This. So much.

It’s really struck me lately how much friendships change these days, how my married-with-babies friends slip away, into their houses painted 5 different shades of white and their cul-de-sac bunco parties. I’ll be 34 next week. I’m divorced. Living in an apartment. No kids. And though my life isn’t any better or worse than those of my friends on some (what?) scale of importance, it’s easy to start to question that when the babies come and suddenly no one returns your calls. And then you’re that branch that doesn’t seem to fill out with leaves or have any flowers to show for the effort of making it through the winter. And everywhere you look it’s spring, spring, spring.

One Kings Lane did a nice piece on styling outdoor tables for the perfect alfresco meal.  Ten beautiful tables here.

One Kings Lane

Cocktail anyone?  It IS Friday after all!  This one is from Tyler Florence . YUM!!!

Food Network

Erin from the blog, Elements of Style , showed us the home of her parents which was featured in the Boston Globe Magazine recently.  It is nothing short of spectacular!

Elements of Style

Carmel at Our Fifth House worked wonders with a simple can of gold spray paint.  For some reason I want to paint everything these days!

Our Fifth House

The hubby and I are headed into the city this weekend to have dinner with some friends (yay!) and to soak up a little more of the Boston Strong vibe.  If you’d like to make a donation to those affected by the events on April 15th, please consider giving to the One Fund.  Every little bit helps!

Have a great weekend, everyone!!

Here are some “after” results, along with their accompanying client deliverables, from e-design projects by a few of my favorite designers and decorators.

Instant/Space  - Betsy Burnham’s online design arm. Berlin residence family room & kitchen (as featured in the May 2012 issue of Better Homes & Gardens)

Photo source: Author’s pictures of 5/12 issue of Better Homes & Gardens

Erin Gates Design. Better known as the Boston-based powerhouse behind popular design blog Elements of Style. In fact, most of her e-design clients come through her blog. Here is her most recent featured room, for a client in Pennsylvania.

Photo source: Elements of Style Blog

Emily A. Clark Interiors. Another entrepreneur who parlayed the success of her blog into a booming decorating business. Though the photography is not professional, I love the modern, yet appropriately juvenile treatment of this shared kids room, which was an online design project.

Photo source: Emily A. Clark

What do you think of these remotely-decorated interiors? Would you do an e-design project, either as a client, or a designer? What would your concerns be about engaging a professional in this way? (Author’s disclosure: I may be doing some informal market research )

[one: lokta paper twine from bhldn  | two: diy ombre dipped candles from momtastic | three: ombre book gathering from elements of style blog | four: gorgeous ombre wedding cake from style me pretty | five: bring ombre into the bathroom with this flamenco shower curtain from anthropologie  | six: ombre border bath mat from west elm | seven: ombre water glasses from uncommon goods]

I LOVE that heart in the bottom left corner. What a fun idea!

I love how this room is decorated!

All of these images are from the Elements of Style Blog. LOVE Erin Gates. Following her blog is a MUST!!

I have always been so confused and disoriented when i try to think of what to put on my bookshelves.

Does anyone else have this problem?

I mean, books…a given. But WHAT books…there are certain books that look better than others, whose covers and bindings are more visually appealing…but what else?

I absolutely love looking at design blogs as you all now know, and googling images of everything i can think of. I spent some time the other really researching books and bookends, and bookshelves to see if there was anything i found that i LOVED. And man…I could have spent about 3 more hours looking. I came across some great ideas, and im excited to start implementing them.

As far as bookends, ive wanted these from pottery barn for forever…you know, im a photographer and anything involving pictures im drawn to:)

also, these turquoise blue bookends im strangely drawn to…although i know nothing about ::foo dogs:: i have a feeling they are weird…I just adore the color and the fact that they are a ceramic sculpture…can i just get them of normal dogs? like a golden retriever?

I get absolutely giddy looking at these bookends below…the idea of using vases and fresh flowers…genius. I’m always looking for a functional excuse to keep fresh flowers in my house…and i think this is a great way to have a permanent centerpiece. Great books sandwiched by gorgeous flowers..

And then THESE. Totally fabulous. They’re a bit modern but I love how they make a shelf look…an otherwise pretty boring array of books now turns interesting just by adding triangle bookends! And one is a plantar?? Shut up!

On to book shelves. I took a few things away from each of these images…what do you think?

I love how they used a mixture of candles and candle sticks, books, and sculpture here to create a very cohesive but eclectic mix!

I’m pretty positive that these screens come from ikea, but i really like the look. Cover your shelves when you want a simple look, open them a bit when you want to show off your book collection. Love it!

I LOVE the color here. Who says you cant take 5-6 colors and create a palette for your shelves? And combining cute little dessert cups/martini glasses, canvas decorative prints, AND pictures and books is really fun.

I must admit, I’m kind of into the messy bookshelf that looks put together look. I love how some of these books are stacked on top of one another as well as shelved up-right. There are big books and small books, and just a few touches in between (picture frame, bowl). I have a feeling this is the look i’ll most be going for..

Holy books! I lean toward this look, just like the image above. TONS of books and tons of color! Like I said earlier, some books are more visually stimulating than others…I cant wait to vintage store shop for random old books and pops of color on bindings!

I’d first of all love to have built in shelving in an entryway in a home like this, but the coolest thing about this is the tiny TV tucked away on a shelf! What a great way to keep it out of the way without banishing it from the room. Favorite!

My favorite thing about the image below is the little collections going on…a little grouping of small colorful glasses, a decorative tray of fruit, a small collection of wicker baskets. Great idea, to take 2-3 of the same things and group them together.

Hope you enjoyed my scatterbrained style and collection of ideas that I love for my own bookshelves and books…now to put these ideas into action…

Credit for images: elements of style blog, designing life in miami blog, pottery barn, country living, matters of style, real simple

The rule of the contest was easy. Simply send a picture of an exciting, fabulous item you bought at an insanely good price. I have tons throughout my house and picking just one was kind of tough, but I ended up selecting my lucite bar cart that I scored at the Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea market for only $60.

I have no clue how many people entered, but I’m hoping I’m one of five who win. I haven’t won anything in a really long time. In fact, I think the last thing I won was a cake at my school’s Cinco De Mayo festival when I was 10. So E of S, if you’re reading, PICK ME, PICK ME!!!

Winners will be announced on Elements of Style in the morning. Here’s to hoping I win.