STOCKING STUFFER?

The latest edition of Kelly Wearstler's book, Hue is out. How gorgeous would this be on a coffee table? Hope this somehow makes it under my tree this year...

MOVING ON TO THE NEXT HOLIDAY

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and a nice long weekend!

Now that Thanksgiving is over, I'm finally starting to think about decorating my apartment for the Holidays. I just sent out an invitation to friends for a cocktail party. Having a deadline is a great excuse to make sure I don't wait until the last minute. Here are a few of the images I've been collecting to get inspired.

(Image found via Pinterest)

(Image courtesy of J.Crew)

 (Image courtesy of Rachel Denny)

(Image found via Design Is Mine)

(Image courtesy of Domino Magazine)

(unknown)

(Image courtesy of Apartment Therapy)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

For those of you who celebrate, hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I'm sitting on the couch just getting over a virus. Not the most fun way to enjoy the holiday. Hopefully there will still be some good leftovers tomorrow...

In the meantime, I thought I'd share some fantastically over the top images I spotted in the latest World of Hermes Autumn-Winter 2010 Magazine. Shot by Karen Knorr, the animals and birds in these photos are wonderfully unexpected. Check out the rest of her work here.

ROMAN SHADES = ROYAL HEADACHE

Remember the last design challenge I was working on, Upper Westside apartment? With deep windowsills, I had this great idea to make roman shades to replace the ugly mini blinds. I did a little research and found this fantastic how-to guide for roman shades on Little Green Notebook.

We got some cheap fabric from Ikea and made the shades fairly easily. The real headache came in when we had to hang the blinds. We had gotten the blinds specially cut at Home Depot to fit the space, only to find that one was slightly too small for the window and the other two where too short by an inch. Ugh!

With a lot of thinking,  a call home and some "creative" installation techniques, we finally got the binds installed yesterday. What do you think?

Look for some cool before and afters of the rest of the apartment tomorrow.

GIFT GIVING

I can't believe that next week is Thanksgiving. This month (and year!) has flown by. During my August resolutions, I vowed that this year that I was going to be a thoughtful, well-organized gift giver and NOT end up like a normally do frantically running around and getting everything shipped overnight...

So far, I haven't purchased anything, but I gotten a lot of great ideas (a few eco-friendly options as well). Here are a few of my favs...

 How cool is this recycled bag, repurposed from those huge, ugly orange construction fences?

Sticking to the recycling theme, love these bottle openers made from vintage tennis racquets.

This just makes me smile. The back of the hat reads "Goodbye".

 I heart the Things We Love series at Kate Spade. Can't wait for the book version to be released.

I am a huge fan of totes in all shapes and colors. This Jack Spade tote is the perfect combo of gray and bright red! 

How cool is this icon business card holder?

OTHER PEOPLES' BLOGS

I wish I could fill my days reading and picking up inspiration from other people's blogs. If only work could wait! While there is never enough time to check out all the fantastic blogs out there, here are a few that I've been delighted by recently...

Design is Mine
I am always amazed by the cool images on this blog. A particular fav is the Flickr image of the day... 

I Suwannee
I heart this blog for many reasons, including the awesome showcase of color in all forms and wide spectrum of posts from Native American inspired snuggies to gorgeous, swoon-worthy interiors.

Lox Papers
I first spotted this blog over at You Are My Fav. I have already fallen in love the gorgeous collages from Jane, a wonderfully talented graphic designer. I can't wait to see what she and Kate Armour, over at The Neo-Traditionalist, are putting together for their new online mag, Matchbook: A Field Guide To A Charmed Life (launching in Jan 2011).

The Beautiful Soup
Pretty much the opposite of my cluttered apartment, I could spend hours staring the beautiful, ethereal images on this blog. It is a wonderfully calming feeling to day dream about such clean and simple spaces.

Delight by Design
Beautiful images and interesting collages. I can't get enough of this gorgeous interiors blog.

Always looking for new inspiration, I would love to hear about any blogs you've spotted (and loved!) recently.

THANKSGIVING WITH A TWIST...

Phew! Yesterday was a long day. Definitely no need for the gym when I'm dragging bookcases across the room and hanging oversized mirrors! Just putting the finishing touches on the second 24 hour design challenge- Upper Westside Apt. Can't wait to share the before and after pics!

In the meantime, I'm starting to gear up for the Holidays. I'm heading back to Pennsylvania next week to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family and I've been looking for some inspiration for the table. This year I hope to create something a little more unusual. Here are a few Thanksgiving tables with a twist... 

*** Be sure to check out the new HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE at Octavia & Brown. I've got everyone on your list covered from your Hard to Shop for Aunt to your Mad Men Loving Boyfriend... 

Can I say how much I love this Thanksgiving table Eddie Ross created for Lonny?

I would love to see this color palette and cool vintage style on a Thanksgiving table.

Modern and natural at the same time.

  Black, white and brown- so simple and so cool.

 Who says you have to always have flowers on the table?

The blue and white is a fresh take on Thanksgiving, while the antlers give it a rustic feel

Images courtesy of: Lonny, Apartment Therapy, unknown, Domino Magazine, Maura McEvoy, Caroline Roehm

IKEA BOUND...

This weekend was a whirlwind as usual and I've been up early this morning working on some last minute prep for the next 24 hour Design Challenge- Upper Westside Apt that's happening today! Stay tuned for some before and after pics this week! 

Yesterday, I ventured to to Ikea with a friend to help her find a few items for her apartment. While I have vowed not to purchase any more Ikea furniture, I was delighted to find some cool, new home accessories.

Here are a few of my favs from yesterday...

Boja Table Lamp 

 Vilmie Rund Throw

Kulla Table Lamp

Mongstad Mirror

Tradig Bowl

Anno Unni Curtain Panels

Kassett Magazine Boxes 

Bild Poster

Anything you've seen recently at Ikea, that you've loved?

FRIDAY FAVORITES

This morning, I've been struggling with a major case of writer's block. My mind is racing in a million different directions right now with Holiday preparation for Octavia & Brown (check out the new listings here), Holiday Gift Guides coming on Monday, working on prep for the next 24 design challenge- Upper Westside apt and writing several new posts for iVillage. If I lost my to-do list right now, I'd be in major trouble!

So, without a real topic in mind, I thought I'd just share a few things that have made me happy recently....

While I've never been to India, the pictures coming out of last week's Diwali celebration make me want to hop on a plane. Who wouldn't want to play in a huge pile of marigolds?

REUTERS/Krishnendu Halder

This is the next book going on my bookshelf. I can't wait to get my hands on Design Research, The Store That Brought Modern Living to American Homes. Founded in 1953, Design Research's legacy can be seen in the showrooms of Crate & Barrel and Design Within Reach today.

The price tag on these chairs is a little (okay very) out of my price range, but I love the sleek design and colorful Missoni fabrics.

Kartell Mademoiselle Chairs with Missoni Fabrics

Seriously, I think I need a little adventure this weekend...

Screenprinted Poster by Fifi Du Vie

I've got to try this for holiday parties this year. Check out the step by step instructions here.

Found via Pinterest from This is Glamorous

Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend!

IN THE LIBRARY...

The stacks of books spilling onto my kitchen table are definitely evidence of the fact that I have a hard time walking past any new design or art book. I find myself drawn to the gorgeous photos and pages upon pages of inspiration. Until I own a house with space for my books, I'll dream about these incredible libraries in the meantime. Enjoy!

 The always fascinating Karl Lagerfield proves you can never have too many books...

 Elle Decor

A light becomes a focal point in a lovely gray library... 

Found via Pinterest

I love the exposed beams and dark moodiness of this library...

Decor Pad

Both colorful and interesting all the way up the wall...

Atlas Industries

Custom bookcases for small spaces.

 Apartment Therapy

This library has a great collegiate feel from the huge painting and dark bookcases to the leather sofa...

 Enon Hall

Slightly impractical these leaning bookcases are still fantastic.

 Dutch firm Sloom and Slordig, found via BoingBoing

If space is an issue, why not go up and around the windows...

Found via Pinterest from khintonslash on Flickr

A library at hip level would also be fantastic... 

 Found via pinterest, from the theglamourai.com

 Light is key...

Found via Pinterest, from The Beautiful Soup