Stand Up. (A few of the cutest children's bookends out there)

I was recently faced with the task of sourcing several pairs of unique, fun, modern bookends for a kids' room I'm designing, an endeavor that was more fun and challenging than I had expected. While I have a few pairs of bookends myself that I depend on to support a few groupings of prized tomes, I can't recall specifically seeking them out. Perhaps good bookends just happen to good people?

So I set out to match my wonderful, charming client with equally wonderful, charming bookends. Google was no help, turning up 100's of bookends.com type sites, with one bookend more blah than the next. But etsy (and ebay of course) were very fruitful and below are a few of the cutest from my search, mostly handmade or environmentally responsible in some way (but it's enough that they just support a love for reading in our little ones):



http://www.etsy.com/listing/60672172/personality-metal-bookends-book-stand?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_search_query=metal+bookend&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&order=&includes%5B0%5D=tags&includes%5B1%5D=title&filter%5B0%5D=handmade



http://www.etsy.com/listing/58647368/softi-bookends-blue-ellies?ref=sr_gallery_2&ga_search_query=softi+bookend&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&order=&includes%5B0%5D=tags&includes%5B1%5D=title&filter%5B0%5D=handmade



http://www.etsy.com/listing/61320308/natural-persimmons-tree-bookends-read-me?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_search_query=persimmon+bookend&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&order=&includes%5B0%5D=tags&includes%5B1%5D=title&filter%5B0%5D=handmade



http://www.etsy.com/listing/54402812/bird-on-a-branch-petit-feed-sack-pillow?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_search_query=bird+on+a+branch+bookend&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&order=&includes%5B0%5D=tags&includes%5B1%5D=title&filter%5B0%5D=handmade



http://www.etsy.com/listing/55592936/1-woodland-bird-stack-forest-animal?ref=sr_gallery_6&ga_search_query=bookends+wood+birds&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&order=&includes%5B0%5D=tags&includes%5B1%5D=title&filter%5B0%5D=handmade

Bedroom Liberation

As daylight-saving time ushers in colder, shorter days and the inevitable long winter ahead, I know I'll be spending more time daydreaming about warm tropical escapes and more decorating dollars creating such a respite in my own home - sans the flight time and baggage fees - infusing little feelings of vacation into the spaces that surround me every day. With my desktop's wallpaper set to a scene of cerulean waves lapping a white sand beach, I hit the internet for some inspiration and landed on these island-inspired master and guest bedrooms all featuring exotic, whimsical or serene ways to bring tropical living to your home. Aaaaaahhhh.....



Photo credit: Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn
For more info: http://www.coastalliving.com/homes/decorating/cozy-spaces-00400000027791/page29.html



Photo credit: Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn
For more info: http://www.coastalliving.com/homes/decorating/our-fifteen-prettiest-island-rooms-00400000062990/



Photo credit: Jean Allsop
For more info: http://www.coastalliving.com/homes/beach-style-beachy-boho-interiors-00400000048816/



Photo credit: Troy Campbell
For more info: http://www.coastalliving.com/homes/beach-style-restort-glam-interiors-00400000048772/page2.html



Photo credit: Amanda Moore
New York City loft designed by yours truly



Photo credit: Chad Lukaszewski
Water Mill, NY beach home designed by Laura Newton & Amanda Moore