The Fete Blog

Alexandra Ferguson describes her pieces as “sassy little pillows”– and what better way to add a little spice to your home decor than with a bit of attitude?

No– these throws aren’t meant for mouthy college kids and their haphazard rooms. They’re elegantly and resourcefully designed (made from 100% recycled materials– every water bottle you recycle turns into this material!) and grown up enough for even the most adult home (give one to your mother, I guarantee she’ll smile).

Some of the more romantic ones can be destined for the bedroom, while the signature sassy throws are perfect for any living space. Pillows start at $99 for a 16″x16″ size and some are color-customizable. For sneak peeks and fun, crafty goodness, follow Alexandra on her blog as well!

If you’re anything like me, you have an overwhelming amount of books and magazines. How do you store and display them, in a clean and sophisticated way, without having to resort to dusty bookshelves and unorganized stacks in every corner? I’m ready to create my own mini-library– and these gorgeous (and definitely un-dusty) bookshelves are my inspiration!

These dark shelves look sexy against brighter design details (the couch, the carpet, the sun-filled room) and I love the mixture of art hanging on the shelves and knickknacks spread among the books. image via bird on the loose

A little bookshelf nook! I could spend my entire weekend here! The large white bookshelves are simple– not taking away from the beauty of the scene outside the window– and can store enough books to keep you occupied for days. image via Safdie Rabines Architects

This is Eudora Welty’s home library– the combination of luxe, vintage seating and floor-to-ceiling shelves is divine! image via Flavorwire

This shelf is filled to capacity, but I’m confident I’d be able to find any book I was looking for. image via unknown

I want to live here. Gorgeous, even shelving (it looks so organized!) plenty of space for a lifetime of books, and beautiful furniture. image via Tartanscot

This room! These bookshelves are divine– the little design details make them unique in a room full of such strong colors and design. image via Little Green Notebook

Much like the first bookshelf, this shelf utilizes knickknacks and hanging art to break up the rows of books– a fun distraction for the eyes! I also love how the books are stacked and stored differently– the styling keeps it fresh and interesting. image via The New York Times

These shelves are subtle– not a grand statement piece– but they hold a ton of books and they work well within the bright, white space. image via Style Files 

These shelves are the stuff of my avant-garde dreams– it’s much more of an art, display piece, perfect for art books and those books you bought just for the cover (because we all do that once in awhile…). image via decor8

What a perfect way to utilize an uneven wall! Building in a bookshelf that showcases bright books and uses the entire space makes this the perfect reading nook. image via SF Girl by Bay

Do you use bookshelves in your home? How do you style them? What does your dream reading nook or library look like?

I am totally craving color today– bright, brillant, lustrous spaces in which to live, work, and play–>

Clean whites, high ceilings, and an eclectic mix of bold colors! An easy way to bring loud hues into any space. via Lonny Magazine

Yes, this is a flirty, feminine space– but it could hardly be considered “girly.” Strong furniture, wood floors, and interesting dark lines pair nicely with the pink walls. via Coco + Kelley

Teal is one of my most favorite colors– I love how it’s paired here with yellows and reds (our wedding palette!), yet doesn’t overwhelm the space. Bonus: there are so many details (the checkered floor, the intricate ceiling work, the gold texture on the wall) that balance the bright color. image via Lonny

Another way to balance crisp white walls with delightful tropical colors– look for brightly hued pieces of furniture, fabrics, and design accents to open up a room. image via Pinterest

Obviously this is a room from one of my dreams– the layering of colors, textures, and prints are pure art. Oh, to have this kind of styling skill! Not to be tried at home unless you’re a professional… image via Lonny

Another version of the all-over-teal space. This version is darkier, sultrier, paired with neutrals and a handful of luxurious colors (cream, red, blue, green). This takes us away from citrusy brights into a more opulent mood… image via SF Girl by Bay

Spring has officially sprung– at least on the calendar, even if the temps haven’t completely committed. Are you using some of these last chilly days to stay indoors and do some spring cleaning? Not a bad idea– I’ve got some of my own to tend to as well. However, when those chores are done, I’m planning to get back to decorating the rest of those blank walls in my house. I’m having fun creating my own art but I like to support real real artists too. I did a little browsing this week and thought I’d share with you a few fun and affordable pieces that would be fun to consider for bringing a little spring cheer to your own little nest.

1. I love the floral prints at Calamari Studio on Etsy. These are two of my favorites.
On the left : “Poppies,” original watercolor and ink, by Michelle Tavares ($75).
On the right: vintage inspired print ($13.50)

2. “Inbetween,” original abstract acrylic, by Elizabeth Chapman ($150)

3. “Summertime Donkey,” giclee print, by Caitlin McGauley for Furbish Studio ($95)

4. “Braid 2,” giclee print, by Elizabeth Mayville ($20)
I’ve purchased two of her prints in the past and can’t wait to frame them!

Happy Spring! –kim speer

image via Lopez Jenny Lopez & Foam Magazine

I finally had a chance to dig through the Jan/Feb issue of Foam Magazine (one of my new favorites!) and fell in love with the Miami home of blogger and model Jenny Lopez– it’s elegant, it’s eclectic, it feels cozy and lived in, and, best of all, it’s bright. Basically, if I could move in, I would in a heartbeat. I love this particular mix of bright decor details, sophisticated lines, and clean, crisp whites– it has a luxurious, bohemian feel!

A teensy attempt to recreate this aesthetic–> from top left: A bright cabinet stands out against a crisp white wall (although I would, of course, replace these knobs with something more artsy and less girly), via The Market on East Monroe | Assorted and eccentric throw pillows pop against white furniture, via Anthropologie | A bright rug makes this space complete! via Anthropologie | Jenny doesn’t have a chandelier in her bedroom, but a cluster of pretty lights would look divine. via West Elm | This tufted bench adds a touch of romance to such a diverse space. via Pottery Barn | Covetable: Jenny’s bed is covered with a vintage crocheted bedspread– find your own on Etsy! via Fitzroy and Cole

Right now, I’m craving a big, crazy, art-and-photo-filled inspiration wall in my home. A few of the interiors that are totally inspiring my vision right now–>

What I love: the mix of frame, some simple, some opulent; the overall pink-and-brown hues in the room; the simplicity of a mattress on the floor. image via Head over Heels

What I love: a big grand statement piece (or two) dominating a room’s visual space. These boards are very up-front, simple, unfussy. I love it. Plus, there’s a surfboard in the corner– you know we have to have that. image via observando

What I love: the complete chaos of this inspiration wall. I think I need at least one room in my home dedicated to a look like this. And that couch comes from my dreams. image via an unknown tumblr

What I love: I have a thing for family crests and this chalk wall version is divine. I also have a thing for gorgeous calligraphy and I think I have just the person in mind to create a custom version of this for Team Jefferson… what a way to anchor a room! image via Inspired by This

What I love: this is another version of the statement piece display that favors art over graphics, which completely changes the aesthetic of a room. I need to commission my husband to paint a few huge pieces! image via You Must Create tumblr

What I love: this is the ultimate curated gallery inspiration wall. The perfect blend of art, print, found objects, photos, in eclectic frames splayed across a chic and cozy space. Yes, yes, yes. image via Planete Deco

Swoon. Do you have an inspiration wall or gallery in your home? How do you plan on display your beloved photos and art in your living spaces? 

I moved into a new house recently. The dining room is a big space with high ceilings– and one wall in particular is just begging for a large piece of art. Unfortunately, my decorating budget is not scaled to match. Solution: Make my own art. I’ve been browsing the internet for inspiration and thought I’d share a few favorites. I have a good amount of traditional furniture– think oriental rugs and dark brown leather couch– and I like the idea of mixing it up with art that has a more contemporary feel. I have a feeling I’m going to end up with more than one creation when this all said and done. Good thing I have more than one wall. –kim

1. Paint by number meets song lyric via A Beautiful Mess.
2. Abstract from Dans le Townhouse. I think this would look awesome on a large scale painting. This is currently my lead pick for my dining room wall using white and a dark inky blue.
3. More song lyric loveliness from A Beautiful Mess. I’m a big music lover and will definitely be doing some kind of song lyric art in the future.
4. The bright colors and bold lettering in this DIY art post from Hits and Fits caught my eye.
5. I’m not sure I could do this and make it look good but it’s still inspiring, as are all Oh Happy Day! projects. Seriously, that blog has more talent in its “.com” than I do in my entire body.
6. Beautiful modern piece from The New Domestic. This is another top choice for my oversized canvas. I love the pop of color with the low key bits of gray. And the clean lines sing a siren song to my engineer brain.
7. From Lydia Lauer, fantastic personal art made with mad printing skills and the names of favorite cities, parks, and restaurants.
8. Rothko-inspired abstracts from Dans le Townhouse. I like the color combinations she used. Google “Rothko” for more ideas. This could easily be adapted for a bigger canvas.

Sneak peek– some of Kim’s own art projects! Cannot wait to see how she continues decorating her new home!

Stay tuned– Kim will be sharing more projects and inspiration!

Okay. This is absolutely the easiest DIY in the world. I threw it together in about five minutes, so it should be cake for you.

I haven’t been in the most “Valetine’s Day-y” mood (I’m all about love every day, but planning a special dinner or date night feels silly– it’s just me and John day in and day out, we go out on dates often, it’s not like we need one day a year to be over-the-top in love), but quickly realized I was being grinchy. So, I decided to DO something about it and bring a bit of festivity to our bare little apartment. What could be sweeter (and easier to construct) than hanging hearts?

Materials:
-Various shades of red and pink paper (construction, scrapbook, card stock, what have you)
-String, twine, or ribbon– or all of the above!
-Pretty scrap paper– from magazines, newspapers, or wrapping paper! Anything you can reuse is game
-Spray adhesive
-Scissors & hole punch
-Tape

How-to: Using your pretty scraps (I’ve long hoarded magazine tear-outs that I love or inspire me, but most of them are a bit out of date for my inspiration boards! Time to find a new crop), cut out hearts of various sizes. It’s easy to work with bigger hearts, but mix it up a bit. Depending on the size of the space you want to cover with your hanging hearts, the more the merrier. I love overdoing it, so I made 15 for one averaged-sized window.

Lay down some cardboard or newspaper and be close to a window, if not outside. Using your spray adhesive, spray a thin layer on the backside of your scrap heart. Immediate adhere it to your red card stock.

Cut out your heart– one side will be red, one side will be your pretty scrap material!

Punch a hole in the middle of your heart ad string a piece of twine, yarn, or ribbon through it. Make it hang as low or high as you’d like! I mixed up my lengths as I made more hearts. Tape the ends together at the top of your windowsill or door frame and voila! A curtain of pretty hearts to greet your love with.

Super easy– this is something you can do with a spare hour between now and love day! And while some people see hearts exclusively as a Valentine’s Day symbol, I love a good heart on the reg– I plan on keeping these up through the spring! In a few months, it’ll be time to mix it up a bit…

Happy Love Week! What are you doing to decorate your space? Are you DIY-ing any presents or Valentines to give away?

Obsessive much? Our dear friend Stephen Haas (a New Balance sponsored athlete and coach) is quite obsessed with his shoe collection– over the years, he’s amassed 56 pairs of shoes,a  diverse mix of New Balance Classics (501s, 574s, 996s, 580s, etc– yes, New Balance labels their shoes by number, don’t ask me why) in a rainbow of colors and textures. Hauling in a recent splurge, his collection was starting to take over his living space– lined up along the floor, having overflowed his closet shelving, he needed a practical, but attractive, way to store them.

Creating a simple wall shelving unit was a win-win for Stephen: he got his beloved shoes off the floor; creating shelves that hung on the wall, rather than buy a separate shelving unit, took up less space; and, of course, having a way to display his favorites was a bonus.

It took the work of a Sunday afternoon (with a bit of readjustment today– Monday) to get his shelves in order. He picked up shelving brackets and adhesive hooks at the local hardware store, then stopped into Lowes to have 5 foot pine shelves cut. He stuck the hooks into the wall, hung the brackets on them, then placed his shelves on top– each shelf holds six pairs.

Unfortunately, the adhesives didn’t work for two of the shelves, so he picked up Scotch Extreme Mounting Tape from Target this morning (the tape claims to hold up to 20 pounds). He replaced the adhesive with the tape and his shelves stuck.

What I love about this project: it is super simple (even the most unhandy of collectors can throw this together) and it’s a fun way to display your personality without sacrificing vital real estate in a small apartment or home (even a big apartment or home– sometimes having that extra floor space a free-standing unit takes up is crucial!). Stephen is completely obsessed and proud of his shoe collection (one of the weird reasons we love him) and this is THE proto-runner home decor. Bonus! Even if you’re not a running/casual shoe collector, this project will make any uber feminine shoe collector swoon. Wouldn’t you love to put your favorite heels out on display?

Today, I’m craving sorbet (just a lesson– sorbet is like Italian ice, no dairy in it at all; sherbert has a tiny percentage of dairy in it).

How can we bring delicious citrusy sweetness into our everyday life– take a look at your home decor. Where can you add in bits and bobs of sorbet color into your interior design?

You don’t need to be bohemian, live in South Florida, or have a home bursting with color to rock some bright details. A burst of pink (as soft or loud as you’d like), splashes of orange, and hints of yellow work with nearly any color scheme– grays, blues, black, white, greens. Look around your favorite room: where can you slip in some color?

Think small: pillows and throws are easy to add in; larger pieces like chairs, desks, tables, cabinets are more of a commitment, but can transform a room in one go. Go even smaller– lamp(shades), florals, coffee table books, candles, vases. Take a risk when shopping for your next batch of decor details and bring some spring color into your home!

counterclockwise, from top left: “Hermes orange” cabinet fronts via Canadian House & Home | Details– like these sweet pillows– and a patterned arm chair via Rue Magazine Jan/Feb 2011 | Sorbet florals can make a room pop! via Rue Magazine Holiday 2011 | Look around your home and color coordinate your tomes– you’ll be surprised at how many brightly colored books you own! via Rue Magazine June 2012 | Bam! Sorbet explosion! via Riches For Rags | See? Orange works with any color scheme. via I Do, I Don’t Design | A final push for sorbet decor– something seemingly bright and bold is tempered and softened in a neutral room. Love it! via lespri