Completely charmed by this easy and accessible look. White slipcovers, a well curated collage of art and photos, a task lamp and stacks of magazines. You can tell this is the perfect spot for soaking in inspiration from magazines, books, and maybe a few blogs ;).
I think I've nailed down the perfect ingredients for a Valentine's day care package -- homemade macarons, something shiny and vintage Bronte, all wrapped up in an unassuming, but sweet package.
Happy weekend! I'm quite looking forward to a very bloggy weekend ahead, starting with a Fifteen Eleven photography workshop today, and ending with a local blogger brunch and yoga session. As I'm packing up my gear to head to the workshop in Old Town Alexandria, I've suddenly realized the one thing I'm missing is a camera strap. Dang. I'm going to have to save up for this gorgeous personalized one from Etsy.
I've been obsessing over this Garance Dore post about Piper Perabo's apartment since the weekend. So much so, that I decided to try and paint my apartment all in one day to get a similarly airy feeling. Crazy, I know, and needless to say two of my walls remain unfinished. I now have the living room equivalent of a Batman villain.
As I work towards my goal of finding more zen in every day, I've been trying to rise a bit earlier than usual simply to ease into the day more gently. Taking time to admire winter blooms and charming homes on my walk to work, starting the morning at the breakfast table with tea and honey, and on occasion, opting for a soothing soak instead of a shower.
These fun and pretty cases are so perfect for carting your thoughts, tweets, e-books and favorite blogs around town with you. Obsessed.
...goes a very long way.
It's been a while since I was so excited about a new (to me) artist, but Michael Carson's painterly depictions of fashion shows backstage has done the trick. Explore more of Michael's portfolio here.
According to life coach Lauree Ostrofsky of Simply Leap, one of the keys to actually succeeding at your resolutions is putting them in writing and keeping them some place you'll look every day. Of course, nobody wants to look at scribbled writing on a post-it note-- exactly where my resolutions were jotted down before--so I went ahead and created the image above.
Images by me
Even though New Year's Eve has come and gone, I plan to keep some sparkle in my life all year round...starting with these incredible cookies from the folks at Purl Bee.
Even though I recently traded in a velvet sofa for a more practical sectional, I'll always love the amazing shimmer of the fabric. A little but of velvet can make any room look super luxe. If you can't swing a sofa, why not consider a velvet throw, curtains or accent pillows?
I've always dreamed of sun streaming through a skylight in my bath. Wouldn't this be just the perfect way to start your day?
So here's a little story for you, kids. Today was my first day at work in 2012. Despite a metric ton of magical thinking that the past three days had transformed me into a zen-like efficiency master, I had a day as hellish as any in the past. Granted, this is typically one of the busiest times of year for me, but, woof, this was a rough one.
1. I loved how this pairing showed how simplicity helps you focus on the important things. {post}
2. This November post was my very first round-up of things I'm loving around the Web. It felt so good to spread the love and share exciting news from DC's design community! I hope to make this a weekly feature this year. {post}
3. One of my favorite design memories last year was meeting Deborah Needleman, editor of WSJ Magazine, and formerly editor of Domino. Here I've reviewed her new book The Perfectly Imperfect Home -- my favorite shelter release this year. {post}
4. This past fall, the Washington Post's music blog Click Track asked me to share a favorite playlist. I was pretty surprised to get the offer, but putting the list together was such a fun challenge. A reminder to not be afraid to try something new. {post}
5. These creamy bed linens had me swooning for days. This bed looks as if it could swallow you up -- a very rare feat for such a spartan aesthetic. {post}
6. Hands down one of my favorite homes of the year. This workspace is pure perfection. {post}
7. This late-summer bouquet of tuberose, thistle and lace-cap hydrangeas was one of the most heavenly things I've smelled all year. {post}
8. I know everyone is so sick of hearing about Domino, but this exercise in restraint makes me mourn for it all over again. I'll shut up now, promise. {post}
9. The unstudied but glamorous work of stylist Kim Ficaro was one of my favorite discoveries this year. {post}
10. Every year I go to visit family in Cape May, a definite highlight of the summer. In this post, I took you on a little tour of the town I love so much. {post}
11. Photographer Paul Costello's portfolio is a revelation, but nothing captured my imagination like this amazinnnnggg surf shack. {post}
12. I was so happy to virtually invite my readers to my local farmer's market and into my kitchen several times this year. This light seasonal soup was one of my favorites this spring. {post}
13. Inspired by picnic weather, a roundup of a few of my favorite springtime products. {post}
14. I adore the crisp look of Emily Johnston Anderson's portfolio. Gorgeous. {post}
15. Captivated by Eric Piasecki's photographs of a beautifully decaying estate. {post}
16. A moody roundup perfect for the last days of winter, inspired by this look from Australian label Cohen et Sabine. {post}
17. The Maker's Project from Jen Causey was one of my biggest inspirations this year. I loved every installment of the series, but especially this look at Saipua, a flower shop that is an inspiration in and of itself. {post}
18. A roundup focused on the loveliness of pale winter light, with help from Cedric Bihr's photos, quilts piled high and austere fireplaces. {post}
19. This incredible Jil Sander skirt set off a year long obsession with pairing the hue with toned-down neutrals. {post}
20. I loved how this photograph from Jamie Beck captures the harsh beauty of last winter's snowstorms. {post}
