Going Round...

The galley kitchen in my tiny apartment is very dark. It sits in the crevice between my building and the one next door and basically looks out onto a brick wall. To add to that, I painted the small space a rich deep blue (Farrow & Ball Drawing Room).

Repainting aside, I've been looking for ways to lighten up the area. One idea I've been toying with is adding a round oversized mirror over the kitchen table. I believe that the shape will compliment my tulip table from Ikea and something dramatic against the blue will instantly become a focal point. I starting pulling some inspiration last night...

I am in love with this fantastic mirror against this gorgeous aqua wall. What drama!

(image: Southern Living)

 Something with a scalloped edge could be fun...

(Image: Wandr Design)

With high ceilings I could also stack two mirrors...

(Image: Apartment Therapy)

Gold or brass details could be interesting.

(Image: House Beautiful)

Wood looks infinitely dramatic against a lacquered wall.

 

 (Image: House Beautiful)

A sunburst mirror could also add flare to the space.

 (Image: House Beautiful)

A layered look could add some visual interest. 

(Image: Horchow)

Do you use round mirrors in your space?

Men's Shirting Repurposed

When shopping for new fabric for my apt, more often than not I am drawn to clothing fabric over traditional upholstery fabrics. While not as durable, the selection of printed cottons, denims and gorgeous jersey prints is usually too much to pass by. This weekend, I rekindled my love for men's shirting.

 (J. Crew Men's Shirt)

(Image: Katyelliott.com)

For awhile,  I have wanted to deck out my living room in men's shirting fabric. I love mixing pattern on pattern. I can imagine a collection of pillows with plaids, checks, solids and stripes in gorgeous fall tones sitting together. I could also imagine cutting a bunch of squares and covering a vintage slipper chair in a fabulous patchwork.

 (Image: The Trad)

Here are a few fabrics that I picked up this weekend...

Might have to go back for some great fall hues in purple, red and brown.

What type of fabric do you love?

Fashion, Fabric and Football

Wow! This weekend was a whirlwind.  Friday night's Fashion Night Out in NYC was an event not to be missed. I cruised around the Meatpacking District, catching glimpses of the ever stylish Tory Burch and Diane von Furstenberg.

Later in the night in Soho, Vera Wang told me that I needed to dance more. (She's probably right!)

Saturday, I perused the bolts of denim, printed cotton and men's shirting at Mood Fabrics. I was like a kid in a candy shop at Daytona Trimming. I dreamed of all the projects I could do with the rolls of brightly colored ric rac.

 (Here are the fabrics that I ended up with. Trying to decide which to use to cover some pillows and for curtains in my living room).

Sunday marked one of my favorite activities of Fall: Football! I can't wait for the weather to get cooler, so I get get out the Pendleton blankets and vintage leather camp chairs for tailgating.

(Pendleton Terrazzo Blanket)

(Leather Safari Chair- Lewis Drake)

How was your weekend?

Part Two: So You Work in a Hole...

Here are a few more ideas to spruce up a tiny, windowless office.

Cool accessories for your desk will help the space feel more personal. Try a pair of vintage bookends and stylish boxes to organize and contain your stuff.

(Vintage on eBay)

 (Jonathan Adler)

If you hold onto magazines for inspiration as I do, manage the stacks with bright magazine holders.

(Container Store)

Grab some fabric and create some inexpensive artwork for your space.

(Bella Dia)

Finally, add a graphic area rug for a personal touch.

 (West Elm)

  (West Elm)

(Anthropologie)

Blogging in NYC

Yesterday, I attended a fabulous IFB conference on fashion blogging in NYC. Speakers included some of the voices behinds fashion's most loved blogs including Bryan Boy, Gala Darling, Lookbook.nu, Style Bubble and one of my favorites Cupcakes & Cashmere. (Definitely worth checking these out).

Definitely a tech savvy group, everyone was typing away on their phones and computers throughout the conference. Even more amazing was how quickly speakers' quotes landed up on Twitter! (Check out the feed #ifbcon)

While I don't have any plans to start writing about the latest designer dress or platform, I picked up a lot of great tips for improving my blog and received some great fashion advice (These ladies and gents were definitely sporting all the Fall trends, I talked about last week.) Look for some fantastic changes coming to O&B the in the next few weeks.

"Part Two: So you work in a Hole" coming this afternoon...

So You Work in a Hole...

Okay, so you work in a tiny, windowless office that sucks all of the energy and happiness out of you every time you have to be in there. Don't get the Prozac out yet, you can transform it into a welcoming, cozy space with a few simple tricks.

First think about colors that make you happiest. Are you more of a bright color person, or do you prefer neutrals, or colors from the same palette? Next, think about the type of work you're doing in your office. Are you seeing patients? If so, you'll probably want to pick something that's calming and not distracting for your patients.

 (Apartment Therapy)

(Elle Decor)

Depending on your office (and how forgiving your company is), my next inclination is always to paint. In a small space, keep the paint colors light to make the space seem as big as possible, but try using a high gloss paint. The reflective quality of the paint will make even the darkest spaces seem lighter.

(House Beautiful)

Another trick, why not add visual interest to the room by painting the ceiling a different color? (One note: If you're lacking height, try to keep the ceiling color on the lighter side to keep the room from feeling like it's caving in on you.)

If painting is not an option, that's okay too. Wallpaper is big right now and showing up everywhere.  If you can't make the commitment, try creating your own version with removable wall decals. There are some fantastic ones from Blik and on Etsy.

(Byrdie Graphics on Etsy)

Once you've painted, or added decals to your wall, next stop is accessories. If your office furniture comes with the space, try adding some color and texture to the room with pillows, or a great mirror.

 (Williams-Sonoma Home)

If you have a bookcase full of books or manuals, try arranging them by color or size to add some interest to your bookshelf. Add a few personal touches (i.e. pictures, a cool vase, etc) too. 

The next stop in creating your haven is lighting. Say "no" to the fluorescent lighting that is inevitably hardwired and get a few table lamps to place around your office. The soft glow from these lamps will give your office a warm, fuzzy feeling.

More small office ideas coming tomorrow... 

Staycation in NYC

For Labor Day weekend instead of battling crowds and traffic at the beach, I decided to do a staycation in NYC.  I enjoyed a blissful, relatively deserted city full of fun activities.

Saturday included catching up with a friend over brunch at the pint-sized french bistro, Tartine. Hearing about my friend's recent engagement, my oh-so delicious croque monsieur and seeing Meg Ryan casually walk past in on the street were definitely fun ways to start the weekend.

That afternoon, I wandered down Broome St. through Soho and into the Lower Eastside. I was delighted to discover Mulberry St. was blocked off from Broome to Canal. I felt like I was in a European city with all the cafes spilling onto the streets and patrons sipping wine and chatting over wonderfully long three hour lunches.

Little Italy quickly turned to Chinatown marked by a bustling, hurried pace. Shoppers armed with pink plastic bags carefully selected the freshest items from tables brimming with fruit and vegetables.

My final stop in the Lower Eastside was the new-to-me Hester St. Fair, which housed a great collection of vintage clothing and handmade goods. I wish I hadn't still been full from lunch, as the food vendors looked fantastic. Loaded lobster rolls, homemade ice cream sandwiches, fresh coffee and homemade spice blends.

A majority of Sunday was spent working on projects around my apartment (pictures coming soon!) Sunday night I met a friend for drinks at the Spotted Pig and ended up dancing the night away at Avenue Lounge.

After a slow start yesterday, I ventured out of Manhattan over to Brooklyn for the Labor Day West Indian Parade. Colorful dancers, huge floats and heart thumping Caribbean music made for a great afternoon. Not to mention, the bbq jerk chicken and sweet potato pie were delicious.

After the parade, I hopped back on the subway and headed to the Bronx for the ABC Carpet & Home outlet sale. I picked up a Madeline Weinrib rug for a steal (look for it in my new office!)

All in all, a fantastic weekend filled with great events, good friends and lots of rearranging in my apt.

What did you do this weekend?