dick bruni illustrations

When my brother and I were small, we had a lot of children's books sent to us by our grandparents in the UK. So in addition to "Green Eggs and Ham", we also had "Postman Pat", "Topsy and Tim", "Noddy", and "Andy Pandy". We also had loads of books with illustrations by Dick Bruna.
I was thinking about them the other day, and they are really beautiful. I love how simple his images are, and how he is religious about sticking to his colour scheme.

These images are great inspiration and starting points for rooms. Bold, simple spaces with just a few great objects and pieces of furniture.

there's no place like home

... and I found a new one. While searching for cheaper rent, I found a more affordable apartment in my very own building. Plus, plus being able to stay in the East Village. But with cheaper rent comes some negatives. Like no living room. Just two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom. So I bid adieu to my dreams of a big pink sofa.
With a smaller apartment that gets less sunlight comes some design challenges that I'm really excited about. Right now my bedroom is in the middle of being painted... and has been for a week. But I have a clear vision in my head and once it's closer to done I will post some pictures up.
The rest of the apartment consists of a fairly good sized kitchen, and a nice long hallway. If anyone saw one of the last issues of Domino, I'm sure you will remember Jenna Lyons', the creative director of J. Crew, townhouse in Brooklyn.

Most of the rooms were either partially or completely painted with chalkboard paint. I'm totally appropriating this. I love how matte the walls look, and how you can't tell exactly what colour it is. I haven't decided exactly how many walls will be donw in chalkboard, but I will keep you posted.

she has good taste

Apart from being bitingly honest and knee-slappingly hilarious Heather Armstrong of Dooce has great taste. She recently put up Julia Rothman's Daydream Wallpaper in her new nursery. Heather choose the yellow and gray, and I think it looks like a fantastic start.

Stupid Sailor

My sailor shirts arrived and after taking them out of the package I was aghast at how large they were. I ordered XXL because I wanted them to be loose and baggy. Thank god they shrunk a bit in the wash.
But also I feel a bit of a fool. When I opened them up and looked at the label, I saw that they were Saint James... I could have just hopped on the 6 train and gone uptown. But this way when people ask me where I got my shirt I can reply, "France".

Not another couch.

I'm moving soon, Upper West Side here I come, and my latest obsession and source of procrastination is thinking about decorating the new space. Even though I've only just begun the search. I want the space to feel quirky but simple; keeping the walls white, most of the furniture neutral and classic, with bright pops of color in the rug and artwork.
I like the Ektorp from Ikea. When I hear the word "sofa", the one that pops in my head looks suspiciously like the Ektorp. Like I said, I want to keep it neutral, but I think pink is pretty neutral.

I'm pretty sure that my new roommate isn't going to mind. Rumor is he loves pink.

I've decided I need a study

I've been obsessed with Moss since I moved to New York. It's really annoying that with the whole economic downturn that they've started closing on Sunday and Monday (my two days off).
But to get to the point, one of the first times I went to the store there was this sofa

I love it! The red one is gorgeous, but I'm pretty sure I would choose cream. The loud colour with the crazy design might just be too much. The Polder Sofa is designed by Hella Jongerius and if I had an extra $10,615 lying around it would be mine. I would also need a study/library/office room large enough to hold a couch that's 10' long. Can't you just see yourself sprawled across it reading the latest Mary Higgins Clark?
I love how shelves look when they are filled up entirely with books.

I would fill two opposing walls with shelving, but mine would be a little thicker and then have a plain border all the way around the same thickness. Like the Parson's Table of shelving.
For the other two walls I've chosen this beautiful wool Tartan from The Scottish Weaver.

Instead of a desk a large kitchen table would be good so a few people could work together. Something heavy and rustic would do well. I have a larger room in mind, so this would be floating and then a few old fashioned office chairs around it. Something like this.

What a comfortable place to read and work.

dream bedroom

So just like everybody in New York and Brooklyn I'm obsessed with Julia Rothman's wallpaper prints, especially the Daydream Wallpaper in mica and green.

I would put it in my bedroom. I like the idea of a wallpaper that's background is white and I'd pair it with a bed that really pops.

Like this one from Ikea.
... a dresser like this one from ducduc would be nice. I apologize for being sans picture, but the site wouldn't let me copy one. I know they're designed for children... but they have such clean lines and nice colours. And then for extra storage I want a rolling rack; think how nice it would be to hang up your coat on it or plan out your next days clothes.
No rug on the floors, just hard wood. But it would be painted in a checkerboard kind of like this.

The perfect room for eating breakfast in bed and reading the newspaper. It just begs you to wake up and start the day.

i just read in the new york times

... I'm finding that I begin too many sentences with that phrase, and I'm sure it must be annoying. I just read about American naive paintings... which I must admit I was unaware of as a genre.

I find this painting by Edward Hicks super enjoyable.

I love the hazy colours and how the sky turns pink. Look at the strange proportions of the cows, how the bodies are so big and square and the legs are so small and slender.

Beginings of a uniform

I really love striped long sleeve t-shirts. To me they're quintessential of childhood, and so simple and easy to wear. A few weeks ago I was was searching online and came across this website.

chal loisirs

and I found these shirts.



I choose red & cream, navy & white, and gray & cream. They haven't arrived yet, but they should soon. I can't wait to wear them, it will be pretty much everyday this Spring and Summer.

I want a George Smith Sofa

and an apartment adequately sized to fit it. I specifically want this one.



I was starring at this in my office, when a coworker asked why I was looking at hotel furniture.
And that set off my imagination. I started thinking Old Southern Hospitality. Covered in battered brown leather or worn denim and placed in the middle of loft space this couch would be pretty bad ass. Sit four different chairs around it.
Wide wooden planks on the floor
Giant Windows with shudders and no drapes.
Ceiling fans. The South is all about ceiling fans.