Pin It!

A friend of mine recently told me about Pinterest, and it has quickly become my new obsession. This website allows you to "pin" the amazing things that you see on a day to day basis when you're surfing the web. Personally anytime I find something online that I love I add it to my "favorites", but Pinterest allows you to add it to an organized list using the actual images, add notes of exactly why you loved the piece and you have the option to arrange it in a corresponding category. It's ah-ma-zing! This site gives you the chance to be your own fantasy interior/ lifestyle designer.
The only catch is you have to request an invitation before you can begin,and it may take a day or so; but I promise it's so worth it.
It's so much fun and a bit addicting. I suggest you try it for yourself, so kids get busy Pinning!

Hey Guys, here's a new way to follow Apt.30 and a number of other amazing blogs! Check it out :)

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Happy Easter!!

Happy Easter, have an amazing day!

It ain't easy being Green

Being green may have been hard for Kermit, but not for my favorite one stop design build store, Greenable. They make going GREEN effortless. Greenable opened their doors in September of 2007 in Old City and a few years ago relocated to an industrial space in Northern liberties. Not only is the new space wonderful, and larger (which means even more great product), but there is tons of free parking... that fact alone gives them a gold star in my book!

Greenable is a brilliant alternative to the horrific waste and pollution that was created when using other building material suppliers. They prove that GREEN no longer means sacrificing depth and quality of material. In my opinion they are changing the face of GREEN building supplies in Philly. The friendly and helpful staff at Greenable cares deeply about their community and the lifestyles of the people living within it. Shopping in their store is easy and fully accessible to everyone and any budget. They realize that every little bit helps and they don't want to exclude anyone from the benefits of utilizing the products they provide.

All products supplied are LEED qualified and meet the EPA GREEN standards, which makes Eco-conscious shopping there a no brainer. Basically they're supplying gilt-free products that will beautify your space! You can't really ask for more then that, talk about good design karma!
One of my favorite basic materials is Mythic Paint. This paint is amazing. It's non toxic, there is virtually no order and has zero VOC's. In layman's terms it doesn't stink and there is no harmful off gassing. Not to mention the color palette is phenomenal, you no longer have to substitute Eco-consciousness for color selection.

However, their inventory doesn't stop at just paint. The have such an interesting array of exotic hardwoods, tile products and counter top materials including products consisting of compressed paper and fly ash, it will truly blow your mind. They are taking Eco-friendly design to new heights. Before you begin your next renovation I suggest you stop by, you never know what you may find.

                                                                                                                                                                         

     

Happy Earth Day everyone!

Steel Magnolias

One of the best and admittedly sometimes questionable things about living Philly are all of the unexpected surprises that you encounter on any given day. While visiting my local florist the other day I started talking to a fellow customer and he was raving about this Magnolia garden he had recently discovered. Needless to say I had to see it, and so later on that afternoon I ventured out to a tiny street in between 4th and 5th on Walnut to discover one of the most beautiful and underrated elements that Philly has to offer. The colors are so magnificent and inspiring. This park proves that nature really is the ultimate designer. Take a moment and enjoy the view, spring has officially sprung kids!

 

I wasn't the only one who loved the park, Happy first Birthday Carolyn!

Vinyl Siding

If you're considering a change in your home or office space, but you don't want to commit the to something as permanent as paint and construction is just out of the question; I recommend custom Vinyl wall art (aka: Decals)! What is Blik and Wall-Print have made it possible for you to create your own personal wall art. You have the option to chose from their vast library of images or you can ...(and might I add should) create your own. I feel that you can use them almost anywhere.Your options are virtually limitless, because of this the degree of color, style and sophistication is totally up to you. They aren't just for kids any more.
Here are a few that I love. Get inspired!


I'm partial to this one.... But then again it's in a space I designed!



British Invasion

The newest addition to “my favorite designer's” list is Timothy Oulton, hands down. Timothy is a furniture and accessory designer from Great Britain and he is taking the furniture industry by storm. He is the son of an antique dealer, and the influence from his exposure to these amazing finds is present in his current designs. His pieces have a history and a charm that most brand new pieces don’t possess. They tell a story and have the ability add dimension and a little quirkiness to almost any interior. Although they are predominately shown in industrial settings the pieces are so versatile that they can be used almost anywhere. These remarkable pieces are also livable and obtainable without ever sacrificing style. They're a wonderful take on much more traditional designs, and are extremely conducive to everyday living. They’re pieces that you want to sink into on a Sunday morning, but are so cool you’ll always want to show them off!

You can find Timothy's furniture at ABC Carpet and Home in New York, HD Buttercup in LA, and he has also recently developed a line for Restoration Hardware.