I don't know where it'll go...

I find this appealing. I have no place for it, but whatevs.

Hey look, technology!

So I finally got my act together and loaded some photos. Ta. Da.

Here's the room:
.

My favorite place to read:



Beware the yellow bathroom:


Well, don't we all feel better now?

Okay, I Give In.

I'll get a new damn bed. Boyfriend, you better send Pottery Barn a thank you card.


(the crewel-floral embroidered duvet cover and sham...)

My Boyfriend Hates Me

No really. True story.

Okay, okay, he hates my bed, but that cuts deep. You see, the boy is a rather tall fellow, and my bed is a full and so he suffers from that curse that plagues boyfriends everywhere: feet dangle. And apparently this hurts his ankles and then his legs and then he can't sleep and then he begins to-- just a little-- hate me.

But gosh, what am I supposed to do? I love my pretty white duvet cover and iron headboard. They did not come cheap, let me tell you. Also, the room is not huge, and someday I will finish repainting my mother's old china cabinet so it's a bureau and I like my nightstands and the old rocking chair in the corner. There's just no space. Really. He claims otherwise but he has ulterior motives.

Cohabitation, however, is something I would like, so I know my loss on this one is inevitable. Just as is my overuse of commas. So I've been looking for duvet covers. I must say, I'm struggling a little. I kind of like the embroidered "ethnic" stuff at West Elm, but I'm not gaga over it.

What is a girl to do?

Somebody Slap Me

I did it. I bought the damn hourglass. It has a delicacy to it that I really dig. I also bought a candle holder and a glass with an Indian print, which I'm actually having some buyer's regret over. My lovely boif pointed out that the glass looked kind of like a fancy version of the things fast food joints give out for a buck and a hamburger (I wanted to throw it at him, but he was right). The candle holder is cool except it turns out that its intended shelf in my bathroom slants downward slightly, which is pretty unnoticeable but becomes very obvious once you look at the top of the taper. It's the whole "if a pilot is off by two degrees he'll end up a batrillion miles from the right place" thing. Argh. Also, if I'm being completely honest, the hourglass is a little crooked.

All this made me think of my love of home goods. Why? Why do I love matching things and putting stuff together and vases with China mums and little bird figurines and why, oh God why, hourglasses? Have you read Bee Season? It's not a book I loved, but the mother turns out to be a huge thief of knick knacks. She calls them "perfectomundo," and this was an aspect of the book I really, really got. I don't know that I'm necessarily trying to fill some void, but there's a charm in tiny, perfect, beautiful things. I know I shouldn't be some happy about or want so much these material objects, but is it so bad? Isn't it okay if it gives me some satisfaction?

And that is why I will eventually buy this stupid Victoria Hagen hurricane from Target.

Time Trend

What's with all the hourglasses all of a sudden? CB2, Anthropologie, and Z Gallery all have 'em. I have always thought hourglasses were kind of cool. I especially like these simple glass versions. It seems we will all have to rearrange our coral and foo dogs to find a space for this new trend.

Still alive

Sorry the posts have been few and far between lately. Grades are due next week. I will return after that...

Swoon

Okay, so my eyes would immediately turn purple and fall out (due to cat) the second i got near it, but do you think Nicole of Making it Lovely would notice if I stole her chair? Lovely, indeed. Thanks to Apartment Therapy Chicago for forcing me go to her page and stay at work even later. Jerks.

Tord Boontje, Thomas Paul and I Will Have Great Times Together

Good news, Thomas Paul: Tord Boontje wants to be our best friend. No, don't worry if you can't say his last name. We'll call him Big T and he'll never know how clueless we are. Won't we have fun?

I'm rather the Johnny come lately when it comes to this guy---I first noticed him when he did his Christmas stuff for Target (cool plates and a nifty garland). I like how he combines bright, modern colors with whimsical nature prints. I also like his Transglass products--vases and glasses made out of recycled bottles. It's just that particular shade of green I love. Man, between Tord and Tom, I am going to have the BEST plate collection ever. They had better get started giving me stuff, though, 'cause the only plates in my family are those Norman Rockwell Christmas things. Great for Grandma, but me? Not so much.

More good news: I finally tracked down those damn white birds I've obsessed about since my boyfriend took me on a charming walk through downtown Claremont (yeah, don't think he's so great---I went to a football game first. (Okay, yeah, he's pretty cool)) and I went into a home store and I saw them and I decided I didn't want them. Anyway, I now remember why I didn't buy one. I just can't make myself pay 24 bucks for a bird. Argh. Anyway, they're at Global Table. Enjoy.

The Times They Are A'Changin'

I've never liked the barrel/drum side table/stool/ottoman thing. I tend to favor straight lines. Lately, though, I've begun to think they're the bee's knees. In their February issue (that of the infamous Zac Posen dress-induced despair), Domino showed where to find a "cheap" version. I will look tonight and post the picture and link of that. I especially like the Gervasoni take on the table; it's made of pressed newspaper. How cool is that?
I have a small space next to my adored $35 gold craigslist armchair that would be perfect for this table (without the black top though...). Pier1 has something similar--the "Handan Stool." I like it, but the color wouldn't work for me, and I'm not crazy about the trim or little dot things. Is there a technical term for little dot things? Crate and Barrel has the "Congo," but it's $379. Ouch. Do any of you have know other sources for similar pieces?

By the way, how do we feel about all this rattan/wicker/natural grass stuff? Pottery Barn's latest catalog featured tons of it--I liked the cover and the picture in my previous post, but wasn't nuts about the rest. And Pier1 has always had a lot, but they're just loaded with it now. By the way, the one chair I do really like, the Dayton, is on sale for $65. You still have to buy the cushion (for around $44), but I find the chair price rather reasonable.

And finally, you know what I find the most exciting thing in the whole world? I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE when I'm looking at a website and they have something that I found a near replica of at Target. It makes me feel like a winner. And perhaps I need to seek another source of validation, but the sense of satisfaction is no less real. Behold: Crate and Barrel's Kingston for $199. I bought almost the identical table at Target. Crate and Barrel: 0; Casey: 1.

Cool Idea

Much like my students, my flowers never do what I tell them to do. They all lean to one side. Or they hug the rim of the vase, creating 360 degrees of stupidness. I've seen those things that go on top of vases. You know what I'm talking about, right? They're a wire grid? And kind of ugly? Anyway, I was checking out Pottery Barn today, and they've come up with a clever solution to that problem that ruins my every Thursday (Farmers Market day, you see (sub-parenthetical statement: look at the research I do for you.)): the "decorative wire sphere." Neato. And they're on sale for 4 and 5 bucks.

I just got my new PB catalog this weekend. I think it starts out strong, but I wasn't so impressed with the stuff in the middle. I am particularly ambivalent about their Francesca rug, which is supposed to be "inspired by early American quilts," and picks up on the multi-print trend I discussed last week. I don't really like the picture of the rug alone, but I do like it in a room. Go figure. Click on the image to see it bigger. What do you guys think? As if I will ever be able to afford a PB rug...

Split Personalities

Have you seen the mini-trend of objects having more than one print? I don't know how to articulate it, and I don't even know if I completely like it. I think I do. What do you think about this Amy Butler pillow? Or the rugs from Urban Outfitters?

By the way, Urban Outfitters has the closest thing to the blue lamp I like. Okay, not true. Lots of places have that blue lamp I love. UB has the cheapest one, and it's good enough. Not ceramic, though. Bummer. Not that it matches anything in my apartment. Double bummer. Also, I must say that it's a little embarrassing to not have grown out of my Urban Outfitters phase yet. I just really like some of their stuff. I can't say I actually own anything of theirs, but I still visit the webpage on a regular basis. I am so 15 years old.

Finally, please comment! I'm starting to get a decent number of hits, and would love to get to know my readership. Where are you from? How'd you find me? Have a great weekend, all!

NEEDNEEDNEED

Thanks to IMEDAGOZE, I just discovered Rosanna. Rosanna has, basically, everything I've ever wanted. I also think they're incredibly reasonable. I might even get over my obsession with having only red plates. I'm not going to say anything else. I'm just going to show you, and if you know me at all, you'll get it:

Creepy Coincidence

Last week, my boyfriend and I went to his parents' for dinner (side note: I think they may actually like me), and after we said our hellos, I immediately noticed the new addition to their living room. It was The Chair. The Chair haunts my dreams. Apparently, The Chair exists in reality. It's Ethan Allen's Sussex. Funnily enough, I don't really like the chair as it's pictured on the website. Bathe it in yellow damask, however, and (as my friend Cristina says-- I would never actually say this-- except for right now...) I 1-800-LOVE-IT! The boif agreed; his parents had indeed bought the chair I talk about ad naseum. Poor guy, the word "damask" has been forced into his vocabulary. It's the risk you run when you love me, I guess. I wonder how long the damask trend will continue. I really like it, I must say. Not the fussy stuff, but bold graphic prints make me a little happier than a normal person should be made by upholstery.

I am very much in the mood for flowers today. When I lived in Ireland, our farm had flowers everywhere. We had so many different kinds of daffodils it made my head spin. We had huge (and I mean HUGE) red tulips with dark black centers. When they opened all the way, well, one was reminded of Georgia O'Keefe. Little crops of flowers popped up in completely random places (next to the muck pile, for example. By the way, avoid muck whenever possible). We also had a picking garden, which was just awesome. My teeny tiny room was always filled with jars of flowers (jars, because there ain't no such thing as vases on a farm). I meant to stop by my town's farmer's market yesterday, but it was raining and I had to get the stitches out of my mouth (wisdom tooth, ick). I think I will go to the neighborhod florist this afternoon and buy myself some tulips.

Also, and I am a little upset by this, I need to buy a basket. For some reason, I have never been a fan of baskets. Unfortunately, I am a fan of piles. My living room is pretty darn neat right now, except for a pile of magazines next to my couch. And let's be honest: that pile of magazines isn't going anywhere any time soon. Because darn it, I have to keep those home design magazines that I've already read twelve times. Because I am crazy. So World Market, here I come.

Ooh, this just in: I went to the World Market website to find a basket I didn't hate, and apparently, all their rugs are up to 50% off. Nice. They're got a couple I really like. Look in the "natural fibers" section. Also, holy crap. Apparently baskets are expensive. Target, here I come?

Domino Downer

I love Domino Magazine. I really do. I am enchanted by its bright pictures, and inspired by the rooms in its pages. Lately, though, I've been a bit bummed. Because, you see, they want you to think that that room could be yours. But then the lovely wife standing in her lovely room is wearing a Zac Posen dress, and you realize, "Ah crap! I'm poor." When it comes down to it, Domino has very little I can afford. Does anyone know of a magazine like Domino, but for people on a budget? Just wondering.

In other news, I have a confession to make. I really want this Buddha head from CB2. I usually stay away from religious paraphernalia. For one, I think it's semi-disrespectful to use someone else's sacred object as a paperweight or a bookend. I also am not really into the Eastern look (Although, I admit, I covet Jonathan Adler's Chinese Chippendale chairs. But in red. Why don't they have a red one??). Once in a while, though, I will be drawn to some sort of religious statue. Why? Well, in this instance, I just love the color. When these traditional objects are saturated in bright, contemporary colors, I just can't help myself. Ah, juxtaposition, how I love thee. Ah juxtaposition, how I love using thee in dubious ways.

Pause for Pop Culture

Yes, you're still reading a decorating blog, but you're also reading my decorating blog, which means you're going to have to hear about American Idol.

FINALLY! I am so glad they're out of the auditions phase. I found those shows offensive, basically. I think it's one thing to show the audition of someone who's kind of a jerk and has an inflated concept of his talent. In the last few years, however, I think Idol has gone a darker, more unethical route. Would you agree that some of the early contestants seemed to be disabled? I'm a teacher, and before I started this job, I worked with kids with special needs. Some of them looked like they were just regular kids. However, after talking to them for a few minutes, one would be able to tell that there was a processing problem or autism or something. I sort of feel that Idol's audition pool was composed of similar people. But, you say, those people chose to audition, right? Yes, that's true. However, it's society's job to take care of people who can't make the best choices on their own. Idol is like the modern sideshow.

And by the way, aren't the girls MUCH better than the guys?

I will never be Buddhist.

I lived with Tibetan monks the summer after my sophomore year of college. I was an intern at the Atlantic Center for the Arts, and the monks were there to build a mandala. It was an amazing time. I would watch them, transfixed, as they scraped a metal stick up and down a grooved metal cone. The vibrations of the cone caused the sand inside it to come out like water, and soon monkeys, clouds, gorgeous buildings, and writing took shape. The monks worked for a week, sometimes for 10 hours a day. When not working, they were the most kind, gentle, and surprisingly playful people I've ever met. It was probably the most formative experience of my time in college.

But that darn One Good Bumblebee has pretty much prevented me from ever becoming a Buddhist. That's right, my path to spiritual enlightenment has been permanently roadblocked by their Jar of Whimsies. Why? Because the jar is filled with stuff, stuff I desire. Buddhism calls this desire Tanha, and it's apparently not good. But Buddhists, how could you expect me not to want "glass glitter imported from Germany, vintage cotton spun mushrooms, gold foil leaves, viles, millinery supplies, vintage beads, vintage costume jewelry, vintage clothespins, typewriter keys, jingle bells, vintage marbles, wooden spools, sugared fruits, antique skeleton keys, vintage game pieces, watch parts, foil dresdens, miniature toys, vintage swizzzle sticks, charms, and so much more." So much more! Clearly I need this. Clearly enlightenment will have to wait until the next life (and maybe in my next life, I'll already HAVE all this stuff, so I won't want it. It's like the Eightfold Path loophole).

Do you think Thomas Paul will be my best friend?

Isn't this a pretty pillow? And this one, too? Does anyone want to buy them for me? No? Okay, then. I am going to have to recruit Thomas Paul as my best friend. Sorry Emily, Cristina, Melika, Lisa, Allegra and Mom. You had your chances. It's Thomas Paul's turn. And if, say, while we're doing each other's nails and talking about our sex lives, T. Paul wants to load my house with his gorgeous pillows and piece-of-art plates, I guess I'll just have to let him. Because that's what best friends do.

I HAVE to have these

So, I have had a mental picture of these since I moved into my apartment. Crate & Barrel has apparently read my mind. Creepy. Anyway, the Samovaari bath towels are by Marimekko, and almost make having a garish yellow and orange bathroom worth it. Almost.

Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Gorgeous West Elm Rug

Basically, I really need this rug. Ah West Elm, why must you tempt me so?? I, like so many people before me, have fallen prey to the bird silhouette trend. Of course, I have no space for a runner. I kind of want to just have it, though. I could, say, roll it up and keep it in my closet. And then some day when I actually pay off my huge amounts of student debt (yeah, like that's ever going to happen), and own a house with a HALLWAY (that's right, my current "hallway" is a 2'x2' square), I'll be ready. And I will be awesome.

Por supuesto, aside from space for the rug, I also lack funds. I did recently complete a little project that incorporated birds, though. On the wall above the notorious Problem Spot, of all places. I searched the internet for bird silhouettes, printed them out, and cut them out again on black paper. I also freehanded a few branches and birds. Then I bought two sets of the 5 for $15 frames from Target, some card stock from Michaels, and bang, instant ubercheap art. At right is an admittedly crummy picture, taken with my phone (I really, really need a digital camera). I must say, I'm pretty happy with it. It took me about an afternoon, and I only cut myself with the x-acto knife once. I do admit, I feel a little conflicted about the project. Some of the images are from t-shirts and stuff. Am I not respecting artists? Or is it okay because I'm not selling them or anything? And because I'm poor. Don't poor people deserve art, too?

While I'm looking around West Elm, I must also say, I kinda enjoy this duvet cover. As I get older, I'm more drawn to the natural world (see bird fetish, above). Green has always been my favorite, but I'm lately more fond of brown, a color I've never liked. I am also more comfortable with mixing graphic prints with florals, which sounds horrendous theoretically but actually looks pretty neato in reality. Can one be a serious writer and still use the word "neato"? I leave you a long weekend to ponder the question.

I Just Can't Help Myself...

I am really drawn to these balls by CB2. [Yes, jerks, insert your "Well, Casey's always drawn to balls" joke here. Then grow up.] [Okay, I admit it, I still mentally make ball jokes. Someday I'll be an adult.] Anyway, the balls pretty much match my living room color scheme. I can picture a bowl or hurricane lamp full of them. I'm usually not a huge fan of these sorts of things, but I guess there's a kindergarten/yarn/plaster of Paris aspect to them that I like. While I'm on the subject of CB2, let me say that you should definitely visit their page. They are very reasonable about incredibly well-designed pieces. I covet the haiku platter. Sadly, I am destined to years of retro-red, as dictated by my kitchen.

I think this brings me to another subject. I'm really wondering: Are other people as crazy as I am?? So, I have this 1950s-ish kitchen. I like it. I put in the Pottery Barn cafe curtains, and I have a bunch of old (and, frankly, slightly bizarre) family pictures up, and Fiestaware galore, and I'm happy with it. I'm also sort of stuck with it. I feel as if every item I buy for the kitchen must be red. I don't even really like red. And really, I should let go. Take the aforementioned haiku platter, for example. It's a platter. As in, take an appetizer to a party. As in, take an appetizer to a party given by people (ahem, usually your mom) who most likely do not have a 1950s-inspired kitchen. As in, these theoretical people will love your appetizer and compliment you on your cute haiku platter which will lead to a discussion of CB2 which will lead to a discussion of your blog and maybe you'll finally get readers. Now, I know I should buy the darn platter. But I JUST CAN'T DO IT. I can't buy something that doesn't match the kitchen. Do you want to know why? Promise not to laugh? Okay. Because my cupboards won't match. I know, I know, I'm insane. It's not like they're glass-front or anything. Nope. It's just that I'll know. I wonder if there's a program for people like me.

What else, what else? Ah...I recently discovered Textile Arts. They've got a limited but cute assortment of gifts, as well as large-print Marimekko fabric, like the oilcloth piece below. I am, I must say, a little sad that I haven't been able to work this color anywhere into my apartment. There are about a million beautiful vases in the same shade. Target, Pottery Barn, and every little knick-knack home store has such vases in abundance. There are also a bunch of lamps that I want. Do you know what I mean? It's a kind of milky material? It's somehow modern and beach and farmhouse all at once. Argh, if only I didn't have a yellow and orange bathroom. I like the whole milk blue vase/white starfish combo.

Temporary Thing

My friend Cristina (yay, a reader!) lives in a basement in Michigan. No really. She's getting a PhD there, and lives in someone's basement. She has a red couch. You may not understand why this matters, but when you're 25 (Cristina, you're almost there, don't split hairs and point out that you have, like, two weeks), you put special value on bigger pieces of furniture. Because they show that you're really a grown-up (grown-ups have furniture, you see). Because you ate Ramen for two months to buy them.

Cristina said I should write about one-room, temporary living (those of you with huge, gorgeous studios don't count). So, by request, the "Decorating When You're Just Going To Have To Move Anyway" post:

First of all, get settled. Don't let the knowledge that you're going to have to move eventually get to you. If you do this, you will never unpack your boxes or buy nice sheets or put anything on the wall. You will never feel comfortable, and so you will go hang out at the coffee house and spend money we all know you shouldn't be spending. At least on coffee, anyway (on Thomas Paul plates, okay). The fact is that if you're going to be somewhere for more than a few weeks, you should give the place some style. It's your home, however temporarily.

Can you paint? If you can, do. Ignore my previous post about accent walls. One of the best ways to make a room feel more like a Capital R Room is to paint. If you can't paint, get creative. But large sheets of canvas and paint them. Or get blik wall decals.

Use mirrors. Mirrors reflect both light and physical space, which make the room appear larger. I like the frameless mirror styles that have been popular the last couple years. The beveled edge simply looks cool, but it also provides a different angle for reflected light. Pottery Barn's Eleanor set is nice. I have a few like them in my room, though I found mine for a lot less at Target.

If your landlord won't let you nail stuff up, and the thing you want to hang isn't too heavy, get mounting tape from a hardware store (or in the Home Improvement section of my beloved Target). Of course, some mounting tapes strip paint from walls, which won't make you Tenant of the Year. If it's not heavy at all, I use the removable stuff meant for 3M hooks without the hooks. I hung some small mirrors about a month ago, and they haven't come a'crashin' down yet.

Another good single-room-living technique is to create separate spaces. Don't feel that all furniture has to be against a wall. Set aside a place to read, hang out with friends, work, and sleep. My senior year of college, I put up a wall-mounted, collapsible table. It gave me a place to work, but didn't take up any room when it was down. Use room dividers, like Tord Boontje's Until Dawn curtain thingy. I seem to remember Ikea having a system for ceiling-mounted glide rails. Or something.

Of course, you can pull the ultimate I'm-renting-someone's-basement-move: Put some curtains on the wall. Pretend you have windows. If you choose the right fabric (fabric that doesn't look dumb closed), and put them in places where there certainly could be windows, I think you could avoid appearing ridiculous. Place the rods high on the wall, which makes quite the statement and also seems to add height to the room itself.

Buy stretched canvas at Michael's. You can paint it and decoupage a postcard you liked, or paint it, let that dry, put lace over the canvas, spray paint in a contrasting color, and peel off the lace.

Avoid posters (this is personal bias, I admit).

When I was living in one room, I got rid of the bed. Now, I think futons are a little too this-was-passed-down-to-me-from-my-college-
RA-when-he-moved-to-a-kibbutz, but if you can find a decent couch bed, go for it (craigslist, of course). If you only have one room to furnish, I think it's better to go living room than bedroom.

The key to the nomad lifestyle is to make things look permanent, even if you know they're being held up with mounting tape. You don't have to spend a ton of money. I always look at Domino Magazine and Pottery Barn and a million other design blogs and catalogs and magazines, find things I like, and recreate the look from stuff I find at Target or make myself. My beloved gold armchair I got from craigslist for $35. My rug is from Tuesday Morning. I get my just-like-PB hurricanes from Michaels. My kitchen is decorated with old pictures of my family. The most important thing, I'd say, is to always have an idea of the next thing you want to add, and keep your eyes open.

But what if you don't plan on staying in, say, a basement in Michigan forever? What are you going to do with all that STUFF when you move?? I say, don't cross that bridge until you come to it. You should enjoy your place. Go ahead and accumulate furniture, art, and knick knacks. Rent a truck when you move. You're talking to the girl who has schlepped her belongings to and from Ireland in order to live in a space she loved. You will rarely suffer buyer's regret when it comes to the things you really like. But I can't tell you how much you're going to wish you had bought that candlestick or picture or...whatever.

The Seemingly Everpresent Accent Wall

Ah, accent walls: how I covet thee. I want a light, light green in my bedroom, and a chocolate-y brown in the living room. There are a few obstacles to the attainment of accent walls, however.

a) My landlord. I think he'd say yes, actually, but he scares me so I never talk to him. Yes, I am fearless indeed.

b) Sloth. I kinda don't feel like it. I'd have to, you know, move stuff. And tape things. And, well, paint. Ew.

c) Cliché. I am already afraid my apartment looks a little too Pottery Barn-y. If I add a brown wall, I'm only a step away from putting my books in the shelves backwards (you guys know what I mean, right? Why do they do that?????).

I think that in the end, the accent wall is not for me. But a girl can have her design dreams.

But seriously, why do they do that?

Saturation Point

I think I've kind of reached the point where I just really can't add any more to my little place. I haunt Etsy like I'm your dead great aunt Martha, and love much of the art there, but I just don't have any place for new stuff. I am especially drawn to "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" by magicjelly. It's creepy, and I love it.
What do you want that just doesn't fit?

The Problem Spot.

I have a problem spot in my teeny apartment. It's this weird corner, with the entrance to the kitchen on one side, and the hallway the other. Usually, I like little corners. They are a great place for shelves, cool tables, hanging lamps...you get the idea. With so many possibilities, why am I at a loss, then? Two words: floor heater. Fourteen more words: weird niche thing near the floor that IS NOT CENTERED and drives me crazy. So, the ugly brown register thing is on the floor, and directly above it a little bit to the left is this niche. Now, I would love to have a niche. If it were in the middle of the wall. And not four inches from the floor. As it is, though, it kind of makes my life hard.

I'd like to just put something over the heater and niche, my grandmother's old trunk or a chair. My apartment is oooooold, though, and I'd likely freeze in my sleep without the heat (that is if the perpetual gas leak from the ancient (but awesome) oven doesn't get me first). I finally put some pictures on the wall above, and am considering putting a console table there. The Hudson, to be exact. But will this look dumb? Or will it draw the eye up, away from the slab of old metal and the strange hole in the wall?

So, I just started this blog, and I know I don't have any readers, but I'd like to invite readers (imagined and future) to share their "problem spots." I'll throw a picture of mine in some day (my camera was broken by an autistic child in Ireland...long story).