Step 2: Discovering Your Style

An important part of decorating your home, whether it be on your own or with the help of a designer, is to try to narrow down your personal style.  It may sound easy, but most people spend decades uncovering and refining their aesthetic.  Looking at a magazine and saying I like that, that, and that is simple, but it's quite another thing to look at a picture of a room you like and ask yourself, "Is this how I want to live 365 days a year?" 
My mom has been gathering inspiration for years and it was exciting for me to sift through all of her collected photos and clippings.  As far as style goes, the apple didn't fall too far from the tree.  It's no surprise that much of my own style was heavily influenced by my mamas and shuffling through her inspiration was a lesson on both hers and my own personal style.  Although we like many of the same things, there were quite a few pictures that I would not have chosen on my own.  Where I like funky, my mom opts for preppy.  Where I like rustic and industrial, she prefers quaint and coastal.   I have gathered an assortment of photos that I felt best described my mom's "style."   I don't know where all of them came from, so I apologize in advance.

Better Homes & Gardens

Better Homes & Gardens

Cottage Living

Cottage Living

Cottage Living

Domino Magazine

Best Desk'd

There is nothing like a good desk to get the creative juices flowing.  The very computer on which I type sits on a desk that I've had since college and, although this trusty desk has withstood beer spills, many a midterm and numerous relocations,  I see it everyday and think, "Hmph. How could I make you better Mr. Desk?"  I changed the knob and put the idea of a new desk in my back pocket to revisit later, but this new kitchen project has once again got me thinking about a new workspace.  You see, my mom's kitchen reno involves a desk and workspace for her laptop, etc. and we have been scouring the Internet for just the right one that will fit snugly underneath her window.  We were initially going to continue the countertops and just do a drop down with legs bought from Martha Stewart, the same lady who's making the cabinets.  This was the plan until we found out that these stems were going to cost more than $500 big ones.  So, plan B.  A desk that will fit perfectly between the cabinets on either side of the window.  After searching high and low, here are some of my favorites:

Stainless Steel Work Bench, Global Industrial, $397.95

Besta Burs Desk, IKEA, $249

Parsons Desk with Drawer, WestElm, $399

Lucille Writing Desk, Horchow, $2499

Prentice Desk, Jayson Home & Garden, $950

Delano Desk, Target, $119.99

urbn Trestle Desk, ABC Home, $695

Bedford Rectangular Desk Set, Pottery Barn, $699

Quovis Work Table, DesignWithinReach, $1500

Fulton Desk, Crate & Barrel, $799



Summer Here, Summer Not

I finally got a chance to flip through my March House Beautiful that's been sitting on my ottoman for probably a month now.  (This gives you an idea of how busy I am right now and why I've been kind of MIA)  Anyway, with summer right around the corner, I can't wait for flip flops and barbeques and I was delighted by a Bridgehampton home decorated by Ellen O'Neill that made me hanker for the fourth of July!  It is so light and casual and I do say that if when I have a summer home, this is what it shall look like.

All images House Beautiful magazine via housebeautiful.com

Mailboxes, etc.

Mailboxes are like bellybuttons, everybody's got one.  And lately, I've had mailboxes on the brain.  I don't know why I'm so fascinated with mailboxes as most of them are pretty ordinary and boringly utilitarian.  Rarely will you find a mailbox that stands out and makes you think, "What a neat mailbox.  I'd really like to find a mailbox like that."  My father lives in a neighborhood where all the mailboxes are exactly the same.  He says that's why he likes it there.  My mom has no mailbox, but a door slot instead where the mailman drops catalogues and bills.  I have a mailbox that looks much like many of the others in my neighborhood. I once knew an artist who had met Mel Gibson and decided to paint Mel Gibson's various characters on a mailbox and send it to Gibson himself. 
There's really nothing mystical about mailboxes, but these artists make my latest fascination seem wondrous and whimsical.

Teal Mailbox by Etsy seller BucksCountyFrames

Empty Box by Etsy seller elephantdreams

Love Letters by Etsy seller skippydesigns

Holly's Mailbox by Etsy seller emmakisstina



Gratatouille

They say an object in motion stays in motion and lately I have been running on sheer momentum.  I've been so caught up in life that I've forgotten how to live.  And then suddenly, a bump in the road.  An occurrence that was at the time frustrating and inconvenient and even quite worrisome.  Nothing tragic, just annoying and without explanation.  It seemed to happen for no good reason, except in hindsight it wasn't just any bump in the road, but a speed bump placed strategically and deliberately to say, "Slow down, Bruce Lee, you're moving too fast."  And so in finding my way back from this small detour, I looked to some "places" I often go in situations like this and I was reminded of the importance of gratitude.  Simran Singh says, " Look for the opportunities within your obstacles NOT the obstacles within your opportunities."  I am so thankful for this speedbump, which was an opportunity disguised as an obstacle put in place to remind me that life is playful, delight in it.  Routines cause ruts and sometimes losing focus is a good thing.

Here is some artwork by artist Sebastiaan Bremer that I find playful, hopeful and just plain delightful.  Enjoy.

Artwork by Sebastiaan Bremer via bumbumbum.me

It's Friday! Orange-Almond Tart

My mind is moving faster than my fingers can type and I have so much to share, but I am of course running behind schedule and have to make it to a six o'clock hot yoga class (much needed).  So instead of going on about this or that, I am going to once again rave about Dorie Greenspan's cookbook Around My French Table.  I recently joined French Fridays with Dorie and have been cooking along with the weekly recipes.  If you are a food lover, a new cook, a veteran foodie or anywhere in between, I recommend joining- it's quite fun and the recipes are to die for.  This week's dish was the Orange-Almond Tart and it is my favorite thing I have made to date.  As per the FFWD rules, I am not allowed to share the recipes on my blog (oops) but this one is too good not to pass along, so if you're interested please send me a message or leave a comment and I'd be much obliged to help you out. (wink wink)  Don't be fooled by the crummy pictures I took, this tart is divine.  Happy weekend!

Step 1: Gather Inspiration

Tomorrow morning the "men" are coming to measure my mama's kitchen, which means this renovation is officially underway!  How exciting!!  We have been informally discussing plans and ideas for weeks now and I am looking forward to setting things in motion, but in the meantime, I need to get movin'!  I need to pull together samples, colors, fabrics, and assemble an idea board so that she can make additions and changes.  On Sunday, she brought over inspiration that she's been collecting for years.  I went through it and pulled out the images that I think best exemplify what she wants and what I envision for her space.  So, without wasting another minute...

Domino 

                                       Cottage Living

Cottage Living

                                     Cottage Living

                                     Cottage Living

Sable Breton with Berries that are Blue

Yet another recipe from Around My French Table that is absolutely fabulous.  Click here to visit Dorie Greenspan's blog and see this particular recipe.  I used 5-inch tart pans instead of the 9-inch pan called for in the recipe and reduced cooking time to 15-20 minutes.