interior decor: areal rugs in full bloom

Ever since I’ve been on the kick to redecorate my studio apartment, I have fallen in love with everything available to make my dwelling my very own work of art.  I had forgotten how wonderful it is to decorate, revamp, recharge, redo and since I finally got my very own kitchen, I am slowly piecing the place together to make it a permanent home for a while.

Areal rugs are  a must in my opinion, it not only ties in your room’s decor, but also feels good against, well in this case, my feet. Here are some of my favorites to ponder over while I decide on re-arranging the space.

beautifully simple interior decor

First weekend of Fall and we, meaning San Francisco, experienced our first rain-ish  of weather the season. You know what? I didn’t mind it a bit, because it gave me the chance to stay indoors and clean up and believe it or not get inspired about my writings.

This time of year I tend to shift my attention to warm and cozy indoor places and daydream about Parisian lifestyles. So, of course, it’s no wonder I cam across some visuals here, which remind me of just that.

inspiring interiors: a room with a view

When you are cooped up in an office space for most of the week, with nothing to look at but your computer screen and a never ending pile of paperwork, it is always nice to come home to a room with a view of whatever makes you feel inspired.

Check out some of my favorites.

an apartment floor plan with character

A floor plan, well at least for me, has to flow just right before I can consider it a home. The most important musts:  huge windows (French Doors if at all possible), well lit,  hardwood floors, a kitchen with character and aesthetically pleasing color coordination throughout the entire apartment.

So, with that said,  I am hoping to find an apartment  with all the characteristics and charming details as in the collage of photos I put together above.

never mix paint with pleasure

Just in case you are scratching your head with the title, I must explain why I chose it.

You see, I have a weird appreciation for painting various areas of a home and feel painting should be a pleasure rather than a chore. I love discussing the options, I enjoy chosing the paint color, the brushes and various other gadgets to handle the project and most of all I truly enjoy rolling up my sleeves and diving right into it.

However, when the actual project begins, the fun can sometimes turn into a sad occassion, especially when you realize the outcome isn’t  as wonderful as you had hoped.

Take for example our attempts to paint the kitchen cabinets. Although we spend several hours consulting with the paint experts at Home Depot (in this case) and followed their suggestions on how to proceed, the mid-way result has been a bit worrysome to say the least.

We were told to prime the cabinets and then paint over them. Which made sense. We were also told that High Gloss looks the best (which I can visualize) and one coat would cover the cabinets. However, after priming the cabinets with white primer and then painting the first coat, we realized that white primer was really not the best choice for dark paint. So, after three coats of paint, we haven’t seen the results we were hoping for.

So, we consulted with a handyman and was advised that high gloss paint was hard to work with and it is the worst when trying to cover blemishes, so he recommended we use a roller to do two more coats and see how that turns out and if we aren’t satisfied at that point, to do one more coat with high sheen paint.

Ok, we nodded and agreed to follow his instructions, so stay tuned to see how it all turns out in the end.

first stop: condo kitchen sprucing up

First decision was to tackle the kitchen. His wish, of course, was to remodel the entire kitchen. Mine, was to reface, nip and tuck and voila a brand new look without spending the big bucks.

Since the area is a small 6×9 galley style kitchen, I wanted to go with white paint for the cabinets in order to brighten up the small, dark space. However, knowing his taste in dark furnishing, I agreed to paint the cabinets a deep dark brown instead, using the below photo as my gage on how it will turn out once done painting.

Stay tuned for photos of the before and after, coming your way shortly

the inspiration of window seats in decor

I don’t know what it is about window seats, but I love them. I suppose it is because I love to write and read and window seats are not only ideal for both hobbies, but they can be inspirational as well.

For example, my favorite of course is the featured photo (above) but then again, I wouldn’t mind the rest below this section:

herringbone pattern hardwood floors – a san francisco lifestyle

The beauty of living in a wonderful city like San Francisco is that you can actually choose to live in a Victorian or Edwardian style building with its original hardwood floors,  from the late 19th to early 20th century, still intact.

I don’t know about you, but no matter how flooring suggestions evolve through the centuries, there is nothing more appealing than hardwood floors – especially if it’s distressed  herringbone design or pattern – throughout the home.

So, just in case you disagree or are wondering what herringbone pattern is, just take a look below and then let me know what you think?

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decor – all things powder blue

I wish there was a way we could redecorate our homes with every season because I just can’t seem to get enough of the variations in decorating styles for a home makeover.

One choice of color I have always loved and consider the most peaceful is the color powder blue, however incorporating the color throughout an entire house is a bit much in my opinion. For me it would probably be a bedroom or a bathroom and maybe the kitchen in the photograph below. Wow.

Anyway, check out the pictures below and let me know what you think or if you have considered the color powder blue in your decor, how did it turn out?

breakfast nooks – a san francisco gem

Funny shift in article you might say, considering my thought pattern during the holiday season. But I just had to include a piece on breakfast nooks, because in my opinion, they play a major role during the holiday season. And also because I cannot go very long without discussing interiors and architecture.

In San Francisco, almost every home built before 1970, has some sort of a built in breakfast nook. I am not talking about an open space where you can place a table with four chairs (like most modern homes or kitchens have) but a small circular or a corner section in the kitchen area designed specifically for the built in table and seating. I just love them!!!

One reason I feel the breakfast nook plays a big role during the holiday season, is that, although it is a small area, most family members spend quiet a lot of time planning and discussing their holiday events to host or attend.  This wonderful little corner is also used for wrapping gifts and filing out Christmas cards, contemplating  holiday menus and discussing curfews.

I, for one, love to sit in the breakfast nook and and pretend to help my Mother while she prepares her traditional holiday baked goods. So, for that reason, I want to say “hear hear for the breakfast nook” and just so you understand the impact these wonderful areas have on most San Francisco locals, I have included some photos for your viewing pleasure.  Enjoy!