the couch stays

Thanks for all the lovely ideas for the Girlie Office! I came to the following conclusions:
- I want to keep the couch
- I need storage
- I like working at a table

That's me... pondering... Photo credit: Marisa Bettencourt

This morning I headed to Ikea to get ideas and walked away with this thought after seeing two KALLAX shelving units back-to-back on display:

Buy two white (or pink?) shelving units and position as shown above to create not only ample storage for books, magazines and craft items, but a sturdy work area. Unify the pieces by covering the top or entire exterior with oilcloth fabric. Perhaps add this pink SNILLE swivel chair to skooch around in.

A

I'm not always big on bird and butterfly motifs but keep coming back to the just-above pattern from Dotty Brown. It's the roses! They are so lovely and I'm a big fan of tone-on-tone and like the varying shades of pinks.

Keeping it real, peeps!

So what's not making the cut? I think the coffee table is going to take up residence in the basement. My plan is to (1) remove all furnishings; (2) position the couch and the shelving-as-tables and see whatever else fits in comfortably. The painted chair will stay. The wall color will stay. The curtains and chandelier will stay.

More pretty oilcloth considerations all from Dotty Brown. {Please ship to the U.S.!}

B

C

D

E

Which oilcloth pattern do you like best? I'm already changing my mind from A to E. Stay tuned!

Thank you for visiting!

xo
elyse

girlie office: 2.0?

I love my "Girlie Office."

It's the first room I tackled, decorated, wrote about.

It once looked like this

and then like this...

but soon I switched-out paisley for posies and it's pretty much looked like this for a while.

It's light and breezy and filled with tinkered treasures

When I'm working on projects, it looks like this

but when I'm writing, I try to keep it looking like this.

Photo credit: Marisa Bettencourt

It's a sunny, small first-floor bedroom with one closet with a curtain instead of a door. It has a supercomfy yellow couch, an aqua crackle-painted coffee table, a striped and decoupaged vanity, a small yellow chest of three drawers (one of which is being used as a desk hutch), a desk, a small cabinet and a tall bookcase.

Photo credit: Marisa Bettencourt

As much as I adore it, I am feeling the need to streamline and turn it into a better creative workspace.

I've been thinking about making some changes for a while but I love the comfy couch (have I said that already?) and am sentimental about the furniture that I've painted.

Imaging something like this holding a desk top? Source

So, I'm leafing through magazines and poking around Pinterest for ideas. My sister-in-law Meridith suggests removing the couch and building a work table over short shelving units. Sounds great but I'm like, "But I love napping on the couch!"

Love a picnic table indoors! Source

Then I wonder, should there be a large table in the center of the room

or along the wall like a counter? If I were asked to advise on someone else's space, I feel like I would have so many ideas but am finding it difficult to be objective and insightful on the re-thinking of my own studio.

So I'm putting this out there for all of your brilliant minds. Any suggestions for GirlieOffice 2.0?

Thank you and I'm looking forward to reading your comments!

xo
elyse

my "favorites" in romantic homes

Back in April when summertime was barely a thought, I was offered the chance to share some of my favorite things for the September issue of Romantic Homes.

How fun it was to assemble this list and use it as an opportunity to shine a national spotlight on some favorite sellers. Even though September just began this issue has been on newsstands for a few weeks and will soon be replaced with October. {Boo.}

Consider this post a handy online companion piece with a longer shelf-life and links:

Click to enlarge

1. PRETTY CHECKED AND FLORAL TEXTILES

Ikea

2. PATTERNED UTENSILS

Cath Kidston

3. VINTAGE POSTCARD SET

Cavallini & Co.

4. FLOWER FIELD NECKLACE

Nest Pretty Things

5. BEAUTIFUL HARDWARE

Sea Rose Cottage

6. BATH SALTS

Rhode Island Soapworks

7. MILLINERY FORGET-ME-NOTS

Sugar Pink Boutique

And just for fun here a few items that didn't make the cut for one reason or another ...

1. PRETTY CITY

Providence, Rhode Island

This pretty little city is filled with unique shops, cool cafes and a vibrant collegiate atmosphere, there’s even a bonfire installation along the rivers of the downtown area.

2. PERFUME

Angel by Thierry Mugler

An aromatic mix of chocolate, vanilla and sandalwood is exhilarating to wear when the weather gets wonderfully brisk!

3. SHABBY CHIC COUTURE CLOTH NAPKINS

Rachel Ashwell

I have started a collection of these small swatches of luxury. Too exquisite to use for say a spaghetti dinner, perhaps I’ll knot them together into a bunting or frame them!

4. STRAWBERRY SELTZER

Polar

Quite possibly the most perfect drink. Inexpensive, refreshing, tasty and almost-everything-free! 

The September issue also features my wallpapered blinds tutorial:

Gee, should I pick up a few more issues?

xo

elyse