Feeling Very Martha

The beautiful fall day here inspired me to start getting ready for the holidays and so I set out to make a wreath for our front door. I wanted something modern and fresh but still warm and fuzzy and so I covered a foam wreath form with preserved green moss (glue guns are addictive!) and got some gorgeous mink colored moire ribbon to accent it. However, I felt like I wanted to punch it up JUST a bit more and so I founf a font I liked, cut the initial out on brown cardboard and covered it in the most gorgeous fine glitter in a shade called smokey quartz (made by Martha, natch). I love it and already have gotten compliments.

So if anyone would like a custom made moss wreath for the holidays please e-mail me at erin@element-interiors.com . I was thinking they would look gread studded with faux pearls or wrapped in a great printed ribbon...you name it.

My Father the Hero

After doing a lot of thinking about what got me to the place I am right now, following my real passions and plotting a way to make my mark on the design world, I figured it was time to pay homage to the man that inspired me (and still inspires me), my dad. After studying business in school and being groomed to run the family store, my dad found his passion in architecture. It still amazes me now that he is self-taught. No fancy design school or big degree. No high powered internships and schmoozing to get to the top. He got there by teaching himself step by step, fueling his passion and skill by designing garages and small homes out of a tiny office in our first house. And his hard work paid off. He started a company, hired some classically trained folks to make sure the buildings didn't fall down, and through his friendly, modest ways grew a client list. And then this tiny homegrown firm in the middle of nowhere Connecticut landed the job of the century. Part luck, but mostly talent and good business. Yeah, this little number right here. :)

No matter what your position is on gaming, this place is spectacular. Every time I drive up to it, and out of the woods comes this tower of steel and glass that somehow fits into the landscape, I well up with pride. My dad thought up THAT in his head. Mind boggling, no?

You can see a lot of his residential projects here on his site (click on the PDF please!)New England Design, Inc.

He has such a distinctive style that now people in areas he's designed homes can pick out "Faux-bridy's" (architects who try their best to design like Kevin Tubridy, but fall perilously short!)
So is it genetics that makes us creative, design minded people? Or am I drawn to it because I was raised amongst stacks of blueprints and carpet samples? Is it because I spent countless Sundays as a child on my dad's "drives" just admiring houses along a route I am pretty sure he would never plan. Or slouched down in the car embarassed as he would pull into people's driveways and walk up to their homes to take pictures of a window box or dormer that he loved. (Dad Rule #1: No trespassing signs are invisible when there is good architecture behind them.) Or pehaps it was going to his office with him and being parked at a drafting table with pencils and markers and trying my best to draw houses like the other architects.
I am so lucky to have a dad who loved that I wanted to major in art, can debate the value of the perfect beige paint and appreciate a great floral fabric pattern. But I also have a dad who turned down tv interviews so he could be at my middle school band recital and said no to big jobs for famous folks because he wanted to be home for dinner with his family. He is a wonderful master of balance in life and was always there for us, yet at the same time was creating amazing homes and buildings for so many people. And how nice it is to drive by places and be able to proudly say "my dad did that".
Oh, and he can give one HELL of a father of the bride speech to boot. :)
Thanks Dad.

More Before and After

BEFORE:



AFTER:


As per the rest of our renovations, this was all done on a budget, and I personally think it looks great! :) The bedding was on clearance at Bed Bath and Beyond ($100 for ALL of it!), throw pillows from Twinkle Living (my semi-splurge at$50 each), crystal chandelier for $99 from Great Chandeliers (it comes in about 99 pieces too, but you can't beat that price), and grommet top drapes from IKEA ($39.99 per pair). The wall paint is Benjamin Moore Soliel, striped cotton rug by Dash & Albert through Hudson, and my beloved vintage hand printed wallpaper cuts framed in IKEA frames ($29.99 each)

I took a carved ornate mirror that Andrew's grandfther gave us and painted it glossy white. The antique chest is also from his grandfather.

My $30 lamps from Homegoods. A fantastic score I made about 2 years ago! I hot glue gunned some navy grosgrain ribbon to the shades to make them look more custom. Cost: all of $2.00.

There is still a bit more to do, like adding some detail to the closet doors, but all in all I am very pleased!

For the Dogs

I have quickly become "that girl" who buys clothes for her pup, unbelievably expensive organic, raw dog food and $6 dog cookies decorated like Patriot's jerseys all in the mere months I've been Baxter's mom. Who are we kidding, it was inevitable that I would enjoy accessorizing my dog as much as I do my house! Can you imagine when I have a kid? God help us.

Anyways, lots of my readers have and love dogs so when I recieved this awesome faux bois pattered stuffed "branch" from my fab upstairs neighbor Lauren, I had to look up the company! Retro Pup makes toys and beds that look far more designer chic laying strewn about your floor than say, a squeaky rubber hot dog. Baxter LOVES his new "stick" and carries it all around the house and I don't run to hide it in a basket when people come over. I even found him snuggling with it like a pillow asleep under my desk yesterday. Faux Bois anything is SO hip right now, and Retro Pup has certainly capitlized on that!

And since it's Baxter "tested and approved" I can feel confident in reccomending them!

Be sure to check out all the colors available for the woodgrain pattern! :)

Element Shops: Red Envelope

Red Envelope is a store that is such a great "go-to" for gifts, and is one site I always check out during holiday season. Upon browsing this morning I found that RE has gotten tres, tres chic! They have added some great modern home items that are sure to be a big hit for the holidays. It had me thinking that perhaps I should do some holiday shopping posts come November

- gift guides of sorts.

Anyways, here are a couple great design items from Red Envelope:

Combine candles and original 3-d art in these tree candles that throw the shadows of branches on your walls! Great for city dwellers who want to pretend they live in the forest.

This is a great gift for anyone who entertains- enough little dishes for all your favorite snacks- nuts, olives, hummus, etc. I can never find enough tiny dishes come party time and this would suit that purpose just perfectly!

This is a MUST have for little Baxter- the bamboo base keeps the bowls from sliding around on the floor and the cream and robins egg blue dishes are so fabulously simple and remind me of Nigella Lawson's mixing bowls I have that I love so dearly (but don't dare actuallyMIX anything in- the horror).

Just in time for a New Years toast, these double walled champagne flutes have the traditional form of the timeless glass, but maximize it's hip quotient with a second wall of glass- not only does it look cool, it also helps to keep your champagne crisp and cool.

A mid century modern gingerbread house...need I say anything more?

These D.L. and Co. candles have the BEST packaging and an amazing glass container- and they are NEVER on sale but are on this website!!!



I have always loved this bird feeder. It has won design awards and comes in various colors. It makes me smile.

Great Fabrics for Under $18 a yard!

Actually most are under $10! Why buy the Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel pillows everyone has when you can have custom ones for about the same price (a lot less if you are skilled with a sewing machine!)

All fabrics courtesy of http://www.fabrics.com/ http://www.homefabrics.com/ and http://www.reprodepot.com/

John Robshaw now online!

One of my favorite fabric/bedding/pillow designers right now is John Robshaw. His block printed and hand dyed patterns are so worldly and rich it's hard to pick just one. He has finally launched an online shopping site! Yipppeee! When I open my store in 2015 I will carry this line FOR SURE. :)

http://www.johnrobshaw.com/

A pat on the back

From this:

To this:

I'm going to give myself credit where credit is due. Our dining room has gone from dark and depressing to bright and cheerful with relatively little money ($750) and a LOT of sweat. When we bought the house I knew that this room had TONS of potential- and I was right!
Andrew and I primed and painted all the wood paneling ourselves, which made the largest difference in the feel of the room. I wish I had a before picture of the dining set, which was gifted to us by Andrew's grandfather, so you could see the difference. I painted the chairs with enamel paint ($25) and had them reupholstered in zebra linen ($9 a yard) with silver nailheads (upholstery cost: $40 per chair). They look so great and make me smile everytime I walk in the room. The rug is a chocolate sisal from IKEA ($150), which has rubber backing on it so no need for a rug pad. The West Elm metal and wood chandelier adds a more modern twist to things, and only set us back $150. There are still things to do, such as put up the grasscloth wallpaper I purchased from Creative Wallcovering for $200 and possibly some window treatments as well. I hope this inspires others to roll up their sleeves and think creatively when considering a room rehaul! You can save tons of money by doing it yourself and gain a real sense of accomplishment too!

Chic/Cheap Centerpeice

From my party this weekend, I wanted a centerpeice that was modern and simple but fun.
The apothecary jar was $12 at Homegoods, the moss inside was $8, the rest of the vases were various clear ones I have collected, I grabbed white roses and berries and leafy silver greens for about $60 and the white pumpkins for $10 total...oh, and studded the large [umpkin with silver thumbtacks!
All together- $90! Not bad considering one arrangement from a nice floral shop will cost you that and this is much more interesting!

Element Shops: Urban Outfitters

When I think of Urban Outfitters I think of tee shirts with stupid (but sometimes funny) sayings on them and cheap, uber-trendy clothing and accessories. Turns out, thier online home section is quite the goldmine! Check out these two great upholstered headboards above, each for less than $300! Both have great nailhead detaling that you usually don't find on such affordable products!

This mid-century style sofa is under $500! And this side table looks very Danish mid-century as well!

This chair has great basic clean lines and is upholstered in a fantastic P.Kaufman bird print fabric for $380!

Of course, they have TONS of accessories including very Jonathan Adler style lamps.

And this is a direct knockoff of the VERY popular suzani you'll see in many a design magazine these days. In fact, an original one from my cousin Courtney's shop, Circa Trade, was just featured in this month's House Beautiful! Congrats Court!

Urban Outfitters copy:

Original from Circa Trade:

Of course, the real thing is best, but while your saving to buy that REAL suzani, you can use this. :)

Because He is Just So Cute

No, not Tom Brady.

BAXTER!

He discovered the fun of falling leaves yesterday at the pond and almost lost his mind!

He needs a haircut.

Homegoods Goes Highbrow

The Scene: Homegoods in Framingham. Lots of housewives and old couples buying truly heinous thanksgiving themed dishware and dishtowels with christmas trees on them (you know since it's RIGHT around the corner and all). Me, trying make it to the cash register with my glass apothecary jars ($12.99! Score!) without running into the CRAZY lady who kept asking me if this blindingly ugly rug would match the equally nauseating wall tapestry in her cart. (I kindly suggested something else). When all of the sudden I stop dead in my tracks- stacked right by the checkout isle were two vintage Louis Vuitton hard suitcases. Just sitting there- no crowds of women oogling them or fighting WWF style in order to snag one. They were just walking by, leaving the gorgeous cases unappreciated!! I thought perhaps I was hallucinating- I hadn't slept well last night after all. Upon approach I saw that they were in fact real- with very real pricetags of $1,300 each. Apparently, select Homegoods now have a small section of authentic antiques from Paris. Cute signs, prints, vintage sports equiptment....and FREAKING LOUIS VUITTON SUITCASES.
Insane.
Sadly I had to checout sans Louis, but maybe next time I go in they'll have Le Courbusier chairs.

One More for Good Measure

I am making up for not posting yesterday.

One more, then my mind will be clear and I can go back to work.

I love these two pictures.

My mom let me take them from her house because I was so into them. They are pictures of our family store Tubridy's in Willimantic, CT, from 1935. My great grandfather started it when he came over from Ireland, my grandfather and grandmother ran it until my father took over and sadly, had to close it some years back. It was such a special place for me growing up. My dad would take my brother Mike and I with him to work and I would wrap packages, try on jewelry and pretend I was a salesgirl while my baby brother played in the women's underwear and flirted with all the women working there. We'd play hide and seek among the racks of clothes and try on the mannequin wigs. Mike looked especially fetching in them. Those moments sparked my love for fashion and beautiful things. They provided such joy for me as a little girl and I am so thankful for that.

So I want to pay homage to those precious childhood days spent at Tubridy's- and these are such a great way to do so. I want to frame them and hang them amongst my other favorite family photos in the foyer. The one of the manequins is SO artsy too- there is a sign that says "Come Hear a Scientific Lecture on Supporting Garments" and there is a skeleton to the left, a mannequin in her "supporting garments" followed by a fully dressed one. I wonder who came up with this? Seems risque for 1935, no? I'd like to think my grandfather or grandmother put this together; that my creativity genes were passed from them to my dad and onto me. Perhaps I am romanticizing...

It's so nice to have these. Thanks Mom.

More Progress At Home

Although some days it feels like I have not even made a dent on decorating this place, some days I am able to sit back and give myself some credit.


My dining chairs are reupholstered- am not sure about the red now. Again. The dining room is so bright and light now that Andrew painted it in preparation for the wallpaper to go up, a cooler color might be better.

Like white.
Which is what I wanted to do in the first place.
But Andrew said "Noooo, that's too much white".
*Ahem!*


Anyways, I digress. They are fun.

The zebra linen looks tres chic and I find zebra to be very nuetral- it can go with any style decor. And I'm liking my West Elm mod metal and wood chandelier. This is a crappy picture, but you get the idea.

Also, the rest of my lighting went up for the most part, thanks to the electrician who robbed me blind. The vintage style schoolhouse pendant in the pantry, the $20 IKEA fixture in my office which I love, even if it does look like an artichoke. Oh, and a crystal chandelier in the bedroom, which there isn't a picture of because I have not made my bed yet. Yes, I know it's 10:15, but that is the beauty of working from home (i.e. my justification for being lazy).



OK, now you've made me feel guilty. I have to go make my bed (with my CLEARANCE bed linens I got at Bed Bath and Boyond for next to nothing and look PERFECT!). I had to throw that in there.

You Never Know

I was feeling quite "Martha" yesterday (it happens every so often) and ventured over to Mahoney's in Brookline to find some pumpkins and new plantings for my front porch. And not only did I find pumpkins and loads of healthy plants, but a whole building full of the most GORGEOUS planters, vases and accessories I have ever seen! Good thing I had my camera phone! This handpainted fish planter above almost knocked me sideways with how friggin' beautiful it was!

They have a whole section of italian painted pottery that is to die for:

And menswear chic pinstripes and polka dots in black and white (remember how I said that was "in" this season?)

A stunning green/blue chinese garden stool that would make a lovely side table:

And check out this white lace-like vase on the left. Would be so sharp filled with simple white blooms.


Anyways, goes to show you that you never know where you'll find jaw dropping accessories and home goods. So keep an open mind!

I May Have to Go To Florida.

I came upon this source today and it so reminds me of my favorite shop Pieces in Atlanta. Those southern belles sure know how to refinish mod furniture! C.Bell has some great classic pieces punched up with strong color and high gloss lacquer finishes. Again, something you can do yourself with some scouring of local flea markets and antique shops (or grandma's attic) and a good coat or two of glossy paint...but if you are too busy, then this is a good place to find it all ready for you!
Speaking of, dropped off my now red lacquered antique dining chairs today to be upholstered in chocolate and ivory zebra linen (Kate, you inspired me)- I cannot wait to see how they come out.



And I have to give my little pals King Dog and Frankie in West Hartford a shout out. Their mom is a daily reader and Baxter is tres excited to hang with them. Holla.

Nature En Vogue

I saw these photographic prints on Panteek last night while looking for some artwork for a client, and they totally took my breath away! They are pinhole camera photogravures done by artist Tom Baril, who started his career as a printmaker for artist Robert Maplethorpe. They are so stark and sensually beautiful, I can see them in a great series above a bed or in an entryway. And at only $95 per limited edition print, it won't hurt your wallet too much either.

My home decor budget is shrinking very rapidly, but I may have to buy one of these I am so enamored!!!

Oh To Be Gwyneth.

This girl has got it all. A closet that probably resembles Barneys, ex-boyfriends like Brad Pitt and Ben Affleck, a husband who is the lead singer of my favorite band, classic, stunning beauty, two gorgeous kids (albeit with weird names)...oh, and a little guy named Oscar sitting on her bookshelf. Share the wealth, sister! My goodness.

And now we get to drool over her even MORE perfect home in this month's House & Garden. The look of the interiors completely mirrors Gwyneth- crisp, feminine, luminous, classic yet avant garde. Let's take a peek...





Her living area is decked out in all pale shades, which make the items that do have color really pop. But with two little kids, I hope she Scotch Guarded the hell out of those sofas.
The three prints above the fireplace would be easy to replicate. Check out the Shaded Memories Etsy store for abstracted prints of nature, like those above. Frame them in white IKEA frames with white mats to enhance their colors.


I have a hard time imagining rocker Chris Martin eating in this uber-girly dining room! The pink, white and sand color scheme is soothing and ethereal and oh-so Gwyneth. This crystal branch chandelier costs $37,000- gasp- but to get a somewhat similar look for less try Bloominglites branch and crystal chandeliers (still a little rich at $2,200).

Her bathroom is wallpapered in Kelly Wearstler's Imperial Trellis print, which I love and had considered for my own bathroom. It looks very dramatic and crisp with the white framed mirror and console.



And her kitchen is just fabulous! I love the brown-grey cabinets against the Carrera marble counters. The best touch, in my humble opinion, are the unexpected white chandeliers over the butcher block island. For a similar look, try this all white Crate & Barrel Gracie chandelier, which just happens to be on sale.






And just to make SURE you know how ridiculously fabulous Gwyneth's life is, this little tea house style outbuilding is her own private yoga and pilates studio.

I hate her.

No, I love her.

*Sigh*

Top Budget Friendly Ways to Update Your Home

(I adore the "after" version of this room. Courtesy of Domino)

Working hard to fix up my own home on a budget has reminded me of how daunting this process is, especially for those who are not in the design industry. Winning the lottery, or finding out Andrew IS in fact related to Bill Gates, would make it much simpler. But who wants to take the easy way out? Put in a little of your own sweat, blood (box cutters can be tricky!) and no doubt tears, and you'll feel quite accomplished and proud at the end!

There are some really simple and not so pricey ways to give your home a face lift.

#1 PAINT- The change a fresh coat of paint makes is amazing. If you only do one thing, do this. Look through home magazines and see what speaks to you. Look through your closet and see what colors you tend to wear most. Don't be afraid of bold color, especially if most of your furniture is neutral. After all, you CAN paint over it if you decide it's too much! If you are meticulous about taping things off, it is quite easy to make it look like a professional job.
If you are a renter and painting is not an option, take a hint from what I did over my bed (see below). Find some wallpaper in a great bold color and frame large cuts of it. IKEA has great larger frames for about $25. Hang three or four in a row on a large wall and you'll get a nice pop of color. You can even frame solid colored paper and go for a very mod look! Or buy some pre-stretched canvases and paint them one color; you know like those paintings you see in museums where you say "I could do THAT!" Do it!

#2 REFRESH YOUR FURNITURE- Most of us who are young professionals have hand me down furniture from various family members or friends. Or perhaps a side table picked up at a flea market. Make them look hip and new by painting them! If you flip through Domino or the like, you'll see how of-the-moment painted vintage furniture is. Get some 1-Shot Sign Painters Enamel (mentioned in my last big post) and paint that boring old wood dresser! Pick a color, or just go glossy white! Go to a place like Anthropologie and buy fun new drawer pulls. For about $75 you could have a brand new piece of furniture! If you have a little extra cash, do what I did to my dining chairs and buy some funky new fabric (mine was only $9 a yard from Fabric.com) and reupholster!


#3 THROW PILLOWS- Do not underestimate the design power of these little darlings...changing your throw pillows (or adding throw pillows) packs quite a punch! If you are super crafty (or have a super crafty friend/mom/aunt) create your own! Sewing a square can't be THAT hard, can it? Those darn zippers can give you a headache though! Anyways, check out places like Target, IKEA and Bluefly for on the cheap versions.

#4 FLOORS AND WINDOWS- I shall again sing the praises of IKEA. Adding some simple hardware with equally simple window treatments can really make a space look more grown up. I am particularly fond of IKEA's grommet top panels! To make your ceilings look higher, hang the rods about 3" from the ceiling- the higher the drapes are hung, the more drama and height they give.

If you can't commit to a patterned rug, buy a fabric bordered sisal and call it a day. It's clean, neutral and easy to take care of. IKEA has great ones, but if you Google "sisal rugs" you can find TONS of them.

Try one or two (or all!) of these and see what a difference they make!

I Heart Black Pearl Press!!!

It was like Christmas morning getting a package from Elisabeth at Black Pearl Press this weekend! My gorgeous, custom designed letterpress stationery! I love it so much! The yellow and coral colors make me smile and the pattern Elisabeth designed is a tribute to David Hicks AND if you look closely, is made up of capital E's!
It speaks so truly of my style, modern but with a traditional core.
Splurge and get yourself some!

A Working Weekend

Andrew and I busted our butts this weekend and got a lot done on the house. The master bedroom was the most changed- Andrew painted it Benjamin Moore's Soliel and I framed cuts of vintage wallpaper for above the bed. I picked up a great striped Dash & Albert rug at Hudson in the South End which ties in the tan of the new IKEA grommet curtains with the navy and white of the wallpaper. The throw pillows are from Twinkle Living. The bedding I ordered did not work out, so back to the drawing board on that. Most likely it will be white with a navy border....a yellow blanket at the foot. I'm getting some navy ribbon to trim the lampshades which sit on antique bedside tables from Andrew's grandparents' old home. Also from the G's was an ornate gold framed mirror which I decided to lacquer white. It came out great and now hangs above my dresser.

After much deliberation (and painting) I decided to go with red lacquer for the dining chairs (also from Andrew's grandparents!) They will be upholstered in this great trellis pattern fabric. I got some robins egg blue and tried that on the chairs as well, but it looked too "beach house". Elisabeth from Black Pearl Press turned me onto the BEST furniture paint if you want a high gloss, lacquer like finish. It's called 1-Shot Sign Painters Enamel and it can be found at Pearl Paint. One coat and you are good to go with professional looking results!!!

This was tough. I wallpapered the backs of my original glass cabinets in the butler's pantry in this great metallic bamboo lattice paper. It matches my Vera Wang China and looks AMAZING. But MAN is it hard to wallpaper!!!!

And to finish off the weekend, we had some wine in front of our first fire in our fireplace! We hung the IKEA grommet curtains in here as well in a great grey/beige color and our big splurge, a Crate and Barrel Seguro coffee table arrived finally (which I loooooooove and it's earth friendly, being made from reclaimed wood).

Off to paint more chairs!!!!