Where do you put your newspapers and magazines?

A book is easy to put down and have it look good while you wait to grab it again and continue reading, however magazines and newspapers are another subject. I find it's nice to a have a go-to place for grabbing a magazine or the paper, otherwise an overflowing pile is bound to happen. In our kitchen I have this magazine rack and newspaper bin....love them both. I like having reading material in the kitchen. It's nice if you are alone while grabbing a bite to eat/cup of tea to drink that you have something to read or glance through. This rack houses reading material for my husband, me and our three year old daughter. Having the following two pieces in our kitchen truly helps to limit clutter...once either is full then it's time to pass a pile of magazines to my neighbor or recycle the newspapers.

  This little NEWS bin is one of my favorites. It's a touch whimiscal, but very pratical.
I purchased this newspaper bin from Chiasso.
Here is the link:  http://www.chiasso.com/store/item.aspx?ItemId=47285&from=bestsellers

Where do you put your newspapers and magazines?    

Lighting fixtures

I took last week "off" so that I could indulge in my family, the sun, the warm weather and relaxation while in Mexico! It was nice to wake up every morning, open the curtains and be greeted by the beautiful blue ocean...what a way to start each day! I truly savored every moment! While at the resort, I took notice of these lighting fixtures! A must for any well designed room is to find perfect lighting fixtures (lamps, sconces and/or chandeliers) that fit the setting for a particular space. I love how great lighting and striking fixtures can really transform a room! This fixture...fabulous!

Notice the gargolye sconce in the background on the right. 

I don't forsee being able to use these gargolye sconces any time in the near future, but I still like them. They remind me of the gargolyes on some of the old buildings on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

 

There were nine of these huge lighting fixtures in the reception area which made for quite an impact! It's hard to ascertain the massiveness of these fixtures from this photo, but they were quite large!

  

What do you think of the above fixtures? Do you take notice of lighting fixtures, whether it be in a residence or a commercial space?  Do you spend time finding the perfect fixture for each space in your home or are you just happy to have light?! I'm off to the city now. Happy Monday!

Still on vacation...

I will resume postings next week as we are still on our family vacation! Enjoy your week!

Wallpaper

Earlier this past week I did a posting on wallpaper. I mentioned that I had ordered two different wallpapers and was anxiously awaiting their arrival! On Thursday, I returned home to find that both of them had arrived...I was thrilled! So, Thursday night after my kiddies were sound asleep I decided to take on the task of stripping the existing wallpaper in the half-bath with DIF...I worked on it until 12:45am (yes, that's crazy, especially since I was leaving for a family vacation at 4:45am this morning!) Yesterday morning I primed the walls before taking my daughter to preschool (and reading two stories to her class...the kiddies were so cute), when I returned home at lunch I worked for two hours on hanging the wallpaper...here is a small snip-it of what I was able to get done before I was called to take care of other tasks! More to come when I return from the sun and warmth! Have a wonderful weekend!

This is a Zoffany tone on tone zebra wallcovering...I love it!

Have you hung wallpaper? Do you have any tips that you want to share with the DIY crowd? This is the fourth time I have personally tackled hanging wallpaper. It's much harder than one might think.  The first time I hung wallpaper I did a stripe (my son's room), which did not have a repeat match-up making it easier to apply to the walls. The above wallcovering has a 13.4" repeat which makes for a good amount of waste and lots of measuring to make sure all of the zebra's lines match-up. I'll be out of town for a week, once I return I'll post photos of the finished bath!

Shoes

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love, love, love shoes! It doesn't matter what kind of shoes...high heels, ballet flats, winter/snow/hiking/rain boots, casual "mom" sneakers, flip-flops, etc...I simply love footwear! When traveling, I have been known to carry shoes in my carry on luggage so that nothing would happen to them! So, it goes without saying that I love finding great shoes for my daughter too. Well, imagine my excitement when I laid eyes on these Stuart Weitzman's for her! How adorable will this pair be with dresses, skirts and even jeans with a cute top? An amazing deal for $19.99 at Marshall's!
Here they are sitting pretty in my daughter's bedroom!

Are you a shoe fanatic too?

Brad Ford

Today I attended a lecture at the D & D Building in NYC. Marisa Marcantonio of http://www.godesigngo.com/ chatted with interior designer and fellow blogger, Brad Ford about the world of blogging. As a new blogger I found the lecture of great interest...thanks guys for sharing your wisdom and experiences! Brad Ford's interiors are sophisticated and timeless. Take a look at his fabulous portfolio at http://www.bradfordid.com/ and follow his blog at http://www.designtherapy.com/ .   

I was fortunate enough to have a few moments to chat with Brad at the reception in Holly Hunt's showroom (visit her website at http://www.hollyhunt.com/ - furnishings available to the trade only).

Here I am with Brad.

I've been blogging since January 1 of this year, so I welcome the opportunity to learn more about this transparent world we are living in with blogging, Twittering and Facebooking.  Even though I'm a newcomer to the blogging world, I'm happy to have a fun spot for sharing my personality and design interests! What do you love about blogging, whether it be having a blog of your own or following blogs? I'd like to hear from you!

Wallpaper

It was a wildly busy day, so I'm just visiting my blog for the first time today. I'm in NY and we are expecting a big snowstorm tomorrow evening and I'm going away for the holiday next week, so I'm working non-stop to have all my ducks in a row! Today's post is about wallcoverings...I am a huge fan! Wallpaper today is not what it was when I was growing up. When searching for the perfect wallcovering the selections, styles, prints, colors and suppliers are endless. I like seeing a house with a nice mix of wallcoverings, as well as painted rooms. The balance is lovely. Wallpaper edited wisely adds real character, charm, sophistication and interest to a home! 

Here are some examples of the wallcoverings that I personally applied to the walls of my home.    

In our daughter's bedroom here's a Cowtan & Tout wallcovering below the chair rail. It is beautiful, timeless and feminine (despite not being pink)!   

This Ralph Lauren striped wallcovering below the chair rail in our son's room.

It's handsome and striking...it reminds me of a man's business shirt!  

In our dining room I searched for a wallcovering that was dramatic, fun and a touch more bold than I'd normally gravitate towards. I applied this Zoffany wallpaper to one wall in our dining room.    

    

I have ordered the following two wallcoverings, they have been shipped and now I'm waiting for their arrivals! This Schumacher tone on tone wallcovering by Kelly Wearstler has been on my mind since I first noticed it...it is now going in my office! It really is the essence of subtle sophistication! I can't wait to hang this wallpaper! Since I only have a sample and it's been toted around in my handbag, you'll have to forgive the crease marks from being folded. Once I hang I will show my office.  

And, this Zoffany tone-on-tone zebra print number is going in our half-bath in the foyer...oh, I can't wait! 

If it arrives this week, I'm sure I'll stay up to all hours just to complete. I love animal prints...on wallpapers, textiles, shoes, clothing, handbags...anywhere! Again, this is a sample and has been toted around in my handbag since ordering, so you'll have to overlook the creases.

What are your thoughts about wallcoverings? I'd like to hear from you!

 Tomorrow I'm off to a lecture at the D ; D (design building in NYC accessible to the trade only) to listen to the talented Brad Ford followed by a visit to Doyle. http://www.doylenewyork.com/ (Auction houses are a great source for obtaining furniture with a certain pedigree, along with original artwork at reasonable prices...if the bidding doesn't go crazy!) I'll post tomorrow evening. Good night!