Gingham for the Home

Sticking with the preppy vibe that i started out with this week,  I want to focus on on a classic pattern that has been everywhere recently.  I love GINGHAM and right now, it seems like everybody owns at least one gingham shirt.  But,  have you thought about using it in your home decor? It might sound a bit scary... many of us think red picnic table cloths or super kitschy cottage looks, however, if used right, gingham can be a totally fun—and modern—layer of pattern in a home.  Here are some fun examples I've seen recently on the interwebs:

I love how this punchy striped chair and old ship painting funk up this traditional feeling wallpaper. 

Again, this wallpaper looks classic, but the colors and other items in the room make it feel modern. Gingham kitchen ceiling from Apartment Therapy (I've said before, I think the decorative impact ceilings can have is under appreciated)Or, you could look down and update your floors.

Another gingham wallpaper, I love the bright and airy feeling of this dining room.

Herve Pierre went extreme with gingham in his bedroom (photographed by Todd Selby)

Check out this settee - it can totally be a neutral, too.

This little upholstered chair from Canadian House & Home is too cute not to include.

Gingham can be found in just about every color of the rainbow and the size of the squares can range from a from tiny and neutral to large and graphic squares, making it extremely versatile. So,  why not give it a try in your  next project?

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ttp://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/kitchen/gingham-ceilings-145617

Antique Trunks as a Coffee Tables

A friend of mine with a studio apartment has been struggling to find a coffee table that both fits in his small space and provides a bit of extra storage.  My suggestion to him was to keep an eye out for an antique trunk, chest, or footlocker.  There are tons of trunks around on Craigslist and in local antique shops. And, they can work great as coffee tables or for extra storage at the foot of a bed. 

Plus, trunks can work for a variety of different styles. They can be a bit more glamorous (or even "designer" like the photo above),  rustic (lots of unfinished wood options) or masculine and "worldly" (many have cool old stickers from traveling like the one below).

Here are some great affordable options in the Bay Area that I found with a quick Craigslist search.  (Click on the images for the original listings)

A fun blue one for just $25!

This one might need a tray or plexiglass top but I couldn't pass up the color.  And, the inside has already been cleaned out and restored!

Simple black with great brass detailing ($70 and I'm sure it could be negotiated down)

Another great looking black trunk. (Listed for $50)

If they're too short, you can always add casters (wheels) or legs, like Ashley did to an old suitcase here:

Or, if antique/vintage isn't your vibe,  The Container Store has some great (and bright!) new options for $85:

Bored of White Dishes

When I bought my first set of dishes (the ones I still have now), I chose a super-simple all white set.   The thought was: they would "go with everything,"  food looks good on white and I wouldn't get sick of them.  But, it turns out,  I'm kind of sick of them.  I want something more fun!  And, as it turns out, in comparison to a lot of the places where I spend my money,  dishes aren't that expensive.

I've been shopping around for some fun tableware options.  I haven't chosen yet but here are some of the ones I think might make me just a bit happier at dinner every day.

Where to find them: 1. Polka-dot glasses, 2.Thomas Paul nautical plates, 3. Simple colored bowls, 4. Chevron B&W cup, 5. Jonathan Adler almost subtle pinwheel striped set, 6. Colorful polka dot dishware set, 7. John Derian appetizer plate set