THE POCKET DECORATOR (iPHONE EDITION)

The iPhone has many uniquely addictive properties, one of which is sticky fingers. Less than 24 hours after I purchased a white iPhone, it was stolen (really? I mean, REALLY?!). I went from tech-glee to trepidation:  had I just acquired an app-enabled Hope Diamond? But, with my new-new iPhone, I've stopped worrying and moved straight on to decorating. The phone, that is:

This is the chinoiserie iPhone cover from Rogue. Can I tell you how much I LOVE this??!! It's absolutely charming. I've ordered it in pagoda orange (see swatch below) with grass green monogram. But if swathing your phone in Blue Willow china patterns isn't for you, check out a few of their other great designs below (I spy some KWID inspired trellis...).

So many great options - switch them out?

On to the interior - here are some apps I've loaded and loved:

Photosynth

iPhone 4 has a great built in camera, but only a professional grade lens can fisheye enough to capture a full room. I hate stumbling across an exciting design in a shop/hotel lobby/friend's living room, and being unable to fit everything into the frame. With Photosynth, you take multiple photos around the space, and Photosynth weaves them all together into one large image or a panorama. Genius! You'll never again wonder what part of a space inspired you.

Code Reader

This app is a box store bonanza - unsure if you're getting a good price on paint? Wallpaper? Linens? Photograph the bar code, and Code Reader gives you a list of local locations selling the same item and their prices. If you're a bargain hunter like me, you may find that it's biggest value is time; I've stopped leaving things on the shelf wondering if there's a "better deal" - then having to return when another store was more expensive or out of stock. And you may decide that a few dollars more doesn't justify another journey across town.

Yard Sale Shopper

I'm afraid of this app. I'm afraid of what the power to know where EVERY estate and/or yard sale in the immediate vicinity may do to me. Yard Sale Shopper combs through local classifieds and creates pin-point maps with descriptions of each sale. Prediction? You may spend the money you save on shopoholics rehab. 

Color Change

This app is the electronic version of Benjamin Moore's sample paint cans. Photograph a space, select the wall (or furniture, lamp shades, etc.) you want to change, and choose from hundreds of colors. Color Change then "repaints" the space in your photograph, for infinite experimentation. Without the aching arms. 

TagReader

More and more stores and media outlets are "tagging" things, and with home decor mags jumping on that wagon, this is one app you shouldn't go without. Hover your camera phone over a tag, photograph it, and the corresponding video/photo/webpage/etc. will show up on your screen. Tags are a bit like easter eggs - they can provide some fun surprises. For instance, House Beautiful featured a tag on a story about Tobi Fairley's new home. I clicked a quick photo of it, and got to watch a fun video of Tobi giving a personal tour of the home. Tres tres tech!

Decomash

This app is a bit hit-or-miss, but it's free and harmless, so go for it. Decomash enables you to photograph a space in your home, and then it performs an art search online, pulling together thumbnails of suggested artworks for photographs. See something you like? Click the image, and you'll be transported to the website to buy. 

AroundMe

I really, really love this app. It's designed to easily point you to the nearest necessities - cafe, movie theater, parking, etc. But, grab the "nearby" feature, and you'll get a picture of all the shops around you, so if you're in the mall or visiting a new town, you won't have to wonder where the good stores are. Just click and stroll!

Color Capture

All the smart paint companies are doing it! This app lets you photog any color you like, then matches it up with a corresponding paint color (and, provides harmonious shades for accenting as well). "Ben" is easy to use, and Benjamin Moore paint is everywhere, so this remains one of the most popular options on the market. One tip:  make your sure you have good lighting when capturing that wayward leaf, fabric, or other inspiration. Shadowing reads darker for the Ben app than it does for your eyes, so light the item up to avoid a mis-match.

What did I miss? If you have a favorite iPhone app (or phone cover) be sure to share your find in the comments!
Images, companies as attributed.

Redesign: The Green and White Chinoiserie Desk

I have a quaint little fold-top desk that has been with me since childhood. A writer must have a desk, however small, and this one has followed me like a devoted little dog through a series of apartments and houses, frequently squeezed into awkward corners, dragged up stairs, or stuffed in the back of my SUV. My faithful desk needs a face lift, and I've decided to do it in green and white chinoiserie. 

It may look average now - but wait till we're through!

THE PROJECT

1. Replace the handles and knob with brushed brass bamboo hardware.

2. Decoupage the interior of the desktop in a green and white trellis paper.

3. Paint the foot and crown of the desk in a green matching the paper.

4. Fill it with beautiful things!

THE PIECES

A few favorite items I'd like to use in my re-design (clockwise):  

1. Thomas Paul crysanthymum pillow. 

2. Iomoi personalized paperweight. 

3. Brushed brass faux bamboo hardware. 

4. and 6. Iomoi pencils. 

5. Jasper Conran for Wedgwood china (for paper clips and odds and ends). 

6. Lucite green and white chinoiserie tray, by Iomoi. 

A Jonathan Adler chippendale style faux bamboo chair, accented with a Thomas Paul pillow. While I'm concentrating on renovating the desk right now, a new coordinating chair is in the future. I may get a green version instead of white - Adler makes both!

A bamboo trellis pattern wallpaper I'm planning to order for the interior decoupage. I'd love to do Wearstler's Imperial Trellis (see below), but it's a bit pricy for an amateur project. I need an affordable paper available in less than a single roll, in a green and white trellis pattern. Do you have a great suggestion? Send it on!!!

THE RESULTS...  stay tuned! 

In the meantime, here's a little of my inspiration. ANY mention of chinoiserie can't overlook the stunning blog Chinoiserie Chic, the authority for this subject in the blogosphere. Check out Beth's recent post on the Blanc de Chine Office, as well as a detailed how-to on chinoiserie decoupage, with stunning results like this:
Maybe I should do filing cabinets next?

And while we're at it, here's an example of Kelly Wearstler's Imperial Trellis used in decoupage and the green Jonathan Adler chair. I'd already thought up this scheme when I stumbled on the picture, and it was nice to see how well it could come off. Here's hoping for a happy ending!

Movie Credits:  All "pieces" as listed above.  File Cabinet Photo, originally Domino via StyleCourt, via Chinoiserie Chic. Trellis Decoupage Cabinet Photo, an unknown, online find. If this is your picture, please email me so that I may give credit where credit is due!

How To: Dresser Transformation

As promised yesterday, here is designer Adrienne Lemmond's cheap and cheerful nursery decor tip:  how to Mod Podge a bedroom dresser to coordinate with your decor. Of course, you can use this anywhere in your home, not just the nursery!

Made with love. Adrienne created this colorful Mod Podge-decorated dresser for her own nursery. 

Note the cute curtains behind as well!

Here's the nitty gritty.
Supplies:  You'll need decorative paper, scissors, foam brushes, and Mod Podge (see www.plaidonline.com/apmp.asp).
1) Measure the drawer front and precut the paper to fit (in a patterend paper like this, it's important to piece it together to make sure the pattern lines up).
2) Then coat the entire surface of the drawer front with a layer of Mod Podge. Adrienne used a small foam brush to apply it (Mod Podge is like glue so you will have to throw away whatever you use).
3) Place the paper on the now tacky surface, starting at the top and slowly laying the paper down against the drawer while smoothing it to get rid of any air bubbles. Smooth gently; the paper will tear easily as it gets saturated with the Mod Podge.
4) Once you are done applying the paper, wait overnight for it to dry and then “paint” the top of the paper with a thin layer of the Mod Podge. You can coat it several times, but let it dry between coats. This top layer will create a protective seal over the paper. Mod Podge comes in either a matte or glossy finish to match whatever look you are trying to achieve. Adrienne used the glossy here because she thought it looked more feminine.

For more of Adrienne's creativity, visit her Etsy shop, LilaGrace Designs. 

Picture courtesy of Adrienne Lemmond. 

Palette Power

Having trouble finding just the right shade of green to match your painting?  Want to coordinate an entire room around the pic you took in Capri last year?  This awesome gadget allows you to upload an image, and the color generator will match all the shades in your palette for you!  

Here's an example, using a picture of a garden wall at Madison's Montpelier.  Try it for yourself! 

#42322e
slugger

#4f5250
cape cod

#302c21
cannon black

#2d4737
bush

#59473f
mash

#809e66
amulet

#97b554
chelsea cucumber

#faf4eb
twilight blue

#e6d8c9
half spanish white

#5c4a43
mash

#8b8e86
suva grey

#979fa4
powder blue

#332d1d
cannon black

#303232
oil

R.I.P., Domino

The website came down today. No more easy-access paint amount calculators, no more Dear Marian advice on the stubborn curtain problem, no more random color discoveries ("a black bathroom can be cool!"). No more Domino. Alas, to be taken from us so soon at the tender age of four.

However, there is one Flickr of hope on the horizon - the Domino Magazine Files on Flickr! Adoring readers are posting all their My Deco File photo downloads in an effort to keep the fabulous Domino archive alive and accessible. So open your files and contribute! Flickr The Domino Magazine Files. Thanks to Coco + Kelly for posting about this!

Images: Domino Magazine