Portland Pistils Nursery

I didn't expect to find so much garden inspiration in Portland but the city is literally teeming with little boutiques, nurseries and beautiful gardens. I'll need to go back in the summer to experience their world famous rose gardens. Pistils Nursery in the NE is a tiny place chock full of interesting terrariums, indoor plants and, in the back, they raise chickens and have a whole selection (of largely dormant) plants. It was a sweet place that definitely inspired me to bring more plants inside, ater all, if they can grow inside in the middle of a winter in Portland then surely I can grow more in sunny Socal.










You can find out more info on the Pistils Nursery site and Sunset where they did a whole article on the nursery and their Urban Homesteading.

Portland Stumptown Coffee

Portland was amazing. I'll be posting about my finds over the next week, but suffice it to say, that town knows how to eat. Mix that with cold weather and grey days and I'm in heaven. I loved local roaster Stumptown Coffee. Sure it's hip and all the locations are super cool, but it's just a really really good cup of coffee and it felt more relaxed than either Intelligentsia or Blue Bottle. Plus, no jitters!






I drank it every day and was tempted to buy a bag to brew at home. But I opted not to, so that it would remain a special treat when I visit Portland.

Going To Portland Plus Links

A quick update before I leave for Portland for the weekend to visit friends (let me know if you have recommendations!):

I'm still surrounded by boxes, though we're making progress. I'm replacing the pendant above the dining room table by myself today and have a couple hundred projects on deck.

So that I can close some of the tabs on my computer, here are links I've kept open because they make me so happy:


Gorgeous black kitchen from moline on flickr


This incredibly vibrant yet sophisticated living room from h4ndz on flickr.


Rebecca just moved here from Paris and she's selling her flat there. Who's with me?


I'm in the mood for some bread and maybe when I get back from Portland I'll try my hand at this no knead stuff.


It is my goal in life to make things look as beautiful as this cheese spread from Sunday Suppers

Have a great weekend everyone!

Grey Paint

I did a post over on AT on Grey Paint colors and a lot of people chimed in with their favorites. Kind of wish I had done that before I painted things 3 times. Anyway, it's a great resource for some good greys.

(Image is from Max and Gen's House Tour)

First Days in The New House

So, we're in the new house! The move was epic. Literally 8 hours. We have a lot of stuff and there were a couple of glitches, but phew, most everything is here (with the exception of food since the fridge isn't working).



Here's the rainy view from the upstairs office. I'll be working from the dining room until I find a desk I want to use up there. I just love this view of the magnolia tree outside, it feels like you're in a tree house.


Here's where I am, sitting at the Herman Miller Dining Table I'm borrowing from my dad (if you can believe it, he has no use for it at the moment). We still need to swap out the lamp above the table and there's a credenza that will probably go underneath those windows, then lamps, curtains, etc.

The grey worked out in the end (though, it's just a teeny bit purpley in certain light. But anyway, it's good enough (I'm learning to not let perfect be the enemy of the good). For those that track these things the color is Ben Moore Stone Harbor.

Oh and please don't mind that hanging curtain rod. I guess the last tenants accidentally took the braces?

And since we're all friends here, I will share a picture of the kitchen as of this morning. It actually looked better the day we moved in, but since then we figured out that the fridge doesn't work and that kind of...threw everything off. Look at how confused Hazel looks.


We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I'm going to take it easy today, it's been exhausting!

How was everyone's weekend?

Black Kitchen!

I went by the house today to take some measurements and all I can say is thank god all the colors are looking right, finally. This is the only peak you're getting for the moment, but that's my new black kitchen and it is totally badass.

For those that track these things, the color is racoon fur (I swear, I couldn't make that up) and it's Ben Moore. It's definitely black but with just the slightest hint of navy in there.

Happy Weekend Everyone, I'll be back next week with some updates.

P.S. I added a new category over there on the right in the talking about section. It's 'new house' and if you click it you can see all the posts about this new house adventure I'm embarking on!

(The Day Before) Moving day.

We're down to the wire, movers come tomorrow morning. Today I'm doing dumb stuff like throwing out the dead flowers, remembering to leave out some clean underwear and socks and I'm buying a microwave, curtains, shower curtain, curtain rod and supplies for some of the diy's I'm planning. I was also planning on working on the revamp of my photo site but I think that will have to wait! Stay tuned for pictures and thanks for all the support and tips on the paint debacle.

Speaking of grey: I'm also helping E design his new office space which we painted grey yesterday and, of course, that one turned out just fine. I'm thinking of stealing a container of it to paint in our house!

Under $40 Finds on Etsy

My guest post is up on Etsy's blog right now. I had a lot of fun picking items to help spruce up your home's decor for the new year. Plus everything I chose is under $40 so it's a splurge but not a Splurge, know what I mean? Check out the whole post here.

Also, check out Abby's post on fresh starts, it's also on the etsy blog!

The Paint Debacle

So...we had a little...issue with the paint. Turns out Ben Moore Green Mist is actually...light blue and not a greeny grey like I thought it was from the chip. And I did NOT want a light blue house. And we move in on saturday. So, yeah I've been dealing with finding the perfect color grey that does not turn blue or purple once it's on the walls. I have spent a fortune. I have spent time. I am spent.

BUT, I am still maintaining excitement for the move (thanks mom for coming over and helping pack today!) and really excited to see what 'racoon fur' looks like in the kitchen.

More images soon!

New House Inspiration

Aaron Hom

We picked out paint colors (it was epic) for the house and it should be all painted by the end of the week (except for the kitchen which I plan to paint either a dark grey or black and will do myself so that the landlords don't freak out right away). Here are some of the images I was pulling from for inspiration.

Overall I wanted to keep the walls a nice soft grey, darker in the dining room, kitchen and master bedroom (which is by no means master sized) so that I can throw in colorful accessories for an accent but will have nice contrast between the wood floors, grey walls and white trim. it's the quickest I've ever chosen colors for an entire house. Normally I agonize, but I'm getting a lot faster at decision making and knowing what I want. I also know it's just paint ;)

Domino Magazine

Live Well Designs (Kyle Schuneman)

Jessica Helgerson via Design Sponge
Cannot Remember!

Domino

Classic Table Linens

Loving these easy breezy South of France, sitting at the table drinking pastis and about to play a game of petanque, linens from Belgian Huis. I can imagine how soft they are, like they've been washed a million times to perfection.

Have a happy weekend everyone!

Small Space Restuarant in Paris

Recently a friend of mine came to visit me in LA. She and I knew each other when we lived in Paris and she now lives in Korea so it was pretty awesome to hang out together in LA (her first trip). We started surfing the internet and she brought up this project: a tiny structure perched atop the Palais de Tokyo in Paris. The little structure outfitted with lights that change color was also outfitted with a kitchen and a dining room to create the most awesome restaurant ever. You could reserve it for the night for a sort of private party situation. But make is arty and french to the extreme in order to imagine the full experience.




See more pics over on Pacal Grasso's Website (one of the collaborators).

Meet Me At The Rose Bowl This Sunday

Hey All, it's a new year and that means fresh starts and new furniture! I'll be heading out to the Rose Bowl this sunday for the big swap meet. Let me know if you'd like to join up and walk the bowl. Bring pictures of problem areas or stuff you're looking for and we'll hunt together!

We're planning to meet at the entrance at 9 (not too early!)

Find all the directions and details here.

It reminds me that I really wish I'd bought this painting the last time I went.

We're Moving

So it looks like we're moving. I feel torn about it since it means moving deeper into Pasadena (and therefore further from the westside and the city) but we found the cutest house EVER. It happened quickly. Over the break E and I said: hey why don't we move out of this apartment. Maybe we can find a house to rent or something. Well, monday I found it:






It's 3 bedrooms plus a bonus room, has a huge backyard with citrus tress and room for a trampoline and a vegetable garden (our two priorities), 2 stories, character, is cheaper than the apartment we've been renting and, um, look at that kitchen. Yeah. The main drawbacks: no central air so we might die this summer or pay a fortune to keep it cool with window air conditioners. Also there's kind of crummy carpet in the bedrooms and upstairs. We might be able to have it replace, so we'll see.

But, other than location and convenience, the apartment we've been living in has been very hard to 'decorate' which is why I haven't shared much about it. We weren't planning on staying long so I didn't want to commit too much time, energy or money. That explains why, a year later, I'm still living with these:


Yeah, I live with vertical blinds on every window in the place. I kept meaning to replace them, but you know how it is.

I will miss the view of the park and the mountains:



I will not miss the painfully generic bathroom:



We're signing the lease today and then will probably move in the next couple of weeks (eek!). Let the nostalgia and stress and excitement begin. I have a bonified space to paint, fill with furniture, rearrange, stress out about, delight in, spend too much money on, etc.