Black Doors

One of the easiest and most rewarding things I have done since moving into my place is so simple that it is ridiculous how much apprehension went into it. Are you ready?

I painted the front door black.

I hear you laughing at me, so cut it out. It sounds like a trivial design choice, but gearing up to paint a door black can be incredibly intimidating. I’m here to tell you that you that it’s going to be OK. Black doors are gorgeous and elegant. Look:

via Elle Decor

Make Your Own Art: Rasterbator

Sounds dirty but isn't: Rasterbator. This great (free!) program allows you to blow up an image to any size and print it out in individual pages that you assemble into a giant poster or a even a mural. A great way to cover a whole wall without painting a thing and a cheap way to get a lot of look. 

via Flickr

 via Flickr

Better Than Sliced Bread: Instant Pendants

You know what’s better than sliced bread? A pendant light fixture that plugs right into the socket of a recessed light. It’s called an "instant pendant." Perfect for renters who don’t like their recessed lighting or owners who don’t want to bring in an electrician (or commit to permanently converting a recessed fixture into a pendant).

The bonus: it comes in a pretty decent array of styles. This one and the one pictured are comparable to pendants at West Elm and this one has a hint of Restoration Hardware to it. The bonus on top of the bonus: the whole thing costs less than a Franklin.

Fresh as a Gerbera Jamesonii

Despite my very best efforts, I am a murderer …of plants. My kitchen window sill currently hosts not one but three plants on their way to the big window sill in the sky. I may not have a green thumb, but I do keep trying to fill my home with vegetation. Not only because it adds color and freshness to a room, but because it is vital to good indoor air quality. 

Often unbeknownst to us, our modern homes have awful air quality. Living in cities brings fine particles (inhalable dust), vehicle exhaust and mold in every time we open a window or turn on air conditioning. And objects we voluntarily bring into our home emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) - toxins that release over time and cause long-term health effects as they accumulate. Think you’re safe because you haven’t painted recently? You aren’t. People are surprised to learn that VOCs are emitted not just by paint, but by most household products and home furnishings, including but not limited to: carpet, furniture fabrics, plywood, particleboard, glues, plastics, vinyl, grocery bags, cleaning products and dry-cleaned clothes.

Plants improve indoor air quality by removing carbon dioxide as well as volatile organic compounds such as benzene, formaldehyde and/or trichloroethylene from the air. The helpful geniuses at NASA conducted a study on household plants most effective at filtering the air and came up with a list of the best. The study recommends one potted plant per 100 square feet space and keeping them in 6-8 inch diameter containers.

Make Your Own Art: Maps

This is the second installment of a series on making your own art, but one that I have been continually working on for quite a while because it involves a growing collection: maps from travels. I have always loved maps, old and new, and the collection started because I couldn't bear to throw them away after using them. What makes this project personal is that several are marked up with directions, routes taken and sites seen, and looking at them brings back memories of great trips.

Jewelry as Art

I never quite know what to do with jewelry. I’ve never been partial to keeping it in boxes because everything seems to get so tangled in there. It’s like a free for all, and good luck to you if you need to grab something in a hurry. 

I have seen jewelry stores with limited space come up with some amazing solutions to displaying their jewelry, including the use of frames on the wall. Many fill the frames with velvet or cork and hang items up on pins. Others have used branches or even antlers. I'm trying out a web of colorful string inside an empty frame to hold some earrings. 

Display as Storage

I often find myself thinking about the 80/20 closet rule. The rule says that you wear 20% of your clothing 80% of the time. On the one hand, that means you are really getting your money’s worth out of a few essential pieces (my rationale for investing in good basics). On the other hand, it also means that 80% of your clothing goes unworn 80% of the time. This part drives me a little crazy, because just thinking that the 80% is hanging there, being useless, makes me want to chuck it out the window. 

Before we go chucking things out the window and regretting it, let’s consider the possibility that at least some of that 80% goes unworn because we don’t SEE it. Out of sight, out of regular circulation. And if that’s the case, then these display as storage options are ingenious. Not only does displaying clothing or accessories let you see what you’re not wearing, but it provides additional storage outside of the closet (much needed for those of us with little closet space). I'm working on a way to incorporate my own based on these inspiring closets:

via Mia Linnman

The Emerald (Door) City

It took me a while to notice because I’ve been in love with glossy black doors for so long, but there’s a new kid in town. And that new kid is the green door. The great thing about green doors is that there are many shades and tones to choose from, allowing for a wide range of looks. Want it bright and punchy? There’s emerald green. Conservative and classy? Hunter green. Nonchalant and dignified? Muted green. And green looks fantastic with any tone of metal hardware, particularly brass. While hardware can get lost on a black door or play second fiddle to a bright red door, with green the hardware can get the attention it deserves. Below are some great green doors holding court in the Manhattan neighborhoods of Chelsea and Gramercy.