press: apartment therapy

A few months ago Apartment Therapy approached me about featuring our tiny abode as a house tour - I was incredibly flattered. Well friends, yesterday it graced the pages of Apartment Therapy and I'm delighted to say it got a positive response (something I was nervous about). The ever so lovely Leela Cyd Ross took the stunning photos and I thought I'd share a few outtakes here.

A few items have changed in our apartment - new coffee table and light on my desk from HD Buttercup SF (which is becoming my new go-to shop), got a new pillow for the chair in the window from West Elm (it's SO soft) and I've re-arranged our West Elm bookcase.

I'd like to give a big shout out to my favorite shops to source items for my apartment - HD Buttercup SF, West Elm, Summer House in Mill Valley, Grenouille, Designer Fluff, and Erica Tanov Marin.

Be sure to head over to the feature for the entire home tour.

Thanks again for all of the amazing support friends! This blog wouldn't be the same without you. I've got to say, you keep me motivated to keep inspiring you daily.

Photos by Leela Cyd Ross

home sweet home

A few weeks ago I made some small decorating changes in our apartment that I'm excited to share with you. I added in a stunning Moroccan tray on our dining room table, created an art wall above the couch, and the best addition is our new coffee tables from HD Buttercup that I'm in l-o-v-e with! After living in our apartment for almost seven years it's fun to do a little redecorating to make it feel clean and fresh for spring.

Photos by Caitlin Flemming

Style at Home: Glitter Guide Feature!

Today I'm excited to be featured on the one and only Glitter Guide. When Taylor came to me about the idea of Glitter Guide I was sold. Then she mentioned that she wanted to feature me - I was shocked. Since I'm not a style blogger I'm not used to being in front of the camera, but with the help of Taylor, Alicia and the amazingly talented Michelle Drewes, I was immediately put at ease once the shoot happened.

You sure do know how to make a girl blush with all of the kind words I've already received on twitter and Glitter Guide! Thanks for the support lovelies. Means the world to me!

Photos by Michelle Drewes for Glitter Guide

It's all in the details . . .

As I sat down to write this post I didn't know where to start, how I should put it together and how much I should write. I kept looking back at the beautiful images and video by Michelle and thought "the images tell it all so how much do I really need to say." Plus, many of you have already read details about each room on Design*Sponge. So I've put together one post with a ton of detailed shots, product sources and a floor plan - lots of emails came pouring in asking for all three.

A few words to describe our style: fresh, feminine, thoughtful, inviting and a mix of old and new. Our home is more of a collected look with a touch of modern. Almost everything is from the Alameda Flea Market and pieces I've picked up from my travels. I believe that wherever you go you should try finding something that represents what you loved about that place and bring it into your home. There is nothing I love more than a home that has treasures and pieces that actually mean something and more importantly have a story behind them. If you come into our home I have a story about each treasure I’ve found – it’s amazing to see people’s faces when they hear the many stories.

Also, one thing to note is that I got my passion for interior design from my mom. She used to take me to flea markets when we traveled to different countries – I always thought it was fascinating. She shaped my eye for finding those “hard to find” pieces and gave me a great sense of style through her aesthetic. If it wasn't for her I wouldn't be immersed in interior design today.

When you look at our floor plan you realize how small our apartment really is - lots of friends and family are surprised that we've lived in such a small space for five years, but it's home and we haven’t gone stir crazy yet.

Thank you all again for your amazing support, lovely comments and emails about our home being featured - it truly warmed my heart and made my day, week, year! You are the best readers a gal could ask for. If you have any specific questions feel free to contact me.

*Photos by Michelle Drewes for Sacramento Street

Sneak Peek of Our Apartment on Design*Sponge!

It's been a secret dream of mine to be featured on Design*Sponge - yes, I'm a such a nerd. When I sent Grace the images of my apartment my heart was beating so incredibly fast I thought I might have a heart attack. I didn't know if they would love them or hate them, but then I received an email back with a huge “yes” in it. I immediately called upon Michelle Drewes, a talented photographer that I've worked with before. Her eye and aesthetic match perfectly with my style. I couldn't have asked for a better photographer to capture our home.

To top it all off, Michelle created a beautiful video - I literally got tears in my eyes when it popped into my inbox. Please sit back, turn up the volume and enjoy a little something extra.

Thank you all for the support and sweet comments over on Design*Sponge! It means the world to me to have your ongoing support and don't worry I'll be posting lots of outtakes next week!

Also, thank you Grace and Amy for the lovely feature - means the world to me!

Video by Michelle Drewes for Sacramento Street

a brand new week . . .

Happy Monday everyone! I hope all of you had a fun, rejuvenating weekend - I sure did. I felt like I accomplished so much the past two days and enjoyed some quality time relaxing. It ended with an impromptu trip up to Napa yesterday for a garden party - lots of delicious food (I ate entirely too much), lots of sunshine and I met some amazing people.

Now, I know on Friday I said that today would be the day that you would see my apartment, but I received an email this morning that it's been postponed two weeks. I'm terribly sorry and I hope you understand. The photographer that I worked with, Michelle Drewes and I put together a little something special for Sacramento Street readers for when it's finally revealed - it's worth the wait, I promise. In the meantime, I wanted to share one photo that isn't being used. I love the way these anemones look in photos.

Hope all of you have a wonderful week ahead of you. Be sure to enter the amazing West Elm giveaway that went live yesterday and thanks for understanding!

Photography by Michelle Drewes of Caitlin Flemming's home

finding fixtures

Since we've decided to stay in our apartment for a few more years I spent the weekend sifting through back issues of magazines for light fixture inspiration. Next week will mark our five year anniversary of moving into our apartment. When I first moved in I didn't think we'd be there for more than two years. But being in an amazing neighborhood, in a top floor apartment that faces a park is pretty rare. Last June we FINALLY painted and it completely transformed the entire look and feel. It's now a cozy oasis that feels more permanent since it's what we want. Now all I can think about is changing out the plain jane overhead lighting.

I'd love to find something like the above fixture - it would work well in either our kitchen or dining room. So my dears, the search is on and if you have any inspiration or favorite fixtures please link to them or let me know where you've been finding some lighting gems.

*Image: Laura Resen

sydney's tamarama treasure

In my favorite interior design magazine Vogue Living Australia - every home is dream worthy. This one in particular caught my eye and I found myself flipping back to it over and over again. It's interior designer Sarah Davison home in Sydney that she renovated but kept all of the original details.

When Sarah bought the apartment it hadn't been touched since the late 1920s but it needed major renovating to make it unique to her match her style. I'm glad she was sensitive to keeping the era and original style of the apartment but made updates that turned it to beauty. The columns, the light fixtures, the furniture are all perfect. Anyone would kill to have a home with architecture like this.

Sarah's design philosophy, "I aim to create places that have a really strong atmosphere and I achieve this by layering things up, from the layout to the finishes, furniture, and accessories" rings true to my heart - it's exactly how I think about a space when decorating.

I hope all of you go out and pick up a copy of the latest issue, it's one you'll want to archive in your magazine collection.

{photos: Ara Design Studio via Vogue Living Australia 2010}

Thompson Sisters: Antonia

Antonia's condo is the complete opposite of her sister Victoria's. Her decor aesthetic consists of mixing vintage and modern. She also has a mixture of high and low end decor. In Lonny, they best describe it as a bit of "hodgepodge" because she tends to decorate-as-she goes.

I can relate to how Antonia decorated her condo because that is exactly how I learned how to decorate from my Mom. Just start collecting what you love and eventually you'll figure out how to put it all together.

The mix of modern and vintage in the living/dining room works perfectly together. I'm still amazed that Antonia was able to decorate most of her condo by shopping on eBay. Wish I was eBay savvy, but I haven't mastered it quite yet. It's definitely on my "things to learn" because the pieces she found are fabulous.

Almost anybody will kill to have a fireplace, but to have one this gorgeous is something I'm completely envious of.

Simple but chic, that's all you need to have a great looking bar.

Anything in Hermes orange adds just the right pop of color to any home. But filled with jewelry like this is just down right amazing.

All of you know I have a love for desks and this one is perfectly put together. It's clean, sleek and minimal, which makes me love it even more.

I hope you enjoyed looking at both Victoria and Antonia's beautiful condos. They are so different, but both condo's brought me inspiration in different ways. I hope they brought you a little inspiration as well.

{photo's courtesy of Lonny Magazine}

Thompson Sisters: Victoria

When I'm looking for a little inspiration I'm usually attracted to things I don't normally go for. Weird right? When I was thumbing (clicking, I like to think that it's printed magazine) through Lonny's third issue, I was drawn to the Thompson sister's apartments. They are world's apart in terms of design, yet Antonia and Victoria live in the same building.

Victoria's inspiration comes from the 50s and 60s. Her apartment is filled with bright patterns, Lucite, and lots of texture. If feels as though you should be in Palm Beach, not New York.

What I'm drawn to the most is the color palette. The turquoise and chartreuse are refreshing.

One thing that Lonny Magazine does a fabulous job at is featuring bars. Since they started I've been wanting one in my apartment. Once I move into a bigger apartment I hope to have a bar just like the one above. My favorite part is the apple, it's perfectly placed.

I've been inspired by the way people display their jewelry. I think putting the jewels you wear the most on a tray is the perfect way to have them on a dresser. That way you can quickly put the last touches of your outfit on in the morning.

Ok, I'm a HUGE tray lover. Probably because when you put items on trays it makes a room feel more organized. More importantly, I've been trying to find a heart-shaped bowl (like the one above). Does anyone know where it's from?

What an amazing desk. Other than the fact that everything is perfectly placed, the desk itself is great. I think anyone would love a desk that has a place to store magazines. I know I do.

Some of Victoria's favorite places: Apartment 48, Global Table, and Haus Interior in New York. Cashmere Buffalo and C. Bell in West Palm Beach.

Later today, I'll be posting on Antonia's apartment.

{photo's courtesy of Lonny Magazine}