Redecorating Inspiration

When Rob and I moved into our house 3 years ago I painted our living room a beautiful, deep red. It looks great at Christmas and really makes our white farm shudders pop. I've definitely enjoyed my time with the red walls. However, we only have one window (that doesn't get much light) in the living room, so any light that does come in gets sucked by the walls. This has left me craving a room redo. I'm thinking of having white walls, a gray couch, and bright accents (via lamp shades and pillows) to bring color into the room. Rob says we can go for it, I just need to map out some of the costs, and I'm thinking about *maybe* asking for Home Depot gift certificates for Christmas! Before we start purchasing paint, here are some of my room inspirations...

(I realize that this is a bedroom, and not a living room, I just love how they've pulled in such bright colors.)



Any suggestions and/ or recommendations for redoing a living room?
(See full inspiration board and sources here)

The Olympic Athlete's Village

As the best athletes in the world come together in one place, they all need places to stay. The villages are built to house the participating athletes, trainers, and officials, with each person getting a roommate. Family and friends are allowed the visit, but have to go through extensive security checks while the media is completely banned. There are crazy stories of wild parties as each event wraps up, but I don't want to soil my view of the Olympics. ;)

Here are some shots from the Olympic Athletes Village in London:

Have you ever seen the inside of an Olympic Athlete Village? I would love to stay with an athlete from a different country! You can view more of the pictures here.

French Blue - St. Helena

I spent the weekend visiting a friend in Napa. It was such a fun weekend, it really felt like a vacation. I was able to stay up late, sleep in, and have a local tour guide take me to all the best places. The only drawback was that the temperature reached 110 degrees (yikes!) on Saturday. We were able to fix that dilemma by hanging out at the Calistoga Community Pool. It was so fun to bob around the water and dive off the diving board (I haven't done that in ages).

We felt it would be appropriate to take a break from all of our relaxation to eat. One of my favorite places Candice took me to was French Blue. French Blue is a neighborhood restaurant located in the heart of St. Helena. Their menu highlights seasonally inspired dishes and rustic, wood-fired cooking. We were able to make it in time for breakfast and it was absolutely delicious. I ordered the Blueberry Pancake Soufflé, served with rhubarb maple syrup. It was so good that I was almost finished before I realized I should have taken a picture.

The restaurant itself is light and refreshing. They have beautiful skylights that allow the sun to light the entire room, and a gorgeous patio perfect for enjoying a summer evening. You can tell that whoever was responsible for the design made sure that every last detail was accounted for. To make the whole place even better, the menu is more than reasonably priced. Chef Philip Wang wanted to develop a restaurant that would be affordable for locals to enjoy, and he succeeded!

Overall, it was a super great mini-vacation. I'm so thankful that my friend took on the responsibility as tour guide and shared some of her favorite places.

What are your recommendations for Napa Valley and/or surrounding areas?
(The first two photos are from the French Blue website and the last two photos were taken for Short Story Long)

The Ace Hotel

The first time I heard about an Ace Hotel was from Robbie's cousin, Natasha. We were planning our trip to Portland and the Ace was her top recommendation. Unfortunately, we didn't have the opportunity to stay at the Ace during that trip, but I have been dying to stay in one since. 

The hotels were founded in 1999 in Portland, OR and New York, NY. They have since expanded to Palm Springs and Seattle.  Each location aims to bring new life to "challenged" historical properties in emerging locations. In other words, they restore old, beautiful buildings in up and coming neighborhoods. One of my favorite features of the hotel is that each room has a unique design and pricing structure. They have various size and view options so that you can customize your experience (based on availability, of course). My only concern would be that I wouldn't actually want to leave my room!

Have you stayed at an Ace Hotel? If so, what was the design of the room you stayed in?

(Photos: All photos from Ace Hotel)

Graphic City Posters

Check out these posters that were created by designer, Blanca Gomez of Cosas Minimas. I love the simple elements and the subtle use of color. Wouldn't they be fun in an office or guest bedroom?

Be sure to stop by her website and check out her shop!
(Design by Blanca Gomez via Grain Edit)

Decorating with Maps

Robbie loves maps. Whenever we visit a new city, he loves to grab a map and familiarize himself with our new surroundings. I, on the other hand, have never really cared all that much about looking at a physical map. I'd rather talk to a local, get verbal directions, and then figure it out from there. Recently, Robbie and I re-organized our room and the change-up has been fun. The new set-up has me thinking that I want to hang a framed photo or photos of maps above our bed. Here are a few that have been catching my eye...

Do you decorate with maps? Any recommendations on where to look?
(Photos: map one, map two, map three. All via Pinterest)

Outdoor Lights

I love winter and I love the rain. Saying that, the one thing I miss most about summer is outdoor evening activities. Since the sun is out so much longer (which is a major bonus in itself), we can ride our bikes around the neighborhood after work, have dinner outside, and invite people over for bonfires and s'mores. 

To me, great outdoor space enhances each of these activities. One aspect of outdoor space that I will totally geek out over is lighting. Outdoor lighting creates a sense of comfort and warmth for me, especially in the summertime. It reminds me of warm weather, good food, and laughter. In all fairness to winter, Christmas lights in December stir these same kind of feelings. 

Since it seems as though winter won't really be making an appearance in California this year, I've already started thinking about my summer activities. I definitely want to spend more time in our backyard this year, so I want to make sure the lighting will be just right. I found these great options as I was poking around Pinterest and would love to take a couple of them on as DIY projects. I have a few months to prepare, but knowing me, I should start sooner rather than later!

Do you use outdoor lighting? Store bought or homemade? Do you have any recommendations for DIY lighting projects?

(Photos: one, two, three, & four; all found via Pinterest)

Living in Small Spaces

I am so intrigued to read about people who live in unusually small spaces. I admire their creativity in how they utilize their space. I find myself inspired to live as simply as possible, but I'm unsure I could actually do it. Dwell recently featured a couple who are living and working in a small (600 square feet!) Seattle home. Here is how they've made it work...

Do you think you could live in 600 square feet or less? I think I'm too messy to make it work!
(All photos from Dwell)

Wish List - Little Paris Paintings

Paul Ferney, his wife Jordan, and their two boys have been living in Paris for the last year. I love reading about their neighborhood, their picnics, and the sweet shops they find along the way on Jordan's blog, Oh Happy Day. During the summer, Paul painted a series of small Paris paintings and recently made them available for purchase. Each painting has its own sweet quality, and seems to capture a moment or a mood. Wouldn't it be great to have a few hanging in your room? Here are the ones I would choose...

What city would you want a painted series of?
(Photos: Paul Ferney Fine Art)

An Eclectic Room

How would you feel about a stallion leering over you as you sleep? Normally, I would answer "No thank you!" to that question, but I think this painting fits perfectly in the overall decor of the room. It seems busy, but the colors and character seem to work together. Also, I'm loving the grey wall; grey seems to go with everything.

Does this room have too much going on for you? Which elements would you like to incorporate into your own bedroom?
(Photo: Amber Interior Design)

Finding a New Bed

Robbie and I love the comfort of our bed and how it works so well with the entire design of our room. What we don't love are the loud squeaks it makes anytime we move. We are at the point now where buying a new frame will be a good investment. Here are some of the fun frames I have found so far:

What kind of bed frame do you have? Would you, or do you, miss the available storage of a floor frame? I'd love the hear your recommendations!
(Photos: one, two, three)

A Comfy Chair

Robbie and I have a corner in our room that is the perfect size for a reading chair.  Currently, we have a large leather recliner that we inherited from our parents.  It has definitely served it's purpose, but I have been slowly dropping hints to let Robbie know I am interested in giving that space a face lift.

I want something that is large, comfortable, cloth, and complimentary to the room.  Below are a few that make me want to curl up with a warm blanket, hot chocolate, and a good book.

(This one is a bit big, but so fun!)

Do you have a reading chair?  Do you have any recommendations on what to look for or where to go?

(Photos courtesy of urbanoutfitters.com, ballarddesigns.com, and westelm.com)

White House, Black Accents

As time progresses, I'm beginning to notice I am drawn to much simpler design. I am motivated to strip things down and focus on the few items I've decided to keep. Putting this into practice is a whole other post, but I am finding it easier to get rid of items I no longer need.

White decor with black accents seems to compliment this simplicity so much so that my eyes are repeatedly drawn to this style. The stripped down look is so sophisticated and classic. Here are a few of my favorites:

{The small details are so chic!}

{Who wouldn't feel productive in a home office like this?}

{What a cool outdoor space}

What are your favorite color combos? Is there a color you do not dare use?

Thanks to Fox Interiors for the inspiration!