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... :)

Painted Bookshelves

August 03, 2016 by Lucy Clare Spooner in Uncategorized, Cool Hunting, DIY

There are few things I love more than a great set of bookshelves... unless the interior of said bookshelves has been painted in some gorgeous color. Here's what I mean:

I love how the blue of these shelves' interior (via domino, pinned here) is a few shades darker than the wall color (also seriously loving that hide rug).

This red! I like how the rest of the room is pretty low key so the red insides can really make a statement (via Architectural Digest by Steven Volpe, pinned here), but other red accents throughout the room (pillows, dress in photograph) tie it all together.

Here's a simple favorite (by Steven Gambrel and pinned here from this blog). Such a beautiful shade of blue for the shelves' backs, and the leather chest is a beautiful complement. And those antique horses! Amazing.

This post from Crane Concept (pinned here) walks through how to DIY these built-ins. The black paint here makes the shelves look like they go on to infinity (and beyond)--a great optical illusion. (The rug is killer, too... see this post for where to find an affordable option for yourself!)

This idea is also really effective and gorgeous in stand-alone shelves. Antony Todd, a wonderful space on 11th and University, has these amazing shelves that I drool over every time:

This beautiful display cabinet was for sale on Viyet-- it has since sold, sadly, but inspirational all the same! DIY, anyone??

And then, of course, there's the wallpaper-backed route. I'm particularly obsessed with the island vibe in this image (via PS I Made This with a video outlining the process here):

This wallpaper is always a favorite, especially when it's tucked in somewhere unexpectedly, like here (via Apartment Therapy and pinned here):

Here's that tropical vibe again... loving it (via Cup of Jo and pinned here):

This can be a great DIY, too! In high school, my dear mother and I actually "wallpapered" the back of my built-in bookshelves with wrapping paper... but that's another story for another day :)

Have you ever painted the backs of your shelves? Have you seen any especially beautiful examples of someone who has? Let me know in the comments below!

A Red Bed

July 28, 2016 by Lucy Clare Spooner in Cool Hunting

This photo is from a little spot in the Bahamas called Ocean View Club (on my travel list!). How heavenly is this bedroom??

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I'm loving the pale blue/tomato red color combination. To recreate, I'd take a four poster bed like this one...

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... and paint it in a terrific red:

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Other accents should be the same red, like the bedsides and a frame or two on the wall. I love how the wall is filled up with the two benches on either side of the bed. I would recreate that look by painting a couple of benches (like this one from World Market) the same red as the bed frame and painting the top of the bench white (as shown in the inspiration image):

Of course, that could also be done with smaller nightstands (and if the red is too much, leave them natural wood!).

The pale blue accent wall is lovely and looks to be similar to this shade:

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Add little foo dog bedside lamps (less pricey alternative here):

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And an ethnic throw pillow on a crisp white bedspread:

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Island decor, delivered!

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

Going Dutch

July 08, 2016 by Lucy Clare Spooner in Cool Hunting, DIY

If there were ever a "summer door," I think it's the Dutch door (as shown in a previous post here). These doors can open as a regular door does, or just the top half can swing open to let in fresh air and sunshine, keeping animals out and children in. I was daydreaming about this marvelous idea and came across this how-to from HGTV for making one of your own!

I don't have a suitable door in my little apartment to turn into a Dutch door... maybe one day, but until then I have plenty of time to find beautiful inspiration!

Jenny Komenda at Little Green Notebook first introduced me to Dutch doors with this post when she was living in Brussels. So dreamy!

How beautiful is this pair of double Dutch glossy blacks? (via the great Thomas O'Brien)

This sunshine yellow just screams happiness (via Brittany Ambridge):

This white option proves simplicity never goes out of style (and neither does that hat stand!):

On the opposite side of the spectrum, we have this terrific high gloss, multi-color number from Miles Redd (via AD):

I think this shot is just lovely:

And I will leave you with this. Mooooooo

Happy Friday!

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How To: Host a Clothes Swap

June 22, 2016 by Lucy Clare Spooner in NYC tidbits

I've been meaning to post this for ages! I hosted a clothing swap earlier this year and it was so great (if I must say so myself)--and so simple! In the middle of winter when all is bleak and drizzly, a little closet clean-out and friendly camaraderie fit the bill nicely--and now that summer is upon us, another closet purging might be in order again.

I sent the word out to my girls in the city:

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I went to another clothing swap soon after I moved here, put on by a woman in the city who has been doing them for years. She lives in a big, beautiful Tribeca loft and had tables and racks set up for all of the piles of clothes, as well as a coat check (smart!). She converted her bedroom into a dressing room and all snacks stayed in the kitchen.

I modeled my clothing swap after that one: a few tweaks, but mostly the same. Here are some shots of the set up before people arrived...

I put all accessories together (with shopping bags to "shop"):

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And organized clothes by category on my (cleared-off) dresser and bed:

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(And I made a drinks and snacks station over in the back corner to keep the kitchen from bottlenecking!)

A few of the girls looking through the goods!

At the end, we bagged up the leftovers and donated them to charity. An easy way to force yourself to clean out the closets!

Have you ever thrown a clothes swap? Let me hear about it in the comments below!

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!

Inspiration: Fresh White

May 18, 2016 by Lucy Clare Spooner in Cool Hunting

I'm loving this fresh snapshot from Domino (where else):

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Because the furniture is all pure white and the color comes from accessories, it's easy to create what looks to be a whole new space by just swapping out the books and pillows.

To recreate the look, start with the white furniture. I like how slender the side table is above; here's a similar one from Wayfair (I would also spray paint--glossy pure white--a table if I found a good style in the wrong color!):

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The sofa's straight lines keep the crazy pillows from getting too... crazy. Here's a goodie from abc home :

And here's a budget-friendly version from Ikea (with slipcover). A little white paint on those legs is all you need--or check out PrettyPegs for alternative furniture legs made for Ikea goods (why didn't I think of that??).

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I've always loved this white coffee table from Hay (sold by abc home):

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And the obligatory sheepskin OF COURSE:

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A mounted wall light for reading (this one is from Restoration Hardware):

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And now for the color! I think that huge Asian fan is a wonderful thing--and I think the black aspects of it (in the original photo above) really work to pull together the many black accents in the pillows, light, even from the books. Here's a vintage one I found on etsy:

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The leopard pillow looks to be a classic Brunschwig et Fils pattern (here), but here's a less pricey option:

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... cherry red pillow from Target:

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... and a black throw pillow from Overstock:

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... add one of these catch-alls from Michele Varian:

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... grab a few succulents from Homecoming (the coolest coffee shop/florist in Brooklyn) or at the local hardware store:

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... and, finally, load on the coffee table books. Need help deciding? MyDomaine, One Kings Lane, and Remodelista are here for you :)

Voila!

Do you have a room you'd like to see broken down on The Spoonful? Let me know in the comments below!

Tub Trays

May 10, 2016 by Lucy Clare Spooner in Cool Hunting, Projects

How great is this bathtub setup (via Remodelista and pinned here)?!

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That wood plank across the tub makes me so very happy. Here's another one (via Hearth; I blogged about this bathroom here!):

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These curved edges on this tray (via La Maison Douce) are especially beautiful (and perhaps more forgiving if bumped into!):

I was just in one of my favorite spots in Brooklyn Heights, Collyer's Mansion, and saw this great tub bar. I love its simplicity:

Of course, I also think this would be a terrific DIY opportunity. My girl Martha writes about it here.

Not too tough, right? And so totally chic. Now I just need a claw foot tub!

Have you tried this DIY? Do you have a DIY you'd like to see featured on The Spoonful? Let me know in the comments below!

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Workspace Goals

May 03, 2016 by Lucy Clare Spooner in Cool Hunting, DIY, Personal Shopper

Check out this gorgy-gorg workspace from Sarah Vickers. She and her husband, Kiel James Patrick (of the brand KJP), have amazing instagrams (@sarahkjp and @kjp) that are constantly inspiration-worthy--usually for clothes or lovey-dovey photos of the happy couple, but I found this desk to be divine! Every time I look at this photo, I see another little fabulous detail (don't miss the framed taxidermied bat in the upper right corner!). Here's how I would recreate this space:

I'd start with good L-shaped desk for lots of room to spread out (twine-wrapped table leg for a kitty scratching post is optional...):

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The contrast between the wood of the desk and the white of the cubbies is just great. These from Land of Nod would work well:

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I'd switch the knobs out of the desk hutch with something brassy and fabulous like these:

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... or these:

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That striped chair is so lovely, don't you think? Here's a similar one from Serena and Lily:

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Or this one in blue:

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The biggest pop, to me, is the green on the walls. Paint is your friend! Benjamin Moore's Nile Green looks to be prettyyy close to the color above:

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The white shelves in Sarah Vickers's photo look to be built-ins, which can get pricey. To cut corners, a good option is to put up shelves with brackets, like these from Home Depot:

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The vintage Vogue cover is so great and a bit of red or pink will really pop against the green walls. A quick eBay search opens the door to so many options. Here are a few of my faves:

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And now for the accessories! Because who doesn't need that taxidermied bat, amiright?

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Have you found a picture of a space you'd like to see recreated on The Spoonful! Let me know!

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!

Snuggle-y Bedroom

April 04, 2016 by Lucy Clare Spooner in Cool Hunting

Schoolhouse Electric (amazing lighting--and more--shop in TriBeCa) posted this photo on instagram a while ago, and I came across it this weekend while going through old photos. How comfy?!

Want to recreate this cozy space for yourself? Read on...

Maps are one of my favorite things--probably because I was forever traveling as a child (I even covered my desk in maps! See that post here.) Etsy has a plethora of vintage pull-down maps like the one in the photo above:

Love this amazing pendant from Schoolhouse Electric:

Check out Schoolhouse Electric's bedding, too, because it's pretty great:

Here are similar lamps from Crate & Barrel:

And bedside tables from Ikea!!

Finish off the space with this big ole sheepskin rug:

And then you'll be ready to crawl right back in bed!

Have you seen a room you'd like to see recreated and featured on The Spoonful? Let me know in the comments below!

Things I Love: Canopy Beds

March 30, 2016 by Lucy Clare Spooner in Cool Hunting

Wouldn't you feel like a modern day princess in this room, sleeping on this bed (via Elle Decor and pinned here)?

This shot from Lonny Mag is also magnificent (pinned here):

The great thing about a dark canopy like this is that it doesn't have to feel princess-y! Check out this gypsy-esque rendition (pinned here):

Dying for your own? Anthropologie has a gorgeous version here:

Do you have a piece you'd like to see on The Spoonful? Let me know in the comments below!

DIY I'd Like to Try: Dyeing Sheepskins

March 23, 2016 by Lucy Clare Spooner in DIY

The one thing that might be better than a sheepskin is a dyed sheepskin. Justina Blakeney (pinned here):

Society of Wanderers (great name! pinned here):

Jenna Lyons's office via Little Green Notebook (pinned here):

Jenny Komenda's office (pinned here):

Jenny at Little Green Notebook wrote up a terrific step-by-step tutorial on how to dye sheepskins using Rit dye here, and it doesn't look too hard! (Jenny also makes everything look easy so...)

And then, of course, the options open up for other DIYs, like turning the sheepskin into pillows (via Elements of Style, pinned here):

Or even upholstering a chair! (pinned here)

I'm thinking this might be the makings of a great weekend project...

Have you tried this DIY? Do you have a DIY you'd like to see on The Spoonful? Let me know in the comments below!

In Honor of Spring...

March 21, 2016 by Lucy Clare Spooner in Cool Hunting

... I share with you this gloriously springy and feminine bedside moment (pinned here) by Bailey Quin of Biscuit Home (written up here by Southern Living):

I think I've just found my new favorite bedding store! Loving these awesome Boone sheets:

Wallpaper brought to you by Scalamandre (other colorways available):

Mildly obsessed with this Border sham (also by Bailey Quin and 50% discount now with code SHAMROCK):

I'll be dreaming of that simple monogram all day...

The Spoonful Travels: Venice, CA

March 16, 2016 by Lucy Clare Spooner in The Spoonful Travels

As a little escape from the craziness and frigidness that is NYC in the winter, I popped over to Venice, CA with my friend, Eda, last weekend. Consequently, I'm now utterly and completely obsessed with the Los Angeles area and the west coast in general. We went without too many plans and instead asked the locals for suggestions, and I had such a fabulous time that I thought I should put together a travel guide!

No. 1: Stay in an AirBnB. Ours was one block from the oceanfront--a terrific 2-bedroom with living area and full kitchen at a surprisingly reasonable rate--which made us feel like locals instead of tourists. And the furnishings were darling, in my book:

No. 2: Eat at Gjusta Bakery. Everyone we talked to recommended this place. It rocks and we went every day. Order the rotisserie chicken (thanks Marjorie for that suggestion!), a few salads to share, and the avocado chocolate mousse. Their outdoor seating is quintessentially beachy/LA and feels very local. Great spot to chat up the locals for suggestions, too.

No. 3: Shop on Abbot Kinney. Eda and I stayed in Heist for an entire hour--or more?!--having the best time trying on the most gorgeous clothes. Salt and Aust are also winners for fabulous clothes. Tortoise, a Japanese home goods store, is a terrific stop for the chic-est storage containers, desk supplies, kitchen accessories, etc.

No. 4: Go for drinks at Tasting Kitchen and dinner at Gjelina (or vice versa). Tasting Kitchen has a lovely, laid back yet swanky vibe with really great cocktails, and Gjelina is Gjusta's upscale sister restaurant. Order the king oyster mushrooms and the grilled spot prawn... yum. (Reservations are a little tough but we put our name on the wait list at Gjelina and waited at Tasting Kitchen just down the block.)

No. 5: We also went into West Hollywood with a few friends who made the trek down from San Fran (hi guys!) for cocktails at Chateau Marmont--so swanky and fun--and dinner at Katsuya where we ate allllll of the sushi. Highly recommend both and also highly recommend making reservations prior!

Next time: It was such a quick trip that we didn't get the chance to visit the great museums, though I've heard rave reviews for the Broad, LACMA, and Getty.

Domino's latest issue also has a beautiful spread on Lily Ashwell's home in Venice! Check it out here, and these are her suggestions:

A few shots from the trip:

Now go! Travel! Explore! Live!

Do you have a favorite spot in Venice to suggest? Is there a location you'd like to see featured on The Spoonful Travels? Let me know here or 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!