Lovely apartments from my future city

As some of you might already know, in August I am moving to DC because my boyfriend will be attending GWU in the fall to get his masters. While I grew up in MD, I only ever went to DC for school field trips, so I don't really know much about the different neighborhoods. So yesterday before attending Manvi from Mochatini's fabulous tabletop decorating how-to party, which I'll be sharing pics from later, I drove around and explored some recommended neighborhoods. I checked out Columbia Heights, Shaw, Foggy Bottom, Dupont, Silver Spring (MD suburb), and Capitol Hill. It's ultimately going to come down to the $$/space ratio. Anyway, enough of that - here are some fab. DC apartments...


The vintage chic split level apartment is in Cleveland Park.

LoVe the widow seat


This charming loft is in the adorable Logan Circle in the The Louise Hand Laundry Loft

Love the rug

Great bed

via Apartment Therapy

I'm off to DC to attend Mochatini's awesome tabletop decor design camp!

So what else but tabletop inspiration for today's post?

1., 2. Elle Decor 3. Pinterest 4., 5., 6. Rue Magazine

My most recent obsession: beautiful bedrooms!

 you had me at coffee in bed...

 gorgeous color scheme

 I love the above bedroom - it's beautiful and considered, but still so liveable.  Whatever this style is called- I'd say it's mine.

 simple and classic beauty

 beach cottage beauty

 amazing wall treatment

This bedroom started with the headboard and grew around it.

Which is your fav?

1. Pinterest
2. Pinterest
3. Pinterest
4. Pinterest
5. Pinterest
6. Pinterest
7. High Gloss
8., 9. Country Living

Wonderful eclectic

Eclectic is one of my all-time favorite decorating styles. There's nothing quite as special as a home filled with one's treasure's from traveling, or just unique finds brought over from another land...

Love this softly colored kitchen.  It was originally a sitting room, but the owners loved it so much they transformed it into a kitchen.

I generally try not to get swept up in trends but I really love suzani.  The table filled with objects is nice, too.

beautiful

via Elle Decor

A happy Friday to you and gorgeous book giveaway

The weekend never comes soon enough - except when I have a Friday deadline. So I figured there is no better time to do a book giveaway.

This is a unique one - "Classic Swedish Interiors," by Lars Sjoberg. The poetic photos are by Ingalill Snitt.

I'm going to quote Amazon as they describe the book better than me -

"Lars Sjöberg has made it his life's work to understand and preserve the Swedish manor houses of the 17th and 18th centuries. Here, exquisitely photographed by Ingalill Snitt, are the eight houses (and one church) that he has acquired over more than 40 years. The book focuses on Sjöberg's first, most complex project: the manor of Regnaholm. Unoccupied for about 40 years when Sjöberg arrived in 1966, it allowed him to experiment with interior decoration and refurnishing, copying old furniture, reweaving, and reprinting old fabric patterns.

His other projects include Ekensberg, a three-story Italianate villa near Lake Mälaren, built in 1788-90, and Salaholm in Västergötland with a garden laid out in the first half of the 17th century. Odenslunda, a small manor from the 1770s with a panelled exterior and a säteritak or manor-house roof, is his family home, while Sörby, a scaled-down early 17th-century manor house, was reproduced in its entirety for an exhibition in Stockholm. Full of insight and inspiration, this is a deeply personal summary of everything Lars Sjöberg has learned in his years of working and living with classic Swedish interiors." - via Amazon.com

Here are some of my favorite photos from the book -


One day I will have an antique Swedish grandfather clock!








As usual, all you have to do to enter the drawing is leave a comment! To comment on this post (scroll to the bottom of this post and right above "Labels" you will see a number followed by the word "comments." Click on the word "Comments." Or, you will see a link, "Post a Comment," which you click on to comment.

If you receive posts in your email feel free to respond to the email noting that you'd like to be entered in the drawing.

Contest closes Friday July 1st at 5pm. Good luck!

In the DC area next Wednesday? Then you must come to this chic, fun event (and say hi to me and Manvi from Mochatini!)

Manvi of the FABULOUS Mochatini blog is putting on a great event. Manvi's passion for tablescape decor has inspired her to share all her know-how by way of an awesome party and tabletop styling evening.

The tablescape design camp and champagne party will be held at the Mitchell Gold Bob Willams showroom in DC on June 29 (6 - 8: 30pm). Registration is $30.

I would love to see some of you there - so if you can make it be sure to find me and say hi!

It's easy to register - just click Event Registration

There will also be lovely goodies from Hello Cupcake! and MacaronCafe.com (from NYC and available online) to sweeten your camp experience. A portion of proceeds will go towards providing meals to the homeless via Miriam’s Kitchen.
I hope to see you there!

For the love of old houses...

I LOVE old houses - so much charm, history, character, and individuality.  A lot of maintenance too - but the pay off is worth it.  I grew up in an almost 200 year-old colonial on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.  Hardwood floors with as many ups and downs as an old country lane, old glass windows that gave you "wavy" vision when you looked out of them...I have a special place in my heart for old houses.

Here are some great examples of how savvy homeowners have turned their oldies but goodies into even better...ies...from the master of old houses, This Old House..


The 3 images below are from the home of their Reader Remodel Contest, a 1920s Colonial Revival in Orlando, Florida.

 The kitchen was my favorite part of the renovation.  I love white cabinetry...and the space is so bright and airy..

The family worked hard to keep the soul of the house in tact...

LOVE the board and baten door...


They also featured lots of great 1 room makeovers.  Here were some of my fav's

Before:

contractor grade cabinets make me cringe...

After:
Gorgeous - love the floors...

The kitchen below isn't too far from what my parents are dealing with now in their 70s rancher...

pretty amazing transition huh?  Check out the sconces above the stove hood...

This living room is possibly my favorite redo - I think the fireplace is simply fabulous.  Love the built-in's too.  Only thing I might rethink is the rug.


Do you like old houses?  Have you ever lived in one and undertaken a renovation?

If you want to read more about these makeovers go to This Old House or pick up the July 2011 issue...

*disclosure: I received a copy of This Old House July 2011 to review as a sample