Lovely apartments from my future city

As some of you might already know, in August I am moving to DC because my boyfriend will be attending GWU in the fall to get his masters. While I grew up in MD, I only ever went to DC for school field trips, so I don't really know much about the different neighborhoods. So yesterday before attending Manvi from Mochatini's fabulous tabletop decorating how-to party, which I'll be sharing pics from later, I drove around and explored some recommended neighborhoods. I checked out Columbia Heights, Shaw, Foggy Bottom, Dupont, Silver Spring (MD suburb), and Capitol Hill. It's ultimately going to come down to the $$/space ratio. Anyway, enough of that - here are some fab. DC apartments...


The vintage chic split level apartment is in Cleveland Park.

LoVe the widow seat


This charming loft is in the adorable Logan Circle in the The Louise Hand Laundry Loft

Love the rug

Great bed

via Apartment Therapy

Inspired - Wood Ceilings

I love the warmth wood ceilings add to a home. I am especially drawn to lighter shades of wood. It's so important not to forget your "fifth" elevation when designing a room! I always address the ceilings when working on client projects.



I love Lee Kleinhelter's simple, graphic spaces. I wonder if she'll be relocating from her city dwellings anytime soon, I always enjoy seeing her latest projects!



Isn't this ceiling gorgeous? House Beautiful

Painting the wood white creates a crisp and clean look!

Images: Traditional Home, Pinterest, Lee Kleinhelter - Cottage Living {oh how I miss that magazine!}, Pinterest,
Elle Decor, HB, Pinterest, HB, Pinterest, Cottage Living, House Beautiful

A happy Friday to you and gorgeous book giveaway

The weekend never comes soon enough - except when I have a Friday deadline. So I figured there is no better time to do a book giveaway.

This is a unique one - "Classic Swedish Interiors," by Lars Sjoberg. The poetic photos are by Ingalill Snitt.

I'm going to quote Amazon as they describe the book better than me -

"Lars Sjöberg has made it his life's work to understand and preserve the Swedish manor houses of the 17th and 18th centuries. Here, exquisitely photographed by Ingalill Snitt, are the eight houses (and one church) that he has acquired over more than 40 years. The book focuses on Sjöberg's first, most complex project: the manor of Regnaholm. Unoccupied for about 40 years when Sjöberg arrived in 1966, it allowed him to experiment with interior decoration and refurnishing, copying old furniture, reweaving, and reprinting old fabric patterns.

His other projects include Ekensberg, a three-story Italianate villa near Lake Mälaren, built in 1788-90, and Salaholm in Västergötland with a garden laid out in the first half of the 17th century. Odenslunda, a small manor from the 1770s with a panelled exterior and a säteritak or manor-house roof, is his family home, while Sörby, a scaled-down early 17th-century manor house, was reproduced in its entirety for an exhibition in Stockholm. Full of insight and inspiration, this is a deeply personal summary of everything Lars Sjöberg has learned in his years of working and living with classic Swedish interiors." - via Amazon.com

Here are some of my favorite photos from the book -


One day I will have an antique Swedish grandfather clock!








As usual, all you have to do to enter the drawing is leave a comment! To comment on this post (scroll to the bottom of this post and right above "Labels" you will see a number followed by the word "comments." Click on the word "Comments." Or, you will see a link, "Post a Comment," which you click on to comment.

If you receive posts in your email feel free to respond to the email noting that you'd like to be entered in the drawing.

Contest closes Friday July 1st at 5pm. Good luck!

Vintage Furniture Re-upholstered That Speaks To You From Voici!

Voici! is the new-born child of Los Angeles gallery voila! A highly individual line of limited edition handcrafted upholstery pieces from LA-based Belgian native madame voila! (alias Katrien Van der Schueren) and UK-based madame voici! (alias Jo Laurie).



Using vintage fabrics gathered during travels around the globe, they re-upholster and re-finish vintage furniture, so that they are born again with a new persona. If they can’t find the appropriate pieces or don’t have the right fabric to play with, they create their own toys.

Of their many unusual pieces, the Wordy collection of furnishings with silk-screened quotes from the likes of Oscar Wilde and Albert Einstein printed in a cream, silver or white typewritten font on soft cotton denim is one of my favorites.

The Wordy Double Seater I:



A voici! limited edition piece. They took a low, vintage two-seater sofa and gave it the voici! touch. The soft denim cotton fabric has hand-silk screened designs on the cushions of inspirational quotes by famous leaders and innovators. Ask about getting these quotes put on a fabric of your choice.
Length : 35
Height : 29
Width : 55
$3400, buy it here

The Wordy Double Seater II:


A voici! limited edition piece. They took a low, vintage two-seater sofa and gave it the voici! touch. The soft denim cotton fabric has hand-silkscreened designs on the cushions of inspirational quotes by famous leaders and innovators. Ask about getting these quotes put on a fabric of your choice.
Length : 35
Height : 29
Width : 55
$3400, buy it here

The Wordy Armchair:



This single-seater version of their very popular "Wordy double seater" only seats one and boasts not only a comfortable place to sit, but a recycled vintage chair frame given new life in our studio. The soft denim cotton fabric has hand-silk screened designs on the cushions of inspirational quotes by famous leaders and innovators. This chair is available only in a limited edition. Ask about getting these quotes put on a fabric of your choice.
Length : 28
Height : 29
Width : 30
$1,940, buy it here

Wordy Pillows:


The pillows are also available in pink type on brown fabric.

Like the rest of the collection, you can inquire about other fabrics for the pillows .
$190 each, buy them here.

The Chevy 789 Combines The 3 Most Popular Chevrolets Of All Time Into One Vehicle.

n2a [No Two Alike] Motors Inc. in Corona, California is producing a series of cars to appeal to the true Chevrolet enthusiast who wants to relive the 1950's styling or visit this era for the first time.



Most car enthusiasts recognize the look of a 1957 Chevrolet. In fact, many believe this car represents the essence of the styling of the 1950s when almost all cars could easily be identified by make, model and year. Those were the times when General Motors changed the complete body design of their cars each year in 1957, 1958, and 1959; a feat manufacturers say cannot be done economically today.



The model above is, in fact, a design that features the front end styling of a 1957 Chevrolet Belair, the middle section reflecting a 1958 Chevrolet Impala and the distinctive rear extremity of a 1959 Chevrolet. Thus the model designation, "7-8-9" covers the three years of the most popular Chevrolets of all time. The Chevy 789 is available in a Coupe or Convertible for $135,500 or $139,500 respectively.


Here's a look at the three original vehicles whose combined designs inspired the custom built Chevy 789.

The original ’58 Chevrolet Impala hardtop:

and convertible:

The original ’57 Chevy Belair hooded headlights and chrome grille:

The original ’59 Chevrolet tail fins:


Melding the design elements from the different Chevy models shown above, the 789 looks instantly iconic. It blends the best of three classics mounted atop a Le Mans-winning Corvette C6 chassis.






Aptly named for the three years represented in the overall design, the 789 has the "hooded eyes" and chrome grille of a ’57, a mid-section that’s reminiscent of a ’58 Impala and the "bird in flight" rear tailfins of a ’59. These three vehicles are all instantly recognizable classics celebrated by people around the world.






Based on the very reliable and extremely performance oriented new Corvette, known as the C6 for Corvette's sixth generation, the body panels are replaced by newly designed carbon fiber body pieces specially sculptured for the 7-8-9. What results is a two seat sports car with production restricted to 'no two alike', thus the name of the company, n2a Motors. With more than 10,000 exterior and interior color combinations and hundreds of wheel designs, you can have the specific car of your dreams.

The Chevy 789 in baby blue and white with black interior:



If the performance of the C6 Corvette at 440 horsepower doesn't satisfy your needs, a vast array of upgrades from performance intake and exhaust manifolds to over-the-top 1,000 horsepower enhancements are available. Turbocharging or supercharging options can be added to your individually commissioned dream machine. Brake packages including ceramic, carbon fiber or other high performance systems along with custom made exhaust packages all add to the overall wish list.

The Chevy 789 in Aqua and Black with tri-toned interior:



Inside, each 789 the interior is tri-toned as standard equipment, just like the 1958 Impala that inspired it. You can choose from virtually any available commercial fabric or leather combination at no extra cost.




Obviously, sound system upgrades are expected as well as some interior features designed to surprise and delight, such as lighted door panels that glow in different colors in sync with the music. Special embroidery on the seats is also a personal touch that reflects your wants. Body colors and combinations will not be duplicated adding to further individualism.

The Chevy 789 in orange and black with black interior:


The 789 offers the best of both worlds: retro looks and styling, and it will fire up every time you turn the key. The body is constructed of lightweight composite panels. n2a Motors has developed a process of using 80% carbon fiber with 20% fiberglass. This process yields a light weight rigid part as if it was 100% carbon fiber with the minimal properties of fiberglass that allows for show quality paint and finish.

The customer can either provide n2a Motors with a donor C6 series (2005-2009) Corvette, which currently retails for around $60,000 (though used models can be had for less), or they can locate one for you.

After stripping the ‘Vette of its stock body, n2a hand-grafts the retro body panels over the stock frame, suspension, and massive 440-horsepower, 6.0-liter aluminum-block V8 engine. The base cost of conversion is $80,000, which includes choice of interior and exterior color schemes, specific 789 exhaust, and PST high-performance sway bars. A full range of upgrades are available, including up to 800 hp powertrains, custom suspension, audio/video/navigation systems, interior customization, and more. They will build each 789 to meet the customer's specifications. However, please note that no previously built combination of paint scheme and interior treatment will be duplicated.



List Price
Coupe = $135,500
Convertible = $139,500
Transmission: 6 speed manual or 6 speed auto with paddle shift
Top Speed: 180 mph
0 - 60: 4.5 seconds (stock)
Engine: 6.2L LS3 V8
Weight: 3,355 Coupe and 3,385 Convertible
Horsepower: 440HP +++
Torque: 440 @ 4600 +++
Length: 177.2 inches
Tires: 245/35ZR-19 front and 285/30ZR-20 rear



n2a Motors
1771 North Delilah Street Corona, CA 92879
Phone (951) 898-2000 Fax (951) 898-2091