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The Times had another article in their "On the Cheap" series in today's paper.  This one featured a man in his late 20's moving into his first apartment with no roommates.  The design services were free but the client had about $8000 to spend on furnishings and minor construction.  This sounds like a lot, but you'd be surprised how fast that money can go.
 
Discount Hipster 03/03/2010
 
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Shower curtain from Target
Do you play bingo?  Do you wear chunky, Buddy Holly style glasses?  Do you listen to NPR? Do you decorate your home in mid century classics? Do you live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn?  If you answered yes to two or more of these, you may just be a hipster.  I'm not judging, I'm just here to introduce you to the perfect shower curtain for the sweet bargain price of $24.99
 
 
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As you may have heard, color authority Pantone has christened turquoise as the 2010 color of the year.  I wanted to share a decidedly cool representation of turquoise currently on display in the front lobby of the day job designed by the folks at HQ.  It's ikat, which I think has only a few minutes left on the current style clock, but the miter square pillow makes it irresistable.  And lest the other colors of the rainbow feel slighted, the rest of the lobby is a shout out to chartreuse, magenta and orange.  I don't care what Pantone says, I love you colors all equally.
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Shimmery green velvet with nailhead and a silk stripe pillow
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Dual fabric chair in pretty magenta and grey
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Burnt orange solid and graphic pattern cool
 
 
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I've already shared my affinity for all things clever so you'll understand why I may just have to order these plates from CB2.  They're little charicatures with comments like "spiffy," "tasty," and "jolly good."  Just in case you're not feeling the love, your plates are there to give you some affirmation. 
 
 
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I've decided I want to add a green wool blanket to my bedding ensemble (and I'm using the word ensemble rather loosely).  It's the perfect weight, combined with a flat sheet for comfortable sleeping and is great for my brick red/olive green color palatte.  I have some beautiful crewelwork fabric that I'm planning to turn into a throw blanket for the end of the bed to add a bit of pattern and interest.  I know, I've been big on the do-it-yourself projects lately.  I'm making the most out of this winter weather.
 
 
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Ikea has a reputation that varies wildly from chief producers of home furnishings crap to saviors from sitting/sleeping/eating on the floor.  It all depends on who you ask.  I do own a few pieces, upgrading to other items over the years as time and budget have allowed, the way most people do.  One department from Ikea I will never outgrow, however, are their textiles.  For simple drapery panels or duvet covers, they are a fantastic source.
 
 
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House Beautiful August 2008
As I've mentioned in previous entries, my current lease does not allow for painting the walls unless I'm prepared to repaint the exact same shade of "renters beige".  No, thank you.  So, in addition to my wallpaper panels that I plan to hang near my entry, I wanted to treat the wall behind my bed.  I used this picture from an article in House Beautiful as my inspiration.  The panels are done, by the way, but I haven't hung them yet.  They were really easy to do and look great.
 
 
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Target is a frequent landing spot for designers looking to expand their line and customer base.  Most of what looks fabulous online looks less so in person.  Or maybe I am just not destined to wear Anna Sui.  But housewares is a whole different ballgame and the Liberty of London line for Target looks playful and springy.  Another design site featured these products this morning as a reminder that as of March 14th, they'll be available to order.  Sadly, I'm not able to find anything online yet, but I'll be checking.  Because there's a peacock print piggy bank with my name on it.
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I've been slowly but surely progressing on getting projects done around the apartment.  Apartment Therapy has a contest they run every spring for smaller dwellings such as mine.  My tiny apartment comes with some challenges, but that's true of most everyone who rents.  My lease does not allow me to paint (or I forfeit part of my deposit) and the current color leaves much to be desired.  So what to do to dress up my boring walls?  Enter, the wallpaper panels.
 
 
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I shared one of the new room vignettes a few weeks ago that featured a charcoal grey and yellow palatte that is really stunning.  The vine fabric....oh my!  I know the Pantone folks are saying that turquoise is going to be the "it" color for this year, but I think yellow is going to be a contender.  I was reading a favorite design blog last week that featured some of DwellStudio for Target's new line of bedding and pillows.
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Check out the pillows that are part of the new line, too.  That back one is fantastic.  And the texture of the 2nd, with the roses, really great.  Pillows are always an easy, low cost way to participate in a trend without going bankrupt.  So, where have you seen grey and gold lately?