At Home: Books, Textiles And Botanicals

Yesterday I decided to take some photos of the house after being away for the long weekend. Settling back in felt so good, that it prompted me to capture the "home sweet home" feeling through my lens.  This made me realize how this house gradually evolved into a home since we moved into it over three years ago.  As our essential furniture pieces remained the same, the smaller items, those that give our spaces their personality, have continually changed.  Pillows and art have been added and also moved around the house.  There's never a shortage of new plants, fresh botanicals, repurposed accessories and an array of current books and magazines.  It's uniquely our space and we are very grateful for it.  

Take a look: 

The Kilim pillows are from Yayla Rugs in Cambridge, Ma., while the textile that drapes over our sectional is from the Alameda Antique Market in the East Bay.

Our once yellow womb chair from Reside (Cambridge, Ma) was reupholstered in a vintage Knoll fabric in a tone very similar to our mid-century brick color.

Stacks of magazines, some old, some new, next to favorite design books offer inspiration as well as pleasurable reading. 

The bell garland is from Anthropologie (from years back) and the brass candlesticks are from Rare Heir, an antique shop in Oakland, Ca.

Foraged Acacia branches are displayed in a vessel found in a thrift store alongside a Heath Ceramics bud vase, a gnarled root and a wooden candlestick also found in a vintage store. 

This area of the kitchen was designed to display interesting/meaningful items and botanicals.  Since it's where we spend most of our time, I really wanted a designated spot for pretty and inspiring things.  The black and gold box is from West Elm, the Kwan Yin statuettes from Sugi in Lafayette, Ca., the wooden salt bowl is from Terrain and the vintage glass is from a recent visit to the Alameda Antique Market.

The large stripped pillow is from Garza Marfa while the smaller is one from One Kings Lane.  The metal table bases were found during a trip to Maine.  We added glass tops and spray painted them cobalt blue to be used as night tables in our previous home. In our current "project room" they happen to work perfectly with the rug from Yayla Tribal Rugs and the Peruvian blanket from the Marisa Mason studio in Oakland, Ca.  

What things do you love about your space and where did you find them?  Do share!

A Few Good Pillows & 7 Decorating Tips

Over the weekend I played around with the pillow shams I bought in Cambridge at my favorite rug shop last month.  Using inserts I already owned, I stuffed the kilim covers and placed them on our sectional.  Our prior pillow collection was a mix of kilim, cotton and shag in light natural tones, but I'm really liking the way the deep pink hues look with the dark brown sofa and the brick wall.  The plan is to get a few more to balance out the large seating area and to purchase art for the brick wall.  Take a look at our renewed sofa.

IMG_1639

IMG_1685

IMG_1688

t mag

IMG_1657

IMG_1658

art

IMG_1677

I love mixing things up every once and while around the house.  The kids take notice and the space suddenly feels revived.  Here's a few more ideas to freshen up your space with little or no money spent.

1.  Remove curtains or replace them with a patterned fabric that is appropriate for the season.

2. If space allows, re-arrange your furniture.  

3. Add plants or repot the ones you have in coordinating containers for focal interest. 

4.  Give your sofa or chair a new look by draping a throw on it. 

5.  Rehang your art or find wall space for pieces you haven't hung yet.

6.  Rearrange your coffee table accessories; add books and magazines that you may not have read in while.  Keep books open to a page you find inspiring. 

7. Let your kids change things around for a day.  You'll either be completely mortified or pleasantly intrigued by how they see the space.  It's only for a day!

If you recently made some changes around your house, I would love to hear about them.

Out And About: Yayla Tribal Rugs

In search of floor coverings  for our California house, my husband and I dropped in at Yayla Tribal Rugs to go through piles of  colorfully patterned and intricately detailed carpets in hopes to find the ones destined to make the trip West with us.  A very patient and knowledgeable sales team (with some really strong arms), provides the potential buyers with lessons in history, craftsmanship and philanthropy.  Take a look at some of our favorites and stay posted for the rug reveal, when the two we picked take center stage.

Can anyone guess which two are coming to California with us?!

Below are photos taken by Cambridge photographer Kristen Emack.  It just so happened that she was snapping shots of rugs at Yayla the same week we were shopping for some.  Thank you, Kristen, for sharing your artful images with Cocoon Home.