Home Tour: A Chicago Apartment with Rustic Touches

Surprise! Today's home decor feature is my apartment! I was inspired by Compass, a real estate website in NYC, and their Starter Stories project to share with you my new apartment and all the work that my boyfriend and I have put into making it home. Since it's our first apartment together, it's most definitely been a learning process that has involved a lot of compromise. We've only been in the space for about 6 months, so there are still a lot of things that we're figuring out how to make work, but I am finally ready to do a little unveiling and let you all into my world! Especially since I've been talking about this new apartment constantly (like here and here and here, for example).

Home Design: Backyard Greenhouses

I'm not a green thumb. I'm not a black thumb either, but let's just say it's harder for me to keep plants alive than it is to kill them. That's mostly my fault, because I was never interested in hardening growing up. My mother loves to garden. She is almost always in our backyard with her gardening gloves, but it just never appealed to me. And, to be honest, it still doesn't completely. Having taken the time to grow a handful of plants this summer, I understand a little bit better now, but I still don't have the patience for it.

The one thing about gardening that I always did love, though, was the end result. Sitting in botanic gardens or greenhouses was always my favorite thing to do. I was always jealous of my parents' friends who had the lush gardens with stone pathways leading to a hidden seating areas - like a secret garden. I don't think anything makes the facade of a house more homey than a well-arranged flowerbed. So, ever since I was little, I thought the one thing I need to be happy in my home when I grow up, is a backyard big enough to build a greenhouse.

Interior Design: Country Livin'

I think I'm obsessed with Country Living magazine, which is hilarious because I used to make fun of my mom for buying it all the time. I would think "psh, who wants to live in the country anyway?" The answer is, apparently, a lot of people. But that's besides the point, Country Living isn't just about living in the country, like I so foolishly once thought. They have a massive collection of adorable cottages and farm-house style homes that anyone would be jealous of - this born and bred city girl included. Anyway, I bring this up because I feel like I've been sharing a lot of homes from there lately and I thought I needed to explain myself. So there you go. Now on to the good stuff.

This sprawling country retreat in Kentucky reminds me of country cottages in the south of France and if I can find a place to stay that reminds me of Provence without the 8 hour flight, I'm a happy girl.

Interior Design: White Interiors with Lively Details

It's summer, it's sunny, and the plants are coming in. There's nothing more warming for your decor in the summer time than house plants. Do they have to be over-abundant and difficult to care for? Absolutely not. Just like this minimalist home demonstrates with them scattered delicately throughout for a little touch of life.

Monday Design: Outdoor Dining Decor

It's summer! Well, mostly. I wish it was a little warmer most of the time, but it's still sunny and warm enough to hang out on my brand new back deck. With a brand new deck come brand new fantasies of decorating an outdoor party space! Even though I am a terrible host and mostly just like hanging out alone, doesn't mean I can't dream of a perfect outdoor hang out that people would love to chill in - if I would ever invite people over.

Anyway, in preparation for summer fun, I've pulled some inspiration for outdoor decor.

Interior Design: Gallery Walls

I'm moving into a new place June 1st and I couldn't be more excited to have the ability to plan and decorate this time around. When I moved into this apartment, my first apartment, everything was kind of rushed and I didn't take time to really plan out the space. It's come together in the three years that I've lived here, but now not only will I have time, I'll also have space! I'll get to have space and lots of white walls to decorate. So I've been imagining a gallery wall above my TV for a long time and just haven't gotten excited about anything. Now that I'll have the space to fill, my love of gallery walls has been renewed!

Interior Design: Mountain Views

Every day I feel more and more like this born and raised city girl needs to simplify. Cut back and slow down, you know? Which is something my 15 year-old self would be shocked to hear. I never thought I'd want to move out of this city - with all of its art, architecture, culture, and events. As an adult though, all of that also comes with high rent prices, fast-paced jobs, and over-working yourself for little pay. I guess I've just gotten to the point where I'd like to slow down and smell the roses, before my sense of smell is gone.

That's why, lately, I've been more and more attracted to these gorgeous country cabins set somewhere far away and remote. Usually, this is somewhere in Wyoming (because I'm currently obsessed with Wyoming), but this rustic Idaho cabin, set almost at the base of a beautiful mountain range, definitely stole my heart.

Interior Design: A Wonderland Loft in Los Angeles

Talk about eclectic and colorful. This loft in Los Angeles definitely collects it's charm from the well-curated, hodge podge of pictures, statuettes, patterns, and colors that adorn its interiors. The combination of blues and greens with the abundance of objects inspired by nature make it feel like you're exploring some kind mystical, rabbit-hole forest where anything can happen.

Monday Design: Barn Renovation

Phew. It's been a long time since I've been sitting here typing on this blog. Life likes to take your plans and spin them out of control, huh? I'm settling into a new job and summer is winding down, so I think now is a good time to come back to blogging.

With life spinning faster and faster, I often want to take the time to step back for a little bit and enjoy the simple things. Not that I actually get to do that often, but thinking about it is nice. That's why I think this renovated barn house caught my eye.

Monday Design: Geometric and Modern

I am normally not a fan of modern or geometric architecture. I like my buildings classic and curvy with a rustic touch. However, this Spanish home made by architect Daniel Isern pulls so much from nature and blends so easily into the surrounding areas that I can't help but admire. The structure itself looks like stacked wood blocks, but it's made entirely out of concrete.

Monday Design: The Makers

I love studio tours. Seeing how creative people have crafted the space that they work in give me odd amounts of joy. I think mostly because it give me the opportunity to dream up what my ideal work space will look like one day. That's why I was so happy to discover The Makers. I really can't believe in all my internet hunting I didn't discover this site before, but it's sole purpose is to showcase (beautifully) the work spaces of creative people! There is so much studio envy happening in me right now.

Monday Design: Lovely Sunshine

I love sunshine. Like most people, that vitamin D makes me feel so much better so I try to soak up as much of it as possible. When you work in an office with terrible florescent lighting 45 hours a week sunlight becomes very important. I'm lucky to have a bright, sunny apartment with a back deck so I've definitely been taking advantage of that as much as I can. What I don't have is an amazing sun room in my backyard like this home.

Thursday Tutorial: The Tiny Flowers Bracelet

I have to be honest with you guys, I have been sitting on this one for a long time. In fact, one of the outtakes from this tutorial is a shot of a severe snowstorm happening outside my window. Yea, that long. So I apologize for being a crafty but lazy blogger. Anyway, since summer is coming I thought it was still a good time to share this tutorial for my tiny flowers bracelet!

Photo Friday: Intimate

I love Elle magazine. I don't know if I've mentioned that before, but I feel it's worth mentioning now. Unlike some of the other women's fashion magazine out there, Elle has never struck me as trivial. Even though there are articles about life, beauty, and sex (of course!) they never seem trashy or unwelcome. Mostly what I'm always excited to see first are the fashion editorials (of course!). Elle magazine always seems to have their finger on the pulse of fashion and knows how to artfully display it. The editorials always seem to focus on the photography first and the fashion second. Something a photography loving gal like myself really appreciates.

What I Wore: The Long Skirts Edition

So I have to apologize, mostly to myself but some to anyone who's noticed. I've been in a blogging slump these last few months and I just haven't been able to shake off these blogging blues (cue the acoustic guitar and raspy voice). I've been ignoring my Etsy stores too even though I have been collecting cute vintage clothes and making jewelry again. Still, I somehow could not get myself motivated. But now that warm weather is here and the trees have finally started to bloom, I feel refreshed! 

So here's to getting my lazy butt back in gear and not being a disappointment of a blogger anymore! 

What I Wore: California Livin'

Take me back to the west. The sun is finally starting to show a little today after days of stormy weather and it's making me wonder why I ever flew back from California in the first place. Anyway, my little road trip out there was amazing and I finally got around to uploading the photos from the trip to my desktop. Meaning I'll hopefully get to share those memories on here soon!

Moving on to the more important question: what does a Chicago girl, used to frigid weather, wear in California? Something that makes her look very confused as to what season we're in.

Monday Design: Gorgeous Garden Designs

Seriously? Spring is still not here yet? I made the huge mistake of putting all my winter coats into hiding when I was over at my parents' on Easter. And, naturally, the temperature dropped to the 30s the next day. That's what I get for not having the foresight to check the weather. Anyway, enough bitching (although a good bitching is always necessary). Instead, I'll daydream. Thank you.

Monday Design: Parisian Interior Design

Have I mentioned I love the French? If it hasn't been obvious up to now, it will be. Especially when it comes to interior design and architecture because I want nothing more than to live in a rustic French home with exposed stone walls. Nothing more. There, I just told you my life goal. Now we're besties. Right? Any-who, since that very much isn't even close to the case for me right now, I'm constantly day dreaming about it over the internet. That's why this architecture and design team was a no brainer.

Photo Friday: Darkened Cities

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2013. Good news is, I'm not dead. Bad news is, I still feel like death. It's been a rough start for me in 2013 since it seems like I've caught the plague and have had to maintain blogging silence for a bit. I hope no one noticed or missed me too much. ;)

Now I'm that I'm recuperating, it's back to business as usual. So what do you say we start of 2013 with some pretty pictures of the world's biggest cities without any electricity?

Photo Friday: The Great Midwest

As I mentioned in my last post, I spent a little weekend up in snowy Wisconsin for the holiday and I spent a lot of that time knitting and taking pictures. It's amazing how much you can get done when there's no cell reception or Internet.