Brazilian Decor Part II

Hope you are all having  a great week! Thursdays are the start of my "weekend," now that I work Saturdays and Sundays, so I am happy to be enjoying some time to relax and get some errands done. My new schedule has been an adjustment, but I am liking it!

So, as promised, I wanted to share a few more images of Brazilian interiors:

As I mentioned before, their designs tend towards modern yet relaxed, with lots of natural elements such as the wooden-paneled door below:

Many Brazilian interiors are on the small size, so they become a great source of inspiration for decorating small spaces!
 

Do you have a favorite image from the ones above? I honestly love them all!


All images, Casa Claudia

From the Inspiration Folder

I'm back! I had a great time in Florida, but now I'm having a hard time getting back into the swing of things... it is always tough after a long and relaxing break, isn't it? Did you all have a good Thanksgiving?

I thought I would start the week by sharing a really fun idea for those with limited space. I saw this photo on Decor8, and thought it was such a unique way to create wardrobe storage space where there isn't any. Of course to get this look right you would need to be very neat, and having a gorgeous collection of clothes couldn't hurt...

Another reason I love this picture is the gorgeous coverlet! Both of the crochet pieces are just so pretty, in my opinion. Such a girly room! You can see more of this Norwegian home here.

Could you pull off this idea? I think it works best if you are living on your own...I think my husband's clothes would ruin this look in a nanosecond!

Hope your week is off to a good start. This week may still be a little slow here on the blog but I will soon have lots to share, including some recent thrift store finds (and a makeover!) Thanks for sticking with me through this slow time.

An Inspiring Tiny Studio Apartment

Ever since I came across photos of Caroline's tiny studio in Apartment Therapy DC, I haven't been able to stop looking through them! Her home is so charming, and I am just amazed at how well she utilized the little space she has.

I mean, she has managed to put a piano in this 475 square-foot studio!

Loving her sweet color scheme of white, black and pink.

Her adorable, retro-inspired kitchen:

And last but not least, her colorful collection of shoes!

There are lots more images in her house tour here. I hope you are as inspired as I was to make better use of every nook and cranny in our homes!

All images Apartment Therapy DC.

Purple & Gray Condo

While we are on the subject of style evolution, I happened to come across images of a condo that perfectly illustrates how my own style has changed over the years. I just picked up the House & Home Condos Lofts & Apartments special edition, and opened the pages to a beautiful gray and purple condo that would have been 100 percent my taste had this been 2 or 3 years ago.

While I still love it, I know I would have gone crazy back then for the home's clean lines, neutral palette with hits of geometric patterns, and its overall modern aesthetic. 

 
In my last home, all I owned had sleek, straight lines. No curves or ornate designs in sight, much like this condo.

 (I'd still flip for that cozy dining nook any day though!)

For years, purple was my ultimate favorite color. It seemed like everything I owned was purple, and my decor was no exception. Seeing the bedroom below would have made me want to paint my own purple accent wall.

However, these days, I'm suddenly more drawn towards transitional style,  and find myself replacing some of those clean-lined furniture for softer, curvier pieces. I believe my designs will always have a modern influence, but now they may be infused with more classic - and dare I say it - ornate pieces!

A Colorful 700-foot Apartment

The color series is going to take a mini break over the next couple of weeks. But, they will be back soon in a slightly different format. Instead, this week I wanted to share one of my all-time favorite small rooms.

Canadian House & Home's small spaces issues are always my favorite. Inspired by this month's wonderful issue, I went back through my magazine archives and fell in love all over again with a very happy, colorful space that was featured back in their August '08 issue. Check it out:

Such a bright, cheerful space! I love that this look is so easily attainable, too. The console and the ottoman are from Ikea, and you could easily find similar lamps at your local Home Goods or TJ Maxx. The renter of this apartment actually hides all of her 'ugly' electronic components in the ottoman, which I think is so clever!

Loving the bold, blue walls!

I adore the bookshelf in her bathroom. Even in such a small space she was able to fit a piece of furniture, giving her much-needed storage. Plus the styling looks great!

This image has made its rounds through design blogs, but you gotta love the screen headboard idea. Plus that Moroccan pattern on the comforter is still one of my favorites.

What is your favorite feature in this apartment?


All images from Canadian House & Home, scanned by me.

Small, Cool Studio Apartment

I've been spending some time browsing through the entries of the Small, Cool 2010 contest over at Apartment Therapy. I'm always so impressed with the talent of the owners/renters of these tiny spaces! So much inspiration there. One of my favorites is this:

How cozy does that alcove look? I'm also loving the rug, pillows and that vase! Such a cute studio apartment.

See the rest of the entries here. Have a great weekend!