Pretty Things I Discovered Today

I didn't have any class today and my boyfriend is out of town...aka I was super productive today and still had time to peruse my favorite design blogs :) I also worked on several pieces of furniture for my house (3 projects going at once, yikes!), maybe I'll post before and afters if they turn out the way they are in my head (if only...). Anyway, here's what I found to be pretty today:

Bright Bazaar posted these images from Zara Home...if only they shipped in the US. I'm loving the blue of the trunk with the brass--I'm trying to do a similar color combo on a coffee table currently. The silver side tables are pretty awesome as well.

I can't even describe how beautiful I find this artwork. I forgot to write down the artist's name and I'm kicking myself!

Suitcases under a bed make nice, pretty-to-look-at storage

I know this pic is all over the web but I still love it. Makes the dirty/worn floors seem more intentional.

Turns out kmart.com has these chairs for like $174 for two....unfortunately even that awesome deal is out of my price range but I am really loving the look.

High Gloss magazine debuted this week and gave us this beautiful kitchen to drool over. I think those are the same pendants as in Made By Girl Jen Ramos' kitchen....love them!

This is really just to prove the point I made last post...that a library card catalog could be an awesome room divider!

I've seen lots of variations on painting staircases but I like how personal this could be, if you put lyrics from meaningful songs or your favorite sayings.

This would be a good, easy gift to make for the winos in your life...I'm talking to you, Chile people!

Loooove this kitchen table...I wonder how they did it? It's like a chicer version of what I did to my table. I also like that turquoise buffet....not so crazy about the grandma-esque red wallpaper though...

So that's what inspired me today!

2 rooms I can't get enough of

The below two images have been seen on probably every interior design blog EVER (including mine)...for good reason. Every time I run across them on another blog I notice something else that I love. Here, I'll show you....

Things I love:

• The blue zebra curtains that are a wild pattern but somehow come off calm (perhaps because they're paired with an even-more-wild wallpaper?)
• the little bedside table. I love ring pulls (I think they always look classy), plus today I was thinking about how you could easily DIY this from an Ikea dresser/bedstand. I'd do it for my boyfriend, paint it black, then paint the edges of the doors and the ring pulls white (see how the drawers kind of look how they were edged in black? That was my inspiration :)
• the multitude of colors that are in this room without being overwhelming or matchy-matchy.
• The gold frame that picks up the gold at the base of the blue lamp
• the cane-backed white chair
• the simple linens (anything patterned or colored would be too much here)

I'd love to see the rest of this room!

Things I love in this room:

• The giant framed wallpaper. You could frame this in pretty easily by using decorative floorboard...I like this option since I'm renting and can't wallpaper (actually, also because I don't like permanent wallpaper...I think it's too much work when I tend to change up my decor frequently).
• The coffee table that could be an easy DIY...get legs from Home Depot, some MDF and batting, and a pretty fabric and voila! If you want to get real fancy you could use buttons for a tufted look...
• The mismatching pillows that bring hits of color
• the metal filing cabinet used as an end table....would be even better painted (hot pink perhaps? Gold?)
• The modern couch with the more traditional/fancy chandelier and chair

I think the reason both of these rooms work so well is because they are layer after layer of goodness....something I'm trying to work on in my own duplex :)

More DIY inspiration

Made using a dropcloth and projector

Another chic example of using an army cot for a table....I like it with the trays on top better though

I want to have Vinny make me a jewelry tree similar to the one third from the bottom....ohhh the perks of dating a graphic designer :)

Cute dresser...easily made with the unfinished Ikea dresser, can't remember it's name though.

I like using this card catalog to section off the room. I wouldn't do it like this (I think it makes the room cramped) but it would be good in a long room where you were trying to break up zones. Lots of designers use chaise lounges to do that...I think this would be a fresher and more functional option.

Painted, striped floors would be great in a kid's playroom someday.

Love this 'love' headboard made from reclaimed fence planks. I wonder if it's scratchy/snags their linens though?

Tray made out of large picture frame...I'm thinking of making one for my boyfriend so we can watch movies on his computer in bed without it overheating :)

Romantic yet graphic. I like it.

Not so much a DIY, I just really like the boho/comfy feel of this room....it feels pleasantly lived-in!

One last thing: I've seen people paint the edges of their doors a different color, like a hot pink or bright green, and I like that it lends a little happy color surprise. Since I rent I can't do that, but I thought maybe you could find colored duct tape and put it on the edges? Just a thought...

The Power of Blue

This room would be boring without any of the hits of blue

I don't know what it is about this room but those blue drapes totally make it.

Cute without the blue....smashing with.

Blue goes awesome with anything. What a cheery livingroom!

Washed out prettiness.

Sex in the city glam.

I love how multidimensional this dark midnight/teal blue is

Rustic but not predictable.

Teal goodness makes the mirror pop.

I want pretty sky-blue couches....they can go with anything. I promise.

See? Love those white chairs with amazing fabric too.

Blue plus magenta....so good.

Jonathan Adler takes on my favorite hue...I love how they're all different shades of blue to keep it interesting.

More DIY ideas

Buy 2 lack side tables instead of one coffee table

Watercolor a canvas then draw in Sharpie over it

Use tissue paper to recreate a cityscape of Vina

Self explanatory

Little colored booties on the feet of a chair/bench

City outline, very simple

Long fabric banners--could be cheap from dropclothes and painted

Card display from frame plus string

Wood stump side table

Garland

Map on tabletop?

Simple....cut out of multicolored paper

Mobile made of paper cranes

Relaxed painting

Pretty new computer...

....means I should play around with it and show you pretty images, no? I got a Macbook Air as part of my bomb new job and it's going to be hard to give back to the university once my time there is up....it's so pretty. And thin. And light. And NEW. And did I say pretty?

Here are a few things that caught my eye today. Unrelated, yes. Pretty? Also yes.

First up....this amazingly unique engagement ring. One of my best friends is looking at rings with her boyfriend (so exciting!) and she told me to look up Knox Jewelers, based in my very own Minnesota--Minneapolis, to be exact. They specialize in custom rings....I would kill for this ring, with a big ol' diamond in the center. So different!

Sexy sexy patent leather bench, I'm looking at you. Just like you intended, dammit. Sneaky bitch.

Lastly, I thought this was a cool idea to (as the small print in the upper left says) make this little reading corner seem bigger and purposeful, less like a forlorn corner that nobody wants to get banished to. So cheery! I love paint :)

I've got a few tricks up my sleeve DIY-wise so perhaps I will post some before and afters one day. I'm crazy-busy the rest of the week but I'll check in sometime soon I'm sure!