LIVING ROOM REDUX

Usually about once or twice a year a phenomenon I call a "feng shui attack" envelopes my life for a few days at a time. It usually is triggered when I feel that I have too much "stuff" and need to purge.

I'm currently in the middle of one such attack (my car is filled with bags and boxes full of stuff to donate.) While I was cleaning out the living room I decided to take a few hours and rearrange. Which a minimum amount of effort, I made it a bit more inviting and comfy. It seems to work a bit better now and looks more professional.

The tulip table I bought months ago has finally been reassembled. It's not the best use of a dining table, but it will do for now.

Instead of buying new throw pillows, I just whipped up some new ones using an old striped sweater and an old Urban Outfitters bed coverlet.

I also dug around my fabric stash and found some awesome old IKEA fabric that I am going to use to finally cover the cushions of the Danish modern chair I've had for years. When I leave this apartment this chair will go with me, so I am going to take my time with this one and make a sample using muslin to get it right before I use the "real" fabric.

I recommend spending an hour or two and rearranging a room in your home. It can make a huge difference.

NEW + MOD

I love the mix of old and new in this Barcelona apartment...

PHOTO SHOOT

I've been spending some time over the past few days taking photos of my apartment for an upcoming online house tour. I thought I'd share some with you...

DESIGN FAVORITES

I keep a folder on my computer desktop called "interior inspiration images." When I find an image I like on a blog or website, I drag it to the folder. I just spent some time sifting through it and picked out four favorite vintage inspired spaces. Enjoy...

I love a mix of styles and this room makes my heart flutter. The rug with the chairs with the painting with the table is uh-mazing.

Painting of waving bride, check. Saarinen inspired chairs and table, check. West German pottery vase, check. Spanish and North African tiles, check. Effortless Euro coolness, check.

Who doesn't love a good mix of kitschy wall art?!

Another mix I like is modern with tribal. It goes so well together and the room above is perfect. I love all those lightly stained wood stools and tables. And that awesome black wall lamp is making me melt.

DANISH MODERN CHAIRS ON ETSY

I was lucky enough to find some Danish Modern chairs about 10 years ago while thrifting when nobody was looking for them. I have almost gotten rid of them a few times but now I am glad that I have hung on to them.

Here are a few I found on Etsy that caught my eye (not all of them are Danish, but they are still cool):

1 :: Mid Century Danish Modern Rocking Chair from dejavulongbeach, $1295
2 :: Vintage Mid-Century Danish Modern Selig Denmark Rocking Chair from Belmodo, $675
3 :: Mid Century Danish Modern Slat Back Lounge Arm Chair from rhan, $299
4 :: Mid Century Blonde Chairs from ILiveModern, $850
5 :: Mid Century Modern Dining Chairs from dejavulongbeach, $1650
6 :: Vintage bright yellow fiberglass rocking chair designed by Luther Conover from hermanmillermodern, $299

SCENES FROM MY WEEKEND

This weekend I was productive... I cleaned out and redecorated areas of my apartment. What did you do this weekend?

TEMPORARY WALLPAPER

I've always rented and never owned. So I've never really had the option of painting my walls or putting up wallpaper. I don't mind white walls, but sometimes it'd be nice to mix things up, ya know?

I just came across these cool retro self-adhesive vinyl wallpapers by Tempaper. It was created with renters in mind; it's temporary and repositionable. It can be applied to any primed and painted surface, like walls, doors, interiors, tiles, mirrors, etc. Cool!

It's very retro and vintage inspired. Here are a few of my favorites from their collection...

INSPIRED SPACES :: CHERNER CHAIR

Ahhh, the Cherner chair. That amazing piece of mid-century awesomeness that's as rare as it is expensive... a new one is $1000 so I can't even image what a vintage one would cost.

The chair was designed in 1958 by Norman Cherner. After many requests to reissue the chair, in 1999 his sons started the Cherner Chair Company making reproductions. The chairs come in a variety of styles: with or without arm rests, with or without upholstery, different stains and colors, etc.

For this version of Inspired Spaces, I responded strongly to the room above when I saw the Cherner chair and the subtle nautical theme. Enjoy...

1 :: Flat Bar Brno Chair by Knoll via YLiving, $1588
2 :: Driftwood Table Lamp via Amazon, $150
3 :: X Leg Dining Table from Gardiner Haskins, no price
4 :: Orignal Cherner Chair by the Cherner Chair Company, $1000
5 :: Green Blown Glass Net Float from Eldred's Auctioneers, $258
6 :: Stitch Lounger Chair and Ottoman by Sjotime Industries, no price
7 :: Bali Sisal Rug from Overstock.com, $109

INSPIRED SPACES :: DANISH MODERN LOFT

photo :: loft life

It's Tuesday... which means another installment of INSPIRED SPACES! This week's space is one that I've adored since seeing this photo probably over a year ago. I never could find the source of the photo until recently...

It's a loft in NYC's Chelsea, home to a photographer. I love the mix of woods with metal with natural elements. I also love the subdued and restrained color palette. Check out more of the loft at Loft Life.

I have to say it was kinda difficult putting together this week's Inspired Spaces. But, I think it came together nicely and for less money than I imagined it would take to get the look above. Enjoy...

1 :: Indian Paint Rock Rough from Great Rough, $8.50/pound
2 :: Danish Modern Teak Tall Cabinet from LenConMod, $799
3 :: Potence Lamp from OneFortyThree, $375
4 :: Chair from West Elm via Shelterrific
5 :: Jacob Wool Throw from Towels.co.uk, £33.19
6 :: Black Cube Table from Pedestal Source, $190 - $322
7 :: Danish Modern Settee from modern-furniture.de, Sold
8 :: Hans Olsen Chair from artcru via Flickr
9 :: Mata Ortiz Mexican Art Pottery from sevenbc, $325

WISH LIST :: KILIM RUGS

On my wish list right now is a kilim rug. But, wait, what is that? How is a kilim rug different than a "regular" rug. Well, dear readers, I am going to educate you...

A kilim rug is pileless and other rugs are piled which also makes them carpets. When making a kilim rug, the wefts and wraps are interwoven as in weaving on a loom. Other kinds of rugs use small pieces of knotted yarn. Think of it this way... latch hook rugs are piled rugs; the yarn is just giant compared to their fancier thinner-yarn using cousins. Get it now?

Most kilim rugs originated in the Middle East, such as Turkey and Iran. The word kilim comes from a Turkish word. These rugs can be used on the floor or hung on the wall as art. You can even find kilim throw pillows, place mats, etc.

I like them because they fit right in to a modern interior. Check out these examples:

photos by kimhas7cats :: theinteriorist :: merry mishap blog ::

See? I told you so. Aren't these examples the coolest! You can find kilim rugs all over the internets. I found the ones bellow at carpetview.com.

INSPIRED SPACES :: BLACK AND WHITE VINTAGE

Hello, lovelies. It's Tuesday, and you know what that means... another edition of INSPIRED SPACES! This week I was inspired by this great photo I found from fellow Flickrite, A Merry Mishap. [Check out her amazing, blog, too!]

1 :: The 5 Poster from And I Love You She Said, $45
2 :: Have I Mentioned How Much I Detest You print from Modern Relics Shop, $16
3 :: Large white modern ceramic vases from Sara Paloma, $350
4 :: Black and white polka dot pillow cover from Designs by Nancy T, $16
5 :: Mid-Century Lounger from Rubymountains, $1100
6 :: Drexel Declaration six foot cradenza from Object of Beauty, $525