Queens Crossing

Two Dresses Rona Chang

Have you noticed that I've been blogging up a storm lately? I'm not quite sure what this is fueled by since I feel like I only have an audience of five. My number one reader and faithful commenter is Nina. (Thx for the support Nina!) For those who visit and don't comment, feel free to drop me a line and say hi.

I've been slowly getting back to my blog reading, which means being reattached to the hip with Apartment Therapy since they have a gazillion great interior design posts with loads of pics. It is exactly what I need now that I'm gathering inspiration for THE apartment. While I was on AT Friday, I saw a link for an awesome Ikea dresser hack. I wandered into the blog for me, for you written by the brilliant Ikea hacker, Kate Miss. I started reading her blog, I was drawn in as I always am by (food) the awesome pics of her mini pumpkin pies. Half an hour and several clicks later, I was completely hooked on for me, for you. And lucky me, I realized that I was going to the same open studios in Flushing that Kate Miss was making those mini pies for! Ooh baby!

I got to check out my friend Lisa's awesome (I overuse this word, I know) new paintings and her video and we all had some pie. I actually had the apple pie which was yummy. I wanted the pumpkin too but I didn't want to be too greedy. It was a fantastic rainy Friday night.

Setting up home and dreaming of dogs

Basket Making Workshop Rona Chang

While setting up home I've been dreaming of having a dog. Really dreaming. Last week I dreamed that I had a German Shepherd name Papa. In my dream his name was pronounced in a very French way. I have no idea where the name came from since that would not be my first choice. Though that's the kind of dog I really want. I've expressed it here before. I just don't think now is the right time, you know, moving and all. So last week, when I was perusing the "free" section of craigslist I found two weimaraners up for adoption. They are my second choice for dogs. I really wished I lived near a big park. Then I would instantaneously make the commitment. As of now I'll keep dreaming.

Gathering Supplies

Basket Making Supplies Rona Chang

I'm in the process of rereading and re-bookmarking all of my Domino magazines for apartment inspiration. I need all the inspiration I can get my hands on. I'm wondering if there's another interior mag I should subscribe to. I never go to the magazine store, so I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations. Nothing high-end, something like how Domino was approachable with a mix of styles and budgets. Maybe Real Simple? I already get Martha Stewart which is great but not exactly my style of decor. I like the style of the homes in Dwell but I'm not entirely smitten by the magazine. It's slightly cold for me. Has anyone read Living, Etc.? I've never flipped through it so I'm wondering if I should go look at a copy. What do you read for design inspiration?

THE Apartment

Ok, here's what I'm working with- my memory and these photos of the apartment I'm purchasing. Disclaimer: This is not my furniture or my apartment, yet.

The large foyer as you enter the apartment. There are three closets. No windows. It's fairly large (17.5' x 8'). I'm currently debating putting my (large) workstation to the left and hiding it with a tailored curtain when I'm not on the computer. I need a dark space to work in and this space is almost otherwise awkward. Any thoughts?


The living room.


Second view of living room.


The galley kitchen. I'm (crossing my fingers) hoping to redo the kitchen. It's made of of stand alone Ikea units and old cabinetry right now. My inspiration and idea is to have a white kitchen with a butcher block countertop and accenting the shelves with all the Orla Kiely kitchen stuff I got from Target this past Spring.


Bedroom. The major reason I picked this apartment: the bedroom faces the interior of the building. No more street noise. My ears have gotten too sensitive.


The hallway to the bathroom. Two closets = his + hers!


The bathroom. I'd love to redo the bathroom but this might have to wait. It's functional.

Gray, White, Wood and Red

Wood Rona Chang

Sooo, I've been thinking about renovating the new apartment to be. It'll be three more weeks until I close and can get in and make actual measurements. It's been half a year since I've been inside the apartment. I took some photos but not enough. I have some room measurements that we made when we tried to figure out the square footage of the apartment but I don't have a floor plan. It's a bit frustrating this whole process is taking such a looong time. Good thing I was distracted and living in Mass. for most of the time.


Angled Wood Rona Chang

These photos are exteriors of barns from Hancock Shaker Village which has been a huge design inspiration. I'm dreaming of redoing the floors in a herringbone pattern or just an angled pattern but in reality, I need to get into the apartment and see if the parquet floors need to be redone. My recollection is that they are fairly scuffed up, but maybe they really aren't and I don't need to spend a ton of time and energy to redo the floors.


Red, White Rona Chang

While I will be on a budget, the one renovation I know I can afford is to repaint the whole apartment. It's now in hideous colors of puke (I'll post some photos to demonstrate). It's a darker apartment than the current one I'm in. It's on a lower floor and has less windows. I want to brighten the whole place up. So going back to yesterday's post about wanting to be Scandinavian- I really am going to pursue that wholeheartedly. I want to paint just about everything white. But I am thinking about dark grey- charcoal grey with red, a mustardy yellow, and a medium colored wood as accent colors with bits of neutral colors like flax and heather thrown in.

We have a great long yellow couch from the 50's that's sitting in P'burg right now that will be making the move into the new place. I'm thinking of pairing it with that rich charcoal grey wall I'm dreaming of, along with my Poul Cadovius shelving. We also have a flokati rug that I may or may not lay down. It does seem a bit hairy to upkeep. I guess we'll decide on that when we get a good vacuum cleaner.

I guess I'm just putting together some ideas for now and will figure it out slowly as we go along. I plan on doing all of this reno on a budget and green by getting as many of my supplies as possible from Build it Green NYC. I think lots and lots of apartment posts will be forthcoming.

Bedroom

Bedroom Rona Chang

Yellow, Red, and Blue

I will start sharing some newly scanned Breathing In photos again. This week and maybe next will feature some images from my favorite domestic inspiration from this past summer, when I lived in Massachusetts- Hancock Shaker Village.


Yellow, Red, and Blue Rona Chang

Oh how I wanted a huge stash of these oval boxes.

Domestic

As someone whose favorite shelter magazine (Domino) shut down many months ago, I had been saddened and at a loss for a replacement. While reading some older entries of design*sponge yesterday (I'm pretty behind on all of my blog readings and postings), I discovered (or was pointed to) the new online mag, Lonny. While having an online magazine is not nearly as satisfying as a physical one, the content of Lonny in quality is right up there with what Domino used to be (and basically put together by just 4 talented people). Lonny was started by those who worked on Domino and has contributors and interviews from Domino associates, so it has made me one happy reader.

I'm also super psyched that design*sponge is slated to come out with a book later this month with a bunch of DIY ideas and house tours. And all this leads to a minor announcement: I passed the co-op board! I am purchasing a co-op in Jackson Heights next month so I'm super excited to gather ideas and embark on a domestic journey.

A big shipment

My life is a bit hectic right now. I just receieved five huge boxes of good stuff yesterday afternoon. Here are some photos of the chaos at home.





We were up to our earfuls in bubble wrap, peanuts and foam. (We are going to try and reuse as much of it as possible. We've already recycled the cardboard boxes.)



Here are the goods, unwrapped, and safe.





The last two photos are shots of where the new stuff is going to go. Right now I have to climb into bed because everything has been displaced. I'm hoping to have this resolved before the weekend. More photos and details soon.

Hooks

I first saw these hooks in my friend Randy's bathroom. He makes them himself. If you want some and are not as handy as Randy, you can find it on Live Wire Farm. If I had a cabin in the woods, my decor would definitely go in this direction.

(images from Live Wire Farm)

Nakashima-esque DIY Table

I saw this DIY table (instructions are included) on Casa Sugar a while back and am totally wowed. I want one! (except I don't have the elbow grease!)

(photos from Casa Sugar)

The Nonchalant Mom

The June issue of Domino Magazine features the RI home of Carina Schott of Nonchalant Mom (I will have to shop here as soon as I produce some kids). Oh my! I want to pack up and move to Rhode Island, right away, right into her house! They have a great modernist house, good light, outdoor space, and most importantly, a POOL! It's to die for. . . Check out the tour right here.

(photos from Domino Magazine by Melanie Acevedo)

The weight of Martha Stewart

This morning, the center shelf of my Ikea LACK bookcase collapsed. I guess it was the weight of all my Martha Stewart Magazines. Then I saw the Wiz Wharton Sneak Peak on Design Sponge and fell in love with the various vintage shelving systems she has in her home.

Weber from Denmark


Poul Cadovius Royal Shelving System


What should I do? (I've already emailed IKEA to see if I can get a replacement shelf instead of having to purchase another bookcase.) If I have to buy something else, I'd love to get something like Wiz'.

(images from Design Sponge)

Repurposing

Dahne and were talking about using old sailcloth (she's a sailor) to make bags and as a material for other possible projects. This shower curtain is a neat idea for repurposing sturdy sailcloth. Havana Outpost, where I ate on Sunday, uses sailcloth to cover their benches in the indoor seating area.

(product shots from Ella Vickers)

Something for Mom

My sister and I bought my Mom the Megan carpet from Madeline Weinrib from the sample sale at ABC Carpet last week. I'll photograph it in the living room soon (when I clean up the surrounding area I suspect).

(image from Madeline Weinrib, the one I got is more mustard colored.)

I must be sick

One day last week, I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about all the designer chairs I'd like to have in my home and couldn't fall back asleep for hours. The womb chair is on the top of that list.

(image from Clinton Kelly's home on Apartment Therapy Chicago)

I covet this map

I saw this map on Absolutely Beatiful Things today and now I really, really want it. Plus my Mum and I talked about getting a map for the living room just yesterday.

(image from Absolutely Beatiful Things.)

DIY Wednesdays are a hit with me

Design Sponge has a new look and a new feature: DIY Wednesdays, which I love. This week's fridge facelift is really easy and fun!

(photo via Design Sponge)

Sneak Peak at Design Sponge's home

Check out the new Design Sponge website and the sneak peak into her Brooklyn home. I am totally drooling over the Madeline Weinrib rugs...

(photo from Design Sponge)

Framed wallpaper

I spotted this photo on Decor8 a couple of days ago and I love the idea of framing the Cole and Son's Cow Parsley wallpaper. This yellow is so lovely, it would go well in my room... I also think the pompoms on the pillows are fab.

(image from Decor8)