DIY table

Do you think this Antony Todd table...

could be done with two of these West Elm tables? Spray brass paint or gold leaf legs only...a great DIY project! Even the poppy red color would look great with brass/gold legs...

I wish I had the space to try this - they are only $149 each - Kat, this would be a fun project! Anyone willing to do it?
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Color stories with Baby Russia

My new blog obsession is Simply Smitten by Kristin Kerr. She is adorable and her blog is great! She posted a while back about Australian student BabyRussia - a girl who posts clothing sets on Polyvore. I love to lust after her outfit choices; I would wear every single one. And since she has a Celine bag and Chloe perfume in almost every set I have to wonder if she works for one of those companies - jealous! But the best thing about the combos are her subtle color stories - usually nude with a couple of analogous colors like lemon and grass green (analogous colors are right next to each other on the color wheel and look amazing together). These are the ones that are inspiring me for interiors...Happy weekend loves!
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Marigold, black, green with tortoise or leopard

Gray and nude with pops of gold and red

Nude, red and burgundy

Gray and white with olive green and cobalt

good deals

Well, yesterday's discussion was very interesting - thank you to the people who commented; I love a good debate/talk! :)
I am (contrary to popular belief) an insanely frugal bargain hunter. I have champagne taste and a decidedly beer budget, my friends. Of course everyone and their mother is at Highpoint Market this week except me - as I have to be here to man the store. But I am in phone and email contact with my vendors and since today is the last day of market, I have scored a bargain for myself!
This amazeballs parchment and cerused oak chest by Julian Chichester has always been a love of mine. The handles are this bronzey brass that is so cool, and the parchment fronts have a delicate fish scale pattern on them. It is super heavy and well made and sells retail for around $6k! I scored the floor sample from market for a cool grand and it is on its way to me now... Can't wait to dress it up!
Have you scored anything great lately?
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frustration

I know most of you who read this are looking for fun design inspiration, and don't really want to hear about what I feel or think on a daily basis. :) But I have to say that running a store and being a designer is very frustrating sometimes. I cannot put my feelings into words as eloquently as Thomas O'Brien (designer and store owner extraordinaire), so I beg all of you who happen upon this blog to please go HERE and read this letter. It expresses exactly how sad and frustrating it is to try to share something creative with people in this age of technology and discounts, and internet consumerism. Love him!
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yellow belly

My sister's house is almost built! I am ordering soft furnishings now and we will definitely be done by the end of summer. I can't wait to show it, because it is the first house I have done from the ground up. The whole house (even the exterior) is gray and yellow - so today these pops of yellow are inspiring me. Maybe she will let me paint the stair risers yellow! (I won't hold my breath... :)
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society 6

So I am the last person on the planet to get on the iphone craze. I loved my Blackberry and never wanted to join the Apple cult, but I am in now. So I got a white one and I need a beautiful case. I love every single one at Society 6! Obviously I am feeling skulls and black and white, and I haven't even gotten into the photography and art yet.  Do you have a great case?
Here are some of my faves...
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wow

love love love love - happy  Friday, friends!
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nursery shelves

Every day I am reminded that the bookshelves from the Sweet and Sour Nursery I did have really been the biggest thing of my career. I get emails on a daily basis asking about these, and they have inspired countless reproductions in various lengths. I am so happy to announce that the nursery will be in a book coming out next year, that I will talk about later!
Kate, who has an adorable blog, wrote me a while back and asked about the shelves for her son's nursery. They came out beautifully, don't you agree?

Thanks for sending in the pic, Kate! You can check out the rest of her adorable nursery HERE. 
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Smash Set

Do you guys watch Smash? I do off and on, and my fave part of it is Debra Messing's character's Brooklyn Brownstone kitchen/den. The grasscloth has inspired me to use this color grasscloth in my sis' powder room, and we did an all white kitchen, as well.
I also love Rick's apartment on Castle. What is your fave movie or tv interior?
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birthday suit

So my birthday is still four months away, but I was shopping this weekend and HAD to try this Armani Exchange dress on. It is gorg! Much better in person - really a pale ballet slipper pink...

So I had to get it. Now I am on the hunt for the perfect accessories. My bestie Erika posted these Loubies today and I think they would look good...but maybe a little too strong for the nakedness of this dress...

I really want it to be a naked outfit, like SJP wore on SATC, remember? So these clear strappy Manolos could be the ticket...

These are called the Targisan I think, and there is a pair on Ebay for $70 but they are really beat up...
What do you think?
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Designer I love: Darryl Carter

I am over looking for a place and have resigned myself to one more redo of my current apartment. It is in a perfect location and is great for me for another year or so. Here is to my next look - highly influenced by one of my all-time favorite designers: Darryl Carter. His overall looks are too traditional for me (you know I love 70's glam!), but this loft apartment he did is almost my idea of perfection. Clean, pure Danish modern in architecture, plus soft linens and early American antiques. If he wasn't a black man I would think we are twins! :)
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stonewalling

I know I am just phoning it in. I am losing it mentally and emotionally. I cannot put the effort in to a decent post lately and I am just stonewalling. And staring at these stone walls while I do it. Please pray for my sanity to return this week.
Love you!
E
P.S. Have you been to Loftenberg? Go now. Seriously. Now. 

black and white and yummy all over

We have discussed black kitchens many times on this blog - but what about two toned? If there is an island or table in front of a wall of cabinetry, do you like it to be a different color? Here are some yummy black kitchens that you might have seen several times, but I can't stop looking at them today!
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