Red & White

In honor of Valentine's Day, I thought I would track down some photos of red-and-white themed eye candy. For some reason, I've never included much red into my decor. But these photos prove that the red and white combo works as well for sleek and modern interiors as for spaces that fit the pleasantly cluttered English cottage style. Having just endured a six-week snowathon on the east coast, I can imagine being cheered to come home to this color palette. The red dining chairs are so inviting that they could almost cure me of eating on the fly and draw me back to having meals at an actual table.

Images: At Home with Country: Bringing the Comforts of Country Home by Christina Strutt, photography by Edina van der Wyck, published by Cico Books, 2010. Lonny magazine, Aug/ Sept 2010 issue. Casual Living: No-Fuss Style for a Comfortable Home by Judith Wilson, photography by Polly Wreford, published by Ryland, Peters & Small, 2010. Simple Style by Julia Bird, photography by Hotze Eisma, published by Friedman/Fairfax, 2003. House & Home magazine, August 2010 issue.

Project: Chalkboard Paint

I'm a little bit in love with chalkboard paint. It's an easy solution when a piece of furniture has an appealing design but a not-so-nice finish. I've used it most on desks and workbenches (above and below) because it heightens their functionality. Who needs post-its when you can scribble notes to yourself in chalk and erase them when they no longer apply (a greener solution than scraps of paper). 

Chalkboard paint can turn a wall into a message board or a place to publish favored quotes and sayings. I'm tempted to paint the wall next to my shop door so that customers can treat it as an informal guest book. Now that chalkboard paint comes in virtually every color, there's no reason not to indulge in what used to be childish misbehavior -- drawing on the walls.

Images: RevivalSmith, Casual Living: No-Fuss Style for a Comfortable Home by Judith Wilson, photography by Polly Wreford, published by Ryland, Peters & Small, 2010. Living etc magazine, February 2010 issue.