Outdoor to Indoor

The other day my boyfriend and I had a minor disagreement about indoor plants...things could be worse, right? While he thinks they are a necessary element that add so much to a room and are reminiscent of the house he grew up in, my mind immediately floods with images of tacky, overgrown vegetation taking over a stuffy house where they use the word "parlor" for the living room in which their furniture is under preservation in plastic casings. The Little Shop of Horrors theme song rings in my ears. He was even resistant to my simple, mathematical logic under the transitive property (the only thing I picked up from math class); plants=dirt, dirt=bugs, plants=bugs, all of which belong outside.

Now, I like to be open to things and a little succulent here and there can be cute, so I did a little research and realized that when done right and in good taste...indoor plants CAN be quite nice. Let's not get carried away though, we still aren't going to be hanging anything from the ceiling. But, here are a few ideas I got from Sanctuary:

Great addition to an otherwise lonely windowsill.

Ok, I could see myself having fun picking out some awesome vintage pots.

Love the idea of a fresh herb garden in the kitchen.

Barely inside is good ;)

When kept to a minimum, small plants can be a great addition, especially as a breath of life in the dead of winter. But less is definitely more!

Thanks for reading :)

Bachelor Pad: Take 2

Option one was well received, but a second choice has been requested. Fine by me, I had fun making a few minor tweaks to what may have been too much city for a boy living in the country. Again, all the items are from IKEA because when you're on a budget, it's all about using what's accessible. And if you're not into rummaging through antique shops or garage sailing and are looking for a quicker fix, then IKEA is probably the way to go.

Decorating is a process, and to some it is an intimidating one. But look at it as an opportunity to make your place somewhere you can't wait to come home to. I am constantly adding and subtracting based on my mood or things that inspire me, I like to think of the home as a sanctuary; an escape from the crazies of everyday life! 'Cuz there's a lot of 'em.

Back to the room! Although it is a little more difficult to find pieces that embody a more rustic aesthetic since IKEA is known for their contemporary furniture, it can be accomplished. With this look I was going for natural colors and played off the subjects of the black and white photos. My brother lives in Portland where there a beautiful tall trees, lush green forests, and clean flowing rivers....ahhh! Wish I was there.

Now keep in mind that this is a guy's apartment, so less is more. I basically just swapped color palettes, but it's amazing how that can totally shift the feeling of a room: