International Reading

My favorite September glossies had a common theme, I noticed...

Here are our Ferm Living vases in Elle Decor UK!

What about Aussies? (Side note: Do you like my new magazine holder?)

Yep, I spy our ceramic vase in Living Etc too! Gorgeous room, no?

In other Living Etc news... I love that wave book end.

This page needed to be dog eared... for the amazing example of REALLY BIG art. Dig it.

Also, this guy seems very cool. Makes me rethink purple for men. Can't wait to see what pops up in October mags!

Coffee Table Update

My coffee table arrived just as scheduled yesterday. So I had to spend part of the afternoon sitting on my sofa and admiring it. One of the things, on a growing list, I like about it is that I can see my ferm living basket through it! Always best to leave views of Ferm Living unobstructed... Happy Weekend!

DECORupdATE

So this is post is going to be an update on Holly's Decorate Book tour... Get it? In a nutshell, the book is a must purchase situation, and Holly's as fabulous as you'd expect! It was such a treat to finally meet her in person. Here she is at the Anthropologie book tour in SF chatting about mood boards. Sitting there I wondered why have I never made a mood board? Laziness? Most likely. I'm almost motivated to give it a whirl though. Seems like a good way to avoid serious decor missteps...

Halfway through Holly's mood board demo something clever caught my eye. Can you see it?

Give up? It's our Studio 3. What a coincidence! Except, well, not really... I mean who wouldn't want one of those on their mood board after all. This one was featured in a German decor mag from what I can tell.

Here's the guest of honor signing books.

After I got my book signed, I realized that the only people I knew there were still in line. I started to feel beyond awkward just standing there waiting so decided to take a spin around the store which is when I bumped into my future boots. The short, clog ones. Aren't they superb? Oh, that's right, you can't tell because I have not mastered taking iPhone photos.

I didn't get the boots then. But... I just got this adorable "birthday card" from Anthropologie (very thoughtful of them, no?) which has me thinking that what's in the stars for me are those boots.

Something else that is in the stars for me, is this coffee table. It is being delivered today! Interestingly enough, the story behind this purchase was one of fate. In that, I found it on One King's Lane killing time while my coffee was brewing and managed to snag it before some other less lucky shopper! Honestly though, I'd been looking for a large glass/acrylic (reasonably priced) coffee table for weeks to no avail and then this perfect piece popped up! Yeah, definitely written in the stars...

Wallpaper by the Yard

If you looking for small amounts of wallpaper, we just added this Wallpaper by the Yard section over at Hygge & West which includes designs from Ferm Living, Hygge & West, and More!

Design Sponge Book

I'm sure you've all heard the Design Sponge book is out! And you probably already have a copy...

Just in case you don't, here's reason #367 to get it. Check out that fab wallpaper! What do you know? It's our Ribbed Wallpaper in beige in the home of the lovely Meg Mateo Ilasco.

We were also delighted to be included among a handful of fantastic companies on the wallpaper resource page. Thanks, Grace!

Labor Day Reading

Just wanted to share with you my new very favorite book, Moderne: Fashioning the French Interior, by Sarah Schleuning. If you love pattern, interior design, the roaring twenties, and/or France, I promise you won't be sad if you buy Moderne. It contains a collection of over 200 plates drawn by famous interior designers in France during the 1920's. Before color photography, their renderings still capture luxurious textures, deep jewel tones and mixes of pattern that seem so fresh and new to me. I can't get over some of them. They are just too good!

I first saw Moderne at Paul Smith in Paris in 2009. A few weeks ago, I was hunting down this picture that I took there, because it is going to be the inspiration for my very first commissioned painting I'm getting for my new apartment. Doesn't that sound so adult of me? It isn't actually, because a more responsible adult would actually save their money :) But, I get a kick out of saying "commissioned" because I'm not the type of person that would ever use that word with any seriousness and yet, I guess, that is sort of what I am doing. A very talented artist friend of mine actually generously agreed to help me add some color to my place in the form of huge roses. Inspired by Moderne, I think I shall call this having a painting "fashioned." Now that sounds tres chic. Anyway, I've been dreaming about this accent wall ever since I saw it and figured if I've loved it for two years, I'll surely love it for a lifetime. That's the hope. Because it is going to be, well, very noticeable in both size (huge) and color (bright pink)...

Back to the book. So, as I was hunting for that roses photo, I stumbled across this quick snapshot I'd taken of Moderne and was reminded that myself two years ago really wanted to buy it. I couldn't remember why, but myself two years later thought I'd probably had a good idea back then, so shouldn't wait any longer...

Moderne arrived last week, and this morning was just the right time to laze in bed and crack it open. WOOOAH. This image made me giddy. The colors, the shapes - it is a pattern perfection. And, this was only the first plate. From there till the last page it just didn't stop.

Hello gorgeous red screen! What is that beautiful rug/blanket hanging over the balcony, and why don't I live in a two story apartment (palace) with a balcony so I can do that too? Also, this feels a little pre-color blocking, color blocking, no? I dig it all. I'm really wishing I could go Midnight in Paris on this place and have a visit with whoever used to live here. No doubt they'd serve delightful cocktails as we discussed important things like cinema and jazz.

Don't these wallpaper designs feel completely current? Or maybe it is just that contemporary design has been revisiting the past more and more lately? Or maybe they are in reproduction and that is why they seem so familiar? Birds and gold fish are two things that I will always love to see in decor no matter how trendy they may or may not be. Seeing them from the 1920s like this reinforces just how timeless they really are.

Ummmmm, this room is to die for. Please note big rosy rug. More proof that large pink roses are classic, right? Or at least that is how I am interpreting this picture due to the impending painting situation. The floral pouf here is, for lack of a better word, amazing. What I love about seeing rooms like this that are drawn rather than photographed is that so much is still left to the imagination and open for individual interpretation and inspiration. For example, what is that pouf made out of - wool, tapestry, linen? Is the wall covered in paper or fabric? Is the green chair velvet or leather? Who's to say? They can be whatever we want them to be!

I don't know who's invited me or what is being served, but, yes please, I will be at this dinner party in a heartbeat. Does anything beat mixing graphic black and white with bright color and bold pattern? Didn't think so.

That light fixture is insane. Look, even the children seem to have fainted from its greatness. They could also be in awe, like me, of the rug/wallpaper combo. That is how you fashion a room up right!

I would almost never opt for browns over grays, and I don't love purple all that much. But, I would happily eat, work and sleep in this cozy nook until I was forcibly removed.

Finally, I don't even have the words for how fantastic this space is. I know I'm biased, but isn't it ALL about the wallpaper sometimes? :) You just can't go wrong with it. Happy reading!

A Sprinkling of Ferm

Not to neglect the bathroom from partaking in Ferm Living fun, I put this little cup by the sink. I think it is adorable, and the dusty green color works perfectly with these...

red Roman Shades that I recently made. Oh, and if you do happen to stop by for cocktails or something, please don't try to open or close them. They have about a 95% fail rate. DIYing things sure can be challenging sometimes for those without the ability to pay close attention to detail.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

My mom came to visit a couple weeks ago and we ended up doing dishes late night at which time I convinced her to wear this never before worn sexy apron (because, as I've mentioned before, I don't cook). She's rockin' it, I think! And check out those sexy tea towels in the background...

When she saw some of my Ferm Living goodies, she correctly decided that she needed some too. Here's one of my favorite Ferm Living pillows in my bedroom.

Here's the Columbine pillow my mom got. I'm jealous. Love the pop of persimmon!

And, when she curled up in my Squares blanket...

She knew she needed one too! Great minds think alike :) It is looking good at 332! Thanks, Mom!

What Would Martha Do?

She'd put it in a Studio 1. So fun to see Ferm Living in the newest Martha Stewart Living!

If Ferm Living can inspire Martha, what's next? I mean, really, what's next? I'm at a loss...

Fall Fabulousness: New, New, New!

Hooray, Ferm Living just released it's new catalog for Fall! Beyond the stunning photography and styling (in my opinion) there are a bunch of gorgeous new items that I'm thrilled to share with you. Let's start with the wool pouf above. In a world of poufs this one has got to be one of the most eye catching and original!

New tea towels. Can a person have too many tea towels? I ask this because I have, well, a lot and now I might need just one more...

A sweet little tea pot. It fits into this bowl, which is a great feature. Keep you biscuits underneath for a thoughtful presentation next time you have a friend for tea.

New Harlequin inspired wallpaper for adults...

and for kids. Plus, a sweet new blanket and pillow collection for kids too.

New geometric pillows in a range of mix and match colors.

Wool pillows with leather piping. Yes, please!

Here's, for certain, what I'll be buying immediately. 1. This remix cover for my bed. I think it is perfection. My heart beats faster each time I think about it...I seriously can't wait!

2. This gray leather tote. Gray leather = Love. Totes = Love. I'm no mathematician, but I'm almost sure it is mathematically impossible for me not to own this.

3. Thermo mugs for me and my friends. I find they make the best presents because they are not only pretty and nice to hold, but them come in really fun packaging so you don't have to wrap them...bonus.

All these new items will be available for pre-order at Ferm Living Shop next month, and we will start shipping in early November!

Twitter Days

I was working on a bit of a tedious task yesterday, which is why I was extra grateful for my twitter friends to break up the day. For example, we received a link to this USA Today video which features Twitter Co-Founder, Jack Dorsey, talking about his new company Square. And, in the background is our Remix Wallpaper. Doesn't it look great on TV? :) I also like that he is sitting on a chesterfield. A smart man, with great taste in decor - what a catch!

We also got a link to this article on Refinery 29 featuring Anthology's Editor in Chief, Anh-Minh Le, talking about her beautiful home. Her Feather Wallpaper caught our eye.

So did her closet of shoes. I'm jealous for 3 particular reasons - 1) selection of shoes; 2) size of shoes; and 3) organization...

Other than checking twitter constantly, another thing I did yesterday was to book tickets to go sit on this terrace. I can't wait!