lights on

I saw these great renter-friendly pendants found at Home Decorators via Bryn Alexandra - what a good find! They just screw into any existing light socket, perfect.

Emile Instant Pendant - $69

Orb Pendant - $59

Globe Bronze Pendant - $99

Moravian Star - $159

bachelor pad

An old friend asked me to help pick a rug and somehow now he's letting me redecorate his Manhattan bachelor's apartment from abroad. Another friend let me do this a couple years ago with his Boston place and it is always kind of fun doing a bachelor pad. I'm very excited to help since he's so busy and well, it is a good use of that nesting energy right now. I know his tastes tend towards mid-century pieces already but I'm thinking of incorporating some warmer fabrics, greys and tans. His only real objection? Hides and no repainting. So we're saying no to hide rugs, working with the white walls and otherwise adding some utility and some hidden storage. Currently he has with a lot of browns and leather so I think to lighten them and add depth, some greys and tans would be nice. Here's a little inspiration for the feel:

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unpainted inspiration

Today I'm loving the layered whites of this room by Whitney Fairchild. The warm wood tones and gilt juxtaposed against those gorgeous silver lamps - it brings it all together.

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unpainted inspiration

With the move I haven't looked at white rooms in a long time, other than the ones we've begun to occupy. I love this hall by Allison Hennessy from Traditional Home. While the interior architecture is lovely, what makes it for me are the furnishings and accessories.

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kitchen windows

I really need to cover my hideous institutional kitchen windows. I've been admiring DIY'ers and their faux shade tutorials in an attempt to cover them up.

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You can click to go to my pinterest and then the original tutorials.

I think nesting has kicked in as I've been furiously working on the nursery. I've got a wonderful woman working on my bedding (who puts up with all my slightest requests) and I'm feverishly ordering things left and right. I've been a bit all over the place as it is finally cooling and with it a second wind of productivity has hit me. For a long while I was not unpacked and I was not interested in unpacking. It was too darn hot, as Cole Porter would say. Now that fall has finally visited Japan I'm finishing the odds and ends, adding a few touches and tackling a few projects. I'll have to share some more in the upcoming weeks. At the moment I'm distracted by my horrible kitchen windows. In the house tour I showed you these windows, yikes.

 

Beautiful big windows with lots of natural light but also big ugly problems. These windows are a. huge non-standard sizes and b. have outside-mounted metal blinds. From what I've seen that's pretty standard around here but it makes it much more challenging to cover from a hardware perspective without removing the blinds. Also the windows sit nearly flush against the perpendicular wall leaving little room for wall-mounted window hardware as well. I've been scouring our local Homac (Japanese Home Depot type store) to find hardware that may work. The closest I've come is the hardware used for hanging door coverings or "noren" which uses very lightweight, thin curtain rods. I'm going to try ceiling mounting the hardware - we're getting creative here.

image from here

So in the meantime I'm leaning towards a tie up shade inspired by this room. If only it were so easy.

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And the best tutorial I've found thus far has been from Cozy Cottage Cute. We'll see how far I get.

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house tour in japan - blank canvas

I wasn't sure if I wanted to share my own personal spaces in cyberspace when I started blogging. I do want to share our apartment now that we're living overseas since there's a lot of little things that I wish I could refer to when I'm discussing odd topics. So this is where we're starting. The walls are seriously white, as is everything else. As you can see, it has a lot of Americanized features. Sure, it isn't what I would design for myself but for a few years overseas, it is great. It is completely new and it  feels big and bright. Try not to faint, I know it is pretty fabulous - just kidding.

 

 

There are some things I'm getting used to like the short cabinets where I bump my head pretty much daily. Or the lack of stone counters since I have become accustomed to putting hot things there. I'm not a stainless fanatic so it doesn't bother me, in fact this is a lot easier than what I've always had as far as keeping it clean. I go back and forth on how involved I want to be with decorating. Part of me just wants it to be civilized knowing it is short term. The prettiest feature is the nearby park.

 

 Photos by me, not that you would want to share them.

unpainted inspiration

I am loving the London home of Liza Giles, senior stylist for Tricia Guild of Designers Guild.

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unpainted inspiration

One of my favorite blogs is Belclaire House. I find myself pinning nearly everything Jennifer posts! This is a perfect example, I just love this classic and clean sitting room by Knight Carr & Company.

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unpainted inspiration

I love Anne Hepfer's use of trim and fabric.

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unpainted inspiration

Just because you rent doesn't mean you can't have a tidy and pretty laundry room. Or in our case tiny tiny room/walk in closet.

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unpainted inspiration

Lovely tailored seating by Munger Interiors via Cote de Texas, of course.

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diy mirror by the lettered cottage

This DIY mirror by the Lettered Cottage is just amazing. And have you seen their e-magazine? Very coastal and breezy, perfect for this time of year. They're so talented! I really like this mirror because while it is cost effective, you can enlarge a small rental visually by making this to any dimensions you like.

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I've been working on a couple odd DIY's here and there (not nearly this elaborate!) I'll have to share soon.

unpainted inspiration

This afternoon I am having lunch with a friend who is expecting twins. And today, I am loving this girls room for two by Alec Hemer from Country Living.

unpainted inspiration

The verdant bedroom by Phoebe just says "spring" to me. Makes me miss the lovely team at Mrs. Howard just a tad, too.

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unpainted inspiration

Capella Kincheloe in Elle Decor 

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unpainted inspiration

I love this color infused, timeless bedroom. image

unpainted inspiration

Well I'm back. And before I can sort through my photos, how about some unpainted inspiration? Sometimes white on the walls is just right. I love this bedroom by Anthony Ferrie, it is at home in the city or country.

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unpainted inspiration

Whether you are celebrating the Passover Seder or Easter Sunday this weekend, nothing says "spring" and renewal like this lovely blue beauty by Vicente Wolf.

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unpainted inspiration

I'm loving the saturated color in a room with white walls. I recently pinned this from Bryn Dunn.

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unpainted inspiration

This space by Victoria Hagan is so crisp and simple yet entirely inspiring.

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