A Dose of the Delightful

Faves: Apartment Therapy's Room for Color Contest

One of my very favorite sites for apartment inspiration, Apartment Therapy, hosts an annual Color Contest in which they invite readers to submit pictures of their favorite colorful room. What I love about the contest (and Apartment Therapy in general) is that it emphasizes that color is one of the easiest, most affordable ways to change a room, and gives a glimpse into what creative people are doing to maximize their decorating budget. 

Below are some of my favorite shots from this year's competition:

Natasha & Brad's "Coral Me Happy" living room

Laura's "Sunny Days" living room

Laura's "Sunset Beach" room

The contest is open for submissions until November 8th, so if you'd like to show the world your true colors, get snapping! The winner gets a pair of Eames molded plastic armchairs (a mid-century classic), and each of the regional winners will receive a $1000 gift card to Farrow & Ball. I don't know about you, but I could definitely do some damage in their wallpaper section!

 

Penguin's Great Food Series

I've been a huge fan of Penguin's Clothbound Classics series and have added several of those to my bookshelf. Now they've put out yet another series of books that's as satisfying fun to look at as to read: The Great Food Series.

The books represent "the finest food writing from the last 400 years, and open the door to the wonders of every kitchen." Designed by the immensely gifted Coralie Bickford-Smith, the paperbacks' whimsical covers make it a challenge to pick just one!

Below are a few titles I'd like to add to my collection: 

View the full series here.

 

Nautically-Inspired Tablescape + Announcing Mason Made!

I'm super excited to share what has kept me so busy during my free time over the past few weeks - I couldn't be happier with the results so far! I'm helping my friend Sarah Mason launch a gluten-free baking business called Mason Made, so have been lending a hand with the design & marketing aspects of the business. Just last week, we were lucky enough to have a big, exciting debut as a sponsor for a very worthy cause: The Harbor School. The Harbor School is a New York city public school located on Governor's Island.What sets it apart is its educational principles: 

1. The marine world provides an ideal forum for an education based on excellence, discipline and interdependence.
2. Hands-on, inquiry-based learning in a natural environment stimulates curiosity, critical thinking, and vision, all of which lead to improved academic performance.
3. All students have the desire and intellect to reach their highest academic standards when given the right opportunities and clear expectations.
4. Small schools allow students a larger stake in decision making, as well as increased personal attention, alternative assessments, and easier access to the staff.

Just last week, the Harbor School held a Regatta and Bash to fund the aspects of the school that aren't funded by the public school system, and we were thrilled to be a part of it. Over the course of about 7 crazy days, I pulled together business cards, a banner, stickers, napkins, t-shirts, and a little tablescape, and Sarah absolutely baked her face off to provide enough gluten-free goodies for 500 people.

We decided to really embrace the nautical nature of the event, incorporating maritime-related elements into our table. I chose natural canvas reminiscent of sailcloth to cover the table, as well as homespun-style kitchen towels with a marine blue stripe for stand covers. Sarah very patiently showed me how to tie a square knot about 15 times, and I used this to accent goody stands with rigging-type rope, as well as tent cards with marigold cording. Various bottles & vases in sea glass-inspired shades, some with sand inside to steady them in the wind, held sweet william & billy balls, chosen to add a dash of bright color. We even gave the treats nautical names: Man Overboard Mint Thins, Salty Dogs (chocolate chip cookies with sea salt), The Siren's Song (dark chocolate sugar cookie sandwiches), and Regatta Red Velvet mini cupcakes.

 

How pretty do these Man Overboard Mint Thins looks against the citron glass cake stand Sarah picked up at Fishs Eddy? It's a good thing I wasn't with her, because that place is like kryptonite to me.

Our Regatta Red Velvet mini cupcakes (with cream cheese frosting, of course) were quite a hit, and since it's easy to pop a whole one, we had many, many repeat visitors!

The Siren's Song: Mast Brothers chocolate sandwiched by light sugar cookies. Mmm.

I threw together some nautically-themed recipe cards for our Man Overboard Mint Thins, which included delish Mast Brothers chocolate.

Sarah had the fantastic idea of using branded burgees (yacht flags for you non-seafaring types), so I made these out of some canvas scraps and marigold tape from Purl Soho. I'd never hand-grommeted anything before, but it turned out to be pretty easy (with the help of a little muscle from my man friend). At first I thought I needed to buy a grommet punch, but I was assured by the friendly folks at M + J Trimming that a hammer was all that was required. I stenciled the Mason Made monogram on with pencil and then painted over it with Pebeo's Setacolor Fabric Paint in Royal Blue. We strung them on either side of our banner, and I think they turned out pretty well!

Decor Inspiration: A Renovation in Burgos, Spain

My folks are just about to close on a gorgeous new home, and they've been thinking about how they'll decorate it. Of course, this kind of project is right up my alley, and though I'm not there with them, I've enjoyed imagining what the finished product will look like and sending them inspiration.

Because their new home is Mediterranean-style and because our family loves Spain (to put it mildly), I knew they would enjoy these shots of a gorgeous remodel of a home in Burgos, Spain. 

I found these photos on a fantastic blog called Live and Enliven, where talented designer and mother Ana posts about everything from homes to DIY projects to music to food to fashion. She was kind enough to let me share them again here!

It's pretty much a Mediterranean paradise, huh?

Summer's Last Hurrah: Magazine Faves

Shame on me! I have been utterly consumed with commitments as of late and haven't posted nearly enough. This past weekend, I gave myself a real break with a weekend in Montauk, finally finished Julia Child's My Life in France and devoured half of The Help. I'm sure you've all read both of them, but in case you haven't, do! They're wonderful.

Does anyone else feel a hint of fall in the air? For the past few days, New York has been lucky enough to have glorious sunny weather with a breeze that suggests cooler autumn days to come. Aside from the whole earthquake thing, it's been quite pleasant!

Before summer (which has already rushed by so quickly) is really and truly gone, I wanted to post these beautiful images I've collected from my favorite magazines' summer issues. Enjoy!

 First things first: let's talk House Beautiful. Did anyone else notice the change in the logo font on the September cover, as compared with August? Although I suppose September is technically fall, the bright colors and beach house featured in this issue felt very summery.

I love it! It definitely feels more modern and more playful. Is it just me, or does it also feel a bit more like Domino? We can only hope!

Now, on to the serious eye candy...I actually gasped aloud when I turned the page and came upon this beach house. 

What a light, airy dining area - I particularly love the yellow edging on the curtains and the way the dark wood of the curtain rod and chandelier complement the floor.

Bright patterns really stand out against the neutral background of the living room. Again, love the darker wood accents of the mid-century side chair and large bowl under the coffee table. 

I admit that this kitchen (like most of the house) is super feminine, especially with the sunny valance - but I think the geometric accents of the dining table surface, the dish towel draped over the sink, and the gorgeous backs of the high Cherner stools balance it well.

I would find it impossible not to wake up beaming every morning if I got to wash my face at this sink, surrounded by this gloriously happy wallpaper (Recessed by Studio Printworks). I think it would be a lot for some people to take first thing in the morning, but it seems like it would feel a bit like being in an underwater castle to me, especially with the reflection of shells staring back at me in the mirror.

I'm not a fan of using quite so much pink - I prefer it in small doses, and all that pink plus the faux fur rug feels a bit saccharine. However, I think the neatly chevroned floor (Benjamin Moore's Salmon Berry & White Dove), injections of vibrant orange, and mod feel of the upholstered headboard and bolster pillow make the room a beaut as a whole. 

View more summery goodness after the jump!

New Penguin Clothbound Classics: Middlemarch, A Tale of Two Cities, Dracula

What better way to start the week than with more book cover eye candy? The Penguin Clothbound Classics collection has added three new titles to the collection of seriously beautiful books, all illustrated by the gifted Coralie Bickford-Smith.

The new titles are Middlemarch, George Eliot's masterpiece, A Tale of Two Cities, my absolute favorite novel by Dickens, and Dracula, by Bram Stoker.

I've made the decision to start creating a library I can perhaps one day pass down, and these beauties will look pretty sitting on my bookshelf.

Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Classics Designed by Jessica Hische

How gorgeous are these?

Not surprising, considering they were designed by the immensely talented Jessica Hische. Miss Hische is a Brooklyn-based illustrator and typographer, and I pretty much utterly adore everything she's done. 

One of my favorite projects of hers is the Daily Drop Cap, in which she and guest letterers illustrate a letter from the alphabet each day.

 
Which book is your favorite in this collection? I really wanted to buy Pride and Prejudice, but already own the equally gorgeous clothbound Penguin Classic version, so I chose The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

On the same trip, I also picked up To Kill A Mockingbird, illustrated by Hugh D'Andrade. I can't wait to dive into his illustrations now, too!