Yellow Houndstooth

When I was a little girl, my house was filled with colors and patterns.  My mom has a keen eye for graphic patterns and decor that packs a punch.  She was really into wallpapers, too.  After all, it was the early '80s.

A while back, I posted about the Marimekko wallpaper that was in my bedroom.  Bold, geometric and metallic wallpaper was in the kitchen, a graphic animal safari covered the walls of the bathroom, and my parents' room was wall to wall yellow houndstooth.

Here's me at age 2 not at all appreciating my surroundings.

As a teenager, I remember making fun of some of these wallpaper selections and kidded my mom about it.  Now, though, I appreciate my mom's decorating style and ahead-of-her-time love of all things graphic and cool.  

Check out what I just found in the latest Home Decorators Collection catalog!

This houndstooth rug is striking in its simplicity.  It's a well-known pattern but not one that is seen a lot, at least not in home decor.  The rug is available in 4 color options but my personal favorite is -- without a doubt -- the yellow.

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top image by The Pink Chalkboard

Gold...and Black?

My love for all things silverware continues!

I have been seeing gold flatware over the past few months and I'm really liking this trend. My favorite is this gorgeous set from the Portuguese company Almoco Flatware.

Isn't this place setting so pretty?

Without a doubt.

But what do you think about this same set in a matte black finish?

Definitely a bit edgy! I also don't know quite how I feel about it yet.  It does look striking in the beautifully-styled photo below.

But, could I actually eat with this flatware? Hmmm...

Maybe if I see this look in more ads, blogs, and photos with food, I'll consider giving it a try. (Have you noticed that the more you are exposed to something, the more you tend to like it?) Maybe this will become my favorite design trend of 2012. Who knows?

What do you think...Gold? Black? Or both?

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all images via Design Within Reach

A Colorful 2012

Nothing says hello, 2012 like some colorful, punchy new items for the home.  Here are the bright and cheery items that I have been thinking about lately:

turned-leg nightstand

live colorfully borough coasters

dot punch orange placemat

knitted pool pouf

parlour tangerine chair

hand-painted striped elephant

"Merry and bright" is a common wish for the holiday season. My wish for the new year?  Cheery and bright, for sure.

Speaking of Perforated Perfection...

A few months ago, Jillian posted here about light fixtures that cast a gorgeous glow because of tiny perforated holes in their metallic surfaces. When I saw this image in House Beautiful, I thought it was a great example of her "perforated perfection," but on a larger scale and in a completely different medium.

Believe it or not, this look was actually created with custom-printed Mylar wallpaper. Isn't it amazing? 

Major impact! This Bombay wallpaper by Brunschwig and Fils works really well on the low, slanted ceilings in a room with only one window. Paired with the bold orange and purple hues, this shiny "perforated" wall treatment adds a luminous feel to this small space. Pure radiance!

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image by Victoria Pearson for House Beautiful; interior design by Maine Design

Inspiration from Books -- Virginia Johnson

I did something different this year.  For the first time in a long time, I told my husband a few gifts that I wanted for the holidays.  They were things that I had been looking at for a while but just never picked up for myself.  Things that aren't "need to have" but rather "nice to have".  What are they?

Books.

I got three: Design*Sponge at Home, The Perfectly Imperfect Home: How to Decorate and Live Well, and Domino: Book of Decorating: A Room-by-Room Guide to Creating a Home That Makes You Happy.

I have only perused a few pages of each so far but I am struck by the amount of inspiration I have already received by them.  Many, many posts will stem from these books, I'm sure!

And here is one to start -- The Perfectly Imperfect Home: How to Decorate and Live Well is unique in that all images in the book (furnishings, rooms, even patterns) are watercolors. Illustrated by the talented Virginia Johnson, these depictions of popular fabrics are my favorites:

The watercolor illustrations turn these fabric patterns into more fabulous works of art. The last one shown with its inspirational quote is my favorite...and someday soon will be framed and placed on my future gallery wall.

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Virigina Johnson's watercolors are from these existing fabrics (shown from top to bottom):

John Stefanidis's Zanzibar fabric / stefanidisfabrics.com

Bells by John Stefanidis from his Passepartout Collection / stefanidisfabrics.com

Petite Zig Zag by Alan Campbell / quadrillefabrics.com

Fanfare by John Stefanidis / stefanidisfabrics.com

Sparkly Bits

Oh, how I love some sparkle! Nothing feels more celebratory in the new year than glitter. That's why I really enjoy the work of Manhattan-based glitter artist, Camomile Hixon. Featured this fall on HGTV's Home by Novogratz, her pieces pack some serious sparkle.

Gold YES

Double Hug and Kiss

POOF!

Dream Board

British Invasion Turquoise

What a perfect way to start a sparkly 2012!

You can view a full gallery of Camomile's work here.  For more information on the artist, check out this great article on The Morton Report.

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all images via Camomile Hixon

Happy New Year!

Here at The Pink Chalkboard, we are very excited that it is 2012.  The year just sounds fun.  And we have lots of exciting things in store for you this year.

The image above is from a wonderful photo shoot that we styled with our friend, Channa, creator of Lily My Love (visit her etsy shop here).  Much more goodness will be shared from this photo shoot in the coming months including a bold painting, refinished dressers, an upholstered chair and fun ways to use patterns.

Lots to get to in the coming months, but for now, let's start with this simple saying -- wishing you a wonderfully happy new year!

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paper goods by Lily My Love
photo by Sarah DiCicco
styling by Lily My Love and The Pink Chalkboard