Storage Stars

Whether you consider yourself an organized person or not, you're sure to have heard the old adage "a place for everything and everything in its place" at least once before in your life. It's a timeworn value that's very much alive in my house. But as both professional organizer and interior designer, the "place" must always be just as pretty as it practical.

My files live in 3 identical dark woven pandan boxes. My socks and underthings know only labeled canvas bins as their homes. Everything from the sporting equipment by my entryway to the cooking utensils in my kitchen to the Q-tips in my bathroom are all stored in appropriately sized wicker containers. Every functional storage piece I chose reflects my style and love of natural materials, is pretty to look at while serving its valuable purpose. Aside from in my attic where temperature and an imminent leak someday are factors, there are hardly any plastic tubs under my roof. (My one exception: OXO's BPA-free POP Containers for food staples like rice and pasta and for my son's markers and crayons. Plastic, yes, but still pretty cute.)

I'm pleased to see more aesthetically pleasing storage pieces on the market than ever before, for every style and taste, for children and adults alike. Function is just a given for these beauties.


Printed Canvas Storage Bins from Garnet Hill in 3 new patterns range from $28 - $48.


Handmade Senegalese Storage Baskets from Serena & Lily, on sale for $54 - $118 (shown in Aqua/Orange, also available in White/Natural, Pink and Blue).


Cargo Naturals File Box in Bluestone from Home Decorators is made from 100% recycled, post-consumer material and available in 3 other colors $36 (the collection also includes magazine butlers and boxes of various sizes).


Ikat Woven Storage Bins from West Elm range from $39 - $59.



Firenze Handbag Storage $21.99 and Open Bin $14.99, two styles from the somewhat preppy fabric-covered Firenze Storage Collection available at The Container Store.


Ikat Storage Stool $149 from Viva Terra.


Target Home Milk Crate in Paulowinia Wood $24.99 from Target.


Every healthy kitchen could use the organizational efficiency of this Farmers Market Epergne $75 from Sundance.


Patterned Storage Vanity Stool $79.99 from Bed, Bath & Beyond.


I prefer the original flea market version, but if you don't have the time to scour endless stalls, then these Industrial Baskets and Liners - Set of 3 $239 from Restoration Hardware Baby & Child are quite authentic looking.


Chalkboard Office Accessories from cb2 range from $4.50 - $39.95.


Mini Mountain Peaks Bath Basket $48 from Anthropologie is also available in two other shapes/sizes.


For adorable, handmade fabric baskets, head to Sewing Momma's Etsy shop for one-of-a-kind storage like this bin, pictured, $27.99.


A Tad Plaid Storage Baskets from Land of Nod are $49 for a set of 3 and are available in Pink Plaid or Blue Plaid.


3 Sprouts Organic Monkey Storage Bin in Yellow $39.99 from All Modern.


Trend Lab Baby Caterpillar Storage Bins - Set of 3 $47.99 from Kmart.

Monday Color: Gold

I was too busy with my current interior design projects to post anything last week, so this week I'm making up for it by going for the gold, so to speak. Today's Monday Color is an overdose on my favorite metallic; I found so many great inspiration rooms and home accessories in this hue that I could probably highlight it for the next month. It's a daring color to use in large amounts, so I tried to focus on interiors with gold accents that are high-impact yet livable (with the exception of NYC's Gold Bar.....clearly no one could live there!). The furniture and accent pieces I found range from bold to subtle, showing the variety of ways to incorporate more shine into one's home.








































Images above:

1. Gold damask pattern wallpaper inset into wall panels is the perfect backdrop for this lush avocado green velvet sofa.

2. A high-impact gold leaf wall and stunning peacock blue wing back chair.

3. Gold frames and other accents get toned down by the mostly white palette of this living room found on Decor Pad.

4. What else but a gold tile tub would work in this dramatic all-black bathroom?

5. & 6. New York City's Gold Bar and a detail of its wall of gold skulls.

7. Martyn Lawrence-Bullard designed this global-inspired gold, black and white bedroom for Tamara Mellon, founder of Jimmy Choo.

8. Gold velvet vintage sofa found on Trendey Decor is an odd but perfect mix with old biology charts, modern occasional tables and wide plank floors.

9. A small space like a powder room is the perfect place for a heavy dose of gold.

10. A classic chesterfield in gold metallic leather by Springvale Leather in the UK.

11. This gold graffiti-inspired wardrobe is a custom commission by Jimmie Martin Ltd.

12. Gold Metallic Squares Pillow from pillowsandthrows.com

13. Perhaps the easiest way to introduce a flash of gold into any style interior, a gold sunburst mirror (Worlds Away Gold Sunburst Mirror from Live. Like. You.)

14. Antique gold finish Bird on a Branch Candleholders from Horchow.

15. Areaware's gold cast Banana Bowl from Amazon.

16. Bring some shine into your kids room with Zid Zid's gold metallic owl-themed ottoman.

17. Gold Metallic Hourglass from Z Gallerie (also available in silver).

18. The gold Aurora Dinnerware Collection from Viva Terra is made from recycled glass.

19. Ulu Convex Table from Jonathan Adler.

Monday Color: Indigo

Today's Monday Color is the mysterious and rich Indigo, a shade of blue that has a long history in ancient cultures from the Egyptian Pharaohs that buried their dead in indigo dyed cloths to its reference in 4000 year old Sanskrit texts across Asia, as well as its symbolism of the intuitive, truth-seeking Third Eye Chakra in Hinduism for tens of thousands of years. In more contemporary times, it has held a time honored place in the rainbow acronym we all learned as kids (the "I" in R.O.Y.G.B.I.V.). It is the only commonly used natural blue dye, but needs to be produced in a reduced form in order to dye textiles because Indigo is inherently insoluble in water.

To me, it is the purest blue, expressing its history and natural roots in the very depths of its color. Paired with white, it graces several rooms of my beach house. Synthetic dyes inspired by Indigo are washed into the blue jeans I wear almost daily. Its personality can be moody or bright, ethereal or uplifting, all depending on context.






























Images above:

1. A soothing Indigo and Gray living room found on Creative House Idea.

2. An homage to Indigo, from Caravane in Paris, France (found on Remodelista).

3. Indigo chairs bring a bit of brightness to an otherwise somber interior (from HGTV's blog).

4. and 5. My own restful Indigo, White and Gray bedroom in Long Beach, NY.

6. A Hamptons family room designed by Amanda Nisbet that effortlessly pairs Indigo with Sky Blue and bold Fuschia.

7. Refreshingly crisp Indigo tiles in a bathroom designed by Stephan Learner (from Elle Decor.com, photograph by Peter Estersohn)

8. Indigo promotes restful nights for baby while bright accent colors keep this nursery fun. (Coincidentally, the color predictors over at Pantone are targeting an Indigo trend for 2012....read more here on Re-Do It Design blog).

9. This 24"x 36" Mark Rothko reproduction 'Blue, Green & Brown' Canvas Art from Overstock.com delivers a large dose of Indigo on a budget.

10. Indigo Dip Pillow from John Robshaw, whose block printed textile empire was born during a trip to India to find natural Indigo dyes for his paintings.

11. Viva Terra's Reclaimed Indigo & White Oriental Rug let's you bring Indigo outdoors in a traditional pattern with high-tech features (the rug is made from recycled plastic bottles and packing materials and naturally resists stains and mildew).

12. Uma Resist bedding collection from Nancy's Linens in Indigo (other colors available).

13. The practically perfect Ikat Slipper Chair in Indigo from Urban Outfitters.

14. For poolside or to transform your bathroom, the Alttoglass Nieblas Fog Azul Non Slip Recycled Glass Mosaic Tiles have a beautiful deep blue hue (1" mosaic tiles come on 13"x13" sheets).