Le Owner: Balloons

Have I ever mentioned I have thing for balloons? No? Ok.
Photos by the lovely DeadMethods

Emily: Wall inspirations

Emily: Fireside Folly

This morning I am not feeling all that well, so one of my first tasks of the day was to make a fire, and now I am tending it every few minuets to ensure that it lasts all day.

There are few companions better than a fire that pops and cracks and hisses. Here are some images of fireside vignettes from my inspiration binder.

Emily: Carolyn Quartermaine

These images are from the French home of designer Carolyn Quartermaine as seen in Vogue Living Australia, which costs me a fortune but is worth every penny. I love how feminine and serene her home is without having a "shabby chic" (or as my mom call is "sh*tty chic"...) look or feel. And that pink plastic tray on top of the Saarinen table reminds me of my childhood and the sweet smell of pink plastic goodies from the Sanrio store (before Hello Kitty items were sold at Target - wait...also before Shabby Chic items were at Target as well!)

Emily: Sunbeams

When I left Pennsylvania for New York a dear friend (who now lives in California!) gave me a gift subscription to The Sun. The magazine seemed to keep me sane while I was adjusting to my new life in a city that hummed and vibrated at all times.

At the end of each issue is a page of Sunbeams - quotations relating to the loose theme of each issue. I thought I would share some Sunbeams about money, and following your dreams.

"I signed up with a temp agency, and much to my dismay they actually found me a job. It had been a couple of years since I'd worked in an office, so I thought I should prepare for it. I went to the YMCA with a friend and had him tie me up in a burlap sack and sink me to the bottom of the pool. Just as I was about to suffocate, he yanked me up and gave me a lunch break." - Martha Kelly

"When people go to work, they shouldn't have to leave their hearts at home." - Betty Bender

"Your money, or your life." We know what to do when a burglar makes this demand of us, but not when God does." - Mignon McLaughlin

"Work is love made visible." - Ama Ata Aidoo

Emily: Best entry ever!

I saw this image in the latest issue of Southern Living - isn't the red lacquer wall color divine???

Emily: Home

My very favorite place to dine in NYC is Home (on Cornelia Street). While I lived there my Aunt Sue and I always celebrated Christmas there and now I make a point of eating there each time I visit.

There is another restaurant with the same name that I have yet to try - in Milan! I am crazy for the giant lantern wallpaper! Their website is :
home-made.it , and please type it directly, the search results in something quite different.

Emily: California Romantica

I wanted to post about this book earlier, but I bought it for my mom for Christmas and didn't want to ruin the surprise.

Diane Keaton is part of the team who wrote California Romantica a large scale, full color book which demonstrates how peaceful and cheerful California's native architecture can be.

Emily: The book that I am reading

I have loved EVERY LAST ONE of the projects this man has published, and now that I finally have his book I find myself lingering on passages of text and meditating on the images.

Le Owner: Are You Watching This?

OMG!!! So good....I want to go to the New York Public Library right now! Watch these great videos over at good 'ol Design*Sponge, or watch part II right here...

Emily: The perfect Powder Room

I am a closet minimalist....even though I love a cozy and cluttered English interior, when I design I always stop short of that look, and whenever I move out of an apartment and half of my stuff is packed away I always have this moment of "wow, this place is awesome under all of that stuff!".

I have been saving this image as inspiration, and thought that instead I would share. I love the casualness of the "propped" antiqued mirror, the wall mounted faucet and basin, the clean and spacious room around it.

Emily: Fort Ross

When I pay attention I find inspiration in unexpected places. Such was the case yesterday when we spent the day visiting and hiking around Fort Ross. The Fort was established in 1812 by Russian traders and was purchased by the State of California in 1908. The oldest original structure dates back to 1836. It was such a treat to explore some of California's history with the hypnotic sound of breaking waves in the distance.

View from the tower.

The hikes in the area are beautiful even in winter.

One example of door hardware at the fort.

Um...yes! Apothecary jars and natural specimen!

Give me a cabinet of curiosities any day.

A charming painted bed in one of the homes.

Detail of one of the benches.

The interiors had a "Jack and Jill"/Axel Vervoordt feel.

My favorite of the door handles on display there.