get back!

isn't this cool? its an old train station light pendant. get back, inc. is a website mentioned by one of the diy-ers on apartment therapy. i decided to check it out and it is super neato. almost all of their items are vintage. prices are not listed, but i'm sure they're a pretty penny.

check it out!

i meant to post this some time ago

its the hgtv dream home 2009!

as usual it's spectacular, no surprise. you can see for yourself by clicking the link above.
but let's talk about my favorite 2 rooms and why: wall treatments!

cork tiles! yes! there are other things i like about the media room. the coffee table that splits into 4 separate pieces, the chaise lounges, the movie set lighting, the overall coziness of it. but i think this is the first time i've ever seen cork on walls. it usually goes on floors--it stands up easily to water, it feels great to walk on, its a rapidly renewing source, it requires little maintenance, and its a great neutral. i might have eventually come around to the thought of using cork on walls, but someone beat me. and i'm glad. its textural, its warm, its acoustical. its awesome.

next. tiles on bedroom walls! i have been trying to tell people for i don't know how long that tile is not exclusive to bathrooms and kitchens. it works wonderfully, but let's not pigeon hole such a wonderful product. i would go so far to say that they wouldn't even necessarily need a headboard, if they decided to use the tile directly behind the bed on only a portion of a wall. i've been exploring the idea of implied/alternative headboards. anyway, i digress. my point is, tile is an easy way to spruce up just about any space. and running it vertically helps make the room feel taller. i don't know that i'm crazy about the wood choice...but that's another topic.

the rest of the house does not disappoint. take the house tour!

when bad days occur on thursday

there is always a chance for redemption.

can i just live here?

"hey, she's kelly wearstler. she can do what she wants." that's what my friend allison said. after this hotel, she sure can.

some of you may recognize kelly from design show competitions and things like that. normally, her designs do not blow my skirt up. well ok, they blow my skirt WAY up and then i have to push it back down. they are amazing, don't get me wrong. i've just always considered myself someone to create more liveable spaces. not something i would need to creep around on...like if someone gave me a steaming cup of coffee after i got my nails done. (if you're not a girl you may not get it.) they are elegant, elaborate, royal palace looking spaces. the economy isn't affecting her clients, if you get what i'm saying.

but let's talk about this. as if colorado wasn't awesome enough already, kelly had to go and blow it out of the water. it was so awesome, in fact, that apartment therapy--the crafty do-it-yourself great design site--had to feature it in an article. the use of wood is outstanding. the lighting is magnificent and is perfect for a colorado hotel. the guest rooms look modern yet homey. i don't know what else to say except, when can i move in?

for all the fuzzy-hearted

aw. that's all you get out of me. don't expect a valentine's day post. valentine or not, i've never been a big fan of the holiday. why have one day where you're obligated to tell someone how much they mean to you? why not do it on any normal sunshiney afternoon? once you get past the doily hearts, it just becomes expensive and really pink.

nonetheless, i thought these were kind of clever.

kitchen aides

i am moving soon to an apartment with a much larger kitchen than what i am used to...meaning i can fit more than 2 people (uncomfortably) in it at a time. there is space for an eat-in table, which i have no use for, so i've decided to fill it instead with a portable island. naturally, i spend a couple of minutes here and there searching for them. luckily i came across this article in the kitchn, a division of apartment therapy.

the island is nothing fantastic, except that it works exceptionally in this cute little kitchen. kitchens and baths (and naturally, tile) have always been some of my favorites and i could look at photos for hours. this particular kitchen i've seen before in apartment therapy, and after a while of scrutiny (apartment therapy must have a thousand writers because they post so many entries a day) i found it. chris and heather, whoever you are, you have a great kitchen.

first of all, they pulled off the painted cabinets exceptionally--especially using a color besides white. on top of that (literally) are beautiful marble countertops. sometimes marble can be yuppy, but with all this, it looks fantastic. the color palette is fantastic. i would not normally think to use it in a kitchen. gas stove, fogged glass doors, pine floors, and lets not forget that tile! i can't tell if its silver or gold, but i want it. i wish they would note the manufacturer. apparently i'm not the only one. they have a lot of people wanting to know the same thing. and for good reason!!

two things i love

old trucks (betcha didn't know that) and wood houses.

what a great photo. i think i'll frame it and put it somewhere.

my grandmother has a painting of a woman in an apron with her elbows resting on the open driver's window of an old truck. she is apparently talking to her husband, the driver. from that one picture i sometimes live out my whole life like that. sometimes i think all i need in life is a good ol truck, a good man, and a good dog to ride in the back of the old truck with us. and in the meantime i'd be making biscuits, somehow always covered in flour, and working in my garden. i can hear the sound of the screen door creaking open...can't you?

i need to take a picture of that painting.