maps in the home

so this link has some cool pics of maps used as decoration.  of these photos, i like the ones below.

as a floor!

wallpaper!

paris!

on a dresser!

in multiple frames!

more paris!!

and then, to show my love for maps, here is an AWESOME map that i have in my house.

to do in my apartment: redo the stairs

i would LOVE to buy my place.  i didn't think i would ever say that, but i have a lot of ideas for what i could do with it.  i could really turn it in to an airbnb and make a lot more money if i could add a second bathroom.  and one of my ideas is to turn the spiral staircase shown here

into a thin staircase with one change in direction.  i think i would have the opening change, instead of stepping on to the staircase on the right hand side at the top, i'd move it to the lefthand side then have it go down against the brick wall and turn once and go in to the dining room.  anyway, thats an idea and then i saw this change in staircases (from a ladder, though, not a spiral staircase) to a totally functional staircase and it makes me want to do that!  check out these before and after pics from here.

next apartment: a loft

i've been showing you some things around my apartment and what i would like to do with this place.  my lease is through august 2016, so i'm not going anywhere anytime soon.  and even then, i'm not sure i'd leave.  i love this apartment and the location.  but, i'm always on the lookout for cool places to live and i've found some really cool lofts from here.

i love how bright and open the photo above is.  is that a wood stove on the left?  i love it.  and a ladder to get to books on the top??  love.  the next one is cool - i'm always drawn to stairs and bookshelves.

and i think the next one is really the most my style, at least from a decor standpoint.

gallery wall: to do

one of the things i want to do in my apartment is make a gallery wall: a wall with lots of pictures of different styles, frames, shapes, etc.  i have the perfect place for it: my entryway.  here is the entryway as of march 2015.

as you can see, the only things on the wall are at the end of the hall, as seen here:

i want to COVER the walls with photos and art.

i have found some examples of gallery walls that i quite like.  check out these photos from here.

i actually like how the one above is kind of hap-hazard and unexpected.  the one below, i like because it covers the whole wall.

and this one looks haphazard, but i think its actually quite organized.  i love it.

this one is really cool because it goes over two walls - so creative!

i really want to do this with this area in my apartment.

you can't really tell, but there is a big curved wall to the left of the couch.  i want to cover it with something and then have it feed through to above the couch.

what do you think of gallery walls?

paris hotels - how fun!

paris is basically everywhere (i look) for decor and fun stuff.  its wild.  i'm constantly bumping in to things online about paris.  maybe its a sign i should move there. or maybe its just because i love it so much, it sticks out.  ha. so there is this hotel in paris where you can pay what you want. cool idea. i dont imagine i would ever stay there since i have friends in paris with whom i would stay, BUT its cool to get the word out AND i love the decor.

here is the hotel: Tour d'Auvergne, a three-star hotel in the city's Opera district, which is an amazing location!

and here are some cool rooms:

and more stairs!

its true, i love the stair.  many in a row is preferable.  stairs.

so this website has a list of 17 awesome staircases around the world.  here are some of my favorites - i've never seen ANY of these in person - MUST. GO.

in my next apartment...

so it appears that i will be moving in 2 months time. i need to commemorate my current apartment, but until then, i am going to begin collecting ideas for decor (which i have been doing all this time, but now i might have room to do things!).

i've been looking at furniture, because i will have to buy quite a bit of furniture for my next place and boy oh boy!  its expensive.  so i would like to get some used pieces to redo or bring to new life.  the only issue is, living in a city, there aren't many random garage sales where i can pick things up for cheap.  der.  and the consignment stores are actually quite expensive.

in any case, i would love to do this on something.  here is the aftermath, what i quite love, and what it was.

maybe some colored books? from here.

organizing - i LOVE it!!!!!!

the other day at work, i was talking about how i read a bernstein bears book to my nephew.  and my colleague said "i loved bernstein bears!  the messy room was my favorite!" and i was like "that's MY favorite, too!"  here is a picture of it.

my colleague said "there's the bulletin board - i love that!" and i do, too.  so, when i saw this post, i instantly loved it.  here is the before and the after.

click here for all the details.

and doesn't that closet remind you of the bernstein bears closet??

i LOVE this kitchen!

for some reason, kitchens are starting to become my favorite room in the house.  or, rather, favorite room to look at in OTHER people's houses. and favorite to think about what i could have some day.  i feel like if i had an amazing kitchen, i might want to cook more.  ha!  so i was blown away by this kitchen.  what do you think about it?  whats in your favorite kitchen?

if you want to see the "before" pictures, check them out here.

i. must. have.

but that could be dangerous.

and when i say "have" i am referring to this:

lest you think it's just another crazy ring i want to wear on my soft, delicate fingers, tell me this does not make it perfect for me:

1. it is called "Femme fatale" ring
2. it is from 1870 - umm... VINTAGE?
3. it only cost $11,350 at an auction
4. IT SHOOTS REAL BULLETS
5. IT SHOOTS REAL BULLETS

AMAZEBALLS.

i sent this to miss molly via email and said "I think i should own this, what do you think?" and here is her response.  which is perfect.

Lol was going to say yes absolutely but then saw price, but then saw it shoots real billets and arrived back at absolutely!!!! ;-) you're worth it! 

br ba

i love seeing fun art based on pop culture and fun things to creatively decorate your house with pop culture references that you love, but that are kind of hidden - just look like "random art" from far away.  and thats what this is.

found here.

how cool is that??

new years resolutions

so i'd like to make some new year's resolutions for my apartment and this blog and my art.  yes, i get that i am not posting this until january is almost over.  its still a new year compared to a month ago.  so there.

actually, they are more like goals.  yeah, these aren't resolutions.  goals.

goals

1. take nice photos of my place
2. put photos up on my blog
3. finish woman painting
4. redo art hung above tv (you'll see once i take pics of my place)
5. donate more stuff
6. set up wii
7. paint wine rack black (or some other color??? ooooo.  CRAZY idea!)
8. paint pictures for brothers
9. get some green in the house - most likely cacti  (ha! i thought cactii had to i's.  it does not)
10. declutter some more (although, to be fair to myself, i have done a TON of decluttering since moving here - i'm quite proud of myself)

here is a picture to tease you of my place:

that picture is actually SUPER old.  over a year. my place has changed a lot.  i love it.  i love all the changes.  you'll see soon.