Space Planning + Hot Pink Ceilings

  One of my good friends is realizing a lifelong dream. She'll be opening a retail store next month in Manayunk! She's had a tough few years, and it is so heart-bursting to see how many people are rallying around to help her if this was their own project. She has done all of the legwork to make sure everything is covered, and we just know that she's going to be a huge success. It's like watching a story unfold that you know will have a rewarding ending.

I was happy to help her with some space planning for the store. It's a bright space with fabulous hot pink ceilings and a little bit of gold trim. The chandeliers have come down (I was the only one sad about that), and a team of us worked to paint, put together furniture and spruce the place up.

I can't wait to see the final result! I loved the opportunity to exercise my design skills, it has been way too long.

Good luck, LKJ!

Imaginary Blue Violet Library

Blue violet has caught my eye my whole life. In Pantone colors, it's called Ultra Violet.  I first fell for blue-violet, the prettiest crayon in the box of 64 colors. I loved it on my Sam+Libby ballet flats with the lace up ankle ribbons in seventh grade. Blue violet colored my beloved blueberry pancakes for dinner in college with whipped cream on top. My favorite irises while helping my friend garden are in that hue. It's the color of my ombre Ray Ban sunglasses, a metallic liquid eye liner, the beautiful Le Crueset oval dutch oven from Aunt Sissy, and the nail polish I have on this instant.  Either way, I'm smitten.

So smitten was I, that I sketched an imaginary library for myself. If you're a reader like me, there is nothing cozier than a comfortable chair, good light, a place for a hot drink, and a cave like space for falling into a great story.

The library I designed has super glossy violet walls and ceilings. Thankfully with my unlimited imagined funds, for this type of high gloss, I was able to have it plastered, sanded and finished perfectly by a professional since the high gloss shows every imperfection (just like satin for clothes). Since the ceiling is the same color as the walls, I could even it out with some elaborate molding. I like how the edgy color in a slick finish complement the ornate old school architectural details. Simple plus crazy and a pop of color make me happy.

My fireplace provides visual and thermal warmth, and fulfills my dream to someday have one. A fun but slightly fancy chandelier and the fireplace cast and reflect glints of light across the room like fireflies. I'd choose to keep the mantel of the fireplace light in color (perhaps an alabaster mantel and hearth) for balance with the darkness everywhere else.

I would display objects that I love like groupings of prints and paintings, and books that I actually read and enjoy. None of those fake collections of books for my library! I love looking at other people's bookshelves when I go into their home, as it's a glimpse into their personality. That's why I love seeing myJK Rowling next to Haruki Murakami, it kind of sums up my varieties in taste.

When it comes to art, knitting, cooking and crafting books, I tend to pull a few at once that I want to look at, and pile them on a table to peruse later. I'm sure I'd fill up the end table or benches (not drawn!) with books that I want to look at all at once. Then I'd have a massive cleanup every few weeks so as not to drive myself crazy. I think I'll put a knitting basked with a couple of projects in here too, though Mike is not a fan of baskets (too bad for him!).

A must have in a library are cozy chairs, down throw pillows, something made of leather so soft you can't stop touching it and an ottoman to put your feet up. There should be lamps and side tables, and an eclectic collection of wool or cashmere blankets in this room. While we're at it, how about a black pug and a black french bulldog for my companions, and a record player too. There should be a classy bar cart and some fancy spirits to go with this room too. In this fantasy, I'm the type of lady who drinks cognac and 40 year old whiskey or something like that. Perhaps this space could double as an after dinner hang out spot following a dinner party with friends?

Lastly, I'd have to have ebony or dark black-brown herringbone floors. They are strongly featured in 97 per cent of my design dreams.

For now, I'm going to keep looking at my OPI Roadhouse Blues nail polish and keep daydreaming!

5 Ideas for Decorating Wall Space

One of my good friends has all of these freshly painted walls in her new house, but now needs art and things to fill them. I've been mulling it over in the back of my head and finally sketched out some ideas for her.

Idea One:

Display your favorite belongings, collections and quirky items in shadowboxes. Group things together.  I'm partial to odd numbered items when it comes to collection and repetition.  If you need inspiration from the Queen of Collections, check out Lisa Congdon's Collection a Day.

Past items I've displayed are the gold sequined beaded bag (sketched below), a lemon yellow flapper dress scored at a thrift store in Florida, and a tiara from homecoming court. What a trend, all of these things are shiny, sparkly and somewhat gaudy!

I think a collection of medals would be neat, especially if they held personal meaning. The options are endless, and it becomes art, sentiment and quirky sideshow for your guests. Go mount your beloved grandmother's old spoons, broken pieces of teacups, the burlap coffee sack you picked up in Central America. Whatever speaks to you. Be genuine!

Idea Two:

Frame things you have or are large. Think maps, large photographs and favorite pieces of fabric.

Maps! Who doesn't love maps? They showcase the world at different times, feed your travel lust, track places you've been, are colorful graphic images, and take up space.

You can embroider an epic roadtrip route traveled in college where your car broke down on the side of a mountain in Utah (moi), track a honeymoon trip, or pin places you want to go. You can use the actual map as a canvas for the shape of a favorite state. Purchase or create an illustrated map for a favorite destination or to document an event or trip.

Utilize your thousand megapixel camera finally and blow up your travel photos, still lives, or portraits. You can go as big as The Novogratz's do with wall paper, or you can aim for 24x36. Or buy a print of some of your favorite photographers.

There is also fabric. I mounted a handmade woven piece from Peru with a dowel rod. You can frame or mount on canvas that yard of fabric you love but won't ever touch. Enjoy it everyday instead!

Idea Three:

Make your own collages using old paint chips, cut paper, magazines, old books, etc.  If you're artsy, make shapes and have fun. Have some friends over. Use a reference to trace a silhouette or a favorite vegetable. Do a grouping of 4 fruits or veggies for your kitchen. Paint 3 pictures of your favorite dogs that you're not allowing yourself to adopt yet. Make shapes using cut out triangles or a paper punch. Cut stripes and be random.

Frame it and enjoy. Trade with friends. Collaborate. See if wine helps or hinders. Paste over the mistakes. Hang it in the laundry room if it's an utter failure!

Idea Four:

Make paintings! Same as idea three, but with art supplies. You can make a ton of colors by mixing primary red, blue, and yellow with white and black. Acrylic is easy if you've never done it, and mixes with water which everyone is used to. Trace some patterns, mix up some colors and make simple piece of art that you are proud of.

Idea Five:

Invest in artists (established or emerging depending on your budget), that you love.  Purchase photographs, prints, letterpress, screen-prints, illustrations, printed linen, whatever you want to look at daily.

I always think you should buy art that speaks to you, that makes you smile or feel something each time you walk by. Of course I live with a painter, so our walls are filled gallery style, but I still smile each time I see my beloved Heather Smith Jones piece or the watercolor from my friend Margaret's travels to Alaska in the 70s.

Here are some resources and a few of my recent favorites to get you started:

• 20x200
• Etsy
• Big Cartel
• Michelle Armas
• LALADexPress
• Claudia Pearson
• Julia Rothman
• Lisa Rupp Designs
• Mike East (have to add my partner-in-crime)

Regardless of what you choose to fill your home, enjoy doing it, know that it's a process, and bring things and art in that you love. Let me know what I forgot!

And have fun! Life is short and artwork can be rearranged.

(Says the girl with an alligator head and pink lawn flamingos).