Art + Function = Design (10.8.10)

Problem: I want a beach-themed nursery that’s not nautical (or cliché).
Solution: Emulate this nursery, with beautifully chosen furniture, and just a few beachy details… Cafe Mom (via Design Mom)

Problem:What are the must-have tools for today's creatives? Solution: So glad you asked! Check them out here: O Hello Friend

Problem: It's impossible to find a baby invitation that hasn't already been done...
Solution: Think outside the box (or do I mean block)Black Eiffel

Problem: I'm hungry!
Solution: Me too! These red curry prawn noodles sure look yummy! Design*Sponge

Problem:  Billboards are garish and ugly.
Solution: Beautiful paper is the answer to everything. Stephmodo

Problem:I'm terrible about sending out holiday cards - I'd love to, but they are expensive!
Solution: Luckily for you, Say Yes to Hoboken is doing a $150 giveaway to Minted!
(PS: Can you believe it's already time to think about holiday cards?!)

Happy Weekend!

Art + Function = Design

Some links to get you through the weekend: hand drawn wallpaper by an 8-year old, yummy summer rolls and some dreamy …

Problem: I need some awesome wallpaper to spruce up my living room. 
Solution: this above design with ships is eye catching and so unique! I also love these birds).

Problem: I want something easy to eat this last weekend of the summer.
Solution: Simply Modern Mom's End-of-Summer-Rolls recipe (fresh shrimp rolls, yum)!

Problem: The end of the work work has me burned out. I need something to jumpstart my creativity.
Solution:  Shona Heath's set design is SO inspiring - follow the links to her portfolio; you could spend hours!

Organizing in Style

As I said yesterday, I know I've been a bit absent from the blog lately, but that doesn't mean I have not been busy!  On the contrary, I spent ALL Labor Day weekend organizing by entire house.

Trust me, this is no easy task.  I am what you would call a "pile-builder" (my husband can attest to this, it drives me crazy).  The odd thing is, I am not messy, I am not gross, I am just not neat.  I look at something, put it in a pile to sort later, and move on and forget about it.

I recently realized a lot of the problem is that I didn't have ANY set places for things, and so the pile would grow, waiting for me to figure out how to deal with it.  The other problem I've learned - I simply have too much stuff.  If it couldn't fit in the alloted space and I hadn't used it recently, out it went!

Already I can breathe easier, and feel more free. The kitchen is done, and I cook more. Clean up is faster and easier.  The "junk" drawer is done.  If I need scissors or tape, I know exactly where it goes.

The last thing I learned is, if it's pretty, I will keep it clean.  So beautiful supplies is a must. On that note, I wanted to share some of the pretty office supplies I'm coveting:

Kate Spade stationary.  Big card. Small Party.

A brightly colored binder keeps all of the not-so-fun stuff (like wills) in check.

Jonathon Adler Sticky Notes and Note Cubes add instant pops of color to any office.

 The DiVoga black and white collection is super chic.

This Parakeet folder at Sorting with Style reminds you of Anthropologie, doesn't it?

I love the Scandinavian-inspired red and teal pallete of Galison's "Rosehip" Weekly Organizer

These "essey Bin Bins" by Huset are works of art!

Keep your junk drawer in order with this organizer from John Derian for Target

And finally, for the day I FINALLY have a laptop...

A cupcake laptop sleeve. Naturally.

What pretty supplies make your life neat and organized?

Hostess with the Mostess

I've been thinking of the perfect housewarming gift lately.  I'm not sure why - I don't know anyone moving into a new home - so it must be my ongoing obsession with beautiful housewares:

These sweet smelling lavender wands

These personalized dinner menus from Perideau Designs (at Etsy)

This succulent trough arrangement from Olive and Cocoa

These Lilly Pulitzer water bottles from Lifeguard Press

A Meal-in-a-basket, such as this pasta basket suggested at Real Simple

This rustic cheeseboard from Firewood Furniture (at Etsy)

PS: Don't forget the cheese!

These great cookbook flag set from Spoon Sisters

These stack and grow herb kits are perfect for an apartment balcony

This Home Maintenance Organizer by Knock Knock will help keep all the not-so-fun stuff in check

These Table Topics Conversation Cards would be a great icebreaker at the Housewarming Party.

This Fig Leaf soap by Sweet Petula is a great gender neutral scent - and pretty packaging!

What's better than soap?  Flowers and soap. Satin and Birch's 2-for-1 French Flower Market Soap set would make a beautiful addition to a guest bathroom. 

Last but not least, who doesn't love a substantial, scented candle?  Made with recycled glass and soy wax, this exotically-scented (Aloha and Volcano), Capri Blue Jar Candle from Anthropologie is a great selection for both the stylish and the eco-friendly.

Art + Function = Design

I was so, so excited when I saw this bench-as-coffee-table over at Freshly Picked.  As you know, I am obsessed with redecorating my home (a long process as I look for the right pieces and.or save up for them).  One of my biggest design dilemmas is that we have nowhere to put a beverage glass in our living room - no tables, no nothing.  We pretty much have a couch, and... that's it.  I'd love a coffee table, but with two accident prone children under the age of 3, I worry about sharp corners and head wounds and all that.  An upholstered bench is the perfect solution!  And so stylish.

Read on for more solutions to design dilemmas...

Need a cool save the date? How about a Custom stamp!

Cool kids clothes are so expensive!  Just DIY with a Freezer Stencil Whale (I want one of these for the not-so-wee one).

I don't know about you, but I am SO picky about fabric. Good think I can design my own.
(via Stephmodo)

Another one from Steph, those is search of R&R would also love this perfect reading nook.

Think you are the next Charlotte Bickford-Smith? Make your own hardbound books from old paperbacks.

DIY Play Kitchen

Happy Thursday!

This definitely isn't a new one, but I just found this awesome awesome DIY play kitchen build entirely out of scrap wood and other IKEA finds.

Isn't it fabulous?  Christmas is only 4 months away (!), so if you have/know a kiddie who needs a kitchen, click here for detailed instructions.

Art + Function = Design

My favorite Friday Feature, Art + Function = Design is back to answer all your design problems:

Need some fresh decorating ideas? Check out this white on white palette: Decor 8

Need some inspiration for your paper projects? Pick up a pack of pretty papers.  By Peter Piper (kidding). Creature Comforts

The winding down of summer got you down? Grill up some fruit.  sfgirlbybay

Broke (me too)! Answer: Some great tips for decorating with little, or no, budget: Apartment Therapy

Need to plan a (stylish) wedding under $5K? Yes, it can be done! Snippet and Ink

Art + Function = Design (Solutions)

Problem: Don’t have any fresh flowers?  

Solution: Make some arrangements out of veggies and herbs. (Small Stump) 

Problem: I need a light, summery meal to make this weekend.

Solution: Make this delcious mozzarella/strawberry/arugula salad! (Etsy)

Problem: Kids are a bunch of monkeys, and it’s raining outside.

Solution:  Go ahead… let them climb the walls! (Handmade Charlotte)  

Problem:  Today is terrible, horrible, no good very bad day

Solution: Read this for some inspiration. For the home; for the heart. You won’t regret it.

Art + Function = Design (5/14/10)

Problem: I spend way too much space and money on magazines.
Solution: E-mags! Decor8 has a round-up of some of the latest and greatest.

Problem: I love all those cute girly blouses, but I can’t afford JCrew, let alone a designer shirt.
Solution: DIY Ruffles! Tea Rose Home has a ton of tutorials.

Problem: I’m craving donuts (I really am today, and yes, this is a problem)
Solution: I’m going to make some of my own this weekend! Thank you Pioneer Woman!

Problem: Need to bake a sweet summer pie (for all that farmer’s market fruit), but no pie pan?
Solution: Use a jar! Not Martha shows you how.

PS: Use a jar for cobbler too!


Problem: I want a garden, but have no backyard (I hear ya):
Solution: Container gardening! Be inspired by this post from sfgirlbythebay.

Upholstery: A Dying Art

As I troll the web looking for DIY ideas for my current redecorating obsession, I keep coming across upholstery. Or reupholstery, to be more specific. With the big recession and all, people seem to be realizing that new doesn't necessarily been better, and "upcycling" old junky furniture is one of the best ways of recycling - and saving money!

Etsy just posted a TERRIFIC video by the gals from Spruce in Austin, who've updated the lost art of reupholstery.

Check it out!

Home Makeover

I've been daydreaming constantly about redecorating my entire place. Nothing too fancy schmancy - I have kids, so it's got to be comfortable and anything too "nice" will be trashed in seconds (all the stuff that is already trashy gets trashed in seconds). However, we've never really gotten organized and decorated the place, and the creative designer inside is getting antsy. I know it will be a work in progress, because I want it to be both beautiful and on a thrifty budget. In the meantime, I've been hunting for ideas, mostly on Etsy and on blogs for DIY decor.

Project #1) The Office

An amazing (and removable!) wall decal, a shot of bright yellow calm, and DIY wallpaper-covered file cabinet to finally - FINALLY - organize all that paperwork (although I'd probably choose something a bit brighter to bring that yellow back in).

Clockwise, from top left:

- Iron Vines Wall Decals from Blik

- Keep Calm and Carry On Poster from Etsy

- Wallpaper-covered File Cabinet by Casey Green at Fossil. Instructions here
(and check out the rest of her awesome house here)

I'm also thinking of making some nice floor pillows, as our office doubles as a playroom for the kids, and maybe a nice rug to cover up the icky carpet (oh the joys of rental. One day when we buy, there will be NO carpets in my house).

What do you think? Any ideas?

Best Wedding Invite Ever.

I have a slight obsession with invitations, especially wedding invitations. Wedding invites are overall a design problem waiting to be solved - how do I sum up my most meaningful relationship in paper product? You (ideally) only get one chance to have a kick butt wedding invite, and, like the wedding itself, you want it to be representative of each of you individually and as a couple. Are we classic? Playful? Modern? Colorful? Monochromatic? And then you get into all the details like color, typography, texture of the paper, etc... my kind of fun.

So when a friend posted a link to the best wedding invite ever, how could I not share? Their RSVP speaks volumes in and of itself, but do yourself a favor and click on the link. It'll make you smile.

Can I get a witness?

ART + FUNCTION = DESIGN

Problem: I can’t afford art.
Solution: How about an inexpensive, but beautiful, print ? (via Design *Sponge)

Problem: I can’t make my kids eat their vegetables? (Yeah, me neither).
Solution: Try adding some – ok, lots – of color to their plate with this “Rainbow Corn Salad.” Yum!

Problem: I don’t know what to do with all those family recipes collecting dust inside a shoebox and/or How do gussy up my kitchen cabinets.
Solution: Bam! Two for one! (via Dinner. A love Story - check out her recipe for oven fried chicken while you’re there!)

Problem: I don’t know how to wear bold color
Solution: Let this woman in Moscow show you how it’s done. (Via The Sartorialist)