9 by Design

Does anyone else watch "9 by Design" on Bravo? This show is my new obsession – it's incredible.

The husband and wife are designers – well, really they are more than that – they basically buy non-houses in downtown New York and transform them into amazing homes. And they do all this with 7 kids.

In the past 2 years, they have moved 6 times.

Here's the basic pattern – they design a home, move in, some rich person falls in love and buys their home, they move into a temporary space while they find a new space and start working on it.

Here's some photos from their Sixx Design Web site:


Seriously, I just can't get enough of this show.

Design Time: "Glamour: Making it Modern"

When I go to the library I’m guilty of forgetting non-fiction books are also housed there. I get very into my routine of running in, picking up my books on hold and then leaving right away. So when I remember things like cookbooks and interior designs books are also available, I get in my “this is the best idea ever” mode.

I’m excited to report that I checked out my first interior-design books ever. (I know, it was a big day for me).

The book I was most excited about is “Glamour: Making It Modern” by Michael Lassell, which is a collection of Metropolitan Home goodies. As you can probably tell from my living room, I’m a slight fan of the style.

If you aren’t familiar with the modern-glam style, I think interior designer Michael Berman describes it best

“When a client says ‘glamour,’ it’s code for ‘Design our home so people will swoon when they visit.’”

While I didn’t actually learn anything new about the glamour style in the text, the pictures were amazing. Here’s a few of my favorites:

Do you have any favorite design or organization books? I'd love to hear about them.

"Sarah's House"

Does anyone else watch "Sarah's House?" I just stumbled upon this HGTV show several weeks ago, but I am already in love.

It's about designer Sarah Richardson, who buys a total fixer upper, and renovates it one room at a time.

She is incredible. Here's are a few of my favorites:

I want this laundry room!

"Colour Confidential"

While I definitely enjoy my HGTV, they have only one show that I must watch weekly – “Colour Confidential.”

Jane Lockhart is my design hero. Previously, she did the amazing series “Get Color,” and I’m happy to say the only difference between it and “Colour Confidential” is that this show takes place in Canada. Jane still busts out her customized color wheel each episode, and that’s when the magic happens.

I just love her designs – they are stylish yet realistic for everyday life.

I dream of zebra

I have always loved animal print, but my passion for zebra print only seems to grow. After admiring these 3 living rooms for Rate My Space, I have decided to suck it up
and go for the plunge.


I found this fabulous zebra-print rug on eBay, and I think it has my living room's
name on it. Now I only need to figure out the size I need. I think the 6x8 might be perfect, and seriously, you can't beat an eBay price.

Dining Room inspiration

Because Brent and I finally bought a dining room table (pictures to come later), I figured it's time to start daydreaming about that room.













Bling tealight lamps – Z Gallerie
Table runner – Z Gallerie
Star candleholder – Z Gallerie
Day without sunshine – DIY
Circuit candleholder – Crate & Barrel
Hurricane candleholder – Crate & Barrel
Napkin rings – Z Gallerie

Wine Art

I thought some modern wine art would work in the dining room. I've been looking around online, and have been thoroughly impressed with the wine designs involving calligraphy.









I absolutely adore the Drink Wine print.

Being a graphic designer, I figure I should be able to do something. I'm not done with my idea yet, but here is what I have so far. I think I like the direction it's going.

Hallway Photos

I wanted to display photos in the upstairs hallway, but I wanted it done in a modern way. I think so many photo displays have that shabby chic "everything is everywhere" look, and that's fine, but I wanted something with clean lines, without the overall pattern becoming a perfect rectangle or square.

I found exactly what I was looking for in a Martha Stewart Living magazine. While I think she is great, I have never had the desire to copy anything she's done until now. This hallway she did is amazing – I love the solid line going all the way through it.

So last night, after buying a couple more black frames and editing all my photos to black and white, I worked out my game plan.

Once I was done, Brent did all the measurements and hung the photos.

I love the way my hallway looks. The is exactly what I was wanting.

A modern Hollywood Glam

Because of the amazing mirror art above the mantle: