I’ve decided to redecorate my bathroom, but I’m having trouble deciding on a scheme. Currently, my bathroom has white walls and baseboards, a warm-toned (oak, maybe?) wood cabinet under the sink, and a maroon floor. I also have a birch veneer cabinet and magazine rack that have to stay, because I need the storage.

Right now, I have this pretty, numbered print of a mermaid hanging on the wall, and she has purple in her tail. So I thought about painting the room a very pale lavender, with white baseboards. I would paint the sink cabinet white and install this purple shower curtain. I think this would be very pretty, but maybe a little unsophisticated, plus it would be a lot of work if I changed my mind.

So, my other idea is to paint the walls with a fresh coat of white paint and do the baseboards in glossy black. I would still paint the sink cabinet white, and install this black and white damask shower curtain. I would use mirrored accessories, such as these votive holders for makeup brushes and this wall-mounted vase for hair brushes. In this scenario, the mermaid print would be relocated to another room, and I would either hang a large mirror with a black frame, or have one of my husband’s black and white photographs printed at 16X20 and hang that.

I think the black and white would be very sophisticated, easy to change, and matches my current waste basket and bath mat. Although I would probably change the mat; I like this Harlequin one, but it is hella expensive for a bath mat. My only concern is how the black and white scheme would match the birch pieces? Would they look weird, or would the cabinet and magazine rack inject a little warmth and modernity into an otherwise stark and classic pattern?

Since this scheme calls to mind Old Hollywood (at least to me) I would also update the lighting. Maybe starlet dressing-room style bulbs around the mirror and this little chandelier on the ceiling?

Thoughts? Suggestions?

OK, bad pun. Also, I never say fall, I prefer Autumn. But anyway, the season is almost upon us, and I have been in nesting mode. Maybe it’s because the holiday season inspires a feeling of coziness, but I have been scouring catalogs and decorating websites for new pieces. Here are some of my favorites.

I’ve been stalking this IKEA Hopen bed for a few years now. I’ve seen many beds I liked at other stores, but none so affordable as this. I like the lines, I like the price. Win-win.

New to IKEA this year are the Hemnes dressers. I really like this set; the pieces are simultaneously modern and antique in style. They actually remind me a little bit of my Mom’s dressers, although hers are antique and genuine wood.

Still, there are a lot of choices out there, and I also really like these options from West Elm. After all, I don’t want my house to be furnished entirely by IKEA. And speaking of West Elm, how adorable is the Groovy Foo Dog above? (Available in stores only. If you live in Atlanta, this means Atlantic Station, baby!)

Of course, I can’t entirely give up on IKEA, because they have the Fusion table, which my husband and I love. We can’t figure out exactly where to put it (or why we need it) but I bet it comes home with us one of these days.

After 5 years of searching, I have finally found a coffee table. My husband and I look at them all the time, but we never find any that we both like. He doesn’t want anything with glass, I don’t want anything with leather. We both want storage, and I want something a little unique. Crate and Barrel has come to my rescue with the Taka Trunk. Love it. Buying it soon.

I also just discovered a new website: Wrapables. Although it doesn’t offer furniture, there are all sorts of cute accessories like this quirky, affordable chandelier.

And finally, don’t forget to check out Zgallerie. They always have beautiful, interesting pieces, like this Venezia chandelier–my friend Sarah bought two: one for her nursery and one for her salon! Lovely!

Check out this moving PSA from Kyra Sedgwick, Natalie Portman (one of my faves!), and Chloe Sevigny. Then go out and replace your lightbulbs (we’ve been using these in our home for the past few years and they’re awesome)!

I’m undergoing some personal changes these days. A lot of it was inspired by Mariel Hemingway’s book (see post below). I’m just slowing down, eating healthier, being more introspective, exercising, and overall cultivating greater happiness and joy in my day-to-day life. One side effect of these changes is a greater urge to nest. Toward the end of last year, we stopped working on our house–no more home improvement projects, no new furniture, no new art…we just wanted to take a break. But a new year has dawned (along with a new, happier me) and I’m feeling the urge to start decorating again. Here are some of the things I want, mostly from West Elm and Gaiam:

I just discovered the coolest website: fredflare. It’s full of awesome, kitschy things, such as lamps, light switch covers and jewelry. I particularly adore these plant decorations. Lawn art for the urbanite, these little guys are made to stick inside potted plants, so not having a lawn is no problem. I also saw a cuckoo clock that I like, not to mention an owl necklace, which could further my obsession with the little hooters.