I’ve sort of been obsessed with this image from the Style Files. It just looks clean, comfortable, airy, happy and while not totally my style, I’m thinking of what works here and how to infuse my home with this. I think its mixing the cool (as in cold) modern lines with the warm wooden (not modern) table and all the color, both inside and out. Also, I’m lusting for outdoor space, and this looks to have plenty.

I’m back in the library (I’ve decided I’m a really a citizen of the libraries of New York City), but we had a nice weekend, watching Lars and the Real Girl, cooking tasty mac and cheese with wild mushrooms and TRUFFLE oil (so fancy!) and catching up with an old, dear friend in town from Germany.

NB: Lars and the Real Girl made me cry, and I actually don’t remember a movie ever making me cry before. It’s good, better than the storyline makes you think it will be.

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I never grow tired of browsing vintage sellers on Etsy — it appeals to my flea market lovin’, design scouting soul — its almost like I get to visit thrift stores and flea markets all over the country and world via the eyes of Etsy sellers everywhere and the prices are (usually) pretty good. This wooden plaque from seller EstateSale is cheap ($5) and would be a great addition to someone’s photo/gallery wall. I love the seagulls in the front (sort of The Birds like). Now, I know that those related to me by blood (Mom) and those that are married to me (Tim) will decry this as totally tacky. And they are probably right. But it has a funky fresh aesthetic that appeals to me, in the right context — like next to photos from Florida (which this somehow reminds me of) or a great vintage paint by numbers.  I’d hang this and a gallery full of fun framed finds in a laundry room or entry hall. In fact, I’d love to see an entry hall tiled floor to ceiling with framed photos and paintings.

This is a duct tape floor, via Crafster, via Cribcandy!  Of course, I’m sure this might leave residue on your floor (duct tape seems to leave residue everywhere) but I love the idea some how.  I’d want to do pink or white.  Of course, I wonder if it might not be better to just PAINT your floor (I’ve seen lovely floors this way), as it might be a whole lot less work (and cost less).  I think paint is cheaper than duct tape.

 Anyway, I’m in the library as we’re in the final stretch of the term, so just a quick break.

Spied this sweet rose hook on sale at Urban Outfitters (now $5.99).

I was in Laguardia yesterday and while waiting for my flight, spied an elegant funky lady carrying this bag. Turns out she was on the same flight we were, and I watched the bag float past me, looking for a logo, anything that might tell me how or where I could get one too. The flight droned on, and I slept a little bit and forgot all about the bag, and my amnesia continued as we deplaned. Once we got off the Hertz rental car bus, like a mirage, there the bag was in front of me. I seized the day and ran after the bag, asking the elegant, funky (intimidating) lady where she had purchased it. And, she nicely informed me she bought it at a Ro sample sale. Oh, Ro! I found this photo on the site, but no word on how to get one myself. Any thoughts on where to turn? Because I think this is something I really want.

So, I think everyone knows I’m a bit of a pen and office supplies nut. Here is my latest find: dry highlighters! As a graduate student, I go through a lot of highlighters, which always makes me feel guilty — I mean its not like they disappear after I throw them out, so these make me feel a little bit better about the environment.  (They aren’t just bible highlighters — this was the best image I could find online)…

O Spring!  O Nature! These lovely drawings by Kirsty Hall over at The Shiny Squirrel caught my eye!

PS check out Kirsty’s year of drawings (on the back of envelopes!) here.

I’m into glamour this week. First 1930s Hollywood babes, now these Art Nouveau, sort of “aesthetic movement” vintage postcards found on French Ebay (my favorite place to browse). I especially like that they were “give-aways” at Le Bon Marche, the venerable Paris department store (I think sort of like Clinque “gift with purchase” these days). I want to find a way to bring more glamor into my life and home.

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This NYTimes article about a retiree who builds a Finish “mokki” or backyard cottage so he’ll have some personal space is fantastic. It contains so many truths about marriage, personal space and love. The most honest part of the piece is a discussion of personal space and the writer reveals that his wife, when they had young kids, would lock herself in the bathroom to have some alone time to read (and her children could communicate with her via written note pushed under the locked door). Sweetly, decades later, his wife still goes into the bathroom to read. Can’t we all understand this need for alone time, for personal space? And, over the years with tiny apartments or too many roommates, I too have turned to the bathroom for privacy on the phone, as a refuge when I need alone time. Still, a backyard cottage beats the bathroom any day.

I’m still on a zen kick, as it where, and love how simple these spaces are. I found a couple of more:

(last image via )

Check out this lovely antique treasure chest on ebay (currently $189).

I’m loving this love apothecary jar (I think apothecary is one of my favorite words) from Jonathan Adler ($65).

Check out these funky vintage fruit boxes. I want them! These would be such nice boxes to keep spices/baking stuff in.

via ebay

via ebay

I stumbled on this image herzensart’s Flickr. Beautiful, right? It’s the 1890s home of Swiss artist Sylvie Fleury(who has a beautiful name to match her beautiful home). Enjoy!

I’m not a dog person but these handmade dog outfits from Etsy seller Design For Dinky Dogs make me smile and smile and smile.

English Creek Gardens $39 - 189

I’ve had terrariums on the mind recently…such tiny magical worlds of green.

These are from Smith & Hawken ($39, $49)

Here’s a great online resouce for plants suited to terrariums (and they ship!).

I’ll try to find a good how to and post it later…