Swoon Interiors

interiors that make your heart skip a beat.

Pretty little things …

So, being the only girl in my household, I’ve been able to work out a few compromises with my “men.”  Sometimes they let me run into stores I like while they sit in the car playing with their respective, iPad/iTouch/DSi/phone. 

Last week, for example, we all went down to Wrigley for my youngest’s first Cubs’ game. On the way home, we got to stop in Lincoln Park for me to check out a store I’ve been dying to see for awhile called Classic Remix. I giddily ran inside while they stayed in the car.

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Talk about things that make you swoon …
Classic Remix did not disappoint.  A great mix … or remix, if you will, of old and new. Vintage pieces feel modern yet the whole store feels timeless.
I knew I didn’t have much time, so I tried to soak in as much as I could … I will definitely be needing to come back soon on my own.
I couldn’t resist a few pretty little things.
Vintage Mint Julep cups … perfect for small bouquets of flowers or holding pencils.
How sweet are these tiny starfish?  I found the pretty little gold leaf bowl there too.

I also grabbed this spiky urchin/orb/whatever-you-want-to-call-it to add a little interest atop the books on my coffee table.
I am already plotting my next visit. 
Good luck to everyone during back to school week!
I’ll be wearing waterproof mascara on Friday as I send my little Braden into Kindergarten.

Cozy, chunky, warm …


So the Sunday section of the Tribune today had a two-page spread called “Curl up and lie – for fall, your home should say cozy” … full of ideas for giving your home an “autumnal update.”  Of course, things like pumpkins, mums and gourds are the obvious symbols of fall, but, like the article describes, I also like to bring out accessories with a cozy feel, a warm color or a chunky texture. So here are some of my own ideas on how to achieve the look.

In West Elm the other day, I saw these pillows … and they were featured in the Tribune article as well.  If these don’t scream cozy, what does? Pillows are such an easy thing to swap out for different seasons.  These have just enough glam to work well in your master bedroom or to dress up a couple of club chairs.

mongolian lamb pillow covers

 Checking out some of the cute Halloween stuff in Pottery Barn Kids, I saw these sherpa blankets and I seriously wanted to get one for myself.  This picture doesn’t do it justice, but this would be the perfect thing to wrap around yourself on the sofa to watch some football … or Grey’s Anatomy.  I love the creamy white color.

sherpa blanket

Want to go a little more exotic? How about this furry throw?  I think this would feel nice on your feet when you first step out of bed on a cold Monday morning …

tibetan goat throw

Burlap always makes me think of apple orchards and pumpkin farms. The rich color on this burlap tablecloth makes it feel kind of elegant.

burlap tablecloth

 These blankets look and feel like a great fall sweater, don’t they? And every room can use some stripes.

draper stripe throw

Talk about chunky textures … how about this lovely mirror that literally brings the outside in.

driftwood mirror

I love the fall colors on this fabric and it has great texture too. 

zimbabwe fabric

Soon it will be time to make a fire in the fireplace! These can sit on your hearth to hold some of your firewood.

vintage harvest bucket

Even in the winter, I am not a slipper person … so I do like the feel of a nice chunky rug underfoot. This has the look of a thick wool fisherman’s sweater.



braided stripe jute rug

Did I mention that I am writing this while sipping on a Starbuck’s Salted Caramel Mocha?  I am hitting my cozy quotient for the day! Hope you are too …



Catching Up with Nate

Who else loves Nate Berkus?  My seven year old once declared, “I think Mom has a crush on Nate Berkus,” to which my husband chuckled and rolled his eyes.  He kind of knows it’s true.

So, I’m usually never home at 2 in the afternoon when the Nate Berkus show is on, so I’ve set my DVR to tape it everyday. I don’t always find time to watch every episode, but if I have a little time and somehow am able to gain control of one of the TVs in our house, I’ll fast forward to the segments I’m most interested in.

This past rainy Sunday was the perfect, lounge-in-your-sweats, watch-TV, and make comfort-food for dinner kind of day. While the males in my house were watching sports and Tom & Jerry, I actually was able to sneak upstairs and get caught up on some of last week’s Nate Show episodes. 

My favorite was when he showed the before and after of his newly remodeled Greenwich Village apartment.

Let me just say, it is extremely swoon worthy!  I was a complete dork and had to stop and rewind multiple times just to take it all in.  It has such a warm and eclectic feel while still keeping a cool urban vibe.

I went on the Nate Show website to look for “after pictures” to post but they only have close-ups of some of the accessories around his home. I’m sure it will be featured in one of the design magazines sometime soon, but for now, if you want to see, you’ll have to watch the video itself …

One of the things Nate talks about is how it’s the small details and accessories that really make a house a home, and of course, he has quite a collection. 

I particularly love how he uses gold throughout his house. It has all of the sparkle of silver but with even more warmth.

How beautiful is that big chunk quartz?  I love how he brings so many natural elements into his home …

 As the weather begins to get cooler and we spend less time outside, I’m always trying to think of new ways to bring nature in. What are some of your favorite ways? And who else has a crush on Nate?

Don’t be afraid to go bold …

Have you heard of the online magazine Lonny?
On Saturday the September/October 2011 issue went live and it is just a smorgasbord of visual delights! With lots of great ideas and incredible homes designed by the likes of Celerie Kimble and Eddie Ross, just to name a few, it is fun to curl up on the sofa with your iPad and and flip through it’s colorful pages.  What’s so cool is that oftentimes, if you see something you like, you can click directly through to the website where you might purchase it, or at least get more information. 
What I loved about this issue is that these designers and homeowners weren’t afraid to go BIG and go BOLD. It makes each space unique,  fun … a little quirky.  You kind of feel like you can guess the personality of these people, just by looking into their homes …
Take a peek.
 Using bold color, bold wallpaper AND a bold chandelier …
Who says you can’t cover your walls in animal print and butterflies?

Or put a peacock in your dining room …

More butterflies that cover the wall …

 
Quirky, right?
Bikini art and medieval busts … who knew they went together?

Elephants, zebras and huge lamps, oh my!
Why not mix some Jaws in with your vases and bowls?

Even bathrooms can be bold …

Are you on the fence about doing something bold in your own home?  If it makes you smile, warms you heart or says something about you, then go for it! 

My favorite Wallpaper … in a Pillow?

Do you remember this post about one of my favorite wallpapers by Katie Ridder?

I spotted this pillow at West Elm the other day ….
hand blocked leaf pillow cover

It’s part of their new fall line of accessories and the lacy metallic leaf pattern is done by hand. Quite an inexpensive way to get your “leaf” fix, if you have one … like me.

A few other new arrivals in their store caught my eye …

I’d like three of these, in a horizontal row or stacked vertically.

portico mirror

Love the texture of these frames and they would be great to lighten up a dark bookshelf …


cowhide frames



A simple yet classic wooden bowl that could have many uses …
traditional wooden bowl
I think these throws handmade from vintage saris are just beautiful … perfect for tossing across a bench, chair or bed.
kantha quilted throw

Even though West Elm has very modern furniture, I think that many of their things can work seamlessly with almost any style of decor. Be sure to check ’em out.

Have a good week!