taking time

I have seen on many people's blogs lately the discussion of blog block - not feeling inspired, feeling like everyone is blogging about the same images/rooms, etc.. This summer is hot and tiring and after three years of blogging I am starting to feel the drain, as well. I hope you are all doing something exciting and enjoying time with loved ones and also lots of design fun around the house. I am going to take this week off of the blog, as I have a ton of work to do in my own job, design business, and personal life. I leave you with these images that I have been loving lately, that have no cohesive theme, and will catch up with you next week!
Happy Summer...
E

ikea idea

OMG I can't even post today because I just want you to see this post over at Moodboard. Great find.
E

collecting...butterflies

I have never been one for collecting. I sell stuff, move so often, and get tired of things so quickly that a collection could never grow! But I don't get tired of beautiful art. One of my best friends gave me this butterfly specimen and I am so in love with it - I think it makes for unusual, natural art in a home that already has paintings or photographs.

You can't tell from my fancy phone pics, but the blue of the butterflies really glows. I decided to snap up a few more...

And a collection was born! I am going to amass even more over the next couple of months, paint all the frames the same black, and hang them in a grid over the bed...what do you think?  Do you collect anything?
E

obsessed with: west elm

West Elm is killing it these days. I wasn't too thrilled when they jumped on the Beni Ourain bandwagon and started carrying vintage finds, because I think we look to West Elm for inexpensive looks inspired by high design, not expensive high end stuff itself. But they are making great things at the same time..

The new grasscloth covering on desks, mirrors, etc.. is a fabulous texture to add into any space...

I don't know how sturdy/nicely scaled this sofa is in real life, but a single bench seat sofa is a great modern, classic piece. At $1600 bucks, I think it is a great value if the quality is there.

West Elm currently has a couple of tables with marble tops. These will stay modern looking for years...

They have a ton of awesome lighting right now, but you can't beat the sculptural quality of the Kudu lamp:

There are too many great accessories, bedding, and tabletop items to go through, but as you can see from my choices, I think the key when shopping at online retailers or discount stores like Marshall's is to keep it simple. The more clean and basic the shape and color, the more expensive and classic the item will look for years to come. Happy shopping!
E

Dip Dye

Will someone pleeeeeeeaaaaaase do these dip dye sheer drapes? I saw them over at VT Interiors and I love them. Check her blog post out for the entire house...
E

what i'm thinking about

This chaise is for sale in a consignment shop here in NOLA....

Today I am wishing I had a big house so I could get it and style it up like this:

Happy weekend, friends!
E

soft

Soft gray and velvety textures make me want to hibernate...
E

you only live once

I hated my teen years. So angsty - never sure of myself, torn between different groups of people, the constant drama with boys, etc... I bet if this had been my teen hangout room, things would have gone differently! hahahaha   Check out Emily's other work at her website below pic!
Happy hump day!
E

www.emdesigninteriors.com

coffee table redo

When you are broke like I am you have to find crafty projects you can do for little money. This past weekend my goal was to paint my coffee table. I absolutely loved the wicker with chrome base, the size and shape, and the fact that it is a Milo Baughman original that I got for a steal... but the wicker was way too browney orange for my black/gray/coral color scheme. So for two cans of spray paint this:

 

Became this:

 

Yes, it is bold and black and a lot of people have a problem with altering original finishes on vintage or antique pieces. I don't. I say no matter how much it costs or if it was in your great-grandmother's house, if it doesn't work with your style, it isn't worth anything. It's all just stuff, people. I say if you can change something to make it work for you and your family, that makes it more valuable and sentimental.

Next up this coming weekend: another painting project. This time on canvas!
E

what do you think?

What do you guys think about religious and/or renaissance style art in modern spaces? I love it, but it can be a hard sell to men and people with traditional furniture. It can get very heavy quickly, and so it is best to surround it with really modern or light/white furnishings like these expert designers have done...

This piece (below) was auctioned off this past weekend here in New Orleans and I wanted it so badly! However, my current state of broke did not allow me to get it... I will keep looking and hope another piece comes my way.
What do you guys think of this type of art?
E

this one's for the boys

 

burled me over

Was at my fabulous friend's store yesterday - Shaun Smith Home - and this burl wood desk/dining table blew me away. I have always wanted one and constantly have one in my watched list on Ebay, but the shipping always stops me. This one I could load up in my pal's SUV and with the center leaf out it is perfect in my tiny apartment!
Here it is in its full size...

 

And here it is in my house! I mostly love the matched burl patterns on the top...what do you think?

E

sports nut

My nephew is a total sports nut and so we went berserk with all his sports stuff...this room is not finished and fit for photographs until it has the window shades, etc... but here is a progress peek - I am obsessed with the dark grout in his tiny bath!
E

a peek....

Well I am back from Birmingham and it was a great trip. The only disappointment for me was that it is impossible to get lots of natural light into my niece's bedroom and bath so the photos do not do the spaces justice at all! Her bedroom and bath turned out so dreamy and warm with a pink ceiling and white walls; they glow! But with all my color correcting in photoshop they are coming out a little cold and lifeless. Anyhoo, I can't post pics of the bedroom if I ever hope to have it published, but here is a sneak peek at Lily's bathroom...

 

 

I hope you love it as much as we do - the ribbon Venetian mirror from Wisteria is huge and gorgeous! I highly recommend it...
E