The Great Outdoors

This week I am playing super catch up with my current projects, while also gearing up for a camping trip this weekend in the Adirondacks. So I am going to be a little bit of a lazy blogger and just share with you exactly what I am working on right now.

This morning my client and I have been going through several outdoor seating options for her terrace. She lives on the 11th and 12th floors of a really great mid rise in Tribeca, so we are working hard to make this space a very natural extension of her interior spaces. Here are some current options...

This last one is our current fave, using this canopy bed. We have already purchased a bar set for the middle. Which seating option would you pick?

A Little Bit Bollywood Giveaway!

We are back from the beach and it is good to be home! Today I have another fun giveaway from the folks over at CSN. They literally have a million things to choose from, whether you are looking for anything from a vanity to a vase, but today we're giving away a pillow!

India has been making a big splash in the American mainstream over the past couple of years. We see it in music, film, fashion, and all types of design, from graphics to interiors.  I was actually in one of my favorite Indian take out places, here in Boston, a couple of months ago and spied an India Elle Decor on the counter. Everything was gorgeous! I didn't realize there were different issues for different countries.

On a side note, I am totally infatuated with all things Bollywood. My friend Sheetal can attest to that. I have already discussed with her what I plan on wearing to her wedding, and she is not even engaged. Mr. Sabbe has a handful of good guy friends from med school who will also have traditional Indian weddings one day, and I have told them all that I plan to perform some sort of pre-choreographed dance routine as a part of my wedding gift to them. Henna... fun jewelry.... and miles and miles of Indian food... can one of you please get married already!!?

Today I am featuring three Koko Company Pillows from CSN's AllModern.com,  to give you all the opportunity to work a little Bollywood into your home.

13" x 20" Pillow with Taj Mahal print

13" x 20" Pillow with Two Elephants print

13" x 20" Pillow in Black/ Ecru

I love them all! To enter just tell me which of the three you would pick.

Also let me know if you subscribe and I will enter you twice.

I will randomly pick a name next Tuesday the 6th. Good Luck!

Beach Bums

We are headed to Hilton Head Island in the morning. If it's this hot in New England, it should be sizzling down there. Summer is here! See you next week!

Four Years Ago Today

I love you Mr. Sabbe. Happy Four Years!

I Lost My ModKat Money

I told you, the day we moved it, I got our car towed. So that was my ModKat money. I was sad. But I refused to let an ugly, stinky cat box sit out in my dining room for one more day. So I improvised with what we already had, and I think I like it even better.

the end.

Proud Teacher

Check out these awesome aprons my students made in the class I teach at the BCAE.

This first one is Christine's, some of you know Christine.

Are they not awesome!? Some of them had never even threaded a machine before last Saturday.

I have another class starting in July! You should join us!

Let's See It Again: Best of Nate Berkus

Moggit Girls are hosting a "Nate Day" today and they have asked a group of design bloggers to post about their favorite Nate Berkus design. I adore Nate Berkus. His interiors are clean, classic, and a bit masculine, which I know Mr. Sabbe would enjoy. I couldn't choose one particular Nate design that I loved the best, but I did want to point out one thing he does with most of his spaces that I think is genius. Can you see a common thread?

At least one piece of furniture in all of these rooms is mirrored. I love it. You get to see the room over and over again, from multiple angles, in little slivers of furniture. Genius. The Nate Berkus Show is scheduled to launch September 13th, so glad we have cable now.

Dress My Shower

Question: What do you get when you mix my current uniform shirt with some grandma (grandma= cool these days) wallpaper from SW?

Answer: An awesome shower curtain from Urban Outfitters. I need this.

Can you tell I am totally in wallpaper world with my current project?

Do you have a uniform, or a uni, as we like to call it in the Sabbe household? My summer uni is the shirt above (from H&M) and a stretchy (could-be-maternity-but-I'm-not-pregnant) skirt from Old Navy. I probably wear it 4 out of 7 days a week.  I am a firm believer that stretchy is a key ingredient to a good uni. You?

And thank you to sweet Tara, who gave my blog an "award" and a very nice blurb. Go check Tara's blog out! She's up to date on what's cool in the world of animal heads, so you know we're meant to be blog friends.

Wood Wallpaper

It's a happy Friday when you find the wallpaper you have been looking for since Monday. 

And it's an even happier Friday when it's in your budget.

Don't you love the teal one?
You can find both by searching the pattern numbers:
SW0HE6002

and

SW0HE6012

Sherwin Williams!!Your website is terrible. Please fix asap.

I Wear My Sunglasses at Night

Crazy tacky, but kind of cool right? You know I'm a sucker for shadows.

I think our boy JA would be all over this.

Ken's bachelor pad perhaps?

Freak Out

This chair now lives in my living room. I got it for $0 on my favorite online store. 

When I'm finished with it, it will be the bomb. Promise.

Zoe cat likes it just the way it is. Did you know the Humane Society found my sweet girl in the trash before I adopted her. Look at this little pound purry...

She's my best fixer uper yet.

Look Who We Met!

We met Margaret Russel , editor-in-chief of Elle Decor magazine!
The Boston Design Center held a luncheon where Margaret talked about her newest book Substance and Style. During her introduction, she was referred to as the Anna Wintour of Interior Design, which I could not agree more. I will admit, I was super intimidated upon approach. But, Margaret was no Devil Wears Prada. So was so sweet and down to earth and possesses such a wealth of knowledge regarding the design industry. It was a honor to get to hear her speak and I hope our paths cross again in the future.

And Carlee, Linds, and Emily (Emily was sadly crowded out of the first picture by all the adoring fans) this was the best. lunch break. ever!

And I can't end this post without saying...can I please have Margaret Russell's arms when I grow up? Please.

Look Alike for Less

Remember the Louis Poulsen Collage Pendant that I blogged about a couple of months ago? Well, it's around $1,000. And if you wanted to do something pretty and group them, like the photo below, that's going to take a huge chunk out of your budget.

So yesterday, while looking for another light for another project, I came across this for $268.00

And this for $99

 Not exactly the same, and I do think the Poulsen one is prettier. But for those of us without unlimited budgets, it's not bad right?

Amy Butler + Graham and Brown = LOVE

Since the beginnings of this blog I have expressed my deep love for Amy Butler fabrics. I love her, I love her work. I want my home office to be as cute as hers. I want to embrace her handmade lifestyle. I want to be her best friend, etc. etc. So you can imagine how pumped I was when I turned the corner at the ICFF and ran into Graham and Brown's booth, displaying all of their new Amy Butler designed wall coverings! PUMPED. And they are so fun.

Amy and G&B, could you add a large Lotus to the line next? It's one of my favorites.

I was gushing so much at the booth that the Graham and Brown rep gave me her Modern Midwest book, which was such a nice surprise. It's a beautiful book. AND he told me that I missed meeting Amy by a day! She was at the show on Saturday and I didn't get there until Sunday. So sad!

On a somewhat related note, does anyone know who makes this wall covering?

What do you think about faux wood wallpaper? Like or dislike?