Oh how I love thee, breakfast nook!  Trying to find a carpenter that can build me such a sweet seating arrangement.  Aside from the cozy factor, the #1 reason I love the nook, is that I can also use the box benches for abundant storage that my galley kitchen so desperately lacks.

pulled from my personal archive, courtesy of Domino Magazine

So I am moving at the end of this month into my very own apartment. Daunting yet truly exciting!  I am finding myself looking for inspiration on how to decorate this new space that I can call my very own. I love both vintage and modern so I am looking for an eclectic mix of the two. The below images showcase rooms and items with a more vintage feel, however I may just plop a modern piece in here and there.

The kitchen is a galley kitchen, I am attracted to the look of butcher blocks with white and silver accents. I definitely would like a hutch (see past white pantry post here) and I am toying with the idea of these oak open shelves. Dust and greece are my main concerns, if anyone has advice on this please share. The bathroom I would like to be serene, feminine, and comfortable. I am working with 1/4 the space of the lofted bathroom below but the colors and wood beams are wonderful!  Aged wood, wicker and accents of apothecary bottles, and silver specialities are a must. For dining, I like white seat covers with dark wood and love the large mirror as a backdrop. A few other homey items like a bench seat and ruffled bed dress just might be the touches I am looking for. Oh and let’s not forget about a little bit of lux, a chandelier would be absolute heaven! DIY network is about to become my new best friend.

1. Elle Decoration SA blog, 3. The Inspired Room, & 4. Home Interiors, spotted on Decorology, 5. RMSer LewisDesigns, HGTV.com, 6. Country Living spotted on the inspired room, 2, 7, 8, & 9. spotted on This is Glamorous

I know Halloween has barely just gone, however I am already thinking of setting the table for Thanksgiving after watching Martha’s Thanksgiving Special yesterday and coming across this post on iDiY. These French inspired linens are the perfect mix of simplicity and sophistication. The brick red checks and stripes make for a nice transition into the December holidays.

Because French linens are often very pricey, Country Living has come up with a creative inexpensive alternative using canvas, a little fabric paint and tape. Lastly, French country dishtowels made of cotton will tie together the look but are much easier to care for than linen making cleaning up in the kitchen a joy.

1.- 3. credits iDiY

4. Country Living DIY instructions here / 5. set of 3 dishtowels, $15.95, farmhousewares.com

A perfect gift for seamen and beachside dwellers!  I just adore the story of it’s creation, read on and let this pitcher speak for itself…

Gurgle Pot, $40, spotted at The Black Swan, 122 Main Street, to order call 978.282.1399

The enclosed goodies were actually spotted in Rockport, Ma a neighboring town of Gloucester.  The shop I entered was a chef’s dream!  Quaint kitchen accessories, yummy and hard to find delicacies, and bright, beautiful linens sure to bring happiness to your eatery.  I loved these items so much I took home items 1-3, I can not wait to treat a friend to a delightful iced tea one sunny afternoon!

1. Harney & Sons Iced Tea, $8.50, Harvey & Strait cocktail napkins, 7″ square - set of 8, $17.50, Bambu toast tongs, 9″ - $5.95, Bambu tongs, 12″ - $8.95, Tikloi kitchen towels, 18″ x 28″ - 100% cotton, price unknown, spotted at Lula’s Pantry, 5 Dock Square, Rockport, Ma, to order call 978.546.0010

Back a few years ago, I was touring a house that was on the market, with my mother and her best friend.  The house was in Gloucester, MA and was beautiful!  I remember that it had been featured in one of the home decor magazines, I think, Better Homes and Gardens.  What was forever imprinted in my mind was an all white pantry and hutch that the homeowner had created. The white porcelain looked so pristeen, pure and uniform, even though each piece was slightly different.  The thought of creating my own white wonderland in the kitchen has stayed with me and I have slowly starting forming my own collection.  My taste is a mix of vintage and modern, taking a few pieces from my 101 year old Nana and buying more contemporary square plates and serving platters as a juxtaposition.  Even though the styles of the pieces are varied they pleasantly compliment each other through their monochromatic scheme.  Although I can not give you the original inspiration photo; here are a few others that I feel capture a similar essence.

1. Elle Decor, 2. A Life’s Design, 3. Unknown, 4. Boston Bash Flickr, 5. Decorology Flickr