COVER STORY

While organizing the girls' books, I came across a few with colorful, cool covers that captured my imagination. I particularly love the look of these illustrations, maybe because they are hand-drawn and unique, something that is becoming more and more rare in this computerized world. Viva la 20th century, is what I say!

COLOR POP

It's the dead of winter, which means I'm already desperate for an injection of sun, warmth, sizzle, SOMETHING to stave off the doldrums the gray weather can give a girl. My tiny bathroom is one of my last decorating holdouts in the house as I am waiting to rip it all out and start fresh. In the meantime, I decided to add a bit more fun and flair with colorful bathroom accessories and knickknacks. Seeing this vignette when I emerge from a hot shower might trick me into thinking spring is just around the corner. 

Most of the items here are either vintage or unavailable, but one that I can highly recommend is the Pacifica Nerola Orange Blossom candle. Pacifica is a Portland-based company that makes heavenly scented candles, perfumes and beauty products. I have long been a fan of their soy candles, which burn clean and last for ages. Check out their website here.

VALUABLE

This was the theme of my overnight trip to the Willamette Valley yesterday. After breezing through some thrift shops in Salem (my childhood stomping grounds), I perused the vast warehouse that is City Liquidators in Northeast Portland. This sign caught my eye before I left town, and I liked the message and the vintage quality of it.

MULTNOMAH FALLS

Life is too short to take things for granted. I have passed Multnomah Falls dozens of times, yet rarely have I stopped to admire its powerful beauty. Today was perfectly misty and ethereal, so I took an opportunity to capture the quintessential Northwest landmark.

BLACK & WHITE BAR CART

My old reliable black and white came in handy when styling the new bar cart. I have a soft spot for vintage Vera scarves and cork, so I added both for texture. Most of the items I used were either thrift shop finds or recent Target purchases ( I have fallen under the Nate Berkus accessory line's spell!). Check out the results below....

I am pretty stoked with how this turned out; it has a great sort of '70s vibe to it that I love. Since I'm not going to be using this piece as an actual bar cart (small children, you know), I am pondering using it instead as a bedside table. For now, though, I enjoy seeing lots of my favorite knickknacks in one spot!

STAY CLASSY

I found this Threshold bar cart at Goodwill the other day (and it cost me WAY less than retail!). I am giddy with delight over this find, and will have a follow-up post once I get it home and style it up. :)

GALLERY WALL

I got a wild hair today and decided to create a gallery wall in my living room. I wanted a loose, funky  feel, so I added some objects into the mix of framed pieces. Although I've seen it pretty much everywhere in the past decade, I'm still madly in love with that For Like Ever print (it was a first wedding anniversary gift!). My daughter Carolyn didn't mind the commotion, just as long as she could watch Edward Scissorhands in peace.

WEATHERED

This groovy concrete sun lives in my courtyard. It used to hang above the mantel at my parents' old house, but I confiscated it sometime during college and it has graced all of my homes since.

LOW WINTER SUN

One of my favorite joys is a clear, sunny day in the dead of winter. Roll up those shades and let it in!

Lovely screen print by Slide Sideways.

NOT A SIGN OF THE TIMES

The thing about where I live is, there is a certain time-warped, trapped-in-amber quality to everything. Buildings and signs tend to be dated and a bit shabby, and I love it! It's almost as if the 21st century hasn't happened yet.

GOODY TWO SHOES

The shoes so nice, I bought them twice! 

DV by Dolce Vita Malika boots, available here. 

BLACK WHITE GOLD

I have always been drawn to dichotomies. I am half black and half white, and also a Gemini, so maybe it's ingrained in me. This is a sampling of some black and/or white trinkets floating around my house. I decided to group them in interesting ways and added gold for some shiny. And, of course, the images are presented as a diptych!

A NEW LOOK

A new year, a new vignette. Color, symmetry and an eclectic mix are some of my favorite design elements. I combined them all in my mother's living room, shown here, and we are both thrilled with the result. Here's to a fun and fruitful 2014!