home tour

Dear readers, as you know I gave up my beloved studio apartment almost two months ago. It's been an adjustment learning to live with someone. It's all good, but I do miss decorating my apartment and fantasize about decorating my own place once again. I have a small, cozy bedroom, so I've been having fun styling it. Of course, I keep moving my pottery around. I hope one day to hit on an arrangement I love so much, I never feel compelled to move it again. I just know that Nirvana can be found in the perfect arrangement of vases. Here's a tour of my new digs.
The best part is I have a studio set up in the basement. Now I don't have to worry about making a mess! I also have an office set up. It's not very glamorous, but it is very organized. I can find anything. I'd like to have some industrial shelving to put my bins on, but I'm not sure how long I will be living here, so am not really purchasing anything.

One of the hardest things about learning to live with someone is their knick-knacks. Fortunately, my brother is very neat and lives simply. He has his collectibles centralized, and they are actually kinda cool. I'm learning a lot about Harleys and tatts.

One of the nice things my brother did for me is make room for my stuff. Here is my little corner of the living room. I let him pick out which of my paintings to hang. This is his favorite. He's very proud of the modern black lamp, which he found at a garage sale. If this place were mine, I would paint and rip up that carpet.

Here's my little, cozy bedroom. It's hard to photograph because it's so small. There's a dresser from the previous owner which I love! Since I lived a small studio, I went without a dresser for a long time. I'd love to put a fresh coat of white paint on it.

Some days it looks like this, depending on my mood.

I am constantly restyling this little corner, and this is where I display my latest painting.

Some vases on the dresser. Love print by Jessie.

This cute little table is also from the previous owner. I'd love to paint it in a funky color, like hot pink or yellow.I have my prayer beads hanging in the corner. Also the previous owner left the cutest curtains. I like living simply, but I also like beautiful things. The home is humble, but very comfy and I am grateful to my brother for inviting me to stay.

I want to meet ... Antonio Ballatore

Like many of you design lovers I was about to give up on HGTV. The shows are boring. Boring! What's up with all the real estate shows? I'll admit I might be biased by my recent bout with unemployment and poverty, but I don't care about rich young kids buying their first home. I mean, a young single woman buying in the Caribbean with a budget of $450,000! I mean get real. Okay, I have to admit that Mike Holmes is cool, but his show is just about unwatchable because of all the commercials. Then I discovered a marvelous invention called On Demand. Maybe you've heard of it. Seriously, I'm a Netflix viewer so I didn't know about this. Stumbling through On Demand one day I discovered The Antonio Treatment. Maybe I'll give HGTV one more chance.

The show is hosted by fresh designer Antonio Ballatore. Antonio is totally hot. He's a kind, laid back, down-to-earth hipster. His crew are all hipsters too. I love that his English bull dog, Chewie is on set, and I love his relationship with his artist father. Antonio's designs are fearless and fun. There's a bit of whimsy, but they are simple too. After watching him do an organic zen design for a young couple in LA (episode 1:09), I scoured the internet for videos of him. Here's a really cool one where he redesigns a shop in Silverlake (link). It's awesome. Here's one where he does an update for a couple in love with 50s style, complete with turquoise walls, pink cabinets and blue fridge (link).

Antonio and I share some of the same design sensibilities. For example, I think almost anything can be improved with a can of pink spray paint.

Even a rhino head.

Or 50s style geese. I love the use of white with hot pink pops in this room. Love the brown wall, the white art glass vases and the silver pops. And that acrylic table, drool. It's funky and simple too.

Antonio and I also share a love of organization. Here's an office he designed. Again, really cool but simple too. I am in love. I want Antonio to do my next apartment. Antonio, can I come work for you?

blog redesign

Happy Friday dear readers! By now you've probably noticed my fab new blog design. I love it! The design is by blogger friend Jessie, of My Mod Style. Jessie is a budding designer and if you want her help, you better ask now. I predict she is going to get very popular and very, very busy. She also has a great new website.

Check out her atomic ranch, it's awesome. I've written about Jessie's use of color many times on this blog, because frankly it's ahem, fab. Thanks so much for your help Jessie! I love the new design! xxoo

my three favorite decorating styles

Dear readers, as you know whenever I think of decorating a space, I always think of pink. It's my favorite color so it always starts there. Then I consider my three favorite decorating styles: Shop Chic, Shabby Minimal and Edgy Femininity. These are terms I coined myself. Each of these styles are modern, casual and have Bohemian influences. And the best part is they can be done on a budget!

Shop Chic

This is a look with mannequins, mirrors, maybe costume jewelry strewn about. It looks like projects are always going on. Definitely an artist's look, you can see artists brainstorming here. It has an intentionally undecorated look. A good look for a live/work space. Image via The Vintage Laundress.

Shabby Minimal

My other favorite style evolved from my college days, when we took things off the curb and painted them. We were doing Shabby Chic, long before Rachel Ashwell coined the phrase. Shabby Minimal is an intentionally nonchalant approach to decorating, you don't have to worry about putting your feet on the sofa or spilling your drink. Some elements are empty frames, propped paintings, unexpected materials used for rugs, no attempt at hiding cords. To see a couple of cute rooms done in this style click here.

Edgy Femininity

My current favorite. The rooms are very feminine, but not sweet. They have an edge, maybe a couple of dark influences for mystery or romance. Pink is very prominent, especially hot pink. As you know, pink is not just a girly color, it can be used in a modern way.

Some other elements that work well with this style are pops of black, acrylic accents and white floors. I adore white floors! Image featured previously, here.

Love these pink walls with the white sofa. Love the ghost chair. Featured previously, here.

Other prominent features of Edgy Femininity are the use of enlarged fashion illustration, and black accent walls. Image featured previously, here. Stay tuned for an upcoming post featuring a mood board done in this style. To learn more about my rules for decorating, click here. I am available for the following consulting services: color consultations, decorating on a budget, finding your unique style, finding art for your space as well as organizational tips. If you'd like my help, drop me an email. I'd love to hear from you! xxoo

new painting

Untitled, 2010. 24" x 24", acrylic on canvas. This painting falls into the simple-but-not-easy category. I love my graphic works the best, but they are the most difficult to execute. They are never as perfect as I'd like. This painting is influenced by the bold, geometric work of Stephen Ormandy. I spent some time below describing the beautiful home of Stephen Ormandy and Louise Olsen. The objects in the picture are influenced by the fab organic pieces they have in their home (see below). I wanted to add a few organic pieces, but wanted to do it on the cheap. These are from TJ Maxx. I adore looking at beautiful homes in magazines, but you don't have to spend a lot of money to create a fab look.

resin, baby

I know how it is, dear readers. After seeing the resin bracelets as sculpture, in Laura Olsen and Stephen Ormandy's home (featured below), you too want a resin bracelet sculpture. I know I do. But after visiting Dinosaur Design's wonderful website, you feel disappointed because you don't want to spend $250 for a bracelet. Well don't despair. Here's the solution - Resign Resin Design. Fortunately, the artist is having a love affair with resin. She makes fab bracelets, and they are reasonably priced!

Now you too can construct a resin bracelet sculpture. I'm fascinated by resin - I'll take one of each please! I'd like a resin bowl in hot pink, maybe I'll contact Resign to see if she does custom orders. Please let me know if you click over to Resign's shop and make a purchase. I enjoy supporting online artists. xxoo

elements of a beautiful home

There's nothing more beautiful than a home filled with art. Large paintings, organic and sculptural elements. In fact, furniture is not as important as art in my humble opinion. But clutter won't do. Below I wrote about the home of Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy of Dinosaur Designs. Their home is a perfect example in living with art. I'm so inspired by their home, I thought we should take a look at some of the elements making it up. Let's break it down, shall we?

Olsen and Ormandy's have added the most wonderful white organic elements to their decor. The legged ceramic piece is by Dedece and the piece to the right is vintage Murano glass. Very expensive.
Stephen Ormandy's work is too fab.

Their home also boasts some work by another fab, geometric painter, Gemma Smith. Images via Design Boom.



Pure chair porn. They have a Fresh Fat chair by Tom Dixon.

Dinosaur Designs make the most wonderful resin pieces (but horribly expensive). I love resin. I love the installation pieces, and that last pic is a doll house design! My Barbie's home never looked that good! Just goes to show you what creative artists can do with their home, especially when money is no object. But how do those of us with limited budgets create an environment like this? No worries, dear readers, over the next few days I will show you how.

Influence - Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy of Dinosaur Designs

The home of Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy of Dinosaur Designs as featured in Australia Vogue Living (Jan/Feb 2010) is downright perfect! I could move in and wouldn't change a thing! It has me swooning.

It's light and airy. With beautiful art everywhere, yet it's not cluttered. The entry way boasts a large painting by abstract painter extraordinaire Gemma Smith. There are also paintings by Stephen Ormandy everywhere. I love his painting which hangs in the dining room.

And this one.

And this one! I love all the white in the home, and love pops of yellow in otherwise all white rooms.


Normally I don't like groupings, but this one is done very well. And I love vertical stacks of magazines. The low scale helps keep the stacks from looking too cluttered.

Their company, Dinosaur Designs, makes the most fab resin bracelets and vases. I love the look of displaying bracelets like sculpture. And check out the chair to right. The Fresh Fat chair by Tom Dixon. Be still my heart.

Want...

The Kate Spade Camelia Avenue Posy vase by Lenox, has me drooling. You already know that I love hot pink, and it's so hard to find pink vases that also look modern. Most have frilly details. I like a simple vase, in a simple shape (although the gold lip is a bit frilly, wish it didn't have that). The only problem with this one is its size. Only 3 1/2 inches tall. Wish it were larger. Still thinking about ordering though...

Color Inspiration

Primary colors blue and yellow look surprisingly great with pink. Pink looks great with yellow. Yellow looks great with black, white and gray. Here are some photos that are inspiring me.

Top row: installation art by Anish Kapoor. Middle row: bricks by Heath Ceramics, cut out flower by David Stark via Design*Sponge. Bottom: pink tank by Maurycy Gomulicki at Pink Not Dead project; peace tank by Joachin Buchberger Productions. Excuse me the canvas is calling....