CRAFT WEEKEND!!!!!

    Most of you in Los Angeles are aware that we are having an insane heat wave. Unbearable really. While you all were hitting the beach on friday and today, a couple friends and I were in my stuffy lil apartment crafting! Loralie from Ellenor Postmarked came over and we worked on the office closet doors and the backs of the Ikea shelves... I think you will all be impressed!

    Loralie went to the hardware store and got these particle boards just a little bit smaller than my Ikea shelves. We then rolled it out on to the boards and measured them with a little allowance on the sides to fold over. We then sprayed the boards with Super 77, a aerosol spray adhesive to attach the fabric. 

    

    The corners were folded over and then glued down with tacky glue. Which apparently I suck at. About this time my other friend Rose showed up to help and in the time I glued down one they cut and super 77ed the other two boards. I swear that glue requires hulk skills.

 While the glue was drying, we moved over to the larger task at hand... the office doors. 

    Now, In my mind, this was definitely going to be the easier part of the day. I was sadly mistaken. We  had planned to just roughly cut fabric close to the size of the squares, spray adhere them, and then exacto knife the edges to make the lines clean. So easy right? 

  We paper taped the borders and got all ready to go! I did two squares and as you can see, this photo is Rose, just about to do the first cut. This is when things went a little haywire. I didnt even think about the fact that we were using a really awesome fabric that had some of the properties of linen. The most important one being that it is many many tiny threads that can pull and snag very easily. Which is exactly what happened. It pulled off the corner, it frayed....

    This photo is about three minutes after I TORE the fabric square off the wall, threw it on the ground, stomped off the step stool and said angrily: "I'M HAVING A BEER!!!!" Such a patient girl, as always.

    Luckily for me, I was with two VERY patient and level headed girls that quickly put another plan into action.

    

    The plan was that we were just going to have to measure and cut each one very precisely and individually. Which meant both of my girls were going to give up a full afternoon (turned out working noon till 530, and then another two hours for Loralie and I on Sunday) to help. Awesome friends I have, awesome.

    As you can see here, soon it was assembly line central! Rose and I drilling the fabric covered boards to the back of the shelves, and Loralie cutting perfectly perfect sized fabric squares!

    It was so hot I talked Rose into having a beer with me...seriously bad ass with her beer and the drill. Art Department girls rock. 

    In the end, both projects turned out so amazingly stellar! I couldn't be happier with them. The Ikea shelves are now considerably more stable and insanly more chic. They even cover the cables so no more unsightly little wires peeking through! 

    I really really adore the office doors. I think it gives the illusion of having so much more depth. The girls were so exact with matching the patterns; if you look closely almost all of the lines match up! 

    I cant say enough how much of a fun process this has been. The living room is just about finished! Heres Loralie holding up the new light fixture that is going to be installed soon!

   These are the planned fabrics for the throw pillows! They are great tie-ins to all the other colors and patterns going on in the room! 

   Last, but certainly not least, I wanted to include a picture of my beautiful curtains made by my lovely and talented friend Laura Flett. If you remember, the original curtains were full panels of the chartreuse peacock feathers on the bottom. Loralie brought this great design to me about how to break up the pattern to keep if from being overwhelming. Laura Flett put the whole plan into action; and here they are: lovely, luxurious, elegant but very me drapes.

I love my apartment.

xo

New Sofa!

    Heres the latest edition to the great living room re-deux! Loralie sent me up a full color mock up of my room! Isn't it great? She used the Pantone Template we made a few weeks ago, and look how beautiful it is!!! Thats my living room!!

    So Loralie and I went in search of the perfect sofa. After going a few places, I fell in love with the Ikea Karlstad. I know, I know. Its Ikea. Honestly, it was my favorite of all the sofas we saw. The legs were a strange blond wood color that we both felt made it look cheap... but was easily remedied with a little spray paint! Ikea had same day delivery for only $59!! Sadly, they charged and sent me for the love seat and not for the sofa I wanted....enter Ikea's AMAZING customer service. They were so great and the next saturday they showed up at my house with the sofa, picked up the love seat, and didn't charge me for the difference because it was their error. WHAT?!! So lovely.

    It did come in A LOT of pieces in true Ikea style, and I now have a new respect for velcro. Thank god my friend Rose came and helped me assemble that bad boy. I have to say... I love it. I really do. Its incredibly comfortable, and in my opinon a steal for the price and value. And look how great it looks!!

    I am super excited for the curtains, pillows, and new light fixture (!!!!) we ordered!!!!  More to come, promise!

xo

Patterns Patterns Patterns

    Loralie from Ellenore Postmarked came by today to look at the progress of the apartment and to discuss what was next on our list of projects.  Its actually been a few days since I have been in my apartment during the day, so it was a nice reminder how warm and lovely the space is. I was looking at pictures of the apartment from just a few months ago... the change is awesome! 

before

before

after

after

    Its a whole new space. I love the pale pink color. Its strangely neutral for being pink and the light reflects so warmly off it. The rug is awesome too. I don't know if you can see it in the photos but the chevrons are all different widths and spacing. It has a somewhat chaotic feel to it that I love. I think it throws off the girliness a bit. I also really enjoyed how Loralie seemed to really be in love with the room as well. I know I know, she designed it, but she seemed genuinely tickled as to how it was coming along.  

We still have a few more projects for the room. First is the panels on the murphy closet. Loralie and I really like the idea of filling them with a pattern so they aren't so stark white. That fabric will also be used to cover a backing for the Ikea shelves so they feel less dorm room. Earlier in the week she dropped off some fabric samples. This is the one I fell in love with:

    Its actually more of a mustard yellow in real life. I feel like it will play off the pink really well. I also like that it goes with all my already very geometric feeling patterns.

    We also chose some fabric to make a few throw pillows as well. I love how it ties all the colors in the room together.  

    Next weekend we are going to go look for economical pet friendly sofas, aka what does Ikea have that is comfy and looks well made. In order to prepare for this adventure, I downloaded the pantone app onto my phone and snapped a few pics for swatches and color matching. The app is pretty incredible. You take a pic with your iPhone (sorry bb and android...not yet suckas!) and it color matches it for you. If the color doesn't seem exact, they also have all of their fandecks in the app and you can access them as well! I made a quick color palette and emailed it to Loralie and myself so we will have it handy on the day.

    Pretty cool right? The top is the Moroccan rug,  next the chevron rug, followed by the nailhead chairs, the walls and finally the awesome ottoman. I freaking love this app. for reals.  I hope you all have a nice easter. I am about to hop a plain the Arizona... travel safe and enjoy the weekend!

xo

Apartment Facelift Update!

    Loralie from Ellenor Postmarked came over today and we talked about paint colors. She brought over six colors for us to swatch on the wall. I was instantly in love. With all of them. They were each so perfect for the room in so many different ways.

    I love the idea of painting. How its gonna change the light, how its going to enhance all the other elements we have been incorporating...

    These are the colors on the east wall, and then below is on the west hall.

   I really fell in love with the two middle colors. The top, a peachy pink, is Victoria Pearl. The bottom, the grey purple, is Gentle Rain.  I was leaning to gentle rain, until my smart decorator Loralie reminded me that I have had my heart set on a grey sofa... and the bad ass rug I got last week. 

Handmade Alexa Chevron Wool Rug

  So in the end, I went with Victoria Pearl. 

    As Loralie pointed out, its exactly what I want. Its feminine but also, the peach makes it quite modern. It will look amazing with the navy rug, the grey couch, and the taupe tufted nailhead chairs I bought last month.  I am so excited. Loralie is so intuitive with what I want. Todays decision on paint was actually pretty difficult because everything she brought over was amazing. I actually think I am going to use the pale green in my bathroom. 

xo

Ellenor Postmarked!

   I adore my apartment. Its true. Out of every place I have lived in Los Angeles over the past 9 (!!) years, this is the best. I more than adore it. I love it. I never want to move. Ever. I know, I know. Everyone says "You need to own a home." Honestly, do I need to? I get the tax break and all, but would I find a place, in this neighborhood, with this much character, in my price range? I think not.

    That being said, decorating is not my forte. I know what I like, but I am constantly second guessing myself. I am also easily swayed by the trend of the moment; forgoing large investment pieces for kitchy items I will hate in the fall.  If you follow this blog at all, you know I am always getting a new rug, or moving my furniture around, or a new duvet cover. Yet it still never seems right. Thats where my friend Loralie Orr comes in.

    Loralie and I lived a couple doors apart in a fun apartment building in West Hollywood. She has always had a great sense of style and a keen eye for design. I will say I was not surprised when I received an email this fall letting me know that she was opening her own interior design business.

  Ellenor Postmarked.  It was such a great idea...design from afar or near. Ala carte or full service. All with these little guides to lead you on your way. If you get a chance, please bump over and look at her cute site. Its really well put together and very descriptive. I have to say I was intrigued to say the least, especially when I saw some of the photos of her work...

I mean seriously look at this shit! The plum metallic stripes on the ceiling?! AND LOOK AT THAT LIGHT FIXTURE!!!

And this room? Can I just move all that to my place now???

And last but not least, I love her work here on the South Los Angeles Animal Shelter

www.ellenorpostmarked.com


    So Sunday my sweet friend Loralie came over to start the process of us remaking my place. It was really interesting to see her work. She took measurements of my rooms and of my furniture; and had all sorts of really great ideas about upholstering and resourceful shopping. (If you remember, one of my new years resolutions was to get into better financial shape, and Loralie totally understood that) I had made a design board on Pinterest, and she was really excited to take a look at it. (I also spied the Domino book in her little satchel, and I thought "What a savvy gal!")  Loralie is so funny, and sweet. I didn't mind admitting my pension for trend of the moment, or that I couldn't quite seem to put to words why I hate my living room shelves, but I just did; and she just seemed to get it. Just off the top of her head she recommended some paint ideas and lacquering tips that  would never have crossed my mind. This is going to be super fun. I can feel it.

 So here are the OFFICIAL BEFORE PHOTOS: 

   
    Today I made my very first purchase for the new design. I know it was a little premature, as Loralie is still working on the layout... but I emailed her and she said to snatch these little craigslist babies up! I mean seriously...who would give this pair up?

   Love! So please stay tuned! I promise to keep you all updated with my Ellenor Postmarked adventures!

xo