the best things in life

Great old chairs, a great big space, great friends, and dogs! Perfect. Photo: Dave Lauridsen at bluepoolroad.

the wallpaper project

What great and easy ideas (thanks, Real Simple!) for leftover wallpaper pieces: bookcovers and drawer liners (photos: Ditte Isager). See more ideas here.

No need to wallpaper a room just to enjoy a fun remnants project; look for discontinued wallpaper samples at scrap stores. For those in my area, check out The Scrap Exchange in Durham, North Carolina. Know of similar places in your area? Let us know!

Read about vintage wallpaper and get more project inspiration at The Long Thread.

bathroom of the week

A great beach cottage bath illustrating that sometimes a few choice accessories do just as well as a renovation (photo: Dominique Vorillon for MyHomeIdeas).

plain english

I may have found my dream kitchen(s)! The wonderful spaces above (discovered at A Note On Design) feature the work of the traditional cabinetmakers of Plain English. Using time-tested methods, their artisans (or "joiners") create timeless looks by hand. No plastic here; even the pegs are hand turned by a wooden nail supplier. See more here.

a vienna story

Artist Nives Widauer feels especially safe in her Vienna flat—it's in a 19th-century building...that also houses a police station! See more and read more about this interesting setup (and the building's storied past) here. Photos: Josef Polleross for The New York Times.

a little orange

A chic, colorful child's room from Ivy and Piper easily doubles as a guest room. Zig-zag fabric and orange touches....fun!

{Find a similar orange porcelain lamp here. Find a petite version here}

{Find "Chevron Green" fabric, sold by the yard, at Jennifer Delonge}

clever + rustic

Clever kitchen trick: A tree branch keeps everything accessible! Via belle maison.

trad home

Here's a peek at Trad Home, the new online magazine from Lonny and Traditional Home. Enjoy nearly 350 pages of inspired ideas and design resources starting here!

bedside books

Just a few books for a simple bedside that's just right (Elle via the City Sage). A few of my recommendations for escapist bedside reading:

Penguin's Poems for Life; Atlas of Remote Islands: Fifty Islands I Have Never Set Foot On and Never Will by Judith Schalansky; Buffalo Cake and Indian Pudding by Dr. A.W. Chase (jacket design and illustration by Coralie Bickford-Smith).

bathroom of the week

Detail from a beautiful, rustic shower setup in the cottage home of designer-stylist Lisa Madigan (more at follow studio). Below: A peek at the kitchen (photo: Lisa Madigan).

1canoe2 letterpress

I love this "Things That Are Round" letterpress poster from 1canoe2. This limited edition work is a collection of fun (and educational!) illustrations that are letterpressed on a 16x20, 100% cotton Crane's sheet. Buy it here.

Visit the fun 1canoe2 web site here.

What else will you find at the 1canoe2 shop? A set of coasters featuring these fun "round things" drawings; a "Things That Are Long" poster; and, yes, a letterpress print featuring illustrations of the 44 U.S. presidents!

color palette inspiration

A lovely combination of yellow-orange, turquoise, and pink found here.

blank canvas

From photographer Petra Bindel: a mostly white room for Elle Decoration UK (via the Style Files).

fabulous felt

 

I love these felt appliqué and cotton pillow covers from Amy Burkhart. So chic in gray and mustard! The 14x14 handmade covers are $59 (top) and $36.

bright idea: flower cakes

Dahlia domes: A fun, fresh idea from Country Living (photo: Frances Janisch). Click here and scroll to slide 7 to learn how to make your own.

Find a similar Jadeite milk glass cake stand here (available in three sizes); find a similar blue one here.

bathroom of the week (and more!)

Actually, this isn't a bathroom (it's a super stylish laundry room), but I certainly would put ideas from this image to work in a bathroom. Below: the well-designed open pantry and dining room in the New Hampshire home owned and designed by the creative couple behind Emersonmade. All via Escapade.

a barn restoration

Scene from a c. 1888 barn restoration. Read about this project here and see more photos here.

leesa o'reilly

Tabletop inspiration from Australian stylist Leesa O'Reilly.

present & correct

Present & Correct has all kinds of interesting goodies to make the sometimes dreaded task of getting organized a little more fun. Top to bottom: Orange mini drawers; mailing labels (four designs available); and the very clever book of pockets (great for storing keepsakes you don't want to stick or pin somewhere). 

bathroom of the week

A charming bath in the c. 1899 Dunsmuir House in Oakland, California, photographed by Linda Svendsen for the book Bungalow Bathrooms. Love the monogrammed wastebasket!

See more period-style baths from the book here. 

gathering in spring

The ideal spring gathering(?): Flowers, potluck spread, come as you are. Click here for potluck party tips.

Image via once wed

wedding inspiration

At the beautiful wedding of Amy and Naveen at the Carneros Inn in Napa, California, the bride and groom's chairs were decorated with apples. They also served milk and cookies. Perfect touches for a couple who first met in elementary school! See more of their wedding at Snippet and Ink (photo: Meg Smith).

* * *

Check out my guest blog post at The Long Thread for more wedding inspiration!

The Long Thread will be featuring handmade wedding ideas all week.

whippet grey

A striking botanical chart from Whippet Grey (printed by the same company since 1929!).

forty sixth at grace

Simple, sweet inspiration for your next celebration from Forty Sixth at Grace.

Find the cake flags here.

Find wooden pedestals and plates here.