The foyer: It’s the first space that greets you and your visitors when the door opens. And it’s what your neighbors catch a glimpse of when you chase after an escaped fat cat as it jiggles down the hallway. I wanted an entryway that set the tone for the house: Comfy, stylish, and fun. But […]
Category: Home Decor
A Cheap Ikea Coffee Table Turned Glam
I’ve had a black coffee table for years. I’ve had cats for years. I’ve learned that these two things are a bad combo. The surface of that coffee table seemed to collect more cat hair than the vacuum. And that’s saying something, because the amount of hair that I pull out of the vacuum on […]
The Eclectic, Historic Michigan Home of my Aunt and Uncle
My aunt and uncle have this stately 1920s brick home in Plymouth, Michigan, where I grew up. It’s not only stop-your-car-to-get-a-better-look stunning from the outside, it’s every bit as good, or better, from the inside. My Aunt Patty, whose got style for days, is a major decorating inspiration for me, along with my mom. I’ve […]
Home Tour: My Parents’ Traditional Cozy Home
I’ve been in Plymouth, Michigan visiting the family, basking in the fall colors, wearing sweat pants, clocking in 10-hour nights of sleep. There’s something about being home that is so comfortable and I think it’s in large part to my parents’ super comfy, cozy, beautiful house. My mom is a wonderful home decorator and one […]
Before and After: City Balcony Turned Chill-Out Spot
As anyone who lives in a city knows, having a little outdoor space – no matter how tiny – is a true luxury. When we moved to our Madrid digs in the winter, our 1970s ugly-tiled little balcony didn’t look like much, but I wasn’t about to let an outdoor space to go waste. When […]
Before and After: Modern Gray Bedroom
Both my mom and I have been having a recurring dream for years where we discover hidden rooms in our homes that we never knew existed. One time I dreamed that my guy roommate had a bowling alley and a garden room through the closet in his bedroom. Here we were sharing a small two […]
Sunny Chartreuse Living Room
Chartreuse is the happiest of colors. It’s like if grass mated with the sun. I even love the word chartreuse. Elegant, vibrant, and so very French. The color is actually named after a liquor French monks first made in the 1700s, which makes me like the color even more. I’ve always loved chartreuse. My mom […]
Bold Blue Dining Room: Before and After
For the first time in my adult life, I live in an apartment with a with a dining room. For someone who loves cooking and entertaining as much as me, this is particularly awesome. Our dining room has a few things going for it: Super high ceilings, and doors that open to a small balcony […]
DIY in Madrid
Hola! I’ve been neglecting this blog, and well, everything else in life really, because I’m totally consumed by decorating our new apartment. I’ve had countless sleepness nights poring over decorating blogs. Paint colors, furniture, artwork and making cool groupings of knick-knacks is pretty much all I’ve been thinking about. Which I’m aware has made me […]
The Sounds of the City
I’m officially a New Yorker. At least for the next three months. Yesterday Mr.YemenEm and I picked up our beloved Diplocats, from whom we were parted for the past 14 months, packed a U-Haul van, and drove to a furnished apartment in Manhattan. This will be our base for the next three months. The place […]
