Thank you, Kravet!

Kravet heard our requests!  This week, I posted about my love for the Dakota Quilted Bench.  It's pretty much the perfect cocktail ottoman with a polished nickel frame and a sleek upholstered top.  The only problem is the macassar wood lower shelf.  It doesn't come in other finishes.  Why not, Kravet?  So, after that post, Kravet left this comment...

And then, today, they wrote us THIS...

Yay!  Thank you for your stellar customer service, Kravet. 

I knew you wouldn't let us down. 

Now, everyone go out and order that Dakota Quilted Bench.  One with a glass shelf, one with a dark wood shelf, maybe one with a carrara marble shelf?  The sky's the limit.

Happy Weekend.

xoxo,

Kelly

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Bump Smitten!

Thank you, Bump Smitten!  Today, they are featuring the baby shower I styled for my dear friend, Brooke.  As many of you know, Bump Smitten is one of my favorite party inspiration blogs.  And when I needed inspiration for planning this very special baby shower, I turned to them for help!

Check out the Bump Smitten post HERE.

This bit of news comes at the perfect time.  Brooke gave birth to this very special baby last Friday.  His name is Liam James, and I don't think they come much cuter than this:

Congratulations, Brooke & Dean.  And, welcome baby Liam.

(And, thank you again Amanda Bevington for taking such beautiful photos of the baby shower!)

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Dear Kravet...

Dear Kravet,

I'm a huge fan of your work.  I love your affordable designer fabrics, your top notch upholstery, your friendly and knowledgeable sales people.  I love your beautifully decorated showrooms, your sister companies Lee Jofa and Brunschwig & Fils.  All of it.  You're a go-to resource when I start a design project.  That being said, I have one request...

You carry the most perfect upholstered cocktail ottoman.  You call it the "Dakota Quilted Bench".  I love the size and shape, love the polished nickel frame (love that!).  It has a simple upholstered top and a fabulous lower shelf.  It's perfect for fancy city living, or suburban family rooms.  But, here's the problem: that macassar finish on the lower shelf.  While it is fancy and stylish, it can be a bit limiting.  I'm not saying I don't like it, Kravet.  I'm just saying it's limiting.  Can you please offer this in another finish?  It's just on the lower shelf, so how hard can it be to offer this simple shelf in a regular wood finish?  Or even white?  How gorgeous would that lower shelf be in a white carrera marble?  Think about it, Kravet.

Sincerely yours,

Kelly

the dakota quilted bench in the Philadelphia showroom

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Inspired By: Papaya Pink

images from JCrew, Rita Konig, Design Sponge, and Modern Thread

You know that fruity shade of pink that falls somewhere between "bubblegum" and "peach"?  That shade of papaya pink that has just the right amount of orange in it?  I love that color.

I've pulled a great papaya pink linen and I'm hoping to use it on a pair of lampshades.  Pink lampshades.  That should spruce up the space I'm working on. 

all images from House Beautiful, Lonny Magazine, and Canadian House & Home.

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It's Hot In Philadelphia!

When my sister and I were little, my mother used to read us poems from Shel Silvertein's "Where The Sidewalk Ends" and "A Light In The Attic."  We had so many favorites, and we would ask her to read them to us over and over, and over again.  This one was one of them:

I've been thinking about this poem all day given the tremendous heat we're experiencing here in Philadelphia.  It's Hot!  To escape the sweltering temps, I spent the entire day shopping at the Philadelphia Marketplace.  I stopped in at Lee Jofa to see the new Lilly Pulitzer collection, I swooned over the Oscar de la Renta furniture line at Century, and seriously contemplated buying this Regency style cabinet at Robert Allen's floor sample sale.  Unfortunately, I don't have $6,000 to burn.  So I had to pass.  But the air conditioning was lovely.

Today reached 97 degrees and tomorrow it's going to be 102 degrees... 

with a "RealFeel" of 113!!!

I wish I could sit around in my bones.  It's hot!

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Black Bath

I tend to gravitate towards bathrooms that are light and bright...  but these dramatically dark bathrooms are quite inspiring, aren't they?  This level of drama might be perfect for a half-bath/powder room. 

via Lonny Magazine

Meyer Davis Studio

via Lonny Magazine

Jenna Lyons via Domino

Marie Claire Maison

via Rue Magazine

via Metropolitan Home

via Lonny Magazine

Maybe you can't commit to black walls?  How about just tackling the trim:

Christina Murphy via Lonny Magazine

Christina Murphy via Lonny Magazine

unknown source

Better Homes & Gardens

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Inspired By: Chris Barrett Design

Chris Barrett's personal home was featured in the new issue of House Beautiful.  Her kitchen also made the cover.  Located in Brentwood, California, this 1,050 square foot bungalow was built in 1929 and still features loads of original Spanish charm.  From the original tongue-and-groove ceiling to the plaster walls, Barrett had a lot to work with when she bought the place.  She eventually installed the wide plank flooring, gutted and built a brand new kitchen, added French doors, and landscaped the backyard (creating a fabulous garden space).

I personally LOVE the way that Barrett mixed true antiques with modern pieces, creating a lived-in look that feels comfortable and functional.  This is something I'm always trying to achieve in interior design, and I think that she's done it so successfully.  Who wants to live in a space that feels forced or contrived?  Nothing should be too precious and everything should tell some sort of story.  I love the bright white walls, dark wood finishes, and timeless materials like white marble and porcelain subway tiles.  Love that farmhouse sink in the kitchen... and that dining banquette!!!  Can we talk about that? The chandelier, the bamboo windsor chairs... it's ALL so good.

And, let's not forget that this space is just over 1,000 square feet!

(love this shot!)

Not only is Barrett's personal home a design inspiration, but so is her professional portfolio.  I thought I would share some of my favorite images on the blog today.  So, enjoy!

To see more of Chris Barrett's portfolio, click HERE.

*all images were scanned by me, or taken from the Chris Barrett Design website.

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