How to Dress a Console

Today my sister asked me for inspiration in dressing a low bookshelf in her living room.  I have always enjoyed adding a personal touch with souvenirs and pretty things brought back from travels but really, anything goes.  Flowers make an obvious addition of colour and vases are always fun to find as they come in all materials, shapes and sizes.  Dishes, trays, lamps, letters, books, ceramic figures, picture frames and mirrors also make for interesting objects to display. I believe that as long as you make it your own and add something that says a little about who you are, you can pretty much put anything that you like to look at on a table...

 

Inspiration---Lauren Bradshaw's Home

Last week, Design Sponge posted photos of Lauren Bradshaw's Orlando home and I couldn't help but put them up as well.  I love that this house feels so simple and comfortable at first glance but that a further look shows how every detail is carefully planned.  The subtle colours of the wall are surprisingly welcoming and the variety of little objects around the house say so much about the owners' personalities and seem to have a history themselves.  In the small article accompanying the photos, the owner Lauren states that her husband Joey wants the house to resemble a museum of curiosities and, while she herself is not particularly fond of that look, together they have reached a nice balance. 

The result is amazingly simple, classy and unique.  I wish to learn from this space and how livable it feels.  I am often drawn to pretty objects and, having expensive taste, it can sometimes end up looking like a showroom where the pillows are to be looked at and not played with and where one must take their shoes off and keep their feet off the couch.  I really want for people, including my boyfriend, to feel comfortable around the house and this is a perfect example to inspire me. 

Sliding Barn Doors

The reason that I have yet to post any photos of my bedroom is simply because I hate it! Most people believe that, out of all the rooms to decorate in one's house, the bedroom should take priority, as it is meant to be your sanctuary of peace and tranquility.  According to them, there should be no noise, no eating and, above all, no work to be done in your bedroom.  I am guilty of accomplishing all of the above, from the comfort of my own bed...on a daily basis.  The main reason that I hate my bedroom, though,  is not because it doubles as my office and dining room, but because it is a completely  disorganized clutter.  

I do understand that in the 1930s people did not own as many unnecessary items as we do today, but certainly they must have needed to store a thing or two IN A CLOSET!! I could probably write a university thesis on the frustrations of not having a bedroom closet but will spare you the boring details and simply show the options that I am currently contemplating in order to fix my storage crisis while finding a way to incorporate my love of barn doors:

There is an alcove in our bedroom which we have been using for storage.  It is currently hidden behind hideous curtains and I am considering replacing those (finally!) with lovely barn doors.  Now the research begins. What are the costs? (unfortunately, fairly high.  It seems that the average barn door hardware is priced at 1000$. For the hardware...No doors!). What is the level of difficulty? (pretty easy to put up).  Are these permanent fixtures? (the hardware can always be removed but most come with fixtures to drill into the floor as well, which is the tricky part if you don't want to make holes in your new floor, or if you rent your home, in which case, it is doubtful that any landlord would agree to that kind of addition).   

The unfortunate conclusion to my research and many discussions with my friendly hardware store clerk Julio is that until we purchase our own house, this kind of reno is simply to expensive for us.  I can still dream though, and I am glad that I am more informed now and will be fully ready when the time comes.  If you are contemplating this option for yourself, here a few websites that I found helpful:

http://www.barndoorhardware.com/

http://www.richelieu.com

http://www.krownlab.com

Suze Yalof Schwartz's New York Makeover

I was browsing Desire To Inspire the other night and came across what I now refer to as the best apartment makeover I have seen in a long time.  

Before

This amazing New York City home belongs to Suze Yalof Schwartz, author of the blog Dwellers Without Decorators. 

After

While you cannot create a home like this without the original character that makes it so special, the design ideas are absolutely fabulous and this reno is my Everest.  I find it amazing that in a city that houses over 8 million habitants, people still find ways to turn a little box in the sky into a home that provides all the comfort and peace that it should.  

Before

After

Before

After

I love the use of clean, crisp whites that make the apartment seem so spacious and bright, as if extra windows were added to each room.  Yet, the subtle, clever use of colourful accessories keeps it from being too monotonous.  I love absolutely everything about this condo, particularly its location in the most exciting city I have ever had the pleasure to visit, but I am sure that a beautiful decor like this can be replicated in a slightly more boring city as well! Thanks for the inspiration.

Before

After

Before

After