Friday, May 28, 2010

Happy Weekend!

Just came across this mural from A Love Letter blog, and thought it was a lovely interpretation of what home means. I'm planning to explore my new city for a bit this weekend, eats lots of good food and take naps...

Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Pin It Forward!

I'm taking part in SFgirlbybay's Pin It Forward, and I have to say, it has been so fun trying to put What Home Means To Me into photographs. It was also a little difficult since "pinning" pictures of my family and friends wasn't and option :) I am excited to share some of my favorite images and my Pin Board here!

Most importantly, home is a place for love - to feel loved, to love others, to fall in love, etc. It is also a place to learn and to pursue passions and interests. Home is a place where you are most yourself. (Pins via style-files and Roseland Greene.)

Home is the best place to unwind and calm down, but also the best place to laugh, dance and have fun. (Pins via emmas blog and Apartment Therapy.)

Home is where you can pursue the perfect shades of gray. (Pins via Audrey Road and emmas blog.)

Last, but of course, not least... Home is where you can wallpaper without limits! (Pins via Clever Spaces and Purple Area.). I actually found it so helpful using Pinerest, that I started another board about my favorite wallpaper applications which I'll share with you later this week.

In the meantime, be sure to check out a Taste for T tomorrow for her home inspiration board!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

From Paris to the...San Diego

My friend Vivi just sent this great pictures of the Voila wallpaper she put up with her husband Mike in their new apartment in San Diego. I love how it turned out and think they did a fabulous job! She mentioned that they wallpapered along to our How To Wallpaper video, which made me smile only because is so satisfying to hear it actually helped someone considering that is wasn't the easiest thing to produce (due to my wallpapering friend's insane, albeit inspirational, attention to detail...


Thank you Vivi and Mike for sharing your living room with us! I'm planning to visit this summer so get ready :) Thinking road trip up the coast, yes?

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Dream Big

We were really excited to see this post on Remodelista showcasing the room of Martha McQuade's son in Minneapolis. She had us at the world map wall sticker, of course.

Everything is so adorable, simply, yet fun, and beautifully put together.

Aimee went to a trunk show last week featuring some of Martha's work (she's behind the lovely Uniform Studio which we also featured here) where she got a scarf. I'm thinking if it is the one above, I am going to be quite jealous...

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Planes, Trains, Automobiles. Light Rails, BART...

I'm heading back to SF today for a whole week! I'm so excited excited to leave the cold rain behind here that I've almost forgotten the frustration of not being able to figure out any justification at all for why I deserve to buy these adorable boots (check out the whole shop if you get the chance - so cool!). [Just FYI - my legs aren't nearly that skinny, but they are definitely just as pale white - I came out on the short end of the deal on that one.] I'll be going to my friends' wedding, seeing dear friends, meeting with an interior design client (yes, we recommended some ferm living for their home!), and going to a couple mildly arguably business meetings (okay okay, so I'm meeting friends for brunch...and I'm sure we'll talk about wallpaper!) I'll try to blog a few posts while I'm gone, which I anticipate being related to eating, happy hours, and hills.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Website Updates

We just finished up adding all the new things for spring/summer on our website - lots of pretty new home accessories - candles, vases, pillows, blankets, poufs, and more. We're super excited to see them in person. They'll start shipping from our warehouse in the next couple weeks!

And, lots of lovely new children's pillows, wall stickers, toys and blankets (including these happy pillows designed by Darling Clementine).



Be sure to check out new SALE section as well for great deals on discontinued wall stickers, tea towels, place mats, ornaments, and the Wallpaper Projects Book (and, if you buy three rolls of wallpaper the book is free - so there you go!).

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Double Stick Tricks

I did a little project this afternoon to cover up what I have concluded to be the most depression inducing brown paint color ever. It is mind baffling bad. So, I found some double stick tape in my stash and a scrap of bindweed wallpaper, and I went for it. [For those to whom I've promised to be more mindful of my budget, please note the non-name brand tape...]

This brown is WAY worse in person. Baaah.

Just got some scissors for cutting, a pencil for marking and what should have been a straight edged ruler for measuring but I couldn't face going down to my storage unit to find one. See... that's how lazy and depressed that paint color makes me. I'm not myself around it to enough to properly do a wallpaper project. So sad.

I basically just measured the wallpaper to fit in the spaces and then cut out the rectangles to allow for the pattern to meet up and be continuous between the shelving. Next, I put strips of tape on to the offending walls, rolled the wallpaper backwards and then just rolled it out, pushing it onto the tape from left to right.

I could probably have done a better job, but that brown caused me to lose my ability to pay attention to detail. Okay, okay, I've never actually had that ability. But, I don't think it looks too bad. Plus, I've always loved Bindweed so I'm excited to finally have it up in my space!

Here's the other side of the bathroom. I think it all kind of works.

Double stick tape is where it is at. My next project involves a headboard of sorts. Stay tuned...

Monday, May 3, 2010

On the Big Screen

Turns out ferm LIVING, like most movies, is even better on a big screen. Love this photo from Sitcom Furniture's booth at the Las Vegas Home Design show last year with our branch wallpaper applied to a huge folding screen.

And on the reverse side... bring on the power pole. They told us the screens are easy to make - just buy some cheap, hollow core doors, wallpaper them and then hinge them together. Doing a different paper on the back side is a great way to change up the mood of a room quickly.

They just ordered a different design for this year's show. We can't wait to see how it looks!

Monday, April 26, 2010

DIY Artwork

We just received these images from a really great customer, Necia! She became a fan of ferm LIVING when she purchased the Velo tea towel. She told us it was too nice to use, so decided to frame it. She then ordered some samples which she also framed - so pretty!

After checking out the samples, she contacted us about buying a remnant, which we were glad to sell. She decided to rock the wilderness wallpaper in black lacquer and just used adhesive spray to attach it to the screen. She then painted around the edges. A true work of art. We love it! Thanks so much, Necia!

*Please feel free to email us at info@fermlivingshop.us if you're interested in buying remnants by the yard!

Friday, April 23, 2010

Field Trippin'

Just thought I'd share a couple of my Rose Bowl flea market finds which I'm super proud of due to their inexpensiveness. Before I get started though, can I mention how excited I was to pass Los Alamos, CA on the way to LA from SF? Growing up in the other one, I can only imagine how different this place is. Yet the signage is pretty much the same. I wonder if the kids in Los Alamos, CA have a decent place to hang out? We used to congregate in the parking lots... Yep, and then pretty much stay there.

Anyway, I'd been looking for something to soften up my acrylic vanity and this 70's.ish wicker mirror from Japan seemed like just the right thing. [Not the nightmare inducing doll, though...why so glum?]

One day, I will arrange this better, but see how it'll work in the mix? It barely cost a thing, so if you don't like it, I won't be offended. I will also be wallpapering the back of it with this.

I found this set of champagne bowls at the very end of the day. They were just what I've been looking for, except even cheaper. I also liked how the man selling them said they had "chipless rims," and then when I pointed out how one of the rims was chipped he gave it to me for free. That's called using the evidence to your advantage. I can't wait to go back to the Rose Bowl! If only I had cash to burn and way to get things back to MN. There's an amazing vintage Louis Vuitton trunk with my name on it!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Happy Earth Day!

Found this cool picture here and thought it might be a nice little reminder to always turn off the lights when you leave a room :) If you find the look of bare light bulbs hard to resist, not unlike myself, consider our light bulb wall decals - same effect, less energy!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Lobby Fail

On my way back from California last week, I unexpectedly ended up spending the night in an airport hotel near Chicago, Midway. When I first arrived there late at night I was struck by the sadness of the lobby. I blew it off thinking maybe I was just tired. The morning was no better. First. That neon sign above those readily lockable doors scares me. I would not go back there (unless the drinks were free, of course, and then I'd think about it...).

The exposed nails in the wall were a clear cry for help.

Rocks in glass. Now, they do show an effort had been made at some point. But they are sad.

That caution sign had been there all night. Not sure why. No signs of mopping. A pop of color though wouldn't hurt in here. Just not one that is quite so cautionary... not a very welcoming vibe for a lobby.

I love a day with nothing planned so you can see where it takes you. But if you're a lobby, I'm thinking you should play a little hard to get. Fake some plans till you make some plans, you know.

Even the flowers have given up. But, I won't give up on you lobby. Here's what you need: WALLPAPER!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Spring Cleaning Sale!

We just put this series of tea towels on sale for $12 (regularly $19). It is a close out sale, so prices are available only while supplies last. And, I'm about to get some of the watercress, just so you know :)


We also gave a few wall stickers on sale as well, so get 'em while they last!: fly on the wall, sparrow, finger print, cherry tree and hexagons!

Monday, April 19, 2010

A Bright Idea

Alex from Bright Ideas by Martinec just sent over these pictures from a recent project they just completed. We LOVE the modern wildflower wallpaper mixed with the traditional built ins.



Definitely, a bright idea! So cool!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

A Fully Loaded Pantry

When I was back in California, I stayed a few nights at the lovely home of my friends Sarah and Bob. They recently redid their kitchen and used some family tree in petrol to add a pop of color in their pantry. I was excited to check it out in person. I was very impressed not only with the wallpaper handiwork, but also with their fully stocked bar. Bob is a mix master.
Here's their kitchen looking out from the pantry. I just love it. So simple, elegant and cheerful. Back behind that black bar is where I spend most of my time :) Thanks for having me to stay! See you soon!