The art and architecture collection, where I spent most of my hours, is housed next to this general research area but it was a little too hush-hush for me to take any photos. However, I thought you might like to see a couple of close-ups of the ceilings as well as the steps where Carrie’s heart was broken.

How could you update and translate this look into your own home? The color palette of Alexandra Wentworth’s family room featured in Elle Decor reminds me of the New York Public Library but with a modern twist. I particularly love the Motley color on the walls by C2Paint, which provides the perfect backdrop to those gold curtains. Imagine cozying up with a cup of hot tea and a good book right on that velvet upholstered armchair by the fire (Note: Jon just looked over my shoulder and told me that’s exactly how he would like our future living room to look like but the bookshelves must be packed to the brim)!

To relate one room to another, Wentworth kept a consistent look in her dining room but introduced a cobalt blue in the fabric of her dining chairs. Lovely, lovely…

To view the rest of her townhouse, visit the tour on Elle Decor’s site here (photography by Simon Upton). I think you will all love her office full of bookshelves and flea market treasures.

And now to announce the winner of Jan Showers’s Glamorous Rooms….the winner is Laura Wiertzema. Congrats! Please check your inbox so we can get this fabulous book out to you asap.

Image credits: Elle Decor (photography by Simon Upton) and New York Public Library photos by Kylie Sarley

Even though the weather is getting cooler and palettes are turning toward deeper plums and jewel tones of the fall, I can’t help but be attracted to this invigorating palette. It made me think of what it would look like in a room. Variations already exist, including a living room designed by Amanda Nisbet and David Jiminez’s Palm Springs home:

Just thought it might interest you too

Image credits: Amanda Nisbet & David Jiminez

Ellen Brook says, “there is an organic quality to the process since silk is so absorbent and the dye moves rapidly. As a result, I work quickly, spontaneously and intuitively.” Her work is soft and fluid, bringing a sensual yet natural quality to any interior space. I particularly like how her pieces can be used to delineate spaces by hanging from the ceiling…

as a canopy over a bed…

or even used as a focal point behind a vignette. These beautiful works of art are definitely going in my inspiration file. I selected a few of my favorites:

Image credits: Ellen Brook

I have been stalking blogs, magazines, and sites online for budget friendly ideas for our apartment in New York City. Michelle Adams’s apartment is such a great source of inspiration because she infused her personal style while keeping in mind her storage and budget concerns. Her apartment is a testament to how creative ideas can go a long way, as Michelle shopped at places like IKEA and op shops yet personalized her finds. The icing on the cake is certainly the use of her fabrics from Rubie Green, Michelle’s 100% organic cotton fabric line. You can see glimpses of it on the pillows, chairs, office area, headboard, and all of her bedding. If you would like to see more photos, pop on over to the spread from Real Living magazine here.

And don’t forget to enter the Monya clutch giveaway. It’s now open to all international readers as well. Does Rubie Green’s East Village chevron pattern remind you of the clutch too?

Image credits: M.A. Belle (photos by Patrick Cline for Lonny)

Ron Marvin’s 300 sq ft apartment in Chelsea will be somewhat of an inspiration for when we finally settle into our teeny 1-bedroom apartment in New York City. His studio has circled the blogosphere since its entry into Apartment Therapy’s Smallest Coolest Apartment contest for good reason: it’s a perfect demonstration of how to maximize your allotted space without compromising style.

There are several tips to take away from Marvin’s ingeniously designed studio, including:

• Clearly define each area with the help of a graphic rug or large piece of furniture
• Create a cohesive base color palette with a different accent color for each area e.g. primarily a chocolate, black, and white base with hints of yellow in the living area and turquoise by the office
• Use reflective or clear surfaces to make the space feel larger
• Layer lighting for a moody effect
• Have a vision for items that you see at flea markets and on the side of the street — good style does NOT need to be expensive
• Don’t forget about the vertical space for shelves and storage

You have all been incredibly sweet with your advice and e-mails about our upcoming move. In fact, Lindsay shared some excellent tips for small space living in this post (scroll down to Lindsay’s name in the comment section). I just wanted to make sure you all didn’t miss it.

I’ll be exploring small space living in the next few weeks as I gather inspiration for our new apartment. The perfect and most logical starting point will be Rebecca’s Loving Living Small — a blog dedicated to homes under 1000 sq ft, which will be a wonderful resource. Go check it out!

Stay tuned for another exciting giveaway that I know you’ll just love.

Image credits: Ron Marvin & Apartment Therapy

I love my Mum. Whenever I go home to Australia she always has the cupboards full of my favorite treats (Tim Tams, Tubes, Milo, Burger Rings, hummus and tzatziki with pita bread, chalk lollies, fresh scones with jam and cream…the list goes on…) and saves things for me such as recipes and magazines that she knows I will like. This time it was the May issue of Home Beautiful. I haven’t looked through this magazine in years. Instead I always ask Mum to bring a copy of Real Living and Donna Hay in her suit case when she visits. But next time can you please pack Home Beautiful too?

The May Home Beautiful featured the house of Danish furniture importer Mette Fog. Her relaxed living room is a perfect blend of oriental pieces, country-chic, and her love of “glittery and sparkly things, hence the chandeliers.” Her purple and yellow color palette on a bed of soft white makes me feel so incredibly girly.

The dress wallpaper scrolls in the dining room and hallway also add to the femininity of Fog’s home. These are from Deborah Bowness‘ hand printed wallpaper collection

And I love her wallpapered feature wall behind the bed. Mette selected the Nordic Leaves wallpaper in Birch Leaves by Helene Blanche. It’s a clever substitute for a headboard!

Thanks, Mum, for always knowing what I like.

Image credits: Home Beautiful

The pictures on their website do not do the suite justice but here is a taste of what I remember. The walls covered in a black-on-black damask wallpaper set the tone of the space for me. They were lined with large scale fashion photography, including some shots that you would probably recognize. In the center of the dining room, there was a large crystal chandelier hanging above a banquet style dining table. And I also remember seeing some zebra print and studded detailing on the furniture. Below is a selection of items that I could imagine in the space:

Clockwise from top left: damask wallpaper, ribba frame from IKEA with a photograph by David Shields, madison chandelier, zack accent chair, grosgrain fine bone china by Vera Wang, and the clift accent chair.

Could you live in a room of black walls?

Image credits: Sensational Color & Hue Interiors

All I want to do is hop into this bed, nestle into those soft sheets, and finally dream the night away. I have had trouble sleeping the past two weeks, mainly because I am overwhelmed with everything that’s going on at the moment. Do you ever have periods like this when all you want to do is sleep? The more I try the worse it seems to get and my head starts racing in a million different directions. It has gotten to the point where I may fall asleep but then still wake up in the middle of the night, tossing and turning for hours. Mum suggested that I drink some warm milk tonight but I reminded her that I don’t like milk. Then she proposed adding some chocolate…hmmm, now that sounds more tempting. What is your sleep remedy?

I do love the upholstered accent chair in the dreamy bedroom above. The cherie gray armchair or this black velvet armchair could be good substitutes.

Image credits: Perfect Bound & Neiman Marcus

Ahoy! Anyone who knows me will be surprised by this post because I normally don’t go for quirky. However, after flipping through Lili Diallo’s portfolio I could not resist sharing my fascination for the ship chandelier in this dining room. I love how it floats and twinkles up there, adding just a hint of glamour without being too garish.

Regalo Antiques currently has a circa 1900 ship chandelier with rosette crystals on display. But for a more budget-friendly version (although still quite pricey), Z Gallerie also offers a crystal ship chandelier.

I guess I am not the only one who is fascinated by these fixtures…

Image credits: Lili Diallo, Z Gallerie, 1st Dibs, Elle Decor (via Material Girls), & Digs by Katie (via COCOCOZY)

What I appreciate the most about her work is Stassi’s ability to mix high-end pieces with items that are more within our reach. She may pair some silk drapes from West Elm with an Oushak rug from Kuhl-Linscomb or use a Pottery Barn lamp in a vignette of family heirlooms and expensive antiques. Overall her spaces always seem very approachable and delicately edited.

This hallway vignette appeals to me where Stassi combined a white storage case from West Elm, a crystal lamp from Target (source is similar to this version), and a series of magazine covers displayed in silver frames (perhaps IKEA’s reslig frames would work here). The homeowners were fortunately related to Dolores Hawkins, a former Ford model who graced the covers of magazines such as Mademoiselle and Vogue, incidentally giving them access to vintage covers that were later photocopied and framed. Similar magazine covers from as early as the 1910s are available at the Conde Nast Store but Tamara from Get It Girl Style recently suggested to frame Chanel ads or photo spreads found in magazines today. One of my favorites from last year was the Elle magazine spread of Jennifer Lopez seen with notable designers such as Oscar de la Renta, Stefano Gabbana, and Donatella Versace. Perhaps a photocopied version would take away the glossy sheen and seem more realistic.

Lauren from Material Girls has an even more in-depth view of Stassi’s River Oaks project and Paloma of La Dolce Vita spotted Stassi’s Houston residence on the MLS when she sold it last year to move to New Orleans. If you like Stassi’s style then I’m sure you will enjoy their posts too.

Image credits: PaperCity magazine, IKEA, Target, West Elm, Elle, and La Dolce Vita