Home Sweet Home

/

Welcome to our home! It’s been super fun to set up the place and every day we’re hanging more pictures and making new decisions. Our living room is just about finished and CMJ HQ aka the guest room is next on the list and of course, the husband’s office. It’s kind of ridiculous how much space we have and quite a shock coming from our 600-square-foot box in Brooklyn. The convenience thing is still an issue for me, but nothing beats coming home to this wide open space. 

We’re being really picky with our furniture choices because we want everything to be just right and so, we’ve resorted to making things like these shelves. The brackets are from IKEA and the wood was stained to slightly match the floors. We also finally got around to putting pillows in our kilim pillow cases…after all, it’s only been three years since we bought on our honeymoon in Turkey. And now that we’re using them, I kinda wish we bought more. We don’t have any plans to go back to Istanbul any time soon (tear), but I did discover this amazing shop with a pretty big selection. Their IG feed provides some dreamy interior design inspiration too and while we’re on the topic, I’ve love this feed, this feed and this one!

I’d say our vibe is Mediterranian Modern, which is certainly an evolution from where we’ve been before. I have a feeling that we’ll be in this mood for years to come and the plants are what really tie the space together. The only new addition to our family so far is the fiddle leaf fig tree and it’s not doing so good right now. If anyone has tips to care for this tree, let us know! 

We also finally (a lot of finally’s here) fixed up our little Danish chair, which we found at a stoop sale in Brooklyn. We had cushions made and picked out this orangish color to complement the rug and moved our leather ottoman over for a cute sitting area. The faux sheepskin is from IKEA too and Jay despises it. I think it’s chic. The only other chair I desperately want is a lovesac. Have you seen these things? Unbelievable, right? Now that we frequent the mall way too much, we find ourselves swooning over this giant bean bag. The price is silly - so expensive - so we make the most of our store visits. I think I’m going to save my pennies and pull the trigger this year though. Fingers crossed. 

Hmmm - what else can I say about the space? We still don’t have many friends, so this our most favorite place in the world. It’s calming and bright and airy. It’s feels very Jay and Jamie, which I like and I’m excited for us. We think it’s gonna be a good year here in Pittsburgh. 

Until next time! xo,Jamie

Herriott Grace

/

Like most kids in middle school, I had to take those standardized tests and without fail, my reference skills were always off the chart. I credit my father for this small victory due to the fact that his answer to everything when I was a kid was “Look it Up.”

Before joining the postal service, he sold encyclopedias, so our beautiful leather-bound books were always on display. I remember running my fingers over the spines as I looked for the letter that associated with the subject on my mind. I would get lost flipping from book to book and my obsession with digesting information grew with the invention of Google. 

On any given day, I spend hours researching one thing that leads me to investigating something else and along the way, I find really cool stuff. Now for most of you, you would Pin It, but I just can’t seem to remember the point of Pinterest. I know it’s bad, but until I remember to click this little button, I thought I’d just throw it up on my blog and share with you guys!

My latest discovery is Herriott Grace - a father and daughter duo based in Canada that sells hand carved and hand turned wooden objects. All are one-of-a-kind and made entirely of salvaged, chemical-free wood, ranging in type, age, and origin. They’ve also introduced a select line of exclusive porcelain dishes and other delightful kitchen wares. 

I watched their documentary and it made me cry and now I really want to launch a company with my dad! Here are a few of my favorites products that I intend to buy!

Photo source - www.herriottgrace.com

A New Dream Home

/

My day has been filled with conference calls, so I need a second to escape. I'm working from home today, which is such an amazing perk, but I always work my ass off when I'm at home - sometimes even more so than when I'm at the office. Does that happen to you? I start working from my bed the second I wake up and then boom, it's dark. I need to work on this.  

So, here is my escape. My new dream home. I totally dig all of the polished and intricate design elements. It's just the right balance of minimalism yet it still feels cozy. I recently read an article where Grace Bonney from Design*Sponge was quoted saying that she hates when people say they are re-decorating because a home should be filled with items that are meaningful and that's the vibe I'm getting here - a thoughtful curation of home decor pieces probably passed down from generations or stumbled upon during some amazing trip. It's just perfect and I hope to have a home like this one day. 

To see more pictures, click over to The New York Times article here.