before and after by Grace Bonney 12

Before & After: Rebekah’s Kitchen Corner Makeover

Now that the busiest part of our year is over (see you next year, trade shows!), I can dive back into Before & Afters! I’ve been swamped with travel and work lately so it’s been exciting to get back into submission emails and check out the great makeovers you guys have sent and to hear about the exciting summer renovations some of you have planned. Next week I’ll have a full set of makeovers to share, but for today I wanted to focus on this little kitchen nook re-do. Mainly because it’s a great example of how changing just a small part of a space can have a huge impact on the overall room.

Rebekah Gough (who has shared some great projects with us before) ripped out her current rental home’s “ugly 90′s-era built in desk” and replaced it with a beautiful blue hutch. While it sounds simple, she and her husband did all of the manual labor themselves and chronicled the process on her blog, here. We’ve all dealt with those generic wooden cabinets that most rentals have (mine are a blonde color and I loathe them) so it’s great to see how these can be updated for something that feels colorful and fun, but neat and streamlined at the same time. I think the combination of this corner makeover with the changing of the dining room chairs makes such a big impact on the overall kitchen. A big virtual high five to Rebekah and her husband for this great redo. xo, grace

More images of the makeover continue after the jump…

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products by Maxwell Tielman 23

15 Cards That Keep It Real: Best of The National Stationery Show

Okay— what I’m about to say might alienate some aunts, uncles, mothers, fathers, and grandparents out there—but y’all need to cool it with the overly sentimental greeting cards. I know you mean well. I also know that picking out a card from the myriad available at a typical drugstore is the last thing you want to do. But honestly, it’s hard to get excited about a card that has “Dear son/daughter/nephew/niece” on it followed by a Hallmark-penned poem extolling (in fanciful scripty fonts, of course) the supposed virtues of its recipient. I don’t know if my years in New York have turned me into a hardened, emotionless cynic, but I prefer my greeting cards to be like the crazy neighbor that accosts me for walking my dogs too closely to him: blunt, to the point, and devoid of unnecessary pretense. This is why, while perusing the aisles of this week’s National Stationery Show in Manhattan, I was thrilled to see that there were numerous designers this year making exactly this type of greeting card. From newcomer Emily McDowell’s fabulously straightforward (and totally adorable) words of encouragement to Great Lakes Goods’ cards that would make any jaded Brooklynite smile, this year’s offerings were not only cute, but refreshingly real. The following 15 cards prove that sincerity isn’t about sentimentality—it’s about saying exactly what you think. (Just a note: some of the following items, for the aforementioned reasons, might be considered NSFW. If profanity isn’t your cup of tea, please pass this one over. Also, due to the nature of the Stationery Show, some of the following items aren’t available to purchase yet, but they should be in the near future! Enjoy!) —Max

Above image: I’m totally, totally obsessed with Emily McDowell’s lovely, unfiltered greeting cards. This congratulatory wedding card seems particularly apt to me, because this is exactly the reaction I have when one of my friends announces their engagement.

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products by Grace Bonney 2

ICFF 2013: My Favorite Hanging Lights + Pendants

One of the first things I do when I, or any of my friends, move into a new apartment is look for lighting I can swap out. Most NYC apartments come with those awful “boob” ceiling lights, so the first thing I do is find a new medallion or cover and replace them with a pendant. As much as I love a chandelier, there’s not always the ceiling height in a city apartment that you need for something that large, so a pendant is always a good quick fix. At this year’s ICFF I made a mental note to keep track of all the pendants and hanging lights that would make for great city apartment lighting. From pretty silver globes lights to the delicate pendants above, I hope these new designs will inspire you to try something different at home. xo, grace

Image above: Tiny pendant lights (also in sconce and tabletop form) from Nervous System

The pattern of these silver globe lights from Tom Dixon was so beautiful- especially in shimmery silver.

These pendants from 100xbtr were made of Corian, but were deceptively light. They also remind me of Pac- Man ghosts. Score!

I loved this simple little strand of lights of Grain Design.

More pendant lighting from ICFF 2013 continues after the jump…

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products by Grace Bonney 8

ICFF 2013: 10 Great Textile Designers

This year’s ICFF was a textile-lover’s paradise. There were thick wool blankets in intensely colorful patterns, soft cushions that looked like they’d been splattered with beautiful paint and so many rugs that I had to save some for a second post coming up soon. I’m an equal-opportunity textile lover, so I tried to include a range of my favorite subtle textile designs and some more in-your-face textile installations. I hope they’ll inspire you to seek out some beautiful handmade textiles in your area, whether it’s a small rug or a new throw for the couch. xo, grace

Image above: Tanya Aguiniga‘s incredible installation for Kasthall.

Beautiful textiles by Grain. I love the texture and pattern in the all-white pillows.

Woven pillow designs by Denise Diane that were inspired by the Golden Orb spider.

Wayward Projects‘ splatter-style pillow line.

More new textile design continue after the jump…

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vintage inspiration by Amy Azzarito 7

Pink at Brimfield 2013

Maybe it’s the fact that I bought a pink coffee table this year, or that I’ve taken to writing only using pink Le Pens, but I’ve been embracing my girly side lately. So when we were at Brimfield, I found myself captivated by pink. I love the patina of the pinks on these vintage finds. And while I didn’t come home with anything pink, it did get me thinking of others ways I could sneak a little pink into my decorating scheme. -Amy Azzarito