welcome back!

Image from domino

Not since Phillip Lim for Target have I been this excited about a date (as in a date on the calendar, not a date date). domino is coming back! I will be stalking every newsstand in town...or at least the one newsstand that is the only newsstand that comes to mind. Of course, the new domino will be slightly different than the old domino. Adios to the monthly publication--it will now be available quarterly for a hefty (but worth it, I hope!) $12--and salutations to a new e-commerce sight. That should make things interesting.

it's about the chairs

I'm on a little bit of a mid-century modern kick right now with an Eames molded plywood chair restoration on my radar (more about that later) and I just came across an interior by Joseph Foglia Designs where the chairs made the room:

Another Eames classic, the molded plastic armchairs, in a vibrant vintage blue are the perfect anchor to this neutral space. I want that!

Images from Joseph Foglia Designs.

seeing redd

It seems like all the interiors I've been loving lately have been the work of New York-based designer Miles Redd. His mix of high and low--along with the juxtaposition of casual and glamour--is artful and inspiring. His design business grew organically as he began decorating friends' apartments in New York, and I hope to one day be as lucky (and talented!) as Redd. Take a look at some of his work (images from Miles Redd).

warm and fuzzy

It's December 5th and we've just had our first (actual, below freezing) cold snap in Charlotte. On nights like tonight, I want to curl up on the sofa with a good book and an even better glass of wine with a crackling fire as the only background noise in the room--sorry, Sunday Night Football. However, there are several reasons this won't work: the first of which is that our fireplace is non-working and stuffed with fiberglass insulation (something Alex came up with to keep our old house from becoming too "drafty" in the winter). The second reason, of course, is that our only TV is in the living room. And if it's Sunday, it's football at the Wheats. So while I sit here not reading and listening to Al Michaels talk about the Ray Lewis, my cold fingers google "fireplace design," and here's what I see:

Above images from Architectural Digest

Above images from Elle Decor

rustic retreat

Tomorrow I will begin painting Danielle's condo, so I wanted to take another look at a rustic, classic, casual interior for some last-minute inspiration. The December issue of Elle Decor was on the same page (no pun intended) and featured this amazing mountain retreat (images from Elle Decor; photographed by Miguel Flores-Vianna).

tonight's homework

I'm a nerd. Not the kind that becomes a billionaire by the age of 25 by thinking of a social networking site that changes the online world, but the kind that genuinely loves school. I've always liked school, and I actually attended class in college. So tonight my self-assigned homework--working on an inspiration board for the condo I'm decorating--is more fun than work. This is just the beginning of my design process to get my ideas organized--I can't wait to crack open the rubber cement!

paint it white

Now that the box house is a dream no more, I've begun fantasizing about my next possible home--one that exists in my mind and from time to time materializes in Charlotte. It's a one-story, mid-century home with tons of windows, a great yard (possibly a pool) and is located in a very "desirable" neighborhood. Of course, in order for us to afford this home, it has to be in slight disrepair yet livable condition. We'll gradually renovate it over the years until it becomes the home of our dreams...and then we'll sell it and start all over again somewhere else.

The first thing I want to do to this house is paint the floors white. I'm a girl who loves color, but lately I've been dreaming in white on white. White floors accented by white walls and a white ceiling. Then I can go crazy loco with the colors I use in decorating this blank canvas.

My mind may change a thousand more times before any of these dreams become a reality--especially if our house stays on the market for another 18 months--but at least it takes my thoughts away from our currently cramped living quarters.

Interiors (above) by Vicente Wolf, images from New York Social Diary

Elle Decor

Metropolitan Home

Metropolitan Home

Domino

decor 8

comfortable chic

A couple weeks ago one of Alex's colleague's contacted me in pseudo desperation to help her turn her uptown (uptown in Charlotte means downtown) condo into a home. I met with her on a Saturday afternoon to check out the space and get an idea of her design style, etc., and it turns out that she inadvertently introduced me to a new style: Belgian Modern Design. When I asked her to describe her personal style and asked about her favorite furniture stores, she said her dream would be to outfit the entire space in Restoration Hardware. I immediately came home and began researching the "Restoration Hardware" style and came across Belgian Modern--characterized by neutral linen, little furniture, no clutter and warm-toned woods that create a setting that is warm, comfortable and lived-in. In addition, I read on the DwellStudio blog that this design style is about to take over America in way not seen since the Hollywood Regency movement. Thanks, Danielle, for showing me a new look!

p.s. Stay tuned as I track our decorating progress. Here's a closer look at modern Belgian:

Interior by Kay Douglass, House Beautiful

Interior by Kay Douglass, House Beautiful

Interior by James Huniford, Elle Decor

Interior by Sills Huniford, Architectural Digest

Restoration Hardware

Restoration Hardware