Neighborhood Nests

I'm now writing a monthly home design column called "Neighborhood Nests." Please visit me there soon!

Photo by Peter Margonelli

A Room & A View

Take a look at my new image blog - A Room & A View.

In Dreams

Where to lay my weary head? On these please. All eco-friendly products from VivaTerra.

Gustavian Vintage Bed

Plank Vintage Bed

Kalamkari Bedding

Hand-Embroidered Rabbit Pillows

Time Is On My Side

A clock is functional, yes, but it can also make a great decorative accessory for any room. Anthropologie currently has some really interesting ones on their site, including the "Sweater Clock" below.

Natural Beauty

I'm a big fan of decorating with unfinished and recycled wood furniture and accessories. Basically, if it looks like it belongs in a log cabin, I'm into it. Therefore, I had to share the unique and unconventional designs of Kindling, a brother and sister design team from Chicago, who use only local reclaimed wood. Their products showcase wood grain and texture so beautifully. To see more of Kindling's work, check out their website or Etsy site.

Lovely Linens

Loving these screen-printed cotton tiles from textile designer Karen Barbé of Santiago, Chile. Karen sews these beautifully patterned tiles together to create gorgeous pillows, quilts and duvet covers. Her color story - muted browns, pinks and blues - is incredibly calming. See more of Karen's work here .

Inked

I'm charmed by the work of artist and designer Blair Lambert who creates lovely handmade cards of original illustrations through Bestiary Ink. These sweet treats, like the playful cat and mouse note card sets, can be purchased through Blair's Etsy page.

Polaroid Love

There's nothing like the look and feel of a classic Polaroid photograph. So when I was told about the work of Brooklyn photographer, Matt Schwartz, who uses Polaroid transfers to create prints described as "walking into a memory," of course, I was instantly intrigued. Matt's work, featured through She Hit Pause Studios, has a vintage, nostalgic feel that makes me think of a simpler time. You can purchase Matt's Polaroids on his website or on Etsy.

Steampunk Style

Since I've been on hiatus for several months now preparing for the arrival of my baby, I thought it was only fitting to make my first post back about these gorgeous steamer trunks from Restoration Hardware. My favorite, the Mayfair Steamer Chest, is handmade of distressed vintage cigar leather and has over 3,000 hand-hammered brass nailheads. These masculine yet romantic beauties evoke the grandeur of a different era, one that I so long for (sigh)...

The Art of Papercuts

I am so taken with the work of Cuban-born artist, Elsa Mora, who works in the delicate medium of paper. Her intricate papercut creations evoke such whimsy and magic, that one can't help being drawn into her fantastical world. To see more of Elsa's beautiful work and learn about the art of papercutting, check out her blog and Etsy site.

In a Perfect Light

Good lighting can set the mood, affect your mood and define a space. Here are a few of my favorite pendants and chandeliers.

Arctic Pear Chandelier from Ochre in New York

Light from Moon River Chattel in Brooklyn, NY

Solitaire Pendant designed by Jeremy Pyles at Niche Modern

Roost Halo Chandelier from Velocity Art & Design

Handmade Holiday

With Christmas quickly approaching and funds quickly diminishing, now is the perfect time to go DIY for the holidays. After scouring the internet for the perfect homemade gift (and by perfect I mean easy), I found these charming antique Teacup Lights via Martha Stewart. Package in a pretty little box and voila, you've got a lovely little gift that could even pass for Anthropologie.

Shrouded in Mystery

These incredibly gorgeous prints by Valerie Hammond are on display at the Garson Baker Fine Art Gallery in New York City through October 11th. I adore the way Valerie fuses the delicate beauty of plants with the expressive human form. Her works are full of mystery and exotic beauty, which is perhaps why I am so drawn to them. Learn more about Valerie Hammond's "Twilight...contes de fées" exhibit here.

A Voyeur's View

I highly recommend losing yourself in the world of Brooklyn-based artist Thomas Doyle. Thomas creates miniature, dream-like environments sculpted in 1:43 scale and smaller from model railroading and architectural supplies. His work depicts the "remnants of things past," giving the viewer an intimate look at fragile moments in time. Check out Thomas Doyle's website to see more of his incredible work.

"Little optimum" from his Reclamations Series

"Acceptable losses" from the Distillation Series

Mid-Century Eye Candy

What is it about mid-century homes that are so appealing? Is it their clean, angular design and expanses of glass and warm wood? Or is it the history that they evoke? For me, it's all of the above. In my thriving neighborhood of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, a massive construction boom is taking place. As more and more characterless, mass-market steel towers go up, I can't help but wonder, "Doesn't anyone care about aesthetics, history, or culture anymore?" Perhaps that's why I love mid-century architecture so much. Function was as important as form, and homes were livable works of art that supplemented and celebrated the environment. For a great collection of mid-century architecture photos, check out the MidCentArc flickr photostream and blog.

Swiss Design for Mankind

I'm feeling inspired this gorgeous Saturday afternoon by a new design discovery. POSTFOSSIL, a collective of ten emerging Swiss designers, wants to change the way we view our living environment. Their wonderfully innovative (and quirky) products for the home encourage us to think about our daily energy use, as well as the role we play in preserving the planet's natural resources. My favorite in their collection is the Branch series. Talk about taking "green" living to a new level.