A Trip To The Mall...

never proves to be a good thing!

I ventured into Crate and Barrel, bad idea. I found amazing things for an apartment I don't even have yet! Oh the woes of relocation.

Well, for when the Hubs and I do find the perfect place I want this couch:

It is quite possibly the most comfortable couch I have ever had the pleasure of sinking into. And it come with a chair and a half! With an ottoman! Can you say makeshift chaise lounge for two? I can. It would be totally perfect for movie watching. I only have one issue, it only comes in that child-friendly denim fabric. Ick. I prefer a chicer finish. I guess style is the price you pay for comfort. What a bummer. 

On a side note, I found this:

We aren't in the market for a new bed, but when we are this is it. A modern canopy bed, in black! It could not be more "our" style. And yes, on this one we would actually agree. And, I couldn't possibly buy this bed without the completely awesome ottoman at the foot of the bed. Perfect. 

What can I say, I dream big. Really big. It may be out of reach now, but I don't let up. 

{image cred: Crate and Barrel}

One Sugar or Two?

Since the Hub's and I are moving, in a couple of very short months, I am on a decorating kick. You know, when you are all excited about moving into a new space and you just think all day about how you can reinvent it to be just yours. Ok, well I do that! One project I know I have wanted to tackle for a while is changing out the drawer pulls on our "old person" bedroom set. I really think these would do the trick to make it just a little more "us."

Back to the point! I was perusing the Anthro site and came across these pretty amazing chandeliers. I am not sure if I would ever have the guts to hang anything this quirky in our home (or if the Hub's would let me), but I do appreciate them for what they are.

I just can't get over how unique these are! I mean, imagine the conversation a piece like this in your dining room would start. I would have to hold regular tea parties if I had that first chandelier. Hands down.

Would you be gutsy enough to give one of these a try?

{image cred: Anthropologie}

Speechless

What I wouldn't give to live or work (or both!) in a space like this. Absolutely brilliant.

{image cred: Giorgio Possenti via Black*Eiffel}

Something for the Sniffles

So when I think of tissue box covers I automatically think of this really heavy (and really breakable) stained glass, blue and white thing my Mom used to have in our bathroom ages ago. I think it eventually broke, all I know is it did not make its way to our new house my senior year of high school. 

Anyway I have always hated the things. I thought they were just nonsense. Until I found this featured over on Somewhere Splendid. 

And I think it would look just stunning on my nightstand, especially with the DwellStudio for Target bedding we bought after the wedding. 

Yup, I think this cute tissue holder is going to have to be an immediate purchase from Etsy shop, gnomesweeeetgnome.

Too cute!!

{image cred: gnomesweeeetgnome and DwellStudio for Target}

Office Space

If you know me and the Hubs, you know a move is in the works. In fact I announced that last week! We have been pretty heavy on the apartment search and with the proposed salaries we should be bumping up to, we both have a few requests. 

First and foremost we want a loft. A spiral staircase, your bedroom is a separate floor from all your other crap, loft. One of my biggest requests is enough space to have some sort of an office. Yes, I know that is quite the luxury when you are looking at one bedrooms in the city but this chica is tired of settling for the so-so. (Cough, my 9-5). 

Here is my argument, I need a creative space. Most of you other designers know exactly what I mean. I need a space where I can have cork boards with pins where I can plaster my space with inspiration. It is really hard to do that in our current diggs. Currently our "office" is parallel with our dining table. On the wall above the desk is all of our Lynchburg College accolades. Yup, it takes up the whole wall; diplomas, (yeah we have the super awesome frames with the water color painting of the school, it was non-negotiable for me) field hockey and baseball stuff galore. There is just no room for any of my design materials let alone some inspiration boards. 

I want office space. 

I want to be able to shut the door when I make a mess, heck I want to be able to make a mess! Your office and living space should be separate. Oh whoa is me!

I think I found the solution here, but the Hubs is not as sold on this place as I am. In my mind it is everything I could want! Thoughts? I think it is so me!

Do any of you have this problem? How in the world do you cope? Do any of you share a desk with your significant other? How do you organize it all!! 

{image cred: design*sponge here and here}

Punctuate away, 

Jessie-Lee

Mirror, Mirror

I was pursuing the Anthro website today, and amongst all the gift guide goodness I noticed these mirrors. And they are to die for! What I wouldn't give to have my reflection appear in one of these!

Yeah, that last one is my favorite and it was just so gosh darn lovely that I had to share the "in room" photo. And that just makes me jealous that my apartment isn't that cool. See Anthro! See what you do to me! Swoon. 

{image cred: Anthropologie}

Punctuate away,

Jessie-Lee

Decorating Type

I love Christmas! And I am beyond excited to decorate our little apartment for the holidays. Although, I will say that the whole red and green thing is getting a little overplayed. It's nice, but I want something more original.

Enter, TransitDesign.

Christmas decorations and awesome typography. Who could ask for more?

Either one of these would look stunning next to my tree. I wonder if they make typography based ornaments. Now there is a thought. A whole type tree! It would be wonderful.
 
{image cred: TransitDesign via Etsy}
 
Punctuate away,
 
Jessie-Lee

This is How You Recycle

This is how you use cardboard in a whole new way.

Installation artist Luise Valdes collected a plethora of cardboard boxes to create this masterpiece he entitled ‘casa de karton.' Using these whitewashed cardboard boxes the artist re created his own apartment, adding lines to define much smaller details. The white wash and the cartoon like lines give the illusion of a drawing come to life. 

Why can't we all do this with some spare cardboard? I guess that is what makes fine artist who they are. Yeah you could have done that, but bottom line is, you didn't.

{image cred: luise valdes via designboom}

Punctuate away, 

Jessie-Lee

Shed Some Light

Thank goodness it is finally Friday! I must say it has been one bummer of a week. But today, I am traveling north to see some of my very best of friends. This has me in a much better mood than yesterday. And another improvement over yesterday, it is breezy and a beautiful 69 degrees here in central Virginia; and since I am going north it is bound to be cooler! What can I say I love fall more than any other time of year. I am simply smitten with it.

But lets get to the goods. Etsy and I have finished taking a break and we are now back into each others lives like nothing ever happened. And boy, is Etsy treating me good. I found some wonderful treasures today!

Kam Lamp Company is an Etsy shop based in almost Texas, Louisiana, to be more specific that's Shreveport, LA. And to make this truly inspiring, this is one of those Etsy sellers that is making a living doing what they have a passion for. I can only hope to make a living pursing what I love at some point in my life. But back to the lamps! Amanda MacMurray, the creative genius behind these beauties just likes to make what she can't buy, and after reading this bio that seems to be just about everything. She has been making lamps for over 20 years, and you can tell. She has perfected a clearly minimalist style which cannot deny appreciation.

I would love to have one of these chandeliers in a dining room, or one of those single pendants over a kitchen table, or a string of them over an island. Oh, now that would make a dream room. A string of single pendant lights this simple yet outstanding with dark hardwoods, brushed chrome trim and dark granite counter tops. Yup, that would make a super nice kitchen!

I enjoy their simplicity, do you? Or do they look too 1930's like they could explode and start a massive fire at any moment? Don't mind me, I am not that depressive, really I swear. I guess I can just take things too far.

{image cred: Kam Lamp Company}

Punctuate away,

Jessie-Lee

The Bold and Beautiful

Can we discuss this living room for a minute? Personally, I would never have the guts or the intuition to design a room this way, but isn't it amazing? I feel like it could serve as one crazy mood board for a graphic design project. I'm totally jealous of their style. I am also jealous that they believe in their design sense that much to pull this whole thing off

Thoughts or reactions? Give them to me straight!

{image cred: Skona Hem via The City Sage}

Punctuate away,

Jessie-Lee



This is a Hardware Store?

So this is a little surprising. Yesterday at work we had a baby shower for my boss' boss. Yup, its that confusing here in the corporate world. But back to the point. This pregnant lady has expensive taste, which is no surprise considering we bought her a $90 picture frame. Go figure. But, throughout all the pregnant lady conversation (ack!) she brought up this place called Restoration Hardware. All I can say is, "Wow." This website is amazing and their products, can you say gorgeous. I don't think I will ever look at Pottery Barn again. Ever.

So lets get to the lovelies. Get ready, the styling of these products will blow your mind.

An easel for the TV. Are you serious?!? Swoon.

May I please have those light fixtures. And don't even get me started on that wine display!

Love the typography art. I wish I had a drawing room.

I'm speechless over these chairs.

The beds! The trunks! The sophistication!

Aviation chairs! What I would do for one of these.

Note to the Hubs: trunks as coffee tables are awesome. I want mine back.

How beautiful is this bed? So luxurious.

Warehouse table? Industrial shelving? Yes, please! But it still looks cozy.

I have fallen in love with this desk. And the chair, too perfect.

The lamp. Look at the lamp.

This is how His and Hers is meant to be. Note the cabinets!

That light fixture! Sinks on different walls? What you can do with an unlimited budget.

If I could only have one piece of furniture for the rest of forever, it would be this chair.

Amazing. I am seriously infatuated with this place. The nearest one is three hours away, not that I could afford anything in this store. But it would be nice to take pictures and just sit on things for a while. It would make me feel sophisticated and expensive even if it only lasts an hour.

This website is going to be checked often from now on! I can't get enough of it. I am truly envious of their styling team. They are amazing and extremely talented.

I'm in love.

{image cred: Restoration Hardware Design Gallery}

Punctuate away,

Jessie-Lee