A Monochromatic Life

Anyone else love this look as much as I do? There are so many styles I love, I often confuse the fiance (oops). The inspiration photo is Erin Loechner's guest bedroom. The monochromatic scheme looks so amazing, but I would have to add a few pops of color.

I have a rug that would go perfectly with these New Mexico style pillow covers. As you can tell, I love Leah Duncan's designs. They are just stunning to me. I would love to get my hands on some of her designs. Now, which of the bottom two should I get?

Oh and you can find that awesome bike print here. I really like it.

If you love this style as much as I do, you can buy the pillow covers here:

Leah Duncan’s Santa Fe ($38)
BeStill’s Lines & Arrows ($60)
Leah Duncan's Geometry ($38)
Leah Duncan's Triangles ($38)

From the Office of...

Offices are always inspiring to me. It's the most important part of my apartment, because there is so much creativity that must happen there. I rounded up a few offices that I would love to work in for a day.

via {C.S. Neal}

via {Made By Girl}

 

via {Moth Design}

Is your office inspiring? Send me a picture at aressenm@gmail.com. I'll feature it in my next "From the Office of..." post.

A New Place to Shop... CB2

When I saw the grand opening post of CB2 at MIMI+MEG, I had to check out the online store. Once I discovered that I LOVE their items, I had to make sure there was one close to me....and there is! Well, about 40 minutes away in Lincoln Park, but it's definitely worth the drive. I ordered their catalog a couple weeks ago and it was waiting for me in the mail yesterday. After scouring the mag for about 30 minutes, flipping back and forth to make sure I got a good look at the prices, I was in love.

Here are a few of my favorites from the catalog (you'll notice that yellow has been on my mind recently!):

if you can't stand the heat tray. on sale for $7.95

mel chartreuse barstools. on sale for $99.95 - $109.00

cheers wine glasses set of six. $19.95

bubble chartreuse office chair. $199.00.If it weren't for the price, I would be sitting in this right now!

TPS chartreuse file cabinet. $159.00This would hide everything perfectly under my desk.


oso dinnerware. prices range from $2.95 - $3.95.I would definitely be registering for these if any of my family knew what cb2 was. I might need to just send a link!

Happy Sunday

Here is an image that should wake everybody up! I am loving the yellow {i will be using hints of yellow in my new apartment}.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

{source}

My Favorite Aisle...

I wanted to share my favorite aisle at my favorite store & a few of my favorite things! All of these wonderful items can be found at Target.

Crazy, Busy, Beautiful

Well, this week and the next week are going to be the most hectic, exciting & crazy weeks that I have experienced to this day. Hectic because of the packing, exciting because of Chicago, crazy because I am leaving my family in Michigan =(

But, I look at this move as the best next step forward in a wonderful and fortunate life that I get to live.

Here are a few pieces of art that I felt captured the feelings I have been having lately:

1

2 (Steven's new favorite saying)

3 (My Design)

1 / 2 / 3

Nightstand Hunt

Since I am soon going to be moving, I am also on the hunt for some awesome furniture that will actually fit inside my 625 sq. foot apartment! It is going to be hard, but with a lot of searching, I think I will be able to find some great pieces!

Today, I am on the hunt for 2 nightstands. Currently I have the LACK side table in yellow from IKEA.
I was considering just purchasing another one, but decided I wanted to go on a little hunt! I have collected a few of my favorites below. Hopefully I will find something soon!

I love the simplicity of the Rykene Nightstand from IKEA.

I also ran across this one too. It's the ENGAN nightstand from IKEA.

I also found this great one from Anthropologie. It's a bit out of my budget at $248, and when I have to buy two, that will really add up!

Have you found any good ones that you think I might like? Share them with me, if you'd like! I would appreciate it!

upcoming project. 4.6.11

So, since I am just starting this blog, I have so much to tell everyone! I have about 6 projects lined up and ready to go, not to mention the million other wedding projects I will need to squeeze in soon! So for an update, over the next few weeks I will be preparing for our big move to Naperville, which means lots of redecorating, repurposing and creating! Some of my favorite things to do!

I have been thinking about the two lamps that I posted yesterday, contemplating what to do with them. I designed a small inspiration board that sums it up. I am looking to put these in the bedroom, and want to do a more nautical look.

This lamp is something I ran across on Handmadeology. You can find the tutorial here. I am in LOVE with this and can not wait to get started on this project! I'll make sure I post about the process when I finally get around to it!

I am also thinking that something around these lines is going to be up soon on my To Do List:

The hanging poof, not the pool table =)

Do you have any upcoming projects that you are uber excited about starting?

monday night shopping trip

Today I went on one of the longest shopping trips that I have been on in a while. And I was by myself, even though I do find it easier to shop by yourself. Check out all of the great things I got!

It all started with these two lamps. I found them on Craigslist for $15 each. You can't beat that, especially if you felt how heavy these things are. They are made of ceramic and the shades are a tweed material. Yes, the other one does have a lamp shade, but it's lying around somewhere! I will be posting a DIY project for these beauties later...once I decide exactly what I want to do with them!

This is the result of 4 hours in Joanns... AMAZING fabric!

From left to right:

(1) will be used for throw pillows in the living room (scroll down for my new throw pillow that will accompany these)

(2) will either be used for a fabric artwork or for pillows, still undecided

(3) will be made into a throw. Still trying to figure out how to get the yarn look around the edges, so I will be experimenting with this one!

(4) will be make two beautiful 22"x22" pillows for my new bed

More New Finds:

This is the pillow I was referring to. I have been gawking over this pillow for the last couple months...stopping myself from buying. Today seemed like the right opportunity, though, since I had already spent a ton of other money! I am so glad I got this, though, because it is going to match great with the yellow fabric above. It is part of the DwellStudio for Target line.



Here is the desk that I want, but can not have, at least not yet! The problem is, we are moving into a smaller apartment and I am in the middle of selling all of my big furniture, so to add another desk to the mix is just chaos! One day I might have it though, or one similar. I have my eye on this desk from Ikea.

So, this is what my living room looked like when I got home from my very long shopping trip: