Friday, May 20, 2011

My Friend Heidi Could Use Some Encouraging Words Right Now!


Last year, I had the pleasure of meeting fellow blogger, Heidi from "Heart and Home." We had so much in common, even dressing alike! Needless to say, we became instant friends!
Here we are shopping at Ikea! What a fun day that was! You can read about it here.
We also had fun hanging out in Los Gatos back in September here, and have stayed in touch with each other via email.

Heidi's blog, Heart and Home is about her life and home on the California redwood coast. She has a great sense of style and I love how she decorates her home.

Recently though, disaster struck Heidi's lovely home in the redwoods. A 100 foot tree fell completely through their home, splitting it in two, just barely missing Heidi and her little dog by only a few feet! Can you believe this?

But, you need to hear about this from Heidi herself!
Please visit Heart and Home and read this incredible story, and how she is dealing with the process of slowly rebuilding their home. I know with her design talent, she will rebuild it even better than it was before!

I'm sure Heidi could use all the encouragement she can get right now!


Thursday, May 19, 2011

Vintage Schoolhouse Decor


School is almost out for the summer! However, we are seeing more and more schoolhouse influences cropping up in the design world.
It seems everyone is experimenting with chalkboard paint right now, including Pottery Barn!

I have to admit, it's pretty fun! At first, I thought there is no way I'm ever painting a wall with chalkboard paint. Then I saw this image and was reminded of my son's bathroom with the black hexagon tile. Hmmmmm......Maybe I'll try it!

A kitchen wall is another place where chalkboards are showing up. Which could be very convenient for writing down the family's schedules, appointments and grocery lists!

In fact, what do you write on your walls? Poetry? Quotes? Equations? I like what this one says...

Or you could just draw pretty pictures!

I love this kitchen! Just one chalkboard wall with all kinds of doodles makes this kitchen really fun!

This kitchen has a lot of schoolhouse inspiration going for it. Chalkboard, school house pendents and even the clock.

This room has always been a favorite!

Remodelista
School lockers are showing up more and more too, and are great for storage. They can be found at flea markets and salvage yards.

The Lettered Cottage
I wish I had this when my four kids were little!

Pottery Barn sells school cubbies, which are perfect for the mudroom.
Wait, are those maps I see on the wall?

DecorPad
Maps are also quite popular right now. I love this bathroom with it's map of the world wallpaper. Who knew visiting the rest room could be educational?

I'll bet she got an A in Geography!

A child's bedroom is a great place for map wallpaper.

House Beautiful

Country Living
If wallpapering your walls is too much, grouping framed maps is an inexpensive alternative like the homeowners did for this breakfast room.

This breakfast room is tres elegant. The U.S. map is unexpected, and I like how it is front and center on the wall. It looks vintage too.

I love the sepia toned vintage maps like this one. You need a very large wall for this!
Oh, how I would love a map of Paris or Florence!

House Beautiful
Another trend is to divide up a large map and frame them individually.
This room makes me happy! The green walls, gorgeous drapes and suzani chair are wonderful!

House Beautiful
The walls in this family room feature framed 1943 Miami Beach plat maps!

If collecting maps is popular, so is collecting vintage globes.

Country Living
I don't really need to start another collection, but these globes make it look tempting.

Cote de Texas
Joni from Cote de Texas has an amazing collection of vintage globes. I loved how they look so much, that I bought my first globe from OKL the other day!

DecorPad
Not only is this bathroom papered with maps, it also has a sink reminiscent of the school lavatories.

Remember?
Another flea market find, this vintage sink would be so cool in a child's bathroom.

Cote de Texas
I think that was the look Jill Brown was going for when she designed this bathroom.

Lately, I've noticed vintage teaching posters like the ones above.

They're especially nice if you can find them in another language!

My French bovine teaching chart from OKL!

Why the interest in vintage schoolhouse collectibles?
I think we are all nostalgic for a simpler time.
Old maps and globes. Chalkboards, vintage typewriters and teaching charts.
Even old lunch boxes remind us of the good old days.

What could be more fun than accessorizing our homes with these remnants of our past.
After all, "There's no place like home!"



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