I just love this cool California kitchen of designer Tobi Tobin. So often the kitchen featured in magazines and blogs are the beautiful but fancy versions with shiny stainless steel and fresh white subway tile - which I do adore but this bohemian kitchen and dining area are a wonderful alternative! Plus there are some really great styling tips here for those of us with older kitchens or in a rental apartment.

{1} Bring in antique or vintage pieces - it gives any space more interest! I love this collection of mirrors, hats and seaside objects over the stove

{2} Add softer lighting - a small table lamp, like this black wooden one, makes the whole space feel warmer and lets you turn off the overheads if their florescent light is too harsh!

{3} Use trays to separate your counter space into different zones - here there is one for silverware and one used as a mini-bar

A view like this does not hurt either! So pretty!

{via Lonny - visit here, the whole issue is fabulous!}

Find of the Week: Olsen Vintage Market

Just one more reason why I loooove Etsy - wonderful and unique vintage decor shops! This one is base in Minnesota and I love the edited selection at Olsen Vintage Market, they have lovely and quirky pieces and so many under $50. Their mix of mid century mod and 1920s charm results in some real decorative gems! Here are my favorites. . . .

I particularly love the silver scalloped bowl and these vintage mod glasses.

Anything catch your eye? Visit them to see more at their Etsy shop! 

E-Decorating: London Picks

As I mentioned yesterday, I have had a great time working on a e-decoration project for my friend K in London. As I usually work with American sources it was a bit of a challenge but I loved discovering all the fun British options and got quite sidetracked reading British blogs and design mags! It was especially great to work with the H&M home line!  It has been available in Europe since 2009 and is launching in the US this spring and is full of lovely and really affordable pieces and I found lots of great accessories for K's living room there. 

So here is what I came up with. . . I love layering different textures and materials to create beautiful and interesting interiors and worked with a palette of rich indigos and warm neutrals.

{Design Board A}

{Design Board B}

{The floorplan}

I would love to help you with your design dilemas too - just drop me a line! 

XOXO

E-Decorating: London Town

This past month I was so excited to get work on an e-decorating project for my friend K in London! 

Here is the before - the apartment has great bones and is so charming, I love the fireplace and those columns. K just needed some help with accessories, lighting, rugs and pillows {my favorite part of the process always!} and pulling it all together.

And here are my inspirations for layout, color and bookcases - as you can see there is lots of shelving and she wanted some advice on styling. K loves blues so we decided to layer up on the indigos, soft blues and warm neutrals.

I had so much fun working on this project. . .  More to come tomorrow! 

Have a Colorful Personality!

I spotted this wonderful color-scope chart on 7th House and thought it was just so fun! I am color obsessed and love to think about how color can impact us. So which color best describes you? 

House Tour: A Graceful Studio

I am crazy about pretty much every detail of this colorful and charming studio apartment. I think living well and gracefully in a small space is an art - one I have had plenty of time to practice through all our years of city living!

Why it works so well:

{1} Multi-tasking pieces - I love the vanity that doubles as a bedside table! 

{2} Versatile, small scale furniture - the bench under the window, small round tables and side chairs can be moved around the space as needed!

{3} A wonderful mix of textures - even though its a small space, there are so many layers of pattern and different materials; shine, natural woods, thin stripes, bold florals . . . 

Happy Friday Everyone!

{via}

E-Decorating: Stylish Starts!

I am so happy to say lately I have busy with some new local and e-design clients, and I just adore the process of helping someone bring together an interior that reflects their own personal style. I created these 9 style concepts which I love to use as a jumping off point! It's so interesting to see what everyone picks as the one or two they are drawn to the most. 

Which ones capture your personal style the best? 

{Martha's Vineyard}

{Soho}

{Barcelona}

{Upper East Side}

 {Oxfordshire}

{Santa Barbara}

{Aix-en-Provance}

{ Aspen Park}

{West Village}

I named the style concepts after some of my favorite destinations and some I am still hoping to visit! My personal style is a combo of West Village, Martha's Vineyard and Barcelona . . . but I kind of love them all!

If you have any design dilemas I would love to hear from you, just email or visit AllisonEgan.com! 

XOXO

Color Combo: Aqua + Gold

I was so pleasantly surprised when I came across this lovely library. I would not imagine this color combo to work but it does! The mid century mod pieces and golden wheat color are a throw back to the 1960s but the aqua tones, bold art, and eclectic accessories bring it beautifully into the present! So serene and sophisticated I think. 

Does this color combo work for you? 

{via House to Home}

Affordable Art: Framed Wallpaper

After posting on beautiful framed marbleized wrapping paper, I began to spot other affordable art solutions. Wallpaper panels or extra cuttings frame perfectly and can be an amazing source of color and graphic pattern! It's a brilliant way to enjoy a small dose of an otherwise overwhelming print and is really easy to do on your own. Here are some inspirations - I adore the one above, it's so luxe looking!

This last shot is of the charming NYC restaurant the Tipsy Parson. What a lovely effect, that bold red paper brings the whole space to life! 

{via 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9}