Euro Style Home

If you are lucky enough to have a bar or large kitchen island in your home, then you know what I am talking about... Bar stools are like extra seating that take up almost no space. There are some fantastic and super stylish bar stools out there. I especially love the modern and minimal designs.

Here are three of my favorite bar stools that I would be happy to have in my home.

1. Wire Chrome Finish Bar Chairs: The wire bar stool has such a classic but modern feel. The wire frame makes it seem like it takes up even less space because you can see through it. Genius, right?

2. Black Leatherette Chrome Hitchcock Bar Stools: The clean lined modern and minimal design that makes a subtle statement. I love the shape of the legs and it definitely looks comfortable to me!

3. Black Finish Lola Barstools: This simple cut out frame is perfect and really adds a special something to the space. Love it!

Image: Apartment Therapy

When we moved in to our current home, the first detail we noticed was that our modern bedroom was quite a bit smaller than our previous home. It wasn't a huge deal because we had already downsized our belongings. But I still wanted the space to look spacious and bright. To do this in any space, all you need to do is keep with a bright white scheme.

This calls for a pretty white on the walls. The great thing about white paint is that you can pair it with any color that you’d like. When painting with color, it binds you to that specific color scheme. The bedroom above started with white walls and then added a fun yellow stripe down the wall and into the floors.

Another detail to remember when working with a small bedroom space is white bedding makes everything better. Well, maybe not literally but it sure makes for a sophisticated yet playful bedroom. One of my favorite things about hotels is the pretty crisp white bedding that you crawl into every night. You can have that same feel in your own space. I also like the way hotels are using hanging pendant lights in their bedroom designs. The room above is a great example of both elements.

A modern color scheme that is timeless is the classic black and white duo. It can be left alone or can be added onto with other colors. Again, the white makes everything seem more open and the black just adds some drama to a stark space. This bedroom shown above is a perfect example of black and white done right. Another way to achieve this look is by adding contemporary black lighting fixtures to an all white room.

Images: French By Design, Mas-Fashion, Nordic Design, Lonny

With the holiday season coming to a close it’s time to take the Christmas cards and heaps of greenery down. Are you looking around your home at the blank spaces where the Christmas tree once stood or the greenery once laid? . . . Well, it’s time to get your home looking refreshed with new modern accessories that will make your home feel spruced up. Although it might feel a little toned down from all of those holiday decorations, I think staying with a neutral color scheme is important because it makes for an easy transition now. In the Spring you’ll want to layer on the bright bold colors.

Here are a few of my favorite accessories that will have your home feeling jazzed up for the rest of the Winter.

Jamie Young Leather Strap 19" High Round Wall Mirror

Are you looking at that empty space on your wall and longing for something to fill it? I have lots of little spaces like that in my home (especially where my tree once stood). Contemporary mirrors are a great addition and this Jamie Young round mirror would work well in any space. The leather cowhide frame makes for a wonderful detail that sets this mirror apart from a normal silver frame.

Round Silver Sunburst on Stand

All right, you might think I’m a bit crazy – I promise I’m not. For those of you who don’t use your fireplaces or don’t have a working fireplace this is the item that will make your empty space look unique. I’ve used similar sunburst objects in client’s homes and they look fabulous.

Nambe Crystal 6" Wide Butterfly Bowl

In my eyes crystal bowls can be used two ways – as art work and for serving. Which means this beautiful Nambe bowl could be used to store your Winter accessories on a mantel or coffee table.

Brighton Iron and Leather Wine Holder

Do you have leftover wine lying around from hosting parties? A small wine rack next to your bar for those bottles of Pinot Noir or Sauvignon Blanc will remind you to grab one as you walk out the door to a party or open a bottle after a long day at the office.

Braided And Lattice Design Matte White Small Diana Vase

Last but not least, vases are one of my favorite accessories to decorate with – I use them empty or with a beautiful arrangement. This stunning ceramic with lattice texture would be perfect for a coffee table or console.

Now that you’ve seen a few of my favorites, do you have any post holiday accessories you’re decorating with right now?

Image: Desire to Inspire

Every year, people around the globe start the year with a series of resolutions, and it's no different around here. The following are five things topping our 2013 to-do list: 

1. See Someplace New

It seems like there’s a cultural or architectural treasure springing up in every city these days. Find one and visit it. Our short list of must-see items this year includes architect Daniel Libeskind’s wing at the Denver Art Museum, followed by a glass of wine at the High Sierra Camps in Yosemite National Park (both pictured above).

2. Act Locally

We’ve been obsessed with locally roasted coffee from Cafecito Organico and Intelligentsia, not to mention design-savvy LA Mill (pictured above). Nothing beats a fresh cup within walking distance. This year we’re going to walk more and discover the world right outside our doorstep. Architecture and design writer Alyssa Walker turned us onto the joy of walking with her blog Gelato Baby, and guess what we've noticed? There's no better way to see how others mix and match modern ceiling lights and crystal chandeliers (many of which I recognize from our website) in their homes than to peer into their front windows as we walk past. We also discovered that walking a dog makes us look less creepy as we do it.

3. Stay Centered

White Leather Low Back Swivel Office Chair, Robert Abbey Havana Polished Nickel Task Desk Lamp

It’s not always easy to stay calm in the chaos, but one thing we’ve discovered around here is that clean, organized work spaces are a great way to fake the peace until you make the peace. Essential to a calm work space are a functional (and beautiful) desk lamp and an office chair that promotes good posture. Above are two designs we’ve been ogling as of late.

4. Dress to Impress

Size matters…with clothing anyway. This year we’re looking for a clean tailored fit, and the Japan-based Free & Easy Magazine (which helped us find a perfect fitting boot this time last year) will be one of our top sources for cutting-edge-meets-classic personal style. Why walk out of the house (see resolution #2 above) looking anything but your best?

5. Read More

Reading more is by and far a universal resolution. Well, if your time is limited in 2013, there are still some great coffee table reads out there. We’re looking at Michael Idov's Made In Russian: Unsung Icons of Soviet Design (Rizzoli) to fire up our aesthetic side, and John Long's fashionable tribute to early rock climbing, The Stone Masters (T. Adler Books), to fuel our adventurous spirit. 

That's it for us. But we'd love to know: what tops your to-do list this year? 

Images: Artnet, Yosemite, LAMILL, Dress Launderette, Architect Magazine, Patagonia

Have you sat down and pondered over how to make the most of your compact living quarters?  Well we have and our first solution is in the bedroom. Whether it be a kids room or an adults room there are many ways of integrating multiple beds and functioning elements into a space. The Murphy bunk beds (above) are painted in a bright color so when it's closed it becomes an accent wall and only the homeowner knows whats hiding beneath.  This is a great solution for adding additional beds in an open space.

Layering and stacking the free floating beds clears up the floor space and creates a very playful feel in this modern kids room. Industrial wall sconces allow each of the individual beds to have their own light to control so bed times don't all have to be at the same time!

LBL Geoform Modern Silver Round Outdoor Wall Light

Using structural elements and carving out little cubbies for sleeping is a brilliant idea. What kid or even adult for that matter wouldn't love to dream away inside their own little cave?

Not only does this modern bunk bed look beautiful, but what a great way to integrate modern storage solutions. The use of modern wall lamps not only lights up each nook but adds so much character to each space.

Jonathan Adler Parker Brass Swing Wall Lamp

Finding sleeping solutions for compact living is not only a solution for kids bedrooms, but adults as well. This structure (above) not only looks beautiful but provides so much storage and function within one central element. It's the perfect solution for your small studio apartment.

Sleep and creativity go hand in hand!  So start dreaming about all the solutions for your space today!

Images: Habitat Kid, Janey Mac, All House Design, Houzz, Melody's Musings, Remodelista