Brook & Lyn

I've been on a search for a piece of art for this one wall in my living room since I moved into my apartment in June. The space demands for something big and full of texture. I haven't had any luck finding a piece that's right for the space. Nothing seems to be large enough and still affordable for my current budget. There's plenty of $10,000 plus pieces that are perfect, with the exception of the price tag.
When I first saw these woven wall hanging from Brook&Lyn I thought these would be perfect! With one important exception, they are way too small! I'm now thing I have to make one myself. I've seen so many of these hanging in friends parents homes growing up and they kind of creeped me out. However, these are modern and fashionable, nothing creep about them! I think I have a new project to work on now.  

Homosocial

I always have to post these promotional videos for Australia's John Homosocial parties. Previous videos have definitely been better however this video features a plywood wall which is looks really sophisticated despite the strange actives taking place in front of it.

Man Pillows!

Just in time for the holidays, Man Pillows! Available in 3 sizes with or without a pillow insert, starting at $20, now at my Society6 page!

Moth Proof!

When you move into a new apartment you are bound to inherit some unexpected things from the former tenants. When you sign the line at the end of your lease you don't really know what you're getting into. For some it's a noisy neighbor, a sticky window, or even the ghost of a former tenant. My unexpected inheritance is a group of squatters! More precisely, Moth squatters!
I didn't even realize that was a problem that people had. Apparently the annoying little pests love hanging out in pantries. They just adore flour, rice, tea, pasta, you name it. After an initial sweep of the cabinets they are still appearing, fluttering across the room like they pay rent. Enoughs enough! The apartment has been baited with moth traps and a few has been caught but a few survivors remain.

In the meantime, I've taken this pesky situation on as a reason to act out my Martha Stewart fantasy life. I stared a moth in it's ugly little face and said "I'm going to organize, label, and seal up ever bite of food you will ever want to eat and it's going to look amazing!" To the Container Store I went and picked up a dozen glass canning jars. Then to Staples to get the perfect labels ala Martha Stewart for Avery. These lovely chalk board labels are perfect! Now things look great and there's no little moth babys wiggling around in my rice (that never happened and I know it sounds disgusting, but they really do that.)
      

The Great Kitchen Facelift: Part I

I moved into my new apartment this past July. Which is definitely the best time to move. longer days, typically good weather, and no snow. However, mid-summer humidity and warm temperatures do not make for good painting conditions. Despite this the roommates and I painted the entire apartment from baseboards to crown moldings. Except for one spot, the kitchen. When negotiating the lease I was granted permission to refinish the kitchen cabinets. Our landlords were the former tenants of out top floor apartment and left it in kind of a mess. Especially the kitchen cabinets which were still filled with food, dishes, and general neglect.

This is the way the kitchen looked when we first came to see the apartment. Things didn't look much different when it was time for us to move in.

Shortly after settling in we started up the refinishing the cabinets. However, after sanding down and painting two doors we realized we will never get this done at the rate that they were drying. Two weeks later the doors were still tacky! I know oil based paints take longer to dry but this was insane, the heat and humidity were fighting against us. So we said lets get back to this project in the fall when things cool down.

A work in progress. You can see how dusty it gets, the bottoms of my feet and ass are filthy.

Appropriately, yesterday marked the first day of fall and the beginning of the Great Kitchen Facelift! That's what this cabinet refinishing project is officially going to be called for now on or GKF for short.   The first part of the GKF, removing the cabinet doors and sanding everything down. I have to break everything up in sections so life can still continue on somewhat normally.
So I started with just the upper cabinets. My little electric sander and I almost sanded down all of the cabinet frames. Even getting into all those little annoying grooves in the moldings!

I think it already looks a ton better despite all of the cabinets contents being out on display. Next, more sanding and hopefully some paint!  

SchoolHouse Electric & Supply Co.

I'm obsessed with the beautiful products created and sold by SchoolHouse Electric & Supply Co. Classically beautiful accessories for the home, made with sincerity and passion. What else can one ask for?

A New Place to Stay in the Burg

This past weekend I took a trip to Williamsburg to show a visiting friend around. While stopping at the classic "this is Brooklyn" locations we past a hotel that I've never notice before. I never even realized there was a building at the corner Wythe and North 11th! Apparently it's been there since 1901 when it was a factory that used to produce barrels and casks. The once industrious building over the years grew out of uses and was then bought up and given a new life as a 72 room hotel created by hotelier Peter Lawrence and restauranteur Andrew Tarlow (Matlow & Sons, Roman's, Diner). The Wythe Hotel, along with it's theater, and restaurant, Reynards, opened their doors just yesterday. With views of Manhattan and rates starting at $179 a night this new historic factory turned hipster hotel is sure to have many visitors. Check out the pics below from T Magazine.

Poke

I never knew that acupuncture and good taste would ever go hand in hand, until I spotted the lovely new office of Poke Acupuncture on Melrose via Apartment Therapy. Owner, Russel Brown combines fine art, creative succulent plantings, and a general DIY sensibility to his new space that's so hipster zen. If there has a space here in Brooklyn that's as handsome as the Acupuncturist, like Poke Acupuncture and Russel Brown, I would have pins sticking out of my body on a regular basis. See more shots at the AT office tour. Also see Russel's home and old office space, they are equally as awesome!

DIY: Reclaimed Wood Table

How beautiful is this reclaimed wood table found over at the amazing Brooklyn to West. Ariele, creator of this table, notes that using reclaimed wood to build furniture is not a new idea but she doesn't give herself enough credit. Her tables are just gorgeous.

Ace Style

It's that time of year again. Some call it spring, I call it time to redecorate. Whenever the weather starts to warm up and the sun starts to set later in the day I get an itch to paint, hang and rearrange. This season I'm pulling inspiration for the eclectic style of the Ace hotels. I love the predominately neutral color scheme with accents of warmer tones through natural woods, textiles, and books. I can't wait to reveal my new Ace inspired styling.  

 

 

Privet House

Connecticut's Privet House offers customers a selection of unique finds from taxidermy to german brush. Privet House's owners Richard Lambertson and Suzanne Cassano pride themselves on beautifully curating two locations with special products for your home and garden. Privet House is also one of the selected stores to be included in the up coming Target collaboration, The Shops at Target. This unique partnership will provide customers with limited edition products with the unique charm Privet House has held fundamental to their shop since 2008. Watch this brief video about The Shops at Target to find out more and check out these wonderful shots from inside the shop.

Amelie and Friends

I love the simplicity of the interior of Amelie and Friends, a restaurant serving "unpretentious good things" located in Chichester, England. I'm always a fan of simple white subway tiles, natural wood and industrial fixtures.

The clever lighting was designed as a solution to getting around not being able to install traditional lighting into the ceilings due to the proporties historical building status.

See more after the jump. Found via Remodelista.

The Saguaro Palm Springs

From the backers of the Ace Hotel New York and Palm Springs comes a technicolored transformation of a formerly drab 1977 Holiday Inn that is sure to leave guests smiling. The Saguaro Palm Springs features a full spectrum color palette that is cheerful and sophisticated. I ironically stumbled upon The Saguaro the same day I'm shooting Alder's Spring 2012 collection which is reminiscent of The Sagurao's exciting decor. Enjoy the cheerful shots and be sure to purchase some new cheery Alder garb coming soon to Alderboutique.com!  

Color Blocked Rooms

I love these color blocked rooms. They are visuals from Farrow & Ball's 2012 color forecasting. I think it's such a great idea to paint the ceiling of a room in a bright color and even better, take the ceiling color down the wall a few feet! Such great combinations too!