Rethink :: Chairs

One of the pieces I loved most about Esther & Frank's home tour was her DIY reupholstered wingback chair. It's a project that I've always wanted to take on myself but am terrified and overwhelmed by the idea. So I applaud anyone that has successfully taken on a reupholstering project!

I also realized in going through my Pinterest board that I have an affinity for accent chairs - all shapes, sizes and especially bold prints and colors. Here are some of my favorites:

1. A modern white and pink geometric print - via an old Domino magazine cataloged on Flickr.



2. A classic Eames-inspired lounge chair and ottoman in white with a pop of color - via Marissa Waddell Interiors.



3. A vintage tufted wingback chair in a soft peach, perfect for a neutral room palette via DesignSponge.

Featured Home :: Alvhem Mäkleri & Interiör

Desire to Inspire was where we first discovered Alvhem Mäkleri & Interiör and now it's become a regular on our blog roll. It's a Swedish real estate site and is great inspiration for Scandinavian design and aesthetics.

This is one of their recent homes which seamlessly incorporates so many of my favorite design elements:

• hanging pendant lamp - check, check, check!
• character pieces - that fireplace!
• simplicity with pops of color or texture - loving the rug in the bedroom
• wallpaper - I think wallpaper is so easily overwhelming and hard to get right - this is a great exception!

Dia De Los Muertos

Halloween may be long gone but if you remember Johnney and Krystallin's home tour, you know that Day of the Dead style home decor can be year round (especially for the bar!).  It can be kitschy but it can also be modern, sleek and blend with most styles.  On my evening walk tonight, I even passed a neighborhood sushi spot that used skulls as patio decor.  Doing a quick search online, we found these fun items so enjoy!

1. Morelia Decanter from CrateandBarrel.com

2. Crystal Head Vodka from Bevmo.com

3. Skull Shot Glass from Bevmo.com

4. Human Skull Replica from RestorationHardware.com

Esther and Frank's Home Tour

We're really excited to bring you today's tour of Esther and Frank's home in Lake Balboa, CA.  We're not sure where to start with this one because not only is Esther a total DIYer but she's also a complete character (they don't call her @quirkyesther for nothing). Her talents go far beyond home decor and include being an amazing chef.  The day we visited, Esther made a delicious meal for us which included her famous ribs, sides and my favorite, the Momofuku crack pie (more on her later).

Although Esther may have been the mastermind behind their many DIY projects, Frank isn't a bystander when it comes to working a paint brush.  Their hard work has resulted in a warm, inviting place that has so many interesting details, it was hard to choose which ones to showcase here.  Their hand stenciled walls, quirky quotes and reupholstered pieces are just a few of the many special things about their home.

Customized Canvas Prints

Hand Stenciled Walls