Recent Inspiration

I haven't been terribly inspired by much online lately.  A few images here and there.  I'm sure its partially my own fault because I haven't really been looking in any concentrated way and partly because everyone seems more into Instagram postings than blog posts these days.  I'm guilty of it myself.  Instagram is so fast, most of the photos are original and posts are sort of in real-time.  Its appealing, but the downside is that the images are tiny, you can't zoom in for a closer look, and the platform isn't about imparting details.  I find most of the online and boutique magazines similar.  Pretty photographs but few details and no articles to speak of.  Magazines used to have a variety of columns, not just the brief prose that accompanies the main photo spreads.  Where did the writers go?  I'd like both please.  Anyone have any recommendations?

A few images over the last few months have inspired me though and they are both kind of out of character for me-- monochromatic.  I can't get this living room out of my head from Shareen Joel's beach house, discovered via The Marion House Book's pintrest.

And this product shot from the Justin Timberlake / Estee Stanley collaboration for Homemint.

I misinterpreted the caption thinking that the headboard was black linen, which inspired me to start planning a DIY.   I'm rethinking my Albuquerque bedroom to go black and white. 

What's inspiring you lately?

Home Kitchen Progress

I try to get some small home project done whenever I visit Albuquerque.  Last October I painted my living room.  This last trip I started painting my kitchen cabinets.  The color is Benjamin Moore Van Deusen blue.  It turned a little greyer as it dried.

Before and during.  No after pictures yet, but its getting there, little by little.  I plan to have very limited upper cabinets, one in the corner there above the microwave and one above the refrigerator, which is just out of frame on the left.  They won't be painted blue, but I haven't quite decided what they'll look like.  If I reuse one of the old cabinets I'll probably paint them to match the wall color, but I also might just buy a couple of new cabinets.  Like I said, little by little.  I also keep changing my mind on the backsplash.  Right now I'm favoring this:

Blue and white talavera tiles in "Harlequin" pattern, which allows for a zig zag pattern.  I don't want to over-kill on the blue, so I'm also considering a brown color way... or green, or yellow...

Home

I was in Albuquerque last week.  I arrived just at the tail end of a heat wave and was lucky to enjoy several days with rain while I was there.  New Mexico is just incredibly beautiful, and seeing all my friends, family and dogs made it really hard to leave.

 All shot from the car on the drive between Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

Recent Acquisitions

Some things that I've happily acquired in the last few weeks.

Four World of Interiors magazines from 2009.  The top issue is one that I had for a particular spread that I love on Henry Wilson's London home, with elaborately hand painted walls inspired by his life in India.  My mom donated it to the free magazine bin at our local library when I was away from home.  I'm sure she meant well and was just trying to clean up my house, but seriously, it was one of those moments when you wonder if your parents know you at all.  This new copy came as a lot of four from eBay, so I'm looking forward to reading those that are new to me. 

(Henry Wilson's London home, December 2009, World of Interiors). 

Tom Dixon Copper Hex bowls.  On serious sale at Design Within Reach right now.  Gorgeous, but impossible to photograph thanks to their faceted shiny sides.  Trust me, they look much better in person.

Apartment Files: Kitchen Improvments

Major kitchen improvements.  I built an island and bought some stools and a rug.  This happened in March, but I just haven't been in a blogging mood.  [All about Instagram right now.  Its so fast and easy.]  It's made cooking and eating so much nicer. 

Then I replaced that West Elm advertising poster with shelves!  I've lost track, but this probably happened at the beginning of May.  Having my tea and spices above the stove freed up a lot of space in the limited cabinets.  Plus, it's much more convenient for cooking. 

As I feel the need to proclaim every time I post a picture of this apartment, that wall color is atrocious.  It seems to be very common for rentals down here near San Diego.  I see apartments on Craigslist all the time with the same weird yellow/green/beige.  Do landlords think it's "sunny and bright"?  Ugh, it's awful.  I really want to paint, but I also want to move.  I suspect I won't get around to either, but I day dream about it.

For scale, this is the view from the couch.  The bedroom door is just to the left of those Etsy prints.  Overall, I like how the apartment has come together.  The only thing still missing is art for over the bed... but that's another post.  This one is called kitchen improvements, and I'll stick to that.  Any kitchen improvements of your own lately?

Culinary Chronicles: Weeknight Supper

Can you tell that I feel like detoxing this week?  Last week I cooked a big pot roast and ate it for five straight days.  This is my dinner tonight.  Not a meat product in sight.  A variation on Heidi Swanson's Sushi Bowl.   Its good hot or cold, so it's an excellent thing to pack up for lunch tomorrow.

Followed by an Indian flavored chia pudding-- coconut milk, rosewater, cardamom and pistachios.

Have you tried chia pudding?  I like that it's non-cook and easily non-dairy, and low in sugar.  Make it chocolate and it's pretty good.  I'd like to try grinding the seeds in a spice mill for a smoother texture.  I've read that it works, but I haven't tried it.  As a frequent eater of real tapioca pudding, I'm not able to fool myself that the seeds are tapioca-like.  In my tiny kitchen this hasn't become enough impetus to buy another appliance, no matter that a spice mill is small.  (And for the record, even chocolate its not nearly as delicious as this dairy free pudding.  Seriously, use good chocolate and its hard to fail, but make a dessert with tofu-- easy fail.  That one is a win all around).

Apartment Files: Storage Improvements

As anyone who lives in a small place knows staying on top of clutter is the key to a happy life.  And probably being a minimalist by nature is the real secret.  However, I am not a minimalist.  I like to collect things and I want to be comfortable.  If I go for a hike, I come back with cool rocks.  If I go to the beach it's impossible not to pick up a shell or two.  If I go to a thrift store, I buy dessert plates.   I LIKE THINGS!!  So small space storage is going to be the key to my happiness as long as I'm living in a 450 SF apartment.  To this end I've made the following improvements recently.

In the living room, I upgraded my TV cabinet from a borrowed cast-off nightstand to this pair of IKEA PS Cabinets, with locking doors.  Perfect for when the little wandering toddler comes to visit. 

And in the bedroom I finally got a dresser.  I had the following three choices:

This lovely set of Danish dressers for $1200 (identical, only one pictured).  Beautiful, and not a bad deal for a pair of dressers.  However, more than I wanted to spend right now, and I don't really have room for a pair.

This Art Deco highboy for $375.  Actually really liked this, but I have some other pieces of 30s furniture in Albuquerque that I like, but don't love in the overall context of my home.  In the end I went with something cheaper.  Kind of regret it though when looking at this photo.  You are so pretty Art Deco dresser.

 

This is what I ended up with, a blondish no-name mid-century dresser which needs some refinishing.  I like the shape, but not the yellow-y finish.   The decision was made because this dresser was big, located 10 minutes from my house, and under $100.  I don't love it, but it'll do for now.