More Redecorating

Here are some more shots of my *new & improved* more colorful apartment! It's still a work in progress, but the kitchen and the living room are just about finished.

Just in time for me to start teaching again...

And as you might have noticed, I also "redecorated" my blog too. Yippee!

Redecorating

This lovely new print above my kitchen sink is by UK illustrator Amy Blackwell.

A few weeks ago, as I entered my 5th year of living at my current address, I decided that I hated everything in my apartment. The clutter was taking over my life and the colors were uninspiring. I live in a rental unit where all the trim is painted an awful peachy-beige color and with 10-foot ceilings, painting whole rooms is a task that is daunting to say the least (and out-of-the-question, I later decided). So I aimed to keep is simple and planned to paint a bright blue backsplash in my kitchen and a stripe on my bedroom wall to act as a "headboard". Then came the furniture and accessories (Ikea, Crate & Barrel, and Etsy - oh my!!) and suddenly, I was way over-budget.

One of my main inspirations to spruce up my place was my friend Jen, whose old apartment was featured on Apartment Therapy a few weeks ago - it made me want to make my place colorful and clutter-free too.

I can't say that my place is quite clutter-free (or finished in the realm of redecorating) quite yet, but I will make sure to post photos when it is. For now, it makes me feel a little more like I have a hip apartment suitable for the arty gal that I am.

Colour Lovers

I have discovered yet another way to make time slip by, leaving me wondering what it is that I was supposed to be doing at the computer: colourlovers.com!
I signed up for an account today (I was inspired by this thread on columbusunderground.com), and got to work creating some palettes.

Series 1: My Apartment
*these palettes represent current colors in my apartment*

Bedroom (Opposites Attract)

Bathroom (Ocean Spa)

Living Room/Kitchen (Marrakesh)

You can check out my ColourLovers profile here!

Redecorating

This week, I was inspired to add some more color to my living room and kitchen. All it really took were some curtains and a few accessories! Of course, I don't have any "before" photos, but take my word for it that the current decor is a vast improvement from what it looked like before.
I decided to go with red curtains (redder ones on the center window, a more purple-red on the 2 outer windows) to get some color up on the walls. I live in a rental unit and while my landlord does allow painting, it didn't seem like it was worth all of the effort.

I know the cat toys under the table add a very sophisticated flavor to the place.

I bought this awesome red dining set from my friend Vicki. It used to be in our college apartment and it was her great-grandmother's!
The chairs need some TLC, so I plan on enlisting the help of Randi from Flamestitch to reupholster the chairs in a very appropriate glitter naugahyde vinyl. With contrast piping, of course.

I bought some fabulous jewel-toned retro placemats to add some more color to the kitchen. They also bring in the purples and golds from the living room.