Happy New Year!

I won't be posting tomorrow so I wanted to wish you all happy New Year!

Be safe and may you have good health and fortune in 2010!

Things We Love December Recap

Meg's Pan 12/10/09

Thiara's Kermit 12/17/09

If you have something you love and want to share it, add it to the flickr pool or send me and email.

House Tour Favorites

While I like every home that is featured in the House Tours there are some that I drool over, I could see myself living in and that I am envious of.

Since the year is over I want to share my personal favorite top four House Tours. I narrowed it down to four because, well, I had to stop myself somewhere!

Shauna and Stephen 1/12/09

Katja and Minna 6/1/09

Amanda 6/15/09

Steven and Meredith 11/16/09

all photos courtesy of homeowners

House Tour December Recap

Mirjam 12/7/09

Bram D. 12/14/09

If you would like your home featured in a House Tour, add it to the flickr pool or send me an email.

Merry Christmas!

(Yes, the picture is intentionally ironic)

Today is the last day I will post this week.

Next week will be another half week for me, I will post some and take the end of the week off. Things are chaotic around here with the impending move and we've got SO much stuff to take care of still. The first week of January will bring some guest bloggers which I'm VERY excited about.

 Be safe and enjoy the holidays!

Don't forget to vote for Rearranged Design over at Apartment Thereapy's Homie Awards!
Click here to do so.

Elton John's House

I love Elton John. He's an incredible entertainer and puts on a fantastic live show. I was excited to see a tour of his Los Angeles house on Yahoo via Architectural Digest.

His home is just as I expected it to be; full of art and a touch of disco.

photos courtesy of Architectural Digest.

The Homies 2009

Apartment Therapy's 2nd annual Design Blog awards have started today.

If you would like to nominate you favorite blogs, they have several categories this year.

Home Design, Home Tech, Kids at Home, Green Home and Home Cooking.

Follow the above links to vote for blog in that category, put in the url and a brief explanation of why you like the blog.

I think that's a nice feature. The blog authors can read why people like their work. Sometimes you get no feedback so it's nice to see how people feel.

If you'd like to vote for this blog, I won't stop you!

Hell, you could even copy and paste this url to make it easier to vote, should you choose to:

http://rearrangeddesign.blogspot.com/

New Place

I just wanted to share some pics of the new place. We are definitely moving up. We are going from a 583 sq ft. studio to a 1,700+ sq ft HOUSE. That sq footage includes the basement so it's not as massive as it sounds but it is a HOUSE!

My husband and I each get an office and there is a converted attic that we plan on using as a bedroom, which has always been a fantasy of ours.

I'm giddy at the thought of that much room and to put my stamp on it. My first instinct is to buy a ton of furniture right away but my budget won't allow that. I've got a list of priority furniture and the rest will have to come in time.

One of our first purchases will be this sofa:

It's the Corona Sofa from Macy's. I've seen it in few House Tours here on the blog and I really love it. I can't afford the Petrie from Crate and Barrel and this is it's close cousin.

Immediately I have to get started on desks for us, right now we have one small table and it is not enough. My husband works from home on the coffee table and it sucks.

Our situation is the same as Annie from Ultra Vroom. Right down to the table she used and the ones she made. I will be making two of these desks for both offices.

photo courtesy of Ultra Vroom

AND I will have room to do it in the new basement!

Wrap it up

Hanukkah is winding down and Christmas is Friday I thought I would share some DIY wrapping paper.

I have an affinity for Kraft paper. It's easy to use and a good building block for wrapping paper. You can stamp it, sticker it, stencil it etc.

Last year I dressed it up and this year I did the same. I took some twine and more paint samples and a trusty glue stick and went to work.

This is a really easy project and will definitely stand out under your tree. I'm not sure how "Christmasy" it is but you could easily use it year round.

All you do is wrap the package, start the twine on the bottom side and wrap it around at random, when finished tie it off on the bottom.

Then use two different size hole punches on paint samples and use the glue stick and stick them at random.

For name tags I just put the recipients name on a large dot with a gold pen.

We'll see how the unwrapping goes, that twine might be a bit of a hassle but I want to see people work for their gifts!

FYI

This weeks post will not be the regular ones. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day I will take time off.

Oops!

I was messing around with some templates and html and something happened to the blog.

The core of it is still here but the colors and banner was changed. I'm trying to fix it...I kinda like the white, what do you think?

Handmade Friday

The time for gift giving is almost here, Hanukkah is almost over and Christmas is a week away. Once you receive everything you wanted you can write some Thank You letters on this super cute note cards.

Made by Leah of Cricicis Design (pronounced Crick-a-sis). Her designs are bright, graphic and happy. Don't miss her Peony postcards!

Have a great weekend!

Things We Love

I actually have 3 items I love because it was hard to pick just one! One is a photo of my pug Gretta. She was a rescue, and literally, the most amazing dog. I always joked that we had a mutual obsession with each other. Gretta died from breathing surgery complications in May '09, she was only 5 and even though I only had her for 2 years of her short life, I miss her everyday and will never forget what a sweet girl she was. The other item is the Kermit doll. This little guy is older than I am (26) and was given to me by an old friend. I love this Kermit so much, he is very special to me. The third, is the little elephant. It is from my mother and I believe it brings me good luck. Thiara Thiara is a friend of the blog and was featured here on a House Tour. Got something you love? Have a look around your house, is there a little trinket or piece of art that makes you smile? Send me an email or add it to the flickr group and tell me why you love it!

Thoughts

So with the move fast approaching I've had some time to think. Think about the past, the future and the present.

My husband and I move so much it's become second nature to us, we're pros at it now. He works in an industry that is in a constant state of change and either you change with it or get left behind. I love him very much and am happy to go along for the ride.

I've moved a quite a bit my entire life (and no, no one is in the military). I feel because of it I've learned how to roll with the punches and have become adept at having the rug pulled out from under me.

I do not want to leave California, I really do love it here, I have friends here and my business had grown here, even the cat likes it here. I'm especially apprehensive about leaving California for a place I've already lived in. I love to visit Seattle my best friend is there, my family is there. I just don't want to live there.

I know it's not permanent, nothing is.

However I am thrilled to be getting a new place. We've lived in this studio, all 583 sq ft of it, for over two years now and it's time to move on. Before my husband got promoted we were looking at larger places here.

I think it will be a shock to us to go from one room two a 3 bedroom home with a basement. I have no idea how we'll fill it all up...wait yes I do me!

I'm so excited to be able to look at furniture and not have to think "what will I get rid of so I can get this?" or "where on earth will I put it?".

I will have tons of space for stuff and even a space to do large projects. Right now the kitchen table is my office, I sew here, package orders here, print labels here and list them on etsy here. In the new place I will have my own office. Let me say that again...
I will have my own office.

I can't even comprehend that right now.
Along with everyone having their own space to work, we'll also have room for guests, an actual bedroom with a real door, a basement for projects, a washer and dryer and so on and so on but also a new blank canvas for me to put a stamp on.

The thought of moving is sad, yes but the thought of a blank space for me to do whatever I want to (within reason we are renting it) makes me giddy. I can't wait for that and I can't wait to share it with you.

I'm moving the first week in January and I do have some guest bloggers filling in but just like my cell phone, coverage may be spotty, so bear with me.

Thanks.

Giveaway Winner!

Drum-roll please...

The winners from the blog and facebook giveaway of the new  book: "The City out My Window: 63 Views on New York" by Matteo Pericoli are...

 

From Facebook:

Brooke Fanning

and here on the blog:

PolkaDotSoup

Congratulations Ladies, send me an email and your book will be on it's way.

Thanks to everyone who entered, if you want to pick up the book you can get it from Simon & Schuster's page.

Thrifting

I wanted to catch you up on some great thrift finds I've had lately. I'm going to miss all the great places here in the Bay Area to find awesome stuff!

I found a new place in my travels that is kind of like Urban Ore but smaller and crazier, think Sanford & Son. It's called the San Pablo Flea Market.

It's operated from a small home, no one lives there but every room is filled with stuff. The yard is too, and although some things get damaged in the elements it's like Disney World for  people who love to hunt.

I walked away with a $10 lamp but in one of the back rooms I saw a mid-century credenza and two matching nightstands in perfect condition (they were too blonde toned otherwise they'd be living with me now).

Here is my lamp:

I'm debating on painting it aqua to match my other ones but it has to be the perfect shade and this color is growing on me. The shade will be replaced.

The next piece of loot is from etsy, I love etsy for vintage stuff. It's such a treasure trove!

I'm in love with all three pieces, I can't wait to use them in the new place.

and Finally perhaps the place I will miss the most when we move the Alameda Flea Market. It's been so long since I lived in Seattle I don't know if they have any flea markets as good as this one.

This months haul was a good one. Although I had to pass up (was forced to by my husband) a beautiful Mid-Century dresser for $175 (a steal). I did get two really cool things.

The Dansk Paella pan was only $20, which is about half what I paid for my aqua one. I'm debating on keeping it or selling it.

I have a sneaking suspicion the candelabra is from Ikea. The woman said "California Art Pottery Movement" but I'm not so sure.  Anyone got an opinion on where it's really from?

House Tour-Bram

Name: Bram D.
Location: Wageningen, Netherlands
Square Footage: ~650 sqr ft
Years Lived in: 3 yrs
Rent or own: rent
Blog/Website: braadspitt.nl
Describe your style: space age modern
..or call it 'plastic fantastic'. Basically, I try to avoid wood whenever I can. My goal is to get as much plastic in my house as I can get.
Most people would describe my style as 'retro', as a somewhat derogatory term for 'living in the past'. I don't see it that way. Most of the designs in my house are 'modern'; instead of being based on tradition, they look ahead and make full use of new materials and their characteristics. Most of the people that use the word 'retro' often live in houses with furniture and designs that are way more traditional. Even though the 1973 energy disturbed the post-war optimism that led to all these fantastic futuristic designs, I still look at it as a future dream, not as 'a thing from the past'.
So, my motto is: "wood looks beautiful on trees, and ugly on furniture!", "if you like trees, buy plastic!".

What's your favorite free/found item?
The mid-century kitchen cabinet (which is in my living room). They were very popular in the late 50s/ early 60s, and everyone in Holland remembers them from their grandparents' homes. By now they have become pretty rare - I guess most of them were just chucked out at some point, since they were never regarded as high class furniture, and to be honest: they aren't - I was lucky to find one in the attic of a place where I used to live. It didn't seem to belong to anyone so I decided to save it from the dust. I works really well with my dinner table.

What's your favorite purchased item?
If I have to choose one: probably my remake of Cini Boeri's 1969 'Bobo Relax' lounge chair. It's the ultimate comfy reading chair. I am not really a purist: as long it's a well made remake (and affordable) of a classic it is fine with me. It is quite a big chair in a small room; it's very dominant, but it has everything I like in a chair. Everyone wants to try it.


What has been your biggest obstacle in decorating/design?
On one hand I would love to have a really minimalist living space, on the other hand I like to buy (plastic) stuff that I think looks cool. Since my apartment isn't that big those two ideals conflict with eachother. The hardest thing is to find that balance of not cluttering the room and have plenty of nice objects to look at and talk about with guests.

Is your design style organic or planned?
Planned. I pretty much have some ideas what it should look like, and I choose things that fit with the idea. However, ideas change over the years, and sometimes buying something new makes me wanna make changes. So, even though things are planned it doesn't mean things remain the same for eternity.


What is your favorite spot in the house?
Definitely the lounge with the white shelf against the dark green wall. Basically, it is just some cheap Ikea 'LACK' shelves which I rebuilt: I added fake fur, some spots, green neon tubes, made a different, slightly rounded front, and wrapped it in plastic so it looks like it is one piece. I like it so much that I even close the curtains early in the evening, just so I can turn on the lights!

How has your style changed in the past 5 years?
It used to be much more kitsch: a collection of indian, chinese, arabic and mexican shiny glittery stuff, golden curtains and many christmas lights. Nowadays, I try to keep that sort of thing limited to my kitchen. I've got a better eye for appreciating a good and well-made design than I used to have. Also, one of the advantages about buying things that are made by a known designer and/or a factory with a good reputation is that they keep most of their value; or at times even increase in value. When you're tired of looking at something, that makes it a lot easier to get something new for it.


What is your favorite resource or store?
I like fleamarkets, but it gets harder and harder to find nice 60s/70s space age objects at a reasonable price. Most stuff I buy on a dutch version of craigslist, called 'Marktplaats.nl'. With a bit of luck and patience you can find really good deals there.

What is your biggest decorating/design pet peeve?
Plants. I love nature, I like hiking and bird watching. I don't like growing things in my house. I do like plastic flowers a lot, I prefer the ones that look really fake and plasticy. Plastic plants can be arranged in the order you like and stay that way, real plants have a mind of their own. Not in MY home! :)


What has been your favorite design trend?
Definitely the 'space age' era; the rise of new types of plastics that it made completely new designs possible. There is an interesting paradox: it takes artificially made materials and industrial processes to make all these 'organic', 'natural' curved shapes. There is a lot of great contemporary design that I like too, for example, by a Dutch group of designers called Droog (www.droog.com). However, buying modern design generally is considerably more expensive than vintage space age design. My limited resources definitely have got an influence on my style.

What is the biggest influence on your design/decorating style?
Childhood memories, I guess. My parents' house was quite traditional; plastic was considered as 'cheap' and 'fake'. But I always loved all those fantastic plastic objects whenever I was in friends' houses; things like the toot-a-loop radio, the plastic chairs, the orange longhaired carpets, etc. etc. And I still do. Whenever there are kids in my house, they go 'wowww' all the time. All the plastic shapes and explicit colours seem to have an appeal on them. And on me. I'm just a big kid.

What in your home dictates how you design/decorate?
The limited space. It's just a simple 3 room apartment that I live in, so I have very limited choice what I can do with it. There is still some art deco and other first half 20th century objects in my house, but sooner or later they are gonna have to go, they seem to fit in less and less, and there is simply no room anymore to create a special corner for it. I have to make tough choices.


What is the simplest thing you have done that has made the biggest impact?
It took quite some time before things fell into place in the lounge. Things started to look good when I put the round orange carpet in there, and a brown plastic cube shaped side table. Then, a couple of days later I found this small decorative object (my guess is it's from early 60s) on a flea market, which is basically just a plastic cube with 8 plastic balls on some metal wire. I put it on the side table and that was just it: It couldn't have been more perfect. Best spent €5 ever.

all photos courtesy of homeowner

Ornament DIY

I saw the idea for this ornament here and wanted to take a shot at it. It cost me over $2 because I used a larger ball and it required more tacks.

I taped the ribbon hanger around where I needed it and started in the middle. If I do this again I think I would start at the bottom and work my way up.

After I was finished I had to go back over it and dip some of the tacks in glue and restick them. If I wasn't so lazy I could of done this for every tack and then there would be NO loose ones but like I said I'm lazy.

I really like how it turned out. It's heavy so it would defiantly need to go on one of the stronger tree branches.

Next year I might make one or two for the shop and see how they do.

Giveaway!

I'll be picking a winner this evening after midnight. Remember that there are TWO places to enter, here on the blog and on facebook.

Handmade Friday Holiday Edition

Can you believe Christmas is less than three weeks away? and  Hanukkah is tonight! The holidays have snuck up on us all. You are not alone if you're still racking your brain on gifts for your loved ones.

This edition of Handmade Friday will be for those of you who need ideas. Take a look...


For Kids:

 

1. Short Sleeve Bodysuit 2. Princess Tutu

3. Vintage Noah's Ark 4. My First Helicopter

5. Whole Chicken Dinner 6. Whale Pouch

For Teens:

1. Ping Pong Stan 2. Kick Butt Ninja

2. Ipod Nano Case 4. Water Bottle

For Her:

1. Personalized Peacock Note Cards 2. Golden Gothic Leaves
3. Brass Sphere Locket 4. Large Workhorse Tote ( I had to put something from my shop it makes a great gift!)

5. Tangerine Dream Photo 6. Berry Branch Necklace

For Him:

1. La Paix et Lamour Print 2. Mayday Wall Art

3. Day of the Dead Shirt 4. Astro Rocket

5. Laptop Sleeve 6. Wrist Warmers

Good luck with your shopping and Happy Holidays!