I discovered this cute home tour in the October issue of Country Living magazine. I love the fact that Lizzie Carney's home has that romantic cottage vibe yet instead of the standard whites everywhere, it's filled with rich dark colors like charcoal and chocolate brown.

all images via Flickr

I love this kitchen!!! The charcoal and turquoise are gorgeous, and I'm sorry but I also love the controversial peacock on top of the fridge.



I want to have a whole dressing room!

The curtain behind the bed is beautiful and makes the room look so soft. She also has the Anthropologie Cirrus duvet in gray, which is my favorite one!


XO Athena

Apartment Therapy's Small Cool Contest 2010

I just wanted to share with all of you my favorite entry from Apartment Therapy's Small Cool Contest 2010, literally a contest to find the smallest and coolest spaces! Her name is Anu and this gal did such incredible things in just a small rental apartment, which I find really inspiring!


This room is so chic and interesting without being overdone. Love the bamboo chair of course, and the light gray walls. My favorite thing would have to be those greek key valences though! I have been DYING to do valences/cornices (whatever you would like to call them) in my new place when I move!!


The graphic wallpaper is awesome too, and for this particular room I think the single wall of it works, to not overpower the space.


The light blue, yellow and white with little splashes of red is stunning... and again, LOVE the valences and curtains made of that lattice print fabric. The yellow and white fabric looks very Palm Springs to me :)



I'm not sure what's up with the gray walls in the hallway, because they look like a textured wallpaper, like faux croc or something, but the picture is too small to tell for sure. If that's not what it is though, I say it's a good idea! If there is a dark gray faux croc wallpaper out there, I would paste it up on my walls ALL DAY. I'm also a huge fan of pairing gold with gray, so well done, Anu!

XO Athena

I Need This In My Life

I cannot believe these new duvet sets from Dwell Studio. When I first saw the Chinoiserie duvet from them last year, I fell in love. I had no idea that they could top it this year!

The yellow one destroys me..... but the gray kind of kills me too, so I really don't know. I do know however, that I'd love to sleep every night under this dreamy duvet.

XO Athena

Berkus-Designed Apartment

Nate Berkus is known for some amazing work (hello, Katie Lee's apartment in Domino!), so I would imagine that being his sister and getting a full apartment makeover wouldn't be too shabby. Glamour magazine had an article a while back featuring 29-year-old Marni Golden who had her bro Berkus do her place up. He used lots of pieces from his line for HSN and the place is awesome!


I adore that chevron stripe throw blanket from his line, as well as the modern sideboard and the tree branch table. So cute!!




Also, I LOVE the striped walls and pleated bedding!!! Where can I get this duvet? I must know! Plus, I have that black and gray throw blanket that's draped over the headboard (yup, the one that you can barely see). I love love love it, it's super soft!


Isn't this studio apartment so pretty??? I love all the shades of gray and gold, two of my very favorite colors!

XO Athena