Detail Oriented

Our apartment is on the first floor of a busy street. When we moved in and realized that its uber-exposure just wouldn't do, we found a great temporary solution in several white cotton roman shades from the Christmas Tree Shop. For about $8 each, these shades are the perfect blank canvas that can offset more substantial curtain panels that flank the windows.

Roman shades are just so much chicer than mini-blinds, especially when the shades are trimmed out with ribbon. Here are some great examples of detailed shades:

(a lovely room by Amanda Nesbit)

(Katie Ridder's take on roman shades--notice the curved detail at each corner)

(featured in Domino)

I'm hoping to stop by M&J in New York this weekend during our visit to find some grass green ribbon trim for the shades in our guest bedroom. I'm thinking I'll try to recreate the shades in the room designed by Katie Ridder. Thoughts? Does anyone know how easy/hard this project may be?

"It's a Bit Too Busy All Together for Me"

Perusing the first round of blog postings this morning, I came upon this beautiful image, courtesy of Little Green Notebook, that I absolutely love.



This living room is layered, fun, warm, and quirky--all adjectives I'd like visitors to use when they arrive at our apartment. What's more, this space is made cozy by the use of varied prints and colors. This, my friends, is what I'd like to create.

However, when I shared this little gem with Adam, he responded, "I could see [how you'd like it]. It's a bit too busy all together for me, but I like most of the things in it." Ah, in addition to the challenge of recreating this look, I've also got to persuade Adam into loving this look as much as I do. Let's see how this one plays out...

TGIF, 4/23/10 Edition

As we speak, thousands of track and field competitors are ascending onto Franklin Field, the historic football field at the University of Pennsylvania for the Penn Relays, the "the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States" (thanks, Wikipedia). They are all hoping to experience the thrill of victory and not the agony of defeat.

(photos via the University of Pennsylvania)

The street corners around Penn were crowded with track teams in their matching warm-up suits this morning. The local papers and the Penn community is abuzz, too, because Usain Bolt (world's fastest man) is coming to the Penn Relays tomorrow!

We will miss it though, as we are heading to Maine for a wedding. Wedding season is already upon us. If you're in the Philadelphia area, are you heading to the Penn Relays this weekend?

Because Sometimes It's Funny to Laugh at Others...

Because it's Thursday and not yet Friday, I figured we could all use a laugh. If you haven't already seen this website, please take 5 minutes out of your busy schedule to check out You Suck at Craigslist.

It's not nice to laugh at others, I know that. But this website had me in hysterics last night.

This is a personal fave. What exactly is a taco box, anyway?


(photo via You Suck at Craigslist)

Kids, it's critical that you learn your spelling and punctuation. Otherwise, you may just have jerks like me laughing at your Craigslist posting across the interweb.

Just My Imagination

In my imagination, I live in a beautiful center hall Colonial with a front and rear staircase, a library with built-in cabinetry, and wide plank floors. 

I have 3 children, all of whom are beyond brilliant and precocious (but not in an obnoxious kind of way). I'll have either two boys or two girls that are close enough in age to share a bedroom, a bedroom that I've lovingly furnished with decor that transitions with growing children. Here are some inspiration photos that I'll keep in mind for the future.

I love the x-benches and the blue lacquer campaign dresser here:

(via Elizabeth Dinkel Design Associates)

Another beautiful bedroom that features Alan Campbell "Cap Ferrat" fabric:

(via Meg Braff Interiors)

For my imaginary adolescent girls (who, naturally, have a very mature taste in decor):

(via Domino)

You can probably sense that these pretend bedrooms are filled with pretend children, whose names, colleges, and talents I've already determined. I'm excited already for the thought of a family and I'm still so far away.

Sometimes, it's just fun dreamin'.

Before and After: Salvation Army Ottoman

Last week, I alluded to an exciting before and after courtesy of my beloved mother. I have to thank my mother for any artistic talent I have; I should also thank her for my compulsion for a neat and tidy home...all beneficial qualities!

My mother is always willing to help me out with a project. When we moved in and needed curtains for our bedroom, my mother turned 2 rectangular Roberta Roller Rabbit curtains into 4 luxurious curtain panels, 2 pillow shams, and 2 throw pillows for our bed. The woman is a master, I tell you.

That's why I came to her with the following project. I found this hotel-grade stool at my super-secret Salvation Army near my parents' house during a winter visit. It was $3 and lacked pizazz, but I saw its potential.

Right off, it was clear that the hunter green fabric just wouldn't do. Not wanting to break the bank with my fabric choice, I knew just the place to look for inexpensive fabric: Marden's! I picked up the remainder of a cotton stripe print (about 3 yards) for $8 during a visit to my extended family in Maine. My revitalized ottoman was coming together!

Are you ready for my mom's handiwork?!?

She did such a great job! When I picked it up this weekend, I also managed to pick up a coordinating cherry blossom fabric (for $6) from Osgood's when Adam and I were there selecting linen for our loveseat project.

The ottoman will rest alongside the reupholstered loveseat with the new printed pillows.

A round of applause for Mom!

TGIF, 4/16/10 Edition

It's Friday afternoon and I'm excited for this weekend. As I write this, Penn undergraduates are outside of my office on campus preparing for their weekend of all-around debauchery, known as "Fling". My weekend is much more staid; we are Connecticut-bound!

I will be
1. Attending the bridal shower of a long-time friend
2. Spending some QT with family (especially my 2 year-old niece)
3. Purchasing fabric for that loveseat project here at a great discount
4. Thanking my mom for a wonderful reupholstery project she's done for me--I can't wait to share it!

That said, have a fantastic weekend and check back next week for updates on my loveseat and the reupholstery project courtesy of my mom!