The Perfect Yellow Mum

Yellow! How you're doin'? I hope you all had a great weekend :)

Today's post is nothing more than a weather-dependent blogger's attempt to fight the cold November rain and drizzle. So here are a few pics of a sunny chrysanthemum to brighten up your day. And your entire week - since it's only Monday and we've got so much to do...

The yellow mum looks like total Fall to me. In spite of Christmas coming upon us with a vengeance in the supermarkets and just about every where else in Blogoland, my mood is far from Christmas-y. So let's enjoy a perfectly spherical yellow mum on a perfectly round Tam Tam stool in orange. Oh, and the gourd which would not stand up (click here to read more about how I've finally styled it).

The Gourd In The Glass Jar

Should I say "The gourd cloche"?

Or better yet "The gourd terrarium"?

No matter how hard I try, it seems impossible to come up with a good title for this post. Friends, this is the big reveal to yesterday's post and its burning question. How to decorate with a gourd that has pointy bumps on each end and doesn't want to stand upright?! It upsets my OCD... So my solution was to put it in a bowl full of gravel. Even better, I put the gravel in a big empty glass jar (recycled, of course - see it here full of paper-whites) and then I put the gourd on top of the gravel. It doesn't stand vertically, but it's enough for my design sensibility.

The gourd in the glass is now good enough to star in a pretty fall vignette. If you're not sure where to start in creating a vignette, click here to see my tutorial on how to make a balanced vignette following a few simple rules. As you can see in the first pic, I chose natural elements and neutral colors for the arrangement. We've got everything: wood (the desk, the blank Russian doll), glass (the jar), metal (the vintage can), wax (the candle), ceramics (the mushroom salt shaker). The whole thing forms an "A" shape, for instant eye attraction. The whole thing is sitting pretty on the desk. So I created a vignette inside a vignette!

Talking about personal history, almost every single item in this pic has a special meaning to me, so I love it even more:

- Let's start with the desk: my dad bought it for me when I was 9 and I've had it ever since.

- The round brown sign was written freehand by my sweet Ana from Uituka, who is a master of typography. Don't ask me what is says, because we wanted to say "Division of labor" but in the end she came up with this untranslatable joke in Romanian.

- The blank Russian dolls are a birthday gift from my friend July. I've wanted a blank set for ages and even found some good deals on Amazon, but now I can't to paint them!

- The succulent is a gift from Sigrid's mom, from the most beautiful autumn garden I have ever seen "live".

- I stole the vintage tin can from my grandma, it was a tobacco box from the 1930s.

- And I saved the best for last: in the last pic you can see my cat Anais hidden inside the desk box. She does that to protect my cards and illustration from fading, right?

Almost Ready For Halloween

If I am not mistaken, there's only one week left until the haunted night of 2013 :) My busy schedule didn't allow me to properly prepare like I did last year, but I still managed to prepare a little vignette. You know me, I don't make or buy something new unless I absolutely have to. Recycling and reusing are right up my alley, so I dug up the DIY pictures from last year's Halloween gallery wall. Of course, I chose the spooky black cat (completely understandable since I live with two crazy felines).

As always, color gives the main feeling of Halloween: the blacks, the yellows and the oranges. This is one of the rare occasions when I get to pair the camel leather Moroccan pouf with the shiny Tam Tam stool. The yellow mums were a present from my boyfriend. And if you're wondering about the rug... it's been in my family for generations. It actually belonged to my great-grandmother. I remember this beautiful rug in my grandma's kitchen, where nothing bad could have ever happened. My mom washed it for me and I'll surely post a lot more pictures of it in the months to come.

My Fun Nightstand

Hi, Janel, this post is from me to you, girl! You know how much I like sharing colorful spaces and vignettes with people who get the same vibe :) So here's a simple Hello! from my nightstand. I was never a big fan of elegant spaces in ethereal earth tones... I say give me some color and energize my morning! So now that I'm struggling with two jobs, I need to start the day with fresh flowers and a smile by the bedside.

The nightstand is actually one of my old DIYs: the pink Lucite coffee tables have moved by the bedside. They make the prettiest nightstands - in acid colors, never the less! There are usually stacks of books by the bed... but now that I'm crawling to bed much too late every night, I just keep some light reading - a lovely book from a short film festival.

My secret to a morning smile is... not that, you naughty girl!... it's the textile mix! Traditional rug versus urban stripes, whimsical patterns versus a posh retro curtain, plus the touch of natural fibers. The more pillows, the better! And to get back to everybody's question: yes, I could repair the poor one-eyed doll. I just don't have the heart to, because I've had it since 5th grade and her current state is a reminder of how old I am now small I once was...

A Clockwork Orange

Orange cat (Junior), orange stool (Tam Tam), Ikea pillow, rag rug from grandma, DIY faux wallpaper. Just as I was ready to say goodbye to the wonderful Autumn colors and enter a more Christmas-y mood, I remembered to take a picture of another plant with beautiful purple leaves. The lovely "false shamrock" (Oxalis Triangularis) graces us with its colored leaves from February until late November or even December, then requires a little resting period. So I prepared a little shooting session, before it looses its purple leaves for two months. Just as I pressed the camera button, guess who sneaked into my picture?!

Halloween Gallery Wall

Friends, this is the reason why I took all the art down this week. I was in the mood for a dramatic change: a gallery wall with a Halloween theme. Now it is finally done and I get the feeling that I live in a completely different house. Every time I walk into the living room, the bold art strikes me in the face. It's like living on a film set (and what's to complain about that?)

To tell you the truth, I just wanted to have a black pear on my wall. You know me, why pay for something when you can do it (almost) for free? So I payed a visit to my favorite supply store, where I found a sturdy black cardboard that stole my heart with its matte finish and soft texture. I came home and I traced the outline of the pear, cut it with the Exacto and framed it the next morning. So far so good, only that my beautiful pear didn't go with any of the thin-lined art from the Fall transition living room.

"Well, I'll just have to change the rest of the art" was the first thought that came to my mind. As the spooky Halloween approaches, the theme came to my mind naturally. Good thing that the pear was already black: it's quite appropriate for Halloween! I just went out and bought some more of the same textured black cardboard, just enough to replace all the other pictures in the room. This way, I only payed like 4 bucks :)

Retro Fall

I'm getting back to my design roots with this retro look. Why is that? Because in spite of my current decorating style that you can see on the blog, I am in fact a little nerdy at heart. I am a geek who loves round furniture, new materials, organic shapes and acid colors. My first "designer" love in kindergarten was Kubrick's film set from "Space Odyssey" and I've been hooked on 70's style ever since. I still don't understand why we don't see a Djinn chair in every home and why our tables have four legs instead of just one :))

Of course, my personal taste has undergone major changes in the last 30 years. I love an eclectic interior and I've learned to appreciate the charming warmth of natural textures. Still, from time to time, I feel the need to escape to a world of happy curves and this is exactly what we have here today. The Fall colors from the Tam Tam stool, the apple lamp and the little lithography on the wall (upper right corner, made from real leaves) converge beautifully in the Mad Hatter poster. I don't mind, since I've got a Bukowski poetry book to read from :)

Behind The Door

Behind the door to my bedroom, there is a cozy reading spot, ready for the cooler days of Fall. I've got a stack of photography books and some new novels which will keep my heart pumping high with excitement. The whimsical teapot is spreading a jasmine aroma all around the room. The traditional rug I just bought in my last trip keeps me warm, as well as the white fluffy pillow. 

I've taken up the challenge from Hege (Hege In France) and her friend Efrat (Cafe Veyafe) to post one picture taken behind a door. This made me think of the long list of scenes I've shot in my home in the same style. I've never posted any of them until now, but I intend to publish them from now on, because I think they are quite charming :)

Jungle Kids Art

I am a hopeless thrifter - I admit, so shoot me now! I rarely buy something new, but every once in a while the thrifting fever hits me and I go running around town, hitting every second hand shop that I know of. My storage is full of old lamps in need of some serious TLC, queer tableware, crooked stools and little boxes (which I am gonna restore - someday soon). This time, I went out there and got back with a set of four jungle scenes. There's the giraffe, the puma, the elephant and the black and white zebra.

Until they will get a new use, they are sitting pretty in my craft room. I don't actually like the designs - well, except the elephant family at the water pond, they are darlings and I also love the turbulent reddish color and the composition. Anyway, my grand plan is to use those square canvases for a higher purpose. Maybe a stencil project? Maybe a neon craze? Some mixed media 3D art? We'll see about that.

Meanwhile, I've paired the jungle art with a pink Lucite coffee table and some nesting art albums in complementary colors. Please notice Chagall, my favorite visual artist since childhood <3.... The kids theme works great next to the faux wallpaper. There's something charming about bicycles and giraffes together, I must draw them someday :) And for a complete mix and match, I added a 3D puzzle of the London Bridge (thank you, Roxy!) and a crochet wooden stool made by yours truly. Long live the eclectic decor style!

Purple, plum and lavender bedroom

What do you do when you get easily bored with your bedroom decor? Paint the walls? Change the furniture? OR... Simply change the bedding and accessories!

By keeping the walls white and spare, I've created a blank canvas on which the sheets are the stars of the picture. I've got over 10 bedding sets, all different colors (God only knows how I must refrain myself from buying "just" one more...). Each one sets a different mood in the room and each time I change them, I feel like I've switched the old bedroom with a new one.

On the opposite wall, I wake up every morning looking at my plum - purple wall, which I painted myself. So with the purple bedding, the room is complete :)

It makes me feel welcome... The perfect cocoon for these strange and cold never-ending February days.

                  

This time, purple was mandatory, in order to celebrate my lovely orchid who decided to fully bloom one month earlier than usual. She makes a good team with the Russian doll (made in Kiev) and the retro plastic red clock :) The nightstand is actually a re-purposed coffee table and you can read more about it here.

As for the bedding, most of you have probably already recognized the IKEA pillows (the sheep skin ones and the small printed ones). The other items were from various home decor stores.

BONUS PIC: a little glimpse of the herringbone floors, which I know you covet :)

Before and after: Pink coffee tables

Difficulty: easy-peasy;

Time to complete: 30 minutes;

Budget: 12 euros;

What I love the most: that it can easily be undone, if you hate the final outcome;

Would I do it again: of course! In about 6 weeks or so, this little beauty is going to turn lime green :)

Remember my clear Lucite coffee tables in the turquoise living room? I wanted a pair of these for years, but I always thought they were too expensive. Than I finally got them (now that's a long story...) and they made me happy for a year and a half...

But I tend to get bored with the same environment. Besides, winter was approaching and I tend to get really depressed during the cold-grey-sky months. I added some pink translucent adhesive film and then my coffee tables were... PINK!

Instant color boost!

Quick tutorial: 

1. Clean all the surfaces thoroughly

2. Sprinkle some water on the surface you want to personalize

3. Carefully apply the adhesive film. Press slowly in order to remove any air bubbles. Start from the middle and continue towards the edges.

4. Pay extra attention to the corners, as they are most likely to be trouble for any adhesive.

If you live in a small place and need to edit a lot, or if you like to redecorate quite frequently (on a budget!), or if you get easily bored - I strongly recommend the power of clear furniture. You can keep it as it is for an uncluttered room. Or you can personalize it in your favorite color, pattern, trompe l'oeil etc.

BONUS PIC: Any coffee table can be the star in the bedroom, as well (you can read more about the purple bedroom here). Look at my lovely bedside table:

PS: For spring, I need to change again the color scheme in the living room. I am going to rip off the pink film and replace it with an intricate lime green design. To be continued...

UPDATE: Happy happy joy joy! Someone loves my little project! I've been featured at Christinas Adventures, A Glimpse Inside, Cedar Hill Ranch, Romance on a Dime and 504 Main by Holly Lefevre. Thank you so much, it means the world to me :)