If you’re anything like me, you have Obsessive Compulsive Decorating Disorder (OCDD). It is characterized by a marked need to see EVERY example of whatever thing is currently occupying your mental space — be it paint colors, couches, rugs, lamps, chairs, etc., followed by an overwhelming sense of analysis paralysis, and culminating in a rushed selection, because you just need to BUY something, dammit. Currently this disease is forcing me to shop for a new couch, a new white paint color, and new wallpaper, but in the end I will probably just buy some dumb thrift store tchotchke to abate my compulsion, since none of those big purchases/projects are logical if The Hunny and I actually want to move in the new year. Or, I will just screw logic, and buy something big and cheap that I hate next month.

Last night, Karly emailed to tell me that I have 674 Craigslist postings bookmarked. I thought to myself, “Ha, I’ve likely deleted more than twice that many.” So, let’s see… that makes over 2000 postings that have caught my gimlet eye in the last year.

I think I have a problem, people. But I’m pretty sure it’s not my fault.

(via Weather Sealed)

Just look at the history of Crayola colors. At the turn of the (last) century, there were only eight colors. EIGHT. Period. In the last 100 years, the choices have exponentially multiplied, so that I can’t even count all the tiny little bars to tell you how many colors there are now. See there? The choices are uncountable. The variations and combinations thereof — innumerable. And those are just stupid crayons. Imagine how many sofas, white paint colors, and wallpaper patterns, there are today.

Maybe I should time travel back to 1903, with its eight-color palette, and order my sofa from the Sears Roebuck catalog, whitewash the woodwork, and wallpaper… with the Sears Roebuck catalog. Which would be fine, except for one tiny detail.

There’s no Craigslist.

So far 2010 is shaping up to be craptacular. This does not bode well for the next 10 FREAKING YEARS, does it? Let’s recap the already long list of stupid stuff that has happened in this very new year: the entire nation has been living in a subzero meat locker. The Hunny, Baby Ike and I, have been passing around a disgusting cold. I am on a no sleep plan, thanks to Ike’s first tooth. Because I’m exhausted, every night I scarf down a bowl of ice cream with hot fudge about 3 seconds before I go to bed. The scale refuses to even register my weight in the morning — it just laughs. Oh, and the cat puked on our rug in the middle of the night, for the 854th time this month. Aren’t you jealous? Don’t you wish you were me? SAY YOU WISH YOU WERE ME.

Yeah, it could be a lot worse, but I don’t really want to hear about context or perspective or any other gross thoughtful stuff today. Instead, I’ve been fantasizing about painting everything in my house white, and getting all white furniture, and all white accessories. It’s my new happy place, where it’s clean and fresh and everything matches, and there is no orange puke or chocolate sauce, and everybody sleeps all night long.

Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about. (Remodelista)

I used the google to find this, therefore I have no source info. What? You think I shouldn’t occasionally resort to googling my post material? I don’t have time to read blogs ALL day. Update — thanks to Nicole for letting me know this room was designed by Alexander van Berge!

Is that sofa inflatable, or is it just me? (Per Ranung)

This room is so anti maximalist, but I am in sweet sweet love. Even the buildings across the way are white. (Francois Halard)

I don’t know where this came from, and those clothes are really buggin, but hot damn! White just photographs so beautifully.

So. restful. can’t. keep eyes open.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. (Marie Claire Maison)

Om me padme hum a zoom zoom, just shake your rump! Uh, that’s totally not where I meant to go with that. I just got a little overexcited thinking about all that white. (Living Etc)

Get out of my room, fugly brown boxes.

How not to do a white room. I want to punch that DREAM banner in the face and rip that stupid Z Gallerie pirate chandelier out of the ceiling. Repeat: this room bad. Bad white make Erin angry!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. Anger level receding. (Remodelista)

Um hmmmm. (Desire to Inspire)

Oh yeah. (From the Right Bank)

Almost disqualified due to a preponderance of off white tones, but so pretty I couldn’t help myself. Whatever. You can’t stop me. I’m high on white. I’m unstoppable. (Style Files)

Pure as the driven snow… and the number one reason I can’t actually have an all white house. (Ohdeedoh)

I think I’m actually feeling better, thank you very much, but now I’m seriously jonesing for more white crack. So tell me, smart, savvy decorating friends: do any of you have white walls? Do you like them? Does white highlight every imperfection — like the dreaded wall cellulite — or does it smooth over the ugly drama? Any particular colors, tips, etc? It seems like great architecture and serious windows are needed to go white, but I’m oh so tempted…

Interior decor is as much a part of the fashion world as clothes are — trends are born and then trends die. It’s the cycle of style. Because I’m short on time and have to work whenever I find a spare minute or two, I tend to bookmark my posts well in advance (and for my responsible nature I deserve a gold star, right?), but the downside is that I often find I’m tired of the pictures before I even get to post them. So, yeah, I’ve had this awesome black and white roundup lassoed and hogtied for weeks, but I was all sick of it because I’ve already seen a zillion (good) black and white roundups splashed all over the blogosphere. Anyhoodle, this is my long and rambling way of saying that you’re getting a (mostly) black and white post whether you like it or not, because there are some good things about black and white, and besides — it’s a classic, dammit.

Sabrina Bignami

Nicolas Matheus

Richard Powers

OWI

Francois Halard

Studio Ilse

Style Files

Studio Ilse

Jeff Andrews

Emmas Designblogg

Elle Decor

Skona Hem

Jeff Andrews

Sabrina Bignami

Did you see how many pictures I had bookmarked??? I’m nothing if not thorough, and I couldn’t exactly let all that gorgeousness go to waste.

So what do you dudes think? Is black and white itself too chilly? Does it need a pop of color or the warmth of wood to make it work? Tell me your favorite picture, and I’ll tell you mine… Inquiring minds need to know.

Hello hello, blog buddies! I am back from the brink of certain death by bubonic infection, and baby Ike is feeling much better, as well. Along with heaping doses of Oprah, Supernanny, and baby Tylenol, your well wishes and kind words healed our sickness. It’s a miracle! Or maybe my resurrection is the result of these hot rooms that have my blood a’ pumping, because you know what — the gloss is boss.

Apartment Therapy

Yesss, paired with deep, dark paint, a glossy finish adds depth and — dare I say — an element of mystery?

A super high gloss finish like the one in this room by Miles Redd is like hot lingerie for your walls, and you don’t want to force your walls to wear granny panties, do you?

Studio Ilse

No granny panties here, just sleek sophistication. But make sure to smooth out walls before painting, because a glossy sheen reveals imperfections and no one wants to see that orange peel cellulite on your wall.

SR Gambrel

Why not spread the shine to the ceiling, while you’re at it?

SR Gambrel

And although black looks fabulously fresh in a high gloss finish, a whole rainbow of dark hues could work beautifully.

Head Over Heels

Elle Decor

Marie Claire Maison

Dark and glossy is grown up sexy, but use it sparingly. Much like makeup, you don’t want too much shiny, or you risk looking trashy.

Although a shiny finish does make for easy cleanup.

I was hoping to bring you guys some pics of my new office today but I’m STILL not done.  It’s not for lack of trying, I’ve worked on it every weekend for a month and a half.  I’m pretty sure it has a lot to do with the 14 million boxes of “heirlooms” my mother sent when she gutted her house that have been stored in my office for the past several months.  I finished sorting through them this weekend, but unpacking and finding a  home for yet another porcelain miniature tea set has been challenging, to say the least.  Man I’m rambling.  Anyway, office: not done.

Another reason it took so dang long is that I painted it, hated it, tried to live with it then painted again.  I settled on white, which I actually LOVE.  Accents are yellow and black with lots and lots of art (still waiting to be hung).  Since I can’t show you my room, I thought I’d share some other spaces with pops of yellow in honor of my never to be completed work space.

Unfortunately, that chair is not in my office, but I’m not ruling it out if perchance I happen upon it one day at the thrift store.  It could happen.

Hi yellow lamp!  Are you sure that desk is sturdy enough to hold you up?  

Love.

The K-dawg doesn’t allow colorful walls in her house, but this one isn’t making me mad.

yes.

I really like this kitchen but I HATE the way they styled it.  clock: gross, stools: gross.  2 coffee mugs, fruit bowl and plants in triplicate: gross gross gross.  Yellow beam, yes, yes I like you.

If anyone who owns this sideboard is willing to accept a first born in trade please let me know.  My babies will be really tall and probably, like, way smart, so it’s a really sound investment.

yellow couch, you’re awesome!

Do I spy a yellow glow behind the bed?

Ok, so this one isn’t so much of a yellow accent it’s more, as Erin would say, full-frontal-yellow, but I just love it to pieces.

For more yellow accents, check out this guest post Jen did for us a couple of months ago

In remodeling my home I’ve come to realize that you make good friends with the people who help you then, once your project is over, you don’t get to see your redecorating buddies too much anymore.  This is why we invented the ask Sander’s column:  even though most of my house is painted, I still have an excuse to stop on by Benjamin Moore (Hill Country Paint to you South Austinites) any time I want (insert maniacal laugh here).  So, when Jason wrote us with an email lovingly titled “dumb dude needs help” I was more than happy to pay a visit to the King of Paint.

Jason recently purchased this ranch and is experiencing something my husband would never dare to dream of:  his wife has handed him decorating carte blanche.  From what I’ve heard about his plans for the inside, hello Cole & Son wallpaper, he’s doing a bang-up job.  The outside, as you can see, needed serious consultation.  Jason asked Sanders to present him with 2 options:  1. Trim, accent, and door paint leaving the brick as-is, and 2. A palette for painting the whole kitten-kaboodle, brick and all.  We’ll start with the former.

Sander’s first suggestion is to use Benjamin Moore Brandy Cream on for the trim, Dellwood Sand for the accent (the piece of wood that runs below the roof) and a pop of Tarrytown Green for the front door.  I like that this selection updates the home while simultaneously blending with the preexisting brick.  One of the major problems with the house right now is that the trim is just way too dark brown.  Lightening it up and letting the front door provide the contrast will clean up the look lickety-split.  

Next.

Another option for Jason that doesn’t involve the laborious task of painting the brick: a nice light trim in Cloud White, an accent in Sag Harbor Gray and a Cromwell Gray Door.  I like that sanders kept the door fairly neutral with this combo, letting the cloud white do the talking.  The white would really pop against the brick, but in a really fantastic way, unlike what the brown is doing now.

If Jason decides to paint the brick, which I 10000% support, here is an option for him:  Body paint in Louisburg Green, trim & accent in Hazy Skies and a door in Duxbury Gray.  Who can go wrong with Gray and Green with a nice, light accent?  I think this palette will modernize the home without conflicting with the ranch style.

I have to admit that I’m a pretty big fan of this option:  Body in Tucson Winds, trim and accent in Ashen Tan and Door in good ole Gray.  I love a light house, I think it would really pop in that gigantic yard.  Like the last option, it’s a nice update without trying too hard.

Finally, we have my favorite option.  Ok, I’m a sucker for gray, with the Granite painted brick you could probably make the trim neon green and hot pink and I’d still love it, but I like what Sanders has chosen even more:  Steam trim and accent with Mysterious for the door.  I think this palette is the most sophisticated and I am BEGGING Jason to please please paint his house this color and send us some pictures.

I tried to find homes online painted similarly but wasn’t able to find the right combination, so instead I did a crappy photoshop mock-up of Jason’s house.  Hopefully my elementary rendering won’t scare him out of the project:

Jason, bear in mind that there will be much more depth in reality, it won’t look like a gray play-doh fortress if given the treatment in real life.  Squint your eyes and look at it (god, I’ve never had to say that about a design project) see, isn’t it grand?

Best of luck, dumb dude!  Be sure to send us pictures when you’re done.

For anyone in Austin who is looking for a walking-talking color encyclopedia be sure to visit Sanders at Hill Country Paint: 5501 South Congress / 78745

Hello, darling readers of Design Crisis!  Your hair looks fantastic today.

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Tula and I’m usually turning tricks on a blog called WHORANGE.  Like many of you, I rely heavily upon my daily Design Crisis fix to get me out of bed and through the day.  Therefore, when Erin and Karly asked me to be a guest blogger, I felt like an addict being given the keys to the crack house Miss America - honored, delighted, and ready to embark upon a glamour-filled journey.

But, before I launch into the talent portion of the competition, I would like to acknowledge the little fellow who made my debut today possible — Erin’s newborn son.  Welcome to this world, handsome guy.  You’ve got yourself a tremendously talented, witty, and inspiring mom who is admired both internationally and intergalactically.  And that Karly lady she hangs around with ain’t too bad either.

That being said, let’s sparkle, shall we?

Today’s inspiration comes to us from a ditty made famous by my hero — Judy Garland.  Judy was a troubled gal with a million dollar voice and Hollywood at her fingertips.  In other words…she’s just like us. Please sing along if you know the lyrics.

Somewhere over the…

Yep, you got it.

Rainbow Reproduction.  Making rainbows is an arduous task and one that unicorns do not take lightly.  The combination of carnal chemistry and heavenly lighting is key and extremely rare, but the result is pure magic.  Chris Bishop’s educational “Afternoon Delight” is the perfect way to say “I love you” and dispel the myth that rainbows are born of raindrops and sunshine.

Rainbow Kicks.  With the long trek ahead of us, let’s pick out some sensible shoes, shall we?   Salvatore Ferragamo’s colorful collection ranges from practical platforms to fancy flats.  Since comfort is key, I’ll slip on the platforms.

Cue music…

Rainbow Rockers.  As we all know, rainbows and rock stars go together like whiskey and rehab.  Jason Munn of The Small Stakes takes a page from the psychedelic 60s and spins it modern with his vibrant screen prints.  Is anybody else getting the munchies?

Rainbow Cravings.  Remember, you are what you eat.  Therefore, eat pretty.  (Macarons by Paulette.)

Rainbow Poop.  And, poop pretty.

Please, take your time.  No rush.  I’ll just be in the next room reading my favorite novel…

Rainbow Wisdom:  If only I could remember what color it was.  A wise person once said, “Color-sorting your bookshelf may look pretty as a pony, but it’s as practical as a Pinto.”

That wise person was me.  Could have sworn that book was leopard print.  Maybe I’ll find it in here…

Rainbow reading.  The Kid’s Republic Library in Beijing stocks picture books from all over the world and provides plenty of technicolor hideaways and colorful corridors for tiny readers.   However, something tells me the library doesn’t supply these…

Rainbow Rings.  Kiddie coloring meets fabulous finger fashion with Timothy Liles crayon rings.  Speaking of art…

Rainbow Post-Modern.  Yves Klein and Jasper Johns once channeled their inner rainbows with “Yves Peintures” and “0-9″.  I think I’ve found the perfect place to hang them, too…

Rainbow Room.  Designer extraordinaire Gio Ponti knew how to craft a colorful crib and even created the design magazine Domus, which ran from 1928-1999, to show us how.  (Thanks for the tip, Mr. Peacock!)

Rainbow Respite.  These Ferragamos are killing me, people.  One moment please as I rest on this bench.

Rainbow Relaxation.  Speaking of rest, I took a trip to Yosemite over the 4th of July and it looked nothing like this.   Perhaps I should go back in the Fall.   (Illustrations by Scott Hansen.)

Okay, I’m back on my feet.  Let’s hustle…

Rainbow Enlightenment.  Did you know that if you close your eyes and envision two unicorns humping, a rainbow will shoot from your third eye?  It’s true!

Go ahead and try it.  I’ll wait.  (Illustration by Brandi Strickland.)

Rainbow Misfire.  But, keep your third eye trajectory away from the cats!

We’ve finally made it — the end of the rainbow!  Thank you for taking this journey with me, lovely denizens of Design Crisis.  Sorry, there isn’t a pot of gold, field of green, or pocket gnome for you to take home.  Sadly, all that’s here is the cold, hard reality of what happens when you indulge too much in a good thing.

Stay pretty, darlings!

tula

You dudes may remember the bedroom makeover I started a hundred million years several months ago.  Well, we were moving right along, then I got busy with work so the project got put to the side for a bit.  I’m ready to wrap it up now but I am at a MAJOR impasse:  I can not decide what to do with the walls.  I have one black wall, which I love, and the rest are white, also great.  So, what’s the problem?  I want to do something to the white walls to make them a bit more interesting and to make my headboard stand out.  Let’s start with a pic of the room now:

Sorry, I’m no Erin so the picture isn’t so great.  The curtains are going to be rehung a few inches higher, art and lighting are still being picked out, and I’m thinking of getting this rug for under the bed:

Yes, we have all seen this Ikea rug before.

I thought doing something simple like this on the walls would be good, but I’m not sure the headboard will stand out enough:

I don’t have to do a laser light show, I could vary the shape:

Or should I do something with subtle black lines to tie in the black wall?

I’m really open to any and all suggestions, even if you want to tell me to paint the whole thing kelly green (which I probably won’t do, but girl, I will listen!)

help!!!!!

I know that the June issues of our shelter mags are old news by now but apparently I’ve been too busy eating bon bons and watching episodes of Ninja Warrior to notice.  My monthly subscriptions arrived weeks ago but I hadn’t even cracked them open until Erin and Ben came over on Saturday night.  Our husbands decided they could best socialize by diving head-first into somecrappyx-boxgame, leaving Erin and I with a stack of design magazines and a bottle of wine.  Since Erin is knocked up, I had the unfortunate task of getting rid of the booze.

Ok, where is this all going?  The bottom line is that we saw this house in Met home and it knocked our socks off.  You’ve probably seen it all by now but, because of the bon bons and ninja warrior, it was new to me (and Erin).  Enjoy:

I love everything except the small dorky painting over the fireplace.  Erin and I have also decided that it’s in my best interest to replicate that little cactus garden in my bay window.

Ok, this picture wasn’t in the magazine, and for good reason, I say.  That big ole rock is good, the 2 smaller pieces of art are ok, but the rest is too craft-corner-kitsch.  

Erin and I decided to divvy up the furniture in this room: she got, what she refers to as the giant tooth, while I took the wood tulip table.  I really wanted the tooth, but she did such a good job naming it I really couldn’t argue.  Neither of us took Marilyn.  Sorry Marilyn.

Erin immediately claimed these lovely green chairs and I have since ordered the pieces necessary to knock off that wicked ball chain lamp.  Do you see how it’s touching the table?  Do you?! 

What I find most lovely about this patio is that the homeowners are probably able to spend time on it.  Right now my UNCOVERED patio is reaching daytime temperatures of what feels like a million bazillion degrees (ok, today was like 100).  With few trees in sight, my porch is currently off limits.  Oh, and the blue and pink here are nice, too.

A pool and an umbrella could quickly shift my backyard from uninhabitable to party-town-usa.  Yes, I would like fringe on my umbrella, too.

We have seen this image before on The Daily Bed, loved it then, love it now, love love love.

Ok, I’m gonna level with ya:  I’m not really sure what’s goin on here but, no matter, I love it.   While the wall looks like it’s covered in magazine clippings I don’t remember my high school bedroom looking nearly as cool when I tried the same budget wallpaper stunt.  

oh goodness, you had me at gold poufs.  

Have I ever told you guys how much I like those colorful plastic outdoor rugs?  Well, I really do.

Our Protagonist, artist Doug Meyer in front of the yellow entry way he whipped up.  

GUESS WHAT Y’ALL?!?  I was just trying to find a link to Doug’s design site when I found a NYT hometour slideshow from 2006.  

Chairs: same.  Deck: now turquoise, no fringy umbrella out by the sun chairs

I don’t even know what this space is now but holy ick, I’m glad he changed it.

Also, you may now visit that knoll sofa in photo #1, it has been recovered in green.

Ok, This room looks like it is now the room in photo #1, the one on the far side of the partition.  Erin, overt your eyes from the chrome ball lamp.  Look!  That chair has now been recovered and it found a friend (see photo #1).  The lamp in the corner is now in the bedroom (see photo #7) The table is in the Marilyn room.  The painting is in the dining room.  They all look so much better in their new homes.

For some reason this reveal feels very juicy gossipy to me.  This is the decor equivalent of Brittany’s car-exit stunts.

One last pic for the road:

The jade green Ondine console ($5,900) and wall piece ($3,900), are part of the Doug & Gene collection.  So, let’s see $9,800.  Yep, seems about right.

Let’s get this straight:  I really do like the house as shown in Met Home, I didn’t mean for this to become a bitchy design-coverup-exposed expose, it was a last minute addition.  Doug, A+ on the home redo, it was much needed.  Can I come swim in your pool?

Today, I’m in a funk. You know those days where, from the very moment you wake up and rub the sleep out of your grubbly little eyes, you just feel whack? Well, I’ve got a major case of the grumble grumbles, and the only things stopping me from throwing a rock through the window are A) the cost of replacing said window and B) the cost of therapy for my anger management problem. Whew! Crisis averted thanks to poverty!

Anyway, I refuse to sit and stew. So it’s up to me to find a happy distraction, and do you know what makes me happy and distracted?

Motherfucking Rainbow Brite, that’s what.

I mean, no one can be angry in the face of all that COLOR. Sure, I like black and white and brown and gray. A lot. But sometimes, I just need to visit a happy fantasy land, where Roy G Biv reigns supreme and the world is filled with sparkles. And hopefully donuts. I bet the guy who owns this renovated Art Deco house has a mountain of sparkly donuts in his rainbow painted cupboard just for me.

This dude does not give a rat’s rump about the oft touted “household color palette.” This is a shameless, unapologetic exploitation of paint, combined with an unadulterated love of the Corbusier, Bertoia and Panton triumvirate.

Did I already mention the animal skins?

But, the magical elevator alone is enough to make me forget all the things I don’t like about this house.

And for all its flaws — or perhaps because of them — I feel that this home is inhabited by a person who likes pastries, rides his bicycle in the house, and plays video games during business hours. Maybe Tom Hanks from Big lives here?

Whatever. It’s a vast improvement over Tom Hanks in Castaway or The Da Vinci Code.