House Beautiful describes this Washington, D.C. town house as having “Mad Men” style. I’ve never actually watched that show, but I’m familiar with—and pretty enamored by—the photo stills. I’m equally enamored by this town house, decorated by Hillary Thomas and Jeff Lincoln to maintain a “sophisticated salon feeling” with “black-tie panache.”

I especially love the idea of an Americana color palette of reds and blues in the nation’s capital, but reinterpreted for a sophisticated space with pinks and turquoises.

I also love how so many motifs are repeated throughout the space. For example: black-and-white striped wallpaper in the foyer, black-and-white striped outdoor seating, black-and-white zebra prints, and a black-and-white kitchen. Red and gold accents also repeat throughout the entire home. I aspire to this kind of thoughtful continuity!

Alexis Mabille’s spring 2012 collection restructured menswear into feminine shapes, like on this model, who has a mens’ shirt tied around her like a bustier. It’s cute, it’s creative, and because it’s the subject of an Internet meme that dates as far back as 2008, it’s also pop-culture-relevant—which makes me think that Alexis Mabille has a great sense of humor.

Posted especially for those of you still obsessed with this color palette.

Boat shoes are chic again. My feet would be so happy in a pair of these! Click on the image for details on where to buy your own.

Hmm. Interesting. It seems I’m particularly drawn to these clean, modern kitchens that also have a bit of warmth and friendliness. This one, in particular, has a great balance between reflective surfaces and natural textures. I could see it in an urban loft or a renovated farmhouse.

I copied this image from a very useful article just published in the Chicago Tribune about kitchen island trends. Here are excerpts from the article worth noting when planning a kitchen remodel:

The National Kitchen and Bath Association (nkba.org) recommends at least 42 inches of aisle space surrounding an island, and 48 if there are multiple cooks. As for the island itself, the minimum surface work area is about 3 feet by 4 feet. Anything less and you’re defeating the purpose. There are also reasons not to get too big.

Samantha Emmerling, a senior editor at House Beautiful who covers kitchens and baths, says that the trend is toward smaller islands…

De Guilio says he’s not seeing any scaling back on the popularity of islands. People aren’t foregoing the island just because of budget; they see the kitchen as a place to do it right and do it long term. So an island—one piece of furniture that offers a dependable return on a homeowner’s investment—makes financial as well as practical sense.

My heart always flutters at the sight of kitchen cabinets in my favorite color, light blue. But I’ve wondered if I could actually live with them. In this L.A. beach house, there’s a perfect compromise: light blue cabinetry below, all-white open shelving above.

“The kitchen features architect Rachel Allen’s favorite combination of Mercedes blue cabinets, white Heath subway tile and CaesarStone countertops. Allen prefers sparkling color of the quartz counters because the ‘light makes it jump.’” —Los Angeles Times

I’m in a kitchen mood! I’ve been looking at kitchens all morning and have a feeling you’ll get to reap the benefits all week.

This bright, open Seattle kitchen designed by Louise Durocher has me especially captivated. It was featured in the May 2009 issue of Metropolitan Home (man, I still miss that magazine) and manages to be ultramodern and sophisticated but with cheerfulness.

Some interesting points from the original article:

Stainless steel “ribbons” bind the edges of the countertops, which makes them look slimmer and sleeker.

Notches at either end of the kitchen island aid circulation and provide leeway for the breakfast table.

Large serving dishes are concealed in the toekick cabinets. “Although toekick drawers are common in upscale cabinets, they’re also often available in mass-market lines, if you ask for them. Be sure to install flooring first (otherwise the toe kicks might not open), and make certain the floor is level (because drawer outlines will magnify any discrepancies).”

I’ve alluded to my love for small living spaces. We’re a family of four living in 700 square-feet, which keeps all of us in constant, close proximity, and I love it. It’s intimate, and it feels appropriate for raising small children; plus, it’s manageable (we have to keep it clean, after all).

This tiny house on Sauvie Island, designed by Portland interior designer, Jessica Helgerson, is even smaller (540 square-feet) and uses nearly all reclaimed materials.

Admittedly, this style—what would you call it? Shabby eclectic? Shabby minimalism?—isn’t my thing, because I like my home to be a little more, for lack of a better word, fashiony. Yet from a visual standpoint I can definitely appreciate it. I love this house.

It seems like only yesterday that the light at the end of the tunnel was so dang far away. And now, here we are at the end of April, and I only have four more months to go! That sounds like no time at all!

This shopping diet has just gotten easier and easier. In those early days I didn’t think I’d survive to the end. Now I think I could add on a whole extra year and be just fine. Crazy, right? If I could add on a whole year, then shouldn’t I try?

Well, part of the reason this has gotten easier is that the weather is getting warmer and I’m done with my fall/winter wardrobe for now. So now I don’t even have to look at all the tired pieces that were making me gag over the past few months. Now I can focus on the pieces that have had very little air-time: oh, hello cute sundress! Hello, strappy tank! Hello, favorite sandals!

This afternoon I’m going to go through my closet and make a pile of things to give away, starting with two thrashed pairs of boots that I can’t bear to look at any longer. It’s exciting to know that the next time I’ll need a pair of boots I’ll be able to go to the store and buy them myself!

Have I convinced anyone out there to start a shopping diet yet?

I’m obsessed with 1976.

My parents’ house was built in 1976, and I’ve had this lifelong fantasy of coming into a lot of money to fully remodel their gloomy, little digs. For years I’ve researched 1970s interiors so that, if ever given the opportunity to mess with my their place, I could preserve its 1970s roots while giving it more contemporary flair.

One of my favorite places of inspiration is this Gramercy penthouse in New York City designed by Andreea Avram Rusu. The colors and materials feel 1970s but without the gloomy darkness of many of the homes built during that period.

I especially love that almost tiger-eye wall surrounding the fireplace. Does anyone know what material it is, and how costly?