Color Obsession: For the Love of Lime

Lately, I just can't get enough of the lighter, poppier shades of green. From lime to citron to chartreuse to olivine to pistachio to pear to apple green to wasabi, I am absolutely eating them up.

The good news is that, despite the inherent boldness of the hue, bright green is actually quite versatile: It's fresh and youthful when paired with yellow, pink, blue, or white, but takes on a more sophisticated, autumnal mood mixed with browns, reds, and deep oranges.

Apparently, I'm not the only one lusting after lime -- the shade seems to be popping up everywhere these days. A look at some lime loveliness:

Jungle Vase, $30, and Buddha Head, $15, from CB2; Victoria Hagan Vase, $30, at Target; Lacquer Vase, $62, from Lotus Bleu; Jonathan Adler Lantern Pot, $44

Mayfair Lamp, $374, Citrine Pendant, $490, and Flamingo Lamp, $490, by Shine; Twiggy Lamp from Moth Design; LUM Basketweave Lamp, $1,000

Anthropologie Botah and Granny Smith lampshades, both $58

Cerci Dinnerware, $5 each, at Pier 1; Hibis Plates, $13 each, at EQ3; IKEA City Dinnerware, $2; Haiku Platter, $10, and Verde Platter, $13, both from CB2

Double Happiness Teapot, $24, at Anthropologie; Stelton Vacuum Jug, $80, at Abitare; Tray, $22, from Decorative Things; Fruit Bowl, $20, at Mxyplyzyk

Unison Larch Pillow, $52, at Design Public; Lemon Green Embroidered Floor Cushion by En Gry & Sif; Hable Construction Viridian Palm Pillow, $140; Jonathan Adler Bargello Scallop Pillow, $110; CB2 Sparrow Pillow, $25; Jonathan Adler Big Sur Lime Pillow, $98

Amy Butler Lime Tree Peony Fabric, $10 per yard, from Purl Soho; Marimekko Paaryna Fabric, $36 per panel; Roundabout Fabric, $12 per yard, and Swirl Fabric, $11 per yard, both from Lewis & Sharon Textile Co.; IKEA Katrin Fabric, $6 per yard; Everett Fabric, $25 per yard, from Lewis & Sharon

IKEA Kaktus Quilt Cover, $15 to $30; Tussuto Throw, $40, at CB2; Leaf Line Curtain, $108 to $148, from Anthropologie

Romo Kimura Lime Wallpaper, available at Walnut Wallpaper; Florence Broadhurst Tropical Paradise Wallpaper, $398 per roll, Phanthom Lime Wallpaper, 109 per roll, and Boheme Green Geometric Wallpaper, $119 per roll, all available at Wandrlust; Ribbon Candy Wallpaper, $150 to 250 per roll, from Flavor Paper

Madeline Weinrib Mandala Tibetan Rug; Not Neutral Seasons Rug, $240 to $480; Judy Ross Green & Cream Clover Runner, $875, at 2Modern

Lucy Totem Stool, $275, from ModernDose; Lime Cube, $200, from Mxyplyzyk; IKEA Fritiof Stool, $6

Lotus Bleu Slipper Chair, $1,450; Urban Outfitters High Roller Chair, $200; Eames Rocker, $399, at Room + Board; Philippe Starck Mademoiselle Chair, $784, at HiveModern; Jonathan Adler Chippendale Chair, $495; Highback Armchair, $3,700 for a pair, at Pieces; Libel Lounge Chair, $1,416, at HiveModern

Pix Table, $100, at Design Within Reach; Parsons Console Table, $425, from ModernDose; Doca Autunno Flatpack Coffee Table, $65, at A+R Store; Ligne Roset Lunatique Table

Green and White Chest of Drawers, $3,995 for two, at Pieces; Shine Cary Buffet, $1,990, at Cottage & Bungalow

(Photo at top by Paul Costello for Domino magazine.)

Etsy Find of the Day: Rock Hairdo Plates

I was just reading Anh-Minh's most recent post on vintage plate displays over on AT:SF, and clicked through to Etsy to take a closer look at the hilarious Seven Deadly Sins plates she featured (Anh-Minh always finds the best stuff ... ).

I loved what I saw, and proceeded to peruse the rest of Etsy seller trixie delicious' (aka Vandalized Vintage out of Auckland, New Zealand) offerings. I soon came upon these "rock star hairdo" plates -- which, it goes without saying -- totally rock.

The images include the iconic coifs of Sid & Nancy (top), the White Stripes (above), bluesy bad-girl Amy Winehouse (directly above), and punkette ensemble the Donnas (below). They're created with heat-fused, food-safe ceramic paint on funky vintage plates, and wall hangers are included.

I think I must have them.

The plates are $30 to $40 right here. (And while you're there, don't miss trixie delicious' equally fantastic "Bad MF" plate set and "Wanker" platter; too bad she seems to be out of those awesome "Slut" teapots ... )

Cool Stuff: Pretty Pillows

Loving these pretty new pillows at Design Public:

Ailanthus Pillow, above, $60 to $68, from Inhabit

Flown Pillow, $60, from Inhabit

Plant Forms Pillow, $78, from three sheets 2 the wind

Bent Tulip Pillows, $78 each, from three sheets 2 the wind

Check 'em out here.

Sound Off: What's Your Favorite "Little" Magazine?

Sure, everyone in the design blogosphere is drooling over Domino and buggin' about Blueprint, and I love those magazines, too. (On the other hand, Dwell, which my fellow design junkies all seem to worship, leaves me utterly cold. And while I like ReadyMade in theory, I don't have a crafty bone in my body.)

But the home magazine I live for is the U.K.'s Living, Etc. I have been known to drive across town in search of the latest issue, and to happily fork over close to ten bucks -- damn that exchange rate! -- for it. (I really ought to look into subscribing ... )

And I'm just loving the new-ish, Birmingham, Alabama-based Cottage Living (which, despite the name's shabby-chic connotations, is actually really fresh and even modern). I appreciate the fact that the homes featured are not in New York or L.A., as well -- who knew that the South was so stylish?

I'm really digging Canadian House & Home, too -- it's full of stuff that's different from the things you see in every American home mag, but that's still "get-able" (both literally and figuratively) for those of us not living in the Great White North. That's actually how I discovered Vancouver's One + Only Custom Headboards, which I blogged yesterday. I recently bit the bullet and subscribed, which wasn't cheap -- but I think it's worth it.

Now I want to hear from you guys: What lesser-known shelter magazines do you think are worth seeking out? Please post a comment and let me know!

(Photo: "Nice Rack," by flickr member vw-busman.)

Cool Tool: Walk Score

How walkable is your neighborhood?

Find out with a click of the mouse at Walk Score (which I first read about on the fabulous Design Boner blog -- be sure to bookmark DB if you haven't already).

Here's how it works: Simply plug your address or the address of a home you're considering renting or buying into Walk Score's convenient calculator. The site then uses Google Maps to locate nearby (or not-so-nearby, as the case may be) stores, restaurants, schools, parks, and other amenities before spitting out a "walk score" between 0 and 100.

The score breakdown:

* 90 - 100 = Walkers' Paradise: Most errands can be accomplished on foot and many people get by without owning a car.

* 70 - 90 = Very Walkable: It's possible to get by without owning a car.

* 50 - 70 = Some Walkable Locations: Some stores and amenities are within walking distance, but many everyday trips still require a bike, public transportation, or car.

* 25 - 50 = Not Walkable: Only a few destinations are within easy walking range. For most errands, driving or public transportation is a must.

* 0 - 25 = Driving Only: Virtually no neighborhood destinations within walking range. You can walk from your house to your car!

Bummer for me: My friendly little 'hood in the Oakland hills (which I love in every other way, except for the fact that I have to drive somewhere else to get a decent cup of coffee) scored a paltry 54 -- compared to a respectable 71 in my old stomping grounds of outer Noe Valley, San Francisco and a whopping 94 for the nabe I lived in before that (Cobble Hill, Brooklyn).

As a result, Walk Score explains, my health suffers and I produce more greenhouse gases, have fewer transportation options, weaker local businesses, and lower "social capital."

How does your neighborhood rate? Find out here.

(Photo: "Walk_Don't Walk," by flickr member ale2000.)

Cool Stuff: Headboards as Art

Last year, when Shivauna Brown of Vancouver, British Columbia, bought her first home, she craved "a signature piece of art to not only fill a wall, but also inspire her morning, noon, and night." When she couldn't find what she wanted, she decided to create it herself.

The result is Brown's new company, One + Only Custom Headboards. Using art and photography, Brown turns the images into colorful bedheads rendered in canvas or vinyl. They not only provide a soft place to prop yourself up against, they take care of the "what to put over the bed?" art quandary as well.

A look at some of Brown's unique bedroom creations:

Flora

Lotus

Blue Frost

In the Pink

Sparkle

Available in twin to king sizes, unframed headboards are $599 Canadian (about $569 U.S.) and framed headboards are $895 Canadian ($849 U.S.). Don't miss the sample sale area for special bargains.

Click here to see the entire collection of One + Only headboards.

eBay Find of the Day: Agitprop Art

When my family and I visited London this past spring, we spent the better part of a day at the amazing Tate Modern. At the time, the museum was hosting an exhibit on Constructivist art featuring the propaganda posters of Aleksandr Rodchenko and others that profligated after the Bolshevik Revolution.

I didn't know much about Constructivism -- or about Russian history, for that matter -- but I was instantly struck by the futuristic feel, bold graphics, and vibrant color (namely red, of course) of these images, which eschewed art simply for art's sake in favor of art in service of the nation's social welfare.

The result was posters extolling Bolshie leaders like Vladimir Lenin, above, urging factory workers to be more productive, and admonishing Soviet countrywomen to "keep your tongue behind your teeth," below -- and thus presumably not blab state secrets (that's one I ought to post near my telephone ... ).

Today, original examples of this agitprop art command hundreds and even thousands of dollars on the open market (oh, the irony for us members of the cash-strapped proletariat ... ). But you can find good-quality reproductions for a fraction of that by surfing around in eBay's Military and Political Art and Russian Collectibles categories.

The striking giclee print of a 1931 propaganda poster at top, for instance, is rendered on heavyweight archival paper and measures 20 by 29 inches. Roughly translated, it reads "Smite the Lazy Worker!" Snap it up and hang it near your home work station for a bit of tongue-in-cheek motivation on those days when you're not feeling terribly industrious. After all, it's for the greater good.

Current bid: $15.

House Voyeur: Jen's New Kitchen

Some of us who've been homeowners for a few years -- and who may even have a remodeling project or two under our belts -- are still a bit daunted by the Mother of All Home-Improvement Projects: The Major Kitchen Remodel.

Not so Jen Garcia of Huntington Beach, California. After purchasing her first home last October at the tender age of 26, Jen barely waited until the ink was dry on the closing papers before completely gutting her new condo's bland, timeworn kitchen, below. (Actually, Jen made her boyfriend do the gutting -- but you get the idea.)

Here, Jen shares the story of the makeover:

"This was the first place I ever remodeled. I didn't really know what I was doing, but I did some research, tried my best to do things in the correct order, and made a few mistakes along the way. Still, I'm thrilled with the way everything turned out.

The look I was going for is what I like to call 'contemporary/cozy.' I love clean, straight lines, no clutter, and sophisticated design. But my main concern was to have a place that's comfortable and relaxing while still keeping a contemporary feel. I definitely think I accomplished that.

My favorite thing about the kitchen is the 'brick' backsplash, which is actually made from granite. When I was choosing my granite countertop, I picked another piece of granite and had the stoneyard cut it into an uneven brick design and lay out the pieces on 12-inch-square mesh for installation. I think it completely makes the kitchen.

The other thing I'm thrilled about is the range hood (a Broan Rangemaster 30-Inch in stainless steel). I didn't even know what those things were called before I had to buy one. I looked through magazines and other kitchen resources, saw one similar to this, and was on my way to finding an affordable one of my own.

Other resources:

* Kenmore Stainless Steel 30-inch Freestanding Gas Range

* Pergo laminate flooring (I would have loved wood, but I have to say that with all of the remodeling I did, the Pergo held up amazingly well. Wood would've been thrashed.)

* Kenmore Side-by-Side Stainless Steel Refrigerator

* Avanti EWC28 28-Bottle Wine Cooler With Lock

* Kenmore Elite Stainless Steel 24-Inch Built-In Dishwasher

* The cabinet hardware was purchased on sale from Home Depot. A ten-pack of handles for $20! That was the best deal I found.

* The mocha-beige paint is from Dunn-Edwards, which some friends of mine had used. They had a little sample of it left, but no name. I took it to the paint store and had them color-match it for me."

Thanks so much for sharing your kitchen remodel with us, Jen!

Want to share your own home -- or simply show off a room or a project you're proud of? Please let me know!

Cool Stuff: Brocade Home Lighting

I have to admit that I have not been won over by Brocade Home. It's just a bit ... baroque and rococo for me, with its over-the-top painted curlicued furniture and all that velvet and lace and jacquard and damask. (I mean, come on -- flocking?) It's too girly by far, and I suspect the look will date very quickly.

But I can always (and I mean always) be counted on to find at least one lamp or light fixture to drool over from any given retailer -- and the latest Brocade Home catalog, which was waiting on our doorstep when we arrived home last night, appears to be no exception.

I am totally digging the petite blown glass lamps, above, which are $99 each. And I'm also quite taken with the pretty fabric pendant, below, $199.

So, OK, Brocade Home -- maybe I'm starting to thaw a little bit.

New Look

I was getting a little tired of the old one.

What do you think?

Shameless Plug: My "Bedroom Feng Shui" Article on HGTV

Do you feng shui? I confess that I'm a bit of a skeptic.

But while researching my latest article for HGTV, "Feng Shui Your Bedroom," I was won over by the fact that -- whether or not you buy into feng shui's underlying philosophies -- many of its principles simply make good design sense.

Click here to read the article, and to discover simple feng shui strategies that will turn your chaotic and uninspiring bedroom into a serene and sensual sanctuary.

Back from the Beach

You know, you really haven't lived until you've experienced the Northern California coast in August: The gray skies, the freezing temperatures, the soup-like fog ...

I swear I will remember this next year and book our beach time for October, when it might actually be warm. And I will ask for references before sending hundreds of dollars to someone advertising her (cough!) "charming" beach cottage rental on craigslist.

That said, the dog absolutely loved her vacation. ;-)

Over and Out

The hubby, kids, corgi, and I are off for a short vacation at the beach. I'll be back with regular posts on Monday, August 13. (I may pop up here for a random post or two before then, but don't bet on it ... )

In the meantime, if you live in these parts, don't forget about this weekend's fun East Bay events:

* The first-anniversary party at Industrielle, Feria Urbana at the Oakland Museum, and the Oakland Art Murmur tonight, August 3

* The warehouse sale at the Gardener in Berkeley tomorrow, August 4

* The Alameda Point Antiques & Collectibles Faire on Sunday, August 5

And while I'm away, be sure to check out the blogroll on the right-hand side of this page for some great reads and gorgeous eye candy.

Have a wonderful week!

(Photo: "Dash!" by flickr member seaskycoo.)

eBay Find of the Day: Teak Chest

This petite teak chest of drawers has a slim, compact profile and great versatility. Use the Denmark-produced piece in an entrance hall, as a nightstand or side table, or tuck it up against a wall and top it with vintage-modern pottery or other retro accents.

(And if Danish Modern is your thing, be sure to check out the Los Angeles-based seller's other auctions.)

Current bid: $34.