DIY: Tapestry Turned Pillow

January 19, 2017 by Lucy Clare Spooner in Cool Hunting, DIY, Projects, studio, Weekend Warrior

A few lovely readers asked after the big pillow on my Charlottesville bed (as seen in my posts on the tiny shelf makeover and the postcard wall).

Isn’t it great?! In high school I picked up this old tapestry from a local flea market, then tucked it away in the depths of a closet where I found it a few years into college. I thought about putting it up on a wall, but what I really needed was a big pillow. Some inspiration...

I pinned this forever ago from Domino magazine:

Great teal bedspread from a post on House of Turquoise:

Love this as a cover for a sofa, too (via the blog Honey & Fitz):

This headboard is from the bedroom of Grace Bonney (of the great blog Design*Sponge):

After a bit of research, I learned that this type of textile is made by the Otomi people in the Mexican state of Hidalgo. There are so many options other than simply textiles: dresses, purses, you name it. And purchasing from certain sources also benefits the tribe--doing good deeds while beautifying a room!

Because I had a pretty neutral background (white bedspread and sheets, wood furniture, white walls), I thought this color-charged tapestry would give me just the right happy feel that I wanted in my room. I enlisted my dear mother to turn the tapestry into a pillow by sewing on a big piece of red duck cloth that we had on hand as the back and stuffing it with cotton.

I love projects like this that make such a big difference but are so simple to do—especially when we’re talking throw pillows! This can easily be replicated for small or big pillows, too.

A friend of mine was thinking of doing something similar in her new apartment, so I did a quick eBay search for Otomi tapestries where I found some great options, like this wall hanging:

Another wall hanging, very much like mine:

Placemat--could be made into a small pillow:

My favorite:

Of course, having a sewing machine is largely helpful for this project. Sewing by hand, using small stitches, would also work—just want to make sure that the stitches are set in from the edge of the fabric by about 1" so that the stuffing can’t peek through. (Do I sound like Martha Stewart?? YIKES) In retrospect, I would make an envelope pillow (great instructions from Jenny at Little Green Notebook here) and use a standard pillow insert instead of stuffing.

Or, of course, there are options to buy for yourself, like these from the same eBay search:

From One Kings Lane:

From the etsy shop mentioned above:

Pom poms!

Just used this gorgeous pillow from Roberta Roller Rabbit in a project and LOVE the yellow tassels:

Do you have any pillow DIYs you’d like to see featured on The Spoonful?? Contact me here or post in the comments below!

DIY: Postcard Wall

January 19, 2017 by Lucy Clare Spooner in Charlottesville, DIY

I have a habit of picking up postcards and other papers, especially while traveling. While studying abroad in Lyon, I amassed quite a pile of wonderful postcards which I loved too much to send away or keep hidden in a stack of papers. I also had, on impulse, bought a box of postcards based off of the wonderful Paris vs. New York book (and blog, here). With all of those postcards crying out to be used, I thought I would make a small-scale art installation in my college room (also shown here with the tiny shelf makeover), and the vast wall by my bed seemed to be asking for something wonderful to fill its emptiness. I could have just taped them up to the wall (like I did in my NYC entryway), but I wanted them to have more substance—I think my NYC entryway works because it feels like a massive bulletin board, but this space in my Charlottesville room by my bed wasn’t going to have the same feel.

I love the look of a bunch of similar frames (who doesn't?!). Here's an image from the wonderful Nick Olsen in last month's Architectural Digest:

All red frames from Elle Decor:

Bigger scale here from Elle Decor:

One of my all time favorite rooms by Tom Scheerer. Love the wood frames!

Yes. (Elle Decor again)

This collection of black frames by Steven Gambrel (a fellow UVA alum! Wahoowa) makes my mouth water:

And how great is this grouping by the revered Ralph Lauren? (Seen on Little Green Notebook)

But, alas, all of those frames would’ve been pricier than I was looking for in this project. What I really wanted out of the “installation” was a 3-dimensional quality with the postcards popping off the wall.

To achieve this 3-D look, I glued foam core to the back of the postcards and then hung them on the wall. Foam core board is super cheap—I got several boards from the dollar store and cut them down to be about ¼” smaller on all sides of the postcard. I recommend using an x-acto knife and straight edge when working with foam core; it's so much faster than scissors, which don't give a clean edge anyway.

I realized when I cut down the foam core that the white foam showed on the sides of the cards and was rather unsightly, so I grabbed some black craft paint and quickly covered up the white foam with black paint.

After the paint dried, I used rubber cement (which I prefer to Elmer's glue when working with paper because it doesn't wrinkle) to attach postcard to foam core board.

Because the foam core backing covers up the writing on the back of the postcard, I wanted to make a note to remind myself later where the cards had come from. I had some labels lying around, so I recorded the necessary details on the backs that way:

Then I hung them all up... ta-da!

Do you have any great DIY ideas to share? Contact me here or in the comments below... I'd love to share them on The Spoonful! And happy Labor Day!

Shoes and Ladders

January 19, 2017 by Lucy Clare Spooner in Projects, studio

I have an infatuation with heels (and it's justified: I'm 5'2"!). Though we live in the same city, I do not have Carrie Bradshaw's closet space for them (my apartment = Carrie's closet size... sniff, sniff).

... if only.

Welp, on to Plan B. This image has been in the back of my mind for years (literally... I think I pinned it right out of high school):

... and I had seen other ways that ladders were used for storage:

It's obviously not a novel idea... just last week I was in this fabulous shop in Brooklyn Heights, Collyer's Mansion, and snapped this picture:

I had looked all around for a vintage wood ladder, but they were pricier than I expected/wanted to spend, so I enlisted my long-suffering father for the task. Poor guy is doomed to be my workhorse forever.

I showed him the inspiration image of the ladder with shoes, drew a diagram of what I imagined in a ladder of my own, and the next thing I knew, he whipped this out.

Pretty amazing, right? And so much more special than anything I could've bought.

We had all the wood in the garage, most of it making up the shipping crates from our return from Saudi Arabia 17 years ago... it pays to be a pack rat! Details like that turn pieces in a room into stories.

And it doubles as a hanger for satchels and totes!

Even if the heels are gathering dust (city life and high heels don't mix), I love the vertical aspect of the ladder leaning against the wall. And maybe having them visible will be a reminder to stop buying them... flats are the way to go in this walking city!

Rugs on Rugs

January 19, 2017 by Lucy Clare Spooner in studio

The first several years of my life (age 2 months to 8-1/2... because 1/2 of a year is important when you're 8) were spent in Saudi Arabia, a wonderful--though sweltering hot--experience. We lived on an American compound and, as you may imagine, there was not terribly much entertainment, so most weekends were spent shopping in the nearest "city," usually in the fabulous rug stores (our favorite was called Desert Designs). While my parents pored over the choices, I would climb on the mounds of carpets, breathing in the terrific smells and accepting trinkets from the rug men.

I have always been surrounded by these fabulous carpets, and I knew my studio wouldn't feel like home without them. I could have picked two or three for a traditional look, but I had a pile of carpets at my disposal and using only a few felt wasteful!

I turned to my trusty Pinterest (search "layered rugs") and found some gorgeous layering inspiration.

Kilims, like these that I have, are a type of flat weave rugs (rugs woven on a loom, not hand-knotted) and are perfect for layering because they're not bulky. Especially when layered in a (seemingly) haphazard way, the carpets give a casual, boho-chic feel to the space. Apartment Therapy did a few great articles on layering here and here. In my own space, I love how the carpets cover the floor, almost wall-to-wall, without feeling stuffy. I feel like I'm back in Desert Designs!

I envisioned the carpets being the highlight in my apartment (and they are, indeed, usually the first thing guests point out), so I kept the rest of my patterns at bay. Crazy carpets + patterned sofa + patterned bedspread = madness all around! Instead I opted for a white bed scheme and a solid blue sofa (the sofa saga is a post for another time!), with pretty throw pillows in the mix, too. And I noticed that the rooms pictured in the inspiration images above also honored the pattern of the carpets and kept everything else pretty simple.

That said, the carpets do tend to become a field, blending into each other and allowing for interesting throws and pillows. Because their palette is so encompassing, I have my pick of colors to pull from.

There are oodles of places to find rugs to layer, either all flat weaves or a mix of flat weave and natural fiber. I love the mix of a flat weave over a natural fiber (like a sisal or jute, which are typically inexpensive and easy to maintain) that takes up the majority of the room, like here:

My Domaine did a great round-up of natural fibers here, and Jenny at Little Green Notebook gives great tips on finding vintage rugs on eBay here.

I also love the look of layering with hides:

... or sheepskin:

Swoon.

Thanks for reading and for the fantastic support! Check back soon for more Spoonfuls :)

DIY: Atlas Desk

January 19, 2017 by Lucy Clare Spooner in DIY, Projects, studio

The desk in my studio is one of my favorite DIYs that I've done. I needed something to fill in the vacant space opposite the sofa, and I always find that a surface upon which to stack assorted piles is supremely helpful and necessary.

My parents' storage room is chock-full of all kinds of furniture--lucky for me and not so lucky for dear old Dad who bears the brunt of reorganizing it! I dug around and resurfaced with a 20 year old Ikea-type white and sturdy table on rollers: a blank canvas. Perfect.

I remembered this great image I had seen on my very favorite blog, Little Green Notebook, a few years ago.

Check out that little Parsons side table covered in maps! It's from a room designed by Nick Olsen, who is just fantastic. He was nice enough to talk to me about the design field when I was in the midst of job hunting and soul searching and gave really helpful insight and tips about getting a foot in the door of the design industry (Thanks Nick!!).

Maps have always been my thing, and I liked the way Nick's side table drew attention and interest without being over the top. Another hunt through storage led to an old atlas book from the 80s, which I commenced cutting up into big, mostly uniform sizes for decoupaging onto the desk. (Smaller pieces would've worked too, but I was a bit pressed for time.) I picked maps from the atlas where I had travelled or lived, or maps that I found to be exceptionally pretty, like the ocean maps that I put on the ends of the table.

Decoupage is terribly simple and there are loads of how-to pages with a quick Google search--or just use the directions on the tub of Mod Podge (I prefer the glossy finish). After making sure the desk was completely clean, I took the atlas pages I had neatly cut and laid out where I wanted them to be placed so that all of the white of the desk was covered, trimming them to fit if necessary. I also kept in mind color themes while doing this: I tried to keep edges all white maps, ends all ocean maps, etc. This made the maps seem a little less haphazard to me. Then, one by one, I brushed on a thorough--but not over-the-top--layer of Mod Podge with a foam brush (I like using these cheap foam brushes when I want to avoid brush strokes), and I coated the surface of the desk on which I planned on applying the page with a layer, too. I think it's helpful to let the Mod Podge dry for a few seconds to get a little tacky, and then I started in the middle of the top (although I probably should've started on the back... less pressure in case I messed up!) and worked out from there, smoothing the pages as I went. I find that less is more when it comes to Mod Podge... otherwise it wrinkles the pages. After each page had been placed, I covered it again with another layer of Mod Podge to seal it and keep any edges from peeling up.

The edges were a bit tricky, but I folded pages to fit around the turns of the piece, making sure I really creased the folds. This needed more Mod Podge to hold, and I found that making the piece a bit bigger made it stay because it had more surface area to hold on to.

I followed the drying instructions on the Mod Podge container and then took the desk outside to spray on a layer of polyurethane... I prefer glossy here, too. (This is optional, but I chose to do it because I knew it would be in a high-traffic spot.) This--horror of horrors!--made everything wrinkle dreadfully! So I covered the piece with a towel and stacked heavy books high to force the wrinkles out, with success. Crisis averted.

That's it! I had a piece of glass cut for the top and have been messing around with the containers, etc ever since. I'd like a proper desk lamp and definitely need to hide those cords. And need a filing cabinet! The list gets longer! To be continued... :)

Black and White Stripes

May 24, 2016 by Lucy Clare Spooner in Cool Hunting

I must begin by saying that The Spoonful turned ONE over the weekend! Can you believe it?! Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who have read this page, given suggestions, shared posts on social media, and mentioned it in person--I'm so grateful and looking forward to many more years. Without further ado..

How wonderful is this photo (pinned here) of Audrey (my idol) on the most gorgeous settee?

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Black and white stripes are the epitome of classic and I adore them. Here's a round up of some favorite moments where they particularly shone:

Liza Laserow via 1st Dibs (and pinned here):

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August Black's big cushions are terrific (pinned here):

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How about this pair of striped sofas (pinned here), face to face, from French blogger Flodeau?

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Nick Olsen painted these stripes on roller shades in his NYC apartment (pinned here). Obviously I'm obsessed. (Also obsessed with the stacked books as bedsides and with the entire apartment in general.)

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And for the win... these painted walls (pinned here) via Domino. So. Good.

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Is there a topic you'd like covered on The Spoonful? Share it in the comments below!

Before & After: Caroline's Vibey Living Room

April 07, 2016 by Lucy Clare Spooner in Projects

Caroline is a dear friend of mine who lives in a marvelous, spacious apartment just outside of Boston. As she and her roommate were moving in, we started discussing how to make the most of this great space without breaking the bank, especially because she wasn't entirely sure how long she'd stay there. A few DIYs and much obsessing later, her living room is finished! Before:

Great windows; furniture was a little sad.

After:

Just by adding art to the walls, pillows on the sofa, and rugs on the floor, the room turned from blah to homey, cozy, and vibey. I mean, get a load of that gallery wall! Have you ever?! And the wall of records... I'm obsessed. I also love the layering of cowhide + natural fiber rug (as I wrote about here). Bien fait!

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Pancake dares you to lounge in her sun bathing spot. And what a great vintage trunk! (P.S. Check out my post on trunks as coffee tables here.)

Caroline had a bunch of album covers and saw images like this one (via Urban Outfitters and pinned here):

... which inspired her to put up her own wall of covers on this wall with tricky moulding:

I love how Caroline used that tricky moulding to her advantage and turned it into a sort of frame for her covers. Such a great way to fill the walls (inexpensively) with a big effect.

I'm so impressed at how it ALL turned out. Thanks for sharing your before and after, Caroline!! Mwahh :)

Do you have a room or DIY you'd like to share on The Spoonful? Let me know in the comments below!

Artist Spotlight: Gregg Emery

March 03, 2016 by Lucy Clare Spooner in Artist Spotlight

Welcome to another Artist Spotlight! This spotlight is extra special because the artist has a show opening NEXT THURSDAY at the Agora Gallery in Chelsea. Here is the press release and here is the Facebook invite--spread the word! (And if you're part of the Virginia Club of New York, we're having a tour Saturday, March 12 from 4-5pm with Gregg himself. Mark your calendars!) Gregg Emery--teacher, artist, and generally amazing person--and I met because our easels were side by side at an open house at the National Academy on the upper east side (they have open houses throughout the year--if you're in the city, check it out!).

Gregg in front of a display of his drawings

We've kept in touch and now he's on my blog: reason #476 why I love NYC. Gregg makes these fantastic abstracts that are terrific in photos but even more terrific in person (like at his show at Agora, ahem ;) ). Without further ado, I'll let him tell his own story...

Gregg Emery was born in Bombay, NY, a rural community outside Montreal filled with dairy farms and bordering the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation. In a town with few creative stimuli and even fewer traffic lights, Emery sketched at the earliest age wherever and whenever possible; his grandest dream was making it to New York City. An even farther thought was having numerous exhibitions of his work, with collectors from across the globe.

Gregg Emery received his Bachelor of Arts with departmental distinction from Hartwick College and a Masters in Fine Art from the Maryland Institute, College of Art, where he studied under Babe Shapiro, Power Boothe, Hermine Ford and Sal Scarpitta. He is currently the Chair of the Visual Arts and Art History department at the Trinity School in Manhattan, a private, coeducational K-12 school. Emery enjoys teaching art & art history, sharing his knowledge and experience with a younger generation. His artwork is included in numerous private and public collections including the permanent collection of the Baltimore Museum of Art. Gregg Emery is represented by the Agora Gallery in New York City.

The Spoonful: Describe your style in 5 words:

Gregg: dramatic, beautiful, athletic, powerful, meditative

The Spoonful: Art background?

Gregg: BA In Studio Art from Hartwick College, MFA from Maryland Institute, College of Art, Apprentice at the Fabric Workshop in Philadelphia, PA

The Spoonful: Whose work do you most admire?

Gregg: Tough question, I love so many artists for so many reasons… I think my family first and foremost, I have so many members of my family who are artists but claim they are not. My great-grandfather who carved amazing wood sculptures and wonderfully detailed drawings... my father, housebuilder turned math/ computer teacher, car mechanic and now keeps bees and repairs/ rebuilds antique clocks. My mother who plays organ/ piano and is a poet with her weekly local newspaper column. The hardwork coupled with humility is what I hope to take away or hope it is in my genes.

More traditional type artists? Hmmm, Caravaggio, huge fan… also Rembrandt, Rothko (his meditative paintings blow mine away)… contemporary I do enjoy Andy Goldsworthy (artwork also found here) & Yayoi Kusama, Takashi Murakami and others. I also have drawn inspiration from many street artists… C215, Banksy, Os Gemeos just to name a few.

The Spoonful: Where do you find your inspiration?

Gregg: Inspiration for me comes from many places… The colors I choose actually come from things I see around me. Recent ones are from movies... from James Bond, Twilight, and even a recent set of pieces inspired by colors in the classic scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark when Indy reaches for the golden idol. The gold, Indy's brown jacket, and this shimmering blue light all make it into the painting. Color is so powerful, triggering memory, hunger, depression, exhilaration and everything in between… Movies are modern mythology, religion or meditation… to me, movie makers are the gods, the creators of worlds, akin to the masters of the Renaissance. I also take color inspiration from travels including a series based on a trip last year to Morocco, markets in Taiwan, even shells from Fire Island or a dessert from a fellow artist, pastry chef & muse. Although these colors may come from specific places, people or moments, I encourage them to trigger your own train of thoughts, and I do hope you enjoy these worlds I created as much as I did making them.

The Spoonful: Ideal workspace consists of...?

Gregg: Lots of space, lots of light, a projection screen (I like to have a movie playing (without sound) while I work), no interruptions. Mostly I work at night and I love when no one is around.

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The Spoonful: Greatest piece of advice on being an artist (creating, surviving, anything) that you've received? That you can give?

Gregg: Best piece of advice? I've received much advice over the years. One from my parents, you can learn something from everyone so listen carefully and don’t judge a book by its cover, age, gender or anything else that might stand in the way of authentic communication. Draw everyday, drawing is key, it is the way we think, see the world and make sense of things. Learn from art history, dig deeply into the past to learn your place in the world and find your way into the future. From a student, never become a parody of yourself.

The Spoonful: Five things you can't live without?

Gregg: (hmmm OK Cupid?) alright, 1. Sketchbook 2. Passion 3. Water 4. Breath 5. Silence

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The Spoonful: Where can we find your work?

Gregg: I am currently represented by the Agora Gallery, NYC in Chelsea. I have also shown with the Vogelsang Gallery of Belgium. You can find me on ArtSlant and collaborating with great people like the Shadow People Project and the NY Poetry Society. I also have a piece in the permanent collection of the Baltimore Museum of Art.

The Spoonful: Anything else we should know??

Gregg: You should really probably know at least one of the names of the members of the Ramones if you’re going to wear their T-shirt (that was the first live concert I heard.) Also you should know that my college roommate for 3 years was Lizardman, the guy tattooed from head to toe and I also find him incredibly inspiring as an artist. Sincere, intelligent, and who can challenge his commitment? Well, if you did he could eat you so I wouldn’t try it.

Gregg's show at the Agora will run until March 29. Go check it out--and let him know you heard about the show on The Spoonful!

Gregg is also working on a couple of new collaborations including one with a group of professional dancers, the Sydney Schiff Dance Project, whose costumes he painted--they'll be at his opening night, Thursday, March 10, wearing the costumes! He can also often be found at the Poetry Brothel, drawing the poets and those listening to them! Also check out his drawings and other sketchbook work on tumblr, instagram (@aplsd21), and twitter.

Thanks so much Gregg!!

If you know of an artist who'd like to be featured on The Spoonful's Artist Spotlight, let me know here!

Office Space Inspo

February 17, 2016 by Lucy Clare Spooner in High vs- Low

Hello! Thanks for the lovely feedback on my bathroom inspiration post (here). Here's another space that I came across and just loved (and currently still love):

It's the office space at ManRepeller, who is hilarious and amazing and I highly recommend following her immediately if you don't already. (AND fun fact: I saw her on the street once and told her that I thought she was amazing and she said the same back to me although she had no proof of such.)

Those great copper chairs are by BluDot, here, and the table is also by BluDot, here. But if you're looking for a more wallet-friendly option, read on...

I love how the desk in ManRepeller is just a big, long table. This one from CB2 is similar to the BluDot one in the inspiration picture and less than half the price:

Or, better yet, this table + top from Ikea for $75 combined:

The copper chairs are a bit trickier to find cheaply, so here's what I would do:

/chair/primer/spray paint/

Ikea furniture is notoriously hard to spray paint, but my fave blogger Jenny Komenda at Little Green Notebook writes here about how she had great luck with this particular primer (note that she specifies shellac-based because of Ikea's finish). That said, you could really choose any chair that you'd like to change up and spray it! I recommend Rustoleum, but you may want to try a few brands and test out their particular shades of copper to find which one best suits you :)

Add a few sheepskins to cozy up the "metal":

And some light bookshelves (I have this one in my apartment and LOVE it):

Accessories are a must on the shelves. I love digging around in thrift stores and flea markets (or my parents' attic...) for one-of-a-kind, inexpensive finds. I like how the shelves at ManRepeller aren't overly crowded, but have sweet, thoughtful trinkets and books. Here are a few ideas:

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Voila!

Have you seen a lovely space that you'd like deconstructed on The Spoonful? Let me know here or in the comments below! xo

Bathroom Inspo

February 03, 2016 by Lucy Clare Spooner in Cool Hunting, High vs- Low, Personal Shopper

I came across this heavenly bathroom on One Kings Lane's instagram and just about died:

I love every bit of it, from the concrete floors to the leather pulls on the cabinet to the live greens to the wood slab across the tub. And the bath mat! Obsessed.

I thought I'd have a little fun and put the space together on here...

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Add a few big-leafed plants and it's a beaut!

Do you have a room you'd like broken down and sourced on The Spoonful? Let me know here or in the comments below!

Throwback DIY: Albert Hadley Walls

January 20, 2016 by Lucy Clare Spooner in DIY, High vs- Low, Projects

Many, many years ago, before I even knew the name Albert Hadley, I pinned this image of a bathroom wallpapered in a print ("Fireworks") by the design great:

A quick design history lesson... Albert Hadley was one half of the design company Parish-Hadley--"the erudite yang to Sister Parish's freewheeling yin," as Architectural Digest describes him here--who brought about wonderful things in the world of interior design. His clients included the Rockefellers, the Astors, and the Kennedys, to name a few, and his signature lay in creating a comfortable room with some punchy kick to keep things interesting. Though Mr. Hadley passed away a few years ago, his legacy lives on in many ways--including this wallpaper!

One college summer, I decided my lime green bathroom needed a facelift (really wish I had a "before" photo!), and, remembering that great image, I decided to do a little Hadley-inspired DIY.

First things first: paint the walls. I picked a sandy off-white neutral; this bathroom gets very little sunlight so I made sure to choose a light color, without feeling too sterile.

For the "fireworks," I picked a high-gloss white, the whitest white; the glossiness helps the white stand out against the sandy background color. Once the wall color was good and dry, I mapped out my pattern lightly with a pencil, taking care to space the fireworks correctly. This is one of those steps that takes a long time but makes such a difference and actually saves time--and headaches--in the end!

Then I got to work! I found it important to have enough paint on the brush each time so that the fireworks didn't look too painterly (a look I often love but not here).

I'm still so pleased with the result, even several years after completing the paint job. And it was absolutely more budget-friendly than installing genuine Albert Hadley wallpaper! Maybe one day...

The Sophisticated Pom-pom

January 12, 2016 by Lucy Clare Spooner in DIY, Projects, studio

Hello! I'm back! I've kicked off the new year with a few little upgrades in my apartment; here's one of them. Let's back up a few months. When I was searching for ways to squeeze a little more storage space out of my little studio, one solution was to make the most of the under-the-bed storage. This meant simply using bed risers (yes, the same ones from freshman year dorms), which both gives me far more space and makes the bed so high that I all but need a running start to get in. :) Of course, I couldn’t leave that unsightly view uncovered, so I made up a quick and cheap bedskirt.

The beauty of making my own is that I could have a completely custom cover—it would be very difficult to find a bedskirt that I wanted in that length—for a fraction of the cost of having it made by an upholsterer. I used a painter’s drop cloth, one of my favorite sources for inexpensive, heavy-duty fabric.

I cut it to size, leaving extra room at the top to tuck in between the mattress and box springs. Then I hemmed it all around to prevent any fraying down the road. I left it just like this for a while; I kind of liked the simplicity. Then I ran across these bedding images and instantly became obsessed with this version of what I like to call a "sophisticated pom-pom":

From Mui Ma:

So simply lovely. Via L'Aviva Home:

Other color options available too (here):

And this from Urban just makes my heart sing:

I happened to have several samples of this trim (from Samuel & Sons) left over from various projects, which I negotiated to a spacing that I liked; the poms here are about 7" apart. (This city has some terrific trim stores, though: I've had great luck at Mokuba and M&J Trimming, but if you just walk around the garment district--especially 36th to 40th Streets between 6th to 8th Avenues--you'll stumble upon many other gold mines.) The trick for this look is to find BIG pom-poms. I also especially like these because they're not too white; they're actually the same ecru color as the drop cloth. Match made in heaven.

After spacing them, I simply sewed a few stitches on each to keep it in place and called it a day! From start to finish, this little project took all of 30 minutes, and I am so pleased with the result. The poms just make me smile!

I loved seeing so many of you over the break--and I can't tell you how wonderful it was to hear that you've been reading The Spoonful! So nice and I so appreciate it.

And if you have a DIY you'd like to share on The Spoonful, send it on over!

Trunks for Coffee Tables

November 21, 2015 by Lucy Clare Spooner in studio

One of my favorite pieces in all of the apartments that I've lived in has been this glorious steamer trunk:

It's an old family piece, and I love all of the textures it brings into the room: wood body, metal hardware, leather straps. The best part, though, is that this thing holds A LOT: an air mattress, extra sheets, towels, out of season clothes... you name it. And in this cozy (tiny) apartment, multipurpose furniture is this girl's best friend!

I've seen the trunk-as-coffee-table idea executed well in many situations. Here's a bit of inspiration...

Love how this room (via CocoCozy) works the deep plum walls and dark floors. And the trunk rocks:

This vintage Louis Vuitton makes my mouth water (from Interiors Addict):

And another LV inspiration. SO GOOD!

It could be yours... to the tune of $24,000 (via 1st Dibs):

While I'm dreaming, how about this amazing trunk headed to Buenos Aires?!

This acrylic trunk (as shown on Refinery 29) gives a new spin on the antique trunk idea:

Here's a similar one on sale at One Kings Lane:

Vintage trunks like mine run the gamut in pricing. Thrift stores often have them--I've even seen one on the street!--and a little elbow grease can go a long way. The key is to pick one with a flat top (to place a tray, books, drinks on top, of course!) that hasn't fallen too far into disrepair, and it should be a good coffee table height. Around 16-21" is standard, depending on the height of your sofa; a table more than 2" lower than your sofa will feel funky. That said, my trunk is higher than 21" and feels perfectly fine! (If you're looking for the right height for your space, I suggest holding up a measuring tape next to your sofa and visualizing it that way. The table should be high enough to comfortably place a drink or book but not so high that you feel like you're at a dining table.)

A quick eBay search turned up a few inexpensive diamonds in the rough, like this amazing green one:

And this one. It's about 14" high--a few inches shorter than it should be--but it could have another, smaller trunk stacked on top, or some great coffee table books piled up on top to add height would look so chic too. It needs some good refinishing and some polish on those hinges, but what a great weekend project, amiright?!

Something about this old trunk makes me want to leave it as-is and embrace its vintage feel:

For those of you dear readers in the NYC area, here are a few Craigslist options:

Imagine this trunk cleaned up with polished hardware... gorgeous.

This is a gem:

Reminds me of this LV orange trunk:

This definitely needs some love but the possibilities are endless...

Have you ever used a trunk as a coffee table? I'd love to see photos--send them over and I'll feature your space on The Spoonful!

Throw Blanket Round-up + Coziness Formula

November 10, 2015 by Lucy Clare Spooner in Personal Shopper

It's fall (y'all) in New York City, and this forgotten chill in the air has me reaching for the best coziness formula I know: warm liquids and warmer blankets. I've recently come across some wonderfully warm blankets and thought I'd share my favorites. Nothing makes a sofa seem more beckoning than a comfy throw:

Wonderful buffalo check from Hudson and Vine, $110:

Gorgeous red-orange in this House Beautiful shot:

Wool & cashmere throw from Garnet Hill, $138:

One of my favorite sofas from Southern Living:

Cream knitted throw (with festive metallic woven in!) from West Elm, on sale now for $55:

A luxe-y (faux) fur throw on this leather sofa softens up the dark walls (via The Design Daredevil):

Restoration Hardware ($139) for the win:

How about this cozy reading nook by the fabulous Emily Henderson (and how great is that wall color?!):

One King's Lane has this big windowpane check for $199:

Stay cozy!

P.S. In the spirit of autumn, my mom sent me this darling note:

Isn't she the dearest?? (And for those of you who don't know That Girl... Go! Watch! Now!)

Artist Spotlight: James Erickson

October 07, 2015 by Lucy Clare Spooner in Artist Spotlight

The Artist Spotlight is back! This time I was lucky enough to check in with the wonderful James Erickson, an oil painter in Maryland and a fellow UVA alumni. I love how effortless and calming his paintings feel--and I think you'll feel the same.

The Spoonful: Describe your style in 5 words:

James: I do my best work when I stop worrying about painting with a certain style. My paintings are representational in the sense that they depict real places and people that I encounter. Usually I start out fast, loose and abstract then bring about more order as the work progresses.

The Spoonful: Art background?

James: I fell in love with drawing and painting as a child. I studied painting at The University of Virginia and continued at The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) for an MFA.

The Spoonful: Whose work do you most admire?

James: John Singer Sargent, Joaquin Sorolla, Winslow Homer...

The Spoonful: Where do you find your inspiration?

James: Sometimes I see a person or a place that I am inspired to paint but more often it is the process of painting itself that I find inspiring. It is very rewarding to discover beauty in an unlikely subject.

The Spoonful: Ideal workspace consists of...

James: ...working in natural light with the landscape and/or a model. It is exciting to work with the changing conditions.

The Spoonful: Greatest piece of advice on being an artists (creating, surviving, anything) that you've received? That you can give?

James: Stick to what you know. Make art from your surroundings. Develop a daily discipline for your work.

The Spoonful: Five things you can't live without?

James: My faith and my family. Sleep and exercise. Books.

The Spoonful: Where can we find your work?

James: My studio is in Poolesville, MD. I also have paintings hanging at Village Gallery in Culpeper, VA. You can find my work online here, on instagram (@jamesdeanerickson), and on Facebook (jamesericksonart).

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The Spoonful: Anything else we should know?

James: I am a husband and father to three young children. Finley (4 years), Joseph (2 years) and Julia Rose (9 months).

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James also updates his tumblr often--it's well worth following. Do it! Now! Thanks so much for sharing your story, James!

If you'd like to share an artist to spotlight on The Spoonful, let me know!

DIY: Tapestry Headboard

August 24, 2015 by Lucy Clare Spooner in DIY, Projects

I came across this fantastic image from Anthology magazine while I was searching for headboard ideas for my dear friend's new apartment. So cool, right?

Here's another inspiration image from the August Black blog:

She’s looking for a calming, serene retreat in her bedroom, but also loves the boho chic feel, which we’ll incorporate in other rooms of her apartment (more on that to come down the road!). Headboards are one of my favorite parts of the room to DIY because there are just so many options. This solution for a headboard is so very simple and can be quite inexpensive: all you need is the tapestry and a bedframe upon which to set the mattress.

I did a quick eBay search which came up with some gorgeous options, like this big Suzani tapestry:

Or this one:

Love the colors here:

And here:

Pretty pink:

To fit in with her image of a calming space, I encouraged her to pick out a more neutral one, like this:

Or this one:

The tapestry could be attached directly to the wall or it could be mounted on a wood support to be a bit sturdier--it looks like the inspiration image did the latter. Erin Williamson did a great tutorial here, and Mr. Kate used a gorgeous different technique here.

Have you ever used a nonconventional headboard? How did it turn out? Let me know here or in the comments below!

DIY: Tiny Shelf Makeover

August 17, 2015 by Lucy Clare Spooner in DIY, Projects, Uncategorized

One of my favorite things to do when redecorating a room is to see what existing furniture I have that can be reworked for a fresh look (like I did with my atlas-covered desk). During my last year of college I needed a small bedside table to hold a few necessities--namely, my ever-growing pile of books and a lamp with which to read them. I already had this little dresser with drawers that my grandfather had made years and years ago, which had been painted and repainted umpteen times. I had changed out his original knobs for these funky ones another time, but the drawers just weren't going to work for my books.

I liked the navy, so didn't bother painting it yet again. Instead, I took the drawers out and, taking care to keep the face of the piece navy (but apparently not careful enough--don't look too closely! A little painter's tape might have been helpful here...), spray painted the inside silver. I wanted something a little glitzy inside, but not too overboard. For the record, I don't always love to paint old furniture, especially pieces with sentimental value, but because this already had about five layers of paint on it, I didn't feel too badly.

With a little (okay, a lot; okay, he did it all) help from my dad, boards were cut to easily slide into the dresser as shelves instead of the drawers. I covered them in some wrapping paper I had laying around and reinforced the edges with clear packing tape--a great little trick to keep the edges from getting banged up, which you can't see unless getting very up close and personal! You can see where I was running out of paper and turned the stripes the opposite direction on the last shelf. Gives a little personality :)

Then I filled it with books! And a clementine crate, which fit perfectly, to hold odds and ends.

And that was that! I loved this makeover because I only used things I already had (read: free!), and it was so quick to do--and so functional! Here it is in situ in my old Charlottesville room:

What about you? Do you have any successful furniture makeovers? Contact me here or let me know in the comments below--I'd love to share them on the blog!

Personal Shopper: 15 Area Rugs for $300 or Less

August 04, 2015 by Lucy Clare Spooner in Personal Shopper, Uncategorized

After the post on my studio's rugs, I received several very sweet notes wondering where to find rugs on a budget. This is a tough one because, on one hand, carpets can easily get destroyed, which makes investing in them a hard bite to swallow. On the other hand, a beautiful, well-made rug is a purchase that can travel from apartment to apartment for years--that's how I look at mine, anyway. Regardless, here's a round up of some of my favorites that don't break the bank! Color blocked rug (4'6 x 6'6 is about $268) by Ferm Living featured in this great post by Remodelista. Also comes in a smaller size.

Black and white, comes in two sizes (2'6 x 4'6 is about $126). Check out more, similar options from Ferm Living here.

Great graphics (and dark background hides dirt!)... also comes in inverse colors and other sizes. Urban Outfitters; 8' x 10' is $199.

Urban is #winning. Also comes in other color ways and sizes; 4' x 6' for $59.

More color blocking from Urban Outfitters; 5' x 7' is $99.

This colorful tribal flat weave from Urban is $189 for the 3' x 5', and a bigger size is also available.

A classic from IKEA; 5'7 x 8'10 for $199. (When shopping for IKEA rugs, I've found the better quality ones are their flat weaves, not low pile.)

From Hawkins New York; 4' x 6' is $300 and is available in more, equally fantastic colors and sizes:

Love this black and white from Bed, Bath, & Beyond. A 5' x 7' is $160; it also comes in other sizes.

Colors from Land of Nod (yes, that's a children's store!); 4' x 6' is $129.

Another Land of Nod find; 4' x 6' for $99 and other sizes are available.

On sale now at West Elm! 5' x 8' is $150; other sizes available.

More B&W from CB2, 5' x 8' for $249.

Vibin', also from CB2 (also comes in black). 6' x 9' for $249; a runner is also available.

Target for the win with this 5' x 7' for $120.

Have you found any great rug options? Tell me here or in the comments below!

Artist Spotlight: Myla Seabrook

July 28, 2015 by Lucy Clare Spooner in Artist Spotlight, Uncategorized

Regardless of the city or circle or stage of life, I've met so many fantastic artists, and I'm taking this chance to show them off through my Artist Spotlight series. Meet Myla Seabrook!

Myla and I worked together last summer, and I was immediately enthralled with her fearless use of color in the terrific landscapes she creates. She was recently featured by Cultation, and her work is really fantastic. She's better at telling her story for herself, so I'll let her!

The Spoonful: Describe your style in five words. Myla: Colorful, loose, whimsical, nostalgic sometimes, happy

The Spoonful: What is your art background? Myla: I attended the High School of Art and Design and majored in Fashion Illustration there (random, I know, but I loved it), then went to Hofstra University and majored in Fine Art with a concentration in painting. Over the course of my studies I have created drawings, collages, paintings, sculptures, and various clothing designs. I also interned with the West Harlem Art Fund and completed a residency at Brooklyn Art Space.

The Spoonful: Whose work do you most admire? Myla: Albert Bierstadt. He has a huge painting in the Brooklyn Museum (my favorite) that inspired me even when I was too small to be able to create something so large. He was a landscape painter that managed to capture the drama of skies and sweeping vistas perfectly with every painting, and he also worked in the super large sizes that I someday hope to have the space to produce.

The Spoonful: Where do you find your inspiration? Myla: In nature. I spend a ridiculous amount of time staring at the sky or at trees, shadows on grass, the land around me when I'm up on a mountain or a bridge or in a plane, the colors of flowers. I love being awed by natural beauty, as I feel reminded of the majesty of the earth in moments like those. I am also inspired by books. I read a lot of science fiction and supernatural stuff, and I don't think anyone can create a fantasy world quite like science fiction writers can.

The Spoonful: Your ideal workspace consists of... Myla: A large table so I can space things out (I'm a messy person but I get kind of surgical about the layout of my workspace; brushes over here, paper towels over there, paints in the bin along the back...), an easel or two depending on whether or not I'm working on two paintings at a time, and a large wall to tack up some canvas and make a huge piece. Since we're talking ideal here, a ladder would be great too, because I have alllll that wonderful dream space. I also like a good wifi connection and a comfy chair. Sometimes I can spend twenty minutes scrolling through googled reference photos before I feel ready to put paint on the canvas.

The Spoonful: Greatest piece of advice on being an artist (creating, surviving, anything) that you've received? That you can give? Myla: The road to success is winding. And you get there when the time is right. My mom is always coaching me on patience and trusting myself, and I think that, when you're self-employed, those things are incredibly important. Sometimes my path leads me places I didn't plan on being; lately, life has been about adapting to new situations and making the best out of them, assuming that staying focused on my goals/ willing to work and learn will get me to the things I want. So far, so good!

The Spoonful: Five things you can't live without? Myla: My cellphone (I hate admitting that but there it is), mostly for the Kindle reading, the texting, and the web browsing. I have all the social media accounts in the world but I'm too lazy to be super active on them. A sketchbook or journal Nail polish (if I can't paint a canvas, may as well paint my nails, am I right?) Books. Actual physical books. Sunlight. Not just for the vitamin D... I really, really love natural light.

The Spoonful: Where can we find your work? Myla: No shows at the moment, but I'm always open to setting up a studio visit at Brooklyn Art Space for people who'd like to see what I'm currently working on. (Editor's note: Myla's art can be seen on her website and Facebook, too.)

The Spoonful: What's coming up next for you? Myla: Currently, I'm working on achieving my goal of making larger paintings, mainly through mural commissions. I've also been working on some concept design for books and book covers, so that's hopefully something the public will see from me soon!

Thanks for sharing your story, Myla! Can't wait to see what's next :)

Do you know of an artist to be featured on The Spoonful's Artist Spotlight series? Let me hear it! Email me at lucyclarespooner@gmail.com.

Unleash the Pollock Within

July 22, 2015 by Lucy Clare Spooner in DIY, Projects, studio

When I decided to move into a studio, I knew I would need to finagle a divider to define the spaces. It's nice both for myself and for guests to know the living space from the private or sleeping space, even though there's no wall between the two. entry left wall

Remodelista blogged about a few ideas here, and Buzzfeed has an article here. Here's some inspiration that I played with, too:

This room is just fantastic, packing a double punch with the dividers by using both curtains (attached on only part of the ceiling and not meant to be fully closed) as well as the screen/plant combo. Those herringbone floors... I could move right in.

Another screen. Wouldn't that be a fun DIY??

I love this screen because it doesn't obstruct the view or, more importantly, the light, but cues the separate parts of the room. (The rest of the image is a little froo-froo for my taste but how crazy is that wallpapered ceiling?!)

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Bookshelves are a fantastically functional use of space... especially airy ones like these that let light come through:

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Here's an example of very thin, narrow shelves that act as a divider:

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Great curtains (can you spy the Jielde lamp, like I talked about in this post??):

Another curtain divider here:

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I considered all of the above ideas before settling on the curtain, which I like because it's lightweight, lets sunlight through, and doesn't distract too much from the rest of the space. I didn't have the perfect spare curtain lying around, so I decided to make one myself. Keeping in mind something simple, light, neutral, but with a bit of glam, I thought a Pollock-inspired divider would be simple, quick, and have just the effect I was after.

I grabbed a clean, white, flat bedsheet from my mother's linen closet, some gold paint, and a paint brush. After laying the sheet out, I commenced to splattering. To figure out how best to splatter the paint, I studied a few photos of Pollock while working:

I liked how his pieces have both the drip drops of paint, as well as the longer lines that have been flopped down with the flick of a wrist.

Because I wanted plenty of light to shine through, I leaned toward more background, less paint, like this of Pollock's:

I also studied how Pollock made his paintings into fields ("field" refers to a painting, surface, expanse, etc that has no distinction between figure and ground), like these:

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... and tried to do the same in mine by avoiding having either clusters of paint or expanses of white, as in this "during" photo of my own:

And finished:

Then I hung it up by attaching a heavy duty wire into the wall with screw-in hooks from the hardware store:

Later, I added a little black velvet trim to the edge to finish it. I would definitely recommend doing this before hanging up the curtain, but fabric glue got it to stick (would've been much easier if the sheet were lying horizontally instead of vertically!):

Now I need a chic little tieback and I'll be set! Stay tuned for a DIY on that to come :)