Dresser Love

I've never had a dresser, and I've always been envious when I see pictures of people's dressers. Well maybe when I was a kid and lived at home I had one, but as an adult, I've always used plastic or cardboard storage units in my closet. And I suppose it's more efficient this way and takes up less space in a bedroom, but still, I covet a dresser.

I want to put cool things on top of it, like my jewelry and whatever else. I envision a round turquoise tray where I can drop my earrings, rings, and necklace. And also I'd love to display some of my vintage items, like an old powder case with mirror and my grandfather's dog tags and engraved silver cigarette case.

So here are some of my favorite images courtesty of Apartment Therapy and Design Sponge's sneak peeks:

Happy Earth Day!

Every day after work, I'm tempted to go spend money, to find that perfect vase or pillow that will change my life and my living room. :) But today, in the spirit of giving back to the Earth, I'm not doing it. I won't give into temptation. Instead, I will think of ways to reinvent my apartment. Here are some ideas and tips to really appreciate what you have and not want more!

1. Rearrange!---Seriously, this is the best makeover for your home. Even if it means simply moving your nic-nacs around from room to room, do it. I love finding new places to put things, new groupings of vases, etc. Maybe even switch around your throw pillows or your artwork.

2. Clean!---A deep clean will make you feel better and make your place look better, too! Now is the time for wiping down walls and cleaning windows to bring the outside in. Clean out your fridge and microwave. Use a combination of lemon and vinegar (all natural!).

3. Reorganize!---Put away your winter coats, hats, scarves, heavy sweaters, etc. Pull out your lightweight jackets and clothes.

4. Declutter!---Get rid of stuff you're not using or you don't like anymore. I do this almost weekly, it's crazy! I pile up bags of clothes and other odds and ends, sit them by the door so I won't forget to take them to the thrift store the next day. I absolutely love doing this because I know someone else will hopefully buy them. I even gave my friend a pillow I bought because I knew it would match her living room better than mine. Impulse buying can be dangerous. :)

So there you have it. A few simple ways to start fresh!

And here's a spring poem, just because:


Spring is like a perhaps hand

by E. E. Cummings

III
Spring is like a perhaps hand
(which comes carefully
out of Nowhere)arranging
a window,into which people look(while
people stare
arranging and changing placing
carefully there a strange
thing and a known thing here)and

changing everything carefully

spring is like a perhaps
Hand in a window
(carefully to
and fro moving New and
Old things,while
people stare carefully
moving a perhaps
fraction of flower here placing
an inch of air there)and

without breaking anything.

New Project idea

Okay, so I'm moving past the unusable office for now until I can actually go out shopping and look around. I like to look online, but I also like to see the furniture in person, sit behind a desk and see if it's a fit.

This is my new project idea. I have this great chair that I stole (basically) from the art department where I work. It was brought in and used for a photo shoot and then left in the photo studio for weeks before it was up for grabs.

I'd like to somehow add nailhead trim to the vertical back and maybe on the arms. Problem is, it's wood. How do I accomplish this? Most people use nailhead trim on fabric, and I imagine this is much easier. Any suggestions?

Here are some pieces with nailhead trim. I love this look. It just adds that extra va va voom!

West Elm nailhead upholstered headboard:

Crate and Barrel Colette bench:

Also, any ideas on where you can buy this trim? I'd assume Home Depot or Lowe's has it. Michael's doesn't--I already checked!

Workable Office

I've been wanting to redo our home office for awhile now. It's tricky, though, when you have two people and need two desks plus bookshelves that can accomodate many many books.

I would like simple furniture, sleek desks and chairs. Bookcases can be about anything--they're by nature pretty simple with clean lines. I'm also not sure about office chairs. Should they match, and then have different desks? I want cohesiveness, but I hate matchy matchy rooms. Maybe an office is an exception to that rule...

Any advice?

Here are some desks I'm loving:

Parsons Desk from West Elm (in polished black or chocolate):

Linden Street Cordovan desk from JCPenney: And maybe just basic chairs like this from IKEA: I really am at a loss...

Currently, I have a desk from the Salvation army that is okay, but the finish is rubbing off and it's too small! Brian has a bright orange desk, but it's also too small, and it's not a pretty orange. My office chair I found near a dumpster, and he has a small task chair that sits way too low. It's not as bad as it sounds. But we're two poets who have not very usable office furniture. Oh, and the bookcases were given to us too, so they're old and need replaced. Whew!

Anyone want to share their home office makeovers on a budget? I could use some inspiration!

All Things Asheville

I was in Asheville, NC this past weekend for my boyfriend's poetry reading at Western Carolina University (in Cullowhee, NC) as part of their literary festival. We stayed on campus and drove to Asheville (about an hour away) two days in a row. We couldn't get enough! It's such a great town with unique shops, bars, and restaurants. I know unique sounds generic, but it's true! It's unlike any artsy town I've been to. Maybe it's because it's the South--people are so damn friendly. Many times I was greeted by someone twice. For example, at a restaurant, the hostess said "good evening, how are you?" or something along those lines, then she followed with "how's your evening?" I was caught off guard. I really fell in love with the people and of course, the mountains.

In Asheville there's a great place called Woolworth Walk where you can browse and purchase art from local artists. You just take what you want up to the counter. I found this to be quite unusual, but great! I bought these two (as prints, not paintings) from an artist named Sarah Faulkner:

Morning
acrylic & wax on wood 2.5" x 24" x 24"

Taking the Leap
acrylic & wax on wood 3.5" x 24" x 48"

This ceramics artist, Heather Knight, also has some amazing work. I didn't buy her stuff, but I might have to! She has an Etsy site. Her work has great texture and shape. I love it.

Set of 3 Micro Tiles

Spiked pear



Brian bought a Russian flask at a different store, and he also bought me some handmade soaps from the same shop. I got lavendar and lemongrass. They're really nice.

There's a great bookshop downtown called Malaprop's where I finally bought Apartment Therapy Presents: Real Homes, Real People, Hundreds of Design Solutions. You can buy it here, too: http://www.amazon.com/Apartment-Therapy-Presents-Hundreds-Solutions/dp/0811859827

Also, one fabulous thing I noticed everywhere was the use of the honeycomb pattern. I found it tiled on the floor of a public restroom of a hole-in-the-wall diner called, The Coffee Shop, and it was even used as a crosswalk in Asheville. It was so strange to see this honeycomb pattern in various places. It's like it was calling to me! Perhaps a new project...

Overall, this getaway was fantastic. The best trip I've had in awhile.