Rooms With Sheepskin

The first signs of fall are beginning to show here in Los Angeles.  We've been seeing a little colder weather and it actually rained the other day.  Hallelujah!  Fall is by far my favorite time of the year.  It makes me think about wearing scarves, drinking hot cider, eating pumpkin pie, and snuggling up with a book (not necessarily all at once, but you get it.) These cozy spaces feel ready for the season as well.  The luxurious sheepskin rugs and plush throws create a warm environment ready for relaxation and comfort.  Their fluffy texture adds a natural feel against modern furniture and brings a softness to otherwise cold spaces. Sheepskin can be a perfect way to prepare for the upcoming winter season.  Available at Ikea, they come in a variety of different sizes and are relatively inexpensive too.  In fact, I'm thinking I will pick up a Flokati for beside my bed.  It will be a wonderful change from cold hardwood floors in the morning.

images: rikshaw design, colleen fox interiors, remodelista, the white company via mydaily.co.uk, pamela duncan, emmas design blog

Expedit Bookcase..you are Everywhere!!!!

As you probably have noticed in various interior designs, the Expedit bookcase from Ikea is a very popular storage choice for a lot of people.  It's simple, straightforward design, goes well with almost any style of decor and the ample space it provides is enticing for the book-lover or collector. Check out the fun ways people personalize this best-seller.

Images: Elle Decor, House to Home

Images: Design Sponge, Kishani Perera

Images: Decor Pad, Simplyvonne, Samantha Pynn, Cape27 blog, Ohdeedoh , Almostbunnies, Dozidesign

The Hidden Office

A2

Many of us have desk clutter sitting around in our workspace.  What if there was a way to get rid of that debris, or at the very least, not see it?  Some designers out there were thinking the same thing and have come up with some very interesting solutions.  Whether you buy a piece of furniture, repurpose your old furniture, or create a special office nook for yourself, there are ways to achieve a functional office without having to sacrifice style.

Here are some very good options for those who desire a desk that will blend in with all types of decor and disappear amongst other furniture.

Ikea PS - Laptop Workstation

Ikea - Jonas Secretary

Pottery Barn - Delancy Smart Technology Secretary

Not just for offices, but for garage work areas as well.

Thisnext.com

Another great way to find room for office supplies is to reappropriate your furniture.  By utilizing closed storage you can create an office supply area or even use a pull-out cabinet feature to hold your printer.  As Martha Stewart illustrates in the images below, turning a window seat or storage chest into file storage can be a tasteful way to hide your important papers.  It is functional and space saving at the same time!

If you have the right space for it, try to create an entire office area that can easily be hidden.  Closets or small nooks in the architecture of your house or apartment are perfect for this.  They can be hidden using sliding doors, curtains, or screens and appear purposeful in your room's design.  Also, try getting creative with materials because this could be another opportunity to enhance your room's style.  

Sunset Magazine

Martha Stewart

Divide and Concur Kitchen Clutter

"Out of clutter, find Simplicity. From discord, find Harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." -- Albert Einstein, scientist

One of the biggest places people need extra space is in the kitchen. There never seems to be enough counter space or enough storage for all of the contraptions that we buy. The mixers, the blenders, and the whirling thingamajigs. It might be a good idea to go through some of that stuff to make room for the things that you will use all the time.

Just recently I was trying to make room for a couple of cookbooks inside of my cabinets and came across a large serving bowl I never knew I had. It made me think...how many other things are going unused and unnoticed until they have joined the "I don't remember buying this!" list. So I proceeded to go cabinet by cabinet, shelf by shelf, and clear things out. I ended up with a bag full of stuff that included an old George Forman grill I haven't used in years and some coffee mugs that I'd been holding on to for sentimental reasons. Whatever was hiding I put in a place where I know I would see it and use it. If I don't use them now, then I will know that its because I have no use for them, not because I didn't know they were there. My new rule...I want to use everything I own, otherwise why have it.

Here are a few ideas to create extra space around the kitchen as well as some interesting food storage options to keep everything organized:

1. $9.99 Wall Mount Grocery Bag Holder by Simple Human 2. $99.00 Roll-Out Under Cabinet Lid Holder at Bed Bath and Beyond 3. $29.99 Asker Dish Drainer at Ikea 4. $7.99 Silver-3 Tier Mesh Cabinet Organizer at The Container Store 5. $17.99 Pull Out Waste Sorting Tray at Ikea 6. $84.95 Rev-A-Shelf Heavy Duty Mixer at Amazon.com 7. $29.95-36.95 Modular Drawer Organizer at William Sonoma 8. $6.99-$8.99 Undershelf Basket at The Container Store

1. $40-$60 each Le Creuset Enameled Stoneware Canisters at William Sonoma 2. $5.00-21.00 each Weck Modern Jar Set at Heath Ceramics 3. $19.95 Herb Keeper at Crate and Barrel 4. $6.99-$9.99 Handled Food Storage Containers at The Container Store 5. $7.00-$19.00 each Oxo Pop Containers from Amazon.com 6. $14.99 Magnetic Spice Rack at The Container Store 7.$4.00 Onion Saver at Sur La Table

Ideas!!!!!!!

Ikea

Pottery Barn

Ikea

Pottery Barn

Indecorati.com

meandalice.blogspot.com

Idealhomemagazine.co.uk

Sunset Magazine