Stuff Chrissa Loves

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2010-08-05T11:19:00.000-07:00

Thank you for following Stuff Chrissa Loves!

Please note that we have moved to a new location and still have the same great posts, just under a new name.

You can find Chrissa, and everything she loves, at

The Design Junkie

Things I love today

2010-06-23T10:46:00.001-07:00

I saw this glass drink pitcher and thought I owed it to you to share. Isn't it awesome? I love the spigot. You can get it right now at Target for only $9.99 (or $11.99, I forget, but it's still cheap)

I love these built-ins. I recently watched an episode of HGTV's Moving Up and the first thing the new owners did was tear out the same built-in cabinets. I thought they were out of their freaking minds. My great aunt had the same ones, with the insides painted a very pretty aqua blue and to this day I still think of them.

See that chandelier that appears to be a bunch of twigs held together? Well I love it, and I want to make one. I mean, I am going to make one. Somehow.

images via A Life's Design

It really makes me sad that this woman doesn't appear to be happy wearing this dress. Because you know if I was wearing it? Yeah, I'd be grinning my fool little face off. I.love.it.

SWOONS:

Of course these are Monique Lhuillier, which explains why I love them.

images via Beautiful Things To Share

Perhaps now that I have a sewing machine I can hit paydirt making this thing, because, is it not just the best?

To shop Artlab's Etsy store Click Me

I'm really into Kelly green these days.

Pillow(s) from Jessica Nielsen from Envelope, via Bloesem

I can't figure out how to make it work in my own home right now though, because I really only have 3 rooms. Even though the kitchen, dining, living room and office have their own rather distinct space, they're still in the same room as far as visual congruency is concerned.

I pretty much have to have this aqua pillow with the birdies on it. If I don't get it, I might cry or die and that would be sad.

Pillows by Skinny Laminx

WANT:

via Caitlin Creer Interiors

This week is crazy busy with projects, painting and the usual stuff that I can't seem to get enough of. What's inspiring you these days? Feel free to answer with a link to your favorite blog or image. We love blogs and images around here.

Wishing you vintage white chippy paint

via A Beach Cottage

Obsessed with yellow

2010-06-21T19:43:00.000-07:00

Your emails have been so sweet and encouraging! Thank you so much. I'm still working on my bedroom redesign project, but since it's not done, I figured I'd share some eye candy inspired by my "new" bedroom's colors. I can't wait to show you guys.

via A Life's Design

via A Life's Design from House Beautiful

This room shouldn't be a shocker. I saw it on a few blogs now and each time I see it I smile as I would seeing an old friend. I love the brightness of this room and how the space just invites clear and creative thinking. Oh, and I don't hate the yellow either ;)

I also blame this lamp:

via Absolutely Beautiful Things

(My obsession with mixing in splashes of hot pink might be traced back to this post as well)

image via The Designer's Attic

How happy and calm is this room? It's missing a lot of color that I need, and I would prefer aqua to the beige, but not everyone is into such dramatic colors. This is a nice way to take a very relaxing and safe room, and pop in with this bold splashes of yellow . I love the fabric on the linen shades and how lovely it contrasts with the bold stripes of the pillows.

Man, if I only has $150 (a yard!) for that fabric on the windows. Hah!

image via The Designer's Attic

I don't think there's anyone here (that knows me anyway) that doesn't know what I am in love with in this photo. Like, holy crap my pants I love it so much!

I'm also going to have to have one or two of these:

images via Casasugar

image from Shirae's Shop on Etsy

Does she remind you of anyone? ;)

xo,

Chrissa

Okay, Okay, I'll give you a hint: A glimpse into my new living room

2010-06-16T21:21:00.000-07:00

I have been working on how/what to do with my living room (well, all the rooms, but I'm starting there). Although I have been getting some private furniture commission work coming in (Yay!), I'm really not doing too much in the way of design jobs. And really, what do I have to show anyone in respect to my work anyway? So I thought I should start at home. Besides, after I saw this certain episode of Color Splash in which David turned this dark, ugly, nearly unfinished basement den into a "Yaht Club Themed Sensation", I've wanted to come close to the same thing.

I was just going to wait until I was completely finished to even talk about it, then post before and afters and include some inspiration photos. But you know me, I can't keep a secret very well. I get too damn excited. I was so happy with how my bedside table came out, I just HAD to blab about it. But seriously now, I'm keep the rest under wraps. Really. I mean it this time. (Hahaha...)

For lack of better photos to show you of my living room, I share these with you but keep the judgy down to a dull roar. Yes, my Christmas decorations are too busy. Yes the window treatments need an overhaul-it's on the list, and I could list 20 other flaws that I instantly see, we're going to ignore all that. The only thing you're taking away from these photos:

My couch is white
My dog is black
My kid is active
My yard is 3 acres with dirt in it
My garden is massive (which means dirt)
My house has sand dunes across the road

You do the math.

The before living room:

(You get the idea)

For those of you that aren't in the white slip cover club, you're going to want to ask me why I didn't think that white would be hard to keep clean. Well, don't do that. It's not even necessary because I already have the sane reasoning on the ready:

Because I could just take the slipcovers off and wash them! (Every other freaking day)
Because white is so pretty and refreshing! (Sure, when it's white. And even then it gets old)
Because I'm so smart and won't listen to anyone (We've hit the zinger here folks)

Then enters David Bromstad into my life.--->

Dear Lord,

Why does David Bromstad have to be gay? I mean, first Nate Berkus, now David, can't you let me fall in love with a straight guy that loves interior design?

Lovelorn, Chrissa

Dear Chrissa,

Hahahahahaah. You're cute.

Peaceout, God.

I totally fell in love with this one room he did. Well, okay, it wasn't a room, it was an entire lower-level den. Navy walls, white wing back chairs, mirrored coffee tables, yellow lucite chairs, navy couch, yellow flowers, ottomans and lamps. It was just crazy inspiring. After searching for days on the web, I finally got off my lazy butt and snatched up screen shots by pausing frames on Hulu. I know, so original, right? ::rolls eyes::

Don't you just love it?

I'm putting my own spin on things. Which means turquoise, duh. The table that I finished isn't even for this room, it's for my bedroom, but I'll share it anyway, you know, to keep you coming back for more.

I think there was a 110% improvement, but then again, I am hella biased because I dig this yellow in such a yoooj way.

Unlike my kid:

B: "So I've noticed a lot of yellow trim and accents lately. I take it your about to redo everything?"
Me: "Very observant. Yes, I'm redesigning my bedroom and the living room and using a lot of yellow accents. It's my new second favorite color"
B: "Yeah, I noticed, about that. Yellow is the color of the glare in a monster's eye. Which means I think it's ugly. Can you not keep using so much of it?"

Alright, that's all I got for now. I'll keep you posted.

Waiting and wishing...

2010-06-12T19:13:00.000-07:00

(Or wishing while waiting, depending on how you choose to look at it)

How have you all been?

I've been quite busy, though, I suspect no busier than anyone else these days. It seems that's just the trend, or at least in my inner circle it is anyway. More often than not I find myself saying to my best friend, "I'm finding it hard to concentrate on most things because I'm so obsessed with all of the projects I could be making at home right now", to which I usually get an enthusiastic, "I know, right?!". I am surrounded by people with giant-sized ideas, gargantuan buckets of creativity and motivation that rivals Texas. I have often wondered if it's just a shocking coincidence that we're all drawn to each other, or if we just pick up on one another's creative energy making us all more thought-productive as a whole? Because I'll tell you what, the ideas? They've been a poppin'.

I have a few blogs I've been working on (finally!!) as I've gotten quite a few furniture projects finished, even a few private commissions under my belt (like a REAL designer!) and lately I have developed a lamp obsession. As a brief kinda-but-not-really sidebar, I have wanted a mantle (real fireplace optional) since, well, my last condo two years ago that had one. I want one pretty much like this:

image via Country Living

I really.really.really want one. I think that not only do they add character, but also give depth, dimension and I love the 3D aspect of design in a room. It tells a story. Not to mention, depending on the time of year, it can give you so many more options when it comes to decorating.

This Winter I found this mantle that had serious potential at the Ann Arbor Habitat for Humanity ReStore. It was sitting there for at least a month or so beckoning to me from it's $200 sticker price. Now, normally I have no problem begging a lower price out of someone, even a charitable organization. Heck, I'm not exactly a non-charity at this point myself, not to mention, I'm a scoundrel. I have no shame. So finally, I broke down and asked if they would consider dropping the price -which was pretty ballsy considering they flat-out tell you prices aren't negotiable. Literally. See what I mean:

But I did. And hell if Jackie (The ReStore's Queen Bee) didn't counter offer me my mantle for $100. Stupid.Stupid.Stupid. I shake my head at myself as I type this. You can guess where this story is going.

I never bought it. I was broke (which is more my constant than Desmond Hume) and made excuses about what a frivolous purchase it was, that a large decoration shouldn't cost that much unless it incorporated some form of necessary utility and various other dumb things we say when we talk ourselves our out of something we really want. In retrospect, it totally would've been worth my eating Ramen for a month. By now that overly salty nastiness would be just a vague memory and I'd be staring at my mantle with it's well preserved Hydrangea Snowball arrangement nestled in the hearth. But no.

However, thanks to the glory hole that is Facebook, you can see what I missed out on. As luck would have it, when I added A2 HFHR, they had a photo of it. So now, there's photographic evidence of how stupid I can be:

::: Siiiiigh :::

I've been really digging a blog I found through (House of Turquoise?) called The Magic Brush. She's far more daring and expressive with finishes and darker colors than I am, but it's been very educational and I need to know a lot of the techniques she uses for future commissions. This woman seems to follow my rule of thumb for the most part, if it's brown, sand it down.

See what I mean?

Whereas, my other new stalk, Life in the Fun Lane (again, I'll blame HOT for this-in fact, when in doubt, assume pretty much everything I'm obsessed with is Erin's fault), seems to live by the rule, "If it's not white, then it should be". She has an extensive before and after section of her blog that I ogled for quite some time. To those of you that mock my white obsession, you'll be pleased to know that I'm now in a yellow phase. More on that laters.

Check out this awesomeness:

I love the look of this. I have been obsessed with card catalogs lately, and if I could afford them, I'd be cranking em' out like it was my job. Wait. I totally wish cranking them out was my job. I love the idea of the drawer labels. What a classy way for me to label Blake's dresser drawers. My next goal is to replicate this as soon as possible.

I love this image from A Life's Design:

That painting is to die for. I want one just like it only of a characture of myself. Yes, I said myself. Wha? (Sharri-Bean, can I has it?!)

And the table? Oh, for the love of goodness.

I love this window over the kitchen sink in the Souther Living post. The rest of the kitchen is pretty snazzy as well.

oooh....ahhhhh...

Waking up and making tea or coffee in front of such a light, sunny space? Heck, I might even be compelled to do dishes in it. (Yeah, yeah, who am I kidding? BUT-I would totally load a dishwasher).

If you've hiding under a large set of fluffy pillows for the past six months, you might've missed the onslaught of some really great typography posters that have followed in the footsteps of our "KEEP CALM & CARRY ON" friends. I have several favorites but topping that list:

Live What You Love print by one of my favorite Etsy Letterpress stores, Hijirik Studios .

Ineedsit. If you think I need it before I can get around to buying it, feel free to ask me for my address. Hah! I kill me, I really do.

Annnnd...I've been busy with my own photos and design projects.

After countless supportive emails from friends demanding that I do so, I finally began adding my photographs to my Etsy account. I've been showcased in a few treasuries already, entered some contests and I have to admit, it's an exciting and surprising rush every time. The idea that someone would like my stuff, things that I see with my own eyes and just fall in love with, well, it's pretty neat.

As for what else I have going on, I'll give you some hints: Yellow, Turquoise, Navy, Gray and White :)

For some clues:

I have a hot date with tomorrow. I'm inviting over my friend, Gorilla Glue, who is such a sexy beast, and some other hotties that can be rather abrasive, but I still love them anyway. I really know how to party. I can't WAIT

xo, Chrissa

Oh, what I wouldn't do with a lot of time and a little bit of money

2010-03-24T16:02:00.000-07:00

Okay, so maybe not just a little bit of money...I'd need enough to buy a house, some paint and hopefully have an operating nest egg to fund all of my thrifting. In the meantime, I guess I can settle for refinishing free finds I abscond and living vicariously through the 200+ design blogs I am obsessed with.

This week I've been stuck at home pretty much most of the time nursing the worst case of allergies ever. That, coupled with having left my cell phone charger at my cousin's house that lives a few hours north, has kept me pretty much on the DL for days. Don't worry though, my time hasn't been idly wasted, I've been putting Blake's old toys up on eBay, doing (a little bit of) laundry and surfing blogs while I watch countless episodes of Moving Up, Designed to Sell and Color Splash (if David Bromstad wasn't gay, I would so kidnap him and keep him locked in my house until he succumbed to my feminine wiles, I'm just saying).

Today's favorites:

I love this room. I’d love it so much more with paint on the walls. Say, turquoise for instance:

image via BHG

What a perfect little breakfast nook. All that light! The turquoise French doors have me squirming in my seat.

I’d love the floor if it were blue, but what really gets me about this space is the view. I love the tree outside the window (is that a willow, cypress?). I would be so content to retreat to this space to drink tea and read a good book.

I am terribly in love with this bed, and have been looking for an old fireplace mantle since I first saw this in print form. I found one last year at the Habaitat for Humanity ReStore, but they wanted $200 for it and I refused to allow myself to spend that.

And the letters? Love.

(Do I regret not busting out that $200 now? Yes. Yes, I do.)

Images via BHG

I totally love the idea highlighted in Coastal Living linked from The Estate of Things. I would absolutely love to use this washbin idea in a kids bath or in a garden sink corner (yes, I want an outdoor working sink in the back of my dream house by the gardening area so I can wash my hands constantly without having to go inside). - side bar, I had to correct the word "sink" in this entire post because I posted it as "sick". Freudian?

Image via The Estate of Things

I would have never thought to use these colors together but I absolutely love it. They’re really uplifting

Image via Cote De Texas

I interrupt this blog to talk about how much I LOVE this look:

Image via Wifestyle Files

I am in LOVE with this bathroom mirror anchored by these beautiful windows with such a magnificent view. I really, really want it. Kind of bad.

Image via Wifestyle Files

I loooove the use of these mounts. The sheds make me swoon. One of them will become quite relevant in future posts:

I am in LOVE with this home office:

Image via Made By Girl

You know, the more design aspects I find and fall in love with, the more I worry that it will keep me from ever really being happy without having everything I want. I get so excited by something that catches my eye, but then with equal fervor, I WANT IT!!

For now though, I am content working on my own home's current redesign. I hope to be "done" soon (is there ever really such a thing as done?) and I'll post photos. I've gotten several pieces refinished so I have a lot of projects to show off.

Chrome and wishlists make me swoon.

2010-03-09T13:57:00.000-08:00

I swear on all that is good and holy that Google reads my mind (which delves into how I think they're going to take over the world, but I'll not get into that now). Day after day I'm trolling along the interwebs loving this and that, coveting and wishing things were mine and besides adding a bazillion bookmarks, there's been no good way of keeping track of all this goodness.

Then last week some of the eye candy offered to me via Everythings Turquoise has me on Amazon and it's asking me, "Would you like me to add this to your wishlist?"

Why yes. Yes I would.

"Would you like to add anything and everything you see and love online to your wishlist? For like ever and ever?"

Hells yeah!

Then you get this cute little icon for your browser and anytime you see anything you love pretty much anywhere (Helllllllo Etsy!), you just click that little A)

*Please note, this feature is only presently for Chrome users. Chrome doesn't support the Farmville toolbar so you might want to consider that prior to install *winks*

Now I have this nice list of all the "I WANT! I WANT! I WANTS!"

(And added bonus? The next time someone asks me for a wishlist, I can just be all, "Amazon me, baby.")

Quick, someone give me a ladder.

2010-03-09T07:35:00.000-08:00

Rose Tarlow isn't really up my alley. She's very rustic and into browns and more earthy elements (I can't decide if I love or hate the ivy on the walls in these shots), however, I adore her furniture choices. The slip covered chairs and sofas, the bookshelves and of course, the tables.

But what I especially love (in any interior designer for that matter) is taking something constructed for one purpose, but then using it for another (better) one.

The bamboo ladder? Love.Love.Love it.

image via Cote de Texas

I want to find an old farm ladder to repaint and ding up as I see fit and hang my design mags from it. I get all excitedy just thinking about it.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall...you're the fairest of them all

2010-03-03T11:04:00.000-08:00

I think perhaps the most likely culprit of my fascination (and fanaticism) with mirrors is Lewis Carroll. I have always had a vivid imagination, however, after first reading Alice in Wonderland in the fourth grade, and subsequently Through the Looking Glass, I became absolutely transfixed by the idea of mirrors and the worlds they could be harboring and the endless passages behind them that could take me any where I dreamed of going. I attribute this also to my significant affection for mirrors over fireplace mantles, you know, since that's where Alice's was.

The idea that a reflection could contain an entire other world was enthralling to me, and though, it was only a story, the metaphor was completely tangible. Upon the reflection of a mirror, you are truly able to see another place. Now, in most cases that place is right behind you, but the thought is still the same. It’s a wall with a window to the rest of the world around you.

I love how a mirror can deepen a room, give it life, texture…and even the semblance of more space.

Take a white room for instance. You can have a totally white room but you can also have a mirror that reflects the colors outside, making an interchangeable focal point that never gets old, since it’s objects are constantly changing with the time of day.

via Design Sponge Online

Clicking that link cost me $100 because the mirror on the bottom left? The Audrey? I have to have it.

via Shelter

I love how this mirror gives so much height to this table, but the balance of the lamps and their reflection perfectly balances them together.

I love these lamps. I’ve wanted them for some time now but they’re so freaking expensive. I thought about getting some cheapies and spray painting them chrome..and I might just have to do that. In the meantime, I'll covet them softly.

via A Perfect Gray

This room seems very dark, but the white accents and mirror off-balance the gray perfectly.

via Absolutely Beautiful Things

Sidebar: That sofa? I has to have it. I need it. It needs me, I can hear it, "Chrisssssa, I need you"

via Brabourne Farm

The mirrors in this room seem like hallways that go on for an eternity.

via COTE DE TEXAS

I really love this room, I am sure mostly because of the prerequisite white, slip-covered couch, but I also love the plates and feedbag pillows. I plan to make some of my own just as soon as I have time. They’re so durable. I am sure that my being a devoted COTE DE TEXAS fan has absolutely no relevance here either *looks around*

via Desire to Inspire

What a fantastically great room this is. I love how perfectly the mirror matches the chair backs.

via Desire to Inspire

This room is so sweet and lovely. The little mirror over the bed is so adorable, but in this delicate room, so grounding as well.

via Desire to Inspire

The bedside mirror so perfectly fits the nautical themed room with all of its porthole goodness. The one thing that I always find the most charming is that with Interior Designers, nothing is ever an accident, every detail is well thought out decision.

Sidebar: Notice the bed? In case this is your first glimpse, it's all the rage with kids these days. See what I mean?

Damn my affinity for white couches.

2010-03-02T12:27:00.000-08:00

I blame the internet for my infatuation with white couches. Well, my infatuation with white everything to be more succinct. I tried to rationalize that because my own white couch is slipcovered, it was a very sound idea. I could just remove the cover whenever it got dirty, throw it in the wash and the put it back on, like a pretty couch dress.

Except.

I have a dog. With black hair.

I also have a son. With real feet, that walk through real grass.

So to hell with that idea.

This is my couch when I first got it (notice the bare living room and empty fish tank? Refrain from judging because I had just got those as well):

I am going to have my cover dyed gray soon.

One of my favorite blogs, Decorology, has a nice pile of couch candy for your viewing pleasure:

All images via Decorology

Is it any wonder that I am washing my stupid, pretty white couch twice a week?

My first post, an ode to Turquoise.

2010-03-02T11:02:00.000-08:00

First, I think it's fitting that my first post should warn any trespassers of my horrible propensity for procrastinating. I can be very, very good at it. Which is very, very bad (especially when people are waiting for you to post or write things), usually though, it's for a reason.

Like finishing my website for instance.

Every time I started to just make it, I would get so flustered at what to call it that I couldn't just make something. I wanted my design posts to somehow align with my word stuffs posts and my Etsy shop. How to do this without it sounding contrived and cheesy was very hard for me. So. I think I figured out how to do it;

Stuff Chrissa Loves
Stuff Chrissa Says
Stuff Chrissa Makes

Doneskies.

I find it only fitting that my very first post is dedicated to celebrating my favorite blog this year, House of Turquoise. Nearly every morning Erin treats me with white washed and slipcovered eye candy that makes me swoon more than I worry any man might be able. When I fantasize, it's about aqua painted hardwood floors.

Perhaps I should worry about this obsession, but considering it's free and it makes me happy, I've decide to share it instead. After all, good taste is contagious.

xo,
Chrissa

Both images via House of Turquoise