Les cuisines noires et blanches

A few of my favorite black & white kitchens. I wouldn't have thought to use so much black, for example, on cabinets, but I think it works so well. Some of them look so elegant, while others look industrial. It's actually versatile depending on how you use it. (photos: top two from Marie Claire Maison; from the old House & Garden magazine; Skona Hem; from John Jacob Zwiegelaar via Porchlight Interiors; via Desire to Inspire)

Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves

Lately I've been admiring floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Here are some I've found particularly pretty. I have found, though, that bookshelves can look so disheveled without serious attention. Why is it in interior shots, bookshelves never seem to look as hodge-podge as mine? (photos: Gianni Botsford architects; Elle Decor; Mary Ruffle)


These aren't floor to ceiling, but I love the clean, white background they provide, and in the first photo of this set, I really like the way the shelves are used as display. Maybe they could be a room divider used in this way? (photos: black white yellow)

Hidden (and not so hidden) workspaces

domino

Bright, organized workspaces like this make you want to sit down and create something.

this is a good desk solution that takes advantage of the wall space.

Living in an apartment in a city means an entire room devoted to an office or workspace is completely hors du question! So I'm left to figure out how to fashion an area for a desk that frankly, is untidy 90 percent of the time. Having a messy desk in open view disturbs my visual equilibrium, so I'm trying to think of ways to conceal it.

this work area created from two bookcases hinged together is ingenious (Martha Stewart Living).
Budget Living Home Cheap Home via sfgirlbybay

from Canadian Style at Home magazine via small space style

Have any of you found a good solution for hiding your work or craft area? Apartment Therapy had a great post on the Ten Best Hidden Office Solutions. And I've seen several ideas, like creating a desk and workspace inside an armoire. I would love to hear from anyone who has actually used this solution and finds it practical! (lowest photo- unknown source. please let me know if it's yours.)

French Vogue Helena Christiansen's gorgeous boheme loft

French Vogue featured an article on Helena Christiansen's loft in New York. To me the photographs are like one big inspiration board! Love the bohemian, collected feel to her furniture and sentimental objects. This is definitely one of my favorite interiors I've seen lately.

Click on the photos for a more detailed, larger view. (photographs by Carole Sabas for The Selby)

Stylist Yvonne Baker

I learned of Dutch stylist Yvonne Baker from a favorite blog, Head Over Heels. I don't know whether it's the styling or the fact that the actual structure of the house in the top few photos is so appealing, but I love the look of it and the selective, sparse furnishings. (all photos from Yvonne Baker's website.)

Charming Paris Shop: Au Petit Bonheur de la Chance

About three weeks ago I took a trip to Paris for Easter. We had the most beautiful weather and all the colors seemed so saturated. The entire city was blooming. It was a perfect introduction to this lovely city for my little 10-month old, who enjoyed most the baguettes!

I found this lovely shop called Au Petit Bonheur de la Chance, (13 Rue St. Paul) with a million vintage treasures picked out over time: everything from unused 1950's school notebooks and erasers to silk ribbon and hatpins. The owner has an impressive collection of colorful vintage latte bowls from the 1940's and 1950's, kitchen tins and stacks and stacks of antique cream and red table linens. The way things are displayed is beautiful- everything is easy to find, and despite the shop's small size, pretty easy to see. You must visit if you get a chance! I discovered the shop from this lovely blog. (The gorgeous photos were taken by my husband.)