Art that looks like interiors...

Bedroom by Unknown, Dining Room by Jay Jeffers, Hallway by Tirry Cindy and Tom Callebaut

- Lauren

Art that looks like interiors...

Bathroom by Irina Graewe, Living Room by Unknown, Living Room by Deborah Wecselman

- Lauren

Argh...

So the kitchen floor is coming together, but sadly will not be done until January. We have some issues to work out with the back doors to the future deck, and it doesn't make sense to do the floor until all of the traipsing around the kitchen is over and done with.  So be on the lookout for that in the new year. 

In the meantime I've been busily dealing with all of the paperwork involved in applying for a variance for our backyard deck.  Thank goodness it's winter and we're not missing out on valuable outdoor time.  By the time I'm done filling out all the forms, making the ten thousand copies, getting everything notarized, sending the certified letters to all of the neighbors within 250 feet, and placing a notification in the town paper, it will surely be springtime.  Our backyard looks like this at the moment (with a little less foliage and a little less driveway).

Hopefully by spring (or cross your fingers, sooner) our contractor will be able to start building something that will look like this.

Art that looks like interiors...

Living Room by Ronald Bricke,  Dining Room by Doug & Gene Meyer,  Living Room by Kathy Hackman Hutchinson

- Lauren

The kitchen floor....

So, I finally decided on the Shipibo Allover Stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils for the kitchen floor.  Right now the space looks like this.

I colored up the stencil and I'm liking the deco feel with a little bit of an encaustic tile look. 

I can't decide though if I want to add some black to make it more contrasty

Or even a little bit of rust (or does it start looking to native american?)

The good thing is that I can paint it and live with it for a while and make a decision. I'm so excited to get going on this project next week.  And if I have a little bit of extra time I might even treat you all to a little photoshop rendition so we can see it before the real thing.  Which version are you leaning toward?

Art that looks like interiors...

Bedroom by Lázaro Rosa-Violán, Bathroom by Joseph Dirand, Bedroom by Unknown

- Lauren

Living Room Update

The built-ins are almost done, and the overlays are in.  And they look fab.  Thanks Danika!  And my Schoolhouse Electric sconces are a new fave as well.  A few tweaks to the doors, adding some shoe molding to cover our speaker wire on the mantle, and then a major dusting and I should be on my way to filling those babies up with coats and accessories.  And a wall mounted TV means I get to put some accessories below it on the mantel.  I'm not a big tech person but we have this new infrared remote thing that allows us to hide all our components and use our iphones and ipad as remotes.  It is SO cooool.  Oh, and I'm waiting on the hardware. I'm thinking one of my items that's still in prototyping will be what we end up using.  More on that later... And we got this great jute rug from West Elm that I'm excited to get down on the floor. All of the look of sisal but SO much softer.  Eventually we will have to figure out a better solution than our IKEA lack coffee tables but they work for now (sadly, our octagonal coffee table from LA is too large and will be relegated to the basement rec room).  Can't wait to update you on the kitchen floor stencil situation next.

Stylin' Mammas: Holiday Hostess-ing

The good china is back in the cupboard for a few weeks and the debate rages on about the best weekend to get our tree (is the 2nd too early?  is the 9th too late?).  And of course, the holiday entertaining dates start to stack up.  There are the work happy hours (two, in our dual-income household), the school Christmas Pageant, the random holiday-themed auction benefit event, the annual gingerbread house date with our best buds, the downtown decorations wander followed by pizza with the grandparents and cousins...not to mention the Big Day(s) itself: church, Christmas Eve supper, Christmas morning brunch, Christmas dinner.   Each and every one of which calls for an outfit.

Stylin' Mamma is (if nothing else) a busy mommy.  Gone are the days when I could devote an entire afternoon to primping, from the blow-out down to the pedicure.  Dressing up has become a streamlined process, crammed into the 25 minutes between when the babysitter rings the bell and the dinner reservation kicks in.   Needless to say, some day-to-night planning is in order -- particularly for entertaining in the home, which we do quite a bit this time of year.  A gal needs a look that will take her to the farmer's market in the morning, withstand any stray splatter from the turkey baster in the afternoon, allow for some park time to help the kids blow off steam as the evening approaches -- and then a lightning quick-yet-elegant change-up for dinner on the good china.

For day, I like a soft pair of boyfriend jeans (love the flap pockets on these!), and because I'm always cold (you can find me on the ottoman closest to the fireplace, thank you very much), some sweater-on-sweater action: one tongue-in-cheek pullover for padding around the house , plus a cozy coat-like topper for a chilly walk to the park. Corduroy Toms add a pop of color, and a quirky cooler basket lets me carry my organic produce in style.  

Because we barely leave enough time to change for dinner, I like to keep dressing simple, festive, and unfussy: an easy, comfortable dress; a statement ring; and a great pedicure should do the trick.  With a glass of bubbly in hand and a bowl of mixed nuts on the table, I'm ready for action.

Frutto Probito

So, one of my favorite rooms in the house (and one that is the most done) is the powder room. I decided to splurge on a Cole and Sons wallpaper called Frutto Probito. I love how it has a traditional bent and that the colors tie in to the palette in the rest of the house, but that it's playful at the same time.  I have a little monkey figurine that I can't wait to dig out and put on the back of the toilet.  The pendant is from Rejuventation (which has so many great vintage-style fixtures) and the mirror was an antique find for just $60! 

Art that looks like interiors...

Dining Room by John Mayer via Elle Decor,  Foyer by The Rug Company,  Living Room via Elle Decor

- Lauren

The Kitchen Floor

Ah, the saga continues.  Well, while we were gone for Thanksgiving, our GC ripped up our kitchen floor and put down new finished plywood and painted it the specified grey. It looks really nice and clean and doesn't feel like it's going to cave in when you walk on it.   So the plan is to do a stencil on the floor as per my original concept board and give it sort of an antiqued encaustic tile type of look. The idea is that if I antique it, it will look worn and the seams of the plywood will be less obvious (as will any dirt and grime and such).  And I love all those amazing cementitious tiles out there so I'm super excited about this.  The question is whether to go more geometric with a design created from painters tape or to take a stencil and do a little doctoring to make it look like tile.  Of course, I love some of the more intricate designs, but I can't imagine that with a toddler, and a business to run, that I'll have that much time to spend stooped over the floor painting scroll details.

Here are some of my inspirations.

Clockwise from top left: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

Cutting edge stencils has offered to give me a stencil for the project (and do a giveaway on the blog!) so I'm leaning in that direction. Here are some photoshopped versions of a few of their stencils that I am considering.

The first is the Bazaar Allover Stencil. I like the idea of it but with the coloration doesn't it look a bit mid-century mod?  The second is the Aladdin Allover Stencil.  Definitely a Moroccan feel but it seems too much of a color block effect.  The last is the Moroc-n-Roll Allover Stencil. I'd almost said no to this because of it's tongue-in-cheek name, but I actually think that I like this the best (despite the horribly pixelated attempt at photoshop).  Thoughts? There are so many options on their site that every time I go on there I see another one that strikes my fancy.  I'm in desperate need of someone to help me narrow it down!

Balcony Update

A while ago I posted a concept board that I had done for my friends Kellie and Adam's upstairs balcony.  Here is what it looked like on paper.

And what it looked like before:

Well, the concept is now a reality.  With some planting help from Nancy over at Weeds, Kellie and Adam's barren balcony is now a Tuscan inspired retreat.  What a fun project to design from afar and see implemented so well!

D Pages: Hardware Roundup

Today I'm over at the D Pages Blog showing off some of my favorite hardware finds.  Hop on over to see where you can find all of these fabulous baubles.

Art that looks like interiors...

Foyer by Frank Roop Design, Living Room by Sebastian Herkner, Bedroom by Lauren Stern Design
- Lauren

Keaton Row Closet Envy

Today I'm over at Keaton Row again with my second Closet Envy Post. Check it out here and find out where to get all these wonderful items.

Art that looks like interiors...

Chandelier via Design Sponge, Dining Room by Hillary Thomas and Jeff Lincoln via House Beautiful, Living Room by Anthony Barrata
- Lauren

Art that looks like interiors...

Living Room by Ruscoe Carinas, Living Room by Smart Design Studio, Kitchen via The New York Times
-Lauren

And then there was....

Winter.

Yes. It's officially here. Time to buy the babe some snow gear and get all of those little gaps around our doors and windows insulated and sealed from the cold air.  I have to count my blessings though.  We made it through the nor'Easter without losing power again and I had the forethought to buy a shovel, scraper and some salt for the stairs and walk.  I wish I'd taken a photo of the winter wonderland this morning.  But it still looks pretty good this afternoon.

And here are a few updated (well, sort of, if a few weeks ago counts as updated) photos of the house.  The various storms have certainly set us back.  But things are moving along gradually. Hope to have the upstairs 100% complete in the next few days and then on to finishing the kitchen and the built-ins.  Sadly, the subfloor in the kitchen which I'd hoped to paint and stencil was rotten so it needs to be ripped up and we will be doing some sort of vinyl or linoleum tile instead.  Not quite as creative, but it'll do the job and not be as expensive as putting down a new wood floor only to paint it again.  Can't wait to share more as it starts to look like a real home.

Stylin' Mammas: Keeping Up with the Hipsters

We finally got around to taking the kiddos to the newly-renovated playground at Dolores Park here in San Francisco a few weeks ago.  One of those rare, idyllic Fall days where the temps hover around 70 and the skies are blue and cloudless.  From the top of Dolores hill you can see the whole city spread out below, and the state-of-the-art play equipment ain't bad either.

The Hipster Quotient is unreasonably high, however.  Price of admission to the playground is approximately one fedora and two pairs of ironically-retro sunglasses per family, with extra-credit given for a reusable Whole Foods bag packed with a GMO-free brunch picnic and/or a cup of Blue Bottle coffee.  This is street style -- the Sunday parenting edition --at its best.  

I am hankering for a good, long pair of high-quality leggings this season to wear under my over-the-knee flat boots. Layers keep it casual -- and keep you cozy.  I will get this in black, too. Worn half-buttoned over a tee for park time, this easy chambray shirt can be dressed up later for work, with a pair of bright cords, a big necklace, and ballet flats.  Brave the urban jungle (gym) with a rugged hat. Jewelry is simple and fuss-free: a necklace with meaning (I wear my kids' initials on charms around my neck), a chunky bracelet...and of course, the requisite sunnies. For snacks and extra layers for little climbers, a reusable bag to die for.

- Jaime

Oh Sandy....

My last post was about Bryan's first birthday party which seems like AGES ago, thanks to our good friend Sandy.  Scott's parents left early last Saturday in anticipation of hurricane Sandy's arrival and we hunkered down Sunday and Monday.  We were expecting something reminiscent of the Pasadena windstorms we endured about a year ago. From inside our house, it felt similar, except this time our power went out and stayed out..... and continues to be out.  And in reality the repercussions have been much much worse.  We have been lucky though, and thanks to some friendly neighbors and a generator, we have been able to stay in Millburn, and stay warm.  We are just now starting to get reconnected to the outside world, and we hope that our power returns on Monday (although who knows when Scott will be able to resume his regular NJT commute into the city). 

Here are some photos from our stroll around our neighborhood the next day (I can only imagine how much worse those on the shore had it).  Those downed power lines are at the end of our block. The poles were literally sheared in half.  What I thought was lightening the night before was actually the substations blowing.  And the block with those four enormous trees down is directly behind our house - a week before I was completely jealous of how shaded and tree-lined that street was.  The night of Sandy, though, I was rejoicing for a front yard free of large trees.

On a positive / side note, I mentioned last week that the living room I designed for friends Kellie and Adam was a finalist in the Apartment Therapy Room for Color Contest. Well, they won!  Check it out here!

Bryan's Birthday Bash

We celebrated Bryan's First Birthday on the 20th. In keeping with the invitation that Soyoung designed, the decor was simple and crafty. Bryan loves pinwheels and anything that spins, so aside from the animal theme, I added some homemade pinhweel centerpieces. The feel is fall but not overtly halloween.  The guests enjoyed fall treats and a wonderful carrot cake.  And judging by the photos and the post-cake outfit change, Bryan enjoyed it too (maybe not eating it, but certainly playing with it).