My Little H Spot: Naomi from Design Manifest

Can I just tell you how much I love a divine hack job? No need to waste more words: see for yourself as Naomi from Design Manifest shares her Hackadelic skilz!!

Hi Everyone! I'm just tickled to be sharing my little happy spot today. To be honest with you, my apartment is a complete disaster right now. I'm in the midst of about 4 projects. One of them involves wallpaper and has most of my furniture pushed away from the wall and floating in the middle of room. I also have a spare dining table, two extra BRNO chairs and a unused sideboard crowding up my living space. Not much happy about all of that. (Furniture hoarder, much?) I DO have one little corner that has been unaffected by my manic decorating, and that is my happy spot that I'm going to share today.

It's my Rast Hack.

I was inspired to add a little black/glam/Asian-goodness into my space. I adored this piece I saw at an auction, but didn't want to pony up the money for it. I know my way around an Ikea Rast cabinet, though, and thought I could hack my way to a little happiness.

I decided to go less ornate, and more with a subtle campagin-feel and I must admit I'm quite pleased with the result. It's just enough bling and drama without being over the top.

While they are waiting for their final destination (they are to be my television console,) I'm really enjoying them paired with my art and a few pretties. I was lucky enough to score this original piece of art from my grandmother's basement. The horse figurine is vintage and the lamp is from Arteriors Home.

Just looking at them makes me smile. Now if someone would just buy my BRNO chairs and finish up my wallpaper project I would be thrilled.

Thanks so much for having me over, Alison!

My Little H Spot: Kathy of My Interior Life

Hello, Peeps! Thanks again for being such a welcoming crew to our guests. The hits just keep on comin'....Here's Kathy of My Interior Life showcasing her H spot!

Thanks so much to Alison for having me over for a visit. I've always loved My Little Happy Place and was thrilled when she asked me to share what makes me happy in our home. Lately, I must say that I've been loving going over to the dark side. Meaning, I love the drama that dark/black paint can give a space.

First up, my front door.

It started out looking like this . . .

I just love the visual punch the black gives the door. We painted both the interior and exterior to make a bigger impact.

Next up is our powder room. It was a ruby red when we moved in four years ago, and I agonized over what to do with it. Paint? Wallpaper? I finally just bit the bullet and went with a very dark blue-gray by Benjamin Moore called Mysterious. Indeed it is . . . and I love it!

Here's a before shot:

So, as you can see, going to the dark side can be a good thing. It was in my house and makes me very happy. Thanks again, Alison, for letting me share my little happy place.

My Little H Spot: Michele of My Notting Hill

Today's post is from Michele of My Notting Hill. She gives us a teasing glimpse into what I can clearly tell is a very chic home. I'm just tickled to know I had a teeny bit of influence on it!

When Alison asked me to do a guest post about a spot of my house that's currently making me happy, I couldn't help but think of the location for my new Nate Berkus stools. Why? Well, because if it wasn't for Alison's January post on these stools I would never have bought before they sold out. Here they are in their new home - anchoring the round table that is one of the first things you see when you walk in our front door and head into the living room. Our living room is a long rectangle and I love how the round table breaks up that feeling.

Here's a close-up of the stool. When I ordered them I thought I would most likely replace the fabric but I actually like the color and plan to keep it as long as it holds up. Love, love the style of the mod double base.
It also makes me happy to see these books and other bits when I walk in. You might be able to make out the little red paper heart underneath the small cloche. My daughter placed it there back on Valentine's Day and now it's a permanent feature.

Thanks Alison for having me guest post & for the heads up on these stools all those months ago!

My Little H Spot: Bailey of Peppermint Bliss

Many of you will recognize today's guest blogger, as her amazing and whimsical casa was featured in a past issue of Rue magazine. Yes, it's none other than Bailey of Peppermint Bliss. I'm not sure how Ms. Bailey was able to pick only one H spot, as her house is full of things that would make me happy!

My most favorite and special things in our home are our two lambs.

Lambar Odom who resides in our living room.
And Mabel who is our outdoor lamb.
Everytime I see them they cheer my heart. And they are always great conversation starters.

As in, "Why do you have a lamb in your living room/backyard?"

That question is usually an indicator that my house guest is kind of a bummer. However the questions, "Can I sit here?" or "What's his name?" tell me that we are kindred spirits, because honestly, why wouldn't you have a lamb in your home if you had the option.

Lambar Odom is considered the seat of honor in our living room, reserved for our most celebrated of visitors.

While Mabel guards our backyard, blessing the sacred ground with her golden hooves.

We are in the process of moving from Chicago to Austin and I have already staked out special spots for our lambfriends- and have big plans for adding to our herd.

We Interrupt this program...for pink velvet and thrift goodness

I didn't think you'd mind me popping in (and bumping the H spot feature 'til tomorrow) for a little update on my sister's dining room - my project numero uno while I'm Stateside.

She snagged these Chippendale chairs a month or so ago, but clearly the pastel plaid fabric wasn't working with our overall theme of I'm not Laura Ashley.

Meet pink velvet goodness.

Over that slightly-rugged kilim chevron. Tell me about it, Stud!

Then there's her bathroom vanity stool.

Before: Disney called. They want their Beauty and the Beast dog back.

After: I'm trying to figure out a way to steal it from her without her noticing...

THEN: Saturday's Thrifting Session took us to the Habitat store where she scored this wingback for forty clams.

It has a bright future.

As for me, I snagged this pair of mondo lamps. Hard to tell here, but they're actually mercury glass - a bronze color. Not sure where I'll use them just yet, but I thought they were different, and I couldn't pass up the ten dollar price tag.

*SupportyourHabitatStore, Peeps!*

**Disclaimer: Wish we could take credit for the reupholstering, but we left it to the pros.**

Lots more Little H Spot guest posts still to come. We're enjoying plenty of family and friend time in (crazy sweltering) Texas, but I'll check in periodically with project updates.

My Little H Spot: Carissa of The Fabulous Design File

Please welcome one of my good bloggie-friends, Carissa. I think you'll easily see why her particular "H spot" brings her lots of Happies. Happy weekend, peeps - check in for a weekend appearance tomorrow to get a glimpse of what we're up to with my sister's dining room!

Hi MLHP readers! It’s Carissa from The Fabulous Design File! MLHP is one of my very favourite blogs, and I’m totally excited to be here.

So… the area in my home that is currently making me happy is my chalk-board wall. It’s a huge wall that runs the length of my kitchen and all the way into dining room. The photos only show a snippet of it, because otherwise I’d have to reveal the hideous oak cabinetry that I haven’t yet painted. The chalk-board wall is my most recently completed project, so it’s new, and new things tend to make me happy. Here it is:

I also love it because it can do this:

or this:

But mostly it looks like this… and that makes me happy!

… especially the part where it says “lake” for the weekend! Yay summer!!!

Thanks for having me over today Alison! Have a great weekend everyone!

My Little H Spot: Danielle of Danielle Oakey Interiors

Continuing with our summer series featuring bloggers and designers' "H spot" - an item or area in their home that makes them happy on a daily basis... Up today is Danielle of Danielle Oakey Interiors.

Hi everyone, I am Danielle from Danielle Oakey Interiors.

I am excited to be here sharing some of my favorite items in my home.

I couldn't decide between my horse lamp or sunburst mirror, so you get both!

I recently purchased this horse lamp from the HomeGoods for $29.99.

I am slightly obsessed with it.

Who knew a horse could bring me so much joy?

It sits on my credenza next to my television.

Luckily, it always behaves :)

I also can't help but smile when I see my DIY sunburst mirror.

Although it was a simple and inexpensive project, I love the way it turned out.

For some reason, a successful DIY always makes me giddy.

Thanks so much for having me!

xoxo

Danielle

My Little H Spot: Linda of Lime in the Coconut

Summer is here, folks, and that means vacation! For MLHP, it also means a suh-weet guest post series. Over the next several weeks, we'll get a peek into the homes of some of our favorite designers and/or blogstresses as they feature their home's H-spot: Items or areas in their homes that make them happy on a daily basis, and really, what makes US happier than getting to stalk great casas?

First up is Linda from Lime in the Coconut. I'm, well, just a little coconuts, myself, over her high-style, tropical home.

When I contemplate favorite things in my house (which seems to change week by week) I often seem to come back to projects....inexpensive projects...and this week it is all about color! So thanks for asking Alison!

Last fall I came upon a five dollar lamp find

...It just needed a dose of something...so I topped it with a fab shade from anthropologie...

Turning the shade, I can even get different jolts of color

One of my faves this moment!

Another favorite is an old chair I found for pennies

...lovely lines...thought about just doing linen, but a great fabric fell in my lap...kinda literally...so I ran with it. Reupholstered it with my own little (bandaged and bloody) hands! Not everyone's cup of tea for sure...

...but I cannot tell you how cozy this big butt chair is to sit and curl up your legs and read...or gab...or contemplate your navel... And each morning waking up to see that little corner of happy as I go to make a cup of coffee... just makes my day!

And not to be left out...The corner on the other side of the room across from the chair makes me happy too...

an old mannequin from a friends clothing shop...discarded...now holds an ever changing array of beads and scarves. Color!

Color Inspiration

This week is nutso. Friday, we fly to the States for several weeks of R&R action. Well, I say R&R, but I should probably say running around trying to squeeze several months worth of projecting, shopping, eating, and visiting into a mere four weeks.

I really hope to hit the ground running on some things that need wrapping up in my sister and BIL's casa - one of them being their dining room. (pardon the lame-O iPhone pic)

Among other things, we're hoping to fill the space in the back wall with some sort of buffet/console, as well as add some much-needed focal color. The walls are Dovetail Gray by Benjamin Moore. We've been trying to come up with a vivid but complementary color, but I've been shying away from putting anything too predictable with the deep gray.

And then, it hit me...by way of a bracelet I designed...

Coral - all glossy and juicy.

For a console (or two) taking something like this....

...and hackety-hack hack hacking it into something so good you just might want to eat it. Ya with me?

Stay tuned, Peeps!

Drinking and e-shopping...

Looking to re-create something like this...

Source: prettystuff.tumblr.com via Alison on Pinterest

I'm thinking this...

Plus any of these...

Can't decide? Me neither.
All available here.