TIME TESTED STYLE

Time tested style: Nothing feels as fresh to me as bold black and white stripes. This spring I can't wait to pair black and white with bursts of color in kelly green, yellow and fuschia.

Recycled Sail Striped Pillow cover by Latitude 33

 Bathing suit at Anthropologie

Black and White Striped Umbrella by John Paul Gaultier

 Mid Century Eames chair found via Apartment Therapy via Australia Home Beautiful

Black Ribbon Shirt by Jessalinb

No 5 Print by Coverpage

 Want! Found via Pinterest via Number-Nineteen

 Lucite chevron tray by Tilly Maison

A canopy in a bedroom by Dara Caponigro; Paul Costello photo via Domino.

Love black and white striped chairs made from sunbrella fabric. Found via Pinterest via La Dolce Vita

 Black and white strip luncheon napkins at Paper Style

Apartment Therapy

GOING DUTCH AT VANDAAG

 All images courtesy of VanDaag

The best eating out experiences in my mind combine great food with an even better atmosphere. This weekend, my lunch date at VanDaag, a dutch restaurant in NYC, was no exception.

From the bright yellow exterior to the spacious, airy bar this East Village fav is a homage to Scandanvian and mid-century design. Eames style chairs surround the tables and bright yellow and white subway tiles line the walls in graphic pattern. The long black banquettes are paired pefectly with bright yellow and blue, giving everything inside fresh, light and modern feeling. 

Image courtesy of EatBigApple

This restaurant has such great style, not to mention delicious food, that I may just want to move in...

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

Lazy Daisy...

Photo: Graham Owen Photography

After picking up my daisy lamp at Eastern Market over the weekend, it reminded how happy daisies make me. Their bright and cheery color always reminds me of summer. I remember as a kid making daisy chain necklaces and headbands.

A few inexpensive daisies in a vase can be perfect for a casual summer get together...

Photo: Country Living

Daisies can also look quite sophisticated when grouped together in this striking arrangement from Domino

Photo: Domino Magazine

Put Out the Fire...

There was a fire on the roof my apartment building this afternoon... not good. Luckily, no one was hurt and nothing was really damaged. Just a little smokey...  After seeing all the fire trucks and emergency vehicles (I think I counted 20),  I've definitely got fire prevention on the brain.

Here's a quick peek of a few vintage fire related items I've found....

  

Sunday Times Market on Etsy

Remember this book?  Vintage Kids' Books on Etsy

Sweet Love Vintage on Etsy

Hindsvik on Etsy

Thinking in Black & White

Those of you who have been reading my blog so far, probably already know how much I love color... usually the brighter the better. However, this morning I woke up thinking about drama (and cool factor) of black and white rooms.

(Photos: Domino Magazine)

Here's a quick peek at some other black and white finds...

By Lettered Threads on Etsy

By Spruce Home on Etsy

By Alexandra Ferguson on Etsy

By Sepia Smiles on Etsy

Saving Space...

I have been looking for ways to maximize the storage in my tiny apartment, scouring books, magazines, and websites for inspiration. A good thing that my college roommate sent me this slideshow today of Zach Motl's fantastic under-the-bed storage. (Thanks Rach!)

This is even better than a Murphy bed...

A few more pictures of this inspiring space... 

 I love the tiny green kitchen alcove.

The pop of red against the painted black floor is amazing.

See the rest of this awesome small space here.

(Photos: New York Times)

Color Pop

When I first moved into my apartment, I painted the walls of my kitchen in Farrow and Ball's Drawing Room Blue. I loved the dramatic feel in the tiny space. I've recently been collecting inspiration from color used in unexpected ways in the kitchen.

Love the kelly green lacquered cabinets in this kitchen designed by Miles Redd.

The pop of color on the floor and the exposed ceiling in this kitchen are amazing.

The sky blue floor and cabinets give this kitchen a light, airy feel.

(Photos: House Beautiful)

Paint By Numbers...

 

(Photo: Winter Snow)

I have a fascination with paint-by-numbers from the 1950s.  I love the idea that Sunday hobbyists would spend hours recreating different scenes and then proudly display the finished artwork on their walls.

The folks at Etsy apparently really like them too. Check out this awesome time lapse video of the paint-by-number mural from their office in Brooklyn, NY.