Inspiration 7.30

Via Smoke & Ochre

Inspiration 6.10

(Source unknown)

'Wish You Were Here' Wall

In the same vein as today's inspiration post, I am loving this more informal take on the gallery wall from Poppytalk. This wall features vintage postcards and polaroids taped to the wall with candy-colored masking tape. LOVE it. A great how-to here.

Inspiration 6.7

While we're on the topic of flea market paintings, I love the wall-to-wall coverage shown here. What I'm not loving is all of the orange -- it's just not my color. I do think its a nice, buttery shade of it for those of you who love it.

By the way, LOVED all of the great responses to the question below about whether or not I should buy the painting. Here's the new plan. I'll go to Paris and shop away, upon returning I'll purchase the painting on three conditions:

• It's still available
• I didn't find a better replacement in France
• I am not completely bankrupt upon my return

I'm thinking that if it meets all three conditions, it will feel like kismet.

Inspiration 6.3

Loving flea market paintings against white beadboard, open windows, salty air...

Images from Country Living, Pottery Barn, Marie Claire Maison

Inspiration 4.22

LOVE the portraits above and behind the garments in this closet. Very cool and elevates the clothes to "art status," don't you think?

via Atelier Abigail Ahern

Inspiration 4.9

Via Habitually Chic

Inspiration 4.7

Love the art placement here...

P.S. How crazy is this heat wave, DCers? My building has yet to turn on the AC, and I'm pretty sure I'm losing three pounds of water every night. Ick.

UPDATE: I incorrectly cited this from Martha Stewart Living. It is, in fact, from the always excellent Canadian House and Home. (May 2008)

Inspiration 1.08

(Robin Bell)

Trendwatch: Art-filled Bathrooms

It's the time of year when we're all making predictions about what's next, and I'm wondering if 2010 will be the end of the immaculate spa-style bathroom. In many ways, I do think we're going to see a lot less of the 4-star hotel look, and that even wealthier homeowners will keep the amenities but skip the modern and sterile style to incorporate a look more reflective of their own taste, be it high glam or country home. But who has that kind of money right now?

Most of us are going to have to figure out a way to work with existing fixtures and cabinets, and style the bathroom the best we can. That's why I think artful bathrooms like these from Marie Claire Maison will be huge this year. Tons of frames and art distract from a less than stellar paint job, showcase your personality and make good use of all the less precious art you've accumulated from flea markets and Etsy. A lot of these rooms scream "la vie boheme", but I don't think that's all this look can amount to. A more uniform selection of black and white photography en masse against a dark high-gloss paint could look super-chic and one huge, couch-size piece over a tub makes a huge statement.

If you do decide you want to give your bathroom a quickie makeover like this, the only caveat is making sure the room is well-ventilated, and no matter what, don't place anything that comes close to an heirloom status in your bathroom.