Cool Alert.

First of all, thanks for all your lovely comments about Steph's yummy glossy white painted floors (can you tell I'm in love with them?) and his finished kitchen. If you missed it, you can check it out here.

Source: stylebyemilyhenderson.com via Lauren Smith on Pinterest

Second. Emily Henderson rocks my socks. I'm currently in love with her. My eyes poor over every detail of every room that she has designed. Her eclectic style reveals rooms which are the perfect mix of vintage, classic, traditional and modern and never seem to take themselves too seriously. She's got style with a sense of humor!

Source: stylebyemilyhenderson.com via Marcia on Pinterest

Source: interiors-porn.tumblr.com via Megan on Pinterest

Source: hgtv.com via Rose Custom Interiors on Pinterest

If you are wondering where Emily came from, she is the talented designer and winner of HGTV's Design Star season 5. Also has her own show called Secrets of a Stylist. Which to my dismay, I can't find in Canada. Boo. I secretly dream about having her come style my home and becoming my BFF. Hey, why not? :)

Source: stylebyemilyhenderson.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: notoriousmle.com via Tiffany on Pinterest

So let's get back to the point of this post. I have been slightly obsessed with the pendant light in this room. (Also seen in the first image in this post). I think it's quite possibly the perfect mix of vintage and industrial. You may disagree but I'm convinced that I could make it work in my house...

Source: stylebyemilyhenderson.com via Lauren Smith on Pinterest

And the best news of all? Yesterday I found the DIY instructions to make my own! I'm so pumped! Orlando Soria, Emily's hilarious assistant, posted the instructions on his blog. Which is also an extremely entertaining read, by the way, because I'm sure you don't already spend enough time online reading blogs :P. Oh, and he calls it the Orb-Lando... which totally cracks me up!

Anyway, I am FOR SURE making it. Maybe not tomorrow.. but I will. Promise. I'll let you know how it goes.

I am so incredibly jealous. I just came across the redesign of 5 school staff rooms throughout the Northeastern states. It was a Staples-sponsored project aimed at bringing some life into the "oversized mop closets", as one designer called it, that we call home during our few brief moments of time off during the day.

One, in a Rhode Island school, by designer Brian Patrick Flynn of Decor Demon, totally rocked my world. Flynn is a TV producer turned decorator/designer. He transformed it from mop closet to head of the class!

The before:
Look familiar, my fellow teachers? Most staff rooms I've seen in the 8 years I've been teaching, look a lot like this.

And after Flynn works his magic!

A few more befores:



After:

The pop machine is cleverly hiding behind those doors.

LOVE the vintage 1950s classroom prints. I wonder if I can find something similar on ebay?

Plus, I'm a sucker for a white parson's desk.

Wouldn't it be nice to break in such a sunny, uplifting environment? I love the No. 2 pencil orangey-yellow accents.. how fitting:)

So Staples... is it our turn next? I can think of a few schools that would be willing to participate! Check out the whole process on Decor Demon. It just may be my new favorite read!

MY FRIEND TOMMY

Have you been watching Sarah's House on HGTV?
Admit it. Sarah's sidekick Tommy is the best part of the show. He is so quick witted and never fails to make me laugh out loud! The best are the outtakes at the end of the show. So, he isn't really my friend but he totally would be if we ever met.
Here are some photos of Tommy's apartment from House and Home magazine. All 180 square feet of it! It is so tiny and BLACK. Actually it's called off-black but it is dark. I find it gives the room a sense of glamour and depth.
So different from anything Sarah would ever do! His style is much more traditional than hers.
You can see a video interview here:
http://www.houseandhome.com/videos/design-decorating/home-tour-thomas-smythe

Well, I guess he has since decided to move. Maybe due to the fact that his bed was in the kitchen? He's gone in the complete opposite direction - light and bright! All of his interesting art and treasures still work in a different setting and color scheme.  Isn't it great?

ANNA SPIRO - HOUSE AND HOME

One of the first blogs I ever read was Absolutely Beautiful Things. Anna Spiro is an amazing interior designer from Brisbane, Australia. Her blog features her design work and some of the displays she has created in her shop Black and Spiro. She has the ability to combine her love of antiques and vintage pieces with modern items to create fresh, cozy homes for her clients and her own family.
This month Anna's bright, colorful bungalow is featured in Canadian House and Home magazine. There is lots of color (PINK!) set against a perfect bright white canvas. Here are a few sneak peeks from her portfolio:

I know this poster from her dressing room is everywhere now but I still love it. The wallpaper is very similar to my own bedroom!

{sigh}

A beautiful antique dresser with a glimpse of her stunning white kitchen.

Check out the tile work in this bathroom! I love the mismatched his/her mirrors.

And last but not least.. would you not die if this were your office?

I love everything about it... the imperial trellis wallpaper, the perfect gallery wall, and that chair!

Anna describes her home in the article as "Paris apartment meets American country cottage". Doesn't that sound nice? Be sure to check out the article in House and Home's May issue!