A Table For My Bed

It's been quite a while since I have frolicked in the blogosphere. I had a glorious week off from work, where I traveled to my hometown of Brunswick, Maine. It was a week of beach going, yummy food eating, book reading, movie watching, afternoon napping, and antiquing with my mommy! The fruit of my antiquing produced a lovely bedside table (versus the rickety cork board one I've been using for years). At $40, it was a steal. The table is oval and an interesting shade of green that's flecked and nicked with age and use. I love it's character and unique. The size is perfect to fit my lamp, clock, and that inevitable pile of books that builds up at my bedside.

A 20-Something Living Space (Boston-Style)

We are on our way to achieving design nirvana in our apartment (okay, maybe nirvana is extreme, but we've made strides, believe me). I've been so inspired by all the fabulous design blogs I read that I simply had to bring some of that fab influence into my own life. I live in a spacious old apartment with five bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a kitchen, dining room, and living room (I know, I sound like a Century 21 agent). It's a huge space that we've managed to fill quite nicely, but it sometimes feels like a college dorm room. My roommate, Em, and I decided to take the first steps in making it more of a twenty-something, young professional living space that fits our Boston way of life. This style is relaxed, comfortable, perhaps with soft, muted colors that work together for a cohesive look that unpretentious and devoid of flash. Bostonians are clean, precise, and casual. We know what we like, be it the Boston Red Sox, our favorite menu item at Legal Seafood, or the casual, basic style of our living spaces. We're working hard and saving money in a tough economy. We want a place that will offer us peace and ease at the end of a long day and pride in showing that we have moved up from our college experiences.

Em and I concocted a list of what we would like to accomplish in each room of the apartment, including our bedrooms, and then it was time to make a pilgrimage to Ikea! Our plan was to purchase a "starter" batch of goodies to make our apartment look spectacular! Overall, we spent just under $300 and came away with some fine stuff! The picture above is the living room, which is essentially finished except for the hanging of a few black picture frames on the wall behind the TV. The most crucial piece was to buy long sheer curtains (a set of two panels for $10) for the large windows that overlook Beacon street. The close proximity and size of the windows makes you feel like you are outside (a second best to having a porch), especially when one flings them wide open. The sheer cotton curtains enhance the airiness afforded by the windows and give dimension to the room.

We also picked out throw pillows for the furniture. For the baby blue couch, we chose some square pillows with brown, grey, and beige polka dots . Fun, but not too girly for the sake of Tad, our one male roommate (bless him). We also found some giant light beige pillows with a corduroy texture for the cushy dark brown sofa. For the walls, Em had a sizable black frame that we filled with a brown-tinted beach photograph. We plan to fill the rest of the frames with roommate pictures and put them on the bare wall behind the television. Special mention must be given to a fluffy cream throw that Em found and put on the blue-grey recliner in the corner. It looks great next to the floor lamp with a new natural-colored lamp shade (it replaces a bright red velvet shade that competed with the color flow of the room).

We still have the foyer, the dining room, the kitchen, and our bedrooms to finish. I will post more on them as they near completion. I am very excited that Ingrid will give an original painting to put above the fireplace in the foyer, which will be a stunning way to greet our guests!

Fab Foyer

It's Sunday night and I am gearing up for the week with a nostalgic fix of the 1998 version of The Parent Trap. I just love the homes used in this film, in particular, the mother's home in London (the Kensington borough). My absolute favorite part of this house is the foyer with a sweeping staircase, the strikingly orange walls covered with all kinds of framed paintings and photographs, and back door that leads to a lush, green-covered terrace. Someday, I will have a foyer designed just like this one!

Images found here.

Summer Adventure

{View of Rockport Harbour}

{View of Lake Winnipesaukee in Meredith, NH}

I have been feeling very restful lately and am in the mood for a little adventure. Much of this Friday has been spent looking up possible locations for my adventure-frolicking. The two contenders are Rockport, MA and Meredith, NH. The question is: am I craving the ocean or lake views? I've visited ocean 'scapes a lot lately, but can anyone ever have too much of that incomparable smell of salty sea air, the crash of the waves, and delicious seafood? Regardless of what I decide to do, I am determined to have fun and experience some new things in this special summertime! Happy weekend!

Images found here and here.

Pour l'amour d'un oeuf

About month ago I began to experience this incredible craving for eggs that has turned into quite a pattern. They are so utterly delicious and fulfilling to me. I have a particular penchant for egg sandwiches, yummy doses of eggs, scrambled or sunny-side up with a slices of fresh tomatoes, Havarti, Brie, or Cheddar cheeses (maybe just one cheese at a time though!). Also, any kind of omelet sounds just delightful to me. A favorite meal of mine is breakfast for dinner, which is what I will be having this evening. I found a savory-looking Nigella Lawson recipe for a Corsican Omelet on a blog called, Savour Fare. I just bought some tasty chèvre that should be quite nice for my egg dish du jour!

Happy Independence Day!

I hope that anyone who pays a visit to The Marginalian has a healthy and happy Independence day! I will be relaxing at home with family, enjoying wonderful food, music, fireworks, and the simple pleasures of rural living! God bless America!

Image found here.

Coming Up Rosie

Something about this incessant rain and lush green has lulled me into a place of musical solitude. I find myself listening to Coldplay, Alexi Murdoch, Jack Johnson, Norah Jones, and mostly recently, Rosie Thomas. Though she sounds a lot like Regina Spektor, there is something more peaceful about her music that I find soothing over these past few rainy weeks when all I want to do is curl up with a soft blanket and some hot green tea. Rosie's music compliments this scene quite nicely.

{A fun video of her song, "Pretty Dress"}

Style Icon: Jennifer Garner

{Jennifer Garner in a red Diane Von Furstenberg shirt dress}

Lately, I have been admiring Jennifer Garner's simple, elegant, all-American style. She manages to be both a casual mom and a stunning icon in the fashion world. I admire her for making a tee shirt and sweatpants look stylish and normal in everyday life. She seems to be kind, smart, and just simply herself in a celebrity culture that thrives on the artificial. To me, she strikes a healthy balance in being a strong, yet wholly feminine woman.

{A FABULOUS hair piece worn by Jennifer, InStyle, May 2009}

Images found here and here.