GOING TO THE SMALL SIDE: NAOMI'S HOME

Since I'm decorating a small (minuscule) living space, I spend a lot of time digging through photo archives of everything from diminutive houses, to one-bedroom apartments and studios, looking for what looks best when your aspirations are big and your canvas for realizing them is small. One of my favorite new inspirations is the apartment of Naomi of Divine Manifest blog and interior design. You'll note it's fairly spacious, but many of the design elements would translate beautifully to the small side - especially the fabulous accent walls!

/All Images/ Design Manifest/

PRETTY PAPER WHITES

Paper whites are most loved as a Christmas flower, but I enjoy them anytime in a cold winter - or a mild fall. They're the most forgiving of flowers. Even brown thumbs can grow a grasp of paper whites with the help of a little water and ample windowsill sun. And after the blooms have dropped, the long leaves will continue to bring a little green to your rooms.

I potted my own paper whites last week, and while I'm waiting for them to grow, I'm living vicariously through these pretty bouquets.

via Cote de Texas

via Visual Vamp

/Images/ The Enchanted Home/ Cote de Texas/ Ruth Burts/ Visual Vamp/ Mary McDonald/ Mary McDonald/ Southern Accents/

Need a how-to? Martha Stewart hasn't let you down - click HERE.

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

A few scenes from a recent trip out West...

And while in Red Lodge, Montana, I dropped in on a little shop called Whispering Pines. I'm not a Western/Outdoorsy style myself, but I love great style in any flavor! I was so tempted by the silver bear salt and peppers, and the branch utensils too.

And this pheasant center piece embellished with acorns.

A reindeer decanter.

A lovely old sleigh turned into a settee.

These stools covered in Uzbek rugs are charming, and pick up a Native American vibe.

Antlers!

And a farm wagon? Cart? Becomes a homey table.

Whispering Pines, 12 S Broadway, Red Lodge, MT, (406) 446-1470.

/Images/all my own. Please request permission to repost/

RALPH LAUREN AND THE BLOGGERS

Bloggers on home design represent an unusually divergent field of faithful - after all, everyone lives in houses, so why not figure out how to live in them better? It's not always the degree that certifies a tastemaker. The resume is incidental - just like Go Remy says:

"I've got an MBA!"
"Ah - business administration?"
"NO! I got a Master's in Be'n Amaz'n!"

Anyway, so I was thrilled with the results of the Ralph Lauren/Bloomingdale's blogger designs and their four great picks to style their products. But, I would have been even MORE thrilled with a few of the lawyers/flamenco dancers/stay-at-home moms from blogger-land to represent. That's the only thing I could find to complain about with this campaign, though - it's fabulous (just scroll and say "ahhh").

Since I'm writing from DC, where introductions don't end with your name but your job title, here's the Ralph Lauren blogger ad campaign, CVs included.

Michelle Adams - formerly of M.A. Belle, now founder and blogger at Lonny (Resume:  Domino, Rubie Green founder)

Marisa Marcantonio of Stylebeat (Resume:  House Beautiful, O at Home)

Jennifer Boles of The Peak of Chic (Resume:  Finance)

Eddie Ross of Eddie Ross - the blog (Resume: Food Network, House Beautiful, Martha Stewart Living, Top Design tv show, online entrepreneur) 

/Images/Bloomingdales/

LOVING LILLY HOME

How lovely (and on trend) is the new Lilly Pulitzer home collection? Horchow and Neiman Marcus are both offering a selection of dining, living, and accent furniture in Palm Beach style. I'll take it all!

Enjoy (and don't miss the cheerful lizard wallpaper).

Be sure to check out her bedding over at Garnet Hill!

/Images/companies as attributed/

FOLLOWING CHLOE WARNER

Everyone (by which I mean you, because you read shelter blogs) remembers this bedroom:

It's by Chloe Warner, from her charming pad in the California Hills with blockbuster-level glam. But she hasn't been resting on those cherry blossom laurels. Warner's design firm, Redmond Aldrich, spreads her special brand of eclectic palm beach goes Asian around town - enjoy a few fresh looks below.

 Images/Chloe Warner/

iDECORATE: BEFORE AND AFTER

Earlier this year I moved to Washington, D.C., into an apartment long on charm and views, and short on size. Much to my surprise, I'm loving living small. No more clinging to boring or unloved items; I feel free to throw things and out and start afresh (as I mentioned on the Great Couch Hunt). So I have. And, I decided that, other than upholstery and textiles, I'm decorating vintage as much as possible. EBay, One King's Lane, and antique stores are my new best friends. Thrill of the hunt! Here are a few first finds.

Pattern play - I had fun piling up the kitchen linens for a colorful effect atop the newly painted table!

BEFORE:  I scored this diminutive table in a vintage shop down South for around $100. It's English-made, and I fell in love with the delicate bamboo carving. Since I live in a studio, it was the ideal size for dining in - but not the ideal color. By painting it a high-gloss black, it would make a nice set with my bamboo fretwork dining chairs from Ballard Designs.

AFTER! A coat of primer and some black enamel, and it's a matched set! I love the way it turned out (much better than I loved painting each and every carving...). It makes a sweet little seating area, and when I move to a larger home, a nice side or card table. I'll need to learn to play...

BEFORE:  I found this sideboard on eBay for $145. It's by Broyhill, and not exactly inheritance material, but I loved the mix of bamboo carved border and turned legs. In a rather bold, but ineffective effort, the previous owner had attempted to go Asian country with cream paint and slate blue hardware. Hmmmm...

AFTER:  a lot of elbow grease later (stripping hardware is a pain!) and with a new coat of paint, it's reborn. Decorating is still in process but I particularly like it flanked by the green foo dogs. Best of all? It has a TON of storage - perfect for a small space.

My new place is a work in progress. I'll update you as things move along!

All images, my own.