Wall Flower

I have always wanted to use wallpaper in a room but being a renter, it never felt like a practical option. Then I discovered, as I mentioned in this recent post, that there are several lines of temporary papers on the market. I chose the Shewin-William's line called Easy Change, they seemed to have the best selection and this blog post made me confident about removing it when the time comes.

I wanted to create one strong accent wall behind the heard board. I chose a paper with a white background so it would flow more naturally with the surrounding white walls. I am very happy with the final result, for just a small investment my bedroom has a dramatic new look. 

To install it, I hired a professional paper hanger, Greg Gabor who I found via Craig's List. This was not a DIY I felt comfortable with and his rate of $20 a roll seemed very reasonable. The only tough part was convincing him it would hold. In his experience pre-pasted papers needed extra glue to stay put, he was amazed after wetting the paper at how well it worked on its own. 

I enlisted my sister-in-law to help me make curtains, we used this beautiful fabric by Joel Dewberry. I then covered a Target lamp with a contrasting fabric by Amy Butler. I debated adding the painting over the headboard and now I really like it. It breaks up the paper a bit and adds a touch of unexpected color. Signed and dated 1960 on the back, it was a $40 flea market find.

On the right side I keep it simple with my moonbeam clock, vintage lamp and books and these pretty vintage Madonna portraits from Italy I picked up at an estate sale for $1. 

I also used some of the easy change paper to jazz up this basic iKea cabinet for my kitchen. I needed some additional storage and this piece was just the right fit, though sorely lacking in character. Above it I added a vintage metal shelf and love how it has all come together. I replaced an ugly door to the water heater with a panel curtain also from ikea. Now, I just need to add a little molding to finish it off.

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

On a Roll

Like many frequent flyers, I struggle with finding luggage that is both functional and stylish. Especially with all the added regulations and the cost of checking bags, I want a bag that holds a lot and can still be carried on. Just before my recent trip I happened on the new line of travel bags fromAmy Butler. The "Graceful Traveler-Carry On" seemed to be just what I was looking for and though not cheap ($340) it is available throughAmazon along with much of her other beautifultravel gear, so free shipping and  depending on your State, you may not have to pay tax. I also saved $40 by not checking any bags, over time I will even save more, it just might pay for itself!

 

It is a little bigger than I expected, at 8x22x16 it just falls within the carry on allowance and I admit I was a little worried they would not allow me to take it on or that it might not fit in the overhead. It did fit, though it took a touch of maneuvering to get it in. Had it been a smaller plane, I might have had a problem, so check thebag size allowance for your airline before you go. I did pack a fold up shopping bag, (which makes a handy laundry bag) so I could carry my laptop and camera, just in case I was forced to check it. 

The casing is soft and unstructured which also surprised me, so it dose not really take shape till you fill it. This makes it easy to store, since it can be folded when empty. There is a sturdy wheel base, with a zipped flap so you can hide the pull out handle. It can be a little tricky on turns (go wide!) but other wise worked well. Inside there is one large pocket and two smaller pockets on each side, for a total of six. I could easily fit my 15" lap top in asleeve in the large pocket and had lots of room for my cloths and other gear in the spacious interior.

It is offered in two colors and though I really like the lighter "tomato" I am really glad I went with the darker "navy". I am sure over the long haul it will wear better. I got a few admiring comments from people and all I needed in addition was asmall purse, really making my travel load light. Love this bag!

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

New Favorites

Last week, I decided to take advantage of the fantastic deal sponsor,Chronicle Books is offering until Decemeber 9th. Use the promo code FRIENDS at checkout and get 35% off your order and free shipping! My order arrived yesterday and I might have kissed my postman if I had the chance. I had to have thephotobooth postcard book, I have been featuring on my sidebar. It is beautifully designed and constructed, so much so it seems a shame to pull out the postcards! I may have to get a second one for that purpose as they are also too cool not to use.

 

Being the stationery fiend that I am, I also opted for this lovely set (above),Lucky Flowers, designed byAmy Butler and a set oflabels & stickers byLotta Jansdotter. Every page is different, so stylish and handy, especially when gift wrapping for the holidays. 

They just extended this giveaway to the 9th! 

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol