Creativity Tuesday: The Apartment that Inspires.

I keep coming back to {this} Apartment Therapy home tour. Aside:  It's one of my personal goals to get my space featured onto A.T.. The space is located in a lovely loft, in down town L.A. What is it that piques my interest? The colors, the mixing of old and new, the feminine with masculine, and the odd with conservative. Basically it reminds me of my personal aesthetic motto. I really, REALLY want to move. Bryan and I have oodles of ideas for our next flat. Including some gorgeous vintage wall paper we've collected. I've been hunting for the perfect space for a while. I'm positive that I'll find, "the one." It just requires patience, which clearly I'm lacking. 

Creativity Tuesday: Curating My Personal Gallery.

I believe in surrounding oneself with beautiful things.  I believe in the healing power of art.  I believe in the energy of color, the majesty of composition, and the inspiration that even the tiniest of pieces can evoke.  The print above is my latest acquisition.  I have been vying for it for five weeks.  And as of last night, it's mine.  This gorgeous reprint was signed by the artist Mati Rose.  Her Etsy shop is linked {here.}  

I originally found the piece on a design blog boasting an adorable home office tour.  I saw the piece and fell in love. I then found the the artist's Etsy store, and determined I would buy the diamond after Christmas.  However, by chance I found the print at one of my favorite local stores, Reform School {here.}  This week my quest is to find a frame worthy of it's opponent.  I believe in jealously curating a personal gallery.

DIY Wall Paper.

Last week I was washed over with a fit of inspiration.  I plucked impressionist prints out of an old book that husband purchased for me.  I removed my polaroid wall as seen {here.}  And lined the dreamlike images in rows and columns, taping them to the wall with masking tape.  I'm in love.  It truly adds warmth and panache to our space.  More photos to come.  

Creativity Tuesday: DIY Seasonal Art.

Today I changed out my seasonal art frames.  See my fall display {here.}  For December I went for a graphing paper background.  I hot glued the Hades out of the backs of two pinecones.  With my fridge finally updated, my Christmas decor has been made complete.  I'm utterly giddy.  

Creativity Tuesday: Alternative Centerpieces.

I'm a firm believer in creating alternative solutions for centerpieces.  Flowers are magnificent, don't get me wrong.  But I think it's fun to let the creative juices flow and try options nouveau.  Last night I reworked my table-scape, and the pumpkin pyramid makes my heart happy every time I see it.  Tres, tres Thanksgiving. 

Creativity Tuesday: Black Ribbon Take Three.

This was a project I started Tuesday, but didn't finish until last evening.  I took two frames and spray painted them three coats of Robin's Egg Blue.  Then I hot glued some pressed fall leaves onto some black card stock.  I threaded the black ribbon through the tops to hang over the fridge. I think the frames are pretty cheeky.  It truly adds some flair to the kitchen.  Further more, it will be fun to update as the seasons change.

My Current Table-scape.

Creativity Tuesday: October Edition.

It has come to my attention that it is fall.  I feel that my indoor experience should corroborate with that of the outdoors.  Hence the transformation of my mid-century buffet.  The theme was that of a deranged English professor.  I love the dramatic volume of the palm branches {a find on one of Soba's walks.}

One question at a time; yes those are chicken feet tied to a string, yes that is a fox tail, and yes that is one of my childhood favorite reads, OLD BLACK WITCH.  It's about a witch that coexists with new tenants, and her remarkable knack at blueberry pancakes.  

Oh. My. Word.

Imagine walking into a Parisian apartment that hasn't been opened since 1940.  The above pictures are from a woman's flat that was paid for, but never lived in for seventy years.  She recently passed on, and the doors were opened to find wondrous treasures within.  The auction houses are going nuts over all of the valuables inside. For me, it would be a playground {I wanted to be an archaeologist when I was little.}  photos via apartment therapy. 

Creatures of the Deep.

Bryan just bought me these lovely creature, napkin ring holders.  I think the octopus is my favorite.  Which one do you like best?

Creativity Tuesday: If it's not nailed down.....

If your childhood home was like mine, every thing had it's place.  Including the decor.  In my home {particularly in the last year} I switch things up all the time.  For example, Bryan's globe was purchased this summer and it's already lived on our buffet, stove top, as a center piece on the kitchen table, and presently it resides in the powder room.  Right now I'm loving the globe's specific location.  It adds a dash of color and visual interest.  But who knows about next week!

Your challenge:  Switch things up!  If it's not nailed down, try using your chotchkies in new locations.  It keeps the decor fresh, and people guessing. 

Creativity Tuesday: Home Gallery.

My little art gallery is growing.  I recently purchased the landscape scene {on the bottom right corner} for Husband's Birthday.  My heart is happy.

Wants. Not. Needs.

I have wants.  Some of the tangible goodies I'm wanting right now:  an enormous loft down town, four ghost chairs, a painting by Henry Darger, and oh, yes....fruit tarts.  The intangible:  an awesome, new friend, adventure, a muse, a mish-mash family, and a project that scares me to death.  {Photos via apartment therapy & more}

Table Talk: Stumped.

This is the current vignette on my
parlor side table.
Ingredients:
duck decoy: gift from Bryan's grandpa
concrete handgun: made by Bryan
ancient hardback books: thrifted
beautiful orchid: my parting gift from a catering event

Polaroid Wall.

In a fit of boredom
I ripped down
all of the wall art
in my kitchen.
Then zig-zagged Polaroids
onto the gaping void.
At times I hate it.
Sometimes though, I love it.

Creativity Tuesday: Our Library

Today's creative journey takes us to my library. I'm quite certain you've seen this technique before: color coordinating books. Another great idea is turning the books backwards so that only the pages show. If you have a small apartment as I do, I strongly suggest this for your personal library. As stated before, I am Obsessive Compulsive. Color coding allows calming visual order. {click on images to enlarge.}
On the shelves I enjoy contrasting stacking methods, and create an interest mixing in chotchkies.
An idea to steal: our magazine rack is a towel rod from Ikea. I love how the rack helps emphasize a lounge-esque feel to the corner.
Integrating bad art: I'm an art snob. When my husband brought this boring impressionist oil painting home I was disgusted. However, it's OUR home not MY home and he deserves representation. After some trial and error I found that it looked smart on top of the shelf with our kitschy, Russian stacking dolls in front. I'm pleased with the results, and Bryan is too. I hope you found an idea to inspire your flat.

Souvenirs from Quartzsite.

My favorite find was a large agate/geod book end.
I've been looking for a reasonably priced set for
quite some time. It's such a fascinating addition.

For Bryan's prize I brought him home
some antler pieces, that were bleached
by the intense desert sun.
He absolutely loved them.
Both pieces complete an attractive
vignette on our parlor end table.

Interior Motives: Plant Life.

Last week I potted new succulents in my kitchen.

These are much more durable than my last batch.

I particularly enjoy the little cactus.

Like cacti, Bryan and I are

durable, tough, and never retreat.

Pots via: Anthropologie.

Plants via: Ikea.

Thrifty Treasure.

This just might be the best $2.19
I've spent in a very long time:
a media rack circa 1959.

Inspiration books were stowed to easily access.

I think I may have fallen in decorative love.
Soba may have fallen in love as well.
{Post Script: Sister come to L.A. tomorrow!}

Table Top.

Since the Christmas decorations have come down, I've been reworking the decor in my house. I required a fresh look to make me smile. Check out quaint ideas over at Decor8 {click.} My table top has literally changed landscapes every day this week. This was Monday's look. I call it "The Mad Hatter." Are you in re-styling mode as well?