The Search is On . . .

. . . for the perfect chair!

In an attempt to cozy up my rented space, I am looking for a great chair to turn my bedroom/office space into a better space to hang out and relax. I get tired of sitting on my bed to read or surf the internet, and I rarely want to sit at my actual desk after being behind a desk at work all day -- the solution? A comfy armchair with the perfect mix of style and "melt-into-the-cushion-after-a-long-day" quality.

I'm dreaming of something like this from Anthropologie:

I am a big believer in window shopping to look for inspiration rather than going out with a specific product in mind, but I did a little research and now I have a few requirements in mind for my new chair:

- ROUNDED: Since I am working with a limited space, I don't want a boxy and square piece that takes up a lot of room. I'm keeping my eyes open for a great rounded wing chair that would work pulled out in the middle of a room or tucked away against the wall.

- WITH ARMS: I don't know how many times my parents told me when I was younger "Don't hang your legs over the side of that chair, you'll ruin the arms." However, I just can't help but love curling up sideways in a great chair with my legs dangling over the edge or my heels pressed into the arm as I slouch into the perfect book-reading position.

- DURABLE: There's nothing attractive about a piece of furniture that starts to lose it's shape over time or one that begins pilling or looking tattered the more it's used. I want something that has more character as it ages.

- GOOD TENSION: This goes along with the durability aspect. I want a chair that is not too stiff and rigid but also not shapeless and overly smooshy!

I love this Oly Studio chair, but it's TOO RIGID for a good reading chair.

Lay-Z-Boy furniture is known for it's comfort, but I don't like to feel like I"m sinking into a chair that is TOO SMOOSHY.

- STYLISH: Maybe this one goes without saying, but I think it's the excessive amount of "Sex in the City" reruns I've watched lately that has me thinking about this requirement. On a recent episode, Carrie, in the middle of a tantrum aimed at Big, tells him to go back to his "beige life." Nothing about a beige life (or furniture) sounds exciting to me!

Aside from my superficial pop-culture reason, I have also found that there are a lot of simple ways to incorporate great colorful pieces of furniture into your home for a sleek classic look.  

- PRICE: I didn't name this blog 'home DREAMS' for no reason. There are hundreds of designer chairs out there that fit my requirements and that I would absolutely love to incorporate into my space, but the reality of my DREAM is that those chairs are in the $1000+ category. I am putting myself on a $150 or less budget for this chair. No worries though! That just means that the creative juices are going to have to be in full gear when I hit the junk stores and discount shops this weekend. 

I'll have a full overview of my finds for you soon!

Birmingham in the News

Perfect timing for my article on Birmingham's industrial past. I just came across this great story in the New York Times.

Industrial Chic

Every day I fall in love with the city of Birmingham a little bit more. What I first thought was an old, dilapidated, and uninteresting city has proven to be full of inspiration, charm, and history. There is something so intriguing and beautiful to me about the countless brick buildings, worn with time, but still showing evidence of businesses, lives, and stories of the past.

I love the article that Birmingham Magazine recently did on the old commerce signs that are painted on the sides of buildings. These signs can be seen all over the city.

 You don't have to drive far into downtown to find inspiration. Here are a few shots from my recent weekend excursion around the city. Even with the cloudy cold weather, these photos still inspire me.

 (Sloss Furnace - ArchitectureWorks, LLP - Rail Road Park)

 

With my love of this industrial landscape, it's no wonder that I have fallen head over heels for the 'industrial chic' look - as I call it - that so many designers are using in commercial and residential spaces today. It's a mix of the rough industrial elements of the building and the softer hues and textures in the space. Here are two places I'm loving lately. Be sure to check out all of the photos in their online galleries - just beautiful!

Ale House Inn Design*Sponge

Good things in store . . .

Bear with me blog readers - I'm off to a bumpy start figuring out the work/blog balance, but I promise there are a lot of great posts to come! Here's a sneak peak at some of the exciting things I'm working on:

Hot Shopping Resources:

 

Markets, Markets, Markets!

 

Revamping my rented space

Stay tuned . . .

Style It!: A Pretty Shelf

via Anthropologie.com

Prop styling is one of those careers you never hear about in college when you're trying to decide on a major. For me, it took packing and unpacking countless boxes of props as a magazine intern to find out that I loved the process of picking out props for a photo shoot. Who knew that every detail in a picture, down to the books sitting on the shelf in the background, was hand picked to make the picture look great? 

That being said, why not fill you shelves with great looking books?? I fell in love with these embossed canvas books by Penguin the moment I saw them. I was even more excited to find out that they are readily available at Anthropologie! For the little ones in your life, they now even carry a line of childrens' classics - perfect for any nursery.  

LonnyMag is Live!

There's no doubt that I love to flip through the pages of a brand new magazine, but the new trend of online mags has plenty of perks: more content, instant access, and convenient links to companies and products. 

photo courtesy of LonnyMag.com

After my first quick flip through the latest LonnyMag I am in love with the organization and design of Bunny Williams' design library on page 50 and 51.  


I'd love to hear about your favorite pages in the Jan/Feb '11 issue.

Road Finds: Starting at Home

What better way to start a home blog than by telling you about some great (recently discovered) stores in my home town! Thanks to an interior designer friend I was armed with a great list of shops to explore around Brunswick/St. Simons Island, Ga, over Christmas break. Here are a few of the highlights:

Viola's Market: A great mix of charming, not kitschy, seaside decor and french country pieces. I particularly loved the grain sack pillows, wooden crate-inspired pieces, and silver serving ware.


The Market on Newcastle: I always find plenty to love here! Great for shower or hostess gifts and the you-didn't-know-you-needed-it-until-you-saw-it pieces. A particular favorite on this trip: framed antique keys.

Dutchman's Designs: Now, having been to both locations, I can say this store never disappoints. Take your time and you are sure to find a few treasures. A set of artichoke-shaped candles caught my eye - perfect for a casual dining room setting. This is also a great source for weathered furniture in punchy colors!


Petite Maison: Beautiful Juliska lamps, table settings, and unique and tasteful furniture.

Welcome to my little blog!

At this time last year, I had just moved to a brand new city for a brand new job surrounded by brand new people. To say the least, I was overwhelmed but excited about all of the new things. I was in that funny phase of just out of college long enough to feel like I should have things figured out, but not quite sure what I wanted to do with my life yet.

photo courtesy of Southern Living

Putting my journalism degree to good use I started interning in the home and garden departments of an amazing lifestyle magazine. Up until then I wasn't sure what I wanted to write about, but in no time at all I found a true love of all things home! I haven't looked back since and continue to find inspiration, resources, and great products on a daily basis.

As a 20-something, I know I am not the only one living in a shoe-box apartment mentally filing away all of these 'home dreams' I have for my future house, so please share all of your ideas, resources, and projects! I hope you enjoy my blog!