an apartment for my bestie + a 2 for 1 art sale for you!

It's Friday! Are you excited?! I am, which is weird, cuz I'm on vacation. I think being pumped for the weekend may just be built into my psyche at this point. I'm also excited because I've had a pretty stellar last couple of days - not only is my migraine from hell finally gone, but I found my best friend a new apartment, and he signed the lease last night!

I know a new apartment might not seem like a big deal, but I assure you, in this case it totally is. My bf has been wanting to - and working towards - moving out of his present place to something better for a long, long time, so when he told me he was finally able to make it happen I promptly tacked vacation time onto the other side of blogpodium to put my OCD skills to work! This guy is 100% the friend who I can call (and have called) at 3am in the morning just to cry into the phone, so I was determined to find him the absolute perfect place. Now that he's got it I couldn't possibly be happier.

Let the furnishing and decorating commence!

Speaking of decorating (*cough cough, lame segue*), one of my favourite etsy artists is having a 2 for 1 sale, and I couldn't not share! GirlandParrot's prints are just gorgeous, and with this deal she's practically giving them away . . .

Buy one, get another (of your own choosing) for free. It really is that simple and that good. The only reason a couple of these beauties aren't already making their way home to me is I just can't pick! Someone help me choose between the first three above, cuz apparently I can't do it on my own.

Finally, speaking of/apropos of absolutely nothing, a video present for you. Because I didn't think I could be in love with Joseph Gordon Levitt any more than I already was, but apparently I was wrong:

I mean. C'mon now.

Happy weekend lovelies! I hope it's filled with great friends, beautiful things, and sexy men gyrating their hips and making you laugh. Every weekend should be.

xoxoxo

shit i'm not sick of: bubble branch chandeliers (+ the diy version on my radar)

Is there actually a proper name for these guys? If there is I certainly couldn't find it! But whether or not they're actually a "thing", these babies have been on my mind - and on my Pinterest - like crazy lately. Most of my faves are by the insanely talented Lindsey Adelman, some by Apparatus and Jason Miller, and one or two I couldn't track down, but no matter the artist, I just can't. get. enough. The fact that they're everywhere changes not one little thing . . .

{images: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11}

If you're like me, the other way in which the artist makes no difference is whether or not you can afford them. No matter how hard I wish, it's just not going to happen! So to get the look for less I was thinking of spraying West Elm's version gold . . . 

. . . but it seems to have sold out in a flash. Which means the second I get a new apartment (more on that in a bit! Eep!), I'm pretty sure I'll be making like oh so many other bloggers and design lovers - like ModernHaus and Erica of Small Shop Studio - and making my own version using Lindsay A's d.i.y. instructions and a whole lotta' hardware store goods . . .

It may not be as bubbly, but it's definitely all kinds of gorgeous! And really, how cool is it that she released these plans to the public? I kind of can't get over it. While it obviously doesn't take away from her amazing custom designs - and anyone who could shell out the bucks for an original still would - it's still so generous. And that . . . well that's the most beautiful thing of all.

So what do you think? Are you still feeling this look or are you sick of seeing? Would you take on the "some assembly required" version, or am I stone cold crazy for thinking I could take it on?? Can't wait to hear your thoughts lovelies!

xoxoxo

wallpaper weekly: golden marble to feed my addiction

Blogpodium was truly a smorgasbord of all things gold and shiny, from the edges of the menus, to the foil on business cards and agendas, to the bangles on everyone's wrists. It was everywhere, and I was loving it! My obsession with this heavenly finish has been feeling borderline unhealthy lately, but being in a room full of fellow addicts was enough to convince me that I just don't care. If loving gold is bad, then I don't wanna be good.

So as an ode to that enabling, this weeks wallpaper is all about the gleam. Calico Wallpapers' "Wabi" is not only an awesome success story born out of Hurricane Sandy devastation, it's also pure golden marbleized perfection . . .

{pics via Design Milk}

Doesn't that second pic just make you want to slowly run your hand over it? No? Just me? Maybe I need help after all . . .

blogpodium blast!

For one reason or another, I've been battling a migraine for three days straight, explaining why this lil' recap is late, and why it will have to be ever so short and sweet! The pain is definitely not the start to my vacation I was hoping for, but it makes me even more grateful for the amazing day that was Saturday. I have to admit that when I signed up for Blogpodium with only five days to spare I was pretty nervous, but once armed with some leopard print, new gold bling and pretty biz cards (whipped together in a flash by my amazing friend Farah of House 9 Design) the excitement set in. And BP didn't disappoint!

Jen and her team did such a good job gathering amazing sponsors, putting together awesome talks and making the place as pretty as can be! Even the food was deadly (still craving the mac and cheese that I inhaled too quickly to capture...)

The best part, though, was definitely meeting some of the like minded ladies I felt like I already knew! I'm so happy to have gotten the chance to laugh and learn with (and from) inspiring gals like Raiana, Gabby, Meredith, Tiffany, Marion, Christine and so many others!

I can't wait to put some of the tidbits I picked up (both in the sessions and the grab bags!) to good use! Now for a little R&R - this weary brain of mine needs it!

xoxoxo

blogpodium bound

Sorry for the late (and slightly lame) post today, but I am off to Toronto to attend my first blogger conference (!) and I've been running around like a crazy lady trying to prepare/pack!

I only decided to go to Blogpodium about a week ago, so I've been scrambling to arrange travel, get cards designed/made/delivered, put together an outfit, etc, etc. Let's just say that my nails currently look like shit, cuz I couldn't stop long enough for them to really dry. Oh well, good enough :P 

(Speaking of which, anyone know a really decent oxblood/scarlet polish they can recommend? Everything I find is either way too dark or too light.) 

For those of you who are gonna be there, I can't WAIT to meet you. If you see a pained look on my face please still come say hi, I promise it's just cuz I've made the oh-so-wise decision to wear heels the whole damn day . . . because I love myself thaaaaat much . . .

Wish me luck!

wallpaper weekly: flamingo heaven

This weeks wallpaper weekly is dedicated to my friend Dallas, and the day she declared to me "someday I'll have a bathroom wallpapered in flamingos". When I stumbled on this stunning (and surprisingly affordable) paper, I couldn't help but think of her:

{via}

Maybe it's just me, but I like it much better than the popular Cole & Sons' Flamingo:

Although I'm a big fan of the toned-down version offered through Anthro . . .

What do you think? Could you be like Dallas and be so bold? For that first one, I think I might be able . . .

curated etsy 'pages' by top brands and bloggers? i'm listening . . .

Like every other design blogger, I'm a huge fan of Etsy. Almost all of the original art in my apartment, virtually every one of my pillows, and a huge percentage of my tchotchkes (especially those of the vintage brass variety) are from this incredible 24hr flea market and craft sale. 

If there's one thing I know, though, it's that I'm just scratching the surface of the amazing artists and shops there are to discover, and the bigger the site gets, the harder it becomes to find them. So when I found out yesterday that Etsy had launched Etsy Pages - Pinterest like collections of items curated by top brands and blogs - I was seriously intrigued! 

Essentially, the curators selected by Etsy can create categorized "boards" just like on Pinterest, and save the items they love to them. You can then follow the pages of whichever brands you choose. The main landing page shows you the peeps that are playing:

And the pages themselves are laid out almost exactly like on Pinterest: 

Here's the thing: I'm loving the fact that Etsy is looking for new ways to help us weed through all the crap, but I'm gonna have to wait to pass judgement on this one. Why? Well, first because you can't follow individual boards, meaning you kind of have to want to hear about everything a brand likes. Second, because you can't search all the items within the "Pages" for a specific type of item, and third, because that means it can't get too big, so they're going to have to keep this to a select few stylemakers. That'll leave out a whole bunch whose picks/shop discoveries I'd love to see/know!

Essentially, they've taken cues from Pinterest, but maybe not enough of them, and given all of this I'm wondering how often I'll really turn here vs sticking to the original. 

What do you think? Do you think this is something you'll be all over or will it make a splash and then fizzle out? Do you think it could be only be success if they just made a couple of adjustments, or not at all? Like I said, I'm really not sure and I'd love to hear your thoughts!

the hack I heart the most: tiffany leigh design

Tiffany of Tiffany Leigh Interior Design is a girl after my own heart. With talent and taste to spare, she doesn't let the fact that she's in school and working on a budget stand in between her and serious style. Whether taking another man's trash and making it into her gold or scouring antique markets for hidden treasure, Tiffany knows that a little sweat equity and the right vision can go a long, long way! Couple that with the fact that she happens to be one of the sweetest and most genuine bloggesses I've had the pleasure of "meeting", and I couldn't think of a single better person to join us for the second installment of the hack I heart the most!

So without further ado: the lovely Ms. Tiffany and her awesome hack . . .

***

Hi everyone! I'm Tiffany from Tiffany Leigh Interior Design and I am so excited to be here at Peonies and Brass today sharing the hack I heart the most. For me, it was an easy decision because I live in a tiny studio apartment in Toronto, so although I'd like to hack everything in sight (bloggers will agree it's an addiction really...) I only have space for a few pieces of furniture. I've had to limit myself. Let me introduce you to my prettiest and most functional hack: My Greek Key Bench.

This bench began its journey with me as a dated, worn out wooden coffee table that I picked up at Good Will for $4:

It was chipped and pretty ugly, but I saw potential! I especially liked the carved details of the legs, which were hard to see with the dark stain. With just a few supplies, I completely transformed this piece!

I have so much fun styling and restyling this little bench. It makes a great footstool/coffee table in front of my sofa, and can easily be cleared off and used as extra seating if I have guests over. You can check out the full 'how to' tutorial here. Be sure to pop by and say hello!

Thanks so much for having me Elyse!

back to business (+ a fiddle leaf update)

So here's the post where I come back after a month away, tail between my legs, hoping you'll forgive me. I've been so busy with work - and some of life's other lovely dramas - that I haven't had a moment to breathe let alone blog, but I promise, I've been missing this place like crazy. I've also been missing d.i.y'ing. And zhushing. And, uh, cleaning. All in all, the following has officially become my mantra for life:

{via}

I mean, is that really so much to ask? I can't remember the last time my answer to "so what apartment projects do you have on the go" was "none actually", but the other day that's exactly what it was. And it felt so wrong. 

So I'm getting back to me, which means getting back to you. Also getting back to spray paint. And fabric. And nail guns and hammers. Because that's just how it should be.

Tomorrow I'll be kicking it off in style with an awesome installment of the hack I heart the most from the always amazing Tiffany Leigh - you definitely don't want to miss it! In the meantime, a little update on the great fiddle leaf debate:

I did it. I pulled the trigger. And I was head over heels in love. I mean, it's gorgeous right?? Exactly what that spot needed and impossibly perfect in every way. But . . . notice how I said "was"? Three weeks in and my poor baby is almost completely dead. Every night I hear a soft thud as another leaf bites the dust. 

Looks like this girl's first project might be figuring out how to discreetly attach a grow light to the wall . . .