houseboats contd.

After today’s commute on a stuffy, stinky, packed bus and the constant reminder of cars zooming outdoors, I drifted off once again into my peaceful land of houseboats…

schwimmhaus boat

a mobile houseboat

amsterdam houseboats

tiny toronto houseboat

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for juniors?

I’m always a little surprised to find that when looking around for new bed linens, the sets I end up really loving, seem to be for “juniors.” Does that make me immature? Do I have infantile taste? I suppose I must. But check out these pretty duvet sets by DwellStudio. There are a few patterns in my picks below, for juniors. Can you pick out which ones they are? (Well, perhaps the teddy bears are a slight giveaway…)

geometry

motif robin

gio primrose

collage charcoal

good lampage

I’m feeling in the mood for some new bedside table lamps. At the moment we have a couple of standard Ikea paper lanterns on either side of the bed, but they’re starting to look a bit grungy, lopsided and slightly torn, like vagabond shades. I haven’t looked far, so I will continue my search and come back to you with more ideas. Here are a few pretty ones that shined during my online journey…

dream lamp - anthropologie

plumage lamp - anthropologie

sea creatures - pottery barn

woven lamps - pottery barn

snail lamp - anthropologie

I think the woven lamps are my favorite. Shop the lamps at anthropologie and pottery barn.

floating on a houseboat dream

I always had a fascination with houseboats. When I lived in San Francisco a few years ago, I used to drive past Sausalito on the way to my sister’s place in Marin. Each time I passed, I would dreamily gaze upon the beautiful houseboats along the shore. I remember thinking to myself: “One day, I will have my own houseboat and I will travel the world in it!” Today I was reminded of this dream when I saw Apartment Therapy’s recent post on Olle Lundberg. Mr. Lundberg, architect and designer for Ikea, salvaged a car ferry that he found sitting around in Iceland. It is now tied to a pier in San Francisco. This is no ordinary houseboat. It’s got mega high ceilings that create a Brooklyn loft kind of feeling, and unlike a lot of modern day houseboats that have sucummed to being docked up and property taxed, this baby can move! Check it out. I added a few more floating homes to the mix that couldn’t go unseen.

lundberg ferry boat

lundberg's salvaged car ferry

the sausalito dream

crafted from an old train car (train-car-house-boat!)

3 story sausalito houseboat (this one's a monster!)

modern floating home

why can’t you be mine?

With the dream of buying an apartment in the back (well, actually more towards to front) of my head, I’ve become obsessed with one place that was featured on the amazing Design Sponge. Yes, this apartment is actually for sale, but unfortunately, out of my price range. Its Williamsburg (Brooklyn) location seems perfect and its character seems unmatchable. I can’t help but wonder why they’re selling it. What’s wrong with it? Am I delusional? That’s not a long, skinny, somewhat awkward living room, it’s a chance for awesome lengthy living room shelves. That’s not a tiny box bedroom, it’s a cozy, sleepy, love nest. The designer is a real pro. The Scandinavian furniture she picked out is everything I would love, and the details such as the exposed brick walls, the high beamed loft ceiling and the deep soaking bathtub are all the elements I have been looking for. Check out her beautiful design sense below and read up on the details at design sponge sneak peek!

learning with lena

Oooo wah! It’s likely I’m late to the game, but I just discovered the gem that is Lena Corwin. This ex San Franciscan, now Brooklynite, is a textile designer, illustrator, author and teacher. She not only sells her beautiful work, including team Mociun + Corwin, for affordable prices on her site, but she’s also teaching a hand printing workshop in her own Brooklyn apartment. If you don’t know her yet, you must check her out.

digging danish

I appreciate a lot of different home decor flavors but I always find myself drawn back to Danish modern style furniture. I love it for the solid yet unassuming wood and the clean, smooth lines. The authentic stuff you find in vintage shops by folks like Paul McCobb will usually run you up into an uncomfortable bill. If you don’t care who’s name is on it and just like the look, Urban Outfitters is a pretty good place to start. For the past few years, they have been remaking the danish modern style into pretty affordable, desirable pieces. It’s nice to know that you can find a cool couch for under $500 without having to succumb to a bright blue Ikea thing that will most likely be thrown out in a year or two. Not to knock Ikea… I had that awesome bright blue coach not long ago, and I loved it for those 2 years. So, to continue on under my dwell spell, here are a few pics of inexpensive furniture I wouldn’t mind using to dress up my apartment.

home ec

I just spent the last two days ignoring my blog, ignoring fashion all together, because it was all making me become a little too obsessed. During my fashion time-out I occupied my thoughts elsewhere… home decor. Decorno got me thinking about all sorts of new homey things. It “helps” that I’m unemployed and spend 98% of my day at home now (lending 2% to splurging on yummy brunches out with my dog and frequent trips to American Apparel). One day I will own a home of my own and Decorno’s blog helps me develop that imaginary place into a cozy little hub that’s well thought out with colorful walls and quality furniture. If I start my home decor education now, I should be an expert by the time I earn the right to paint my very own walls. Five very simple things I envision right now for a place to call my own:

1) One exposed brick wall (as long as it doesn’t attract bacteria – I have slight germaphobic tendencies)

2) Color everywhere

3) A bathtub (a great bathtub)

4) A refurbished kitchen

5) Wood floors (of course)

Maybe something a bit like this?

i <3 sheets

While moseyman was away, camping in the desert, I had been squatting in squalor. It’s barely an exaggeration, I had been shamefully lazy and had let the house become something he wouldn’t have recognized when he got back. Luckily, during my lowest point of procrastination, I found some sweet nuggets of online bed and bath inspiration. So in the nick of time, I whipped up a cleaning doozie and even added some fresh cut flowers to the kitchen! Still not picture worthy though, here instead, are a few of the images that willed me to turn on the vacuum.

by Boodalee

by Boodalee

by Boodalee

(organic bedding) by Pottery Barn

at Urban Outfitters

at Anthropologie