Getting Off the Subway

Hello all. I know I know, I have been quite the absentee blogger. My only excuse is my thesis, which is controlling my life these days–but I’m officially counting down to May when I am finished with graduate school and back in New York. I thought in preparation for coming back to earth, I would slowly try and bring myself back to you all and do a little blogging now and again. I can’t promise more than once or twice a week while I’m writing my thesis, but that’s better than nothing, right? 

So I have long been a girl who loves a good subway tiled bathroom. I know its simple, and has gotten trendy, but there has always been something about it that seems so right. 

House Beautiful
This is a shot of House Beautiful editor, Newell Turner’s, bathroom. Love the subway tile as wainscoting. However, yesterday I was at Ann Sacks in NYC, and saw the most amazing collection of Michael S. Smith tiles, that are leading me astray from my usual affinity for the simplicity of the subway tile. 
Cane 

Modern Fretwork

Square Dance
How amazing are these? I can’t get enough of the chinoiserie/greek key/vintage aesthetic of each. They bring so much, but are still just white. WWB says that I am very safe in many of my decorating choices. I think that these tiles are the perfect blend of safety and haute chic. However, if you can’t fully commit to ditching your bathroom reno plans of subway tile, Michael Smith offers some options that will allow you to keep your subway tile and add a sexy border or detail … 
 Greek Key Border

Maze Border
How amazing are these trim pieces? you could still do all subway tiles, and then add a really great looking border that can have a significant effect on the experience of the bathroom space. Just a little bit of luxe. Love it. What do you all think? 

Photos courtesy of Ann Sacks.com & House Beautiful 

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Clean Crisp White

Since I got back to Philadelphia this fall I have been feeling as though my life is extremely cluttered. You all know I love my little apartment, but trying to keep it neat with all of my things in their places is harder than you can imagine. I am fantasizing about clean, sleek spaces where everything is in its place and there is absolutely no clutter. I want to cast off all of my decorative objets and feel as though I have absolutely nothing weighing me down! (only for a day or so though … you know how I love a good objet)

Elle Decor
Ralph and Ricky Lauren’s apartment over looking the Reservoir in Central Park. For the man who loves to fill his stores with things … he is pretty simple here in NYC. 

Elle Decor
Their kitchen … no clutter. Isn’t it heavenly. So strange since modern kitchen is typically not my style! 
Marie Claire Maison
I absolutely love the simple hits of green with their potted plants–the bare floor and the white slipcovers are tres chic!
Dwell Magazine
This architect designed her apartment with storage in mind … an avid sailor, she treated this project like a ship, where everything has its place. 
Marie Claire Maison
Marie Claire Maison
Check out that view. The room’s white interior allows it to simply melt away, and one’s eyes are drawn straight out the windows. 
Darryl Carter
One of the things that I love about Darryl Carter is his ability to mix modern minimalism with historic architecture and great antiques.  The fireplace is so modern, and yet the house is an old farmhouse. Antique doesn’t always have to mean clutter … clutter is simply victorian. 
Darryl Carter
I wish my bathroom were this neat. 

Whilst I am in graduate school, I don’t see the clutter subsiding. What with text books and notebooks, calendars and post it notes, my life these days is essentially a massive paper trail. So for now I will simply light a Votivo Clean Crisp White candle, WWB’s favorite, and close my eyes and envision myself in a minimalist, clutter free, and chic apartment. 

More Color

Put on a Skirt!

I am so sorry that I have been so lax in my posting. I think I finally have the hang of the internship after this first week … so look forward to tons of posts to come!

I would say that much of the chaos that has lead to me not posting has been trying to get myself moved in at W’s apt. Where as I am not one of those girls with loads of clothes and shoes, W is (well, a boy that is). We have had quite the struggle getting my things to fit into his apartment. And then last night, while I was cursing the depth of the drawers in his antique dresser, it dawned on me … the man has absolutely no storage. Well, yes, he has a closet, and of course one small dresser and a desk … but there isn’t a single bookshelf in the whole apartment! It’s not so much that I am struggling to find a place to put clothes, its that I’m struggling to find a place to put “things.” Like a jewelry box, my second pair of sunglasses, the little box filled with my business cards, my camera. You know, all those “things” that need little drawers and little shelves so that they can be put away!?! Well I am struggling for that space … however, I may have solved the problem.
Now, now, now, I know what you all are thinking… ugh lacquered life!–that girl has had too much time off … but please, you all know me better than that. This All Purpose Shelf Table from Wisteria is $149, and has a great little nook for putting “stuff.” 
 
This beveled glass top, also at Wisteria, is $79. 
Add this chic $99 belgian linen table cloth, and voila! 


A cute table that can be used to store all of those really annoying little things that have nowhere to go!  Now I know what you’re thinking … $149 +$79 + $99 = $327. I have not struck it rich either, do not worry. But I have a thought … 
Jefferson Driftwood linen at Calico Corners, $23.99/yard = $48
Arrow Fastener Mini Glue Gun at Home Depot = $4.97 … which brings the grand total to $93, to have a chic entry way table! Now, granted I did not factor in a beveled glass top, b/c I don’t think you need it, and you will have to hem the edges of the fabric, but other than that, you should be able to make an amazing little side table or entry way table for storing all sorts of good stuff!
  
Photos courtesy of Grant K. Gibson “the Blog”  
You could even add some grosgrain trim with your glue gun, like Grant Gibson did in his San Francisco Apartment. In his apartment he uses a table and skirt to hide things underneath … a little differently than my bookcase scheme, but in a similar vein! The moral of this story is that there is absolutely nothing that a good table skirt cannot hide. Period. 

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