Storage Solutions

The biggest issue in my home- by far- is storage.  Our townhouse is wonderful in so many ways, but the space issues sometimes overshadow all the positives.  I finally broke down and got a storage unit, which I can already tell will be worth every last penny.  Even with less to store in my room, I still needed a lot of help figuring out how to make what I need accessible.  On my Mom’s last visit we tackled the space and made it work once and for all- here’s a few of the things we tried that were particularly effective.

Create Your Own Furniture

Yup, you read that right.  Think about what you need a piece of furniture to accomplish and see if you can’t bring it to life.  In our particular case I had a small wall area but needed lots of storage, as well as some surface area to set jewelry and makeup on.  Decorative MacGyver that she is, my Mom bought two $25 three foot storage cabinets from Target, a couple cans of high gloss lacquer spray paint, some new handles, and a mirror and created a beautiful piece that offers me exactly what I need.  All she did was assemble the cabinets, nail them together back to back, get them dolled up and place the mirror on top to create a table.  It was so simple and less than $100 all together!   

Use Clear Storage Bins

If you don’t create a storage system that’s easy to maintain, get ready to re-organize on a bi-hourly basis.  Clear storage bins give you the added advantage of finding whatever item you’re looking for without having to mess up everything else.  We particularly liked the small clear bins we found for my jewelry, as well as the clear As Seen on TV shoe organizer (who knew some of those As Seen on TV products are actually worth buying!?).  

Extension Cords

Because all available wall space in my room is taken up by storage, I didn’t have easy access to even one outlet.  This was frustrating to say the least.  With the extension cords we added this weekend, however, I’ve got the situation under control.  It was an easy fix and something I should’ve done a long time ago.  When you’re optimizing space in your room make sure you take access to outlets into consideration, trust me it’s not worth the frustration.

Organize For Your Personality

I read an article in Real Simple magazine not long ago that talked about the importance of organizing in way that works for you.  They offered great suggestions for right and left brainers alike- read more about it here.

Tips & Reminders

I think it’s safe to call Moms the patron saints of making everything better.  I know mine is.  She came for a quick visit this past weekend and managed to accomplish what would’ve taken me months in a few short days.  By the time she got on the airplane back to Philly my house was more organized and better decorated, my fridge and gas tank were more full than they’ve been in a long time and my proverbial battery was re-charged.  I guess it doesn’t matter how old you are, sometimes you just need your Mom.  I have the incredible opportunity of sharing things I’ve learned from my Mom everyday through Design Muse, but this weekend she taught me some especially practical tips.  

Flip Your Mattress

This is one of those phrases I’ve heard many times and thought “I should know what that means and possibly do it” but never quite followed through on.  I didn’t quite understand the importance of it to be honest, nor did I have any clue how to go about doing it.  Apparently it’s a pretty big deal.  In case you’re clueless like I was, the reason you should flip your mattress is so it wears evenly…by doing so you extend the life of the mattress and get a better night’s sleep.  With two people, it’s a pretty simple process.  First strip the bedding and pull your bed away from the wall if necessary.  Flip your mattress end over end (meaning the foot of the bed should come up towards the ceiling then down.  A large mattress can be rotated 180 degrees, then flipped sideways (left side comes up towards the ceiling then down).  Although the ideal time between flipping varies by mattress, you really shouldn’t have to go through this process more than every few months.  It’s easy to forget (or ignore) however, so stick it on your calendar!

Clean ALL Your Baseboards

Again, this common sense, but it’s irritating and therefore often goes undone.  The most important reason to clean your baseboards is your health- things get awful dusty down there and that’s just not something you want accumulating.  Secondarily, they look so much nicer clean!  My Mom actually moved my bed (during the mattress flipping process to be exact) and cleaned the baseboards behind it, which made so much sense since that’s the dust I spend all night inhaling.  I was so grateful she thought to do it I wanted to pass the reminder along.  Cleaning your baseboards isn’t hard, just use a vacuum hose to get any large dust in the area, than wipe them down with a warm, wet rag.

Strip Your Bed

Although I don’t have trouble remembering to wash my sheets and comforter on a regular basis, I don’t always think to wash things like my dust ruffle.  Every so often you should completely strip your bed and make sure every surface is washed.  Your body will thank you.

Check out tomorrow’s post on getting creative with storage for some more great tips- we did some amazing things in my house you’re gonna want to hear about!

Z Gallerie Fever

Today I was strolling through the mall and had the best intentions of casually breezing through Z Gallerie.  Instead, I had a genuine kid in a candy store reaction to pretty much every item I came in contact with.  Before I knew it, I was enthusiastically yelling the very phrases that make cheesy commercials unrealistic (because who talks like that, anyway?).  Somewhere between ”look at these prices!” and “this is great stuff!” I got a grip, but I really was floored by the selection and deals.  I know I’ve briefly mentioned an item or two from Z Gallerie in the past, but today’s experience made me realize I’m doing every last one of you a disservice if I don’t let you know how fabulous this store is!  Here are a few of my favorite selections.  

Albero Candelabra

This floor candelabra is made of heavyweight iron and finished in antiqued silver leaf.  It’s just under $200 and a real statement piece!

Benny Sofa

The Benny Sofa is impressive because it’s tailored but soft and tufted but modern...not an easy combination to find.  To add to it’s distinctiveness, Z Gallerie gave it a meager $1000 price tag.  The look is hard to beat.

Omni Leaner Mirror

I’m crazy about this full length mirror- look at the size of that thing!  It’s well over six feet tall!  A mirror this large can open up any space, plus it’s beautifully functional and right around $500.  

Sanctuary Panel

To simply say I want this in my house is a pretty massive understatement.  These hand carved panels would bring all kinds of character to any space they landed.  They’re one of the more expensive items in the store (I tend to be a magnet for all things pricey) but even still they’re less than $800.

Miette Domed Pedestal Dish

I can’t think of too many foods I wouldn’t eat out of these pretty servers- and get this, they’re less than $9!  I’m telling you, this store is a goldmine...

Moulin Pillow

Great color, versatile design, graceful, elegant, luxurious and soft.  Enough said.

Giant Mum Set

These Giant Mums are made entirely out of paper and remind me of an Anthropologie display (which automatically makes them perfect it my book).  They’re about $30 for the set.

Carried Away

As a franchise, ‘Sex and the City’ is really, really good at two things.  The first is articulating feelings most every woman has experienced or can relate to, the second is product placement.  I know this to be true because I am a sucker for both.  (In my slight defense, I am a female writer with a very tight knit group of female friends and an intense love for city life and fashion- so Carrie, right!? ).  I never really watched ‘Sex and the City’ until it’s tamer TBS counterpart came out, and even with the edits it’s sometimes still a little much for me.  Nevertheless, when the movies were released I called my best friends, donned my highest heels and joined the millions of other women across the world who made a girls night out of seeing them.  While the plot of the most recent movie hasn’t exactly received glowing reviews, I can tell you one thing- the interior design was on point!  Since the companies involved paid who knows how many millions of dollars to be included, I figured I’d help them get their money’s worth and let you know where to find a few of the fabulous items seen in the movie.

Carrie’s Apartment Before and After

Until this last movie installment, Carrie’s focus in the show has always been solely on fashion so her apartment was intentionally made somewhat dumpy.  Apparently marrying Mr. Big helped her move up in the world, because this time around her bachelorette pad received quite a few upgrades.  Although the paint is custom mixed, it’s closest match is Benjamin Moore’s Electric blue.  

The plum and cream rug is a Marni design from The Rug Company and the tables are from ABC Carpet and Home.  The whole apartment is clean and crisp, but I’m glad they added a little pizzaz through the art wall.  The one thing that remained the same is probably every girl’s favorite part- Carrie’s closet!

Carrie and Big’s Apartment

Carrie and Big have two apartments, one they share as well as Carrie’s old apartment (apparently depressed real estate markets effect real and imaginary people alike).  Their shared apartment is where things get really fantastic. 

         

The living room is centered around a couch is from Montauk Sofa.  Although you don’t get a clear view of it from this picture, the “Candy Flower” rug is by Marniand actually very pretty.  The coffee table covering it is by Ninfea.  

The dining room is made up of a 1940’s French Mahogany table from Alan Moss, and an oxidized metal chandelier by Property.  The pretty chairs are custom made with a fabric from Lee Jofa.

Big and Carrie’s room holds a headboard upholstered with fabric by Kravet.  The bedding is from Anichini and Neutral Rococo Stripe wallpaper is from Cole & Son from Lee Jofa.  

I love the glass-blown chandelier by Lindsey Adelman Studio in the hallway- it’s a great piece!  But again, the best part of any Carrie Bradshaw apartment will always be the closet.  I love, love, love the closet.

You Can: Plant an Herb Garden

As do-it-yourself week comes to a close, I wanted to make sure we finished off with something particularly helpful.  What could possibly fit the bill more than a good ‘ol fashioned herb garden?  If you or someone in your home has any interest in cooking, an herb garden is something you should absolutely consider creating.  Herbs are easy to grow and their benefits are vast…it’s a great project to get started on this weekend!

The biggest thing to keep in mind when planting is location.  Most herbs do best in full sun, which means they need between six and eight hours a day.  While it’s nice to have a few herbs in planters inside, make sure you put them in a place that receives adequate sun.  If you decide to plant outside, do your best to put them in an area that’s convenient to get to…if you have to walk halfway across your ten acre property to use them, chances are you’ll be reaching for your store bought dried oregano instead.  Remember, the main point of your herb garden is for use not decoration, so while they are beautiful try to resist using them as a crucial piece of landscaping that will be noticeably missed when clipped.  

Choose your herbs based on your own eating preferences, but make sure you keep their size in mind.  Small herbs will grow less than a foot tall and up to a foot in diameter.  They include Parsley, Chives, Cilantro, and Thyme.  Medium sized herb plants grow between two to four feed wide and less than two feet tall and include Basils, Tarragon, and Peppermint.  Oregano and Spearmint can grow four to six feet wide but typically stay under one foot tall, while Rosemary, Lavendars, Sages, and Lemon Verbena can grow four to six feet wide and over a foot tall.  Of course, this doesn’t mean you should plant your herbs between four and six feet apart, but a good understanding of maximum growth patterns will help you layout your garden.  Whether you decide to plant from seeds or small plants, you can check the labels of your herbs for information on their exact spacing needs.

The health of your herbs is directly proportional to the health of their soil.  It’s so important that you choose soil with a proper drainage system as wet roots invite disease and will eventually rot.  If all you’re tackling is a a small herb garden, you’re in a good position to buy some organic potting soil.  Look for soils with vermiculite and peat moss which will help retain the soil’s moisture when dry yet prevent excess moisture from killing the roots when wet.  For more tips on potting plants, check out our previous post‘It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood’.

Cabana Dreams

It’s about a billion degrees outside today…but counterintuitive as it may be, I’m itching to get out of this air conditioning and into the sun.  I couldn’t fit time by the pool on today’s agenda, but I did do a little day dreaming that involved a mile high stack of magazines and a poolside cabana.  If there’s one thing living in Miami taught me, it’s to never underestimate the effect a perfectly situated cabana can have on your day.  A cabana of your very own may be something you’ve never considered, but if you have a backyard pool it is very much within your grasp.  Target has a great selection of extremely affordable outdoor furniture and pergolas…if you’ve got a little more to spend try stopping by your local patio store and consulting with one of their sales reps.  With a little creativity you can easily turn your backyard into an elegant retreat, here are a few over the top ideas to gather inspiration from.  

Mucha to Love

Alphonse Mucha was a Czech artist who created and defined the style known as Art Nouveau.  Mucha was a gifted artist from birth but wasn’t publically or properly known until 1894.  Thanks to a “right place, right time” scenario, Mucha received his big break at 34 years of age when he was given the opportunity to paint a poster for Sarah Bernhardt, the most famous actress in Paris at the time.  For many years he painted, designed jewelry, carpets, wallpaper, theater sets, and even helped create official banknotes and postage when Czechoslovakia won it’s independence after World War I.  In 1939, the year of his death, Mucha was arrested by the Gestapo for producing ‘reactionary’ art and fell ill with pneumonia.  Although he was later released he never recovered from the incident and passed away at the age of 79.  I fell in love with Mucha’s work when my father stumbled upon a compilation book of his paintings during one of our Barnes and Noble excursions.  I wasn’t very familiar with the Art Nouveau style and it was the closest “love at first sight” experience I’ve had to date.  Mucha’s work literally left me speechless.  When Dan Riedel, the incredibly talented artist who designed our logo, asked what the inspiration behind the sketch should be it didn’t take long for us to decide on Mucha’s work.  He did an amazing job bringing the same elegance and flow to the Lillian’s Paintbrush and Design Muse logos…you can really see Mucha’s influence, which I was ecstatic about.  I wanted to share a few of my favorite paintings with you- I hope you find them to be as exceptionally beautiful as I do.