boots.  Plus again with the fun pattered wallpaper.  This is the room to do it in!  First off you could do a busy, wild pattern in a space this small because it wouldn't be too overwhelming, plus you wouldn't go broke buying tons of rolls of paper either.

This is a cute more country farm house looking entryway/mudroom.  I love the rustic cabinet and the bright red painted doors.  The rug makes the room warm and cozy too.  It's a great busy pattern, which would help hide the dirt that would inevitably get dragged in living out in the country. 

Loving the orange paint here and unique artwork.  A great place to stash that extra chair too.

The perfect spot for a bench with extra storage underneath it.

This is Rita Konig's entryway and she felt that the wallpaper made it seem like the room went on and on rather than paint that makes your eye stop at the edges.  She also added the little table and a lamp to make it feel like it's own room.  I love that!  Especially when you live in a teeny tiny place.  You need to make each space special on it's own.




Of course, an entryway is also a great place to decorate for the seasons.  Here are two of my favorite images for Halloween and Christmas - why not add some twinkle lights.

Days of Summer

For many of you summer is drawing to an end - kids going back to school, teachers going back to work from a much needed summer vacation, and soon the weather will be changing to fall.  I have to say I am so ready for fall to be here since it is my favorite time of year and the Chicago heat is definitely not for me.  I do love the cooler summer evenings we start to get back this time of year as we ease into fall.  So, take advantage of it my dears!  Set up a gorgeous tablescape outdoors and enjoy the final days of summer with friends and family.  You can make your outdoor table just as chic as your dining room!  Just bring out some lanterns or candles, pretty dishes, comfy pillows and of course the wine and enjoy.  It is sure to spark up some great conversations of summer.

Industrial Chic Rooms

Here are a few rooms I found pretty interesting.  Three of the pictures below are from restaurants and inn's so keep in mind that those kind of places can really inspire your home decor as well.


This kitchen countertop is made out of cement and the home owner loves how it absorbs wine stains since it makes the place feel lived in, loved, and have more character.  I just love that.  Nothing too perfect.

I love all the stainless steel in this kitchen and the white.  It's great that they brought the wood table into the room otherwise it could feel a bit too cold.  Keep in mind mixing different textures and finishes to give the room more visual interest and to keep it from feeling too cold or the opposite with so many warm colors.  Mixing the two will make it more interesting. 

I hope to get to this restaurant soon!  It is called Girl and the Goat and quite a popular new restaurant in Chicago.  It has won design awards for the decor and I can see why.  I particularly love the light fixtures.  Notice the bright pop of color brought in with the fun art work. 

Another Chicago restaurant & mini hotel called Longman and Eagle brought in a bit of an industrial chic vibe.  They were inspired by inns that once were a part of Chicago.  The decor is very masculine but still warm and cozy.  I was able to have dinner there a few weeks back and really loved the restaurant vibe as well.

I had to throw in this picture of steps because they are amazing!  Would love to know who designed them.

More Industrial Chic.....Vintage Factory Carts

Although I have a lovely Herman Miller Noguchi Coffee Table in my living room, I would really love something more durable and rustic looking that you can really beat up and will look even better after all that use.  I have been eyeing these vintage factory carts for years now and wouldn't mind changing my coffee table up for one of these!  I happened to see one earlier this summer at the Randolph St. Flea Market in Chicago as well and unfortunately didn't get it then.

From Jayson Home and Garden in Chicago.  This one was actually salvaged from a Chicago factory

A lovely version from Restoration Hardware

On to Lighting

I have really been loving industrial looking lighting lately and in furniture design as well.  I just recently found out about these lights designed by Rafael Avramovich in New York.  This chandelier below happens to be my personal favorite.  You can go to the Work and Design website to see more of Avramovichs' work. 

I love this one pictured below as well from Lamp Cage in Toronto.

If you are in West Elm sometime soon be sure to check out all of their industrial chic pieces.  These pendants inspired by antique glass jars really stood out to me.

Tablescape of the Week

In keeping with the nature theme of the week I found this lovely tablescape that is very nature inspired and even the table seems to be outside on the edge of the woods.  It is the perfect time of year for that!  I love how they used simple plants that most people have around their house as the "floral" arrangements.  I have a couple ferns hanging on my balcony that would work perfectly for this.  No need to spend a fortune on flowers, you can just pull some things from your backyard.  If you click on the picture it will enlarge it for you and you will see the party favors on the plates are cootie catchers!  I had totally forgotten how to make those, but I think they were pretty easy to do when I was a kid.  Click here for a tutorial.  All you'd need is paper.  Hope this gives you some ideas for entertaining this weekend.  Happy Friday y'all! 

Cheers to the Freakin' Weekend

Here it is almost the weekend again!  I will be celebrating at a wedding this weekend, seeing great friends and family.  So cheers everyone to a happy weekend!  Yes it's Thursday still but Friday is the start of my weekend.  I have a thing for bar carts lately and here is an adorable one.  I can't remember where I got this picture from now, but I just love it and even saved it in my "house inspiration" file for my own house someday.  The bar cart is actually an old laundry cart and I love how they added a pretty lamp to it.  I also adore the plates and the way they are arranged as an art piece.  So, no need to use traditional framed artwork for each wall.  Get creative in your display of random plates! 

'Til The Cows Come Home

This may be my last day of nature inspired theme for the week, but we shall see.  Another thing I have been seeing a lot of lately is cows!  I actually lived on a farm with cows when I was little so they are rather endearing to me and apparently to others also.  Enjoy the ideas below. 

Love this cozy fireplace and the art work!

From my new favorite wallpaper source walnutwallpaper.com

Saw this amazing artwork done by Illinois artist Sue Skowronski at the Evanston Art Festival this summer

This kitchen has been in my inspiration kitchen file for a while.  Again with a fantastic cow painting.  I love the modern style of the kitchen but it still feels like it could be a farm house :)

Communing With Nature.....Horses

Perhaps it's because I grew up on a farm and currently live in the city that I love to surround myself with things that remind me of nature and animals.  I was lucky enough to grow up with horses and had a love for them since probably the day I was born.  Girls especially have a special bond with horses, so here are some fun ways to add that love to your decor.

Book ends from West Elm

Wallpaper from www.walnutwallpaper.com

West Elm Dinnerware

Anthropologie Neclace

Art work from Lucie Phillips

A modern take from Kelly Wearstler's Foyer

Communing With Nature......Owls

I developed an obsession with owls quite some time ago and now it seems they are everywhere, so I must not be the only one in love with them.  I was lucky enough to just get an owl coffee mug as a gift and drink my coffee out of it all the time!  Here are a few other items on my wish list.

Book Ends

Letter Holder

Wallpaper

Plate

In order of appearance owls from:  Barnes and Noble, Urban Outfitters, West Elm, Urban Outfitters, Kaboodle, Anthropolgie, and Anthropologie again.