Sometimes the thing that makes a room really great is the smallest attention to detail. The minor accessories that make a big impact or the small pops of color that make the room really come alive are my favorite things about decorating. Here are some items that caught my eye recently including a tribal pillow, a navy bar stool and a string of lights. All of these pieces together have a beautiful mix of muted neutrals as well as pops of coral, blue and yellow. Other must haves on my list – potted plants and wood accents.
for your home | simple home accessories
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Here are four rooms I’ve been swooning over lately. I seem to be really drawn to pops of color in a mostly white room. I love clean, bright, simple spaces. I think because we haven’t had a place of our own for the past three months, I’ve got decorating and renovation projects on the brain. Lately I’ve been scouring the internet for inspiration. I like to combine the beautiful rooms and living spaces I come across to build a sort of dream home – I see a wonderfully eclectic mix of vintage and modern, a bold accent wall, colorful moroccan rugs and floor cushions to warm up the space and mid century modern furniture all paired with very scandinavian white walls. For more interior inspiration check out this Pinterest board.
get the look – a colorful country road quilt and this swiss cross reversible throw from leif; simple wood bench from CB2; a vintage turkish kilim rug; turquoise bar stools, these light fixtures from schoolhouse electric & supply co and bold artwork from miranda skoczek, kirra jamison and rachel castle
bedroom | dining room | living room | kitchen
eye candy 03 | blue and graphic
Lately I’ve been making an effort to find new and talented artists. It’s so easy to get caught up in your own art that you forget to take time to notice the creative people around you. There are so many talented people out there sharing and living out their passions. It’s inspiring and encouraging and a reminder to challenge yourself and push yourself to be better. Here are a few of my favorite images I’ve stumbled upon recently – a stack of whales, a lovely lady in her polka dotted swimsuit and an eyewear collection. Who’s inspiring you lately?
hatling | frankenthaler | king benedict | morinerie | pascua | blake | sosa | morin
studio update
It’s still winter here – very cold and lots of snow which is good weather for working indoors but I sure do hope it starts to warm up soon. I’ve been painting like crazy. These days it’s about refining the designs I already have and coming up with new ones. I have the Wells Street Art Festival coming up in a few months so I’m trying to build up my inventory of paintings. I like to do things in stages and steps – I prime all of the canvases first then I flip through my sketchbook and find a few designs that I think will make nice paintings. Then I start drawing them out on a bigger scale and if necessary making a stencil. The last step is applying paint! I’m usually working on a few different paintings at once. I decided to change Adventure Begins to four colors instead of three and I can’t wait to see how it turns out. All kinds of new work is coming soon and I’m also working on a little side project. I will try to show you more here or here soon.
image credit kate zitzer
let’s eat and drink | river west chicago
photo credit we are the barkers
I’m so proud of this city, and I loved living there so much that I thought I’d share some of my favorite spots with you – a guide if you ever visit Chicago or if you live here and want to try a few new places. Today I’m going to start with my old Chicago neighborhood – River West.
So, River West – it’s a tiny little neighborhood along Milwaukee from Grand to Chicago east of the Kennedy Expressway and west of the North Branch of the Chicago River and there are tons of fine dining and inexpensive cafes, wine bars and coffee shops. There’s an intersection at Grand, Milwaukee and Halsted with several great places – La Scarola, Iguana Cafe, Piccolo Sogno and The Dawson. River West also rubs elbows with some of the trendier neighborhoods in the city – Wicker Park, River North and the West Loop are all just a few blocks away. Let’s eat and drink –
Iguana Cafe – A true local hangout with a European feel – I love it here. Try the crepes or the paninis. Linger over coffee or a glass of wine. Also a great spot for brunch.
La Scarola – this little restaurant is the real thing. Healthy sized portions of authentic Italian cuisine – I love their grilled calamari and any of their pasta dishes.
Piccolo Sogno – Delicious Italian food and amazing atmosphere. It has the best outdoor patio in the city and we order the antipasto appetizer every time. Previously mentioned Piccolo here.
Paramount Room – Craft beer, burgers and specialty cocktails. I like to grab a bite at the bar.
The Point – Grab a table outside in the sun and enjoy a great classic cocktail or beer from their long list.
694 Wine Bar – I love this spot, one of my favorites in the city! Delicious plates of meats and cheeses and an excellent wine selection. Go Wednesday night for BBQ night all year long!
Silver Palm – A railroad dining car turned restaurant and a great spot for dinner – or take a seat at one of the sidewalk tables.
Matchbox Bar – Very narrow, hip bar – could possibly be Chicago’s tiniest bar. Have a chat with one of the bartendars and a quirky cocktail. Can’t go wrong with a Manhattan – they marinate their own cherries in bourbon.
Big Shoulders Coffee – Grab your morning coffee and a fresh pastry. They’ve got wifi too if you need it.
Thalia Spice – an excellent little Thai cafe
Duran – It’s part of a small chain but the sandwiches are delicious and it’s BYOB
Windy City Cafe – a neighborhood gem and the very best breakfast sandwiches in the city! Family owned, lots of traditional breakfast and lunch options and their coffee comes from Big Shoulders.
The Dawson – a casual spot with three bars – upstairs, downstairs, outside – and an American menu that makes use of a wood-burning grill. This place just opened in the fall and is a great addition to the neighborhood!
