Ay, caramba!

I haven't been this inspired by interiors for like 3 days now...

Seriously my brain has been experiencing over-stimulation of images. Everything just all starts to look the same but when I saw this I felt pretty good about all of the items I was seeing and got the pitter patter back in my heart. This home was designed by Estefanía Carrero who also had this same space featured in the Nov '09 issue of the Spanish AD as seen below. I love many of the changes to this home that were made for the above Nuevo-Estilo photo shoot...especially for the living room shots. Did you happen to see the killer new black and brass desk with the huge rings..yes I would really appreciate a piece like that in my place of residence.

{all images via Nuevo-Estilo and Estefania Carrero}

options

When I saw the above room with three different arrangements I thought about sister because she has a window and a fireplace just like the above and was looking for any available insight for decorating her new space.

Sister I am here to tell you that you have so many options but in case you had to pick an arrangement from the above three I would pick the top one. Also I found a great paint color for your dark house that is about to happen from what is called a Portland winter. I'll call you later skater.

{all images from Real Simple Magazine}

sweatin

The alarm went off yesterday at IKEA after I couldn't quite make it to the above little boy before he opened the door that had emergency and alarm written in red all over it. It made me think about the day before when the alarm in my house had not sounded to let me know a child had vacated but yet I could not find "Choaney boy" anywhere. As I quickly took inventory of my house I finally found a little boy asleep in my bed with all of the blankets covering him from head to foot. As I admired the way he looked all snuggled in my bed I noticed he was a little sweaty just like I was a little sweaty from trying to take control of a little situation @ IKEA. See I guess sometimes we do have things in common like sweating..other than that I could just swear that we haven't been sharing very many common things...like interests and such. For example if I want him to do something that I take interest in he wants to do the opposite.

P.S. - I would like to take this opportunity to fully apologize to the Meghan Bunker party for having to endure the noise of that alarm in the name of my little boy. So sorry about IKEA not being able to turn it off fast enough.

1st crop of Victoria pictures

Victoria, British Columbia I sure am fond of you.

Random Trivia: Victoria, BC has the most bicyclists per capita.

We had considered going on a bike tour of the city but my sister was feeling very pregnant so my Mom suggested renting scooters. She was brilliant because it was more fun then I've had in a while. Funny but the first guy who we tried to rent the scooters from flat out turned us away...couldn't have been our giddy school girl ways. Actually I could see how we would've scared him because the first thing I said to him was, "So are these things like hard to drive?" At that point as he stared directly at my sisters belly he then proceeded to ask, "Anybody in this party pregnant?" That would have been really funny if we would have told him no just to see what he would have said. Surely he would not have said, "then why is that belly that I am starring at so big". Anyway we didn't let that little kick to the curb detour us. Off we went to rent from the very friendly blond curly head young man who probably was just as friendly to everybody else as he was to us...except I think he thought my Mom and her pink sunglasses were cute...

More details to come...like how I believe people really believe that the Twilight saga is a true story...it was a really weird experience is all I have to say.

{the really really pretty pictures by my sister and all of the other pretty pictures by me}

Ode to Mary McDonald {inspiration for curtains}

It has been quite a while since the above spread came out in Domino but I still go back to it for inspiration. I thought it was packed full of genius ideas and recently pulled out that issue featuring Mary McDonald to look @ possibly using the curtains in the top picture as inspiration for some window treatments I am trying to tackle for our guestroom, which then led me to think out Mary's new book that just came out, Interiors: The Allure of Style. I can't wait to recieve my copy and feel like Fall/Winter is the best time to get such an interior book based on that fact that she is known to use lots and lots of layers...I crave layers in the Fall. Shall we go down memory lane and take a look @ some of Mary's past interiors that have ben published...

I noticed in the latest issue of Lonny (which happened to be awesome...congrats on its 1st birthday) that it was stated that way down deep Mary is always wearing a ball gown and then said that just like in her new book Interiors has an elegance, romance and flair buried deep down in its high gloss pages.

With that I leave you with high hopes for a very happy week. it is Fall break around here so we are sure to enjoy not having a schedule.

spray paint and a few items of business

Hi there!


I am home and still trying to play catch up but quickly wanted to touch base.


First item of business: I love Canada and thank you to every single one of you that sent emails and left comments on what to do and see in Victoria. What is the deal with Canadian air? (Rosaleen, I took a few deep breaths just for you..hope you could feel it all the way in Africa). I think it may have been the most quality oxygen I have ever inhaled. It felt so clean and crisp. I will be back soon with a few pictures of the trip and it is my hope that all people get to go and experience Canada with all of its very nice people.


Second item of business: Remember when I used the below spray paint for my glass balls? Well I had some leftover spray paint from that project and sprayed the glass inserts to the above chrome side tables...I like it because it gave the tables a new reflective mirrored look..I recommend giving this spray paint a shot if you want to mix things up with anything glass.

One of my new friends Kiran is awesome. She blogs over @ Genuine Elegance and wanted to know about some stuff like what kind of person I was before I had kids...Lets just say that I didn't drive a mini van before kids but there is a chance that little factor has changed. Go check out Kiran's blog here.


Also, thank you to Jen from Organized Design for featuring me here. Jen is a blogging Mom from Salt Lake who has a degree in interior design but a passion for organizing..I need you @ my house like right now Jen.


Wishing all of the love muffins out there a most fabulous weekend!!! xx


P.S. - I promise to get back to every single one of your that sent me an email while I was away.