The Perfect Plates

{via West Elm}

 
Although I lived in an apartment for a year in Stamford, CT before moving to NYC, I always felt that the space was just this transitional place, and never bothered with putting any roots down or trying to really make the apartment feel homey. At the time I was also still a full-time student, so without a steady income it was hard to justify spending money on furniture or accessories.

Since moving to NYC, my roommate and I have slowly been replacing hand-me-down furniture and mismatched dishware, to create what feels like a real home. And what feels more like home than a good home-cooked meal on some fab matching dishes? We have a variety of mixed dish sets that are pretty much on their last leg (which is ok, since they were given to us fo' free). But when I popped in to West Elm last weekend and saw their dishwares on sale, I couldn't help myself. These Mick Haigh Bowls didn't come with matching dishes, but for $4.95 each, who could pass them up? What's up next for our kitchen? Something like these might be nice....

DIY Accents

It felt so good to use some time last Sunday to relax and start a new DIY. Our new console table was crying out for some accessorizing. Well twist my arm.....

I had seen variations of this project for recycling old bottles by painting them and thought it would be a great, inexpensive way to add something pretty to the apartment. Plus, we already had some empty wine bottles hanging around (heh) so I decided to give it a try. Adding the twine was an afterthought; the bottles on their own looked a little bare, and needed some texture. Since we also have some woven baskets on the bottom shelf, the twine really ties in nicely (no pun intended!). I really like the way they turned out!

Instructions below...

Dress Like you Decorate

I once heard someone say that people should dress like they decorate. For me, this piece of advice really rings true. Recently, I went shopping with a friend who told me that if I reached for another oatmeal colored sweater she was going to scream. So I'm a girl who likes neutrals! So, sue me! Oatmeal colored sweaters are timeless! Right?

Well, timeless or not, the same logic applies to my decorating aesthetic: I tend to gravitate toward light, neutral palates-something about them just seems so fresh and clean-and then layer in some fun accessories or trendy pieces. I took a look at some of my Pinterest boards, and what do ya know- much of the same. Here are some rooms that bear a striking resemblance to a few choice items from my own wardrobe. Enjoy!

A Bit of Sparkle

It's the last weekend before the New Year and we're expecting a snow storm in NYC today. By tomorrow, the city will have a glitter of it's own. I couldn't be happier. Got the crock pot humming with a delish Santa Fe Chicken recipe, and making the most of my last few days of the holiday vacation by freshening up the apartment before New Year's Eve.

And, what's NYE without a little glitter? If you really want to do it right, you have to add some sparkle. Some might say that glitter is cheesy, but I think it's just got a bad rep (you would too if hung out with Ke$ha that much). Glitter makes a statement on special occasions, but can just as easily add a touch of glamor to the everyday. Some of my favorite uses of glitter, after the jump.

Upgrades!

Remember when I mentioned that our apartment could use a few upgrades? Well, they've arrived!

This past week, we got ourselves a new dining table & chairs and a console table for underneath the television (pictures soon to follow!). We desperately needed both and have been shopping around for some time to find ones that would be a good match for our place. As I've said before, our apartment is pretty cozy, so we are somewhat limited in the size of furniture we bring into the apartment. We can't have anything too oversized, and what we do purchase needs to be functional.

I love the way both pieces turned out! It's so nice to have some more shelf space, and a new surface for some decorative items; our old dining table was so tiny and wobbly it was hard to sit and really enjoy a meal. Since the new addition, though, we've eaten at the table every night! What's next on the list? Read on to see.....