Friday, April 27, 2012

Randomness

Happy Friday!  Thank you all who commented on Wednesday's "I Spy" post.  Wow - your comments were so insightful and really helped in honing down the look I want for our new house.  So, thank you again.

In other news, E and I have been spoiled and have gotten used to almost a daily ritual.  Now, that Vienna is sunny, we hit Cafe Sperl (right across the street from our place) and sit outside where I get my daily Viennese coffee.


Don't you love the presentation?  Silver tray, coffee in a porcelain cup and saucer, glass of water and a tiny glass bowl of sugar cubes.  I could get used to this on a daily basis.  And, here is my partner in crime, Miss E!


And, if you're looking for a cute birthday gift for a toddler, I highly recommend these shirts from Bob & Blossom.  I told you this post is random!



I got one for Luke when he turned 5!!  They are really great quality - so soft and thick!  I definitely am planning on purchasing some baby clothes from them.


Happy Weekend!!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

What do you spy?

I'm slowly trying to pinpoint the overall look and feel of our future home.  I know I want the majority of the rooms to have a neutral palette with bits of color while reserving a room or two for full on color and pattern (i.e. powder room, guest room, etc.).

Here is a smorgasbord of images that are currently inspiring me.  I do see commonalities.  But, I need your help....





I need a fresh eye, what similarities do you see?  
















Can you help a friend out, what do you spy??  

All images here



Monday, April 23, 2012

Small Print Wallpaper

Lately, I've been crazy about small print wallpaper and would love to incorporate in either a bedroom, powder room or hallway in our next home.


I would love to use this print in our master bedroom.  It has a masculine feel which I like.  I believe this is the same print that Rita Konig designed for Domino, but I'm not certain.  If so, it is 'La Promenade', Twigs Fabric & Wallpaper.


Another one I would love to use for our bedroom.  It looks like Sister Parish 'Tucker' print, but I don't think it is. Does anyone know?

via

This would look sweet in a little girl's or boy's room.  Sister Parish 'Desmond'. 


Anna Spiro's new line called Higgledy Piggledy Stripe.


Hard to see, but a small blue print wallpaper.  I think it adds depth and texture to this bathroom.


A small medallion print wallpaper above beadboard.  Such a classic look for a bathroom.


Albert Hadley's Trixie wallpaper for Hinson & Co.  Love this print too.

So, do you have any small print favorites?  Please share, I'd love to add some new ones to my list.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Simply Inspired....

I wasn't planning a post today, but after spending some time with Luke this morning teaching him how to read, I quickly re-heated my coffee for the fourteenth time while checking pinterest and stumbled on a couple of images that really made my day!!  I just had to post them.

It's the creation of the mother and daughter design team, Suzanne and Lauren McGrath, from Good Bones Great Pieces.



I like the restrained color palette with small doses of color, in this case, pink.  A look that I am going to try to achieve in our next home.


Again, a restrained color palette with minimal color.  How amazing is that scroll leg desk used as a night table?  I remember this desk well after seeing it used also as a night table in Lauren's apartment published in Traditional Home.  See below.


I need to find me a desk like this!!  Do you remember that apartment?  I still love it, you can see it here

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!! 

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Dining Rooms Turned into Home Offices

Lately, I've been seeing this quite a bit where people are turning their dining rooms into home offices.  It makes sense if you have the space and don't need a formal dining room.  My friend is currently considering doing something like this.  And, if you follow Emily A. Clark, she did the same thing, see here.  The other day, I hopped on over to Emily Henderson's amazing blog and it looks as if she has done it too.   I couldn't believe the transformation, see below.

Dining Room - Before


Dining Room - After - Emily Henderson's New Office


I tell you, Emily, knows how to do blue (SW Loyal Blue - flat) and green.  I love the saturated colors and how moody the room feels.  


So layered, so vintage, so timeless.


She actually installed Ikea flooring over the existing dining room floor - I think it looks great.  To see more of her transformation, go here

I'm telling you these recently turned dining rooms into home offices have me convinced!  How about you?

Monday, April 16, 2012

A Snapshot

If you've been following Green Street you know that I was beyond estatic when I found the furnished rental we are currently residing in here in Vienna.  The location is killer and the apartment is spacious and has old world charm.  You can see more photos here, but here are some photos of the living room I recently took and thought I would share.


A snapshot of the living room from the entry hallway.  


I never thought I'd say this, but what I love more than the herringbone floors are the 13 foot ceilings.  Having tall ceilings make all the difference!


A weird angle shot, sorry - but I was trying to get the artwork with the chandelier - both of which I love.  I wish I could decorate this beautiful apartment to my liking, but I'll be honest it has been nice to take a break  and just fully enjoy living in a european city.

So, on a different note, who is picking up the new Domino (Domino Quick Fixes) that hits the newsstands tomorrow??  How lucky am I that my sister in law is not only picking me up a copy, but has offered to mail it to me!! :)

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Gruss Gott Weeks 11, 12 & 13

I feel like I'm so far behind on these Gruss Gott posts - sorry!  So ... what's been going on.  Well, with the spring weather here for good, the parks are filled (but not overfilled) with people. Here I am with the kids at Stadtpark, about 20 minutes walk from home.


Here is Luke next to a famous statue of Johann Strauss II, playing the violin.  Luke is sporting his Detroit Tigers t-shirt (one more sure sign to the locals that we're not from here).


Here's a shot of Stadtpark in the early afternoon on a sunny spring day.  It's great because there are people of all ages out.  


Luke and his Dad went to the Musikhaus Museum a few weeks back.  K told me it was a great museum, very interactive for the kids.  Luke got to conduct the Wiener (Vienna) Philharmonic ... well, almost.  Note the baton in his right hand.  He's standing in front of a large screen with a video of the orchestra projected onto it (look left).  Luke would conduct and the video would move along at the pace Luke conducted at (of course, he tried to make them go super fast).  The music?  Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Mozart), of course.  


About two weeks ago, we headed to Belgium to visit my brother and sister-in-law and their kids.  It is so nice to hang out with family and watch the kids just play, play, play.  Luke and Campbell were on autopilot - they would just go play for hours.  It was so great for them (and such a break for us).


Here I am with my brother and Elizabeth in the kitchen of their 19th century farmhouse.  The farmhouse was so quaint, though perhaps a bit cold (temperature-wise).  


We got back to Vienna just a few days before Easter Sunday.  It was Elizabeth's first Easter and Luke's fifth (yikes)!  Elizabeth looks so happy in her Easter dress, but that lasted 10 minutes.  She cried all through Mass. 


Elizabeth trying to free herself from the clutches of one of Luke's hugs.  He won out.  


Here are Kevin and the kids, just before we head to Church.  Elizabeth is still smiling at this point.  


And, for good measure, we had Luke's 5th birthday party this week (5 years ... seriously?).  But more about that in a later post.  I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter!!  

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Bonpoint Nursery Inspiration

One of the bonuses of living in a cosmopolitan city is that you are surrounded by high-end stores.  Now, I don't shop at these stores, but I DO window shop!!  And, on my early morning walks,  I always window shop and it is great because nobody is around and I just stand in front of the window (like a fool) and soak it all in!!

One shop that completely inspires me is Bonpoint, the french childrenswear store.  So, a couple of Saturdays ago, I actually made a point to go into the store and I was blown away by the decor (and by the clothes too), but mostly the decor!!

I was able to get a couple of pictures.....


First, I LOVE the color palette.  Greenish grayish, orange and pops of yellow.  This color palette would be perfect for either a boy or girl.  Second, I love the clean lined dresser.  Third, how about those industrial chic pendants?  I love how they contrast with the chandelier (which you can't see) above the gray distressed farm table.


Check out that rug!  I actually found the source here.  Aren't the colors fantastic?  So hip.


This was a hand made mobile that hung down from the second floor ceiling.  It was gorgeous and the artist (I don't know her name, but know she is from Boston) hand makes these beautiful pieces of art. 

There were so many more things that inspired me, but it was SOOOO hard to take pictures.  In fact, I was told I couldn't take pictures, but after schmoozing with the saleslady for 20 minutes, she let me take these pictures.  Crazy.....

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed them as much as I do!  I really feel there are so many fantastic take-aways here to incorporate in your own nursery design.  

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Just because it makes me smile


Orlando di Castello

Orlando di Castello, a cafe in Vienna (am Freyung) that is so adorable.

Check out more of its interiors here.