Cobalt Blue at Home

I think I've been nesting a little more than usual this summer. Not sure why. Maybe it's turning 27. Getting closer to 30 makes you want to decorate and cozy up in your house? I dunno... but I'm proud of our little home and love editing and modifying my surroundings so they feel like "us".

Graphic Ikea Pillow

I like the mix of bright blue, graphic black & white, and the colorful turquoise and indigo pillows my mom & dad brought me back from Bali years ago. 

Vintage lamp with Anthropologie Shade

I realize looking at this photo that almost everything in our house is vintage. The chair was a flea market find. The lamp was a flea market find with an Anthropologie shade on top. The yellow trunk is an antique that was refurbished as a gift for us. The only thing not vintage is the metal table (that serves up fresh hydrangeas) and the red painting (a portrait my dad made in the 80's.)

All that Glitters: Berks County Living article

I was stoked to write an article for Berks County Living's January 2013 issue about my colleagues at Sorrelli. The article, "All that glitters: A look inside the Sorrelli Girls' Closets" takes a look into our gleaming jewelry boxes and packed-to-the-brim racks of clothes. Tania of Ama Photography came out to our homes to work her magic behind the camera, and we couldn't be more pleased! Hope you enjoy!

Etsy: Decor Finds

Etsy Picks: home edition by craftandconsumption on Polyvore

Recently we painted our foyer a bright white. I've been perusing Etsy for some unique finds that might add to the new space. Our style is a combination of graphic, colorful, and a little eccentric. I think any/all of these finds would make great additions to our home. More musings on the foyer to come!

#1 Persian Rug - $80

#2 Apothecary Amber Glass Bottles - $24

#3 Vintage Glove Mold - $42

#4.Vintage Brass Deer Head - $29

#5. Red Typography Poster - $15

Etsy Pick: Golden Accents

Have you heard about the Small Business Saturday movement? I think shopping on Etsy.com is basically the online equivalent. I found some luxe goodies this week that I'd love to have in our home!

• Gold Wishbone Print - from Gilded Mint by Jennifer Latimer in South Carolina - $28 
• Metallic Lucite Tray- from Pencil Shavings Studios by Rachel Shingleton - $65

DIY Gallery Walls

A few years after re-doing our living room with a new coat of paint, new sofa, and a fabulous floral rug*, we finally made a commitment to get some of our favorite artwork** framed. Believe you me, custom-framing is expensive! 

After a few months of budgeting/planning we finally had a collection of pieces framed and ready to go up on the wall, the question was how to display them most easily? We decided on ledges. The process of figuring out the spacing was...well... it was a process.

First I started by laying the pieces out on the floor (thanks for the help Mom- this was a genius idea!). This allowed us to see how everything would look together.

DIY Ikat Wallpaper

Back in June I wrote this post about wall-papering my closet to create a vibrant jewelry area in my dressing area. I wanted to purchase this beautiful yellow ikat wallpaper from Graham and Brown, but it was pretty expensive. Plus, I'm not an experienced wallpaper hanger, so I would've had to pay to install it, or risk ruining my beloved (and $$$) purchase.

In an effort to figure out a better solution, I came across this cool DIY how to by Emily from MerryPad. She used some extra paint to create an ikat pattern at home in her closet. Inspired by her DIY-prowess, I set out to make my own version of her resourceful home project. 

It only helped that the writers over at Design*Sponge had a contest going on last month that involved the use of Scotch Blue painter's tape (check out the rules here), that just sealed the deal for me to get my bootie moving. And now I shall share with you my little DIY Ikat experience!

Step one involved laying out the painter's tape. I tried to use a level to make sure they were somewhat straight. I also used a pencil to measure out the horizontal lines 6" apart and then the vertical lines 4" apart. 

The next part gets the party started. You bust out a small brush and start systematically painting brush strokes in a diamond pattern within the taped lines. Same number of strokes in the same position, repeated seemingly hundreds of times.

After the first diamond pattern dried I removed all the tape. Then I painted smaller diamonds into the negative spaces with a slightly thinner brush. 

The closet has more work to be done (shelves, etc), but the big DIY painting project is complete! Can't wait to share the final look when it all comes together (if I'm lucky that'll happen in maybe, like... 6 months)! I'm super happy with the look so far, and I think it's very reminiscent of the original Graham and Brown yellow wallpaper that inspired this project. Already I'm feeling energized by the daily dose of yellow this brings to my dressing area. So glad I finally took the plunge and made it happen!

Do you have a DIY project you've been meaning to start? Go forth and get to it! :)

Wonderful Wall Paper

I'm considering some wallpaper options for my walk-in closet. I have a little nook that I want to revamp and utilize as a jewelry display area (for my insane collection of Sorrelli jewels!). 

The space is a very pale robin's egg blue with walnut-colored wood paneling. 

I think one of these bright hues is sure to inspire and energize---right? Turq and yellow are two of my favorites.

• Yellow Ikat  -from Graham & Brown
• Teal and Gold Damask - from Graham & Brown
• Vintage Floral - from Etsy

Etsy Pick of the Week {Pom Pom Magic}

I'm getting into outdoor party mode lately. The flowers are up, the weather is warm, and lots of the past few weekends have been spent pruning, mulching, and weeding outdoors. The nights are still cool, but as they warm up and summer comes, I'll be looking forward to lots of outdoor BBQs with friends and family on our little patio.


I think these festive pom poms would be a fun addition to an outdoor party hanging from a low, wide tree branch. They're like big carnation flowers in punchy, fiesta-like hues.

• Katey Collection Pom-Poms (5 total) - from Sarah at Paperwhite Designs in St. Louis, MO - $20.00

White Out

I've been very inspired lately by the clean, crisp, spring-like quality of white. I just want to paint every room in my house white and bask in the sun-drenched walls. Aren't these images so clean and fresh?

For now, I'll settle for some fresh white hydrangeas greeting me each morning when I wake up :)

P.S. My bedside book lately is Will Shortz' Little Luxe Book of Crosswords. A must-have for any cross-word enthusiast (or novice like me!). It's a lovely way to start the weekend, nestled up in bed with a good crossword, your sweetie, and your beloved pooch. Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

Lisa Mayock: Vena Cava

Vena Cava designer Lisa Mayock was recently photographed in her Brooklyn apartment for an article over at Refinery29. Check it out. Below are a few of the highlights from the post.

The shadow box in her "closet" (which is apparently a humongous room filled with clothes) reminds me of artist Joseph Cornell.

(R29) What wouldn't you be caught dead wearing?

(LM) "That's a difficult question. I often have complete changes of heart about certain looks. And I l

ove things that are good taste/bad taste and other things that are just plain tacky. So, honestly, the only thing I can think of right now that I would never wear is a 'sexy' Halloween costume. Which you may see me in come October."

Name something in your wardrobe you'll never throw away?

"Old T-shirts, sweatshirts, and leather pieces...they just keep getting better with time."

Vena Cava designers Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai (in black) with models wearing their Vena Cava for GAP pieces, which I got excited about here back in May.

Not that we're surprised, but your apartment is off-the-charts cool. And we hear you just gave it a little makeover...what look were you going for?

"If I had to give it a name, it would be called 'Things I Like.' That was pretty much the only criteria."

I really like her break all the rules attitude. She has a "Just Bone Me" poster above her bed. And Mayock wears a bright freaking yellow beaded dress that apparently sheds beads as she walks. But it is gorgeous. And I am intrigued. Plus the chair in her living room (below) can also be found in my father's office. His came without the spikes and does not sit atop a sheepskin rug. Nevertheless...

Get an inside look at the designer's inspiration over at the Viva Vena Cava blog, which Sophie and Lisa started back in February. Thank you Refinery 29 for giving us an inside look at this modern gem.

P.S. Did I mention I want Mayock's hair cut? I juuuust grew out my bangs and am lusting after them again!

NY Magazine: Design Liberation Issue

I loved the recent "Design Liberation" issue of New York Magazine, which showcased a myriad of design perspectives via personal interiors in and around New York. Among those featured were:

-fashion designer Jason Wu in his grey apartment (cooking dutifully throughout the interview in a beautiful NY kitchen, almost an oxymoron)

-former model and current director at Deitch Projects, Nicola Vassel, in her very utilitarian Manhattan loft 

-ad agency owner Richard Christiansen in his color-soaked suite at the Bowery Hotel

-Drew University senior, Maximilian Sinsteden, in his amazing college dorm room

Of all the interiors featured, I was most impressed by and drawn to the Drew University senior's space (above). For me this was very inspirational and telling that of all the accomplished New Yorkers featured in this magazine, this Drew University senior has the most innovative, beautiful space. Being a good designer doesn't mean you are a certain age, or from a certain place, or of a certain tax bracket. 

I am in awe that someone this age would be so motivated to paint & decorate a temporary dorm room to this extent. He clearly has a need and desire to design the world around him, and the dude obviously has a knack for it. Sinsteden's not afraid to make bold moves, use unexpected colors (just a shade beyond that green could've easily evoked puke, and yet this shade works in a calming, plant-like way), and just let his imagination run. I'm excited for him and hope he can throw together a sustainable business model that will get him through the current financial climate after graduation.