Moving Day!

I've moving out of my old apartment today but can't move into my new place until July 8th.  I'll be traveling home to recover from packing up five years of accumulated stuff.  I was joking with my friend Jessica that I'm apparently a very neat hoarder so it was good to donate, give away or trash a lot of unneccesary clutter. I'm visiting my family for the next week but will definitely posting while I'm away.  I hope everyone in the US has a safe and Happy Independence Day! 

Chic Striped Studio

I've received so many lovely comments and emails about my upcoming move but one reader from Amsterdam took things a bit further.  She emailed me photos to prove that you can live chicly in a studio.  Marijke Beumer is an interior designer in The Netherlands and lives in a beautiful studio that she decorated herself. She has not only made me realize that I have a lot to live up to but has me absolutely desperate to paint stripes on my new walls.  Her website isn't up yet but I expect good things to come from this talented designer.  I also want to know what came in all those Hermes boxes!  Chic indeed! 

New Apartment Inspiration

In between changing my address everywhere and fighting with Time Warner Cable about why as an existing customer I don't qualify for Triple Play, I am mentally redecorating my new apartment. What's funny is that I think the owner chose me to rent the place the minute I told him that I was an interior designer.  He owns a company that works on high end commercial projects and we have a lot in common.  He has already joked that he thinks that I am going to make it so nice that he's going to want it back.  I hope he's joking. Note to self: do not invite him over after it's finished.

I'm still inspired by Tori Mellott's apartment that was featured in Domino magazine.  While I don't think I want to paper the walls, I do love the color scheme.  I plan to keep my new apartment neutral with some pops of color such as my blue French chair and patterned pillows.  I also can't wait to rearrange my art and create a new gallery wall above my sofa.  Packing it up made me realize just how much I own.

I'll have a lot more wall space for art and look forward to creating new compositions.  I still love this Jonathan Adler designed room and might be inspired to hang art lower in my new apartment.

I currently have a small wood coffee table but I really want a glass and brass to replace it.  They seem to be harder to find than I thought, at least in my price range, so maybe I push two smaller tables together like Grant K. Gibson.  I keep hearing that Fig trees don't do well in New York but I definitely want to add some greenery.

I'm moving from a long and narrow one bedroom apartment into a wider studio.  In all the years I've lived in New York, I've never lived in a studio so concealing or at least taking the focus off the bed will be an interesting challenge.  Tori Mellott separated her old studio with an Ikea bookcase.  I'll have to see if I have room for one after I get everything arranged.

Lizzie Baily also separated her living and sleeping areas with a bookcase as seen in Lonny magazine. What I also like is that she skirted her desk.  I have been thinking about doing the same after I move.  I will then be able to hide my printer and files.

Lonny editor in chief Michelle Adams also had a skirted desk in one of her old apartment.

Grant K. Gibson devoted an entire post to the skirted work table in his apartment.  Since my mother sews, I'm hoping I can talk her into making one for me while I'm visiting next week.

Grant hides a lot under his skirted table including a printer on a rolling stand. 

I've already been scoping out bar carts online too.  I love Deborah Needleman's and hope there is room for one since my kitchen is a little too small for mixing drinks.  

I already bought a tortoise shell ice bucket that I found at Aero which will look great on a bar cart.

Since my kitchen is small and close to the entrance, I will have to decorate it as well.  I have been wanting to mirror a backsplash for a while and this might be the perfect place.  I've always loved this one that I saw in House Beautiful. The mirrors definitely expand the space.

Here is another mirrored backsplash as seen in Lonny magazine.  I also own those bamboo folding chairs that will come in handy for guests.  Since I barely cook anymore, I want to cover the kitchen floor with a sisal rug.

In the other shot of Tori Mellott's living room, you can see that she has her television sitting on a dresser.  My television armoire served me well for years but I decided it was time to also find a chic dresser for my television.

I have a rule of not buying new things for a new apartment until you move your existing pieces.  I've gone overboard with excitement before and ended up with too much furniture but I did buy one piece.  I've been wanting a marble top dresser for television display and found a fabulous John Widdicomb one online for $250.  I couldn't even find a new dresser for that price and can't wait to see it.

What sold me on it was the top drawer with separate compartments that will be perfect for jewelry since it locks with a key.  Or I could always organize all my office supplies. 

The one thing that I will miss about my old apartment in my bedroom.  It was a lovely robin's egg blue color that that was so relaxing after a crazy day in New York.  I'm hoping that my entire new apartment will now be a relaxing retreat instead.  I can't wait to get in there to start decorating for real!

I Found a Home!

I want to again thank everyone who crossed their fingers and prayed for me to find an apartment.  After dealing with shady brokers and walking up more flights of stairs than I care to remember, I am happy to say that I found a home!  It's on the top floor of a co-op elevator building with south facing windows and laundry in the basement.  Woo hoo!  Bad news is that I can't move in until July 11th so my stuff will be headed to storage while I visit my family and camp out with my friends. 

One reader asked why I was moving and I was beginning to wonder why I was moving myself.  My current apartment got to be very expensive for its size and location plus after five years, I thought it was time for a change.  Of course, my apartment began to look more like a mansion compared to some of the places I saw this week. I'm still excited to move though.  We New Yorkers tend to squirrel away stuff under the bed in the back of the closet and I'm looking forward to cleaning house and getting organized.  I'm also excited for a change of scenery.  When you walk the same path everyday, you stop seeing things.  I've read that you should change the route you walk everyday so you stretch your brain and become more mindful.  I'm hoping that a move to a new area will do the same. 

And most importantly, there is the redecorating!  I'm definitely looking forward to sharing my new apartment with you all and hopefully it will help make up for my lack of posts this week.  I really appreciate your support, encouragement and patience and promise to get back to our regular posting schedule tomorrow.  In the meantime, anyone want to help me pack?

Chic Needs Sleep

I want to apologize for not posting early on Monday as usual.  I was out looking at apartments...for five hours.  I haven't had to go through this process for over five years and I am ready to keel over from exhaustion.  I did not find my dream home today but I have hope for one of the places I am seeing tomorrow.  As much as I dread moving, I am excited to redecorate.  I saved the photo above as a concept for my desk area.  (I lost the credit so please let me know if you know where it originated.)  I have a similar French chair also upholstered in blue velvet and definitely need to find a rolling tiered table for my printer.  Needless to say, I also love the gallery wall.  I have a lot of art but may have to troll the flea market for more to create a composition that large.  I think the shopping and decorating is the only thing getting me through this ordeal.  Keep your fingers crossed that I find a place soon!