[I'm thinking...]

What I wouldn't give to kick my feet up and be pampered at this lovely salon designed by Michael Habachy. Care to join me?

[now that's what I call...]

two more beauties I might just have to add to the pillow love nest. find them here and here.

[going through a serious...]

I want this rug SO SO badly! (image via domino mag, found here)

brilliant.

tasty.

adorable.

want. want. want.

cute.

fun.

oh...I could zig and zag forever...

[the new]

how much do I love thrift stores? so very much.

[how great is this?]

i love this in every way possible. found it here.

[wanting this book]

there are so many books out there that I want. this one is high on the list.

[these make me happy]

found at Burke Decor.

[who needs a...]

[Left stocking display from here's looking at me kid]

OK, I think most people, like myself, are a fan of real Christmas trees (or real "fake" trees at least) but if you have limited space or are traveling for the holidays (or even if you just want another tree in another room), then I think this tree decal idea is perfect. I also love these creative "mantle" solutions. If I were in a place where I could find a large, long branch, I would run out, paint it white and hang my stockings on it right now! (I also love the stockings themselves...I think I'm slightly obsessed with stockings right now...they are like pillows - you can never have too many of them. I have problems, I know).

[I'll never tire of the idea of a...]

{above pics via cafe mom}

{above pic via the unicorn diaries}

Red and green are great and all, but these pics have me missing my pink tree and candy land decor.
I'm also loving these pink picks for the stocking:
1. pink smiling skull wool felt stocking by habitat
2. print of the Karen Klassen watercolor chair illustration
3. live love life journal
4. paper peony
5. striped metallic scarf

[guest blogger: calico]

Some have dreams of lavish master suites & glamorous gathering rooms; but I’ve got my dreams of luxury and pure satisfaction folded up in the laundry.

Glorious laundry.

1. the luna chandelier by Not Too Shabby
2. French Victorian sofa
3. 3 washing machines
4. The Forgotten Bride, print by six hours
5. Railroad Tie Dining Table by Viva Terra – for folding.

[perfect pairing]

love these vintage finds at art and light.

[chair perfection]

at rapture and wright.

[all I have to say is...]

OK, but these painting solutions by Aoneko are fab. I would use that dresser as a changing table. How great would that be?

[a Christmas...]

Rats. This year I was actually going to try and use traditional Christmas colors; red, green, white, you know, the tried and true. No pinks and golds, no blues and silvers, no sugar plum fairy land...this was going to be my design challenge and my gift to Jon who has put up with my pink trees for all these years. And then I come across Amy Butler's house, in Home Companion, all decked out in blues and greens for the season. What's a girl to do? I mean these are the exact colors of my current living room (and I'm a sucker for matching holiday decor with preexisting room design).
And check out her wrapping paper. So great. Dilemma here people...

[perhaps when there are...]

and my husband has a masculine office of his own, I can have a bedroom like this.

[blues and greens]

It is somewhat of a happy accident that my living room colors ended up in the blue and green family (with added touches of neutrals). We had only so much room on the moving truck when moving out here to California and even though I tried to plan things out in my head before hand, we ended up with a modge podge of home items (I have lamp bases that don't have tops...it's craziness). I've managed to put things together in a way that I'm starting to be pleased with and this recent post from cafe mom (found via sfgirlbybay) about her home has really excited me. I really love the modern white Eams chair with weathered turquoise table. I also really like how she has achieved a well designed, livable space for children (something I struggle with daily, albeit happily). I was also perusing Design Dust today and saw this post on Joel Dewberry's fabric. Love them. I recently purchased a swing for baby O. (a must for a colicky baby) and am not thrilled with the design (I've looked up and down for well designed swings and haven't found anything I'm head over heels with) so I was toying with the idea of sewing a new cover for it. Now, looking at Joel's fabric, I think I'll have to give it a go.

[tribeca loft by...]

Oh how I would love to move into this Tribeca loft designed by Steven Gambrel. He's managed to design a home that is both elegant and modern, feminine and masculine. This is a look that I think even my husband would go for.

[more love for...]

I have a confession to make. Every now and then when I'm in a Dr.'s office and I find a really great picture in a magazine...I just have to tear it out (I know, I feel guilty about this). The above pics (from Southern Accents magazine) are from such a time, when I just couldn't walk away. Of course I'm smitten with coral pinks but I also I really love the eclectic yet unified-by-color design of this room and that fabulous green table! What a great accent color.
Friend and blogger Brooke, of inchmark, also shows just how well these two colors go together. I love it.

[fun ideas for...]

I no longer have a staircase in my home and I miss having one. They are so elegant and present so many creative possibilities.

[a fresh new take on...]

Reader and blogger Jackie, of Sweetie Pie Pumpkin, came up with the most darling color scheme for her daughter Kara's nursery (which was an entry in the Odeedoh Kids' Color Contest). Of course I'm partial to the coral pink and gray colors used alongside the soft lavender. So serene and a great alternative to all the bubble gum pink out there.