Beautiful books

I just got these beautiful books in the mail. I have three more on their way. Loooove.

Book: Marrakesh by Design

My birthday was last week.  Hooray. My Mom called to let me know I should be expecting a package.  I sent up a small wish that it was a book.  My Mom always buys the very best books for me.  I think she reads my mind, really.  Or maybe she is Mom and knows me better than anyone. Maybe.  I was so excited  when I saw the book-shaped/sized Amazon box.  I was even more excited when I saw what beauty of a book was waiting for me.

There are a lot of beautiful design books out there.  (and to be honest you would be hard pressed to find an ugly book about Morocco.)  There are much fewer design books that have text worth reaaaaallllllly paying attention to.  In my opinion, they often end up sounding kind of like self help books or they are so dry that it detracts from the beautiful pictures.  The text in this book is almost better than the pictures. That is huge considering I can't get enough pictures of Moroccan interiors.  The author goes in to detail (on a very basic level) about how the culture and history drive the design.  That's what I am talking about!  I love it.  I can't stop reading it. Luckily, I had Jury Duty yesterday so I had a large chunk of reading time.  

In short.  If you are a little interested in Morocco or a lot interested OR if you love color OR if you love pretty pictures OR if you need inspiration for just about anything, then I recommend this book.  

Balls Table. Yea.

Reading Elle Decor today (they killed it this month) I spotted this gem in the background of a small picture.  I almost missed it but I realized I skimmed over something awesome after I turned the page.  I turned back not sure of what I was looking for.  This and these are what I spotted.

This table, perfectly named Balls Table, was surrounded by some amazing chairs.  Keep scrolling for that.

Awesome.

That a lot of choices, right?  Click here to see even more color choices.  

I don't usually opt for white but the white chair is pretty sick.  Or is that gray?  Whatever.  It is cool.

Well played

Well played, Brita Sweden.  Well played.

"monogram"

Monograms.  I have said it before but I will say it again.  I don't get them.  I really do like how they look but for whatever reason I can't understand their purpose and that is the road block between me and monogrammed bath towels.  (Pretty painted box that sits on my shelf and holds nothing but my admiration, you need no greater purpose than beauty to exist in my life, though.)

via The Old Try

Soon after writing the post about monograms a few weeks ago (months??!!) I saw this print on The Old Try and I got an idea for a "monogram".

I am from Florida and Sean is from Massachusetts (after 10 years here I still get nervous that I am misspelling it!).  I decided to get the flags and arrange them like a monogram.  Those little flags are so cheap.   

I had to let B get bored with the American flag before I could put it all together.  I thought it would only take a few days but he played with that flag inside and outside for about a month.  I don't know how it didn't get dirty much less destroyed.  

Crayon Art but Not Like That

If you have ever explored Pinterest in any capacity then you probably have seen this project.  It is extremely popular and for good reason.  The minute I saw it I wanted to do it and B and I had so much fun doing it.

Hot glue those suckers on.

I have to admit I stressed about getting the rainbow right and then I had a glass of wine and realized B is two (Almost three.  I can't think about it).  Close is good enough.  

Make sure you have something under and behind the canvas.

He was impressed.

blow dry

It is so easy even a two year old (Almost three. Gasping for air.) can do it!  Seriously, though, I love how this looks no matter how unoriginal it is.

This was a no pants and sunglasses craft. Mandatory.

Some cool over the top crayon action.

Bonus drips!

Finito.  I am going to Italy this summer so I am practicing.  Finito.

There it is in action.

Love it.

Huis

I have no clue how a professional goes about designing a room.  To me there seems to be a few big things that have to happen.  Furniture. Lighting. Art. Accessories.  Late last year I felt like all the furniture and lighting had come together.  I have never felt finished with either of those in any living room I have lived in.  Probably has something to do with owning versus renting.  Feels good.

I had almost all the artwork done.

I felt so close but so far.  The last wall was the biggest wall and it really made half of the room feel cold and sad.  After some thought I decided I wanted one big piece of art. The walls that touch this big, blank wall have 3 and 4 frames on them.  With all the color and patterns already happening in the room I thought having multiple frames would be insanity.  Unfortunately, having two babies that need new wardrobes every season means I can't afford to buy a giant painting or print...or frame that I really love...and I don't want to spend a moderate amount of money on something that fits just for the sake of fitting and I am not totally in love with.  Also, I am impatient and don't want to bargain hunt or save. I decided to paint something myself. I got the biggest canvas I could find for half price at Michaels.  Sweet.  Done.  Then I had to figure out what to paint which is extremely limited b/c I don't really paint.  And by don't really I mean don't at all.

My first idea was an abstract-like colorful, blobby painting.  It's easy to be tricked into thinking you can do it..I have seen plenty of DIY abstract art in the blogosphere. It doesn't look that hard because you aren't trying to end up with a painting that looks like anything.  But as those attempts in the blogosphere prove...finding colors that work well together and don't look childish and cheap is the hard part. I spent a few months staring that the blank canvas having an internal battle between my "I can do anything" voice and my "be realistic and don't waste money" voice.  It's probably a good idea that I didn't attempt it because if I had succeeded I don't think this room or I could handle more color crazy art.  I needed something to ground room a little.

Then I saw this.

Jackpot.  A big black and white word.  That's it.
...
...
...
...
More months went by while I tried to figure out what word to paint on the canvas.  It's for the same reason I don't have a tattoo.  I can't figure out something that I am 100% sure will never be lame.  A word on canvas is obviously not as permanent and/or expensive to remove as a tattoo but there is a lot of labor and emotional energy that goes into painting something for me and I don't want to get tired of it in a month.

After wasting lots of time coming up with lame words I brainstormed with my brother who was smart enough to turn to the internet for inspiration.  After looking at lots of lists of words we decided to look at words in other languages.  Bingo.

Huis.  It is Dutch for home/to house. Dutch?  Yes Dutch.  I lived in Holland for a summer and I have never felt more at home in any place.  It's my soul country...like a soul mate.  I love it.

I love the effect it has in the room.  I do not love how my photography skills make things look awkwardly proportioned and terribly spaced. I tried to get pics of the walls from floor to ceiling so that the proportions would look normal but that is HARD.  I only got one kind of decent one. So I gave up.  Sorry.  Trust me.  It doesn't look this tiny in "real life".  Oy.

Next...edit those pillows.  Yikes.  So many sizes.  So many colors.  Too much.