West Elm's choice of throw blankets



Believe it or not finding the perfect throw blanket can be a hard task, I know this first hand.  My first throw blanket was a deep red, beautifully soft, knitted, thin tasseled throw blanket.  I threw the blanket over my bed, the color went perfectly with the painting on my wall of a ballerina in mid-bow, most likely after a show, holding a large bouquet of flowers close to her chest that was similar in color as this certain throw blanket.  After about a month of using this throw blanket I slowly became more and more aggravated with it, the thin tasseled edges began to knot and soon were snarled around each other.  It was impossible to sit there and try to get the knots out so I stopped trying and gave in to the fact that I indeed made a bad decision to buy.

Other times the throw blanket can be too thin, the texture not quite right.  So yes, finding the perfect throw blanket can be a hard task.  But of course you learn from your mistakes, I've learned... 

1.  You must consider the edges:  are there tassels?
If so, will they get knotted & tangled?

2.  What is the fabric?
Do you prefer knit, faux-fur, etc.?
Will it shed or will lint and things get easily picked up on it?

3.  How large is the throw blanket?
Is it too large or not enough for the space you plan to use it?

These are usually the three things I look out for now when considering any kind of throw whether rug, pillow or blanket.  That being said let's consider throw blanket options from West Elm.


The Chunky Tassel Throw for a very good price and in three different shades is a great option, the knit texture is always comforting and makes one feel at home.  And though I've had a bad experience with throw blanket with tassels, the tassels on the Chunky Tassel Throw seems much too chunky to get tangled and knotted.

Chunky Tassel Throw $55.00


The Cozy Throw, even a great price couldn't get me to buy this blanket!  The loose thin-tasseled edges is a MUST STAY AWAY sign.  Take it from me, after a month of use these edges will be tangled!

Cozy Throw $55.00


The Faux-Fur Throw, my favorite.  My first concern was that the faux-fur would get on everything, my clothes included.  My mother has had a faux-fur throw blanket for some time now and even after as much use as it gets not once have I seen the faux-fur on me or on any of the furniture.  Of course where you get this faux-fur throw blanket and the quality which it is made is a big factor, so ask the nearest salesperson or simply... rub yourself up against the faux-fur rug and test it out for yourself.

Faux-Fur Throw $95.00 - $119.00



Geometry at Home


You can do just about anything with a space to make it look great, you can grab one subject, one theme, run with it and turn a blank space into something pretty amazing, you can mish-mash and turn out some really great looks as well.  One I've never really considered using is geometric shapes and patterns to add something special, I suppose I'm not mathematically inclined, not that it takes a mathematician to design geometrically.

My favorite examples of using geometric shapes is through wall paper, check out the rooms pictured above and right below, the geometric patterns on wall paper lends a more vintage feel to the space than what one would normally think would happen, which is a more modern feel.  There are of course other things to consider when using geometric shapes on wall paper however, such as, how it affects the geometric shapes in other places of the room.  For example (above) how doe the wall paper affect the geometric patterned lamp shade or the rectangular twin frames hanging on the wall?

A mixture of geometric patterns and shapes are used (below) and the wallpaper seems to enhance this theme, how many geometric patterns and shapes can you spot in the room below?  And when you take in the room as a whole how do you feel about the mixing of these circles, squares and other patterns?  I think... it looks great in that positive-vibed, eccentric way.


Note the chair prints, the rectangular table & windows...

Note the sofa print, the staircase, the rectangular painting...

Circles & squares!

The corner lamp, the rectangular doorways, even the view outside contributes...


Anthropologie vintage items gone gadget friendly?


As a lover of all things vintage I get unusually excited when I see stuff like this... and by this I mean vintage items that are user-friendly to today's gadgets.  This of course means that I do not need to turn my carefully vintage decorated home into a modernized sleek flat to suit the looks of today's gadgets, but that I can keep it the way I like it and simply add vintage items that are gadget friendly.



The USB Typewriter.  How can you not appreciate or fall in love with a restored vintage typewriter than you can plug your iPad into and use as a keyboard?  But that's not all... Unplug the iPad and feel free to use as a regular typewriter as well- 2 for 1!  I know if you didn't love it before, you love it now.  Typewriter case is also included along with instructions, iPad stand attachment, USB cord and additional ribbon.

USB Typewriter, Royal @ Anthropologie

USB Typewriter, Underwood @ Anthropologie

Even use as a regular typewriter!



iVictrola, Upside Down @ Anthropologie

The iVictrola is even before my time, not that I'm that ripe, but still I find it fascinating, even more so now that you can dock your iPhone, iPod or other music player and listen to your music through the vintage Magnavox horn that sounds your music acoustically.  Okay, so you have to be a real vintage fan and a real fan of sound to appreciate this beautiful item.  I know you guys are out there... well, here it is.


The horn is made from carved American walnut




Country Inspired Kitchens



I'm sure I've mentioned it before but I have a thing for the country, which I think, is perfectly normal for a girl who has lived in the city her entire life.  My goal, which slowly and sadly is turning into more of a dream is that one day I'll get to live in the country.  I saw that Architectural Digest did a post with a compilation of beautiful country-styled kitchens and so, unable to help myself, here I am sharing.  I hope you enjoy these beautiful kitchen ideas.


*Photographs from Architectural Digest
The rawness of the wood beams caught my eye

White-washed clay walls- I love it!

Italian country-side

A very colonial country-side

Contemporary country

Modern country

Perfect country



New Notable Item @ West Elm: Glass Jar Pendants


I saw the new glass pendant jars at West Elm and thought they were simply fabulous!  Just had to share these unique urban-styled light fixtures that come in two different shapes and tints.


Glass Jar Pendants @ West Elm


Home of: Portia de Rossi & Ellen DeGeneres


Birth name:  Ellen Lee DeGeneres / Amanda Lee Rogers
AKA:  Ellen DeGeneres / Portia de Rossi
Date of birth:  January 26, 1958 / January 31, 1973
Place of birth:  Louisiana / Australia
Occupation:  Comedian, Actress / Actress


Pictures from Architectural Digest
Entry way with ping-pong table

Family room

Dining room

Closet

Backyard pool


Read the article at Architectural Digest


West Elm's Notable Item: Paul Loebach Credenza

Paul Loebach Credenza @ West Elm


Paul Loebach's Credenza table... A modern vintage... eclectic?  Table.  I may be at a loss for words on how to properly describe and detail the credenza table but it clearly took my breath away the first moment I set my eyes on it.  Wood with high gloss, I'm not quite sure if I've seen this combination before, but it works.

The kind of table that can transform and hold a room together, now that's the type of furnishing worth paying for, which brings me around to the pricing of this beauty, at $599.00 - it is decently priced.


Front view



Also comes in white



Paul Loebach's Credenza Table was such an attention grabber for me that I became curious about the designer.  With the push of a few keys I was able to find his website that proves he is an eclectic visionary in the realm of furniture design.  Check it out for yourself at Paul Loebach.


I Stand Behind: Large jars for storage

1-gallon Glass Storage Jar $13.99 @ Costplus World Market

I do yoga and love to soak in the tub once a week, my significant other does... well to be honest, I'm not sure what he does but he loves to soak in the tub at least once a week too.  And for all our body aches and pains we love to sprinkle a cup or two of fragrant bath salts to ease the pain and for a more deeper relaxation, whether the salts actually work- I have no idea, but they smell great and do make for a more relaxed bath time.  

Taking a bath once a week for each of us requires a bit of bath salt, so we buy the bath salts in bulk, and though the bath salts come in a pretty purple package it just isn't attractive enough to have it sitting around out in the bathroom.  To fix the problem of the bulk-buy bath salts I bought a very affordable 1-gallon glass container from the kitchen section in Costplus World Market to store my salts in, and it works wonderfully!  I can empty about 2-3 lbs of bath salts in the jar and leave it sitting out on the bathroom table, it looks wonderful and with a small glass scooper in the jar the salt is easily accessed.




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