Nesting

When I was researching images for my tray styling post, I found this photo from Country Living Magazine and was instantly smitten. The idea of using a nest as a vase for a floral arrangement is so cheerful and inviting!

And decorating with nests isn't just for the springtime! As you can see from the inspiration images below, these little wonders are perfect for any time of year, and always look beautiful.

And who says your nest has to be filled? I love this collection of empty nests and glass pieces on the bookshelves below. 

So simple, pretty, and inspired!

*****

image via Kindra Clineff via Country Living
Bird's Nest Wreath via Terrain
image from Martha Stewart Weddings via Pinterest
Decorative Bird Nest via Summer Sweet Boutique
image via Desktop Nexus
image by Femme de Manille via Flickr and Pinterest
image by Charles Schiller from Martha Stewart Weddings via Wed Loft
image by Debra Lee Baldwin via Gardening Gone Wild
image from Design Sponge via Pinterest

Documenting Your Space

While going through old family photos recently, I came across photos of my house from when I was a very little girl. I've written before about the yellow houndstooth in my parents' room and the Marimekko bedding and wallpaper in my room, but I was happy to find images of the rest of the house (as well as spot some special items that are now displayed in my home).

living room

corkboard wall and dining room

kitchen

bookcase in family room

work area in bedroom

I like the idea of documenting your space and taking photos every few years. Spaces and styles change and it's easy to forget what things used to look like. I wish my parents kept more of their old furnishings. As a child, I didn't think twice about those fabric wrapped chairs in the living room but I would LOVE to have them now.

The best part of these photos, though, are that they are a trip down memory lane for me. Whenever I look at them, I picture my 3-year old self sitting on the couch watching Sesame Street. Kind of ironic then since as I type this, my daughter is sitting next to me watching Sesame Street, too.

Chalkboard Project: My Bar Cart

The living/dining space in our apartment is just one big room with the kitchen in one corner, and a column just opposite the counters and refrigerator. It's a lovely little kitchen, but we do not have much counter space and serving drinks when entertaining can get a little tricky. Enter the bar cart. I just love  this trend and decided that the space just in front of the column would be a perfect spot. I hope a fancy bar cart is in our future one day, but I spotted this metal TV stand (from the '70's I'm sure) at a garage sale for $7, and thought it would be a good start.

It was a bit bland for sure, yet sturdy, and those gold speckled wheels hinted at things to come. So, with an investment of $10 in spray paint, I set about transforming this charmless TV stand into a hip little bar cart. 

First, I primed the cart with gray Krylon Stain Blocking Primer/Sealer. Next, I sprayed the three trays with Rustoleum's Protective Enamel in glossy black. After they dried, I wrapped each tray and sprayed the handles and hardware around the wheels my favorite Rustoleum Metallic Gold. This is the same brand of paint that I used for my gold ball jars and I just have to say, this color is fantastic!

After several coats of gold paint, I unwrapped the trays and wheels, and sprayed the entire piece with several coats of Rustoleum's Crystal Clear Enamel. Since we were going to serve drinks on this piece, I wanted to prevent the painted surface from chipping. And, I loved the extra touch of gloss from this paint. 

Voila! A bar cart for under $20. 

A little investment with a lot of impact and perfect for parties! Super easy to recreate for yourself, too. 

*****

all images by The Pink Chalkboard

Lion Pulls

Do you remember my Chalkboard Project post about How To Paint Furniture?

The dresser was my Great Aunt's and originally came with lion pulls. I had forgotten to take before photos of the dresser so I never had any images to show of the pulls. Well, now I do. This is what they looked like.

Super dated, right? That's what I thought until I saw what the clever blogger behind Richmond Thrifter did with them.

Absolute genius. And in the exact color palette of my bedroom! Spraying them bright yellow completely modernized them.

I remember changing out the hardware last year and thinking to myself that those lion pulls would never come back in style. And yet a small part of me was intrigued by them so I held on to them just in case. Now I just have to find them...and then find that perfect piece to put them on.

*****

top two images:
photography by Sarah DiCicco
paper products by Lily My Love
styling by Lily My Love and The Pink Chalkboard

bottom images via Richmond Thrifter
lion pull from Amazon

The Black & White Interiors of Darryl Carter

Black and white interiors get me every time, so I fell in love with the room pictured below in a recent magazine ad for Benjamin Moore. 

That chandelier and oversized artwork are dynamite, don't you think? It turns out that this interior is actually designer Darryl Carter's 19th-century Virginia farmhouse, which was featured in Elle Decor back in 2008. 

The photos are amazing (you can see them all here) and some of my favorites are featured below. I love this traditional, black & white design, filled with lots of surprising details. Design perfection!

Want to see more of Darryl Carter's work? His portfolio can be found here, and we've featured snapshots of his interiors on The Pink Chalkboard here (first photo) and here. 

*****

top image via Benjamin Moore
all other images via Elle Decor; photographed by Simon Upton

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! We are looking forward to spending the next few days with great company, giving lots of hugs, and of course, eating amazing food. 

Wishing you a relaxing (and delicious) weekend. See you back here on Monday!

*****

Rest and Be Thankful by Casey Lynn Designs via Society6

Bicycles as Decor

Though I am terrible on a bicycle (like really embarrassingly horrible), I like looking at them. Images of bicycles are often seen in home decor in artwork, on pillows, or even as little figurines. Not as common, though, is using an actual bicycle as art.

I first had the idea while flipping through the latest J Crew catalog. Look at this festive bicycle! It just screams, "Ride me to your party!"

I think it would be perfect propped up in the entryway of your home as a sparkly welcome to a holiday party.

Then the next day, I saw this in the window at Heirloom. Painted white, it's simple and classic and would be just as interesting leaning against a painted or patterned wall in the home.

After finding two great bikes, I started researching more and was delighted to find this online — a washi tape wrapped bicycle! Of course. Oh, washi tape, you do such wonderful things!

Don't have the room for a whole bike in your home but want in on the decorating fun? Here's a recycled bike wheel clock just for you.

Skating on a Pattern

Over the past couple of years, Waverly fabrics has engaged in a light-hearted and colorful print ad campaign, in which they apply their patterns to everyday items such as adirondack chairs, taxi cabs, and mailboxes. 

My favorite in this series are these ice skates. 

Aren't they so charming?

I have seen pairs of white, girls' ice skates for sale at antique stores and thought they would look really sweet in a winter-themed setting—perhaps in a styled collection propped next to a fireplace. But I'm just loving Waverly's concept, and think it takes this idea to a whole new level.

A fun and easy DIY, you could easily create this look by using a little Mod Podge to wrap a piece of  bright, patterned fabric around a pair of vintage ice skates (a la Jillian's fabric-wrapped finds). I think I know what I'll be doing this winter! Now, I just have to choose a pattern...

*****

image via Waverly

Renée Leone

I recently came across Renée Leone's work and fell for this New York City print. She completely captured the hustle and bustle of NYC during the holidays. The colors and the chaos are documented in the prettiest way.

An ocean view or a mountain landscape more your speed? Here are other samples of her beautiful work.

See more at Uncommon Goods.

Wishing you have a wonderful weekend!

*****

from top
55th & 5th
Two by the Sea
Purple Mountain Majesty

Styling a Tray

I am working on a Chalkboard Project involving a tray and when I went to photograph it, I stumbled into a bit of a block—I had trouble styling it. I looked around for some inspiration images and found two good resources here and here, but I wanted more! So I scoured my collection of decorating magazines and wanted to share the best of what I found, just in case you want to do your own tray styling.

The ingredients are often very simple: vases (made special with pretty arrangements), stacks of books, and a unique object or two. You can keep it simple or layer lots of objects—either way, trays are a great way to create a little spot of design goodness in your home.

Looking for the perfect tray for yourself? Some great resources are West Elm (love the laquer!), Jayson Home & Garden (for a unique or vintage feel), Horne (for something natural), CB2 (if you are looking for a clear alternative), and Pier 1 for something with an imported feel. Happy shopping and styling!

*****

Julie Murphy via Country Living; photographed by Burcu Avsar
Richard Bories & James Shearron via House Beautiful; photographed by Ngoc Minh Ngo
Colleen Scully via Cottage Style; photographed by Jeff McNamara
Small Room Decorating; photographed by Gridley+Graves 
Allison Johnston via Better Homes & Gardens; photographed by Dana Gallagher
Ken Fulk via House Beautiful; photographed by Frencesco Lagnese
Ken Fulk via House Beautiful; photographed by Frencesco Lagnese
Meg Braff via House Beautiful; photographed by James Merrell
Nicola Wilkes via Ideal Home (UK); photographed by Matt Cant
Sally Denning via Ideal Home (UK); photographed by Simon Whitmore
Sarita Sharma via Ideal Home (UK); photographed by Dominic Blackmore
Home and Garden (Netherlands)
Martyn Lawrence Bullard via House Beautiful; photographed by Tim Street-Porter
Rachel Ashwell via Cottage Style; photographed by Amy Neunsinger and Adam Albright
Rachel Reider Interiors via Houzz
Karen Viscito Interiors via Houzz
Domicile Interior Design via Houzz
Kim Hersov's London Home via Elle Decor; photographed by Simon Upton