Design Files

Because this week has been a little too crazy for taste, I'm going to mix up the order on you (and just when I had sort of settled on a rhythm).  

So just in time for maybe spring (those of us in NYC are learning that apparently, you can never count of the first spring-like day), take a look-see at this beauty here.  I've had this kicking around for months and months and I am actually surprised it took me this long to post it for you, that's just how much I love it.  This image, originally (as far as I can tell) from Apartment Therapy is mighty nice.  That's how this room makes me feel!  I say things like "mighty" and "look-see."  First of all, tulips.  I just love fresh blooms of any sort, but a nice white tulip?  Perfection.

But now on to the good stuff.

Oh lord, those chenille chairs!  I grew up with chenille throws draped over my couches and damn, what a luxury it would be to have the whole dang thing upholstered in it!  Maybe one day, but definitely not today.  I imagine chenille is a pretty difficult upholstery fabric as far as upkeep goes.  Anybody have any experience?

After the sky blue chenille, I have to admit, the rest is just a wash.  A beautifully-curated, aesthetically pleasing wash, but c'mon, sky blue chenille!  I love how each of the art pieces pick up on the blue hues though and the pale blue walls offer a backdrop a touch warmer than stark white might be.  Don't believe me?  Imagine if the walls were the color of that flokati rug or the sofa?  A bit sterile, no?  Sky blue to the rescue.  

Speaking of the flokati rug, boy oh boy do I want one!  Can you just imagine how warm your little tootsies would be in the winter?  So good.  And the way things are looking today in New York, we might never get a spring so maybe this isn't such a bad investment.  But I imagine my rug would be filled with strands of hair and missing food particles pretty quickly.  Maybe when I become a grown-up... 

Craigslist Bible: 1st Edition

So it's no secret looking through my apartment or this very blog that I have a penchant, dare I even say a knack, for Craigslist (CL as I affectionately call it).  I love trolling CL, it's a like a blog that updates by the minute.  There is no better way to spend a rainy Saturday or a boring Monday-Friday than scrolling through the plethora of treasures that is your local Craigslist.

I read on FastCo. the other day about Curated Craigslist, an NYC-specific blog of just what it sounds like, a curated selection of thew immense NYC chapter of the site.  This is a cop out.  Plain and simple.  The best part of CL is taking your time to unearth the priceless gem you need to fit in your teeny-tiny apartment!  This shit isn't handed to you...and it shouldn't be.  More than half of my joy in refinishing pieces is telling my friends that I found it on CL and for how much (tacky, yes...but it's usually supa cheap so that makes it OK).  See below for what I mean:

Craigslist: $100 (plus a whole heap more for reupholstery)

Table: Craigslist $30, originally Crate&Barrel

Craigslist $40

Chair: Craigslist $125
Gray Nightstand that you can't see how cute it is: Craigslist $30
Indonesian Teak Carved Side Table to the right: Craigslist $10!

Sorry for the god-awful photos but my camera broke and I thought I'd save you all some Instagram-filtered iPhone shots today.  But as you can see, I love the CL!

Craigslist for me is the best way to make your design woes turn into design dreams.

Not enough space? Craigslist

Not enough money? Craigslist

Not enough time? Well if you do it right, Craigslist takes time but it's worth it!

In my next addition of Craigslist Bible, I will give you my own tried and true sleuthing techniques but until then, keep scrolling my friends (and searching, don't forget to use the search option)!

Trip to Trinidad

Sorry again for the radio silence, and unfortunately this will turn into a quick update.  Got back from my first trip to Trinidad with the boy last week (Carnival(!) and family bonding(?)).  And while all that was fun, I found myself especially inspired by some of the architecture I saw around me as I pounded through the sweaty streets for 2 days, wining with strangers and having far too much fun!  

But back to the houses...I just candle handle them! Between the rusted variegated tin roofs, the insane amount of fretwork, the gables and colors (oh the colors!), well I'm just in love.  Half a day of our vacation was spent walking around Woodbrook (a neighborhood in Port-of-Spain and where this style of house is named for) looking for new places to photograph and cooing about, "no, this one, I want this one!"  Maybe one day..

Keep on scrollin' to see what I mean and let me know your fave in the comments!

My favorite!

Another fave, and this one's literally 8 feet wide!

On: Festive Flatware

Long time, no see!  My name is Emily and I took a bit of an unintended hiatus.  I say unintended because as some of you know, I moved to a new apartment on December 1st.  After this, I intended to take a quick break while I unpacked my life and cried over the amount of shit I have accumulated in less than 2 years in New York.  However, right at the end of this quick break, HOLIDAY SEASON CAME UPON US!  I am not really one for freaking out over the holidays, but it sure does make things busier.  Thus, unintended blog hiatus.  But now bitches, I'm back!  With a new apartment and the all the fun stuff that goes with it!

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So this time around was my first opportunity buying all the essentials with a bit of money to spare and no roommates to consult with.  And I had one requirement: GOLD.  I love the gold flatware trend  that's going on right now and since it's a trend, it means I had plenty to choose from.

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After switching apartments, I had lost contact with most of my kitchen stuff so it was time to go hunting for one of the least exciting young adult purchases: flatware.  I say "least exciting" because most of my  age group would much prefer spending their hard-earned money at the corner bar (a lot of the time, myself included), but I am not most of my age group.

My choice is below, I found them listed as vintage on Etsy and while I love them (gold+bamboo? yes please) the engraving on the back suggests they are not in fact very old.  But no worries, no skin off my nose!

And you know the funniest part? The first thing the boyfriend said in response to my new golden utensils?  "The look a little gaudy, Emily.  I mean, their fine, just a little showy."  Well fine then, eat with your hand.

These are a Few of my Favorite Things: Traditional Mexican Fabric Edition

For more information on her collection, email alicebeharco (at) gmail (dot) com

Alice Behar's new collection, simply entitled "Folk by Alice," is making me swoon.  Otomi fabric is big everywhere this year, so this might be a bit trendy for some, but it is undeniably beautiful.  And my own history with Mexico ensures that I will love traditional Mexican fabrics for a longgggggg time coming.  Also, a bit of foreshadowing; there may be an upholstery project here in the coming weeks with some original Otomi fabric from Mexico City!