If You Could Pick Any Style of House...

...what would it be?

Do you ever find yourself getting lost in thought over your dream house?

You can still love your present home but still get excited over the possibilities of a dream home.

I was just perusing This Old House and found myself down the rabbit hole of American house styles, wondering which style I'd declare to be my favorite.

The Perfect Spot for a Former English Major

Did you know that I was an English major in college?

I'm embarrassed to say I've never read or wrote as much as I did in college, thanks in no small part to careers, relationships and the daily grind of life...you know how it 'tis.

Someday I hope to have a special spot in my home meant to encourage literary adventures.

I'd gladly curl up with a good novel and forget about the business of the everyday in any of these spaces:

(all via my Pinterest)

Could you see setting aside a room, no matter how small, meant just for reading?

Wishing and Hoping and Thinking and Praying

My birthday is less than a week away, so I've been busy compiling a wish list of sorts for my home. Though I don't anticipate all of these things will be wrapped in pretty paper for my birthday, half of the fun is gathering and sharing these "need to find" items with you all.

I'm currently wishing and hoping and thinking and praying for...

1. A small kilim or persian rug for the bathroom
In December I put some much needed effort into our bathroom (see projects here and here), and I'm sold on the idea of adding a worn, soft kilim or persian rug for the space.

(via Pinterest and Pinterest)
This style, instead of the standard cotton bathroom mat, adds a exotic touch to a utilitarian room and is exactly what I'm looking for in my bathroom, which you'll see below. Ideally, the rug I find would be no larger than 22" x 36". Other than that, I'm open to pretty much any option.

If you have a great vendor to recommend or a rug up for Ebay auction, let me know!

2. An antique pedestal table for my den
See the white pedestal table (it's holding the chess set) on the left in this picture of Jenny Komenda's loft?

(via Little Green Notebook)
I'm on the search for one such table to infuse a traditional aspect to my den:

A traditional pedestal/library-style table is a versatile piece that would be as at home in my den as in a future foyer or living room corner, don't you agree? If I came across a table like these styles below, I'd be happy as a clam.

(via 1st Dibs and 1st Dibs)

3. A small dresser or commode for my barren "entryway"
Since I rid myself of my aging Ikea Expedit bookcase, I've had an open spot between our apartment door and living room sofa. And, like any interior design-nut, I'm dying to fill the void with a piece of furniture that is both beautiful and practical.

Now, wouldn't a quality piece like this commode or that dresser be perfect?

(via V&M and V&M)

4. A gilt-n-glass rectangular coffee table for the living room

While out with Naomi on Friday, I came across a brass and glass coffee table like this one from Maison Bagues and I was instantly smitten; however my excitement was short-lived when I was told the price: a whopping $2,200.

(via 1st Dibs)
Uh, yeah, sorry, I'll pass.
To refresh your memory, here is what I'm currently working with.

I'm open to gilding a metal table, so I'd love to here your recommendations for getting myself close to the $2.2k Bagues table above.

There you have it, the "need to find" items that I'm wishing and hoping and thinking and praying will find their way to my apartment. What a great birthday present that would be!

Harbinger LA

When you were a kid, did you ever read the book From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler? It is  a story about a pair of siblings who run away and decide to camp out inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art...and it elicited such a thrill in me when I read it in the fifth grade.

As it turns out, I still dream of sneaking into an inspiring space during the day, hiding until closing, and then living it up there overnight. If I could realize this dream, I'd love to spend the night in the showroom of Harbinger in Los Angeles. 

The truth is, this showroom so perfectly combines gorgeous textiles, fabulously diverse furniture and the most worldy accessories that it's hard to believe this place isn't just some chic person's home.

To plan my own little Frankweiler experience, I'd probably hide under this glorious settee:

I'd duck behind that tall tree:

I'd roll myself into that duvet and keep very, very still:

I'd wear a red print to camoflage myself against this loveseat:

Yoohoo, it's me behind this screen:

I'd ask that deer side table to keep look out for me:

I'd cower under this sawhorse desk and enjoy the view:

And, when the coast was clear, I'd luxuriate in this glamorous canopy bed and fall into a stylish slumber.

(all via Harbinger LA)

So, if you open the newspaper soon and read about a crazy design-obsessed girl found sleeping in a Los Angeles showroom, it's probably me...but really, could you blame me?

Perfect Backdrop for a Bronte Novel

(via Anthropologie)

Since discovering the "Etched Arcadia Mural" from Anthropologie recently, I've imagined all of the 19th century love stories that could be enacted against this beautiful backdrop.

Perfect enough for Catherine and Heathcliff, for Jane and Rochester, for Lucy and M. Paul.

Could you see introducing this gothic-inspired paper to your walls?

If I Were Hosting a July 4th Party...

...I'd make some fun 4th-themed menu flags, like Chelsea of frolic!

(via frolic!)

...I'd nibble my way through Martha's Star-Spangled Shortcake

 (via Martha Stewart)

...I'd sport my new MYMU espadrilles

(via Gilt)

...I'd don an iconic sailor stripe shirt from Chance Co.

(via Chance Co.)

...and I might take a minute or two to celebrate the significance of this

 (via The Library of Congress)

What would your perfect July 4th party look like?

Can I Hide Out in Bed?

(via House Beautiful)

Readers, this week at work has been crazy and I've only come up for air long enough to dream about staying in a bed like this all day and forgetting all of my professional obligations.

de Gournay wallpaper and D. Porthault linens? 

Much better than Microsoft Outlook and expense memos, if you ask me.

How Do You Know if You're Ready for a Fixer-Upper?

Calling all homeowners/experienced renovators!

Today, I'd like to borrow from the wealth of readers' collective knowledge and ask some questions of the homeowners out there.

If you don't know, Adam and I rent our charming little 2-bedroom apartment here in Philadelphia. We are getting married in about a month and, as is the case with any lifelong commitment, we're contemplating maybe buying a house in the next year or two. Apparently, big life changes come in pairs.

We're really keen on the idea of buying an older home that 'needs work,' but of course that phrase can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. There seems to be a significant range of houses currently on the market that are labeled "fixer-uppers".

Take a look:

(images from a variety of homes currently available via Trulia)

I mean, are we up to the challenge of a home that "needs work"? 

Do I have the patience to handle a full-scale reno?

So, now I'd like to ask the audience:

• Were you willing to buy a "fixer-upper"? How did you know it (fixer-upper vs. brand-spankin' new)  was right for you?
• How do you determine your total project budget?
• When is it a good idea to involve an architect?
• How do you determine the order of projects you tackle?
• When should you bring in professional help?
• How do you keep the peace in a household that looks like a warzone?

Your guidance, warnings, advice, blessings, horror stories, etc. are all welcome and greatly appreciated!

Somewhere Out There...

Does anyone else get incredibly frustrated when you discover some wonderful piece of furniture or some other item that would be a great addition to your home, only to find out it's either sold out or discontinued? 

Well, welcome to my nightmare...

I stumbled upon Gump's Dynasty Chairs, shown above, last week after Caitlin Creer shared this awesome fretwork chair from Gump's:

(via Gump's)

As awesome as this red [still available] chair is, I was beyond awestruck with the Dynasty Chairs when I saw them. 

But, alas, it was not meant to be. 

The kindly Gump's representative informed me that the chairs are no longer available. Despite the bad news, I remain hopeful that someday our paths will cross again.

Let the Sunshine In

(via Canadian House and Home)

Yesterday, after weeks and months of cold, windy winter weather, Philadelphia was showered in warm sunshine...but it was a short-lived tease, and its back to cold and windy today.

To escape the reality of the usual February freeze, I'm imagining myself in this sunny bedroom that's bright and warm. I mean, who couldn't use a pair of lush tangerine drapes right about now? 

Vitamin C does a body good.

Is anyone else counting down 'til spring?

Wedding Planning: Cake Toppers

(Coconut Swirl Wedding Cake via Martha Stewart...love the slightly "undone" look of this one)

I'm getting married in May, less than four months from now. Our wedding and reception will take place on the grounds of a historic estate right outside Philadelphia (check it out here). Having the whole shindig take place in a garden makes the "theme" a foregone conclusion--we're going with a relaxed, garden wedding with a touch of vintage appeal and a whole host of wildflowers mixed in for good measure.

So many things are incomplete, but I'm hoping to make major headway very, very soon. Instead of tackling big decisions (say, like choosing a florist, deejay, or photographer), I'm going straight for the small details, and today I'll share one of those wedding elements:

The cake topper!

How does that sound?
 That said, I've started to gather some viable options for the cake topper, check 'em out:

(1940's chalkware wedding cake toppers via Etsy)

(Vintage Wedding Party via Ebay--so very Tim Burton!)

(Weird-but-charming, Kewpie-like Bride and Groom, via Etsy)

(Antique bisque bride and groom dolls via Ebay)

 (Antique Cake Topper with Millinery Flowers via Etsy...sadly sold!)

Since I don't have a family heirloom to adorn the top of our wedding cake, I'd like to go with something that has some history and had already welcomed another couple into marriage. I haven't chosen one yet, but when I do, I'll be sure to share.

P.S. I'll be sharing more Ashley & Adam wedding planning details in the coming months...consider yourself warned!

Saturday Shopping in The City

Before heading to The Antiques Garage on Sunday morning, I spent Saturday afternoon with my friend Val (who, with husband Matt, kindly hosted us for the weekend). You may remember that Adam and I headed to Colorado this past summer to celebrate Matt and Val's wedding. As always, we had a great time with them.

Val was such a sport on Saturday. I dragged her to a couple of shops around the city and she didn't seem to mind the freezing temperatures.

Our first stop: John Derian!

The walls of Derian's two shops were adorned with jaw-dropping Hugo Guinness prints of various sizes. The first picture shows off a fantastic gallery wall comprised of Guiness's prints in vintage frames, but I couldn't help drooling over this large wildflower print (above).

The collection of mercury glass really sparkled.

These bird silhouettes were gorgeous, especially with the surprising red background.

The shelf of Cire Trudon candles really caught my attention.
I especially loved the bell jar cover.

John Derian's signature ephemera paperweights...so many to choose from!

Derian's furniture line had some really standout pieces.
This 2-person loveseat was one of my faves:

Somehow I forgot to include (!) a picture of my only purchase at John Derian, a porcelain playing card covered in hearts. I've got to figure out how to secure it, but when I do it will be added to one of our bedroom walls.

Next, after a brief respite at Starbucks, Val and I headed down to Canvas on Lafayette.

This store is light, bright, and relaxed. They were also having a fab sale!

Just in time for Valentine's Day: carved soapstone and slate heart-shaped paperweights:

I walked away with these soapstone candlesticks (for 70% off!). Full disclosure: these were on my wedding registry...but when I saw them at deep-discount, I went ahead and purchased them myself. Whoops!
(via Canvas)

Then, we walked north to Fish's Eddy, a store I fell in love with while still a New York resident.

I've always loved the variety of vintage portraits displayed throughout the store. Some are available for sale on the Fish's Eddy website. For a similar look, try Ebay, local flea markets, or Grandma's attic.

You know I loved this embroidered Connecticut tablecloth!

ABC Home & Carpet called our names from just across the street. I quickly spotted some Christmas decorations that I couldn't pass up at over 75% off (total spent at ABC: $11).
Can't wait to incorporate my glittered igloo and putz-style brick house:

Racks overflowing with discounted Madeline Weinrib textiles:

For the brave: area rugs made of silken tassels. The middle rug was comprised of a variety of red/fuschia/pink tassles.

In spite of Saturday's frigid temperatures, Val and I had a lot of fun.

It was fun to visit my old stomping grounds and enjoy the unique shopping that New York City has to offer.