Archive for the ‘Decor’ Category
My new favorite art prints: David Weidman
On a trip to Palm Springs, I browsed the Trina Turk store and discovered a bunch of cool silkscreen prints with a cool old-school style and retro colors.
When I inquired about them, I learned they were by David Weidman. “He did stuff for Hanna Barbera,” the saleswoman said.
You can see that whimsical cartoon style — and period-appropriate color choices in his book, The Whimsical Work of David Weidman or you can buy prints at Weidmanart.com. Some of my faves: Duck & Ole.
Here are a few more you can find online at Weidmanart.com.
2 new (to me) eco stores in the Valley
When AKA Green closed last year, I thought my ship for getting local environmentally-friendly products had sailed. But in a search for zero VOC paint for my baby room, I found that there isn’t just one — but TWO stores in town dedicated to eco-home decor. (You can also get no VOC paint by Olympic for cheaper at Lowe’s).
1) Central Slope
This eco design market specialize in eco-friendly decor, local art made from recycled materials, some cleaning/decor products and have recently added mid-century modern furniture to their inventory. What you can find there: paint, giant wind chimes made from old beer kegs, arty goods and gifts.
8801 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85020
(Just south of Dunlap)
2) Eco Clean
Located in small office complex, this unassuming store is filled with materials to clean and decorate your home with the environment in mind. A small room in back is filled with non-toxic cleaning products. The showroom has loads of samples of mattresses, comforters, pillows and bedspreads made from sustainable materials. Find floor tiles created from recycled materials, and several lines of no VOC paint. Eco-friendliness doesn’t come cheap. Two gallons of paint ran about $100. An eco-pillow top is over $500. But can you really put a price on saving the world?
2828 N. 36th St.
Phoenix, AZ 85008
(Across 36th Street from Home Depot)
Rock-a-bye baby: Baby room design
So baby got here early — and his room is about 85% done.
I stayed pretty true to my initial inspiration which started around a toss pillow — vintage red, blue and yellows, a good amount of shelving, and some cute wallpaper.
We got some hand-me-downs (the crib), bought some vintage (rocking chair), spent a fair amount of time and money at Ikea (shelves and dresser/changing table), and have been receiving a seemingly endless stream of boxes from Amazon.com (crib sheets, changing pad, loads of non-decorating stuff).
We still need some sort of floor covering (these Flor tiles?) and maybe a bed-skirt so we can use the under-the-crib area as a storage space.
Here are a few of the design elements:
- Littlephant Rain poster from Huset
Happy New Year!!!
What’s Cracking Good — The New Year!
I took a week off of blogging to hang out with my out-of-town sister, and see friends, and truth be told, sit on my couch and watch movies.
But now it’s the new year and officially time to restart, renew and figure out what the hell I’m going to do this year.
Why not start with some resolutions?
Resolution #1 — Cook more for friends
My husband is considered the cook of the family. I make some mean out-of-the-box brownies, but when it comes to the real deal meal cooking, most, would say that Jay is the go-to guy. Part of it is his fault; he is a kitchen Nazi and can’t stand to even watch me dice an onion. But I must admit, I’ve voluntarily put myself in the back seat and enjoyed his kitchen reign.
Also, I’m having a baby in a few months, and from what I’ve heard, if I plan on having a social life, I’m going to have to figure out how to lure my friends to my house.
So, I want to start learning to make the basics. I got this book, What to Cook and How to Cook It, which breaks recipes down to a degree even I can understand. There are pictures showing the ingredients for the meal as well as steps along the way (as far as I’m concerned, the more pictures the better).
Resolution #2 — Organize my office
I recently went to a friends’ office and she apologized profusely about the mess.
“What mess?” I wondered aloud. To get to my desk, you have to hop over piles of magazines, loose papers, books, and some trash. Pick up any of the aforementioned items and chances are high a dust bunny will come with it.
In a word (or two), my office is a flippin’ wreck.
The baby is going to inhabit my current office, which makes it a perfect time to actually purge and reorganize in a meaningful way.
Resolution #3 — Buy more vintage
Due to my expanding waistline, I’ve purchased the few new clothing items I’ve needed (elastic waist skinny jeans and white crewneck tees) from Old Navy.
What I’ve wanted more than anything: vintage. Shirt dresses with a fitted waist, funky belts and cute little jackets.
I feel better about buying vintage because of the quality — and because every piece I buy feels a little more special. This 1940s dress and 1930s bracelet are a couple of the items on Etsy I’m coveting at the moment.
The world on my wall
I’m in the process of redo-ing my office, and I’m really wanting a map of the world for my wall.
Something where I can mark where I’ve been, and where I want to go.
Here are some options:
- Places on Earth Print, $180
- Linocut, $20
- My World Custom Map, $48
- World Map, $75
Home decor: The baby’s room
When my mom found I was having a baby, one of her first questions was “When can I start helping with the baby’s room?”
Well at that time — I wasn’t even able to conceptualize a baby, much less a room for it. But the time is coming where I’ll have to start.
Here’s what I have in mind so far:
- Wallpaper
- Pillow
- Rocking chair (but we already got one from Modern Manor)
The Durkins’ Modern Manor
Last week I visited the Durkins’ house for a New Times’ post and had mid-century shopping envy. It’s not surprising that they have cool stuff, they are part-owners of one of my favorite Phoenix furniture stores, Modern Manor.
Another happy Haver owner
What’s Cracking Good — A great remodel
Take a look at Lola Coffee Bar owner, Daniel Wayne’s kick-ass Haver.
It gave me some ideas for my own very similar abode. And, I want a desert tortoise.
Animals say cheese
What’s Cracking Good — Animal photos
I was half-heartedly browsing my Google Reader when Creature Comfort‘s link to The Animal Print Shop photos caught my attention.
Photos of farm animals, baby animals, hoofed animals, birds and reptiles taken against an all white background. Somehow the animals look natural and playful — like they might be in the middle of their natural habitat ready for their photo op.
My personal space is in New Times
A friend interning at New Times this summer sent me an email asking to take pictures of my house for a new section called “Personal Space.”
I like my house…so I agreed.
My husband stressed about it.
“I’m not worrying about it — it’s how we live. I like it when they aren’t all perfect,” I told him.
That said — I still put the ratty cat-scratch ottomans and some superfluous knick-knacks in the “junk room.”
